EYES ON KING CRYPTID PART 1
Betrayed and cursed almost 500 years ago, King Cryptid has spent centuries protecting the innocent from man and monster alike. But now a deadly new threat has emerged, one that combines dark magic and corrupt science.
In a world of unknown creatures, King Cryptid stands alone. Cursed as an immortal almost 500 years ago, King Cryptid spent nearly a century as a ravenous feral beast, powerless to stop himself from harming and killing almost anything that crossed his path.
In the late 1600s, a Wampanoag shaman named Blackmoon helped restore King Cryptid’s humanity by embedding a moonstone of mysterious origin into his crown of bone. In addition to restoring his humanity, the moonstone enhances King Cryptid’s powers during the various phases of the moon, with his powers being augmented to superhuman levels during the night of a full moon and nearly drained during the night of a new moon.
The moonstone comes at a price, however. On the night of a new moon, when the moon’s light isn’t able to charge the stone, King Cryptid will return to his cursed feral state until the moon’s light shines once again. The only way for King Cryptid to avoid this fate is for him to rest and recharge in the waters of a cosmic spring located inside his cave lair.
A hero to some, a god to a few, and a legendary creature to most, the man once known as Krowan has spent nearly four centuries seeking redemption and trying to unravel the mysteries of the world around him; meeting many friends and battling many foes along the way.
THE CREATIVE TEAM
This young adult monster adventure series was created by Alterna Comics founder and publisher, Peter Simeti. Peter will be writing and lettering each issue. Every issue will also feature the work of a different talented artist whose art style will be suited to the story being told. And of course, some fan-favorite artists will be returning to draw more issues down the line. A campaign will be launched every year for 4 to 5 new issues. Considering King Cryptid’s 500-year history, there’s going to be a lot of stories to tell from all different points in time.
Now, here are the artists working on the first four issues:
- Kristian Rossi – artist on King Cryptid #1; colorist on King Cryptid #4
- Nic Hunter – artist on King Cryptid #2
- Aleks Jovic – artist on King Cryptid #3
- Keir Covington – artist on King Cryptid #4
THE BOOKS
Each issue is a 32-page comic book floppy printed in newspaper format in full color or black and white. And each issue is double-covered. The books were published by Alterna Comics in 2023.
Alterna Comics was founded in 2006 by publisher Peter Simeti and has gone on to help produce over 100 titles since then. Alterna has been home to a New York Times best-seller, FUBAR Empire of the Rising Dead (2012), and a film adaptation, The Chair (2017), and has gained attention for its modern newsprint initiative and affordable prices. Alterna Comics titles are distributed to readers and retailers worldwide from their online store.
THE STORIES
ISSUE #1 A LONG-FORGOTTEN LEGEND HAS RETURNED
After decades of peaceful seclusion in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, King Cryptid discovers that a potentially devastating conflict is brewing between the supernatural world of the unknown and the mortal world of humans.
They say that something strange and unusual had been happening in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, back in November 1966. A dangerous and mysterious creature that terrified the locals and captured the imagination of millions. It didn’t matter whether or not the creature was real, the horrors that happened afterward were real enough. And these events turned the creature into not just a campfire story but a legend, behold the BeheMoth.
The BeheMoth is a beat unlike no other, an experiment gone horribly right. This abomination of science and nature dares to want that which all creatures want, freedom. But according to the BeheMoth freedom can never be given, it can only be taken away. The time for diplomacy ends before it even begins.
Frightened and exhausted all the BeheMoth wants is to survive. Connecting with the Behemoth’s mind King Cryptid learned that he was created in a lab where science has placed progress above compassion and removed humanity completely from the equation. The BeheMoth is the result of the MothMan DNA mutating with a host possibly a human.
Now the BeheMoth is on the loose after it destroys the vehicle that was transporting it. A cryptid hunter, Victor Lugo, is called in to capture the escaped beast and eliminate any potential threats. Will he succeed
ISSUE #2 DEPOWERED! DEFENSELESS! DOOMED!
Death is a natural part of life. But for Krowan, the cursed immortal, known as King Cryptid, death serves an entirely different purpose. It is the night of the moon, the time when King Cryptids’ powers are at their weakest. He must return to his cave lair to rest and recharge. He still took it upon himself to heal a dying wolf.
To his surprise, he finds a Granite Beast that claims that King Cryptid’s home is his ancestral home and that he needs to leave as he is not worthy to live there.
ISSUE #3 CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
Memories are a funny thing. Some of them stay with us for our entire lives while others seem to leave as soon as they arrive. Some are so remarkable that they define who we are. Others are so mundane that it’s a small miracle we even remember them to begin with. There are memories that we cherish so much it hurts to hold on to them and there are others that give us so much pain, we wish we could just let them go.
The story starts at Mount Washington Observatory in New Hampshire in an archive room dedicated to the preservation and categorization of the unknown. There are things in these files that are not supposed to be real. Things that are not supposed to exist. It’s here in this room full of thousands of memories that one man is about to rediscover some of his own and this particular memory is about to hit him like a ton of bricks:
Lincoln, NH. September 19, 1984. Four friends go looking for King Cryptid on the outskirts of the White Mountain National Forest. What happens on that night changes all of their lives forever.
ISSUE #4 IN THE BELLY OF THE BROOG
There are a few things more distracting than hunger. It can weaken the judgment of even the most rational beings. The hunt becomes all-consuming. Every thought fades, and only one remains because hunger takes over. The only thing that matters is the pursuit of a good meal.
Deep within the forest lies the Hockomock Swamp, a secret place to the natives that has a dark history but which seems to be also a restricted area. King Cryptid’s usual nap time gets disturbed by a strange energy. He goes towards the swamp area to observe the situation. He finds dark energy but he also finds a demonstration of human kindness and love.
King Cryptid helps a cryptozoologist team led by Dr. Erin Karroll after they run into trouble with Broog at Hockomock Swamp located within the Bridgewater Triangle.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Each issue tells a story that gives you insight into King Cryptid’s world but it’s not a constant linear continuation of a bigger story.
ISSUE #1 THE MONSTER WITHIN
King Cryptid was severely affected by what happened to the BeheMoth. He was experimented by humans who lost their humanity. It’s never shown but the description of the situation and King Cryptid’s reaction shows that he was created by humans with monsters within. They created a monster, locked him up, and who knows what more they did with him. As any creature, he wants freedom and will do anything to take it.
“Freedom can never be given; it can only be taken away. The time for diplomacy ends before it even begins.” These two sentences are a reminder of what happens when you put abused people or alienated people into a corner, it will only take time before they fight back to stop the abuse, break free of isolation, and find freedom. The Monster terrorizing innocent people was created by monsters disguised as humans. The story is a reminder for us to treasure our humanity and not turn into the monsters we are so afraid of.
ISSUE #2 DEALING WITH DEATH AND FREEDOM
King Cryptid heals a dying wolf. How many times did he do this? The encounter with the Granite Beast was interesting. The beast seems to be someone obsessed with a cause and when he is given freedom from servitude, he even contemplates suicide too afraid to deal with freedom.
ISSUE #3 A FOOTPRINT IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS
The story explores the value of memories specifically in relation to the paranormal myths and legends. Those with the courage to look for answers, those finding evidence, and those making contact. It also showcases the potential power of this institution that monitors strange activities. Do they have the power to disappear people and evidence?
If there is no physical evidence, it did not happen. The disappearance is evidence is a frightening thing. Then you have people’s testimonies to rely on but what happens when there are no people to give any testimony? To what extent can people prove that any evidence was destroyed and that people purposely disappear to let the unknown stay unknown.
ISSUE #4 IN THE BELLY OF EVIL
The story explores the ugliness of cumulative negative energy, evil energy, and the effort needed to fight it with commutative positive energy, good energy. The everlasting fight of good vs. Evil.
It also shows the good side of humanity, the love, care, and dedication towards others, and finalizes with the human curiosity to find answers.
While all the stories were quite interesting I found a few flaws that got my attention. In issue #2 there seems to be an issue with the printing in black and white. For some reason there is red ink spilled on a few pages. Further I noticed in Issue #2 and Issue #4 that a word balloons wasn’t placed correctly.
THE CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN
Alterna Comics King Cryptid’s Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign for issue 1 through issue 4 did not disappoint. It was posted on IndieGoGo as well as on Alterna’s website. I backed on IndieGoGo choosing the classified collection which included an 8″x3″ prismatic bumper sticker, a 6″x9″ print set of back cover prints, a mysterious polaroid, and a moonstone fragment.
The perk also includes a signed King Cryptid collector case, issues #1-4 plus the blank variant of issue #1 signed by Peter Simeti. I also got the King Cryptid-themed Alterna collector Case Inserts, the King Cryptid Series 1 Trading Card Pack, The King Crypted Coin, and the King Cryptid Sticker Set. By the end of it, I got a lot of stuff for a very affordable price.
Alterna is actively publishing comics and offers clients, through its crowdfunding campaigns, the opportunity to get new issues of comic books before they go public on their website. The prices are very affordable for pre-orders and when it goes public the price remains almost the same. The book’s interior pages are made of newspaper material, very similar to readers’ digest just thinner, and with a more vulnerable cover.
Alterna has good customer service. You can always be sure that you will get a response when you contact them. The tracking number was timely provided. They delivered everything in one package, which is what was expected and what I prefer. Receiving multiple packages can be costly for international backers who may use third-party packaging management services.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The King Cryptid series has incredible monster adventure tales that will entertain as well as make you think. Each issue starts with an introduction of what is coming, told in an interesting way. I love it! Also, each issue is like a standalone story so far so if you can only afford one or two issues you can start wherever you want. Each issue has a section called “Mail to the King” where you can send your questions to King Cryptid.
My favorite so far is issue #1 but I know a few people who will benefit from reading issue#2, especially cult-like/ group thinkers, but also people who know people like that, which is most of us. Those interested in the unknown, mysteries, and conspiracies will love issue #3 and those interested in the paranormal (good, evil energies) will enjoy issue#4.
The Indiegogo campaign for issues #1-#4 is closed but you can get the issues on the Alterna Comics website. The campaign for issues #5-9 is ongoing on Indiegogo and on Alterna Comics’ website so you can get the new issues along with many other goodies
For more interesting titles check COMIC BOOKS under the “EYES ON” series I documented my experience with crowdfunding entertainment and shared my notes on the products I received.
My notes are all set. Let me know what you think.
See you on the next page!
