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| Karl Custer | |
|---|---|
| Pseudonym | Uncle Yo |
| Medium | Stand-up, Improv |
| Nationality | American |
| Years active | 2007-present |
| Subject(s) | anime, gaming |
| Website | http://www.uncleyo.com/ |
Uncle Yo (stage name; real name Karl Custer)[1] is a stand-up and improv comedian.[2][3] Uncle Yo has been performing at various geek community events - primarily anime conventions, but also gaming conventions and science fiction conventions - since 2007, beginning with DexCon and Zenkaikon.[2][3][4] He has performed at over forty anime conventions as of April 2011.[2] He has acted as a Master of Ceremonies (usually at cosplay masquerades), discussion panel leader or presenter (with typical panels named "Anime Match Game" or "Cosplay Burlesque") and game show host.[2][4] His themes revolve around otaku and Japanese culture, anime and manga, comic books, popular science fiction and fantasy franchises such as Star Wars and Star Trek, as well as gaming (video gaming, tabletop gaming, role-playing gaming, LARPs).[1][3]
Custer graduated in 2007 from SUNY Purchase’s Conservatory or Film & Theater Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dramatic Writing.[5] Soon afterward, he decided to start performing at the conventions.[6] In his influences, he has cited comedians George Carlin, Steven Colbert, Jeff Loeb, Geoff Johns, Alan Moore, Dana Carvey, but also the anime character Vash the Stampede.[7][8]
He has been described as "Renaissance Nerd",[4] "an emerging act in the world of conventions" (in 2009)[1] and a "geek-specific Otaku Renaissance man comedian" who "has taken the convention circuit by storm."[9] His work has been described as touching on "several time periods and genres of animation and general geekery" with "rich knowledge of fandom".[10]