Boos and Cackles

To innaugerate Monsterama's new look, I'd like to revisit one of my first posted topics and return you to the cutest creep of all... Guba has an amazing online library of classic Casper the Friendly Ghost cartoons that could easily scare away an entire afternoon. Casper was one of my favourite cartoons as a kid, and the comic books could be darn good, too (don't forget to pick up a copy of the new Casper collection)!

Luminous Monsters

When I was a kid (around 8 or 9, going by the copyright date on the label), I had these exact glow-in-the-dark stickers on the headboard of my bed. I loved them even though they freaked me out a little, and made me feel sort of queasy if I looked at them too long. I found this unopened package in Chicago years ago, and always keep it close by my workspace to 'inspire' me. Stuff like this can bring the kid in me right back to the surface. Just thought I'd share.

Cryptozoology

Some of the crew working on the Secret Saturdays were surprised to discover that the 'cryptids' that appear in the show are all based on real modern sightings of strange creatures or on traditional folkloric beasts from cultures around the world. The mixture of hard science and local mythology that make up what is known as 'Cryptozoology' has fascinated me since childhood. Scattered data collected by such pioneers as Charles Fort and Bernard Heuvelmans has inspired a devoted branch of science dedicated to the study of mysterious animals. I check in on Loren Coleman and Cryptomundo every day, and it's a great place to begin your own research into the world of mystery beasts. And I never miss an article of Dr. Karl Shuker's in Beyond, either. I hope the real cryptozoologists out there don't think I'm trivializing their work so much as popularizing it through animation. I take the stuff seriously. No, really. Don't laugh. I believe in Sasquatch, don't you?

Great Scott!

Saturdays director supreme Scott Jeralds has finally joined the space age with nifty blog. Drop by and tell him I said 'hello', and don't forget to take a gawk at the unique Iwao Takamoto art. I guess your one-of-a-kind original, jumbo-sized, Frankenstein Jr. get well card is too big to scan, huh, Scott?

Make Tracks

If you hurry, you might still be able to snag a copy of Make magazine's awesome Halloween special edition. It is seriously fabulous, with gorgeous full page artwork and a cover by Seth, detailed articles on Haunters and how to build some of your own animatronic props, tips on creating gross makeup, and much more. If your local bookseller is all sold out (and it wouldn't be surprising!), you can at least follow the link to some terror-iffic online tips.