What Lurks

cryptid

noun

cryp·​tid

plural cryptids

: a creature (such as Sasquatch or the Loch Ness Monster) that has been claimed to exist, but never proven to exist by scientific means.

There's no solid proof they exist ... but the audio recordings and video transcripts, the old journal entries and first-hand accounts and tales passed down through the generations, the evidence can't be so easily dismissed. You'll know them by the smell of sulfur and rot, or by the steady ringing in your ears. You'll hear them knock if you don't keep that lantern in the window lit or forget to leave an offering. And if you catch it on film ... don't look a second time.

Monsters that were once human ... and monsters who want to be. From the deepest parts of Appalachia and the darkest parts of coastal forests, to old rail yards and your very own backyard, there's always somewhere for them to hide.

Featuring stories and illustrations by A. Atkins, Laura Barker, Hannah Birss, Alex Burnstein, Terry Campbell, Jamie Churchman, Gio Clairval, Gabrielle Contelmo, Z.D. Dochterman, Aldrian Estepa, gaast, Micah Giddens, Chrissy Gray, P. N. Harrison, R.R. Harrow, Liam Hogan, S.E. Howard, C. Charles Knight, Joshua Lim, J. Needham, J Neira, David O Mahony, Caterina Minezzi, Liddell Rayne, Frankie Regalia, Adrielle Reina, Rey Revelli, Marta Riva, Leon Saul, Brahn Smith, AM Sutter, and LR Woods.