Not all mythic characters can be heroes. For the sake of writing an interesting story, one must have villains, including those of the supernatural variety. Hellsignor is a good example of this in Part 2 of The Dark Age storyline from Astro City.
I like the way that this character typifies evil. He’s a conceited blowhard whose power is wasted on his ego, and his appearance is appropriately brief. His accomplishments? Well, he enslaves some susceptible souls as his acolytes, takes innocent captives, and defeats various superheroes only to have one of them, the Point Man, foil his plans. During Hellsignor’s boastful proclamations and his preparations to receive the power of something called the Gem of Thebis, the Point Man swipes the stone and throws it around the neck of a captive bystander. She is transformed into the latest incarnation of Cleopatra, the superhero who immediately sends Hellsignor into another dimension.
This is satisfying. Threaten, conquer, boast, and – Poof! You’re gone. Even the most powerful dictator is a squashed bug on the windshield of history, a mere foil for something or someone more enduring and important. I fear that there is at least a trace of the egomaniac in all of us, and he needs to be vanquished accordingly.
There is a lot of truth in your final sentence. The big question is can we recognize and crush the egomaniac within?
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You just hit a buried cable. This is a central question in Christianity. How can we, from our flawed perspective, recognize our condition and make the necessary changes? The theological answer points to a higher mind and divine help. That is one of the main things that impressed me about the faith. Take care.
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For this series which book should I start with?
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The first volume is Life in the Big City. The second is Confession. You can Google “Astro City reading order” for a more complete list. This series is available on Amazon. Just be aware that there will be items that don’t square with Christianity. I still find enough in the various stories to enjoy them.
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Thanks!
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I LOVE your commentary at the end!!
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Threaten, conquer, boast, and – Poof! You’re gone. Sounds like politics to me. Thanks for the look see and like on my recent Forward?
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