Comments on: Joker’s Card, Jokawild, and Mothman

By: mystery_man

mystery_man — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 01:29:53 +0000

Lightning Orb- Yes! The kappa too! I was pointing out commonly known animals that have been called mischevous troublemakers attributed with supernatural powers throughout the ages. The kitsune, badger, and tanuki are all currently real, known animals. (although if the kappa really existed, then I supposed to the Japanese they were a real, known animal as well.)

But yes, the kappa was known as a troublemaker too. However in the case of the kappa, if you could befriend one they would be of great help to humans, doing everything from helping with farming and crops to performing medical services. Interestingly, the kappa’s medical specialty was said to be bone setting. So the kappa was known for having a benevolent streak under the right circumstances.

By: Lightning Orb

Lightning Orb — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 22:42:37 +0000

mystery_man – what about the kappa?

By: mystery_man

mystery_man — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 23:21:35 +0000

Darkshines- Interesting you brought up Japanese folklore. As a matter of fact, the word “kitsune” (きつね) by itself just means simply “fox”, not “dream fox”. The supernatural abilities attributed to it do not reflect in the name itself but were very closely associated with the animal. But you are correct that they were considered a trickster, an often malevolent one. It was said to have many magical powers above and beyond taking human form. One such power was the ability to possess humans, and there is even a word for this “kitsunetsuki”, which more or less means “to be possessed by a fox”. It usually happened to young women and it is said their facial expressions would change to resemble those of a fox.

Foxes are not the only tricksters in Japanese folklore that could be compared to the Joker. The badger was also considered to be a roguish trickster as well as the tanuki (raccoon dog, a type of wild dog, no relation to raccoons.) One of the tanuki’s abilities was to create illusions to mislead people.

By: ministerjason

ministerjason — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 15:43:45 +0000

when we delve in to a dark side we always open doors to negative influences.
There are spiritual warfares constantly.
The eyes are windows, windows to the soul.
images and sounds are filtered through the air by the “prince of the power of the air”, better known as Lucifer/Satan.

When we accept Jesus we can rest assured that we have the seal of the Holy Spirit on us.

Accept Jesus, and be saved!

So even when we suffer deaths, and torment we now have a realization that it all will be okay, and that this life is menial when it comes to the glory of the Father’s kingdom.

By: darkshines

darkshines — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 13:47:37 +0000

Very interesting reading. I know in japanese mythology, the bat symbolises good luck, and seeing one in or near your house is a blessing. The nearest thing to a joker in the mythology is kitsu-ne, the dream fox. He can transform into a human shape, and steals away people husbands and wives in the night. He is a trickster and is very cunning.

By: Our Lady of the Massacre

Our Lady of the Massacre — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:10:52 +0000

Speaking of the Mothman, I always thought the Mothman Prophecies movie was very under-rated. I think I might go rent it this weekend!

“Chap…stick…”

By: Munnin

Munnin — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 02:55:09 +0000

LOL! The Naked Zorro – another thread in the web? Michael Jackson’s oft mentioned property “Neverland Ranch” is located just off Figueroa Mountain Road, a short distance beyond the turn off from the San Marcos Pass (while employed by a local contracter I helped build a fence on the property in the Summer of 1980, before Jackson purchased it). As I mentioned in the post above, Salomon Pico – a possible inspiration for the character of Zorro – was said to have harried the stage coach that traveled over the San Marcos pass.

By: jmac75115

jmac75115 — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 02:43:35 +0000

As a former owner of a comic shop, a cartoonist, and general comic afficianado I have some information that might prove useful…or not. The connection between Zorro and Batman are not just fictional, Bob Kane has even stated that Zorro was his inspiration for Batman. Throughout his publication history certain authors have tried to create fictional inspirations for Batman but they never really stuck. Zorro created Batman both fictionally and in reality.

Ironically enough, the tradional origin of the Joker had the Red Hood (an unknown criminal) being knocked into a vat of chemicals. His skin is bleached, hair is dyed, and his psyche is cracked. Also of note, in the 1989 Batman staring Keaton and Nicholson a pre-acid Joker is the criminal responsible for the murder of Bruce Wayne’s parents.

One last note: In Miller’s the Dark Knight Returns Batman’s final battle with the Joker involved the Joker repeatedly stabbing Batman before Batman could break his neck (though not fatally).

Thusly = Zorro inspires Batman who inspires the Joker.

I don’t know if we are simply seeing patterns because we want to, or (if as Mystery Man says) we are working on too simple a program to see it, or even if there is some celestial/spiritual connection. But hopefully the above will help.

I don’t know if these cases

By: Exactly Squatch

Exactly Squatch — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 02:04:28 +0000

It seems as though there’s a Zorro – Phantom Clown connection!

The Naked Zorro

Very strange.

And further down the rabbit-hole we go…

By: mystery_man

mystery_man — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:27:02 +0000

Speaking of significant coincidences, I read a very interesting theory in an article from the Fortean Times. It proposed that perhaps these sorts of things may be the results of “emergence”, which is complexity arising from simple rules in a self organizing system. Let me explain.

The article uses termites as an example. Termites build incredibly complex mounds, complete with tunnels, chambers, and sophisticated air circulation, by following three simple rules 1)Find some earth and chew it into a pellet. 2) Wander around randomly. 3) When you find a raised area, drop the pellet and go back to step one. The whole mound can be built in this fashion and it does not matter how many individual termite join the system. The biologist Pierre-Paul Grasse called this “Cooperation without communication”. Flocks of birds likely exhibit seemingly instantaneous coordination over many individuals through a similar means, by following a simple set of rules. Bear with me, this is all relevant.

So perhaps coincidences and indeed some other phenomena are similarly the result of an emergent pattern within a self governing system. An example given was when someone calls you at the precise time you are thinking about them. Could this be because both thought processes of both people are following the same unspoken pattern? Maybe the causes of these coincidences are not overly complex or caused by mysterious dark forces, but rather flow from basic patterns that are too simple for us to see.

I don’t know if I buy into this theory, but I did find that article to be interesting. Good speculation.