I followed “Elixirs I” with a sequel (alas, its only), but limited the
stories and expanded the wraparound this time, again with Steve supplying the atmospheric illustrations. In truth, the stories in
this instance were written for Steve in mind (almost in a commissioned sort of
vein); though one, “Of Summer Urges and Sweet, Balmy Blood” (a
coming-of-age yarn about ghouls) also incorporated my memories of Seaside Heights, NJ
in the late 1960s, while the other was primarily inspired by Steve and, if I’m recalling matters correctly, his original
intent to make a short monster movie with his friend, Dave Murray. Steve asked
me to supply the story for such, and though the film never materialized, the
idea yet led me to concoct “Space Monster”, wherein many of the lead
character’s traits are based on Steve’s. (For what it's worth, the monster’s design was completely Steve's: based on a previous illustration he had fashioned of a Lovecraftian-type specimen.)
Incidentally, the lead character, a police officer who symbiotically harbors the monster, is named Kelton Wyndham: the first name a homage to Paul Marco’s
beloved, bumbling cop from Ed Wood’s “Bride of the Monster”, “Plan 9 From Outer
Space” and “Night of the Ghouls”, and Wyndham being a tribute to writer John
Wyndham, who penned “Day of the Triffids” and “Midwitch Cuckoos”: the latter of
which is the basis for the “Village of the Damned” and “Children of the Damned”
movies.
The wraparound for “Elixirs II” focuses on a drive-in theater,
and the stories that enfold emerge as movies upon the mystical, outdoor screen: indeed, a slightly different spin on the parenthesized concept of "Elixirs I".
