Wednesday, May 23, 2012
THE THIRTEENTH SIGN
CREATED BY: SNAKEBITE CORTEZ & JOSHUA ORTEGA
MASTER MASK BY: DIGGER T. MESCH
MASK BY: SNAKEBITE CORTEZ
STORY BY: SNAKEBITE CORTEZ
PICS BY: RJ LAMENDOLA
mask and story:Snakebite Cortez (Director Petra Gallerie SORO/Social Club) www.petragallerie.com
The Cosmic Serpent Conjurer, Olucius.
The Thirteenth Sign has been a reoccurring mystery
star system in all cultures. In recent times it was said
to change our personal zodiacs. The Grecians
called it the web weaver, the designer
of intent in the universe.
Recently ancient text has been discovered,
dating back before the Sumerians, outlining
the purpose of The Thirteenth Sign.
A cycle sign, said by the Maya
to return in our sites when it was time
to re-connect with spirit during the end
of the long count, suggested by José Argüelles.
A time where we become the gods or heroes
we have always been, but have forgotten
because of our long history of social constructs
and paradigms disconnecting us from
the source's truth.
Olucius, the Hero Maker, was said to be born
from the consciousness of the universe to balance
itself. Where there is darkness you will find light.
Where men do evil things, there are heroes
to counter their affects on each of the worlds
they live in. Some theorise the thirteenth sign
is a planet with widespread orbital patterns
said to cross event horizons with multiple solar
systems. Planting hero seeds through the cosmos.
Inspiring people to wear a different face, or mask.
To assist them in the journey of self discovery
and the choices individuals make that affect
the whole. Showing us the paradox of the infinite
choice and battle of what the Maya called,
Mitoté , the influence of the thousand voices.
Raising the questions within our DNA.
Who am I?
Why am I here?
Who do I decide to be?
What mask do I wear?
BRAZILLIAN SUPER-MAN
CREATED BY: SNAKEBITE CORTEZ & JOSHUA ORTEGA
MASTER MASK BY: DIGGER T. MESCH
MASK BY: SAMEERAH
STORY BY: JOSHUA ORTEGA
PICS BY: RJ LAMENDOLA
Brazilian Super-man
On
Sunday, February 28, 2008, the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de
Janeiro was struck by lightning and suffered damage to numerous parts of
its body. A restoration was put in place immediately, but there was so
much more to this seemingly straightforward story.
Construction
on the statue originally began in 1922, but the reasons for its
construction were, to put it lightly, "out of this world."
In the middle of the 19th
century, a Catholic priest witnessed a show of light near the forest
that he described as "a vision from God." Proceeding that vision was
something even more amazing: the discovery of a baby boy, bathed in the
same light, and amazingly, perfectly healthy and seemingly immune to the
harsh elements of that day.
He
took this baby under his wing and sought to find the baby a home, but
before he had a chance to, this "miracle baby" went into what could only
be described in retrospect as suspended animation.
Not
wanting the child to be harmed, he came up with a bold vision, to
create a statue of Christ in this miracle child's honor…and he would
place the child in the center of the statue, safe from all harm within
the body of Jesus.
The child was placed in the statue, and on February 28, he awakened.
A flash of lightning, a rupturing of soapstone and concrete, and the child had been born again.
ETHIOPIAN HELLBOY
CREATED BY: SNAKEBITE CORTEZ & JOSHUA ORTEGA
MASTER MASK BY: DIGGER T. MESCH
MASK BY: JAN UTSTEIN O'NEILL / WILLIAM O'NEILL
STORY BY: JOSHUA ORTEGA
PICS BY: RJ LAMENDOLA
Ethiopian Iron Man
On December 26th, 1935, following the murder of an Italian pilot, the Italian-Ethiopian War would take on a new dimension…
With unexpected results.
Despite
certain Geneva Convention restrictions, the Italian Army, under
Mussolini, used a combination of mustard gas and tear gas (or claimed to
use such a substance), to rain down a brutal chemical barrage of "fiery
rain" upon the Ethiopian population.
This would have unexpected consequences.
One
man's heart stopped during the attack, and he was given water and an
interesting mix of awaze that some claimed countered the chemical
effects. It's hard to say the witnesses were wrong.
Emerging
from this attack came a "man like iron," with skin strong enough to
repel bullets and heavy artillery. It seemed he could not be killed, and
this man fought many battles on the side of his countrymen, but after
retiring to a life of peace, he was ultimately exiled from his country
when Ethiopian-American relations began in earnest.
He still lives today, ironically rumored to be living in Washington, DC or Seattle.
FILIPINO HELLBOY
CREATED BY: SNAKEBITE CORTEZ & JOSHUA ORTEGA
MASTER MASK BY: DIGGER T. MESCH
MASK BY: GABRIEL GARCIA
STORY BY: JOSHUA ORTEGA
PICS BY: RJ LAMENDOLA
Filipino Hellboy
The setting is the Philippines, the dawn of the Philippine-American War.
In
some ways, it's a little known war, rarely spoken about by historians,
but a war that had powerful implications for both countries…and their
people.
Following
the Philippine Revolution (1896-1898) and the Spanish-American War
(1898), the Filipino people rebelled against the occuping American
forces in 1899. Though the American forces initially spoke of liberation
and autonomy, the Filipinos quickly learned that they had simply traded
one authority for the other.
Spanish colonialism became American colonialism.
The Filipino people–and the duwende–were not pleased.
Duwendes
(roughly translated as "goblin of the house"), were known to plague the
Americans at every opportunity. Described as "devilish" or "hell-sent"
by their victims, duwende's were not only mischievous and cruel, they
could also be quite deadly.
Many
Filipinos would leave food or offerings for the duwendes, in order to
protect their homes from the duwende's mischief. The occupying American
forces, however, never did such a thing.
And so they drew the duwende's wrath.
The
most famous incident occurred in 1901, following the massacre of
countless unarmed citizens on the island of Samar. At least ten troops
reported nightmares of "demons" and "goblins" the previous night of the
incident, and on the actual day, over 50 American troops wandered into
the jungles of Samar, chanting strange songs as they left in the night.
To
this day, the soldiers' bodies have never been recovered, though the
strange chanting is still reportedly heard from time to time.
GOD ZILLA
CREATED BY: SNAKEBITE CORTEZ & JOSHUA ORTEGA
MASTER MASK BY: DIGGER T. MESCH
MASK BY: JOHN P. FELIX
STORY BY: JOSHUA ORTEGA
PICS BY: RJ LAMENDOLA
Grecian Godzilla
Like a rock in a storm, she was an anchor for survival and providence–and for love.
Love, most importantly of all.
When
cold winds stormed and blue waters grew harsh, she was there. Not only
for him, but for others; other souls swept adrift on seas of
uncertainty, hopelessness, and often times, despair.
Her beauty though, instantly gave others hope.
But the person she gave the most hope to, she would come to love the most.
There was a girl, and there was a boy.
In many ways, the story is as simple as that.
She enjoyed many things; painting, food, illustration, family, dance, but most of all, she had a passion and love for the arts.
He
did too, though it was when he met her, loved her, fully realized her
beauty and compassion, that he realized they had similar passions.
And they loved, quite deeply.
Life intervened.
Even
through the tragedy, his commitment to her remained. Rather than giving
in to despair, her sense of humor buyoed him…it kept him afloat.
The rock in the storm.
He
dreamt one night, many nights later, and he dreamt of her…her style,
her taste, her essence, her love. And he decided to share this with the
world.
A mask appeared, and much to his surprise, it reminded him of childhood.
Old monster movies, laughter, innocence, warmth, and ultimately, of her.
The child within was still alive.
He created a mask.
He smiled.
He fell in love once again.
And he became the rock in the storm.
INCAN DIANA
CREATED BY: SNAKEBITE CORTEZ & JOSHUA ORTEGA
MASTER MASK BY: DIGGER T. MESCH
MASK BY: TREVOR GORING
STORY BY: JOSHUA ORTEGA
PICS BY: RJ LAMENDOLA
Incan Diana
She was born Anahuarque, and was a woman of great wonder and power.
Unfortunately for her–and the Land of the Four Quarters–her wondrous abilities and talent were never fully recognized.
Patriarch's world dismissed her abilities, and an entire empire fell because of it.
While
there were many events leading up to the fall of the Incas, one, final
event stands out in particular, and strangely, is rarely documented.
According
to official history, Pizarro and Vincente de Valverde met with the
Incas in 1532 AD and demanded that they convert to Christianity and
accept the rulership of King Charles I of Spain. It was said that they
met with Atahualpa, one of the most powerful leaders of the empire, and
when he misunderstood their requests, the Spanish decided to conquer
them outright.
What
is lesser known, is that Anahuarque, veteran of many fierce battles and
who possessed a way with words like no other in the empire, was present
at this meeting. Atahualpa, feeling that a woman had no right to
negotiate for the Inca, ignored her warnings and her advice, dismissed
her from the room, and then proceeded to create the misunderstanding
with the Spanish that most historians attribute to the fall of the
empire.
Atahualpa was put to death by the Spainairds in 1532 AD.
There
is no documention of Anahuarque's death, though an "Incan queen" is
said to have organzied a group of women, and moved them to an isolated
island off the coast of Peru.
This
island has never been discovered or verified, but legends say that as
long as Patriarch's world exists, the island cannot be seen by mortal
eyes.
INDIAN SWAMP THING
CREATED BY: SNAKEBITE CORTEZ & JOSHUA ORTEGA
MASTER MASK BY: DIGGER T. MESCH
MASK BY: BROCK POTTER
STORY BY: JOSHUA ORTEGA
PICS BY: RJ LAMENDOLA
Indian Swamp Thing
He
grew up in the slums outside of the city, a red and white mangrove
swamp serving as the tangled barrier between two worlds. There were
legends about that swamp.
People
said that the swamp was alive…not just alive like an ecosystem, but a
living, sentient swamp. "It looks into you," is what one local was
quoted as saying.
They also said that parts of the swamp could take the form of a man–but only when it was angry.
On December 9, 2010, the swamp became angry.
Toxic
waste from the city was spilled into the swamp, poisining the ecosystem
and countless residents in the slums. People grew sick. People died.
But not the swamp.
It grew stronger.
Reports
of a swamp man, or "Swamp Thing," began circulating around the city.
Pieces of the swamp began growing out of buildings, roads, sidewalks,
walls, cars, everything…
Including people.
The city is gone now. Only the swamp remains.
Some say the Swamp Thing has moved to other cities, so look around sometime. You may find the Swamp Thing growing out of nearly anything…
(Note:
There will be little pieces of the mask/Swamp Thing growing inside of
the frame with the story…this will be the only piece that breaks the 4th wall, fitting for SW)
JAPANESE HUMAN TORCH
CREATED BY: SNAKEBITE CORTEZ & JOSHUA ORTEGA
MASTER MASK BY: DIGGER T. MESCH
MASK BY: DIGGER T. MESCH
STORY BY: JOSHUA ORTEGA
PICS BY: RJ LAMENDOLA
Japanese Human Torch
The
original Human Torch was first sighted at the Fudoin Temple in
Hiroshima, shortly after the bombing by Allied Western forces during
World War II. He emerged from the temple, glowing like unearthly fire,
and was sighted by several survivors of the attack. Rumor has it that he
was able to help those with radiation sickness by absorbing the
radiation into his own body (though there is no scientific proof that
this did occur, just first-hand accounts of survivors and witnesses).
The
"Human Torch," as he was called, was active in the area for roughly one
week, then his glow suddenly went out, and soon after, he died of
radiation poisining. His real name is still unknown to this day.
It
was a strange coincidence to say the least, especially considering that
the temple was one of the very few structures that survived the nuclear
holocaust in 1945, and there are ancient records that indicate "a
burning man" emerging from the temple in the 14th century...a "fire samurai" who defended the temple from invaders, and disappeared shortly therafter.
Recently,
following the devastating Sendai quake and tsunami, there have been
reports of a new "Human Torch" emerging from the temple yet again. Once
again shrouded in mystery, this new Human Torch is said to be a survivor
of a reactor meltdown in Fukushima. His final wish was to visit the
Fudoin Temple, in honor of Japan's fallen soldiers.
He did.
And he emerged as something else entirely.
MAORI SPIDER-MAN
CREATED BY: SNAKEBITE CORTEZ & JOSHUA ORTEGA
MASTER MASK BY: DIGGER T. MESCH
MASK BY: SAMEERAH
STORY BY: JOSHUA ORTEGA
PICS BY: RJ LAMENDOLA
Maori Spider-Man
The child was born Tapu Katipo, a predestined name to say the least.
Missionaries
roughly translated the name as "Sacred (or taboo) Spider," though
whether they translated the name properly is still hotly contested to
this day.
Regardless,
there once existed a child, a normal child by all accounts, a
well-liked child who was said to play well with others, both those of
his tribe as well as the missionaries that increasingly were found
throught the island nation.
Tapu
was a good student, "quite pious" (according to missionary records),
and was known to take a stand against things he viewed were not just,
and was not afraid to take a stand.
Even if that meant a flogging at the hands of the missionaries.
One missionary, whose name has been lost to time, flogged him quite brutally on his 13th
birthday, "triggering" something within young Tapu that certainly
seemed predestined given his name. It was reported that he saw a spider
crawl onto his arm, and when the final blow was given to him, the spider
was crushed, biting Tapu in the process.
The
next day, Tapu was sighted climbing the side of a makeshift church. The
next, he was swinging from a web-like substance above the branches of a
Tatoki tree. The following week, the foresaid flogger was found
floating in a nearby bay…
Covered in what could only be described as spider webs.
The
missionaries soon left the area, the floggings ceased, and this
"Spider-Man," as he came to be known, is still revered to this day for
perserving something that could have been lost to the ephemeral web of
time…
MAYAN PHOENIX
CREATED BY: SNAKEBITE CORTEZ & JOSHUA ORTEGA
MASTER MASK BY: DIGGER T. MESCH
MASK BY: DINO J. BORTOLI
STORY BY: JOSHUA ORTEGA
PICS BY: RJ LAMENDOLA
Mayan Phoenix
The year is 2012. The end of the Mayan calendar.
Projections from the end of the world abound, much like the turn of the millenium in 1999…or 999.
999 held signifigance to her.
It
was the year she was first reborn as the Phoenix, after all. From
ancient Mayan civilization to the so-called "future," she has been
present, or at least, was a presence.
Her
name is not relevant, as she took many forms, not all of them birdlike
or fiery. Sometimes, she was as cold as a lioness, other times, as warm
as a summer breeze–with a swarm of hornets blowing upon it, of course.
She was a force to be reckoned with, a power unlike any other.
Her very presence, her continual rebirth, signalled times of change, upheaveal, and renewal.
1206 AD, 1492 AD, 1776 AD, 1939 AD, and more, she was there, manifest upon this earthly plane.
But
something changed in 2012: She became the harbinger of the end of the
world. Not the end of the world as in armageddon or fire and brimstone,
but rather, the end of the world as we know it.
Everything
changed that year, from the environment to civilization to basic human
relationships…and suprisingly for some, things did not change for the
worse.
In many ways, despite the prophecies of doom, the world became a better place.
And for the first time since her creation, the Phoenix smiled.
MEXICAN DEATH DEALER
CREATED BY: SNAKEBITE CORTEZ & JOSHUA ORTEGA
MASTER MASK BY: DIGGER T. MESCH
MASK BY: AXEL ORTIZ
STORY BY: JOSHUA ORTEGA
PICS BY: RJ LAMENDOLA
Mongolian Hulk
The
mysteries surrounding the life of Ghengis Khan are numerous, but his
death, ironically, proves the most mysterious. Though the date of his
death is believed to be known–1227 AD–the actual date to this day
remains a historical and scientific enigma.
After
uniting numerous Mongol tribes throughout northeast Asia, Khan went on
to conquer much of Eurasia. His methods were often considered brutal, he
was known to slaughter innocents and soldiers alike, and it seemed
there was no force on Earth that could stop his reign of power.
No force on Earth, that is.
It
is widely believed by many historians (though, arguably, controversial
historians), that Genghis Khan's true date of death was1200 AD.
His cause of death?
A meteorite. But there's more to the story.
Based
on ancient texts, it is said that he was struck down by a "force" and
"light" that had never been seen before. Astronomers have now verified
that there was a brilliant meteorite impact in 1200, and traces of the
crater have been found and definitively identified in northeast Asia.
Other
ancient texts speak of some type of hulking beast that emerged in
"light" and took over the mantle of Genghis Khan. Of course, this points
to the fact that somehow, this otherwordly creature continued to rule
the empire untill 1227 AD.
Impossible? It would seem so, yet there is one other interesting fact that was gleaned from the ancient texts:
The hulkish beast was said to have died in 1227.
MONGOLIAN HULK
CREATED BY: SNAKEBITE CORTEZ & JOSHUA ORTEGA
MASTER MASK BY: DIGGER T. MESCH
MASK BY: AXEL ORTIZ
STORY BY: JOSHUA ORTEGA
PICS BY: RJ LAMENDOLA
Mongolian Hulk
The
mysteries surrounding the life of Ghengis Khan are numerous, but his
death, ironically, proves the most mysterious. Though the date of his
death is believed to be known–1227 AD–the actual date to this day
remains a historical and scientific enigma.
After
uniting numerous Mongol tribes throughout northeast Asia, Khan went on
to conquer much of Eurasia. His methods were often considered brutal, he
was known to slaughter innocents and soldiers alike, and it seemed
there was no force on Earth that could stop his reign of power.
No force on Earth, that is.
It
is widely believed by many historians (though, arguably, controversial
historians), that Genghis Khan's true date of death was1200 AD.
His cause of death?
A meteorite. But there's more to the story.
Based
on ancient texts, it is said that he was struck down by a "force" and
"light" that had never been seen before. Astronomers have now verified
that there was a brilliant meteorite impact in 1200, and traces of the
crater have been found and definitively identified in northeast Asia.
Other
ancient texts speak of some type of hulking beast that emerged in
"light" and took over the mantle of Genghis Khan. Of course, this points
to the fact that somehow, this otherwordly creature continued to rule
the empire untill 1227 AD.
Impossible? It would seem so, yet there is one other interesting fact that was gleaned from the ancient texts:
The hulkish beast was said to have died in 1227.
SALISH BATMAN
CREATED BY: SNAKEBITE CORTEZ & JOSHUA ORTEGA
MASTER MASK BY: DIGGER T. MESCH
MASK BY: JOE ALLARD
STORY BY: JOSHUA ORTEGA
PICS BY: RJ LAMENDOLA
Salish Batman
It was a cold day on the Strait of Georgia, and it was a most unusual time.
The
long overcast of the Northwest winter covered overhead, light mist
filtering down, soft, and not at all unpleasant. However, Luk was
confused.
Whereas salmon were typically abundant throughout the year, something different was transpiring on this misty spring day.
Namely,
the salmon were simply not there, as if they had decided on a whim to
go somewhere else that season. Since it was still early spring, his
parents were concerned about food supplies for Luk and his siblings, and
they decided to venture out, further into the sea than they had ever
gone before.
Luk saw a bat that day, he thought nothing of it.
Not until later.
At
sea, his parents found bountiful amounts of herring, filled their boat
with the miraculous catch, but didn't see the pirate coming.
They
said he was of Salish and Makah heritage, but regardless, there was no
doubt he was a pirate. He stole the full bounty of their catch that day,
and when Luk's parents protested, he killed them, threw their bodies to
the sea, and towed their boat back to shore, keeping everything for
himself and his crew.
Luk
saw another bat that night, it seemed to speak to him, telling him of
what had transpired, making him see fevered visions of the tragic
events.
Already skilled in traditional sculpture, that night he made a mask. A mask for the bat; a mask for his parents.
A mask for revenge.
VIKING STORM
CREATED BY: SNAKEBITE CORTEZ & JOSHUA ORTEGA
MASTER MASK BY: DIGGER T. MESCH
MASK BY: GARY MONTALBANO
STORY BY: JOSHUA ORTEGA
PICS BY: RJ LAMENDOLA
Viking Storm
Thor was widely known to be the god of thunder.
But the god of lightning? There was none.
She was a goddess.
Her
name was Molniya, and she was born in the cold climes of the north, the
fatherless daughter of a weaver mother who was known for making bright
patterns in her weavework. Her mother, whose name has been lost to
history, said that the patterns were inspired "from above," and more
importantly, that her child was as well.
Considering Molniya's legacy, and the legends of her otherwordly powers, it's hard to argue with the legend.
There
has been much conjecture recently in academic circles that Thor's
hammer, often known as Mjolnir or Mjonler, was actually not a "literal"
hammer, but in fact, was the great love of Thor's life, a woman who was
the lightning to his thunder, the light to his sound, the bright to his
dark.
Molniya.
If
this is correct, then every tale of Thor must be interpreted even more
metaphorically than before. Not only must one glean the history from the
myth, but one must also realize that even within the myth, there are layers of metaphor.
Any
action taken by Thor and his hammer, any incredible feat performed
alone by his hammer, was likely the actions of his greatest lover,
Molniya, enscribed to history, at least for now, as a hammer, rather
than the goddess that she actually was…
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