Of all the things I’ve posted to this site, nothing has generated more traffic than the discussion about making halloween masks based on the character “Rorschach” from the graphic novel “The Watchmen.” Last year I posted a picture of myself in the mask I made waaay back when (click on the pic to enlarge it), and people started writing to ask how they could make one of their own. I asked people to send pictures of their own Rorschach masks and the whole thing snowballed.

As my original instructions were in a comment on one of the postings, I’ve decided to repost it here to make it easier to find. If you’ve got tips for improving the mask-making process, leave a comment.

Happy St. Rorschach Day!

Instructions: You will need… Read the rest of this entry »

Rorschach Jesse writes

Don’t know if you ever got my pics. Hunter needs to send a better pic, he looks pretty good. Here’s a couple.

It wouldn’t matter if Dr. Manhattan blinked in and blew up Hunter’s head… you win, you lucky bastard.

Nice costume, Hunter! The blurriness of the photo is no doubt caused by the intense air of mystery that surrounds Rorschach.

Links to more photos of Hunter, including a pose with some hot Rorschach-lovin’ babes, are here.

OK, here’s Rorschach Litho ready for action:

And here’s Rorschach Jay, about to whoop ass on the science villian known as “Dr. DJ”

So that’s eight Rorschachs so far! (I’m counting myself, even though my picture’s not from this Halloween.) At what point do WE become the norm, and THEY become the outcasts? Hurm.

Here’s TK8103 in his Rorschach drag. Check out his blog for an excellent in-character journal entry.

Sure, they both have a few hang-ups. But don’t Rorschach and Joan Crawford make a lovely couple?

That’s Spacejunk42 in the mask. He writes:

“The third picture does have a woman in it, but its just a friend and I did not sleep with Mommy Dearest.”

Sure dude… whatever you say. But please tell me you kicked the crap out of Frodo… that’s what the real Rorschach would do.

Hey, I like that… “What would Rorschach do?” If Rorschach ran into Gollum, Mirror Universe Uhura, and that dancing midget from Twin Peaks… WWRD?

It’s about time to start the voting, dontcha think? Leave a comment saying who you think made the best Rorschach costume, and why. (Scroll down to see other entires.) And if you’ve got a picture of yourself as Rorschach, let me know and we’ll post it here.

Below you can see more pictures of Rorschach Geoffrey, this time with his clothes on. I kind of like the tan hat, but it looks like he’s settled on the gray.

The bottom picture compares Rorschach Geoffrey with Rorschach Rorschach. Uncanny, no?

Spacejunk42 and Shawn, you best get your costumes in gear!

By the way, Rorschach Jesse needs to send in a picture of his wife in her Lara Croft costume. Because I said so, that’s why.

Geoffrey sent this picture with the note:

“first try on of the new mask. extra creepy. kind of mexican-wrestling rorschach. i’ll send you a better one when i have the full costume on. just thought this one was funny enough to share.”

Props for copying the Rorschach shape from a specific (and dramatically important) panel of the comic. That’s from page 23 of issue 12, where the R-man’s leaving Adrian Veidt’s Antarctica hideout.

You can’t have verisimilitude without the ‘tude.

Check out this out: That’s Jesse as you-know-who. (He’s either here or here… MySpace is f***ing with my browser…) I think we have an early favorite, people. Comments? Observations? Trash talk? Let’s hear it…

On a somewhat related note: Is anyone dressing up on Halloween as a snakehead fish? I say somewhat related because the snakehead is kind of like the freshwater version of Rorschach… meting justice to transgressive carp, bass, and catfish. His motto is “run a gambling den, lose a fin.”

Also, the mullet is the fish version of Dr. Manhattan.

All right, now three people–Spacejunk42, Geoffrey, and Shawn–have written to say they’re dressing up as Rorschach for Halloween, and they’re using my instructions for making a Rorschach costume. Which is cool!

But give something back to the Surly Robot. Send me a picture of yourself as Rorschach! Also, if you get laid the night you wear your Rorschach costume, you have to send a picture of the girl in her costume.

True story: I wore my Rorschach to my friend Krantoor’s party, which ended early. So I’m walking home as Rorschach and I pass this house where there’s a party going on and it sounds great. At the time, I was making an effort to crash at least one party every year, so I said what the hell.

Well, let me tell you… chicks dig Rorschach! Not enough to go home with me, but still. The attached photo is of some of the women I talked to that night.

To state the obvious: If a guy’s wearing a Rorschach mask, a girl can pretty much project on him anything she wants to see. That’s good news for you, younsters.

Send me stories, pictures, and tips for making a better Rorschach costume. It’s on!