Lizardman Enters Literary World

When you gawk at Erik Sprague's green, tattooed face – and let's face it, everyone does – you can't help but wonder what this forked-tongue, fang-toothed guy, better known as The Lizardman, is thinking.

Now he's letting the world know.

This one-time Ph.D. candidate in philosophy has written "Once More Through the Modified Looking Glass," in which he details his experiences since transforming himself into a permanent performer – a decision that has entailed an estimated 700 hours of tattoo work dating back to 1994. Sprague, now 37, says he is only about 80 percent finished.

The book compiles articles, interviews and Q&A sessions with fans, all originally written for the body-modification site BMEzine.com between 2003 and 2007.

The Lizardman tackles such topics as individuality, cultural acceptance and pioneering the bifurcated tongue after convincing an oral surgeon to perform the operation in 1997. "I won him over with the fact that I was sane and rational and had a plan," he said.

He also talks about his appearances at Ripley's Believe It Or Not! museums and other events, which he turns to for income.

In addition to thought-provoking viewpoints on modifications most of us would never have imagined, The Lizardman serves up a hefty dose of the stuff every reader will want to know, like what his mom thinks, how he'll feel about himself when he's 80 and that if possible, yes, he'd get an alligator tail graft.

You'll also find out that The Lizardman does not own any lizards. But he and his wife do keep several ferrets in their Austin, Texas, home. And if you're wondering, no, she is not a Lizardwoman.

Aside from his own experiences, "The Modified Looking Glass" also features interviews with like-minded people. It's a chance to peer into the mind of the Great Nippulini, who lifts anvils from hooks in his nipples, or Coney Island's Sideshows by the Seashore founder Dick Zigun.

But while most interviews involve members of the sideshow community, Sprague's favorite tattooed subject is Mike Jones, the pianist for Penn & Teller's live shows. "He's got some of the most unique and incredibly well-done stuff out there. And on top of that, he is a world-class-level jazz pianist," The Lizardman said.

Jones' bodily illustrations include a ram's horn on both sides of his head and Doc Martens boots on his lower legs and feet. "I just like the way it looks," Jones says in the book.

Despite the pianist's distinctive ink, no one within the tattoo and body-modification world knew of him. "For me to get to bring him to that community was fantastic," Sprague explained.


HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM we should introduce this guy to the lizard smuggler.