Mayan God Camazotz: The First Batman

There is a link between religion, faith and the fantastic; the heroic. Among my first bedtime stories both read and told to me were the mythologies of Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman.  These were no less equal to the biblical tales and exploits of Samson, David and Noah among others I was introduced to early on. Each in their own way amazing and all miraculous. Would Jesus be as effective had he not walked on water, cured and fed multitudes and eventually raised from the grave himself? Questions…                                 

 There are abundant similarities in ancient mythologies, texts and carvings and associations with our modern mass communications.  One deity and theme that seems to be timeless and multi-cultural is the man-bat or in our popular culture “Batman.” The Mayan’s worshiped what seemed the first bat demi-god in their own Camazotz.  He was half man, half bat, full of mystery and vengeance. He dates back culturally as far as 200 yrs. B. C. and he is still being researched today. The Mesoamericans viewed their bat deity as terrifying and like ever good bat lusting for blood. There were thousands of sacrifices made to him. He would; as to legend emerge from his bat cave nightly and was even connected to the creation of mankind. His visage, persona and legend were equally terrifying. His totems were used for protection and to ward off evils.  This principle element was again not unlike our own, much beloved and lauded Batman.

              

The Mayan Man-Bat creature aroused from his cave in a chronicled tale of a once vengeful murder of the Mayan hero Hunahpu. The blood lust associated with Camazotz was tremendous and legend says he killed his victim by decapitation. The similarities here are much closer to Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.” Camazotz is linked to both nocturnal characters (Batman and Dracula.) This attests to the richness of the ancient culture’s imagination in multiplicitous forms including writings, stone and stories.

There is no shortage of interpretations; but the idea of the “Batman” abounds, especially for our southern Mesoamerican neighbors and ourselves.  In the end it is all about the idea. The myths live on across space and time, across cultures. They are as envisioned in and through “The Batman” whether intended or unintended and in their magnificence; eternal.

“I shall become a Bat!”

“…and thus is born this weird figure of the dark…this avenger of evil...The BATMAN”

 

                              

The art featured on this page range from the minds and hands of Bob Kane, Neal Adams and original Mayan drawings to the spectacular “Camazotz Armour”

 from the phenomenal designer Kimbal.

Absinthe "The Green Fairy"

This alcoholic spirit has taken on a certainly unusual mystique, legendary stature and even persona like no other. Absinthe; “The Green Fairy” is the drink that inspired a generation of artists and writers in Europe (particularly France and Spain) in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This thriving culture lasted until it was banned because of tons of bad press, word of mouth and a binge drinking farmer that topped off a day of mixing a variety of other intense booze with a bottle of absinthe, murdering his wife and finally suicide.

My first knowledge of absinthe came from my high school studies of the great bohemian artists of and around France. Degas, Lautrec, Van Gogh and later Picasso would consume the drink as well as paint saloon patrons and often reference the beverage.  Writers like Hemingway and Wilde were also fans. Theirs were heady and decadent times. They were also times of the most productive, both experimentally and creatively the world has of yet seen. Absinthe was the Heroin, LSD or Meth of it’s day all served in a unique customized reservoir glass.  

The spirit has recently made a comeback in all of it’s myth and glory to most of it's once banned (almost 100 years) European countries and the United States. “The Green Fairy” is available with the most crucial ingredient; wormwood. The botanical substance derived from a flower is essential to the proof rating and power of the drink. 

One of the greatest pleasures of the absinthe experience is the finishing of the fermentation process traditionally done per glass. It is a somewhat but not overly involve thing. The finishing, almost ritualistic, process requires an absinthe (specially designed flat/sieved) spoon or sufficient substitute, sugar cube, cold water and a glass. First add about 1 oz. absinthe to your glass. Next; balance your spoon on the top of your glass and center the sugar cube. Then slowly drip/dissolve the sugar with the cold water. It is important that this is done slowly.  Usually the ratio is two or three parts water to one part absinthe. Absinthe is one of the more powerful spirits and begins usually at 110 proof. The amount of water mixed should be accorded to your own expectations. BE CAREFUL.

Another warning is; Absinthe is sometimes served “Bohemian Style” where the contents are set to blaze. This is completely unnecessary and is only a form of showmanship. This should not be tried by unprofessionals as in Washington D.C. Absinthe Bars only allow licensed practitioners. These servers alone are legally allowed to be Absinthe Mixologist. 

I made my first time trying Absinthe a complete and full event. I started with looking into selected art books from the Impressionist period through to early Cubism and Da Da. I followed that with watching Peter Sellers in a “Pink Panther” compilation, that; just for the laughs and then followed with singer Sade in concert. She has always impressed me with being a Saloon Singer/Entertainer in the vein of Django Reinhardt, Edith Piaf and Josephine Baker. I was impressed with this heady spirit; Absinthe, it’s pale green color, herbal flavor, licorice bouquet, historical provenance and sophistication. Hope your’s goes equally and deliciously well. Cheers!  

Who's Watching???

A young child sits in a darkened movie theater enthralled; viewing a black and white silent film. This; as a young woman plays the music score on piano, apparently agonized and anguished for some as yet unknown reason. The film is of a masked heroic figure pursuing an apparent villain, both on horseback, in some epic of the American Old West. The scene is reminiscent of the sepia toned opening of the classic “Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid.” Both woman and child are African-American. The scenario is about to drastically change as gunfire, aerial bombs and shouts of horror, pain and insults engulf innocents on the streets outside of a once peaceful, almost idyllic town.  This jarring opening is based on the real life “Black Wall St. Massacre” in Tulsa Oklahoma’s Greenwood District in 1921. 

We fast forward to modern times and almost everybody is masked. Who are the good guys? Who are the bad guys? Who and what was the cause of the aforementioned carnage? Why is shrimp/sushi raining from the sky? These are the overriding questions of the premier episode of “Watchmen?” Questions that essentially remain unanswered well into viewing subsequent episodes of the new HBO television series and sequel to the brilliant graphic novel “Watchmen.” 

Originally published in standard monthly comic book installments “Watchmen” was later collected in its entirety and released for readers in the nineteen eighties. It was created by artist Dave Gibbons and writer Alan Moore. It has been much lauded and revered over the years; even chosen by Time Magazine for the top 100 novels released within the years of the magazines conception. “Watchmen” exists in an alternative universe and like every good comic book world there are visions of the fantastic, the futuristic and humor along with ample doses of hysteria and dystopia. 

This satisfying T.V. series by design is complete as a story unit and by decision of creator Damon Lindelof feels like there is no necessity for any further episodes; although someone in the future might have ideas for additional stories. Damon Lindelof has done a brilliant job of production, narrative, and received phenomenal performances from a cast of extremely gifted actors of passionate professional skills and inspiration. Regina King, Don Johnson, Lou Gossett Jr., Jean Smart, Tim Blake Nelson, Jeremy Irons, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Hong Chau all starring and feature in illuminating ways.   

“Watchmen” is provocative, disturbing, eye-popping and triumphant television. Watch the compelling first of nine episodes and you will quite likely be committed to seeing it through to a conclusion both jarring and elusive.