(my first one, about Hellboy, will go up in October)
Dracula: How the Immortal Vampire Has Aged: From his inception in 1897 in Bram Stoker’s novel to over 63 film adaptations and recreations, Count Dracula is clearly here to stay. But what does this literal immortal character’s progression say about us – his adoring fans? Are we becoming more bloodthirsty, or less? Do our vampire ideals reflect the shallowness of our society – or show we’re looking for something deeper?
Lone Wolf & Cub: the Recreation of an Era: Kazuo Koike & Goseki Kojima’s magnum opus has reached an international audience, affected countless writers & filmmakers, and spawned a manga genre unto itself. This essay seeks to break down how the creators, both through literary devices and visual techniques, recreated an entire historical time period: the Tokugawa era of Japan, with breathtaking detail. From the clans and ninjas to codes of bushido, the essay will discuss how the historical details become essential and thrilling elements of the character’s story.
Age of the Retired Badass: Bruce Willis. Liam Neeson. Denzel Washington. These are some of the frontrunners of the old-guy-bad-ass pantheon. Tom Cruise & Keanu Reeves are fast-approaching on their heels. Compare their filmography and screen-presence to new action heroes – where are they? And the few that exist – do they even compete? Are we losing new action talent to the comic book franchises? And if so, where does that leave us with the retirees? This essay will examine the unlikely rise of the Retired Badass.