The Wizard of Oz movie has been incorporated into pop culture so much that almost anyone knows and can quote it, including some favorite lines like “If I only had a brain,” “There’s no place like home,” “Lions, tigers, and bears, oh my!” and especially “Toto, I’ve got a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” Why not celebrate its anniversary by taking a look at some of the fun facts you may not know about this classic and unforgettable film.

#1 – The Wizard Played Many Other Roles

Frank Morgan’s Many Hats: Frank Morgan is famous for his role as the titular wizard the gang of four go to visit, but did you know the actor played several other roles in the film? Not only did he play the fortune-telling professor from before Dorothy travels to Oz, he also plays an Emerald City cabbie, a guard at the Wizard’s palace, and a doorkeeper.

#2 – Dorothy’s Dress Was Pink And White

What a Colorful World: The innovative and expensive technology developed to get the film in color (called “Technicolor”) required a few changes. This included changing Dorothy’s Ruby slippers from the original silver, but it also required them to change the planned blue-and-white dress to a checkered blue and pink which, thanks to the filming process, showed up as the now classic blue gingham we all know and love.

#3 – Dorothy Had a Glamorous Makeover

Dorothy’s Lost Look: Judy Garland’s Dorothy look is famous now, but it was almost much different. She originally had a blonde wig and heavy “babydoll” makeup, but when George Cukor took over as director, he scrapped the design and had Garland go with a much more natural look which is more fitting for a small town girl from Kansas.

#4 – There Were Originally 5 Witches

Five Witches? In the film, witches from the east and west are evil, and witches from the north and south are good. But in the original book, there is also an evil witch living in the north, named Mombi. Additionally, in the book the witches of the east and west, while sisters in the movie, are unrelated.

#5 The Cowardly Lion Costume Weighed Nearly 100 Pounds

That’s One Big Cat: The different outfits for the three friendly characters all have interesting facts, but the biggest is by far the Cowardly Lion. Actor Bert Lahr’s costume was made from real lion pelts, and weighed nearly a hundred pounds. Also, the facial prosthetic he wore were made from a simple brown paper bag.

#6 – The Tin Man’s Tears Were Chocolate

Sweet, Sweet Oil: Another interesting fact about The Wizard Of Oz costumes: While it may look as if Dorothy uses black oil to loosen up the Tin Man’s joints, the liquid is actually chocolate syrup! Since oil wouldn’t photograph well, they had to try out a bunch of different substances, with chocolate syrup getting the part.

#7 – Most Watched Film Ever

Oh MY, That’s One Big Hit: The Wizard of Oz is, according to the Library of Congress, the most watched film ever.

With high-def 4k / Ultra HD versions coming out this year, there’s no reason to think this legendary film will ever fade from the public consciousness. Be sure to revisit this classic piece of film magic. There are plenty of incredible stories about this film, but the most important are those personal to you. We all have a connection to this film, whether it’s memories of watching it with your grandparents, dressing up as the four main characters for Halloween, or something else entirely. You can visit Rubies.com to see more fun facts about The Wizard of Oz movie. Congratulations to their winners of The Wizard of Oz costume and movie giveaway!

Sources:

• https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-narcissus-in-all-us/201006/why-the-wizard-oz-is-the-most-popular-film-all-time
• https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/entertainment/g2715/wizard-of-oz-surprising-trivia/
• https://www.buzzfeed.com/morganmurrell/wizard-of-oz-movie-facts-anniversary-post
• https://www.oprahmag.com/entertainment/tv-movies/g28784381/wizard-of-oz-facts-trivia/
• https://mentalfloss.com/article/68137/17-wonderful-and-not-so-wonderful-facts-about-wizard-oz
• https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2014/12/11-lesser-known-facts-about-the-wizard-of-oz.html

Gory Zombie Make Up

Zombies are a classic Halloween look, and now you can go the extra mile and become a member of the walking dead that everyone will remember! With the help of the Gory Zombie Makeup Ideas for Halloween tutorial, there are plenty of ways for you to become a body risen from the grave! Find information about how to get a gruesome scar look on your face, add a bloody cleaver deep into your skull, and make some bright and eye-catching contacts. There’s even a video for making gruesome and bloody nails for zombies or werewolves!

Gothic Glamour/Reaper Bug Make Up

This unique look is a great way to get a creepy Halloween style that will be memorable for all of the other costume guests! Take a look at the Gothic Glamour/Reaper Bug Makeup Tutorial, by PinkStylist, to become the mutated combination of a ghostly widow and a “Reaper Bug” from the recent United Kingdom TV series, Jekyll and Hyde. It’s a creepy, dangerous look that’s perfect for a ghoulish costume party.

Vampire Make Up

Bare your teeth and let the guests of your Halloween party know they’re in for a wild night when you take a look at the Vampire Makeup Tutorial! This bit of Halloween make up may be a little more subdued than some of the options here, but it still helps you create a hot-blooded look that includes a few vampire fangs, a little bit of fake blood, and a sexy vampire costume. Watch the video to get useful instructions you can use when you want to make a statement at your costume party, when you go trick-or-treating, or for any other dress-up reason!

Slashes and Stitches Make Up

If you want to put yourself together for a night of dress-up fun, why don’t you take a look at the Slashes and Stitches Makeup Tutorial! There are a couple of options to choose from on this article, and both of them are sure to help you get the perfect look. The first is a stitches look that’s perfect for looking like the Bride of Frankenstein or a torn-up doll look, or you can find out how to get big, gruesome scratches, as if you’ve been attacked by a dangerous creature like a werewolf!

Skinned Masquerade Look

A masquerade is a common theme for a Halloween costume party, but now you can add something that the other guests will never expect! With the help of the Skinned Masquerade Mask Makeup Tutorial, you can make it look like you’re hiding behind your own face – until you take your mask away to reveal the gruesome bloody flesh underneath! Bloody make up ideas like this one, when paired with a slinky masquerade costume, is sure to make you a guest that everyone will be talking about as soon as you enter! See how to get this amazing look with an easy to use video tutorial!

Zombie Snow White Make Up

Do you love Disney, but also want to get an amazingly terrifying makeup look – perfect for an adults-only costume party! With the help of the Zombie Snow White Makeup Tutorial, it’s easy to frighten everyone as this classic fairy tale character that has gone through a horrible transformation! It includes a video that helps you get a professional make up look that combines popular zombies and classic Disney characters! From huge, sharp teeth, bloody lips, and scars around the face to bright blue eyes and more, you’ll love being able to create something extra special!

Ghost Pirate Make Up

Pirates have risen in popularity recently, and for Halloween, you may want to get something that’s a little more deadly! With the help of the Ghost Pirate Makeup Tutorial, you can become a haunted pirate captain for your next night of costume parties, trick-or-treating, and any other event you can think of. You’ll get a skull face paint, a hollow nose, an unstoppable creepy leer with lipless teeth, and eye contacts to complete the look. With the help of a ghostly pirate costume and a worn and tattered tri-corner hat, you’ll be ready to hunt for buried treasure, haunt a pier, and much more with these Halloween make up ideas.

Evil Necromancer Make Up

The Evil Necromancer Makeup Tutorial is a wonderful way to make sure you look great for your next night of Halloween costume parties, when you go trick-or-treating with your little ghouls or monsters, or any other reason! This makeup tutorial includes a handy video guide you can use to make sure you get an amazing look, and now you can add all kinds of wonderful details as you prepare to raise the dead from their graves! This look includes fake teeth, blood-red contacts, a prosthetic nose, and some amazing face paint that will all come together to make you look perfect!

Gory make up ideas and Halloween costumes are the perfect way to celebrate your Halloween! Any of these fun looks are sure to help you get something amazing and memorable for your next night – become a legendary creepy creature with ease and a little bit of make up know-how!

You can share your unique makeup looks with us on our Facebook page, our Twitter page, or on Instagram. You can also connect with us on Youtube or Pinterest, where you can find costume styles, make up tutorials, and much more!

It’s thought Thomas W. Lawson’s popular novel Friday, the Thirteenth began the popular superstition, since it’s used in the novel to create a Wall Street panic on that day. Friday the 13th happens at least once a year, but can occur up to three times in the same year. There’s lots to learn about this special frightful date, so browse our list of articles full of Friday the 13th facts, and make yourself scary smart!

Friday the 13th Folklore

The superstitious nature of Friday the 13th leads to a number of things. An estimated 17 million to 21 million people in the United States alone are afraid of the date, making it the most feared date in history. However, in some places, it’s actually safer because of this superstition: The Dutch Centre for Insurance Statistics reported “fewer accidents and reports of fire and theft occur when the 13th of the month falls on a Friday than on other Fridays, because people are preventatively more careful or just stay home. Statistically speaking, driving is slightly safer on Friday the 13th, at least in the Netherlands.”

Want to know more about the statistics of this deadly day? Check out the Are You Afraid of Friday the 13th infographic, for information about frequency, other popular phobias, and more.

What You Don’t Already Know About Friday the 13th

Nobody is entirely sure where the superstition about Friday the 13th came from, but it’s so ingrained in our culture now it’s hard to get away from it. Want to learn even more “fun” facts about this date? Take a look at the 13 Things You Didn’t Know About Friday the 13th, and get tons of information, such as famous deaths and births, national days of awareness, and more.

There are tons of small little details about this infamous date, and we’ve collection only a few, but why stop there? Sometimes a culture doesn’t like another day of the week, and in some cultures that date is still the 13th! What are the odds of that, huh? Kinda spooky, honestly.

Friday the 13th – A Body Count

Of course, nowadays the biggest reason people know about this date and the superstition surrounding it is the famous serious of slasher movies, and the main character of the series Jason Voorhees. The Friday the 13th movies practically invented the slasher genre, a subset of horror movies that have gore, kills, and chase scenes at the forefront. While Jason himself wasn’t a bad guy until the second movie (it’s actually his mother offing the camp counselors in the first), he still racks up an impressive list of kills. Want to know the gory details? Check out the Friday the 13th Body Count infographic to know how, exactly, the teens meet their end. It has counts for each movie, as well as the implements used, and some explanations about the details.

The movie was named Friday the 13th for a special reason, and you should look away if you don’t want spoilers for a movie that came out in 1980. Jason’s mother is the actual killer in the first movie, and takes revenge on a group of camp counselors because Jason supposedly drowned many years ago at Camp Crystal Lake, on a Friday the 13th, when the counselors were “distracted.” Jason Voorhees is one of the most violent characters in movie history, and you’re sure to get chills running down your spine when you investigate his lengthy rap sheet.

The Evolution of Jason Voorhees’s Mask

The most enduring symbol of the Friday the 13th movies is the Voorhees hockey mask passed down from mother to sun, taken to space, sent to Manhattan, and much more! While Jason himself didn’t wear a mask until the second movie in 1981, when he wears a burlap sack with a single eye hole, but don’t fret, he gets the trademark look in part III, in 1982. The mask goes through small changes with each and every movie, getting dented or scratched, changing colors, changing shape, and other details, and only the best Friday fanatics can tell at a glance!

Watch a compilation of the most dangerous mask in movie history right now when you read The Evolution of Jason Voorhees’s Masks article, which not only has pictures and descriptions, but a handy video that shows you ever version, all the way up to the reboot movie that was released in 2009. You’ll even get some tips and tricks on how to create your own version of any of the masks, in case you want to take your Jason Voorhees costume to the next level for a night of costume party fun. Those camp counselors think they’re safe, but you’ll give them a scare they’ll remember for the rest of their lives!

Friday’s Here

From triskaidekaphobia (The fear of Friday the 13th) to the history of the Gregorian calendar, to a long list of coffins and a multitude of masks, there’s plenty of info you can use to turn yourself into a Friday the 13^th master, whether it be the date itself, or the famous slasher movie series. Let your friends know all of the creepy details the next time the 13^th rolls to the end of the week and grab a mask of your own to cuddle up for some gory fun with your main man Jason. And don’t worry if you forget to celebrate… Friday the 13th

DIY Daenerys Targaryen Costume

The Mother of Dragons is a force to be reckoned with, and now you can build your very own version of this unforgettable character when you take a look at the DIY Daenerys Targaryen Game of Thrones Costume! There are bunch of items you can use to add the details of this famous madwoman, but there’s also plenty of space for you to branch out and design your own look! Being unique is in character for her, so be sure to build a memorable look!

DIY Orange is the New Black Costumes

Few Netflix shows have been as lauded and watched as the hit original series “Orange is the New Black,” chronicling characters trying to survive inside a women’s prison. Visit the Orange is the New Black Costume Ideas page for tips, and there are lots of characters to chose from: main character Piper Chapman, as well as Alex Vause, Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren, Nicky Nichols, and Lorna Morello, but you can also get smaller characters or “villains” like Galina Reznikov (“Red”), Tiffany Doggett (“Pennsatucky”), and George “Pornstache” Mendez.

DIY Jessica Jones

Jessica Jones is a rough-tumblin’ hard-fightin’, big-drinkin’ superhero (who doesn’t even really like the term), and, thankfully, it’s easy to get her look, since she doesn’t wear anything wild. Check out the DIY Jessica Jones Costume Tutorial for the details, but all you’ll really need are impossibly hip-hugging jeans, a black jacket, a scarf, black gloves, and biker boots, but you can adjust as necessary. It might take a black wig, but getting this P.I.’s distinctive look is simple. It’s great for last minute costume ideas!

DIY Undertaker Costume

The Undertaker is one of the longest-running and most famous pro wrestlers the ring has seen, and there are some easy ways to get his famous, chilling look when you check out the DIY Undertaker Costume tips! You don’t even have to be a wrestler – undertakers will always send a chill down some spines, especially on Halloween!

DIY Back to the Future Costumes

The three films from the Back to the Future series are recognizable looks that are great for parties, fan events, and more, and now it’s possible to create DIY Back to the Future costumes that everyone will love! They’ll be shouting “Great Scott” at your throwback look!

DIY Pirate Costumes

If you’re looking for a costume that works wonders not only during Halloween, but for ren fairs, costume conventions, and more, grab your sword and hat and build your own DIY Pirate costume! Click the link for a brief history of pirates, inexpensive costume ideas for kids and adults, and tips to help you become a legendary buccaneer so frightening that everyone will tremble in fear, no matter where you go!

DIY Zombie Costumes

Looking for costume ideas in a hurry? Have no fear! It’s easy to build your very own zombie look with the help of the Top 10 Zombie Costumes list, which has everything from prom queens to bloody nurses, to dead deputies. The Walking Dead is back, so these shambling monsters are going to continue being popular for who knows how long! The living dead have risen, and they may never return to the ground!

DIY Jessica Rabbit Costume

Will you be bad, or will you just be drawn that way when you create your very own Jessica Rabbit costume? It’s quite easy, actually, since all you really need is a slinky red sequin dress, a pair of purple gloves, and some heels (red wig may or may not be necessary). She’s way more recognizable than her rabbit husband, and you’re sure to have all eyes on you when you dress as this cute cartoon!

DIY Daredevil Costume

The best Netflix original ever introduced the Man Without Fear to a much wider audience, and now you can get some tips for your next Dardevil costume when you check out this list of quick tips! You may not be able to build the red leather look famous from the comic books, but the dark vigilante outfit is simple and fast, and will help you look like the best comic book superhero ever!

DIY Green Arrow Costume

DC Comic’s Green Arrow is one of the more popular comic book characters right now, thanks to the long-running CW television show, and if you’re trying to build your own version of this hero, it’s never been easier with this list of Green Arrow Quick Tips! You’ll need bows and arrows, a green hood, and a few other items.

DIY Morphsuit Costume Options

Morphsuits help you build a colorful base for lots of different costumes, and now there are lots of options you can choose from when you check out this list of The 10 Best Things to do with a Morphsuit! Turn yourself into a superhero, get ready for a big sporting event, and much more!

DIY Spider-Dog Costume

Don’t forget the family pet! Make sure your furry companion has a special outfit for your next night of dress up with the help of the Spider-Dog costume! It’s pretty easy to make – scissors, velcro, a spider decoration, ribbon, and hot glue – and is great for dogs of all sizes. He’ll be startling people all night long at your next Halloween event, or other party!

There are plenty you can choose from, and you’ll be able to compliment your costume with any kind of fun design! You can find exceptional designs from popular movie and television shows like scary clowns or other Halloween properties, you can make yourself or one of your little heroes even more heroic with some fun female crime fighter looks, and there are even incredible full-face makeup options you can use for an all-over cover!

Tim Burton Inspired Make Up Looks

Tim Burton’s macabre, twisted mind comes up with some unforgettable designs, and it’s never been easier to add some of them to your next night of dressing up. These perfectly Halloween make up choices include designs from two of his most famous movies.

Your first option is the sharp-dressed man from his 1990 movie, Edward Scissorhands. By following the Edward Scissorhands Makeup Tutorial, you can give yourself (or someone else) the sharp cheekbones, dark, sunken eyes, and narrow lips of the character that launched Johnny Depp to stardom.

Or, why not go for a more colorful look that makes you a king of the Halloween scene! The Mad Hatter Halloween Makeup Tutorial is the perfect choice for diving into a fantasy world and being the number one guy at your next big party. You’ll learn how to get the bright eyes, the wild eyebrows, and all the other special details of this wonderful character.

Sexy Make Up Looks

Trying for something that is sure to get the blood pumping? You can turn yourself into a character who draws the eyes and stops guys in their tracks when you walk into the costume party. You’ll be looking sharp for your next night of fun, especially when you take a look at these sexy make up options.

When you take a look at the Sexy Pirate Makeup Tutorial, you’ll have the information you need to turn a perennially popular costume into something unforgettable. Saucy is an understatement – the buccaneers at your next party will declare you their captain in an instant. Pair with a beautiful pirate costume to become someone they’ll never want to forget!

Clown Make Up Looks

Clowns are funny, they’re scary, and they can be everything in between with these costume make up ideas! Clowns require at least a little bit of make up to help them look their best for a night of Halloween fun, trick-or-treating, or other reasons to dress up, and now you have plenty of options to choose from.

If you’re trying to become a colorful clown who wants to get the guys looking in your direction, try the Cute Clown Makeup Tutorial! There are plenty of bright, eye-catching colors, and details that accentuate your finer features, so you’re sure to be laughing by the end of the night!

On the other end of the spectrum, bring real fear to your next night of Halloween costumes with the Scary Clown Halloween Makeup Tutorial! Even with all the colors available, it’s easy to create something that will linger in the other guests’ nightmares!

Finally, if you’re trying to figure out exactly what kind of clown you want to mimic, take a look at our list of 10 Scary Clowns to Inspire Your Next Halloween Costume!

Pretty and Unique Make Up Looks

There are plenty of costumes that don’t need a whole lot of extra additions to make them perfect, but there’s still things you can do to make sure your night of dressing up is something to make you memorable.

Become either of the famous Frozen sisters with the help of the Elsa Frozen Makeup Tutorial, or the Anna Frozen Makeup Tutorial. Elsa will be slinging her special ice magic, and Anna will start her journey to keep her sister safe from herself, and either look is great for a little Disney fan!

Steampunk is a fabulous visual style, but it doesn’t leave a lot of room for makeup, what with watches, top hats, canes, and goggles. However, with the help of the Steampunk Makeup Tutorial, you can add a little bit of gearwork to your own face, to complete the look and get everyone turning to you!

Finally, become the celebrated princess of a Native American tribe with a colorful and natural look with the help of the Tribal Princess Makeup Tutorial!

Female Superhero Make Up Looks

Superheroes have never been more popular, with DC Comics and Marvel movies coming out about once every two months, and now you can get a fun make up look to become a perfectly pretty crim fighter all the criminals will remember for months to come!

First off, lead the armed forces in an attack on Red Skull’s fortress with the help of the Captain Miss America Makeup Tutorial, and become a character the armed forces will also rise to salute. There’s also the Spider Woman Makeup Tutorial, which can make you into a friendly neighborhood web-slinger for your night of costumes, candy, and fun!

Full Face Paint Make Up Looks

Want to cover yourself from head to toe in beauty for your Halloween or other event? There are some really cool full-face paint looks you can try on that make sure you’re ready for anything! First off, become one of the famous yellow beings who help Gru with his dastardly plans with the help of the Minions Halloween Face Paint Tutorial, and if you want to become a deadly jester that will bring the Batman down, take a look at the Harley Quinn Sugar Skull Makeup Tutorial!

Conclusion

Make sure your look becomes something fun and unique this Halloween! These make up tutorials will help you get something the other party guests will be able to remember. Stretch your makeup skills to make a fun character and look your best!

Want to share your Halloween make up ideas with us? Send us a pic on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, and you can find more fun makeup tutorials, blogs, and other fun costume information on Pinterest or Youtube.

Ink (Eric Gitter)

Debut: Young X-Men #1, April 2008

Powers: About that…

Ink’s contribution to the team lies in his different tattoos – each one can be activated to lend Ink a different temporary power. For example, his tattoo of a bio hazard symbol can be used to make people sick, and the wing tattoos on his back let him fly. Honestly, that’s actually pretty cool. The problem is that Ink is actually a human, and not a mutant at all.

As it turns out, Ink’s tattoo artist is the mutant in the equation. Leon Nunez has the power of power bestowal, which allows him to give powers to other people via his tattoos. He discovered this ability while giving some chick a rose tramp stamp (seriously) and has used it to give powers to dozens of people.

So, if Ink knows he has the access to this kind of power, why doesn’t he just hit up Leon to cover his whole body with superpower tattoos? What’s the point in stopping at only seven? And, why can’t he just ask Leon for a “Kill All Bad Guys” superpower? That would come in handy. Tattoo the rest of the X-Men with some power boosts, too. Why not?

Cypher (Doug Ramsey)

Debut: New Mutants #13, March 1984

Powers: Omnilingualism

The crux of Cypher’s power is his ability to immediately and fluently understand any language. So, he was kind of just Siri.

Obviously smartphones didn’t exist when Cypher was created, but even in the 80s there were still phrasebooks. You’d think that, in a universe where the existence of alien races is a known fact, someone would have thought to make a pocket guide. Or flashcards.

After the writers quickly realized how useless Cypher was, they gave him a bunch of other powers by flimsily arguing that everything is sort of a language if you really think about it, maaan. For example, a fighter in hand-to-hand combat must interpret the moves of an opponent and make an appropriate response. Boom, fighting is a now a language, and therefore Cypher is now a master martial artist.

X-Man (Nate Grey)

Debut: X-Man #1, March 1995

Powers: Telekinesis

X-Man has plenty of reasons why he should be one of the coolest mutants of all time. As the son of Jean Grey, and as an Omega-level mutant, he has all the telekinetic superpower of his mom, but cranked up to eleven. He can fly faster than the speed of sound, summon unbreakable barriers of psychic energy, and shoot energy blasts strong enough to raze cities left and right. Awesome! So, how come X-Man has never really been in the X-Men spotlight?

Well, his name is X-Man.

Jean didn’t need a code name to be cool (she did do the whole Phoenix thing, but that’s a different story). What was the point of giving one to Nate? Also, there was a pornographic video game for the Atari 2600 that was called X-Man. It has nothing to do with the X-Man we’re talking about, but it was probably more interesting.

X-Treme

Debut: X-Force Annual 1993, October 1993

Powers: Extremity; Electro-combustion

Hold on to your backwards baseball caps. Have you ever laid eyes on a manlier, more radical specimen of a superhero than this guy? Just check out that permanent scowl and those blades coming out of everywhere. That’s way more blades than Wolverine has, bro. That’s how you know X-Treme is a real bad-ass. Don’t even get us started on those golden, flowing, luxuriously braided locks, either. Thor can suck it.

X-Treme probably seemed like a great idea in the 90s, but then again, so did JNCOs and nu metal. At the end of the day, Marvel eventually decided that X-Treme was just too extreme for their audience, and relegated the character to cameos and obscurity. There was even an entire side series of comics in the early 2000s titled X-Treme X-Men that wasn’t extreme enough for X-Treme to be included. We think X-Treme should have just gotten his own series with X-Man. It would have been X-cellent.

Maggott

Debut: Uncanny X-Men #345, June 1997

Powers: Energy Absorption via Autonomous Digestive System(s)

Wait, what?

Maggott is actually amazing, and legitimately one of our favorite lesser-known heroes of all-time, but he’s on our list because we want to know what Marvel was rolling on when they came up with his powers. Instead of a stomach, Maggott has two giant pet slugs – named Eany and Meany – that live inside of his abdomen. Eany and Meany leave Maggott’s body and do all of his eating for him. They’re able to consume every type of matter, and when they return, impart the energy into Maggott, which grants him strength and heightened abilities.

Yup.

Skin (Angelo Espinosa)

Debut: Uncanny X-Men #317, October 1994

Powers: Skin

Skin possesses six feet of super-stretchy extra skin. If that sounds really lame, that’s because it really is. If he had an unlimited supply of the stuff, that would be a different story, but he doesn’t. Until he learned to control his powers to the point of tightening all his loose skin and changing its coloration, he wasn’t much to look at, either.

One big plus to Skin’s powers, though, is that he can morph and form the skin on his face to look like other people. He’s the Jim Carrey of the X-Men! Of course, since his name is Skin and not Skin-Bones-Muscles-Body-Structure, he can only change his appearance on a very superficial level. He isn’t able to totally shape shift into another form or to truly impersonate somebody.

Lifeguard (Heather Cameron)

Debut: New X-Men #119, December 2001

Powers: Reactive adaptation

If you thought that Ink and Leon seemed too over-powered and open-ended, Lifeguard’s power is literally the power of deus ex machina. Whenever Lifeguard is faced with a threat, her body automatically adapts and physically changes in order to handle it appropriately. Someone’s drowning? Lifeguard can grow gills to save them. Bad guys showed up with a whole bunch of guns? Lifeguard can grow armor to protect people.

Somehow, stories aren’t any fun when you know the hero can’t lose. Marvel finally gave Lifeguard a nerf by writing that she became genetically locked in her last transformation. At least it was a cool one – permanent wings and claws – but she was left powerless to further alter her form or revert back to normal.

Darwin (Armando Munoz) is another Marvel mutant with the same sort of powers. He was only ever “defeated” in battle by getting sucked into an alternate dimension. Not even growing gills can save you from the time-space continuum.

Beak (Barnell Bohusk)

Debut: New X-Men #117, October 2001

Powers: Being a bird

Upon reaching puberty, Barnell didn’t developing a cracking voice and acne like the other kids. He just literally turned into a bird instead – complete with a giant beak, talons, bulging bird-like eyes, double-jointed limbs, and feathered wings. That must have gotten really awkward for him after gym class.

Apparently, Marvel didn’t even like having Beak on their superhero roster, so they got rid of his powers during the M-Day, which was responsible for the de-powering of tons of mutants. Barnell reverted back to his human form, and eventually became known as Blackwing. With the help of some cool gadgets and a shiny new black costume, he was all set to be a worse version of Batman.

Choir (Irina Clayton)

Debut: New X-Men #119, December 2001

Powers: Having extra mouths

2001 was not a great year for X-Men comics, was it?

Choir has multiple mouths spaced around her neck that allow her to cast multiple voices in multiple directions simultaneously, that can be used as a disorienting tactic versus enemies. If you’re wondering whether that would work better than X-Men using a voice recorder or an actual ventriloquist to achieve the same effect, it probably wouldn’t.

There’s not really much else to say about Choir, which is a shame because she’s so good at talking.

Eye-Scream

Debut: Obnoxio the Clown vs. The X-Men #1, April 1983

Powers: Shapeshifting. Sort of.

This is seriously a picture of a comic book character that was actually published.

Not only is Eye-Scream able to transform into ice cream, he can transform into any flavor of ice cream. Watch out, Ben & Jerry’s. To be fair, Eye-Scream was only supposed to be a silly one-off villain for a special event anyways, but he’s hard to take seriously even as a joke.

Either way, he’s definitely the mutant to invite to a birthday party. It’s technically not cannibalism to eat a person that’s transformed into a dessert.

Whether hanging them in your doorway or trees in your front yard, using them to accentuate other decorations you have in your home, or accenting them with fake plastic spiders, there’s no limit to what you can accomplish with this timeless Halloween decoration on your side!

We hope you find this video helpful, and that you have a fun, safe Halloween!

We’re talking about the best worst Batman villains ever. You’ve probably heard of some of them already, but if you haven’t, it was for a good reason.

Some of these guys are way more inept than others, so we’re being fair and just listing them alphabetically. For the optimal reading experience, give each villain’s name your very best Christian Bale Batman voice.

Batzarro

Debut appearance: Superman/Batman #20, 2005

M.O.: Being bizarre

Meet Wayne Bruce, the World’s Worst Detective. Much like Superman’s adversary, Bizarro, Batzarro does everything in reverse. So, in scenes that feature both of them interacting, there are so many negatives nested inside of negatives that it’s like everything and nothing are happening simultaneously.

The writers at DC probably just wanted to mess with our heads.

The Calculator

Debut appearance: Detective Comics #463, 1976

M.O.: Incalculable absurdity

The idea is pretty cool, but the execution is flawed: Calculator uses his knowledge of past encounters to calculate the best way to fight different heroes. His suit has the ability to produce countless weapons and tools, but it also looks totally ridiculous. Also, he pretty much never won any fights, anyway.

Later on, the Calculator was reinvented as a source of information or guide for other villains – like the bad guy version of Barbara Gordon’s Oracle. He probably should have just tried that in the first place.

Calendar Man

Debut appearance: Detective Comics #259, 1958

M.O.: Holidays; mad DIY skills

Calendar Man is a vigilante who kills his targets on specific holidays or other days of the year. Sometimes he dresses for the occasion too, with costumes to correspond to different dates. Really, the silliest thing about Calendar Man is just that his name is Calendar Man. If not for that, he’d be so much cooler.

Captain Stingaree

Debut appearance: Detective Comics #460, 1976

M.O.: Pirate costumes

Captain Stingaree believes in a conspiracy in which his three quadruplet brothers are concealing the identity of the Batman. His goal is find out who the real Bat is, and he does so by dressing up like a pirate to investigate. The real Batman was able to confuse and defeat the Captain by asking other people to dress up in Batman costumes.

Cluemaster

Debut appearance: Detective Comics #351, 1966

M.O.: Telling Batman exactly how to stop him

First came The Joker in 1940 – the ultimate, iconic Batman villain. Then came the Riddler in 1948 – still pretty sinister, and definitely still classic, but somehow not quite as good. Then came this guy in 1966 – a failed game show host who would leave clues at the scenes of his crimes. That seems a little self-defeating, honestly. Also, in the cartoon series The Batman, the dude was like 40 and still lived with his mom.

Composite Superman

Debut appearance: World’s Finest Comics #142, 1964

M.O.: Everything except tailoring

One night at the Superman Museum, a bolt of lightning struck a display of statues of the Legion of Superheroes, causing a burst of energy to zap custodian Joseph Meach with superpowers. With literally all the Legionnaires’ powers now at his disposal, Joe had the potential to become the greatest and most powerful villain of all time. Instead, he decided to call himself “Composite Superman” and make the worst supervillain costume in history.

Condiment King

Debut appearance: Batman: The Animated Series, 1995

M.O.: Condiments and the devices used to apply them; devilishly-crafted wordplay

Basically, he’s a lot like the Joker, except with ketchup. Also, instead of being the paragon of comic book villainy, he’s the Condiment King. He uses toxic condiments to poison his enemies and relishes coming up with the best puns he can muster (he really talks like that). To be fair, DC only ever pushed him as a comic relief villain anyways, but still. Condiment King.

Crazy Quilt

Debut appearance: Boy Commandos #15, 1946

M.O.: Deafening opponents with loud wardrobe choices

Crazy Quilt has actually seen a bit of a Renaissance, having appeared on Nickelodeon’s Batman: The Brave and the Bold series and received cameos in Arkham Asylum and Arkham City. The reason for Crazy Quilt’s crazy costume is that he has a rare form of colorblindness (shocker) which has driven him insane. His helmet provides him with normalized vision, as well as an array of totally rad laser beam weaponry.

The Eraser

Debut appearance: Batman #188, 1966

M.O.: Hidden blades; giant magical erasers

The Eraser is really more of a mercenary of sorts. In exchange for a cut of the spoils, he’ll erase evidence from the scene of a robbery. Why he does this by rubbing his massive eraser helmet on everything instead of using – we don’t know – any sort of handheld or concealable device, we’re not sure. Also, his real name is Leonard Fiasco. Brilliant.

Film Freak

Debut appearance: Batman #395, 1986

M.O: Bothering everyone with movie “fun facts”

The only cool thing about Film Freak is that his name, Burt Weston, is a tribute to Adam West and Burt Ward. Other than that, he just commits copycat crimes based on movies and wears earrings shaped like film canisters.

The King of Cats

Debut appearance: Batman #69, 1952

M.O.: Being (and wearing) the cat’s pajamas
When Catwoman wears all black spandex, it’s sexy. When her muscly and mustachioed estranged brother does it, it’s just kind of awkward. He also drives a cat-shaped car which he calls his “Kitty Car.” It’s almost like we’re supposed to make fun of him.

King Tut (Victor Goodman)

Debut appearance: Batman Confidential #26, 2009

M.O.: Egyptology puns

Victor Goodman is an Egyptologist and historian who leaves “Riddles of Sphinx” at the scene of his crimes. Apparently, they were all so lame that the Riddler himself joined forces with Batman to stop King Tut’s crimes against wordplay.

Kite Man

Debut appearance: Batman #133, 1960

M.O.: Kites and kite-like methods of flight

Kite Man is probably one of the best known WTF villains in all of comics – there are so many jokes about him already that we can’t really add much. First off, his real name is actually Charlie Brown, which is kind of appropriate given the Peanuts character’s defeatist nature. Second off, Batman was able to defeat Kite Man when the latter accidentally flew into a tree. So, yeah.

Lock-Up

Debut appearance: Batman: The Animated Series, 1994

M.O.: Locks and locking things with them

Officially, Lock-Up is “an expert on incarceration tactics,” which really means he’s just a modern version of the handlebar mustache guy from silent movies that ties people to train tracks. He’s always trapping his victims in elaborate setups, but he’s not that great at escaping from jail himself.

The “Made of Wood” Killer

Debut appearance: Detective Comics #786, 2003

M.O.: Baseball bats

There’s a little backstory to this one which just makes it so much better – a sporting goods store owner, Samuel Sullivan, had his store destroyed during a battle between The Sportsmaster and Green Lantern. (Lantern has energy projection powers and managed to lose to a wooden stick. What’s that say about him?) Since this origin story isn’t quite as powerful as someone losing a loved one, Sam could only create a supervillain persona even lamer than “The Sportsmaster,” and became The “Made of Wood” Killer. He… kind of just beats people up with bats.

Man-Bat

Debut appearance: Detective Comics #400, 1970

M.O.: Being a man that is also a bat

Kirk Langston was a scientist researching bats, and tried to use bat genetics to enhance his failing hearing. It didn’t go too smoothly. As a half-man-half-bat, Kirk has all of a bat’s hyper-sensory abilities. So while it’s cool that he can fly and everything, it’s decidedly less cool that he can be totally incapacitated by a megaphone and a flashlight.

Maxie Zeus

Debut appearance: Detective Comics #483, 1979

M.O.: Electricity-generating armor; nice abs

One of Maxie’s biggest claims to villain fame is his organization of the mythology themed villain group, “The Olympians.” Their main goal was to affect the results of the Olympic games that year. The Olympics are serious business, guys.

Penny Plunderer

Debut appearance: World’s Finest Comics #30, 1947

M.O.: Coins of minimal denomination

This guy is even more ridiculous when you take inflation into account; all his crimes involve pennies in some way. He once tried to crush Batman and Robin in a trap involving a giant penny – the same massive coin that’s now associated with the duo’s encounters with Two-Face. Apparently, DC realized how silly the whole “guy who steals pennies” thing was, and erased the Plunderer from existence.

Polka Dot Man

Debut appearance: Detective Comics #300, 1962

M.O.: Extraordinarily elaborate and advanced weaponry concealment, also baseball bats

The spots on PDM’s suit have the ability to shape-shift into different weapons, items, and vehicles. That’s pretty cool; unfortunately he’s managed to lose his suit on multiple occasions. Polka Dot Man’s low point definitely came when he tried robbing a store armed only with a baseball bat. The police showed up, took his bat, and beat him up with it. (Hey, we found someone The “Made of Wood” Killer could take!)

Sterling Silversmith

Debut appearance: Detective Comics #446, April 1975

M.O.: Silver and things that are made of it

Sterling Silversmith only steals things that are made of silver, because he believes gold will become worthless. You could say that makes him a little like Goldfinger from James Bond, but suckier. He does have a suit made of a woven silver alloy that causes bullets to ricochet away harmlessly (well, except for whomever they end up hitting). We won’t lie, that’s actually pretty sweet.

Sweet Tooth

Debut appearance: The New Adventures of Batman, 1977

M.O.: Severe dental problems

No, we don’t mean Sweet Tooth from Twisted Metal. He’s awesome. This Sweet Tooth is not. He’s only appeared in one episode of the ‘70s cartoon The New Adventures of Batman, and in a quick Brave and Bold cameo.  His grand plan involved turning all of Gotham’s water into chocolate (Willy Wonka style), and only changing it back if paid millions of dollars. The plan was foiled by Batman, Batgirl, and Robin when the gumshoes got Sweet Tooth stuck in a vat of his own taffy.

The Ten-Eyed Man

Debut appearance: Batman #226, 1970

M.O.: Having ten eyes, sort of

Philip Reardon went blind following an industrial accident and elected to pursue the only logical course of action: have optic nerves implanted into his fingertips. Somehow, we don’t think he quite thought that one through. The man literally sees with his hands, meaning that he’s the only supervillain that can be completely neutralized with a pair of mittens. (He actually has been significantly injured when trying to catch ordinary thrown objects with his eyefingerballtips, too.)

So, what did you think of our list? Did we leave out any of your favorites (or in this case, un-favorites)? Will you be dressing up like a Batman villain or other comic book character for Halloween? If you liked this post and want to see more like it, let us know your thoughts on Facebook and Twitter, or send us a note via email. Check out our Pinterest boards for Halloween costume ideas, too.

All DC Comics characters and the distinctive likeness(es) thereof are Trademarks & Copyright © 1938-2019 DC Comics, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Our huge selection of Renaissance costumes has something for everyone, whether you’re a knave or a knight. Keep on reading to learn more about the history behind these “ye olde tyme” events, how you can participate, and how you can have a great time in costume!

What is a Renaissance Faire, anyway?

Renaissance Faires can take several forms. Some are one-and-done weekends; others are months-long extravaganzas. Either way, the constants involved generally include music, food, arts, crafts, and games, all as they were in the 1500s. Performers and vendors dress up and stay in character for the duration of the event – and although dressing up is usually not required for visitors, it’s definitely encouraged!

When was the first Renaissance Faire?

The first true Renaissance Faire, as we know them today, was the Renaissance Pleasure Faire of Southern California in 1962. Originating as a one-off fundraiser event for a local radio station, the RPFS is still alive today, having grown into a massive festival that attracts a quarter of a million visitors annually.

That’s the singular event responsible for the main Renaissance festival movement in the United States today, but medieval-themed historical reenactments have been around since the 19th Century. The Eglinton Tournament of 1839 brought 100,000 spectators to the Scottish countryside for an afternoon of jousting and general revelry.

To go back even earlier still, it can be said that modern Renaissance Faires have their roots in the Gothic Revival of the middle 18th Century. Known for a rise in architectural style mimicking genuine medieval-era castles and cathedrals, the period also saw jousting competitions and similar events being held as early as the 1770s in Europe.

Where can I find Renaissance Faires?

RenFaire.com has quite the exhaustive list of Renaissance Faires available on their website, with well over 200 events mentioned. Wikipedia has plenty of listings for Canada and Europe, as well.

What should I wear to the Faire?

That’s the real reason you’re reading this, isn’t? We can’t blame you – we’re all about the costumes too!

An appropriate faire costume can be as simple as this Renaissance dress or this tavern maiden getup, or as complex as this noble knight. Ladies may choose to take the sexy route, as a racy Robin Hood-style archer or drop-dead gorgeous dragon slayer. Most pirate costumes are accurate for the era too, and donning one can be an excellent way to create a fun character for yourself to portray.

Winter isn’t coming yet (thankfully), so there’s no need to brace yourself. But, you can definitely add some Game of Thrones costume inspiration into your Renaissance gear. As with any costume event, pop culture references will always draw great reactions. You can even go with Assassin’s Creed costumes, since Ezio and Connor’s games are set around the correct time period.

It’s always important to accessorize your costume. For Renaissance Faires, this means getting just the right boots, belts, and hats to match your look. Additionally, many venues will not allow real weapons (e.g. swords, shields, and daggers) inside the fairgrounds, unless you’re a performer. Costume weapons and armor are good-looking alternatives that are completely safe to wield at the faire!

What was Renaissance fashion really like?

Now that we know what Renaissance fairs are like today, how accurate are they to what people really wore during that era? We could fill hundreds and hundreds of books with facts and information about real Renaissance fashion (historians and scholars already have), but this is only meant be a brief overview of a few major points. Consider it to be a little extra inspiration for those that prefer to enhance or make their own Renaissance costumes from scratch, or simply want to be as authentic as possible.

Renaissance Makeup

Women (and men) have used makeup and cosmetics to accent their looks for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians are known have used primitive eyeliners and mascaras, as well as skin creams and balms to provide sun protection, for example, and just about every time period and culture has had some sort of defining makeup movement.

In the European Renaissance, pale skin was very sought-after. This trend was set, or at least greatly pushed, by Elizabeth I of England, whose reign lasted from 1558 until her death in 1603. As a woman of already naturally pale complexion, Elizabeth used bright white makeup to cover blemishes and scarring that resulted from smallpox, and of course other women followed. The white makeup used to achieve the desirable effect was typically made of a lead powder, occasionally with a mercury additive. Not surprisingly, Elizabeth (and likely, many others) died of heavy metal poisoning – the chemicals in the makeup may have actually caused much of the skin discoloration they were meant to hide.

Color

For both men’s’ and women’s’ clothing in the Renaissance, the colors of garments worn had significant meanings. Generally, darker, vibrant colors were attributed to wealth and high society – not only were the dyes required to create these fabrics much more expensive, but darker colors tend to accentuate the shine of gold and jewelry.

Red was a color of high social status and royalty. Not only did Elizabeth I wear it in several of her portraits, but it was also a color of gentlemen, judges, and government officers. Orange, by comparison, was associated with the poor. We hate to talk about our favorite color like that, but it’s true – peasants would attempt to copy the upper class, but cheaper dyes resulted in oranges instead of reds. Browns, beiges, and grays were also “low class” colors for the same reasons.

Purple is a color associated with royalty and power. In the Renaissance, it was frequently worn by the Medici and their followers, but the color has had a similar status as the favorite of various kings and emperors, dating back hundreds of years further – Tyrian purple was made from snail shells, and very difficult to come by in Renaissance Europe. By contrast, woad, used in blue dyes, was very common, which meant that blue clothing was typically associated with commoners and servants.

Other colors were less tied to social standing, and carried subtler meanings. Green represented youth, spring, and love. Yellow was a neutral color in some regions, but indicated prostitutes in Renaissance Italy. White symbolized purity and black symbolized mourning, as they mostly do today.

Shapes and Sizes

A big point of men’s and women’s Renaissance fashion was to modify the body’s natural silhouette – an aspect that isn’t always faithfully recreated in modern Renaissance fair costumes, save for the die-hards among us.

Beginning around the 1490s, huge padded sleeves and stockings started appearing in Northern Europe, and German-influenced styles included lots of puffs and ruffles around necks, shoulders, and backs to change the shape of the human body. German design also contributed a lot of rich colors and bold, vibrant patterns to Renaissance fashion, as well as more luxurious materials like furs and velvets. This voluminous style gave way to a lot of Spanish-influenced, tighter-fitting garments in the 1550s, though, when Mary I of England married Philip II of Spain. Accessories like neck ruffs and farthingales still served the purpose of modifying body shapes, but into a more rigid and less flowing look than before.

Men’s clothing often opted for a slightly more geometric look, too. Knee-length tunics and jerkins (a type of short jackets) were common, and created squarer silhouettes, accentuating the torso. Pads were used to widen shoulders, and some men even wore corsets to appear slimmer.

A coincidental, yet useful, function of all the extra layers and padding was warmth. Global climate, especially in Europe, was a lot cooler in the Renaissance than it is today, due in part to the Little Ice Age. If you’ve ever sweltered in the summer heat at a Renaissance fair and wondered how they put up with it back then, that’s how.

Pirate Costumes

Pirates? In my Renaissance? As it just so happens, the very beginning of the Golden Age of Piracy coincides with the tail end of the Renaissance period, the middle-to-late 1600s. Does this mean that Renaissance fairs are really just the same as pirate festivals? No, but you can totally still wear pirate costumes to a Renaissance fair and be completely on the right page as far historical accuracy goes.

If you want to learn more about pirate costumes and how they really came to be and evolved through history, check out this article for more info.

Are you ready to Renaissance it up this summer? What’s your favorite style of Ren Faire costume? If you liked this article and want to see more like it, share your thoughts with us on Facebook and Twitter @BuyCostumes! Check out our Pinterest boards, too, to get amazing costume ideas for any occasion.

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