Behind the Folklore - Nightshifter

by Crystalrach

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SHAPESHIFTER

Shapeshifting is a common theme in mythology and folklore, as well as in science fiction and fantasy. In its broadest sense, it is a change in the physical form or shape of a person or animal. Other terms include metamorphosis, morphing, transformation, or transmogrification.

There is no settled agreement on the terminology. Still, the most common usages are:

• shapeshifting indicates changes that are temporary
• metamorphosis indicates changes that are lasting
• transformation indicates changes that are externally imposed

Shapeshifting is distinguished from natural processes such as aging or metamorphosis (despite shared use of the term), the body contortions of animals such as the Mimic Octopus, and illusory changes. Instead, shapeshifting involves physical changes such as alterations of age, gender, race, or general appearance or changes between human form and that of an animal, plant, or inanimate object.

Popular shapeshifting creatures in folklore are werewolves and vampires (mostly of European, Canadian, and Native American/early American origin), the fox spirits East Asia (including the Japanese kitsune), and the gods, goddesses, and demons of numerous mythologies, such as the Norse Loki or the Greek Proteus. It was also common for deities to transform mortals into animals and plants.

Although shapeshifting to the form of a wolf is specifically known as lycanthropy, and such creatures who undergo such change are called lycanthropes, those terms have also been used to describe any human-animal transformations and the creatures who undergo them. Therianthropy is the more general term for human-animal shifts, but it is rarely used in that capacity.

Other terms for shapeshifters include metamorph, skin-walker, mimic, and therianthrope. The prefix "were-," coming from the Old English word for "man" (masculine rather than generic), is also used to designate shapeshifters; despite its root, it is used to indicate female shapeshifters as well.

Almost every culture around the world has some type of transformation myth, and almost every commonly found animal (and some not-so-common ones) probably has a shapeshifting myth attached to them. Usually, the animal involved in the transformation is indigenous to or prevalent in the area from which the story derives. It is worthy to note that while the popular idea of a shapeshifter is of a human being who turns into something else, there are numerous stories about animals that can transform themselves as well.

In Supernatural, the Shapeshifter is "human" (it doesn't turn into an animal or plant) and can transform into anyone, male or female, young or old. To do this it sheds its skin, similar to a snake. Their victim can be alive or dead, sometimes the shifter will capture someone and take them to their lair (usually located in a sewer system).
The easiest way to tell a shapeshifter is on camera, as their eyes produce a "camera flare". The shapeshifters on Supernatural so far have turned to crime - from robbery to murder. Like werewolves, the only way to kill one is silver.


MANDROID

A Mandroid is a fictional suit of power armor which appears in the Marvel Comics universe. It first appeared in Avengers#94 (Dec 1971), created by Roy Thomas and Neal Adams.

Mandroids were originally designed by Tony Stark and built by Stark International for use by S.H.I.E.L.D., with the concept being to provide the wearer with a large number of offensive options in order to provide a variable response to the level of threat, threats which may include those posed by supervillains or rogue superheroes. Since then, Mandroid armor has been utilized by several criminals, such as minions of Moses Magnum.

The Mandroid power armor is constructed of a titanium alloy that provides a fair deal of protection from physical and energy attacks; the suit also offers an internal air supply and life support systems. Sensors include infrared scanners and radar/sonar, and the suits contain a full-range radio and loudspeaker. The suits increase the wearer's strength and stamina, though not to superhuman degrees. The main feature is the wide array of offensive weaponry -- electrostatic beams, lasers, magnetic force "punch-blasters", "neuro-stunners", and tractor/repellor beams have all been exhibited.

The Mandroid armor appears in the X-Treme X-Men storyline God Loves, Man Kills II. In it, William Stryker and a brainwashed Kitty Pryde wear the armor, with Stryker using Kitty's phasing ability, enhanced tenfold, to disrupt biological beings as well as technology.


TERMINATOR 2 (COMMONLY ABBREVIATED TO T2)

Film sequel to The Terminator starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Two Terminators arrive in 1994, the first is the T-800 Model 101, the same type of cyborg that Sarah Connor first encountered, while the second is the T-1000. The newer, sleeker model Terminator (a "mimetic polyalloy") is constructed of "liquid metal" and is able to emulate the physical form of any solid object of equal size that it samples through touch (excluding complex machines with moving parts or chemicals, like guns and explosives). More dangerously, it can emulate the voice and appearance of a human being.