Sunday Comics: Crypto-Man Meets Mystery Man
Posted by: Loren Coleman on March 25th, 2007
It is a strange world when I see things like “My Comic Life” end up on Wikipedia and Boing Boing, frozen in cyberspace. Therefore, here is my update with hints of the upcoming adventures of Crypto-Man and a character based on me.
Since it is Sunday in Singapore, the time is right for another irregular edition of my Crypto Sunday Comics, the early overnight edition.
Back in November, writer/director Scott Marlowe announced that “Coleman Joins Cast” of the Peter Loh-drawn series “Crypto-Man” is loosely based on Marlowe. I am coming on board as “Mystery Man.”
We thought that this casting was appropriate to Loren’s real-life association with his information resource on the Cryptomundo website. Loren’s only [humorous] request was that we didn’t cast him in the role of a villain in the strip. That idea never crossed our minds when we approached him with the invitation to portray a character in Crypto-Man.Scott Marlowe
As Episode 4 of the comic series goes into its final creative stages, it seemed only right that Cryptomundo readers get an exclusive different kind of sneak peek.
Apparently, “I” will play the role of a human operative, a mysterious detective of the Cryptid Society who, in addition to being “in the know,” keeps Crypto-Man up to snuff on cryptozoological happenings that the lead super-hero must tackle.
The plot of Episode 4 will continue the theme of the four tests of the caped conservationist, the trials of Crypto-Man’s legendary abilities. Mystery Man makes an appearance to get some data and equipment conveyed to Crypto-Man.
Ideas develop in a variety of ways. Here’s a view on one such example. See directly below an early idea of Peter’s that had to be redone, where I was shown with a pipe.
I don’t smoke and don’t condone smoking, especially in such a medium like comic books for a character that is supposed to be me. The copycat effect is too great, and I know I could be a model for cryptozoologists-in-training. Peter was very understanding, we had long email exchanges about, and he was merely working on an old “detective” model notion from the 1940s. Peter was surprised by how obvious this was incorrect, when he looked at it. Besides, my father died from lung cancer due to smoking, so Peter quickly revised the draft panels that had me smoking a pipe.
Cartoonists, I understand, love smoke drifting up to the ceiling. Peter got to employ that motif later, as you can see at the very top, when I’m, I mean Mystery Man is drinking a nice cup of Earl Grey in the diner.
The final panels are usually done in color, btw.
About Loren Coleman
Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading living cryptozoologist. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct).
Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013. He returned as an infrequent contributor beginning Halloween week of 2015.
Coleman is the founder in 2003, and current director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine.
Another Mystery man, eh? 🙂
Loren,
Peter, Ed Craft, the cast, staff and I would like to welcome you to our little production!
We hope that you and all of the fans have enjoyed the first three episodes and that everyone will get a laugh over those still on the way.
Online versions of the first episodes have been posted for a while now on Crypto-Man’s website and I’m sure that the fans are aware of those. We are now also self-publishing miniature comic book versions of the strips that can be had in “hard copy” for a small donation to the Pangea Institute.
However, I should point out that the strips are in black and white. Peter does do color cells for the comic book covers and for the Crypto-Man merchandise line (I particularly like the T-Shirt with the villianous Kalanoro you had suggested early in the series here on Cryptomundo). Proceeds of which are contributed to Crypto-Man conservation programs.
You are so right about artists liking that billowing smoke — Peter got an earful from our scripting team about that faux pas too!
Episode 4 is a doozy with Crypto-Man’s test of Earth (part of the “Secret Cryptid Society’s” initiation involving Air, Water, Earth and Fire) and is set in Central Asia. The fire test is yet to come in Episode 5.
We appreciate hearing from you and the fans and are still casting talent for caricature parts in the strip and for upcoming audio episodes soon to be released.
Enjoy!
Scott
Loren,
Thanks for the post and for your feedback. Just thought I’d make some clarifications though.
First, the comic strip isn’t in color as you mentioned. If you go to the website where it is posted, you would be able to see the first three episodes which are, in fact, in black and white.
Second, the strip isn’t based on “Marlowe” — there are some events that he uses from things that have happened in his life that he “harvests” for the CM character’s personality, but mostly he draws on real events from cryptozoology as inspiration for the strip as a whole.
I felt this would help readers of this post have a better idea of what to expect from the comic strip. Thanks in advance for posting this comment!
Warmest regards,
Pete