spandex and monster (cosplay, comics, paranormal, and fetish items from Jerry Williams))

Watchmen, and possible parallel universe Few can deny comic book writer Alan Moore, has altered the shape of comic books (much to his chagrin), and now it is common to see a 'superhero' film aimed at adults or tackling adult themes.  His work is primarily focused on the comic book medium, and after finding himself in legal hassles over the idea of league of extraordinary of gentlemen where a 'hollywood' producer claimed Moore stole his idea for a film, Moore swore off all things cinema and hollywood (it's not uncommon for him to remove his name from any cinema adaption of his works).  Primarily, Moore focuses on his work in the comic book medium. writer and occultist Alan Moore Moore also is into the occult and lists himself as a ceremonial magician and uses these techniques in his writings.  Primarily he believes in the concept of 'idea space' whereas the concept of characters and interaction give birth to the writings of the writer, ie, there a...

'Dark Mary Marvel' is now seen by cosplay artists Mary Marvel was the first female spin off a male comic book superhero (Captain Marvel), and Mary Marvel predated Supergirl by at least a decade.  She is the long lost sister of Billy Batson, and when she utters the word Shazam...she is given powers from the wizard Shazam, although her heroes are different from Billy Batson. Mary Marvel was introduced in Fawcett comics Mary's design and personality was created by artist Marc Swayze.  He dramatically embued Mary Marvel's design and personality upon American actress Judy Garland . Judy Garland in a still from the wizard of Oz Over time, Mary's origin, powers, and costume have changed, but the core idea of a woman powered by magic is still a popular one.  Mary along with Supergirl, Power girl, and Wonder Woman is a staple with cosplay artists, and comic book conventions worldwide.  Alan Moore's legendary 'missing series' twilight of th...

President Nixon, terrorism, and the soothsayer  President Nixon who believed in psychic Jeane Dixon  In this post 9/11 world, many don't realize that most of the nation's infrastructure to antiterrorism had its origin with President Nixon and the soothsayer, celebrity psychic Jeane Dixon.  At that point in her career, Dixon had made several psychic claims that had come to pass (notably the assassination of President Kennedy).   Dixon was well known, and was a consultant to several presidents. astrologer and psychic Jeane Dixon In 1949, she predicted Nixon would become president, most scoffed at the idea, but it came to pass that Nixon had indeed become the president of the United States.  Some of her predictions did not pan out, but some of them actually came true to her predictions.  It was this sometimes positive result, that some in power secretly consulted her.  Dixon was a cause of chagrin to the Reagan administration since Nancy Reagan w...

Michael Keaton as Batman (1989) Few characters evoke such primal reactions as Batman.  Created from violence, Bruce Wayne dedicates his life to fighting crime.  His adversaries are a rolling register of  flamboyant criminals that are carnival mirrors of the madness lurking in the human soul.  I love the cosplay culture, but there is a darker world where some lose track of reality.  You could argue about that point with any pop culture aspect, and I still remember the frantic mania of people convinced my time at roleplaying games would led to madness, and craziness from alleged backward music on those judas priest tapes.  For the record, I had a blast role playing, and the hysteria involving dungeons and dragons along metal music was just smoke and hot air,  Hysteria is the shortcut sometimes when it comes to cosplay, comics, and other pop culture items.  The media will create a slot if one doesn't exist and now that roleplaying games a...

Silenced by the men in black? the sinister men in black When you think of men in black, you automatically think of Will Smith and others fighting alien hordes in a broad comedy.  Most reports of the real men in black are anything but comedic or pleasant, and usually involve weird men in black flashing nebulous government ids and driving brand new model cars completely in black to put pressure on any UFO witnesses.  There are numerous examples of men in black intimidation, but I'll focus on one incident involving the infamous mothman sightings of point pleasant. sketch of the mothman In the mid to late sixities in the sleepy town of point pleasant, sightings of an enormous creature with piercing red eyes were coming in at a frantic rate, the press dubbed the creature 'the mothman'. Quickly adding to the hysteria were the arrival of the mysterious men in black.  Mary Hyre, reporter for the nearby The Athens Messenger had done several stories about the mysterious mothman an...

Seven of nine, the new flesh Seven of nine (Jeri Ryan) When it comes to predicting the new flesh and nexus of science fiction, cosplay, and sexuality, few could argue the character Seven of nine, from Star Trek Voyager, is a poster child of sex in the future.  When Seven of nine was introduced to Voyager, she provided a kick into the sagging ratings of Voyager.  Seven, played by the striking Jerri Ryan, was a girl assimilated by the cyborg nemesis called the borg.  When she was rescued by Voyager and Captain Janeway, Seven was completely underdeveloped by human social skills despite her merge into the technologically superior hive of the borg. She learns what it means to be human, by her trial and errors of social interactions. How does the become a poster child for sexuality of the future?  Seven is a hybrid of science, machines, and humans.  Seven also has a quasi dominatrix costume and interaction with her 'weaker' human counterparts.  You co...

The third eye Belief in human's potential to interact with the higher or spiritual realm sometimes focuses upon the concept of the third eye.  The idea is someplace in the space on your forehead is a sleeping eye awaiting to open to a newer and deeper reality.  Sometimes known as the third chakra in Indian religions, the third eye also has a signifigance to bring a person closer to another plane of existence.  There is belief that the third eye can let the person see auras, or give them the ability to read minds. In some UFO circles, there is conjecture that this third eye is also a connection with other dimensional creatures that may be the 'aliens' of the flying saucers and UFOs.  It is true after the first modern sightings of UFO in the 1940's, there was an explosion of 'contact' stories of aliens, usually Nordic looking creatures who would contact people about the connection with aliens.  The people with elaborate contact stories were usually to a perso...