‘The Gatorman and the Alligator man are like two wildly distinct peas in two separate pods. Their connectiong tissue is the fact that they are both the vombination of human and alligator features. Plus they both featured in newspaper articles, (well, one of them might not have), and some people for some reason believe they are real. Funny thing is, one of them has vastly more proof, and it's not the one you'd expect.’
Description: In the summer of 1973, residents of Newton, New Jersey reported seeing a humanoid alligator called the Gator Man. In 1977, a New York Conservation Naturalist Alfred Hulstruck officially commented on the creature living in the state’s southern tier.
The Emperor. Art by Bridgette Egan, from the Delta Enduring Tarot.
The Emperor Gatorman, adorned with his crown of straw, sits on his log in the dark of the swamp. He is the oldest creature there that he has met, and has seen many battles, won through the toughness of his skin and the sharpness of his fangs. He rules the swamp as he always has, though he still feels slighted when Crawmaid refuses to give him the time of day. Upright, the Emperor represents structure and stability, the domination of mind over emotion to fulfill a goal. He is a leader, and as such, expects results. How those in power make you feel about yourself, and the work you do. Are you the one in control? Perhaps it is time to examine if your leadership is accomplishing your goals. Do you need to step up your organizational skills? Do you need to communicate more? Gatorman also sits with his back to the viewer, casting a reproachful glance over his shoulder. He feels he deserves praise for using his power for what he thinks is good. Such strength and fortitude can lead to a sense of entitlement. Crawmaid doesn’t owe Gatorman anything. This card encourages you to examine your relationship with toxic masculinity in your life. The emperor is the symbol of the patriarchy, and all the challenges that come with dismantling it. Does this card refer to someone in your life, or your own behaviors that you’ve been ignoring? It might be time to really ask yourself some difficult questions.
Reversed: Removed from his restraint and control, Gatorman can be abusive, his fangs turned on those he says he loves. In the reverse position, this card should prompt you to look at those people in power in your life, and whether those relationships are causing you harm. This can come from a parent or a partner, your boss, or the leader of your community group. If you feel helpless in a situation, now is the time to reach out for help. A tyrant cannot be overthrown by a single person. It is its own strength to come to that realization and do what you need to maintain autonomy and well-being for yourself.
It was a hot day in Florida hotter than the rest when Eugene was born. His parents were pro gator wrestlers and spread awareness to help the environment. It was happy for the first five years of his life, but it soon took a turn when his mother abandoned the family leaving him and his dad’s relatives. It got harder for them when the family business didn’t bring in any money as many of his relatives went off to do different things. At a young age Eugene was a rambunctious kid he was in everything and always acted out when he wanted. His father and his mother were the only ones to keep a hold of him, and since his mother left his father had his hands full. When he reached high school, he got into fights and his family was barely making ends meet. One day his Uncle came by with lots of money to help with the collapsing business which made them move for more opportunities to Louisiana. Eugene didn’t like the change, and he didn’t like his Uncle Harris. Harris was a sleazy guy and he raised a brow at the money he brought in. He kept his mouth shut for his dad. His dad was over the moon that the family business was back again and he worked as hard as he could.
During his senior year his dad fell ill and passed away. The doctors marked it as a stroke from working too much, but Eugene knew better. His Uncle didn’t blink an eye at taking the rest of the funds from the family business leaving Eugene in his care. He forced Eugene to work and the business turned into a money grabbing scheme Harris sold drugs and acted as a pimp. All his father’s hard work down the drain. Until one day his Uncle got drunk after a night with some hookers stumbling around the house as Eugene was eating dinner. This was a few years after he graduated, he wasn’t trying to aim for college with the situation he is in now.
“Your daddy used to always glare at me like that.” He told him a bit of puke dripping down his mouth. “Well, he ain’t glaring anymore, not after I took care of him.” Eugene looked to his Uncle; eyes widened at his statement.
“What surprised? You dad wouldn’t have brought this place where it is now.” He staggered closer to him. “You’ll end up cold and alone just like him-” Before he could finish Eugene grabbed the closest thing he could and stab the daylights out of Harris. Once it broke, he used his hands to claw his throat and anything he could out. A smile grew on his face as he saw the body covered in blood. It felt so good all the times he held himself back, he could’ve gone as far as he wanted.
With not a lot of options he chose the crime world taking over his Uncle’s business on the drug side. He wasn’t stupid, he was actually a good a stagiest and being around his dad he knew how to run a business. His influence grew as he took down gang leaders and other lords in his area. He gave his family’s business over to some nice people and would donate millions to it when he could. He spent his years selling drugs getting lackeys and partying the nights away feeling finally free for the first time. During his 30th birthday he got a call from his Florida mansion that some of his enemies were plotting against him in Louisiana. He always believed if you want something done then do it yourself. He got his gang and armed them to the teeth. The operation was going to take place at an illegal lab experimenting on gators as it would dump toxic waste in the swamps.
Eugene fought them tooth and nail, but he was overtaken and was injected with a toxic green serum and shot repeatedly as his body fell into the waste ridden swamp. His gang won but at the cost of their leader they blew up the chemical planet after saving the gators. They say Eugene died that day going down has one of the most notorious drug lords in America. A part of that is true. Eugene did survive but once the serum took in, he started to change green scales formed along his skin as he grew taller and claws formed on his hands and feet. In a way a part of him did die leaving only a vengeful animal with a taste for human flesh.
Since then, people have been seeing strange sights in the swamps, a towering figure that swims under the dark waters they started calling him the Gator Man. He became a legend throughout the South has bodies litter his path.
I like the design of the gatorman from the alligator people because the ppl who made it were obviously like “we gotta improvise. we dont have enough material to make a full creature. oh! I know! let's give him khakis!”
