The story: A U.S.-manned mission to Mars. A deadly polar mold (that causes human beings to disassemble, in a rather grisly way). A rogue human arm (with a missing middle finger) that goes on a killing spree in the Sonoran desert.

The brief: No astronauts, no Mars, no spaceships or rockets. These were a few of the parameters I was given. This was indeed a challenge since the story revolves around a space mission to the red planet and the results of that mission.

Integrating the title into the painted illustration is refreshing. The shadow of the cactus forming the monster hand with a missing middle finger has great wit.