Introducing Joe Nickell is a somewhat tricky and troublesome affair. With over four decades of skeptical investigation, research, writing and adventuring, where can we possibly start?
Perhaps the introduction should be a formal one? After all, Joe has been a Fellow of CSICOP and CSI since 1988, and for far longer has been one of the most recognised and widely-respected names in global skepticism. His investigations have taken him across the world, and he's travelled just as far in recounting tales of such exploits in removing the veil of mysticism from some of the most famous myths of our age.
Or maybe it might be most fitting to introduce Joe via his written work, after all he's an author of some note, with thirty titles to his name - ranging from uncovering the true story behind the forgery that is the Shroud of Turin, to detailing his hunt for various sundry cryptids, to his work analysing the authenticity of documents such as the Jack the Ripper diary.
Then again, the case could be made that an introduction should focus on Joe's myriad of media work - he was the inspiration behind Hilary Swank's character in 2007 horror film 'The Reaping', discovered the true story behind the legendary Amityville 'horror' house and has appeared on countless TV shows discussing his skeptical investigations, including exploring the Chupacabra myth:
Of course, it would be unfair to overlook Joe the magician - after all, he spent three years as Resident Magician at the Houdini Hall of Fame in Niagara Falls, Ontario, as well as being a full time professional magician up until 1973, a skillset he clearly hasn't forgotten:
And then there's Joe the Private Investigator - having spent a number of years working undercover for a world-famous private detective agency. And Joe Alien Iconographer - excellently documenting the evolution of alien myths throughout the 20th century. And then there's Joe the forensic scientist. And Joe the homicide investigator. And Joe the Poet...
In all, I suppose there's no one way to introduce Joe Nickell - fitting, then, for a man who proudly describes himself as having over 200 'personas' throughout his life... and there's many more where they came from, you have to suspect.
One thing we can say for certain - we're very much looking forward to seeing Joe Nickell the QED Speaker in March.