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Original description:

The creative genius of writer Murti Schofield combines with the fan-driven passion of the Dark Angel Symphony team to bring you a unique artefact: Kurtis”Demon Hunter” Trent’s personal journal!

Currently specially discounted and available in a variety of bundles, this A5-sized, 32-page journal has been entirely handwritten by Murti Schofield IN CHARACTER as Kurtis Trent – Lara’s mysterious ally from The Angel of Darkness and last of the Lux Veritatis order. Each page is packed with all-new, original sketches, maps, character profiles, Lux Veritatis lore, and personal musings that chart Kurtis’ journey across the globe as he tracks the bloody trail of “The Monstrum”, aka Eckhart, leader of the shadowy Cabal. It also contains pages “inherited” from Kurtis’ father, Konstantin Heissturm.

The journal is available as a digital download and as a physical object of movie-prop quality, bound in real leather and scuffed/aged to reflect the hazardous lifestyle of its owner!

Here’s what the author says about the journal:

Throughout his wide ranging travels, Kurtis has always, like any true rock n’ roll adventurer, kept a journal – a field record of the challenges he has tackled, the wildly diverse locations he has travelled in, the enigmas he has solved (or tried to), and the characters he has encountered, fought, or put down. These ragged and beaten-up journals record key information from many of Kurtis’ travels and adventures.

The Journal is not a narrative. It is not even chronological. It does not explain things or tell a story, except by inference.

Instead, Kurtis’ scribbled notes, sketches and observations cover an eclectic range of extraordinary subjects. It is an apparently disorganised accumulation of aides memoire and cryptic musings on what they might possibly mean. To the unaccustomed eye, it may appear as a jumble of unconnected images and data that only highlight questions rather than provide answers. But there most definitely is order… of a kind.

Sometimes there are entries lifted or copied from his father Konstantin’s inherited journal, or even, on occasion, from his grandfather Gerhardt’s journal.

The journals themselves are battered and scuffed with pasted-in maps, illustrations, scraps of vellum, sketches, hand-drawn schematics, wax rubbings, pencilled images, codes, glyphs, photos, symbols, cuttings, tracings, and all the untidy jottings of many years’ investigations and study.

The wrap-around leather cord loops through a silver concho disc and carries a small replica of a Baetyl training stone carved from bone. The disk is a keepsake from tribal Navajo links on his mother’s side. The Baetyl is a token from his early Lux Veritatis training days.

Of course, the Journal will only contain notes on items up to and immediately prior to events in the AOD timeline.

Many of the story elements touched on in the Journal are dealt with more fully in documents and articles dealing with the massive amount of background detail to AoD, and will be available online by the time the K Journals are on release.

The journal explores:

1) Eckhardt: jottings on the origins of the Black Alchemist, his work, his cruelly misjudged 500+-year-long incarceration, his release from the Cell of Pain in 1945 by Allied bombing, his aims, abilities, etc. All this background was part of Kurtis’ early LV training years. No source could possibly list everything about Eckhardt, but there is a lot of detail that K remembers or has access to.

2) Eckhardt’s early writings, gleaned from Lux Veritatis archives.

3) Some musings on the origins, nature, and possible locations of the Obscura Etchings and Paintings – or as much as anyone knows apart from Eckhardt himself.

4) Kurtis’ grandfather, Gerhardt, left notes detailing his obsession with John Dee – the Elizabethan alchemist and mystic. Gerhardt was convinced that the location of Dee’s true resting place, his Catafalque, was the location of one of the Obscura Paintings. Dee’s body, did not lie at Mortlake by the Thames, but had been spirited away by Edward Kelley and devotees of the art of Alchemy from the court of Rudolph II. It was taken to a secret vault beneath Kutna Hora Ossuar, 80km east of Prague.

5) The Dee Hexaglyph was supposedly a cast-brass symbol on Dee’s catafalque in that vault. Kurtis later combined a version of this ‘glyph’ and the reoccurring Crâne Hurlant (or Screaming Skull of the Legionnaires) into a T-shirt design seen in AOD. You may have noticed it around.

6) The three Periapt Shards: Kurtis inherited two of these along with the Chirugai after Konstantin was murdered, and he is well aware of how vital all three Shards are if the Black Alchemist is ever to be put down for good.

7) Alchemy, Prima Materia and the processes of transmutation of self and substances; e.g. Solve et coagula, key data where Eckhardt is concerned.

8) The Sanglyph or Bloodsign. There are only hints and guesses regarding this darkest and most closely guarded of Eckhardt’s secrets. Even the members of the Cabal aren’t informed of the nature, potency, and true purpose of this artefact.

9) The Glove: likewise, little is know by the Lux Veritatis or anyone else apart from Eckhardt (and of course Karel). The Manus Diabolus.

10) The Cabal of Five Alchemists. Brief details of all individuals making up the current Cabal; their backgrounds, origins, traits, specialities, weaknesses, etc.

11) The Strahov: sketched schematics of the security layout, including the possible lower levels where an ancient LV vault holds out against all attempts at penetration by Eckhardt and the Cabal. Possibly, it may house the third and final Periapt?

12) The Nephilim: Watchers, Grigori, Enlumened, Gibborim, Peripherati, Bene Elim, Malek, Peri, Hiphil, Elioud. Kurtis has jotted brief notes on the origins, legends, mythic references, possible locations of the Sleepers or Cubiculim Nephili, Enochian references, etc.

13) Vault of the Seven Sleepers or Sarcophagi: possible locations of the remaining Nephilim Sleepers, although information on these are sketchy at best.

14) The Korumal Erebedi or Eternal Guardians, were a prehistoric Order of protectors for the Nephilim Sleepers. The Cubiculim Nephili casks were hidden at various secret locations over a wide area. The KE were constantly under attack by Lux Veritatis forces hell-bent on destroying all trace of the Nephilim race and those allied or loyal to them.

15) Oblique references to Kurtis’ Navajo origins, including the Amerindian-style glyphs of his given tribal name Chicawa, Bearer of Weapons.

16) Files on incidental characters featured or glimpsed in AoD, including some English adventuress, L. Croft, whose trail keeps crossing his own lines of enquiry and is somehow linked to individuals involved in the Obscura Paintings… and other related matters.

17) Kurtis’ time in the Legion is referred to several times; his Demon Hunter, Chaseur de Démon days, Legionary mottoes, enrolment, name change, and so on.

18) In the Interpol Wanted Poster for Emmet Brough, the Assassin (AKA The Pinkerton), several other events in his past – and possible connection to Kurtis – are briefly mentioned. These events will be expanded on in greater detail in documents available on a website at the time of the Journal’s release, for those interested enough to delve deeper…

19) Hints on the relevance of various scientific anomalies or ‘lost’ secrets from history, which either impinge on Lux Veritatis secrets or Eckhardt’s master plan for reviving the lost race of Nephilim.

20) The Dark 21ème Arrondissment of Paris Noire, a subterranean level of the ancient city – the Domaine Souterrain, La Citadelle des Ténèbres

Mouvant. This is a parallel world of shadow secrets, including a hidden LV vault. There are numerous LV chambers containing records that the Lux Order would rather remain hidden. The LV has shameful moments in its past, like any organisation.

21) The search for various Lux Veritatis secret vaults has been on Kurtis’ agenda for several years. These vaults contain a horde of artefacts, arcane secrets, libraries, stores of artwork, trophies and the elusive Trancing Rooms or Bloodline Rooms, which are basically LV healing chambers. Kurtis has always been reluctant to record much detail of his findings on this topic – they are too sensitive for any journal which, after all, could fall into the wrong hands.

22) There are several such LV Vaults across Europe, Russia, the Americas – everywhere, in fact – although the locations of most have been lost since the passing of the last true LV Adept, Konstantin Heissturm. For example, there was rumoured to be a Bloodline Room, or Trancing Room, beneath Schloss Kriegler. So, too, the The Vault of Trophies below the Strahov complex is an ancient LV stronghold containing many items of arcane power and importance.

23) Baetyl training stones/knife weapons/arrowhead artefacts are a key part of LV initiate training. Their relationship to other ferrilium ‘sky iron’ LV weaponry, such as the Chirugai, is greatly expanded upon in documents and articles that will be available online by the time the K Journals are released.

24) The secret subterranean city of Cennet and Sentinel Stones set up by the Korumal Erebedi, that guard their entrances and passageways.

25) The recent bizarre outbreak of Monstrum killings in Paris is touched on, and there are musings on the bizarre nature of the killings. Kurtis knows the perpetrator is Eckhardt and that he is ‘harvesting’ elements required to fulfil his grotesque ritual of completion for the Nephilim revival.

26) At the opening of AoD, Kurtis has been tracking the transportation of a massive stone sarcophagus from Cappadocia to the Strahov in Prague, which he has already reconnoitred.

27) His investigations have brought Kurtis to Paris, where he has worked the streets and knows the major players who Lara also runs into when she surfaces in the city. Freelancing for Gunderson’s Agency under an assumed name, K has been monitoring the Cabal activities and gets wind that something is going down in the Louvre when Agency forces are despatched to ‘collect’ a certain painting.

28) And so the two adventurers cross paths for the second time (the first being in Café Metro where K is following a lead)…

Kurtis’ life trajectory has been one of intensive training in the occult, followed by rebellion, adventure and, in the days leading up to the AOD timeline, a mission of vengeance. During his rebellious phase, he chose to exclude himself from the main areas of conflict between the Lux Veritatis and the Cabal, preferring to carve his own path through life. However, when his father was treacherously murdered, he determined to track down those responsible – in particular, the insane Black Alchemist, Pieter van Eckhardt. One way to bring this monstrous entity to retribution will be to gather all three of the Periapt Shards.

Even before taking on the mantle of dark avenger, Kurtis’ natural inclination towards extreme activities of any kind had led him to countless bizarre and exotic locations. He has worked as a freelance enforcer, problem solver, blade-for-hire, strong arm, minder, mercenary, security agent, and explorer in hot spots all around the world from North Africa to Turkey, The States and all over the European continent.

It is worth noting that, as evidenced from his Demon Hunter days in the Foreign Legion, the arcane and sinister Shadow World never truly left him alone. His LV upbringing and inherited bloodline ensured that, whatever he did, the bizarre would constantly erupt into his life. It is all recorded in his scuffed journal!

Promo images:

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You can now listen to the original midi files that were composed for the soundtrack.

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You can download it for free and if you wish to support my effort of preserving the original Tomb Raider legacy, you can donate any amount to our website here on ko-fi.

If there’s enough interest I will provide scans of individual instrument per track as well.

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We reached Murti for comments and he provided a few original documents and scripts that would be interested to all TRAOD enthusiasts.

Document 1. FOR RECORDING-INTRO-v2

FOUR VERSIONS

#1   157 words

REPORT ON RECENT SERIAL ATROCITIES WITHIN THE CAPITAL.

As yet no significant arrests have been made for this latest spate of ‘Monstrum’ killings in the capital. Seventeen have been reported so far.

A woman was seen leaving the apartment of the latest victim, professor Werner Von Croy. Described as Caucasian, brunette and wearing a pony tail, She is obviously dangerous and probably armed. Officers are being advised to use extreme caution when apprehending the suspect.

The press have sensationalised this latest outbreak of killings as “The Monstrum’s Dark Renaissance”, referring to similar atrocities in the capital and definite links to atrocities in other European cities over the last decade.

It would all appear to be the work of a single, highly psychotic perpetrator. The bodies were desecrated and all crime scenes daubed with unintelligible graffiti, indicating some ritualistic fixation. There are no known survivors of these attacks so far.

The suspect’s apprehension should be made top priority…..

#2   142 words

REPORT ON RECENT SERIAL ATROCITIES IN PARIS.

The capital has reported 17 murders so far in this latest outbreak of ‘Monstrum’ killings.

They would appear to be the work of a single, highly psychotic perpetrator, although there are definite links to atrocities in other European cities.

Bodies were desecrated and walls daubed with unintelligible graffiti, all signs of a ritual fixation. Forensics have provided no leads so far.

The press have sensationalised this latest outbreak as “The Monstrum’s Dark Renaissance”.

A female, described as Caucasian, brunette and wearing a pony tail, was seen leaving the most recent crime scene.

She is dangerous and probably armed. Investigating officers are advised to use extreme caution.

Just released – the name of the latest victim – a professor Werner Von Croy, a world renowned archaeologist.

There are no known survivors of these attacks so far.

#3    113 words

REPORT ON RECENT SERIAL ATROCITIES IN PARIS.

There have been 17 reported murders so far in this latest outbreak of ‘Monstrum’ killings.

It would appear to be the work of a single, highly psychotic perpetrator.

The name of the latest victim was just released – a professor Werner Von Croy.

A female, described as Caucasian, brunette and wearing a pony tail, was seen leaving the most recent crime scene.

Officers are advised to use extreme caution when apprehending the suspect.

At present nothing appears to link any of the individuals involved.

There are no known survivors of these attacks so far.

#4   214 words

REPORT ON RECENT SERIAL ATROCITIES WITHIN THE CAPITAL.

As yet no significant arrests have been made for this latest spate of ‘Monstrum’ killings in the capital. Seventeen have been reported so far. A woman was seen leaving the apartment of the latest victim, professor Werner Von Croy. Described as Caucasian, brunette, about 1.8m and of slim build, she was wearing jeans, dark jacket and a pony tail. She is obviously dangerous and probably armed. Officers are being advised to use extreme caution when apprehending the suspect.

The press have sensationalised this latest outbreak of killings as “The Monstrum’s Dark Renaissance”, referring to similar atrocities in the capital over the last decade, and possibly as far back as the 1950’s. There are definite links to atrocities in other European cities going back at least fifty years.

Forensics have made no headway regarding the bizarre metallic eruptions found on the bodies of all victims. At present nothing appears to link any of the individuals involved. There have been significant numbers of casualties within Parisian gangland factions.

It would all appear to be the work of a single, highly psychotic perpetrator. The bodies were desecrated and all crime scenes daubed with unintelligible graffiti, indicating some ritualistic fixation. There are no known survivors of these attacks so far.

Document 2. P-B –RECORDING INTRO-SHORT-v1

FOR RECORDING.

Recent serial atrocities in Paris.

There have been 17 reported murders so far in this latest outbreak of ‘Monstrum’ killings.

Bodies were desecrated and walls daubed with unintelligible graffiti

It would appear to be the work of a single, highly psychotic perpetrator.

The latest victim was a professor Werner Von Croy.

There are no known survivors of these attacks so far.

Document 3.  POLICE BUMF REPORT-vX

Central National Bureau. Paris

Commissioner Mirepoix, Special Crimes Investigation Force.

To the Préfecture de Police.

REPORT ON RECENT SERIAL ATROCITIES WITHIN THE CAPITAL.

As yet no significant arrests have been made for this latest spate of ‘Monstrum’ killings in the capital. Seventeen have been reported so far. A woman was seen leaving the apartment of the latest victim, professor Werner Von Croy. Described as Caucasian, brunette, about 1.8m and of slim build, she was wearing jeans, dark jacket and a pony tail. She is obviously dangerous and probably armed. Officers are being advised to use extreme caution when apprehending the suspect.

The press have sensationalised this latest outbreak of killings as “The Monstrum’s Dark Renaissance”, referring to similar atrocities in the capital over the last decade, and possibly as far back as the 1950’s. There are definite links to atrocities in other European cities going back at least fifty years.

Forensics have made no headway regarding the bizarre metallic eruptions found on the bodies of all victims. At present nothing appears to link any of the individuals involved. There have been significant numbers of casualties within Parisian gangland factions.

It would all appear to be the work of a single, highly psychotic perpetrator. The bodies were desecrated and all crime scenes daubed with unintelligible graffiti, indicating some ritualistic fixation. There are no known survivors of these attacks so far.

Authentic French language version heading :

Office central de la police nationale.

Commissaire Mirepoix, délégué aux crimes à caractère barbare.

A l’attention des services préfectoraux.

RAPPORT SUR LES ATROCITES EN SERIE DANS LA CAPITALE.

Document 4. PARISAN POLICE AUTHENTIC DETAILS – GUILLAUME

Les offices centraux de la police nationale

Créés par différents décrets entre 1929 pour le plus ancien et 2000 pour le plus récent, les neufs offices centraux relevant de la direction générale de la police nationale sont des services à vocation interministérielle et à compétence nationale, chargés de lutter contre des phénomènes d’un caractère sensible et revêtant fréquemment une dimension internationale.

• Special investigative police offices, specifically created by dedicated laws in case of unusual problems that may arise.
• Backed by international information collaboration.
• With a national mandate.
• Nine of them have been created since 1929, and I think we could easily imagine that one has been dedicated to the Monstrum. And then, you don’t have to tell if the commissar is located in any arrondissement, as they have a national mandate…
• No real “profilers” for serial killers in France. At least, not publicly acknowledged.

Mirepoix is fine as a name, sound pretty old, like the man’s ancestors were mountaineers :o)

So I think your text could look like this:

Office central de la police nationale.

Commissaire Mirepoix, délégué aux crimes à caractère barbare.

A l’attention des services préfectoraux.

RAPPORT SUR LES ATROCITES EN SERIE DANS LA CAPITALE

Parisian Special Investigative Force.

Commissioner Mirepoix, premiere Arrondissement.

To the Prefecture de Police.

REPORT ON SERIAL ATROCITIES WITHIN THE CAPITAL

web address, but first it’s French only:

(<http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/rubriques/c/c3_police_nationale/c31_actualites/Les_offices_centraux_de_la_police_nationale>

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To protect himself from the dangerous backlash of the arcane forces released during alchemic transmutation Eckhardt built the Alchemy Glove. This protective device of leather, metal, straps and rods was bulky and terrifying being fitted with vicious talon like razor tips for ‘harvesting’ essential elements from his victims. His murderous methods added to his already notorious reputation as the most powerful Black Alchemist of his age.

The Glove was used in conjunction with the keys of Prima Materia pure elements which Eckhardt sometimes wore on a kind of key ring at his waist. These keys or rods were slotted into various points on the Glove controlling the transmutation of whichever element he required from the victim’s body. The Prima Materia rods themselves had been created by prolonged and exhaustive processes of alchemic science known only to the most advanced adepts.

Eckhardt made much use of the Glove before his downfall and incarceration by the Lux Veritatis 1445. Having imprisoned him in the Pit of Pain they hid the Glove in a secret location kept under Lux Veritatis guard along with many other dangerous arcane treasures and secrets.

On being released from the Pit by misdirected Allied bombers in 1945 Eckhardt set about recovering the Glove. It was an essential part of his delayed plan to breed and rule the Nephilim race. He needed the five Obscura Paintings and the Glove, which would be used:
a) to ‘harvest’ vital purified elements from the bodies of murdered victims
b) to lock together with the metallic symbols hidden inside the five Obscura Paintings to form the Sanglyph.
c) Using the ‘harvested’ elements and the combined Sanglyph and Glove he could successfully revive the mythic Nephilim Sleeper. Once this was done he could establish the breeding programme that would return the lost biblical race to world dominance.

THE GLOVE WARS

The history of how Eckhardt tracked down the Glove and retrieved if from its Lux Veritatis guardians is one of horrendous hardship and bloodshed with no quarter given on either side. The trail raged across Russia, Europe, the Americas (involving Kurtis’ young father) and the middle East. It was a full-scale war carried on in the shadows of history, secret from all but those directly involved.

(The only other Shadow War to rival it had been the War of the Sketches, the fierce struggle between the Lux Veritatis and the Cabal to posses the Obscura Engravings created by the deaf mute monk Brother Obscura in the 14th century.)

The Lux Veritatis could not use the Glove against Eckhardt and his Cabal forces because its awesome powers could only be controlled by a true Adept of the black arts. But they did have other arcane weapons and used them without compunction.

In 1948 a Lux Veritatis stronghold, in the obscure mountain highlands of Scotland, was finally infiltrated by the Cabal using stealth and treachery. After hundreds of years of fanatical brutality the two forces battled it out within the walls and tunnels of the ancient mountain with a staggering ferocity. No Lux Veritatis survived. It was a devastating defeat. The stronghold was a desolate smoking ruin. The sacred Order was decimated. World wide there were no more than thirty or so survivors to uphold the struggle against Eckhardt and his sinister forces.

Eckhardt entrusted his Cabal sergeants with the task of hunting down and eliminating the last of the Lux Veritatis members. He was intent on possessing all of their secrets and weaponry, most important of which were the Periapt Shards that had been used to keep him confined in the Pit of Pain for 500 years.

With the recovered Glove Eckhardt was now able to initiate his 20th century reign of bloodshed and terror as the Monstrum. Investigating police forces were baffled by the particularly ugly murder scenes where his victims had parts of their disfigured corpses removed and were left surrounded by obscure symbols daubed on walls. Tabloid reporters world wide had a story that would delight and horrify their readers for decades to come.

By the early 2000’s the tale was nearing its conclusion. Eckhardt had recovered the Glove, most of the Obscura Paintings and the last remaining Nephilim Sleeper. He was about to unleash hell on Earth.

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The guide was produce solely for developer and limited press usage only.

See other items in my Collection.

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I was at Chester ComiCon on Sunday. I’d seen that John Higgins of world wide Watchmen fame was booked as a high profile guest, so I took along my copy of the one, original, ground breaking and only true graphic novel (in my opinion) to get it signed. I already had Dave Gibbons’ signature on the inside page and have long given up trying to get Alan Moore’s.

Another item I took was a single page from my unpublished 1970s comic City Tales. John had inked my pencils for a single page spread, back around 1976. I opened with, “Hi, you probably don’t remember me but you inked this page for me decades ago and I was wondering if you could possibly sign it with a message.”

I was astonished at his response, which was, “Well hell yes, Tony (my working moniker then). How are you! It’s been decades. I heard you’d gone off to be a monk or a Buddhist or something. We were all amazed at that. How come you could give up comics with the wonderful talent you had?”

What had actually happened was that I went to live in an ashram back in 1980, travelled to India and did the Sufi trail through Turkey and other things. I did not become a monk but took Sannyas, but the explanation was all a bit long winded so I just said, “Yeah, something like that John.” As far as my commix buddies were concerned I’d just gone off the radar, ‘vanished’ off the commix map for 5+ years.

John’s delight at us meeting again took me totally by surprise.  I was thrilled, that goes without saying, but his response blew me away. He signed my copy of Watchmen, the City Tales and an A-Z of Alternative Comix with glowing dedications…”my good old friend from way back…” and so on. It really was like a scene from a film. I was sure he hadn’t given me a second thought in the intervening years, and yet as we chatted it was clear that he remembered us as two main contributors to the UK Underground commix scene of the 70s.  Clearly I have to re-evaluate my perspective somewhat on my early years.

We chatted about the many ‘alternative’ artists we had known, including Dave Gibbons, naturally. I haven’t spoken to Dave for several years now but it’s clear that despite everything Dave and John have accomplished in the years since 1986/87 the goliath presence of the Watchmen comic looms over both their lives…as it still does for all us aficionados taken by storm when it broke onto the comics scene and changed EVERYTHING. And I mean everything.

We swapped a whole spiral of reminiscences about those heady days, our formative years which for both of us, and everyone else involved, had been so exciting. There was a passion for creating alternative commix and finding ourselves part of a vibrant alternative community. Fanzines proliferated. Everyone was trekking down to London with massive portfolios under their arms. Comic Conventions really were all about COMICS. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that it was a historic and highly influential period and clearly it still means a great deal to both of us. What was especially terrific on Sunday was having the chance to relive it and share it all over again with someone who was actually there. Also, we weren’t just two old timers commiserating on days past or opportunities missed; we’ve both been successful in different ways, John far more so than myself of course; and we both still feel undying enthusiasm for the creative experience of drawing and commix art in particular.

After the ComicCon ended we found ourselves back to the Queen’s Hotel in the centre of Chester and passed a couple of hours in the hotel bar enthusing, laughing and catching up on the intervening years. It was truly exhilarating meeting with John again after all this time. His memories of our shared experiences opened up many forgotten areas of my early artistic life: swapping comics & fanzines through the mail, meetings in hotel lobbies to discuss spot illustration & page layouts, the smell of ink from newly printed fan mags, those huge cumbersome portfolios, breaking taboos and ground rules, imported American imprints, the buzz of walking into a hall filled with tables stacked with thousands of comics.

Also I was unprepared for his generous enthusiasm about my own work. His recall of my part in the ‘underground scene’ has possibly grown in his mind…or diminished in mine, I’m not sure! Anyway, it was a blast and made me feel motivated in a way I haven’t felt for years. What an intoxicating time the 70s alternative comics had been, so full of promise and excitement.

In the next few months I must go and see John’s exhibition at the VG&M in Liverpool. It’s a retrospective of his entire his life’s work, so far, celebrating his achievements as a son of the City.  It has proved so popular that it is being extended into next year, but I’m not going to wait that long!

Other parts of the ComicCon in brief: I talked to a fair number of TR fans and even some AOD fans and all were v enjoyable exchanges. I even sold a few A4 signed posters of Lara, Kurtis and Lara & Kurtis. Most of the fans said they preferred the ‘old’ or classic TR, even those who played the new gen Lara. The general consensus seemed to be that the old style puzzling and game set up were more engaging. And I found a lot of agreement for the point that there is no real reason why there shouldn’t be a healthy parallel series of games with new gen AND classic styles and sensibilities. There are so many versions of Lara now, just like the parallel Batman universes, and they could all cater to the varied interests and passionate dedication of her many worldwide fans.

A special mention for a special fan who showed up at my table early on – Jamie Spilsbury. He is a highly knowledgeable and enthusiastic guy and we chatted at length about TR history that I personally knew little about.  I’m always happy to learn. Later in the afternoon Jamie turned up with a copy of Fighting Force II, which he had just bought for £4 at a nearby table. I did dialogue for that game and in fact it was my foot in the door of Core which eventually led to my getting the gig for TR VI. Jamie wanted me to sign it. I told him I’ve never signed one of these before and it made his day that he now has something totally unique. These are the types of fans that make working in comics, games or media worthwhile.

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Murti Schofield, the writer of Tomb Raider – The Angel of Darkness, gifted me this tshirt, signed by the Core Design team members as a “thank you” for organising Tomb Raider 20th Anniversary events at PLAY Expo.  I now framed it and it is now a proud part of my collection

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