Tea Krulos | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | September 25, 1978 |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | West Bend East High |
| Occupation | Novelist, convention organizer |
Tea Krulos (born September 25, 1978) is the pen name of an American author based in Milwaukee, WI. Krulos is known for writing several books, contributing to publications as a freelance journalist and a creator of sequential art pieces and zines.
Krulos is the author of four non-fiction works, and often travels during his research and embeds himself with his subjects in order to provide a neutral portrait of events that unfold. Krulos' work falls in the categories of non-fiction, social science, ethnography, and occasionally gonzo journalism.
Krulos' first book, Heroes in the Night: Inside the Real Life Superhero Movement (Chicago Review Press, 2013), involved shadowing self-proclaimed real-life superheroes. This project started when a real-life superhero began patrolling Krulos' native Milwaukee neighborhood Riverwest. [1] Writing the book eventually took him across the country to cities like Seattle, [2] Minneapolis, [3] Detroit [4] and New York. [5] Notable figures interviewed include Richard McCaslin, known as "the Phantom Patriot," as well as Phoenix Jones. Krulos was shadowing Jones in Seattle for his book Heroes in the Night when they encountered what Jones claimed was a street brawl. Jones deployed pepper spray, leading to his subsequent arrest. [6]
Krulos' second book, Monster Hunters: On the Trail with Ghost Hunters, Bigfooters, Ufologists, and Other Paranormal Investigators (Chicago Review Press, 2015), involved joining cryptozoologists on their various searches for the unknown. [7] The book was nominated as a finalist in the 2015 Midwest Book Awards for the Social Science, Political Science, and Culture categories. [8]
Krulos' third book, Apocalypse Any Day Now: Deep Underground with America’s Doomsday Preppers (Chicago Review Press, 2019), involves examining the lives of survivalists. In it, he meets with doomsday preppers, religious prognosticators and climate scientists. He follows a zombie-themed group of survivalists, tours the Survival Condos made out of former missile silos, and examines the going-ons at Wasteland Weekend. [9] According to Skeptical Inquirer, the book's "tone is more breezy than scholarly" but "offers insight into the mentality of conspiracy theorists and doomsday prophets." [10]
Krulos' fourth book, American Madness: The Story of the Phantom Patriot and How Conspiracy Theories Hijacked American Consciousness (Feral House, 2020), centers on the tragic figure Richard McCaslin. McCaslin adopted the real-life superhero persona "Phantom Patriot," a figure clad in a blue jumpsuit and skull mask. Believing Alex Jones' conspiracy theories about the Bohemian Grove involving child abuse and human sacrifice, McCaslin snuck into the private retreat campground and attempted it to burn it down on January 19, 2002. [11] [12]
In addition to his non-fiction work, Krulos wrote Palookaville, a collection of 21 poems and 8 illustrations created by the author.
Krulos has assembled and produced several zine publications, including numerous editions of Riverwurst. [13] an anthology comic featuring over two dozen artists. Krulos was also the founder and editor of the Riverwest Currents comic page, and co-editor of the Currents' offspring publication, "Undercurrents". His artwork has appeared in several gallery shows, and he has served as curator for other artists. [14]
Krulos is currently a freelance contributor to the altweekly publication the Shepherd Express and online magazine the Milwaukee Record. He also written for the British daily newspaper The Guardian . [15]
Krulos currently lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In his spare time, Krulos works as a bartender, [16] conducts historic walking tours, and organizes the annual Milwaukee Paranormal Conference.
A superhero or superheroine is a stock character that possesses superpowers, abilities beyond those of ordinary people, and fits the role of the hero, typically using his or her powers to help the world become a better place, or dedicating themselves to protecting the public and fighting crime. Superhero fiction is the genre of fiction that is centered on such characters, especially, since the 1930s, in American comic books, as well as in Japanese media.
Survivalism is a social movement of individuals or groups who proactively prepare for emergencies, including natural disasters, as well as disruptions to social, political, or economic order. Preparations may anticipate short-term scenarios or long-term, on scales ranging from personal adversity, to local disruption of services, to international or global catastrophe. Survivalism may be limited to preparing for a personal emergency, such as job loss or being stranded in the wild or under adverse weather conditions. The emphasis is on self-reliance, stockpiling supplies, and gaining survival knowledge and skills. Survivalists often acquire emergency medical and self-defense training, stockpile food and water, prepare to become self-sufficient, and build structures such as survival retreats or underground shelters that may help them survive a catastrophe.
CTV Sci-Fi Channel is a Canadian English language specialty channel owned by Bell Media. The channel primarily broadcasts speculative fiction and related programming.
Jeffrey Solomon Mace, also known as the Patriot and Captain America, is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created during the 1940s, a period fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books. As the Patriot, he first appeared in Human Torch Comics #4, published by Marvel's 1940s precursor, Timely Comics.
Occult detective fiction is a subgenre of detective fiction that combines the tropes of the main genre with those of supernatural, fantasy and/or horror fiction. Unlike the traditional detective who investigates murder and other common crimes, the occult detective is employed in cases involving ghosts, demons, curses, magic, vampires, undead, monsters and other supernatural elements. Some occult detectives are portrayed as being psychic or in possession of other paranormal or magical powers.
Joseph P. Gill was an American magazine writer and highly prolific comic book scripter. Most of his work was for Charlton Comics, where he co-created the superheroes Captain Atom, Peacemaker, and Judomaster, among others. Comics historians consider Gill a top contender as the comic-book field's most prolific writer. Per historian and columnist Mark Evanier, Gill "wrote a staggering number of comics. There are a half-dozen guys in his category. If someone came back and said he was the most prolific ever, no one would be surprised."
Jenny Randles is a British author and former director of investigations with the British UFO Research Association (BUFORA), serving in that role from 1982 through to 1994.
A real-life superhero (RLSH) is a person who dresses up in a superhero costume or mask in order to perform community service such as neighborhood watch, or in some cases vigilantism.
Ghost hunting is the process of investigating locations that are reported to be haunted by ghosts. Typically, a ghost-hunting team will attempt to collect evidence supporting the existence of paranormal activity. Ghost hunters use a variety of electronic devices, including EMF meters, digital thermometers, both handheld and static digital video cameras, including thermographic and night vision cameras, night vision goggles, as well as digital audio recorders. Other more traditional techniques are also used, such as conducting interviews and researching the history of allegedly haunted sites. Ghost hunters may also refer to themselves as "paranormal investigators."
The Witness is the name of at least three fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Of these, the first was published by Timely Comics in the 1940s and the final two by its successor company, Marvel Comics.
Fantomah is an American comics character, best known as one of the earliest comic-book superheroines. Created by Fletcher Hanks, the character first appeared in Jungle Comics #2, published by Fiction House. Hanks is also known for creating the equally strange Stardust the Super Wizard.
Peter M. Coogan is the director of the Institute for Comics Studies and co-founder and co-chair of the Comics Arts Conference, which runs during the San Diego Comic-Con International and San Francisco WonderCon.
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Richard McCaslin was a former Marine, cosplayer, Batman stuntman at Six Flags AstroWorld, and convicted felon.
Mac Tonnies was an American author and blogger whose work focused on futurology, transhumanism and paranormal topics. Tonnies grew up in Independence, Missouri, and attended William Chrisman High School and Ottawa University. He lived in Kansas City, Missouri. Tonnies had an active online presence and a "small, but devoted" readership, but supported himself by working at Starbucks and other nine-to-five jobs. In 2009 he died of cardiac arrhythmia at the age of 34.
Superhero comics are one of the most common genres of American comic books. The genre rose to prominence in the 1930s and became extremely popular in the 1940s and has remained the dominant form of comic book in North America since the 1960s. Superhero comics feature stories about superheroes and the universes these characters inhabit.
Phoenix Jones is an American real-life superhero. Initially wearing a ski mask to intervene in a public assault, Fodor later developed a full costume and adopted "Phoenix Jones" as a pseudonym. From 2011 until its dissolution in 2014, Jones was the leader of the Rain City Superhero Movement, a Seattle, Washington based citizen patrol group that described itself as a crime prevention brigade.
The Rain City Superhero Movement was a Seattle-based organization in the U.S. state of Washington. It was composed of costumed activists who describe themselves as a crime-fighting brigade. Witnesses have reported that the group has intervened in crimes on several occasions, while the police maintained they would prefer that individuals other than sworn officers not place themselves in danger, and act as good witnesses instead.