In 1997 I appeared as a character in a comic book story of the detective noire Lazarus Ledd series, published monthly in Italy. How did that happen? Well...the artist, Alfredo Orlandi, is a friend of mine and the husband of my cousin Francesca. Friends and family often appear as characters in his stories. Here is a copy of some of the pages of:

Terrore in fondo al mare 
Lazarus Ledd N. 46, April. 1997. Design:  Alfredo Orlandi. 
 
 
 
The detective Lazarus Ledd found something weird under the sea. He takes it to my lab and asks me to analyze it.
 
Oh...it's a human hand...that apparently has a life of its own. 
 
I analyze the specimen and find out that the hand is made of intelligent cells. 

...but ... something unexpected happens to me. 
The intelligent cells take possess of my body.
 
  
...the usual bad guys... 
 
 
 
 
 

...I am empowered by the intelligent cells... 
 
 
 
 

P.S. notice my Popeye shirt
  
Finally, my newly acquired strength allows me to defeat the bad guys and save the day.