Casters,
Welcome to the Cryptid Corner, a recurring series on MetaZoo News where we take a closer look at the cryptids that inspire the iconic cards in MetaZoo! These cryptids are more than just tall tales; they are deeply ingrained in the culture and history that surrounds them, sparking countless stories of encounters and sightings. Today, we will be taking a look at one of the most memorable and cherished cryptids in MetaZoo (and beyond): The Mothman.
Origins of the Mothman
Hailing from the small town of Point Pleasant, West Virginia, the Mothman has been described as a humanoid creature standing six to seven feet tall with massive wings and red glowing eyes. The Mothman has been depicted in mixed media from John Keel’s best-selling book entitled The Mothman Prophecies and a movie bearing the same name (starring Richard Gere) to games such as Fallout 76 and of course MetaZoo. Hundreds have claimed to see the creature and many thousands more have experienced the mythos of the Mothman in its various forms.
The first widely reported sighting occurred on November 15th, 1966, when two young couples – Roger and Linda Scarberry & Steve and Mary Mallette – encountered a terrifying “man-sized bird” near the abandoned WWII TNT factory, the West Virginia Ordnance Works. Initially described as, “a slender, muscular man about seven feet tall with white wings.”, the Mothman then followed the couples in their car until reaching the city limits before disappearing into the night. The couples were interviewed, and the news reports began to draw national attention.
The Silver Bridge Incident
With the ominous report of the Mothman’s first sighting came it’s first truly catastrophic moment – the collapse of the Silver Bridge. The notoriety that the Mothman enjoys comes from sightings from local residents slightly before the events of December 15th, 1967. In the days leading up to the collapse of the Silver Bridge (which connected Point Pleasant to Gallipolis, Ohio) the Mothman was sighted near the area by multiple witnesses.
The bridge itself was constructed in 1928 and was a suspension bridge that utilized a brand new bridge design that used “eye-bars” to distribute tension and support the bridge. It was one of the first, if not the first, bridge that utilized this new technology. Unfortunately, a failure with that same innovation caused the collapse of the bridge, as a fracture in a single eye-bar combined with the heavy rush-hour traffic proved to be too much. The event resulted in the deaths of 46 individuals and the birth of the Mothman’s image as a harbinger of dread and ill omens.
As if the collapse of the bridge itself wasn’t already plaguing the minds of the residents of Point Pleasant enough, John Keelreports in his best-selling book The Mothman Prophesies,that the events surrounding the bridge collapse and Mothman sightings were part of a larger pattern of unexplained events. Keel also reported strange lights in the sky, visits from“Men in Black” and an overall sense of foreboding in the small community.
Potential Sightings
The legend of the Mothman goes far beyond Point Pleasant, WV with reports that it has appeared as an omen in other catastrophic events. While the following reports lack concrete evidence, they are still intriguing.
For example, some believe that the Mothman was present before the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in ’86. Multiple witnesses claimed they saw a large, winged creature with glowing red eyes flying around the plant before the explosion and it was dubbedthe “Black Bird of Chernobyl”. This reporting emerged after the event took place leading fans to debate its authenticity
The next sighting worth mentioning is one of the more recent reports having taken place slightly before August 1st, 2007. In the days before the I-35 bridge collapse, individuals claimed to have seen a Mothman-like entity near the bridge. Eerily similar to the Silver Bridge incident, the collapse occurred during rush hour resulting in the deaths of 13 people.
Finally, one of the lesser reported incidents takes place in 2009 during theSwine Flu outbreak in Mexico. In La Junta, Mexico, some locals reported seeing a creature with a human-like body, large wings, and glowing red eyes shortly before the outbreak in that area. This garnered some media attention in Mexico at the time, but was a largely isolated and unexplained incident.
Mothman's Legacy
The Mothman is permanently ingrained into the American mythos not only as an omen for ill things to come, but rather a warning that we should always keep on our toes and never take what we have in front of us for granted. For us casters though, the Mothman isn’t just another cryptid – it’s an icon. As one of the most valuable and sought after cryptids in MetaZoo, the Mothman embodies the blend of myth and magic that makes MetaZoo so unique.
Much like the sightings that made it famous, the Mothman has a way of sticking with you. Its legacy in MetaZoo is more than just a card; it’s a tribute to the folklore that unites communities and sparks endless imagination. As a native West Virginian myself, I can definitely say that the Mothman isn’t just part of MetaZoo; it's the symbol of the magic that makes it unforgettable.
Want even more info? Take a gander at our friend Turmentic's excellent video during the Mothman festival as he interviews locals and reps MetaZoo!