Second Treasury Epigraphs

Cato the Alien

At the front of Lost Cactus – The Second Treasury, an epigraph page highlights three quotes summarizing Lost Cactus in three parts: freedom, science, and humor. The first is a quote by Cato the Younger reflecting a pithy case for freedom and liberty. The second is by Albert Einstein on what constitutes reality and scientific thought. And the third quote is from none other than Cato the Alien, representing wit and humor.

While brainstorming names for the cast of characters, I came across Cato, immediately pairing it with the Lost Cactus’ resident alien. The acronym for ‘Catastrophe at Take Off.’ was an added bonus. (My Cato crashes his share of ships, sometimes on purpose.) The connection to Cato the Younger followed. The Roman troublemaker was a rebel in his day, grating Caesar and official Rome similar to my alien bucking the bureaucrats on the classified base in the middle of the desert.

Cato the Younger
Whoever would overthrow the Liberty of a Nation, must begin by subduing Freedom of Speech… Without Freedom of Thought, there can be no such Thing as Wisdom; and no such Thing as publick Liberty, without Freedom of Speech…
Cato the Younger


Albert Einstein
Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.
Albert Einstein


Cato the Alien
In space. there are no happy meals.
Cato the Alien

Lost Cactus Newsreel Found Footage

Vintage newsreel footage by an intrepid reporter in the late 1940s on the trail of a top secret facility code named “Lost Cactus.” The guy disappeared years ago. His whereabouts remain a mystery to this day. To discover more of what he stumbled upon in the remote southwestern desert, read the Lost Cactus comic strip anthologies available at your local bookseller, online, and digital versions on Apple Books.

Sample screen from my trusty old iPad. The Apple version takes advantage of interactive features enhancing the reader experience. Both the First and Second treasuries are available through Apple and will look even better on the newer and larger iPads.

Meet DOC

Doc

Way back in 1947 the first Quonset hut cast a shadow on the remote desert parcel destined to become Lost Cactus. Soon after that, an entire base arose out of the harsh desert landscape. And within the top-secret national laboratory ~ built on that base ~ a mysterious scientist known as Doc has had carte blanche to create, concoct, and conjure with impunity to this day. Doc’s youthful appearance masks his advanced years; no one knows his real age, or where he’s from, for that matter. Doc is happiest working in his lab, but he ends up sidetracked by the small band of genetic misfits he created. 

As if that’s not enough, his brilliant DNA reanimation technology has led to a few deceased celebrity sightings around Lost Cactus, such as Elvis standing in line on Taco Tuesday in the Lost Cactus cafeteria. The fact that the reanimates zombify within a short period has him in a quandary. Doc also has a secret warehouse of brains he acquires when prominent people unwittingly check a certain nondescript box on their tax returns ~ thereby granting Doc post-mortem cranial access. His task? To transplant the brains into new bodies, easier said than done. 

Keeping Lost Cactus on the cutting edge of science is Doc’s mission ~ just so long as the tax money keeps pouring in.