Thread:GoosebumpsArt/@comment-31392481-20180721095617

Most likely, Randolph and the Shopkeeper are actually the same person. The following points are in favour of this:

1. In Goosebumps Wanted: the Haunted Mask William says that making masks is a family affair. If it was engaged in the parents of William and Randolph, it is logical to assume that Randolph and at least to some extent had to own this craft. Therefore, he well could produce a Unloved / Unwanted.

2. Being by nature clearly an adventurer, Randolph during his wanderings could master some black magic or, say, alchemy, and try to create living beautiful faces for sale to ugly or elderly rich people for a lot of money. The plan collapsed when the faces began to disfigure.

3. Physical description of Shopkeeper generally coincides with the description of the appearance of Randolph.

4. Randolph's attempts to warn buyers about the danger may be the result of remorse for killing his brother and a way to somehow make amends.

5. The backstory of the Unloved and the Shopkeeper described in Goosebumps Official Collector's Caps Book is obviously based on an image of the Shopper from series. And not the fact that it was written by R. L. Stine himself. Thus, this information can not be considered sufficiently reliable and, especially, relevant. It follows that Goosebumps Wanted: the Haunted Mask is not a retcon, but a PREQUEL to the books Haunted Mask and The Scream of the Haunted Mask and the backstory of the Shopkeeper/Randolph and the Unloved/Unwanted. It retconed only The Haunted Mask II and Goosebumps Official Collector's Caps Book.

So me and my friend believe that the backstory of the Unloved and the Shopkeeper as well as the articles dedicated to Haunted Mask should be rewritten according to these facts. Versions set out in the series and Goosebumps Official Collector's Caps Book considered alternative. 