Diecisiete

“The Fog Horn Room Rhode Island (via #sarahirenemurphy@ig)

“Take me to an art museum. Kiss me between the paintings.”

It’s one of the reasons I enjoy them!  I never talk about Mexican cinema here but I have a deep fondness for the films of Santo, Blue Demon and their various masked contemporaries!

Sure, their costumes might not be as elaborate (or chest protecting) as your average Kamen Rider or Metal Hero but they serve a similar purpose, saving the world from threats through the power of Martial Arts…. er Body Slams and Choke Holds. These movies may be a tad on the cheap side but they are nothing but inventive!See Santo battle the Voluptuous Vampire Women!

Watch him and his former foe/best friend Blue Demon take on Dracula and the Wolf Man!

These films have so much to offer!

Intellectual pursuits!

Touching Romance!

Mad Scientists, Mummies, Frankenstein’s Monster and a Little Person Henchman!

More vampires!

And best of all, Martians!

And when your Martian Invaders look like this…

Well, I, for one, welcome our new Alien Overladies!

It’s not like Tokusatsu didn’t have its own wrestling superheroes.  Just look at Go Nagai’s Star of Pro-Wrestling Azteckaiser for a perfect example of that!

Every culture has their own masked heroes who exist within their own special domain be it vigilante orphans beating up psychologically damaged people, Karate Bug Men kicking mutant monsters or a wrestler in a Silver Mask body slamming vampires. 

 We all have fantastical heroes to inspire us and that’s always a good thing!

VIVA SANTO!

Casa Aviv, Tulum, Mexico,