The Dark Knight

The character was born into a time of heroes and villains; of adventure and deeds. Virtue, nobility and honor were central to this man/character who would attempt to give meaning to the senseless death of his parents to somehow make a world better by the protection of the innocent and bringing a form of justice to the predators. His plan; to strike fear into the hearts and psyche of those who would commit crimes as he stopped their individual acts of violence. His methods could be questioned as they certainly would be in a real life situation but he is a character of fiction. He is created to be and became a symbol of the best that we can be. He was created in the spirit of the greatest fiction and entertainment. He is the creation of writer illustrator Bob Kane…he is Batman.

“Criminals are a superstitious, cowardly lot. So my disguise must be able to strike terror into their hearts.”                     Bruce Wayne speaks from “The Legend of the Batman”

Bob Kane drew on many sources when developing his “Bat-Man.” His influences range from the notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci to Chester Gould’s newspaper strip “Dick Tracy.” The Scarlet Pimpernel and Zorro were wealthy socialites that hid their identities as they used their resources to “right wrongs.” They were among the source influences. Pulp fiction and movies all went into his work and perhaps that is a reason for the characters longevity. Batman has been Interpreted and reinterpreted over the years in every medium; novels, radio, animation, comic strips and film.

It is in film today that Batman has reached his greatest audiences and his most recent brilliant incarnation. The award winning films of Christopher Nolan have given us a timely and reflective view of Batman’s Gotham City. Like all great works of art it speaks to us and our times. Sadly life imitates art in a twisted demented way when cycled through the mind and heartless soul of a socio-path. This past Friday night at a midnight showing of “The Dark Knight Rises” the final installment of Nolan’s trilogy innocents were visited by a dealer in death and mayhem. It was the greatest cowardice; a cowardice that is all too often repeated in the world, the society of today.

Why was it the Batman film debut? We may never know with any certainty. Probably just in the unfortunate timing of the release; a terrible misfortune. A movie is released; a psychotic plots mass murder weeks or month before. He chooses the venue of the highest visibility.  He dyes his hair and calls himself “The Joker” (the previous film’s antagonist) and gargs himself like the villain “Bane” from this latest movie. Nolan’s version of Batman is the darkest to date. Remember the sixties version starring Adam West. Video/ role playing games, movies and the comic books of the day are all increasing and disturbingly violent. Who’s at fault? The makers, marketers or are we all unwitting accomplices in our own demise. When will the trends reverse?  When will the pendulum swing back? Where do we go from here?

In this time of mourning our hearts go out to the victims and their families. We will attempt to give them as much understand and comfort as we can. Our nation has experienced the loss of too many magnificent, loving souls. We search and pray for answers.   

A character of fiction…a terrible tragedy…the nation mourns.

What the…Hellboy???

“The World’s Greatest Paranormal Investigator”

I’m sure this won’t be a huge surprise but; he’s the son of a demon and a witch. Fire red, shaved horns, cloven hooves, and tail are his signature look. His right hand (of doom) is a sort of sledge hammer and a key to opening  the Hadean Gates. Hellboy carries a very large gun “The Samaritan” that shoots his own patented fifty caliber “Demon Destroyer” bullets. His attitude; Bad...Capitol “B” Bad. There’s a small bit of a chip on his shoulder; he loves a good fight. Given this he’s actually a hero that fights the forces of evil. He has a soft spot for cats. No; he doesn’t eat them he adores them as pets and will do anything to protect them. Hellboy’s one of the good guys.

Writer/Artist Mike Mignola created Hellboy in 1993 and his creation became a hit as a comic book character almost immediately. Hellboy has been adapted to film, animation, novels and video games. His fan base continues to grow as one of the great incarnations of the imagination. Mignola’s man/creature started with the “look” from a single drawing he did for fun. The editors at Dark Horse Comics loved Mignola’s  work and talents; they urged him to create an original project for publication. Mignola choose to work from his “Hellboy” drawing and he created the themes and supporting cast around the character’s commanding presence. The Hellboy project was something that Mignola could put all of his favorite literary and entertainment influences into and use as devices. Monster films like “The Mummy” and “The Bride of Frankenstein,” gothic horror and ghost stories, pulp fiction, ancient myths legends and lore. It is even hinted at within the context of Hellboy's narrative that his mother was the descendant of Morgana Le Fey and Arthur Pendragon. Could Hellboy be the rightful heir to the British throne?

In the beginning…Professor Trevor Bruttenholm and a group of American soldiers rescued a tiny creature released from an inter-dimensional portal to a mysterious astral region opened by Grigori Rasputin and a group of Nazi’s during the Second World War. Hitler; in reality was very much interested in the occult and believed he could use it powers. The G.I.’s name the small creature with the oversized hand “Hellboy” on the spot and adopted and raised him as a human. Trevor Bruttenholm became Hellboy’s father and “The Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense” (B.P.R.D.) was formed around Hellboy. He fights evil under the organizations banner.

“When things go bump in the night; we’re the ones who “bump” back.”
Trevor Bruttenholm

There have many writers and artist to imagine and contribute to the development of Mignola’s Hellboy; John Byrne, Bruce Timm, Christorpher Golden, Guy Davis and Rich Corben are a few but none are more immersed in the legend than film maker Guillermo Del Toro. The Hellboy films are rich tapestries and very faithful to the spirit of the characters and situations.

As with Mignola’s beginning the look of the movies are perfect. When Del Toro makes changes they only embellish and clarify what was previously published. The films are perfectly cast with Ron Pearlman in the lead. Pearlman is magnificent and born for the role of Hellboy. He is no stranger to heavy make up and prosthetics.  He makes it all look effortless and real as no other actor could. Most of Pearlman’s great roles have featured the actor totally immersed and hidden by masks and modifications. Vincent from television’s “Beauty and the Beast” was his first success. He was mesmerizing in that role. Pearlman is the Lon Chaney of our times; Del Toro the James Whale.

“Pan Cakes”

In conjunction with the release of the first Hellboy Movie DVD Mignola wrote a short story about the two year old Hellboy. The folks at the B.P.R.D. try to get a reluctant Hellboy to try a new treat for breakfast. He finally gives in and tastes pan cakes for the first time. He loves them. At the precise moment pandemonium breaks out in the city of Pandemonium (The Capitol City of Hell.) “It is the boy. He has eaten the pan cakes. He will never come back to us now.” A demon laments this to another minion of Hell. Hellboy has discovered what every small child knows. There is nothing so close to heaven as the pancake prepared with and given in love.

 Mignola have been honored with the top awards in the field of graphic novels and story-telling. In 2002 “Hellboy: Conqueror Worm” won the Eisner for “Best Limited series” and “The Art of Hellboy” won the 2004 Eisner for “Best Comics Related book.” The Eisner is the field’s chief award. Mignola holds his own with the all-time best.

There seem to be limitless avenues for Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. to travel. It is our pleasure to tag along for this infinite, immaculate ride.

Annie Leibovitz: The Wizard of OZ Portfolio

John Currin dressed in a silver suit, raised axe in hand stands over a startled Keira Knightly.  White evening gown and tiara adorned Kara Walker backed by the Penn State Marching Band face a humbled Keira Knightly. A horrified, fearful Keira Knightly is whisked away by a winged, furry Jeff Koons as another winged furry Jeff Koons follows. “The Lion in Winter” Jasper Johns perches, stately above an awed Keira Knightly. The Annie Leibovitz treatment of the L. Frank Baum novel turned film has never been so in vogue as when it appeared in the December 2005 issue of “Vogue.” This portfolio rocked the world and especially the “Art World.” Leibovitz is famous for her photo spreads and celebrity portraits but it is rare to almost non-existent for “A-List” artistic luminaries to be featured as stars in such a mass media venue. All the stops were pulled out for this one as Annie; such a prolific and passionate professional scores big.  She rarely misses. She is on target and in her best form with her OZ fantasy photographs.

Leibovitz began he career in the early Seventies. Rolling Stone magazine was her first home. Her photos chronicled the celebrities and events of our times like no other. She is among the select few to be both an artistic and commercial success. Her timely portrait of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, The nude/ pregnant Demi Moore, the milk bath Whoopi Goldberg and the “Blue” Blues Brothers are classics. Leibovitz always goes to the next level and even a little farther with her works that are often theatrical vignettes. She is able to get to the hearts of her subjects and they reveal much of themselves to Annie as with no other photographer. Leibovitz’s work graced and defined “The Cover of the Rolling Stone” for years. She was to move on to Vanity Fair, Vogue, the Disney Corporation and other clients. Her body of work is unmatched or surpassed. Leibovitz is embraced by generations and she continues to work and grow touching all forms of photography with her unique vision.

Her massive book; “Annie Leibovitz: A Photographer’s Life 1990-2005” is a major success for her. It is the best selling photography book of all time. It features both professional and personal works. Her relationship with Susan Sontag is a main feature of the book and much is reveled about Annie in the pictures and minimal amount of text. She draws no distinction between her life and vocation. I was able to see her exhibition following the release of her book at the Corcoran in Washington DC. As expected it was a treasure and a great joy. 

The Wizard of OZ portfolio; complete and impressive as a standalone piece is in many ways a small sample of this woman’s greatness.  There is much more to her body of work that is still growing. Leibovitz continually amazes as she informs and entertains. Her captured moments are precise and decisive. Everything a world class talent should be; is she.