Brain in a Jar

Growing up in a time when space and horror B movies were all around, I saw a lot of monsters and aliens on tv and in books. One concept that always fascinated and scared me, was the disembodied brain! Films such as Fiend without a Face, The Trollenberg Terror and the Green Slime, all showed weird tentacled monsters with one eye or exposed brain. The Metaluna mutant from This Island Earth was another favourite, as this sported crab claws too! Over time films have produced some really strange creatures, Star Wars was especially good for introducing new ideas and one classic for me had a brief walk on part in Return of the Jedi. In the first half hour, Threepio and Artoo arrive at Jabbas palace and after entering, the huge storm door lowers behind them. As it does, a spidery mechanical being stalks by - the Bo'marr Monk! Ralph McQuarries book about the Star Wars universe says that the humanoid monks reach a state of ultimate enlightenment after years of meditation and elect to have their brain removed and installed into a mechanical body - essentially a walking life support frame. The monk then wanders in a state of disembodied nirvana, protected by the spider like form. Hasbro released a mail away figure of the monk back when the Star Wars Special Edition was being prepared, although not technically 100% accurate to the film version, its still a nice figure, even down to the inverted brain in its nutrient bath!