John Watson was commissioned to draw a series of comic strips that appeared on the back of the box for Kellog’s Crunchy Nut Corn Flakes. Evidently, I managed to save one of them, “A monstrous oversight at Loch Ness”.
This is a charming little story told with a “fixed camera” viewpoint much like a Buster Keaton silent movie. The naive-looking kiltie is attempting to record the existence of the Loch Ness monster with his clunky equipment – two microphones, and something on a tripod that’s a cross between a camera and a radar scanner. The gag is that he completely misses the monster’s appearance, so delicious is the cereal. Endearingly, the monster turns out to be a friendly sea creature who behaves just like any other holiday-maker at the seaside, with his beach ball, rubber ring and gaily-coloured swimsuit. He even waves hello to the camera.
Myself, I’m not a professional illustrator, but I admire the way John drew the “pack shot” in this strip. He seems to have drawn it by hand nine times over, and it’s instantly recognisable.
