Megacon 2010: Year of the Krampus

Sunday March 14. The day of the RLSH Panel at Megacon. What a wondrous day, after a wet, cold, rainy start, that day was quite bright. Megacon wasn't the only convention occurring, but as an annual tradition that borders on comedy, the annual varied age cheerleading competition also took place. I feel a need to mention this because as I walked to the convention center, these young ladies were the first that I encountered. And hilariously enough, several girls and parents stopped me to take photos with Krampus! I of course obliged, telling the young ladies to remember to listen to their parents and not be naughty. OR I WOULD KNOW. And what a thrill it was as I entered the hall for Megacon when another young girl approached asking if I were the German Christmas demon! I praised the young lady and gave her a hug before posing for another photo, one of many that day. This was a good omen.

My most immediate concern was to make my way to the booth of the Skiffytown League of Heroes in order to see my friends DC's Guardian and Agent Mixsae for the first time in the flesh, so to speak. 'Twas a pleasure to see them, posing for photos and being interviewed for a Canadian broadcast company. Despite being home to such unwanted company as Pamela Anderson's Hepatitis and the Menstruating Mudworm, this country has great people and taste if they were to come and do a documentary piece about Skiffytown and the Real Life Superheroes. Mister Jingles also appeared in my black sack to respectfully make his presence known, something that amused several passers by. I was quite fortunate to participate, showing my perspective, even how those of drastically different ways and means of words and deed can strive for the same goals. DC even warmed this one's dark heart by making Krampus an honorary member of Skiffytown! I know that I'm not the most kid friendly, but I withheld my foot long tongue in the presence of the children, some of whom even enjoyed singling Krampus out for photos while standing with the heroes!

We come now to a part where I will have to place my large boots upon the proverbial soapbox. It's my blog, I can bloody well do what I want. In the past months, I have heard many people throw callous statements in the direction of groups like Skiffytown. I have heard them called costumed activists. Glory hounds, Role players. LARPers. Fakes. And I have to tell everyone by my perspective that you couldn't be more wrong in your accusations. It's true, the Skiffys don't as a rule go out to patrol their neighborhoods, but are active in bettering their communities both in and out of costumes. They visit sick children in hospitals, they helped children and parents to help construct the boys and girls' own personal visions of being superheroes by creating their own costumes. They performed a radio drama that was entertaining and a respite for many to enjoy. They also acted as an auxiliary security force if children went missing, joining in the search and recruiting others to help. This year, there was even a child that approached them asking for help in finding their parent! Thankfully, all parties were found and reunited. These people weren't doing this out of seeking glory, but enjoying each other's company and giving back to the community and to the convention. That's not fake. They're not playing just to play. They were doing positive services and making things better than before they arrived.

I've heard people state that giving sandwiches to homeless people while in costume detracts from the efforts of people outside of such outfits doing such jobs every day. If they were only glory seeking publicity whores, perhaps you'd be right, But the members of Skiffytown are no such group. And I seem to recall my own co-host Executrix working tirelessly for months to organize and execute her zombie walk for a charity. Where are the naysayers in the community for her? Oh, she's in the community, she's earned her place. Very well, but the Skiffys have requested that Executrix please attempt to come to Megacon next year if possible, for she is a kindred spirit. Giving, fun, informative, and perhaps she may not be as bright a beacon of justice as others under the name superhero, but her heart is in the right place for a good cause. In the most polite way possible, I say that you should show the members of Skiffytown the same grace and respect that you've shown Executrix. In the least polite way...well, I believe DC's Guardian would state that heroes don't do that.

But Krampus does.

DC's Guardian and his people are deserving of the utmost respect. If all hell broke loose in their vicinity, Krampus would gladly stand alongside them to help ensure they would not come to harm. Krampus would take a bullet for DC and his ilk. Anyone that targets them with negativity and potential harm to their mission will earn my unforgiving wrath. Some already have. You know who you are. And if Krampus would cast a dark light upon them, then as much as it would pain me, I'd resign my honorary commission to continue my path without damning them. Don't fuck with the Skiffys again. Ever. Or you deal with a very rabid Krampus, the likes of which you've only seen glimpses.

Now that the first serious statement has been said, it's time to lighten things up a bit. One of the most enjoyable parts of the convention was the inaugural appearance of the performance group Willie's Wenches! Malcus Bostwick, Lolita, Clarissa, their newest wench Sophia replacing their now retired Emma Grace and their Wench in training running the sound board(do get back to me with your stage name, won't you?) were wonderful. Taking Shakespeare and mixing it up with modern comedy, musical numbers, sword fights, gymnastics and even cheerleading made it a wonderful experience that Krampus was fortunate enough to witness incognito twice for their adults only show. 'Twould have been three, but their final show was scheduled simultaneously with the RLSH panel. But I enjoyed their company as much as possible before their egress back to Renaissance fairs and other conventions. There's not enough I could say about this troupe! All members were quite the rapier wit, intelligent, strong in their love of all things nerdesque, and the ladies all brought their individual charms. Sophia brought forth fresh enthusiasm, Lolita could let ring dulcet tones of opera and popular music one moment while the next grinding like Cherry Darling on a fortunate audience member! Clarissa's wit and infectious laughter made her a humorous match for old Krampus, not an easy task. But with all ladies, their charisma and charm matched their talents, accessorizing their obvious beauty. You can find their photos on my Myspace, I certainly find them enjoyable to see. Here is a link to their site, do swing by and tell them Krampus sent you.

http://www.willieswenches.com/

The rest of the day went on well, killing time until the panel. One of the lady celebs actually stopped ME for a photo! And she loved my boots. I admit, they were wonderful, as even cloven hooves occasionally needs arch support. Perhaps next time I can get a set that is more reminiscent of Gene Simmons'? Also discovering humor were many a passerby who witnessed Krampus drinking through the nostril of this avatar's mask. 'Twas important to stay hydrated as active as the con was.

We then come to the crescendo of the convention, the panel closing out the convention, the Real Life Superhero panel. Earlier in the day I was able to separately meet many of the panel members, but we were all assembled in a round table setting. DC's Guardian was the MC and moderator, and the panel consisted of Patriot, Amazomia, Super Hero, Master Legend, Symbiote, Knight Vigil and myself. It was also interesting that although it's difficult to label Krampus, I was considered the resident spokesdemon for the Real Life Supervillain movement. I've said this before and will say so again, Krampus is Krampus. If anything, the label could be anti-hero, but since I'm the co-host of a show featuring RLSH and RLSV, that was my title. I played devil's advocate if you will. And I suppose out of all in the RLSV community, I was the only thing close enough to show up to represent them, so here I was, the minority of one in a room full of RLSH. For those that weren't able to arrive, you were somewhat missed. For those that could but chose not to, some might consider you to be cowardly, tampon stuffing in your hemorrhaging man-bitches. This above all no matter what side one may be on, Krampus respects those with the strength of their convictions aside from being catty, gossiping jackals. Let Krampus be called villain in a room full of RLSH than be counted among those with no depth or presence where it matters.

The panel went well, apologies for not recording it in its entirety as last year, you can blame me for it somehow despite a technical difficulty from across the bloody room. Many topics were discussed, Superhero brought up that the two greatest opponents one will face in helping their community are indifference and apathy. I brought up another: fear. I brought up the concerns voiced by many in the RLSV, the fear that the movie Kick-Ass will inspire vigilantes, that they themselves may cause more harm than good one day by putting civilians in harm's way. But they stood up and faced the accusations with intelligence and conviction. It is that conviction that Krampus respects.

There were also young people in the audience asking clever questions to all, it was very enlightening. One little girl I had spoken to before the panel, she had mentioned that I didn't scare her, that her father when drunk was the true picture of a monster. Yet despite that, she still had a sense of wonder, imagination, and looking for a brighter tomorrow undaunted, wishing to one day help with her community, costume notwithstanding. But her positivity was infectious, like a mirror from within that touched many of us. There was also a young man asking questions, including of me. I answered as best I could while showing a different perspective, the negative the naysayers, the apathetic. Still, he helped a man having a seizure while others stood by, witnessed and did NOTHING. No calls for help, no assistance. Apathy and indifference. He asked if he should be proud of doing what he did, even though first responders, EMT's and other do the same thing every day?

My statement was that yes, they train, they face these dangers every day, it is their job. And to the average person, it's not theirs. So they can feel comfortable in apathy because everyone else is doing it. Maybe they're afraid to risk being hurt by infection, the thrashing of someone uncontrollable in their condition. What if they're sick and you catch it? What if they bite your finger off while you try to keep them from swallowing their tongue? Indifference and apathy bothered me personally, because it means the person is numb, feeling NOTHING in the face of it. Fear, at least is something alive. True courage isn't the absence of fear, but acting in spite of it. So whatever you choose to do, in your community or helping in case of emergency, if you can do something that makes one person, one thing better than before you arrived, then that is the best measure of what one can do. So yes, be proud of yourself, especially if you help when it's not your job young man.

Here's a time for blatant truth. Many things have come up in regards to Master Legend, and I could have brought them up, singling him out. I did not for three reasons. One, no time. The hour flew by easily and fast. Not everyone had a chance to voice their own opinions, so I was fortunate to have had the time I did. Two, it was a time and place of fellowship, of positivity. The energy was good, light, on a note of constructive opinions and expressions of oneself. To target someone specifically would have ruined that moment, which would make me the villain. Krampus isn't afraid of negativity when it brings forth a positive result, but this would be verbal graffiti. And three, I'll be damned if I would do the legwork for a no show accuser who calls himself the king of the Nazis. Do your own fucking work. But I did speak to Master Legend, I won't go into the nature of what was said, but I hope that the information given by both a friend and myself helps guide the man on his path, wherever that ultimately takes him. Perspective can make all he difference.

As I was leaving, I encountered an incognito Meta Data and spoke briefly before leaving the convention center. A lovely young lady, I'll have to contact her again some time. All in all, that Sunday was a positive day, starting and ending as such. 'Twas not long enough to spend with both old friends and new, being a time of enjoyment, entertainment and education. And Wench cleavage. Oh, those fleshy pillows, the memories those mammaries will leave Krampus with along with many a new fan of their show...now I'm craving a milkshake.