GIVEN THE SHAPE-SHIFTING nature of their craft, body-builders often go one step further, actually assuming the identities of superheroes and supernatural creatures. Lee Priest has a Superman fixation. Aaron Baker answers to the name "Batman." Anthony "Wolf" Williams howls at the moon. And who can forget Lou Ferrigno morphing from an irate lime-green body-builder into mild-mannered Bill Bixby?
So when we heard that Will "World" Harris, 2004 USA Championships heavyweight winner, referred to himself as a vampire, we laughed it off (his sun-blotting lats notwithstanding). Only it's no joke, or at least not to this outrageously sculpted Nosferatu, who refused to slip out of character over the course of three separate interviews. But can this incredible hulk snap out of it come competition time, or is his mind forever damned to the dark side? You be the judge.
M & F: Normally, to profile a pro such as yourself, we like to spend a little time checking out your workout and seeing the way you move. But since scheduling wouldn't allow it, we thought you could do the legwork for us. Can you begin by describing how you look these days?
HARRIS: I'm a bigger Flex Wheeler. I'm similar to him in stature--big thighs, small waist, small joints--only larger, 5'9" and about 270 [pounds] in the off-season, 240, 245 for shows. I've got mutant eyes and, of course, the fangs.
M & F: Did you say "mutant eyes"?
HARRIS: Yeah, mutant, like X-men mutant. My eyes are half black, half brown, with a white outline. They're natural. So are the fangs, though I've had them enhanced. You know, when you're on your fifth soul, 325 years old, certain things need to be touched up.
M & F: You're originally from South Central [L.A.], right?
HARRIS: Yeah, born and raised in L.A.
M & F: And where do you live these days?
HARRIS: Underground. I could pop up anywhere at any time.
M & F: This "underground"--is it close to where you grew up?
HARRIS: Sometimes. Other times no. Things are confusing; this life has definitely been wrought with more trials and tribulations than the ones before. But it has also been the most interesting. I've had a lot of success and a lot of adversity. I've recently had someone detach from the Matrix. I'm hoping that he'll fall off the face of the earth completely, but that's another story. I held out both pills to him and he chose the wrong one, know what I mean?
M & F: We'd be lying if we said we had any idea what you mean.
HARRIS: That's okay. You can print that. The person who reads this will know exactly what I mean.
M & F: Maybe an ex-wife or something?
HARRIS: Something like that. But we can just call this person Morpheus.
M & F: And what can you tell us about your past four lifetimes?
HARRIS: The past four lifetimes have also been met with great expectations, accomplishments and certain, um, I wouldn't say defeats but disappointments. And as far as marriage, that didn't go as planned, but I've loved and lost, and I'm still standing. It has all taught me a valuable lesson: If it's not in your own coffin, leave it alone.
M & F: Speaking of coffins, can you walk us through your day?
HARRIS: I do actually sleep in a coffin, now that I have the chance to enjoy it. It's really only a coffin for one. Anyway, when I'm getting ready for a show, I've got to get up by the time I get comfortable. That means I'm at the gym by 5 a.m. doing my famous 100-rep sets. I'm a workaholic, but I understand that you've got to have downtime.
M & F: Have you ever been shot at?
HARRIS: At some point, haven't we all?
M & F: Not all of us.
HARRIS: Maybe not with bullets, but in other ways you have. Put it this way: Anybody can get shot. You might think you're going to take down the Matrix, [but] you turn around [and] it's you that's taken down. Maybe you were never looking at things the right way in the first place.
