Two By Weyman

 Fame, as I trust we all know, is a fickle lover. Take for example Stanley J. Weyman (pronounced Wyman). A British author, who lived from 1855-1928. While largely forgotten today, during his life-time, Weyman was a best-selling author, whose work was admired by such names as Robert Louis Stevenson and Oscar Wilde and although I've only read two of Weyman's books, so far, they were enough to convince me that his present-day obscurity is undeserved.

Out of the two books I've read: The Man in Black and Count Hannibal respectively, it is the latter which best seem to represent the type of story that made Weyman's name famous in his day. An historical adventure set during the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre and featuring a complex, morally ambiguous lead character, Count Hannibal is a thrilling read, one that comes highly recommended to anyone who is a fan of the works of Rafael Sabatini and Alexander Dumas. 

The Man in Black is different. While, it too, takes place in France, this time during the reign of Louis XIII (with Richelieu making the obligatory appearance), it is not an adventure-story, though it certainly does not lack in suspense.

This time, the  story follows a young boy (age 12), who suffers mistreatment at the hands of adults, including the titular villain. Though I don't think I spoil anything if I say that things turn out well for him in the end.

With its child protagonist and relatively short length, its fair to say that The Man in Black was intended for younger audiences. However, like all worthwhile children's stories, it can easily be enjoyed by adults. This adult found it highly engaging. 

Theodore Poussin

 I had originally planned on making this a part of my Comics That Should Be Translated - series, until I found out that the first three volumes of Theodore Poussin have actually been translated. So, obviously, that plan is out, but, as you can see, this has not prevented me from writing a short post about it anyway.

Theodore Poussin is a French comic created by Frank Le Gall (b. 1959), which made its debut in Journal de Spirou in 1984. So far, thirteen albums have been published in the series, with the latest having come out in 2018. 

Inspired by Le Gall's own grand-father's journals (though it should be pointed out that the story itself is pure fiction), the comic takes place during the 1920s and tells the tale of Theodore Poussin, a young man working as a clerk at a shipping company in Dunkirk. Theodore longs to get out of the dusty office; he dreams of sailing the seven seas, like his late father, a Captain used to do. So, it should come as no surprise that when the head clerk tells him that there is a position available aboard one of the ships, Theodore jumps at the opportunity.

On the day before he's about to embark, Theodore goes out to have a drink with his friends. In the bar, they're approached by a mysterious man dressed in black. After having quoted from a poem by Charles Baudelaire, the man presents himself as Novembre and tells Theodore that they will meet again. Theodore does not know it, but this meeting will end up changing his life forever.

Theodore Poussin is a deceptive comic. At first glance, the art-style of the first few volumes (especially the first one) and the look of the main character, may give you the impression that you are dealing with a light-hearted  boys' adventure comic. A pale of copy of classics such as Tintin or Spirou & Fantasio. However, that impression would be incorrect. True, there's nothing in Theodore Poussin that could be considered inappropriate for children, but at the same time, Le Gall's writing makes it clear that this is a work intended for an older audience. As a storyteller, I feel that Le Gall has more in common with Hugo Pratt than he does with Hergé or André Franquin.

As is the case with many great comics, one of the chief-strengths of Theodore Poussin lies in its characters, beginning with its protagonist. Despite his looks, Theodore is no Tintin with glasses. Unlike Hergés reporter, he has a past and a family and during the course of the comic, he grows from a somewhat naive young man into an experienced adventurer. This change comes is owed in no small part to the people whose paths he crosses on his journey: Georges Town, the pirate, Sir Laurence Brooke, Martin and, of course, the most mysterious of them all: Monsieur Novembre. Each of them memorable and larger-than-life. It should be pointed out that, by and large, Le Gall avoids manicheaism in the way he portrays his cast. Some of the above-mentioned characters are more sympathetic than others, but none of them are completely black or white.

Theodore Poussin is a terrific comic. Although I have not read all the volumes, the ones I have read have been excellent (particularly the second one). If you want an adventure comic that is intelligent and mature in the truest sense of the word, than it comes highly recommended.

The Mirror and the Light

Earlier this year, the final installment in Hilary Mantel's trilogy about Thomas Cromwell was released. Being a huge admirer of Mantel's writing, thanks in no small parts to the previous parts in the trilogy: Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies, I had been waiting eagerly for part three to come out and, as soon as I was aware that it had been released, I wasted no time procuring a copy of my own and, having read it, here are my thoughts on it.

The Mirror and the Light, as the third volume is called, covers the last five years of Cromwell's life. Cromwell is now at the height of his power, having the King's ear and being regularly rewarded with new titles and lands in recognition of his services. Of course, such a good thing can't last forever. As he, Cromwell works tirelessly to create a new England and tries to keep the increasingly moody Henry happy, his enemies; among them, the Duke of Norfolk and Bishop Stephen Gardiner are busy working in the shadows, plotting his downfall.

Considering the high quality of its predecessors, not to mention the amount of time that have passed since last we ventured into Mantel's version of Tudor England, it is only understandable if the reader has some concern as to whether or not The Mirror and the Light will live up to expectations. As far as this reader is concerned, it definitely does.

With The Mirror and the Light, Mantel concludes what is, without a doubt, among the finest works of historical fiction that I've ever read. Mantel's prose is as rich as ever and throughout the volume's eight-hundred plus pages, I was kept in suspense, this despite knowing full well what Cromwell's ultimate fate would be (after all, he was an actual historical figure), wondering if this would not be the moment when he, Cromwell, would slip up and thus, fall from grace. As with many great stories, whether they are based on history, or completely made up by their creator, its not so much what happens in The Mirror and the Light that's important, but rather how and why it happens. 

In conclusion, a magnificent novel, well worth the long wait. 

The Flashman Papers

If you, dear reader, have visited my blog before, you may be aware that I'm an avid fan of historical fiction; with some of my favorite books, movies and comics, belonging to this genre.
One of my favorite works in the genre is The Flashman Papers.

Flashman himself dressed in royal garb from the cover of Royal Flash, the second book in the series. Hail to the King, baby.

A series of novels written by George MacDonald Fraser, The Flashman Papers are the fictional memoirs of Harry Flashman, the antagonist of Thomas Hughes' novel, Tom Brown's School Days (which I must admit I have not read); as he looks back on his days as the British army's greatest hero during the Victorian Era.
Let me make one thing clear to you from the start: If you have problem with novels that features morally dubious people as their leads,  you might want to give Fraser's novels a wide berth, since Harry Flashman; the lead protagonist, is without a doubt, a complete and utter bastard. You've been warned.

Hopefully you're not, because that would mean that you'd have to miss out on a series of great novels. Now, I must confess that I have not yet read each of Flashman's exploits, but those I have read have been of a consistently high quality. As far as writes of adventure novels  go, Fraser must rank among the very best, right alongside the likes Alexandre Dumas (Fraser did in fact write the screenplay for the 1973 movie adaptation of The Three Musketeers) and Robert Louis Stevenson. Like the best works of these famous authors, Fraser's novels are page-turners in the best possible term, being unfailingly entertaining and exciting. They are also meticulously researched with Fraser making sure that the historical details are as accurate as he could possibly make them, without sacrificing the momentum of the narrative.

One of the series' biggest assets is the narrative voice of its central character: Harry Flashman may be a bounder and a cad of the lowest order, but he is nonetheless highly entertaining company and, as is the case with many of his fellow anti-heroes, there's something weirdly likable about the fellow that compels one to root for him, in spite of his many personal failings.
Aside from Flashman himself, Fraser presents the reader with a gallery of memorable supporting characters: From interesting historical figures, such as Ranavalona I of Madagascar and Abraham Lincoln to purely fictional creations. In the second category, the most memorable member by far is John Charity Spring. A disgraced former Oxford don turned slave-trader, Spring is a cultured psychopath with a temper similar to that of Tommy DeVito and the closest thing Flashman gets to an arch-enemy.

I should point out that while The Flashman Papers are funny,it would be a mistsake to refer to them as comedic novels. Some of the bloodiest, most terrible events in history are depicted within their pages and Fraser handles these events, such as the African slave trade or the battle of Balaclava, with the gravity they deserve.
Finally, while Thomas Hughes may have created the character of Flashman, it was George MacDonald Fraser who truly gave him life and made him one of the most memorable characters in all of fiction. I am glad that I have not yet sampled all of his exploits, because that means there are still volumes in the series left for me to discover and enjoy for the very first time. Hopefully, I've managed to transfer some of my enthusiasm to you, dear reader.

Some Great One-Off Characters

Most TV-shows, whether live-action or animated, tend to rely on a recurring cast of characters that the viewer gets to know intimately during the course of the series. However, every once in a while, a character appears that manage to make a lasting impression, despite only playing a (usually) major role in one episode. Below are a few of these "one-offs" that have remained in my memory over the years. I should point out that all the characters on this list are from shows that features a recurring cast, hence why there are no examples from The Twilight Zone or Decalogue to be found on it.

Hank Scorpio (The Simpsons)

Its been a long time since I lost any interest in The Simpsons, but that does not prevent me from looking back with a certain fondness at some of the older episodes. One of my favorite episodes of the show is You Only Move Twice, in which the family moves to another city, when Homer gets offered a job at Globex Corporation, headed by Hank Scorpio.

What makes Scorpio such a memorable character is his dual-nature. On one hand, he's a megalomaniacal super-villain with dreams of World Conquest, but he's also a genuinely friendly guy who cares about his employees, making him a far better person to work for than, say, Monty Burns. The fact that he gets a Shirley Bassey-esque theme song, worthy of any Bond villain, is also a point in his favor.

Hugo DeVries (Inspector Morse)

Based on the novels by Colin Dexter, Inspector Morse is one of the finest detective-series to come out of Britain. My personal favorite episode is one that's actually not based on a novel; namely, Masonic Mysteries. In this episode, Morse finds himself the target of a ghost from his past: Hugo DeVries, a con-man he sent to jail decades earlier and who is now out for revenge.

Vicious and intelligent, if there ever was a criminal in this series that qualified as Morse's own Professor Moriarty its DeVries. Played to chilling perfection by Ian McDiarmid, DeVries does not actually appear all that much in the episode, but his presence is felt throughout it. The scene in which he and Morse finally meet each other face to face is one of my favorite scenes of its type, in any show.

Lt. Joe Bookman (Seinfeld)

Appearing in the season 3 episode The Library (plus a cameo in the series finale), Lt. Joe Bookman is a library cop with an extreme dedication towards his job. His deadpan personality, rapid-fire way of speaking and the fact that he acts like a regular cop on the hunt for dangerous criminals, rather than library delinquents, combine to make Bookman one of the most memorable and funniest minor characters in this seminal sit-com.

Andy Von de Oniyate (Cowboy Bebop)

I was going to write something about Andy and how well he works as a reflection of the show's lead character Spike Spiegel. However, try as I might I was unable to come up with any argument for what makes Andy a great character that this post didn't make years ago and better. So go and read it and see you, Space Cowboy.

Krombopulos Michael (Rick & Morty)

Rick & Morty is not quite among my favorite cartoons, but there are some episodes of it that I really like (the one with the parasites, for example) and its not lacking in memorable one-off characters. My personal favorite is Krombopulos Michael, an alien assassin who we first see buying weapons from Rick and afterwards ends up getting killed by Morty, while trying to assassinate the telepathic gaseous life-form, which later calls itself Fart. Despite being only in two brief scenes in an episode, Krombopulos Michael's affable demeanor and his cheerful enthusiasm towards his work ("Oh, boy! Here I go killing again") makes him one of the funniest and most likable characters in the show.

Favorite Comic Villains

Being an avid reader of comics, as well as a person who tends to find villains among the most interesting characters in any work of fiction, I thought I'd combine the two. After all, the ninth art-form has given us plenty of memorable evil-doers. Below are some of my favorites (in no particular order).

Sir William Gull (From Hell)

Although V for Vendetta and Watchmen are doubtlessly more well known, From Hell is what I consider to be Alan Moore's magnum opus. Its a dense, grandiose work about the Whitechapel Murders and the birth of the 20th century. At the core of this dark tale we find Sir William Gull, Queen Victoria's royal physician, who Moore puts into the role of Jack the Ripper. Moore's Sir Willaim is an amazing creation; a larger than life character who dominates the narrative of From Hell, even when he doesn't appear on page. The 30+ page long monologue in which Gull gets to lay out his beliefs and thoughts on history, religion men and women, is truly powerful stuff and establishes the good doctor as Moore's greatest and most terrifying creation. I can't think of any better villain to kick this list off with.

Johan Liebert (Monster)

Naoki Urasawa has a knack for creating memorable villains and his best example in that category has to be Johan, the titular character in his excellent thriller-manga, Monster. If I had to pick the most sinister villain in a manga, this guy would be it. Incredibly handsome and charismatic, Johan's polite, soft-spoken demeanor and angelical good looks only serve to make him scarier than he would be if his appearance and behavior was closer to that of what one would normally expect from a villain. Whether he manipulates an entire orphanage into killing each other, or driving someone to suicide, Johan more than lives up to his moniker.

Lucifer Morningstar (The Sandman)

I've found that a lot of the times, the line between an anti-hero and a villain-protagonist tend to get blurred (most of the time, its all a matter of perspective) and who better to illustrate this point than the devil himself? Lucifer is not pure evil and he helps save creation a few times, but at the same time he also has no qualms screwing people over in order to achieve his goals. Easily my favorite depiction of the devil in modern media. Well done, Neil Gaiman and Mike Carey.

Simeon Nevzorov (Ibicus)

Another anti-hero and although operating on a much smaller scale than the guy above him, just as compelling. I always have a great time following Simeon on his many misadventures throughout a Russia thorn apart by civil war, and later Turkey.

Krapal (District 14)

Among its gallery of interesting characters, District 14 sports quite a few memorable villains, such as Tiger-Man and Bollart the Stag. My favorite member of the comic's rouges-gallery, however, is Krapal the Toad. Not only is he easily the smartest villain (and perhaps character) in the comic, he also goes about his criminal activities with a certain sense of style, which makes it hard for me not to root for him on occasion, especially in the second season. In addition, his henchmen are all fun and likable as well. Whenever season 3 comes out, I look forward to see more of this guy and whatever nefarious scheme he will come up with next.

Askeladd (Vinland Saga)

If Johan is the scariest manga-villain I can think of, than Askeladd is arguably the coolest. Machiavellian, mysterious (he has a great backstory) and with an interesting relationship with the main character, Askeladd remains one of Vinland Saga's most memorable and intriguing characters.

The Phantom Blot (Disney Comics)

The very first moment I encountered The Phantom Blot, I was intrigued. This guy just had an aura of mystery and a sense of genuine menace to him that was lacking in the other Disney comic villains I had known up until that point. Needless to say he made a huge impression on me, which was further helped by him having a very simple, yet striking design. Since then I've read hundreds of comics featuring The Blot and while not all of them do the character justice (then again, the same thing can be said about any re-occurring villain written by many different writers during the course of several decades), he will always remain one of my favorite villains and Mickey's greatest arch-enemy.

Lincoln Red Crow (Scalped)

In an interview I read with him, Jason Aaron said that Chief Red Crow came about from his wish to create his own Al Swearengen and there are definitely similarities between the two men: Both of them starting out as fairly typical (albeit very well-written and, in one case, well-acted) villains; powerful men who run their little kingdoms with corruption and violence and eventually becoming the most nuanced characters in their respective works, far outshining the ostensible main character. I have not yet finished Scalped, but I've seen enough of Red Crow to know that he's a fantastic character and am interested to see how his story ends.

Pompeii (Duncan the Wonder-Dog)

Duncan the Wonder-Dog by Adam Hines is a comic that takes place in a world that's pretty much our own, with the exception that animals can speak human languages. One of its central characters is Pompeii, a female macaque who also happens to be the current leader of the terrorist group ORAPOST. As a character, Pompeii does not bring to mind any other female villain I can think of, as much as Tommy DeVito. Much like Joe Pesci's character in Goodfellas, Pompeii is prone to sudden outbursts of savage and explosive violence, making her an intense and frightening villain. In addition, her rants and monologues are among the best I've read in a comic.
 As the years go by, it seems more and more unlikely that we'll ever get another volume of Duncan. Hopefully, Hines will prove me wrong, because I really want to see more of his characters and especially of Pompeii.

Rasputin (Corto Maltese)

Some of my favorite type of villains are those that serves as a dark reflection of the hero and Rasputin is one of my favorite examples of this trope: Like his best friend/archenemy, Corto Maltese, Rasputin is a globe-trotter and adventurer, but that's where the similarities end. Whereas Corto is, at his core, a romantic, Rasputin is a cynic who cares only about filling his belly and lining his pockets. He also has no qualms about murder; killing with worrying ease (again unlike Corto, who only kills in self-defense). The relationship between these two are among the most interesting aspects of the comic. In addition, Rasputin is also the funniest villain on this list, with many of Corto Maltese's more comedic moments involving him in some capacity.

Zelie (Beautiful Darkness)

If there's any character on this lists that truly embodies the phrase "love to hate", its Zelie. She made me hate her in the best possible way and her comeuppance at the end was both richly deserved and oh-so satisfying.

Favorite Ace Attorney Villains

Although I haven't played every game in it, Capcom's Ace Attorney, is one of my favorite game-series and one of the best things about it is its rogues-gallery; I honestly can't think of any other series in the medium that features so many colorful and memorable villains. As such, I've picked out my 5 favorite (in no particular order) AA bad guys. Now, I should you warn that due to the nature of this series, spoilers are pretty much unavoidable. Granted, many of these spoilers are from games that are more than a decade old. Still, I thought I'd warn you, just as a courtesy. Anyway, these are my favorite evil-doers in the Ace Attorney universe:

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Dahlia Hawthorne

There are Ace Attorney villains who are more powerful. There are Ace Attorney villains who come up with better schemes, but I can't think of any Ace Attorney villain whose as personal in their evil as Dahlia Hawthorne. A lot of that has to do with what she lacks; Dahlia does not have the authority, or the resources that most of the villains have at their disposal. Instead, she relies solely on her wiles, putting her playing-field on the same level as that of her enemies, making her evil feel much more intimate in the process. Dahlia also deserves points for tenacity, she's the first recurring villain in the series, facing of against Phoenix and Mia in three different cases. Oh, and did I mention that by her third appearance, she's already dead and you have to go up against her spirit? Gotta give props to a villain who will haunt their enemies from beyond the grave.

Manfred von Karma

Intimidating. That's the word best used to describe Manfred von Karma, the final boss of the first Ace Attorney game. Everything about this guy screams intimidation; from his appearance, to his general attitude and his voice. From the moment he appears, Von Karma makes it clear that he will crush you like a bug for getting in his way. He lives up to the hype too, forcing the player to fight teeth and claw for every little advantage. As a character, outside of his role as a final boss, von Karma is pretty one-note, but it can't denied that he plays that note masterfully. 

Matt Engarde

In the role of defense attorney Phoenix Wright, its up to you, as the player, to keep your client out of prison (or death-row), while exposing the true culprit. So, what happens when you get a client who is, beyond any shadow of a doubt, guilty? Enter Matt Engarde, the villain of the second game's final (and by far best) case. When you first meet him, Engarde doesn't seem like such a bad guy. Sure, he's unlikable, but he comes across as more of a self-absorbed air-head than anything else. Annoying, yes, but nothing more than that, certainly not a man capable of murder. With that in mind, its tempting to give Engarde the benefit of the doubt. Sure, he may have had his rival actor killed, but maybe there were extenuating circumstances? Perhaps Juan had it coming? There has to be more to it than this, right?
Then comes the hair-flip.

Justice for All was my first Ace Attorney game and to this day, I consider Matt Engarde's villain reveal to be the best done by this series, as your client flips back his hair to reveal the scars on his face and with them, his true nature as a cunning and remorseless sociopath. Engarde then proceeds to rub your face in it, reminding you that your assistant Maya is his hostage and that if you don't get him a not-guilty verdict, she dies. Its a tough choice, but if I had to pick the most despicable villain on this list, The Nickel Samurai would be it.

Damon Gant

This list isn't in any order, but if it was, there's a high chance that chief Gant would be at the top (there's really only one other character who can compete with him for the position, but we'll get to him further down the list).
The culprit of the first game's bonus case, Gant is as menacing and tough as von Karma, but he has an important advantage over old Manny in that he's far more interesting as a character. A scene-stealer if ever there was one, Gant dominates Rise From The Ashes with his eccentric personality and immense personal charisma. In fact, one of the most interesting things about Gant for me is how genuine his "good" persona feels: With Dahlia and Engarde its clear that the innocent/hapless mask they put on for the World is just that, a mask and von Karma never bothered to appear nice to begin with. With Gant, however, I get the feeling that it is as much a part of who he is as anything else. The jovial fellow who suggests you go swimming together and calls everyone by affectionate nicknames is also the cold, calculating master-mind who framed a girl for murder and blackmailed her sister. I'm reminded of the Mayor from Buffy the Vampire-Slayer or Count Fosco from The Woman In White, both villains whose genuine affability only served to underscore their wickedness.

Oh, and of course, one can't talk about the Demon Gent without mentioning his greatest weapon:

God, that's creepy.


The Mastermind

Last but not least we have the only villain on this list not from the original trilogy: The big bad of Ace Attorney Investigations 2. Due to the fact that this is the only game that hasn't been officially localized (there is a fan-translation though, which is how I played it), I've opted not to reveal the mastermind's identity or post a picture of him. All I can say is that the mastermind is a great villain for a multitude of reasons. First of all; he's the only one among this bunch who's a tragic villain. His back-story is genuinely sad and is tied in very well with the overarching plot of the game. Like Edmond Dantes, the mastermind is out for revenge against some really terrible people and much like the Count of Monte Cristo, his callous manipulation of others, including innocent people who trusted him and the sadistic delight he takes in his schemes, makes it clear that the mastermind really isn't much different from his enemies. A great villain who rounds out this list perfectly.