THE MAN BEHIND THE MASK

I saved the world from Y2k and then went underground to raise my son. I started making my first Thing mask because I was going stir-crazy being a Stay at Home Dad. The sculpting gave me a complete diversion. After making one mask, I couldn't help but make more. I loved the Fantastic Four and it provided a rich host of characters to choose from to make masks.

When I showed the finished masks to my friends I was encouraged to do this full time. FFPlaza.com even began listing my masks for sale, broadening the audience my masks were being displayed to. I recently completed a full body Thing suit, expanding mask making into costume construction. Mask making has made me contacts across the country, and even around the world. Oh, and I constantly trash the kitchen!

It was, well, fantastic to have the first mask I made hailed as the best Thing mask ever. For me it was more than just a mask though, because this mask made connections and opened doors for me like nothing else I had ever done. Suddenly I was communicating with the current FF creative team, a rock star, a director…

I took my first Thing mask to the Chicago Wizard World and was almost immediately stopped by Steve Syatt. He was working the Stan Winston booth, and Stan himself was seated just a few feet away. Steve asked about my Thing mask and shared some kind words. Steve also encouraged me to apply to work at Stan Winston studio.

I also stumbled over to the Bowen Studios booth and had a great conversation with Randy Bowen. I asked Randy if he would trade anything for my mask, and being a Thing fan himself he said sure ( the FF triple pack). He asked me to sign the mask, which just floored me. The master asked the student for his autograph. I am still humbled just thinking about it.