Monsters and Mysteries in America (2013–…): Season 3, Episode 8 - Mantis Man, Spottsville Monster - full transcript

Narrator: IN THE HISTORY
OF AMERICAN MONSTER ENCOUNTERS,

IT WAS UNIQUE.

A KENTUCKY FAMILY FORCED
INTO AN ALL-OUT WAR

WITH A HAIRY HYBRID BEAST.

THEY HEARD THE YELP OF THE DOG,

AND THEN THE CREATURE LET OUT
A BIG GROWL.

[ ROARS ]

Barton:
EVERYONE OPENED FIRE, AND
IT SOUNDED LIKE WORLD WAR III.

Narrator: AND NOW NEW EVIDENCE
THE SPOTTSVILLE MONSTER EXISTS.

Hawks:
WHEN YOU HEAR THIS THING,

IT WOULD MAKE THE HAIR STAND UP
ON THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD.



[ SHRIEKING ]

Narrator:
ALONG A NEW JERSEY RIVER,

FISHERMEN COME FACE-TO-FACE WITH
AN IMPOSSIBLY MONSTROUS BUG.

[ MANTIS SCREECHES ]

Jacks:
IT WAS A PRAYING-MANTIS MAN.

THAT'S THE ONLY WAY
I COULD DESCRIBE IT.

[ MANTIS CHITTERING ]

Narrator: IN A CASE THAT HAS
THE EXPERTS BAFFLED,

AFTER ONE OF AMERICA'S
DEADLIEST TORNADOES,

SCORES OF SURVIVORS CLAIM
THEY WERE SAVED

BY MYSTERIOUS WINGED PHANTOMS.

[ ALL SCREAMING ]

Laura: THE ROOF WAS GONE,

BUT THERE WAS A LADY USING
HER BODY SORT OF LIKE A SHIELD



TO PROTECT US.

IT WAS
ONE OF THE BUTTERFLY PEOPLE.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Narrator:
NORTHWEST KENTUCKY, KNOWN
FOR ITS ROUGH, ROLLING TERRAIN.

OUT HERE, PEOPLE CAN
SOMETIMES FEEL CUT OFF

FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD.

TUCKED INTO THESE SECLUDED HILLS

IS THE SMALL TOWN
OF SPOTTSVILLE.

FOR YEARS, STORIES HAVE
CIRCULATED ABOUT A FIERCE,

BUSHY BEAST STALKING
THE BACKWOODS.

[ SHRIEKING IN DISTANCE ]

Hawks:
THERE'S SO MUCH LAND HERE.
PEOPLE DON'T EXPLORE.

THEY DON'T GO THERE BECAUSE
THEY'VE HEARD THESE STORIES

FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS
OF THESE CREATURES BEING HERE.

Narrator: A MANIMAL
SO HUGE AND SO HOSTILE,

THE STORY
OF ITS TERROR ON ONE FAMILY

LEFT AN EMOTIONAL SCAR
THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

Barton:
REALLY, WHAT I REMEMBER IS
THE FEAR THAT EVERYONE FELT

AND ESPECIALLY MY DAD.

I'VE NEVER SEEN
MY DAD SCARED OF ANYTHING.

THIS THING WAS HUGE,
AND IT SCARED US KIDS TO DEATH.

[ ROARS ]

I COULDN'T IMAGINE BEING
THE AGE THAT THEM KIDS WAS

AND THE TERROR THEY LIVED.

IS THERE FAMILIES STILL
TO THIS DAY

THAT'S LIVING IN THAT TERROR?

YES, THERE IS -- RIGHT HERE
IN SPOTTSVILLE, KENTUCKY.

[ ROARS ]

Narrator:
SIGHTINGS OF A MISSING-LINK
CREATURE IN KENTUCKY

DATE BACK OVER A CENTURY.

Hawks: IN 1892, A BIGFOOT WAS
SUPPOSEDLY TRACKED DOWN

BY A GROUP OF 300 PEOPLE
AND SHOT.

IN THE PAST 40 YEARS,
THERE'S HUNDREDS OF SIGHTINGS

THAT'S HAPPENED
OVER THE SPOTTSVILLE MONSTER.

Narrator:
IT'S MADE VENTURING INTO
THESE WOODS A RISKY PROPOSITION.

Hawks:
DO WE GO IN THE WOODS ALONE?

NO, WE'VE MADE IT A PRACTICE
TO GO AS GROUPS NOW.

Narrator:
ROSALIE NUNNELLY WAS OBLIVIOUS
TO THE AREA'S STRANGE HISTORY

WHEN, IN FEBRUARY 1975,

SHE AND HER HUSBAND DECIDED
TO MOVE THE FAMILY

TO A FARM OUTSIDE SPOTTSVILLE.

Barton: WE WERE REAL EXCITED
TO MOVE TO THIS FARMHOUSE.

IT WAS REALLY AN IDEAL SETTING.

RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD
JUST A FEW HUNDRED YARDS,

IT ENDED AT THE GREEN RIVER.

Rosalie: I MOVED
ALL THE CHILDREN OUT TO THE FARM

BECAUSE I HAD FOUR BOYS
AND TWO GIRLS,

AND BOYS NEED
TO BE IN THE COUNTRY

WHERE THEY CAN CLIMB TREES
AND BE BOYS.

Narrator:
RIGHT OFF THE BAT,

ROSALIE SENSED SOMETHING STRANGE
ABOUT THE NEW PLACE.

HEY.
HOW Y'ALL DOING?

BUZZY, WHAT'S WITH THE HOLES
IN THE SCREEN, THERE?

I SHOT THROUGH THAT SCREEN.

WHAT IN THE WORLD
WERE YOU SHOOTING AT?

Rosalie: HE SAID,
"I LOOKED OUT THERE,"

AND SAID, "THERE WAS
THIS BIG HAIRY THING

STANDING RIGHT OUT THERE
BY THE BACK DOOR."

NOT REAL CLOSE,
BUT, ANYWAY, HE SAID,

"I SHOT THROUGH IT
WITH MY SHOTGUN."

I'M GONNA GO AROUND BACK,
CHECK ON A COUPLE THINGS.

Narrator: DESPITE THIS CLUE
THAT DANGER LURKED NEARBY,

ROSALIE AND HER HUSBAND
DECIDED TO STAY.

IT WAS A DECISION
THEY WOULD COME TO REGRET.

[ GROWLING ]

ALL RIGHT.

Narrator: BARTON NUNNELLY
AND HIS BROTHER DEAN

WERE 9 AND 10 YEARS OLD

WHEN THE STRANGE EVENTS BEGAN
TO UNFOLD.

EVERYTHING WAS JUST FINE
UNTIL MY DAD STARTED NOTICING

THAT SOME OF HIS CHICKENS
WERE COMING UP MISSING.

[ GROWLING ]

[ CHICKENS CLUCKING ]

Narrator: THEN, THE CHILDREN
FOUND ANOTHER VICTIM.

MY BROTHER AND I CAME UPON
A CARCASS OF A DEAD DOG

OUT IN ONE OF OUR FIELDS.

WHAT IS THAT?

OVER THE COURSE
OF THE NEXT 11 MONTHS,

MY BROTHER
AND I WOULD FIND EIGHT DOGS

MUTILATED
IN THE EXACT SAME MANNER.

LET'S GO TELL DAD.

Narrator: AFTER MONTHS
OF MYSTERIOUS CARNAGE,

YOUNG DEAN NUNNELLY
WOULD FINALLY LAY EYES

ON THE PERPETRATOR.

Dean:
IT WAS LATE ONE AFTERNOON,

AND MY MOTHER ASKED ME
IF I WOULD GO GET MY SISTER

AND MY NIECE IN.

AND I WENT OUT THERE
TO GET THEM.

COME IN, Y'ALL.
MAMA SAID.

GET OUT OF HERE, DEAN.
Girl: WE'RE PLAYING.

THEY WOULD NOT COME IN.

I COULDN'T FORCIBLY MAKE THEM
COME IN.

I WAS TOO SMALL MYSELF.

GET OUT OF HERE!

[ GROWLING,
RUSTLING IN DISTANCE ]

Narrator: THAT'S WHEN DEAN HEARD
RUSTLING IN THE YARD.

IT WAS COMING CLOSER
AND GETTING LOUDER.

ALL OF A SUDDEN,
EVERYTHING GOT QUIET.

AND THERE IT WAS, THIS CREATURE,
STANDING ON TWO LEGS.

IT WAS A HAIRY CREATURE,
AND IT HAD A SQUARE JAW.

AND IT WAS JUST STANDING THERE,
WATCHING US.

[ GROWLING ]

Narrator: BOY MEETS BEAST
IN A MOMENT OF PURE TERROR.

Barton:
AND THERE WAS THAT MONSTER

STANDING
BY THIS OLD TOBACCO TRUCK,

AND THE RAILS WAS
EIGHT FOOT OFF THE GROUND,

AND IT'S HEAD WAS
ABOVE THE RAILS OF THE TRUCK.

[ ROARS ]

THE SCREAM WAS SO PIERCING
THAT I THOUGHT MYSELF

THAT SOMEBODY DONE GOT KILLED.

GIRLS, GET IN THE HOUSE!

[ MONSTER ROARING ]

GET IN THE HOUSE!

THAT'S WHEN WE STARTED,
YOU KNOW, REALLY TAKING NOTICE

THAT SOMETHING WAS OUT THERE
THAT MIGHT BE DANGEROUS TO US.

MY MOTHER HAD MY DAD PUT
A DUSK-TILL-DAWN LIGHT

OUT FRONT BY THE ROAD.

AND IT MADE US FEEL
A LITTLE BIT BETTER,

BUT AFTER THAT,
THINGS SEEMED TO ESCALATE

EVEN WORSE
THAN THEY WERE GOING BEFORE.

[ GROWLING ]

Narrator: THE NUNNELLYS HAD
NO IDEA WHAT WAS OUT THERE.

THEY WERE ABOUT TO.

IF I LIVE TO BE 1,000,
I'LL NEVER FORGET.

I'LL NEVER FORGET
WHAT THAT THING LOOKS LIKE

STANDING UNDERNEATH
THAT LIGHT.

[ ROARS ]

JACKIE!

Narrator: AND RECENTLY, ONE MAN
HAS BROUGHT BACK PROOF --

AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE MONSTER
IN FULL WAR CRY.

Hawks:
THIS WAS A SOUND THAT WAS,

"I DON'T WANT TO BE HERE
NO MORE.

I'M GONNA TAKE MY STUFF,
AND I'M LEAVING."

[ SHRIEKING ]

Narrator: COUNTED AMONG THE
MOST FAMOUS AMERICAN SIGHTINGS

OF CRYPTID BEASTS ARE
THE ONES THAT EMERGE

FROM THE SMALL KENTUCKY TOWN
OF SPOTTSVILLE.

Volz: THE ACCOUNTS IN KENTUCKY
INDICATE A CREATURE

ANYWHERE FROM SEVEN
TO NINE FEET IN HEIGHT,

HAIR COLOR ANYWHERE FROM TAN
TO REDDISH, DARK BROWN TO BLACK,

FOOT SIZE
UP TO 18 INCHES OR MORE.

SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE
THESE CREATURES CAUSE HAVOC

IN THE COMMUNITIES.

SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT
THEY COULD BE QUITE DANGEROUS.

Narrator: IN 1975,
THE NUNNELLY FAMILY MOVED

TO A FARMSTEAD NEAR SPOTTSVILLE.

THEY WOULD FIND THEMSELVES
UNDER RELENTLESS ATTACK

FROM A FEARSOME BIPEDAL BEAST.

[ FROG CROAKING ]

Rosalie: ALL RIGHT, FINALLY.
Jackie: [ LAUGHS ]

LATE SPRING.

ROSALIE NUNNELLY WAS
IN THE HOUSE

WITH
HER DAUGHTER-IN-LAW JACKIE.

DEAN WANTS BLUE.

THE MEN HAD GONE INTO TOWN.

THE TWO WOMEN --
ALONE WITH THE KIDS.

LET ME CHECK THE FIRE.

Rosalie:
I SMELLED A TERRIBLE ODOR.

RESEMBLED MORE OF A ROTTEN EGG.

[ GROWLING IN DISTANCE ]

YOU SMELL THAT, JACKIE?

[ GRUNTING IN DISTANCE ]
YEAH.

GO GET THEM BABIES
AND BRING THEM IN HERE.

[ GROWLING ]

GIRLS, LET'S GO!
COME ON!

GET IN! HURRY! HURRY!

[ ROARS ]

IT RUN OFF THE PORCH.

I LOOKED OVER
TOWARDS THAT LIGHT.

AND THERE IT STOOD DIRECTLY
UNDER THAT DUSK-TO-DAWN LIGHT.

Narrator:
HALF MAN, HALF MONSTER --

ROSALIE LOCKED EYES
WITH A TERRIFYING CREATURE.

[ ROARING ]

I RUN IN THE HOUSE,
AND I TOLD JACKIE,

I SAID, "BE SURE
ALL THESE DOORS IS LOCKED.

I HAD A POKER THERE, SO
I STUCK THAT POKER IN THE FIRE

AND GOT TO KEEP IT RED-HOT.

AND I THOUGHT,
"WELL, I'LL DO SOMETHING

TO TRY AND PROTECT US,"
AND THAT'S ALL I KNEW TO DO.

MAKE SURE
ALL THE DOORS ARE LOCKED!

I'VE NEVER BEEN SO SCARED
IN MY LIFE.

Narrator: THE CREATURE
BACKED OFF THIS TIME,

BUT THE ENCOUNTERS
WERE ESCALATING.

I WAS A NERVOUS WRECK.

'CAUSE HERE I'VE GOT
MY SIX KIDS.

I WOULD NOT GO OUT AT NIGHTTIME.

FOR LOVE NOR MONEY -- AIN'T
NOTHING MAKE ME GO OUTSIDE.

I SAID, "I'M KIND OF LEERY
OF GOING OUT IN THE DAYTIME."

WE STARTED TO STAY
A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE HOUSE.

WE DIDN'T EXPLORE THE WOODS
MUCH ANYMORE.

Narrator: THE NUNNELLYS FELT
INCREASINGLY UNDER SIEGE.

ALMOST NIGHTLY, ONE OR MORE
OF THE CREATURES SHOWED UP

TO TERRORIZE THEIR HOME.
[ ROARING IN DISTANCE ]

TOM.
TOM, HONEY.

WHAT? WHAT?
I HEARD THAT.

DID YOU HEAR
THAT SCREAM?

YOU STAY HERE.

Rosalie: WE WAS ASLEEP
ONE NIGHT, AND IT SCREAMED.

WOKE ME UP -- SOUNDED
JUST LIKE AN ELEPHANT SCREAM.

[ ROARING CONTINUES ]

Barton:
THESE THINGS WOULD COME UP AND
RATTLE OUR DOORKNOBS AT NIGHT

AND WALK UP ONTO OUR PORCH AND
GROWL RIGHT AT THE FRONT DOOR.

I'M SCARED.
I KNOW, HONEY.

DADDY WENT
TO GO CHECK IT OUT.

WHEN THINGS GOT
REALLY HAIRY OUT THERE,

MY MOM AND DAD WOULD CALL
THE POLICE.

AND, OF COURSE,
THEY WOULD COME OUT,

AND THEY NEVER FOUND ANYTHING.

AND WHEN THEY LEFT,

THE CREATURES WOULD COME
RIGHT BACK OUT AGAIN.

[ ROARING CONTINUES ]

THIS STUFF WAS HAPPENING
ALMOST NIGHTLY.

[ ROARING CONTINUES ]
SAAH!

THEY FINALLY REFUSED
TO RESPOND TO OUR CALLS.

THEY JUST DIDN'T BELIEVE US.

Narrator: FEELING THAT,
AT ANY MOMENT,

THE BEAST COULD BE
AT THEIR DOOR,

THE NUNNELLYS PREPARE
THEIR CHILDREN FOR THE WORST.

Barton: ONE NIGHT, HE BROUGHT
ALL US KIDS TO THE KITCHEN,

AND WE SIT DOWN, AND...

HE TOLD US, HE SAID,
"KIDS, WHATEVER THIS THING IS,

IT'S BIG, AND IT'S POWERFUL."

AND HE SAYS, "YOU SEE THAT
OVER THERE BY THE DOOR?"

AND WE LOOK.

IT'S FIVE GALLONS
OF KEROSENE.

Barton:
HE SAID, "IF THIS THING EVER
DECIDES TO COME IN THIS HOUSE,

AND I CAN'T STOP IT
WITH THE SHOTGUN..."

I'M GONNA TIP THAT CAN OVER,
LIGHT THAT KEROSENE,

AND WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE
AND GO TO HEAVEN TOGETHER.

Barton: "...BECAUSE
I CANNOT LIVE WITH MYSELF

IF THIS THING COMES IN
AND GRABS ONE OF YOU KIDS

AND TAKES IT AWAY."

THAT'S HOW SCARED HE WAS,
HIM AND MOM,

AND HOW SERIOUSLY
THAT THEY TOOK THIS THREAT.

Narrator:
WITH NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE,

THE NUNNELLYS DECIDED
THEY HAD TO FIGHT BACK.

[ OWL SCREECHES ]

Barton: WE DECIDED
THAT WE SHOULD CALL

SOME CLOSE FRIENDS
AND FAMILY MEMBERS

AND DO A STAKEOUT
ON TOP OF OUR ROOF ONE NIGHT.

HEY! HOW LONG
WE GONNA WAIT OUT HERE?

EVERYBODY WAS LOADED
WITH SHOTGUNS.

[ GROWLING ]

AND THAT'S
WHEN ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE.

[ ROARING ]

[ GUNFIRE ]

[ ROARS ]

Narrator:
IN THE SMALL NORTHWESTERN
KENTUCKY TOWN OF SPOTTSVILLE,

IN 1975, THE NUNNELLY FAMILY
FOUND THEMSELVES UNDER ATTACK

BY AN AGGRESSIVE,
BIGFOOT-LIKE BEAST.

[ OWL SCREECHES ]

AFTER ENDURING MONTHS OF TERROR,

THEY STAKED OUT THE MONSTER
FROM THEIR ROOF.

THEY WERE ARMED AND READY.

HEY!
COME ON OUT HERE, BIG BOYS!

WE'RE WAITING FOR YOU!

Y'ALL SEE ANYTHING
OUT THERE?

I CAN'T TELL.

ROSALIE!
SIC THEM DOGS!

[ DOGS BARKING ]

[ DOG YELPS ]

Barton:
THEY HEARD THE YELP OF THE DOG,

AND THEN THE CREATURE LET OUT
A BIG GROWL.

[ ROAR IN DISTANCE ]

THIS THING SOUNDED SO BIG
THAT IT COULD'VE JUST WALKED UP

AND GRABBED ANY OF THEM
OFF THAT ROOF

WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM AT ALL.

[ DOG YELPS ]

THEY'VE GOT THEM!

[ GUNFIRE ]

[ ROAR IN DISTANCE ]

[ ROARING ]

Narrator: DESPITE ALL
THE FIREPOWER THEY UNLEASHED,

WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARED --
NO EVIDENCE OF THE MONSTER.

THESE PEOPLE ACTUALLY HAD

PEOPLE ON TOP OF THE ROOF
OF THEIR HOUSE WITH GUNS,

AND THEY TRIED
TO KILL THIS CREATURE.

AND THEY DIDN'T KILL IT.

Narrator:
THEIR LAST-DITCH EFFORT

TO DRIVE THIS HORROR
FROM THEIR LAND HAD FAILED.

Rosalie:
I TOLD MY HUSBAND, I SAID,
"WELL, I'M NOT TAKING A CHANCE

ON THEM GETTING ONE OF MY KIDS."

I SAID,
"WELL, I'M GONNA TELL YOU --

YOU BETTER START LOOKING
FOR US A PLACE TO MOVE,

BECAUSE I AM GETTING
OUT OF HERE."

MY DAD FINALLY REALIZED THAT
HE WAS DEALING WITH SOMETHING

THAT COULD NOT BE OVERCOME,

AND SO WE LEFT THE FARM
AND NEVER CAME BACK.

IT WAS AN INTENSELY
TERRIFYING SITUATION,

AND WE THOUGHT WE WERE LUCKY
TO ESCAPE IT WITH OUR LIVES.

Narrator: FOR YEARS,
THE NUNNELLYS' ENCOUNTER

HAS HUNG LIKE A SHROUD
OVER SPOTTSVILLE.

RESIDENTS AREN'T SURE
WHAT TO BELIEVE.

NOW KENTUCKY NATIVE LONNIE HAWKS

BELIEVES
HE'S FINALLY FOUND SOLID PROOF

OF THE CREATURE'S EXISTENCE.

Hawks:
I TOOK THIS RECORDER,

AND I WALKED UP THIS PATHWAY
AND PUT IT OUT.

AND I WALKED BACK TO MY TRUCK
AND SIT IN THE TRUCK

AND RECORDED.

[ SHRIEKING ]

WHATEVER THIS CREATURE WAS
THAT SCREAMED THAT NIGHT,

IT WAS NOTHING
I EVER HEARD BEFORE.

IT WOULD MAKE THE HAIR STAND UP
ON THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD.

[ SHRIEKING CONTINUES ]

THIS THING GOES FOR
OVER 11 SECONDS OF SCREAMING.

[ SHRIEKING CONTINUES ]

Narrator: WAS IT AN ALARM CALL
OR, WORSE, A CALL TO ARMS?

BIOLOGISTS EXAMINING
THE RECORDING ARE PUZZLED.

NO KNOWN ANIMAL IN THE WILD
MAKES THIS SORT OF CRY,

SUGGESTING
IT'S EITHER FABRICATED

OR SOMETHING TRULY REMARKABLE.

Hawks:
THESE EVENTS THAT'S HAPPENED
OVER THESE HUNDREDS OF YEARS

ARE GONNA KEEP
CONTINUING HAPPENING

BECAUSE THE SPOTTSVILLE MONSTER
IS REAL.

[ SHRIEKING ]

Barton:
THESE THINGS ARE OUT THERE,
AND THEY'RE VERY REAL.

THEY'RE UNPREDICTABLE,
THEY'RE UNCONTROLLABLE,

AND I BELIEVE THEY POSE
A VERY REAL DANGER

TO EVERYONE THAT'S IN THE WOODS.

Narrator: IN THE SOUTHWEST
CORNER OF MISSOURI,

IN THE FOOTHILLS
OF THE OZARK MOUNTAINS,

SITS THE SMALL CITY OF JOPLIN,
A FRIENDLY PLACE

IN THE EXACT CENTER
OF THE FOUR STATES REGION.

THE CITY IS ALSO SITUATED

IN AMERICA'S
INFAMOUS TORNADO ALLEY.

EVEN SO, NO ONE EVER EXPECTED
THE TWISTER

THAT WOULD TURN THIS TOWN
INTO A LIVING HELL.

Livingston-Martin:
UNFORTUNATELY,

MAY 22nd WAS A DAY

THAT MOTHER NATURE
FOOLED EVERYONE,

BECAUSE WHAT LOOKED LIKE
A RAINSTORM WAS SOMETHING ELSE.

Narrator: 161 KILLED.

900 HOMES LOST.

WITH ALL THE DEVASTATION
THAT HIT THIS TOWN OF 50,000,

MANY WONDERED WHY THE DEATH TOLL
WASN'T HIGHER.

THEN, THE SURVIVAL STORIES
BECAME KNOWN.

Livingston-Martin:
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TORNADO,

THERE WERE
BETWEEN 40 AND 50 CHILDREN

WHO TOLD RESPONDERS
AND PEOPLE IN THE E.R.s

THAT THEY WERE SAVED
BY BUTTERFLY PEOPLE,

THAT WHILE THE TORNADO WAS
GOING ON,

THEY WOULD SEE
THESE BEINGS OF LIGHT,

AND THEY HAD WINGS
LIKE BUTTERFLIES.

THE CHILDREN FELT LIKE

THESE BEINGS WERE THERE
TO PROTECT THEM.

Narrator:
MYSTERIOUS GUARDIANS,

LUMINOUS WINGED BEINGS SHIELDING
THE HELPLESS AND THE YOUNG.

Laura:
WE HEARD THE WINDOWS EXPLODING.

THE ROOF WENT OFF OF THE HOUSE.

THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN,
OUT OF NOWHERE,

I FELT THIS PEACE
THAT I HAD NEVER FELT BEFORE.

AND I FELT WINGS SURROUND US.

Narrator: JOPLIN, MISSOURI, IS
IN THE GEOGRAPHICAL CENTER

OF A HAZARD ZONE --
TORNADO ALLEY.

Livingston-Martin:
PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THIS AREA

PRETTY MUCH GET USED
TO THE THREAT OF TORNADOS.

YOU HAVE SIRENS GO OFF,

BUT PEOPLE GENERALLY RELY

ON THEIR SKILLS
OF WATCHING THE WEATHER

AND WATCHING THE SIGNS.

Narrator:
STILL, THE TWISTER THAT HIT
IN MAY OF 2011 WAS DIFFERENT.

ALMOST IMMEDIATELY,
EXTRAORDINARY STORIES EMERGED.

AND WE WOULD BEGIN TO HEAR

THE STORIES
OF THE BUTTERFLY PEOPLE...

[ ALL SCREAMING ]

[ WIND HOWLING ]

...ABOUT
HOW THEY SAVED THEIR LIVES

OR RESCUED THEM
OR WERE WITH THEM.

THEY WERE LARGER
THAN A REGULAR HUMAN BEING.

THEY WERE BIG,

WITH AN ABILITY TO DO
WHATEVER WOULD BE NECESSARY

TO PROVIDE PROTECTION.

Narrator: ON THE OUTSKIRTS
OF JOPLIN, MISSOURI,

ON SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2011,

A SUPER TORNADO WAS BUILDING.

JOPLIN RESIDENT LAURA PIÑA,
A MOTHER OF SEVEN,

HADN'T HEARD
THE TORNADO WARNING.

SHE AND HER SON DANIEL WERE
ON THEIR WAY DOWNTOWN.

THE DAY WAS BEAUTIFUL.
WE HAD GONE TO CHURCH.

WE WENT GROCERY SHOPPING.

[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]

SWEETIE...

MY SON CALLED
WITH A PANICKED VOICE

AND SAID,
"MOM, YOU NEED TO LISTEN!

THERE IS A TORNADO.
I SAW THE TORNADO."

I SAID,
"I DON'T SEE ANYTHING."

AND THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN,
THE LINE WENT DEAD.

HONEY?
HELLO? HELLO?

HUH.

WHAT'S WRONG?

HIS PHONE WENT DEAD.

AND I COULDN'T
GET HIM BACK ON THE PHONE.

THAT'S WHENEVER I THOUGHT,
"THIS IS REAL."

OH, MY GOSH!
LOOK AT THE SKY!

Laura:
THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN,

WE STARTED TO SEE
HOW DARK IT WAS FARTHER WEST.

MOM, I'M SCARED.

I KNOW, HONEY.

Narrator:
WITH THE TORNADO BEARING DOWN,
THEY ARRIVED AT HOME AT LAST.

THE HAIL STARTED
TO HIT US REALLY BAD.

IT WAS SO PAINFUL.

Narrator:
HER CHILDREN WERE NEAR PANIC.

LAURA KNEW THEY ALL NEEDED
TO FIND A SAFE PLACE

SOMEWHERE INSIDE.

Laura: I WAS SCREAMING,
"GET IN THE CLOSET!

GET IN THE CLOSET!"

IT WAS GETTING LOUDER
AND LOUDER,

AND WE HAD TO KEEP SCREAMING
AND EVEN LOUDER.

IT WAS A TERRIFYING PANIC.

Laura: WHERE ARE YOU GOING?!
WHERE ARE YOU GOING?!

Laura: MY SON, HE COVERED
WITH HEAVY BLANKETS

ALL OF MY KIDS THAT COULD FIT
INTO THAT TINY CLOSET.

[ WIND HOWLING ]

Narrator: WITHIN MINUTES,
THE TORNADO STRUCK.

[ ALL SCREAMING ]

[ RUMBLING, WOOD CREAKING ]

[ SCREAMING CONTINUES ]

Laura:
WE HEARD THE WINDOWS EXPLODING,

AND THE ROOF WENT OFF
OF THE HOUSE.

AND MY SON STARTED SCREAMING,

"WE'RE GONNA DIE!
WE'RE GONNA DIE!"

[ SCREAMING CONTINUES ]

MY DAUGHTER'S GLASSES EXPLODED
IN HER FACE.

IT JUST WAS SO --

IT WAS SO SURREAL.

I WAS WONDERING
IF WE WERE GOING TO DIE.

AND I JUST STARTED TO PRAY,

ASKING GOD FOR PROTECTION,
TO TAKE CARE OF US.

Narrator: THAT'S WHEN
HER YOUNGEST SON, DANIEL,

SAW SOMETHING IN THE SKY ABOVE.

MY SON WAS TELLING ME

THAT HE SAW
THIS LADY DRESSED IN WHITE...

COVERING THE HOLE WHERE WE WERE.

IT WAS JUST SO HARD
FOR ME TO BELIEVE,

SO HARD FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND.

WHAT DANIEL SAW WAS
ONE OF THE BUTTERFLY PEOPLE.

Narrator:
AS A MEGA TORNADO TORE THROUGH
THE TOWN OF JOPLIN, MISSOURI...

[ ALL SCREAMING ]

...LAURA PIÑA AND FIVE
OF HER CHILDREN WERE AT HOME,

TAKING COVER IN A TINY CLOSET.

[ WOOD CREAKING ]

[ SCREAMING CONTINUES ]

AND WHEN THE ROOF WAS GONE,

I WAS WONDERING
IF WE WERE GOING TO DIE.

[ SCREAMING CONTINUES ]

[ CRASHING, WIND HOWLING ]

Narrator: ALL LOOKED LOST,

WHEN HER SON DANIEL WITNESSED
SOMETHING SUPERNATURAL.

Laura: DANIEL SAID THAT
HE LOOKED UP INTO THE SKY,

AND HE SAW
A LADY DRESSED IN WHITE

COVERING THE CLOSET HOLE.

HE SAID THAT HE SAW
HOW THE DEBRIS KEPT HITTING HER

AND HITTING HER.

AND SHE WAS JUST LOOKING AT HIM,

AND SOMEHOW, SHE WAS
COMMUNICATING WITH HIM.

Narrator: AS THE TERRIBLE STORM
FINALLY MOVED OFF,

THE PIÑAS WERE IN SHOCK.

THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE
THEY'D SURVIVED.

Laura:
MY HOUSE WAS COMPLETELY GONE

EXCEPT FOR THE CLOSET
WE WERE IN.

EVERYTHING ELSE WAS GONE
FROM THAT AREA.

Narrator: MIRACULOUSLY,
ALL OF HER KIDS WERE UNHURT.

A TALE OF SUPERNATURAL SURVIVAL
THAT WOULD BE REPLICATED

BY DOZENS OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS

IN INTERVIEWS
BY TRAUMA THERAPISTS

IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE TORNADO.

Livingston-Martin:
IT WAS REAL INTERESTING
BECAUSE THEY DID NOT DESCRIBE

THE BUTTERFLY PEOPLE AS ANGELS.

WHICH, IN THIS AREA,
IT'S VERY RELIGIOUS.

WE'RE IN THE BIBLE BELT.

YOU WOULD EXPECT STORIES
OF ANGELS.

BUT UNIFORMLY,
THE KIDS DESCRIBED THEM

AS BUTTERFLY PEOPLE,

BEINGS OF LIGHT
WITH BUTTERFLY WINGS.

Narrator:
PSYCHOLOGISTS SUGGEST THAT
THE SIGHTINGS CAN BE EXPLAINED

AS PRODUCTS
OF TERROR-INDUCED IMAGINATION.

YET THE QUESTION REMAINS --

WHY ARE THE ACCOUNTS
SO CONSISTENT

ACROSS SO MANY CHILDREN

WHO WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN
ONE ANOTHER?

AFTER THE STORM, A MURAL WAS
PAINTED IN DOWNTOWN JOPLIN,

INSPIRED IN PART
BY THE SIGHTINGS.

Livingston-Martin:
I THINK THE FACT THAT
THERE WERE NOT MORE FATALITIES

COULD BE FROM
THE BUTTERFLY PEOPLE PROVIDING

HELP AND SAFETY FOR PEOPLE GOING
THROUGH THE TORNADO.

Narrator:
DID SURVIVORS RECEIVE SOME FORM
OF SUPERNATURAL PROTECTION?

BRYANNA NEVAREZ,
A JOPLIN-AREA HOSPITAL NURSE,

WOULD AGREE.

IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE TORNADO,

SHE WAS RESPONDING
TO THE INJURED.

Woman:
MY BABY! MY BABY!

BRYANNA ALSO SAW
PHANTOM-LIKE ENTITIES.

Nevarez: THERE WAS A MOTHER
THAT WAS SITTING WITH HER CHILD,

AND SHE WAS JUST CRYING,
HOLDING HIM.

[ SOBBING ]

WHEN I FIRST NOTICED HIM,

I JUST NOTICED
WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A PERSON.

THEY WERE A GRAY COLOR,
ALMOST LIKE A STATUE.

THEY WERE FAIRLY TALL,
LONG-ROBED,

ALMOST AS THOUGH
IF YOU LOOKED IN A CEMETERY

AND YOU SAW A CARVED ANGEL.

I BELIEVE THAT THEY WERE THERE
TO PROVIDE COMFORT

AND KEEP ANYTHING WORSE
FROM HAPPENING,

ALMOST AS A PROTECTOR
OR GUARDIAN

OF WHOMEVER
THEY WERE STANDING NEXT TO.

CALL THEM ANGELS.
CALL THEM SPIRITS.

CALL THEM GUARDIANS.

I DON'T THINK,
IN A TIME OF CRISIS,

YOU'RE EVER ALONE.

I BELIEVE IT.

I SAW IT.

Narrator: IN THE MIDST
OF SO MUCH DARKNESS,

MANY IN JOPLIN WERE TOUCHED
BY A MIRACULOUS RAY OF LIGHT.

Laura: DANIEL SAW
ONE OF THE BUTTERFLY PEOPLE,

AND I REALIZED
THAT IT WAS PROTECTING US.

IT WAS AN ANGEL SENT FROM GOD.

THAT'S THE ONLY POSSIBILITY
THAT IT COULD BE.

HE SENT SOMEONE TO PROTECT US,

AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE ALIVE.

WE ARE SURVIVORS.

WE ARE A MIRACLE.

Narrator: LESS THAN AN HOUR WEST
OF NEW YORK CITY

IS A REMOTE PART OF NEW JERSEY
KNOWN AS THE FORGOTTEN COUNTY --

THE MUSCONETCONG RIVER.

IT'S HEADWATERS START
IN BACKCOUNTRY WILDERNESS,

AND WHAT'S LURKING THERE
HAS BECOME A TOPIC OF RUMOR.

REPORTS
ABOUT A TERRIFYING CREATURE --

IT RESEMBLES AN INSECT BUT
SOMETHING MUCH TOO MASSIVE --

A MONSTROUS MUTANT.

Jacks:
IT WAS REACTING TO ME.

YOU COULD SEE
THAT IT WAS VERY INTELLIGENT,

WHATEVER IT WAS.

[ MANTIS CHITTERS ]

THE CREATURE SHOWED ME
THE WIDTH OF ITS SCALES

AND ITS CHEST
AND HOW STRONG HE COULD BE.

AND THAT WAS
COMPLETELY TERRIFYING.

[ MANTIS CHITTERS ]

Narrator:
PAUL JACKS IS AN AVID FISHERMAN.

HE FREQUENTLY VISITS
THE RIVERS AND STREAMS

OF THE NEW JERSEY REGION.

Jacks:
NEW JERSEY GETS A BAD RAP.

THIS IS ACTUALLY
A VERY BEAUTIFUL AREA.

A LOT OF PARKS,
LOT OF RIVERS, LOT OF LAKES.

I'VE BEEN FISHING ALL MY LIFE.

MY FATHER WAS A FISHERMAN,
SO I STARTED AROUND 3 OR 4.

Narrator:
IN THE SPRING OF 2006,

THIS EXPERIENCED FISHERMAN
GOT AN INVITATION

TO TRY THE FISHING
SOMEWHERE NEW.

SO, THIS PARTICULAR DAY,
MY BOSS SAID,

"WHY DON'T WE TRY GOING
TO THE MUSCONETCONG?"

I HAD NEVER BEEN THERE BEFORE.

IT WAS A CREEPY PLACE.

IT'S NOT COMPLETELY
IN THE WILDERNESS,

BUT WHEN YOU'RE IN THE RIVER,
VERY OFTEN,

YOU'RE IN A TUNNEL, ALMOST,

BECAUSE OF ALL THE BRUSH
AND THE BRANCHES.

WHEN WE ENTERED THE RIVER,
MY BOSS ASKED ME,

"WHICH WAY DO YOU WANT TO GO?"

THIS PLACE,
IT'S JUST WAY WEIRD.

I'LL GO UPSTREAM.

Jacks: SO I STARTED MOVING,

WADING ACROSS THE RIVER
AND DOWN.

THAT'S WHEN I SAW THE MOVEMENT.

Narrator: ON THE BANK,
SOMETHING HIDEOUS AND HUGE.

[ MANTIS CHITTERS ]

Jacks:
WHEN I FIRST SAW THE CREATURE,

I WAS LIKE, "WHAT --
WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?"

THIS THING HAD
THE SKIN OF A SNAKE.

WHERE OUR ABDOMEN IS
AND WHERE ALL OUR ORGANS ARE,

IT HAD A VERY NARROW CORE.

[ MANTIS CHITTERING ]

THE CREATURE'S EYES WERE BLACK,
VERY LARGE,

BUT SET IN THE FRONT,
SO IT HAD BINOCULAR VISION.

Narrator: AND THOSE INSECT EYES
HAD PAUL IN ITS SIGHTS.

Jacks: THIS THING SEEMED TO BE
VERY CONCERNED WITH ME.

I SENSED ASTONISHMENT,

WHETHER IT WAS BECAUSE
I WAS IN THE WATER,

WHETHER IT KNEW
THAT I COULD SEE IT...

[ MANTIS HISSING, CHITTERING ]

IT WAS VERY AWARE
THAT I WAS AWARE OF IT,

AND THAT SEEMED TO CONCERN IT,

BECAUSE IT NEVER TOOK
ITS EYES OFF OF ME.

IT WAS MOVING UP THE BANK
AWAY FROM ME

BUT LOOKING BACK
OVER ITS LEFT SHOULDER

DIRECTLY AT ME.

Narrator: FOR PAUL JACKS,
TIME STOOD STILL,

AND WHEN THE CLOCK TICKED AGAIN,
THE CREATURE TRANSFORMED.

THIS THING WAS FADING VERY
QUICKLY AS IT MOVED UP THE BANK

AND ALL THAT TIME NEVER TOOK
ITS EYES OFF ME.

IT WAS ONE, TWO, THREE, GONE.

IT VANISHED COMPLETELY,

BUT I'M SURE
THAT IT WAS STILL THERE.

Narrator:
NOW THAT IT WAS CLOAKED,
IT MIGHT BE ANYWHERE.

PAUL WAS MORE AT RISK THAN EVER.

IN THE NATURAL WORLD,

THE PRAYING MANTIS HAS EVOLVED
AN UNCANNY ABILITY

TO MIMIC
ITS SURROUNDING TERRAIN.

CAMOUFLAGE CAPABILITIES ARE
ONE THING.

BUT A GIANT MANTIS MAN
SECRETLY ROAMING

THE NEW JERSEY COUNTRYSIDE?

Jacks: MAYBE
YOU QUESTION YOURSELF, YOU KNOW?

"DID THAT REALLY JUST HAPPEN?"

BUT IT DID.

[ MANTIS CHITTERING ]

IT WAS A PRAYING-MANTIS MAN.

THAT'S THE ONLY WAY
I COULD DESCRIBE IT.

Narrator: THE MUSCONETCONG RIVER
IN NEW JERSEY --

MULTIPLE WITNESSES,
UNKNOWN TO EACH OTHER,

HAVE COME FORWARD TO REPORT
A MYSTERIOUS, BUG-LIKE BEAST...

[ CHITTERING IN DISTANCE ]

THE MANTIS MAN.

Strickler: OVER THE YEARS
THAT I'VE BEEN INVESTIGATING IT,

I'D SAY THAT I'VE RECEIVED

MAYBE FOUR
OR FIVE DIFFERENT ENCOUNTERS.

I'M NOT SURE
IF THE RIVER IS USED FOR FOOD,

BUT THE FACT THAT THE
FIRST TWO SIGHTINGS DID HAPPEN

IN AN AREA
SO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER

AND THAT THE WITNESSES
DID NOT KNOW EACH OTHER

IS FAIRLY REMARKABLE.

Narrator: PAUL JACKS ISN'T
THE ONLY FISHERMAN

THAT'S RUN UP
AGAINST THIS MUTANT MONSTER.

NEW JERSEY BUSINESSMAN
JOE PARENTI

GREW UP ALONG THE JERSEY SHORE.

RECENTLY,
HE BUILT A VACATION HOME

NEAR THE MUSCONETCONG RIVER.

Parenti: MY BROTHER AND I
FISHED THERE FOR MANY YEARS --

15 YEARS -- AND WE NEVER SAW
ANYTHING UNUSUAL.

Man: OH, NO PROBLEM. THIS IS
GONNA BE A FANTASTIC DAY.

REMEMBER
WE DID THIS LAST YEAR?

Parenti:
JUST KICKING BACK...

BROUGHT
SOME NEW FISHING SNEAKERS.

...WITH A FISHING POLE
IN THE WATER.

WHETHER I'M CATCHING SOMETHING
OR NOTHING

OR JUST FEELING
THE COOL BREEZE ON MY FACE,

THAT WILL DO IT FOR ME.

Narrator: WHAT STARTED
AS A RELAXING REUNION

FOR JOE AND HIS BROTHER
QUICKLY TURNED

INTO A HORRIFYING DAY FROM HELL.

Parenti: WE STARTED
IN THE EARLY MORNING TIME.

Man: YOU REMEMBER
HOW TO DO THIS, RIGHT, BRO?

RIGHT. THAT'S
THE LUCKY REEL, RIGHT?

ALL RIGHT, YOU GOT
THE NEW SHOES ON...

Parenti:
WE WENT TO STEPHENS PARK,

AND WE WENT
TO THAT SMALL BUNCH OF ISLANDS

THAT'S IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE RIVER.

THE NEW BOBBER.
ALL RIGHT.

I'M GONNA HEAD DOWNSTREAM.
GOOD LUCK.

Parenti: HE STOOD DOWNSTREAM.
I STOOD A LITTLE BIT UPSTREAM.

AND WE THREW OUR LINES
IN THE WATER.

Narrator: RIGHT AWAY,
JOE FELT SOMETHING WAS OFF.

I NOTICED SOME HUMMING,

AND I'VE NOTICED A LOT OF
TINGLING SENSATIONS IN MY BODY.

I CAUGHT,
FROM THE CORNER OF MY EYE,

A CREATURE
THAT WAS SVEN FEET TALL,

BROWN-AND-BLACK-SCALED.

Narrator:
THIS GIANT MANTIS MAN WAS
FEEDING ON SOME KIND OF PREY.

JOE HAD INTERRUPTED ITS MEAL.

TO MY AMAZEMENT, I SAW
A HUMANOID, SEVEN FEET TALL,

LOOKING DOWN AT ME

BUT YET WITH THE HEAD
TO THE TILT,

MOVING ITS MOUTH.

Narrator: A MONSTROUS MOUTH
STRAIGHT OUT OF A NIGHTMARE.

Parenti:
I WAS SO SCARED.

I WAS SO DAMN SCARED.

Narrator: IT WAS
ABOUT TO GET EVEN SCARIER.

[ MANTIS CHITTERS ]

Parenti: TO SEE THOSE MANDIBLES
MOVING UP AND DOWN,

AND I SAID, "THERE'S NO WAY
THAT COULD TALK TO ME."

AND THEN I REALIZED
THIS IS NO JOKE.

IT TURNED TO SHEER PANIC.

WHEN I SAW THE MANTIS MAN,
I WAS SO SCARED.

IT WAS THE EYES.

HIS DARK EYES WERE JUST
SO INTENSE.

I BELIEVE IT COULD KILL ME.

Narrator: THE CREATURE JOE SAW
MATCHED OTHER SIGHTINGS

ALMOST EXACTLY
EXCEPT FOR ONE MAJOR FEATURE.

IT LOOKED LIKE IT HAD WINGS,

AND IT OPENED UP
AND OPENED UP ITS CHEST.

THE CREATURE SHOWED ME
THE WIDTH OF ITS CHEST

AND HOW STRONG HE COULD BE.

AND THAT WAS
COMPLETELY TERRIFYING.

Narrator:
A NORMAL PRAYING MANTIS,
WHEN THREATENED BY A PREDATOR,

WILL SPREAD ITS WINGS.

IN THAT MOMENT,

IT WAS JOE PARENTI THAT WAS
CAUGHT LIKE PREY, MESMERIZED.

Parenti:
I WAS GETTING THE SENSE

THAT THIS CREATURE WAS SUCKING
INFORMATION RIGHT OUT OF ME

BEFORE I WAS EVEN THINKING IT.

WAKE UP.

[ MANTIS CHITTERS ]

Narrator:
FINALLY, THE MANTIS RELEASED
ITS HOLD ON JOE'S CONSCIOUSNESS.

AND THERE WAS A FOG
THAT KIND OF CAME THROUGH,

AND IT WAS NOTHING BUT STEAM.

AND THEN, IT CLEARED AND GONE.

I COULDN'T CONTROL MYSELF.

THEN, I LOST GRIP
OF MY BODILY FUNCTIONS.

[ BREATHES DEEPLY ]

AND I FELT LIKE THROWING UP.

Narrator: THE CREATURE,
THE ENCOUNTER --

ALL OF IT SEEMED
TOO BIZARRE TO BE POSSIBLE.

BRO!

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

Narrator: HIS BROTHER FOUND JOE
IN A STATE OF PANIC.

IT HAD WINGS!
IT WAS LIKE EIGHT FEET TALL!

Parenti: MY BROTHER DOESN'T KNOW
WHAT TO MAKE OF IT.

HE KNOWS THAT SOMETHING
DISTURBED ME GREATLY

IF YOU'RE GONNA CRAP YOURSELF

RIGHT THERE
IN THE MIDDLE OF A STREAM!

MY THOUGHTS --
WE GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE.

THERE'S NOTHING HERE.

I SAW --
I SAW SOMETHING.

IT HAD WINGS.

Parenti:
I WAS VERY AFRAID THAT THIS
CREATURE WAS GONNA COME BACK,

THAT IT WANTED SOMETHING
FROM ME,

THAT IT WOULD CAUSE
SOME TYPE OF HARM

TO MYSELF OR TO MY BROTHER.

SO I SAID,
"LET'S GET OUT OF HERE."

AND THAT WAS WHEN WE GOT OUT,
AND I DIDN'T LOOK BACK.

Narrator: THE MANTIS MONSTER --
GIANT, SCALY, PSYCHIC.

IS THIS A GENETIC MUTANT,
AN UNDISCOVERED CRYPTID,

OR IS THERE
A MORE UNEARTHLY EXPLANATION?

PEOPLE SAY IT'S AN ALIEN.

THERE'S EVEN
A SCHOOL OF THOUGHT OUT THERE

THAT SAY THESE KIND
OF MANTIS CREATURES

ARE ACTUALLY FALLEN ANGELS.

I DON'T THINK
ANYONE REALLY KNOWS.

Narrator:
SOME HAVE EVEN LINKED

THE APPEARANCE
OF THESE MANTIS CREATURES

WITH UFOs.

Strickler: THERE ARE THEORIES
THAT SOME ALIEN SPECIES,

POSSIBLY
THESE MANTIS/INSECTOID SPECIES,

HAVE A MIXTURE OF HUMAN DNA

AND OTHER DNA THAT MAY HAVE
ORIGINATED HERE ON EARTH.

Narrator:
ARE THESE MANTIS CREATURES

EMISSARIES
FROM BEYOND THE STARS?

Parenti: DID IT CHOOSE ME
FOR SOME OTHER CRAZY REASON

THAN I JUST HAPPENED
TO BE THERE?

ARE THERE OTHER HUMANOIDS
ON THIS EARTH?

I NEVER THOUGHT LIKE THAT.

I THINK LIKE THAT NOW.

I WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE
THAT, YEARS AGO,

USED TO MAKE FUN OF PEOPLE
WHEN I WOULD HEAR ABOUT,

"WAS HE A GREEN LITTLE MARTIAN?"

AND "DID HE LAND ON THE" --
YOU KNOW?

AND NOW I'M
ON THE FLIP SIDE OF THE COIN,

SAYING, "KEEP AN OPEN MIND.

THERE IS SO MUCH MORE
OUT THERE."