#nosferatu: death and the maiden

[see-arcane]

me, tippity typing: Wow, it's so relaxing working on a purposefully short sweet condensed story. None of this novel or novella business. Look! I'm already introducing Thoseferatu! I bet I'm only at, like, page 10 or something ha ha

me, honking my little clown nose: ah.

Anybody else hear a symphony of horror striking up in the background?

[rallamajoop]

So why are there so many gay vampires?

From the time of Carmilla all the way up to the works of Anne Rice (a universe that seems to get only less subtle as the years go on), gay vampires have been a thing basically as long as anyone was writing about vampires. Lesbian vampires have been a genre all their own for decades. Bram Stoker, author of the most famous vampire novel ever written, was gay himself. So why vampires specifically?

I’ve seen people attempt to answer this one before, and there are all sorts of contributing factors I could point to here, from the genres’ beginnings with Lord Byron (infamous bisexual disaster fuckboy), to modern discourse about why queer folks so often find themselves identifying with the monsters and outcasts of fiction. Few other monsters besides vampires can so easily pass for ‘normal’, or are nearly so well known for their snappy dress sense and ‘unnatural cravings’ for human flesh. And that’s without even getting into all those skeezy outdated stereotypes casting queer people as predators, or the idea that even one ‘gay experience’ could somehow ‘convert’ you into being one yourself.

But to my mind, there’s just one really important thing that makes vampires so gay, and it’s the same thing that makes them sexy in the first place: plausible deniability.

You see, a vampire’s bite is simultaneously a) ridiculously sexual, and b) not even a little bit sexual at all.

You don’t have to look far for vampire canons where there’s nothing sexy about being bitten by a vampire. Bloody, violent, painful, sure ‒or just clinically miserable, human bodies torn open or hung up to drain like a human blood bag. What’s sexy about getting bitten by a mosquito, or a fecking leech? The diet of the actual vampire bat requires it to process so much water that it apparently spends mealtimes busily pissing out the difference, and the anti-coagulants in its saliva leave the wound bleeding messily long after it’s gone. The basic act of feeding is no more inherently sexual for a vampire than it is for a zombie.

Vampires are even a surprisingly acceptable monster to market to children. There’s a vampire muppet, a cartoon about a vampire duck, and a whole series of books about a vampire rabbit. You can put a vampire on the side of a cereal box without undue outrage. Vampires do not have to be R-rated for sex or violence.

So of course vampires will go after victims of the same sex. Do you stop to inquire whether the cow you’re eating was male or female? It’s all just predator and prey!

Until it’s everything but.

Do not let the ‘vampires aren’t supposed to be sexy!’-purists fool you. The tradition of sexy vampires goes all the way back to the oldest folklore, where the first victim of a newly-risen vampire was often their still-living spouse. Vampires were even occasionally known to get women pregnant (a convenient excuse for any widow who might turn up pregnant slightly too many months after their husband's death). The ‘original’ Nosferatu sounds more like an incubus than the naked mole-rat creature they made that movie about. The demon lover aspect of the vampire has been there all along.

And it’s not hard to imagine why. If someone is biting and sucking on your neck, then either they’re a vampire, or they’re well on the way to second base (other folklore has its vampires feed directly from their victim’s heart, which is scarcely less suggestive). The implications of an exchange of bodily fluids were never subtle, even in Stoker’s day (I'm looking at you, Lucy-with-the-three-husbands), and the vampire as a sexual predator was a popular literary device well before Stoker's time. Beautiful vampire women would seduce men to their demise, and the males of the species might visit the bedroom of some innocent maiden time and again. The Victorian obsession with mesmerism, meanwhile, provided the perfect explanation for how victims might be hypnotised into eager compliance, and perhaps not even remember being fed upon at all. Vampires have been the ultimate guilt-free sexual fantasy since way back in the day, compatible with all your awkward Victorian mores! (Not quite ready to admit they're sexual fantasies? No problem: he's just here to, y'know, suck on your neck a bit. No subtext here!)

The whole act of biting is so suggestive that in the early years of vampire cinema, it wasn’t shown at all, not even between opposite-sex participants. The camera of 1922’s Nosferatu maintains a demure distance during the climactic scene where the heroine is finally bitten and slowly drained of blood, and Universal’s Dracula conveniently fades to black or cuts away whenever it’s about to take place. But even if the biting has to take place off screen, who’s to say a vampire isn’t going to pick victims of both sexes?

The stately tradition of the lesbian vampire has cinematic examples going all the way back to 1936, with Universal’s Dracula’s Daughter. Though the titular vampire has a nominal male love interest – a psychologist who naively advises her to confront her temptations without fear – the result of his advice is a famous sequence where she picks up a young woman under the premise of wanting an artist's model, and convinces her to remove her top. No actual biting or nudity is shown (it was only 1936), but her fate is left in little doubt.

By the era of 70’s sexploitation, all such subtlety had been abandoned. If we’re all good with naked boobs, who’s going to be offended by a little biting?

In fact, when it comes to men rather than women, a vampire bite was, for many years, far too sexy to be shown, or even alluded to. Nosferatu clearly feeds on that film’s Jonathan-expy, but our only evidence is the bitemarks on his neck in the morning, and the final sacrifice to defeat the evil monster must naturally be female. Universal’s Dracula had to ignore explicit studio mandate that only the brides should be allowed to feed on their own Jonathan-equivalent, as to even imply that Dracula himself had fed upon a man was obviously far too homoerotic to contemplate (never mind that it’s Dracula who must be established as the threat in this opening sequence, or that it’s Dracula his victim will spend the rest of the film obsessed with).

But in that unspeakable land of male-on-male homoeroticism, you might be surprised how much homo we can squeeze in even without resorting to fangs-in-necks. The Lost Boys is surely one of the most homoerotic vampire films ever made, but there, the one big blood-drinking scene is rendered in a bloody massacre of slasher-movie violence. And though Anne Rice certainly describes the scene where Lestat drains Louis of blood in lurid detail (and even has them spend their first sunrise together sharing a coffin), Louis is already thoroughly seduced before he ever reaches this point.

You see, the lore of the pop-cultural vampire conveniently comes with a second and equally-compelling target for plausible deniability: the act of making a new vampire.

Obviously, to work, this has to be deliberate. A world where anyone bitten by a vampire becomes one hasn’t much to offer us, and the relationship between maker and fledgling can just as easily be framed as parental, as recruitment into a cult, or purely transactional. But whichever way you twist it, the implications of choosing another to share in your own eternal youth and immortality… like, I don’t have to spell this one out for you, do I? Did I mention how that thing where a vampire’s traditional first victim tended to be their own mortal widow goes all the way back?

But if we’re not ready to be completely obvious with our mainstream audience, some alternative explanation can always be provided for cover. Lestat doesn’t really want Louis, he just wants Louis’ money! (He also really wants Louis.) The Lost Boys just want Michael to join their gang! (Their very, very pretty gang, who swan around in mesh shirts, tank tops and assless chaps.)

The two sides of the vampire-deniability coin aren’t mutually exclusive, either. Carmilla drinks her new paramour’s blood, but also gazes into her eyes while promising her you will be mine. Drinking blood is a key part of making a new vampire in so many vampire stories, after all.

Carmilla isn’t even the only gay vampire story of the Victorian era. I recently posted about two other fascinating examples, both featuring male/male pairings: one being pretty much just a gender-flipped version of Carmilla, and the other a tragic love story filled with significant "vampire = gay lover" metaphors (why oh why must the townsfolk keep us apart, when we’ll only ever be happy once we’re united once more?) This stuff goes surprisingly far back.

In fact, you can find queer subtext in vampire fiction that predates even Byron and Polidori. 1819's The Vampyre was the first published vampire story, yes, but the first known work of vampire-fiction in the English language is a poem published by John Stagg in 1810, also called The Vampyre (look, the genre didn’t exist yet, you didn’t have to be creative with your titles).

In brief, Stagg’s poem recounts a conversation between a wife (Gertrude) and her dying husband (Herman), whose dear friend Sigismund, lately deceased and deeply mourned, has returned as a vampire. Night after night, he crawls into Herman’s room to drain his blood. Herman’s fate is already sealed, but unless Gertrude takes action, it will surely be she that Herman will take as his own first victim when he rises from the grave.

There may be nothing intentional about the queer subtext of this tale. A vampire’s victims often include friends he knew in life, as Stagg himself cites in his introduction. But if Herman’s first victim will be his wife, what are we to read about the fact Sigismund’s first victim is Herman? Especially given how long he’s kept secret from poor Gertrude that his dear ‘friend’ has been climbing into his bedroom each night, lying beside him in bed and sucking and draining "the fountain of my heart!" while Herman moans and tosses (in pain, obviously!), always leaving him "exhausted, spent." Ultimately, Gertrude is saved only when both Herman and Sigismund are staked through the heart, and we close on the image of them slumbering together in the tomb.

It is, however you turn it, pretty gay.

I reiterate: this is the very first known work of vampire fiction written in the English language. The second was the one that was kind-of-written-by, kind-of-stolen-from, and unambiguously based on bisexual-disaster-fuckboy Lord Byron. And the two most influential works of vampire fiction of the next hundred years would be Carmilla, the very lesbian vampire story written by a… presumably straight man? And Dracula, the not-completely-convincingly-hetero story written by #1 Walt Whitman fanboy Bram Stoker. Vampires have always been very equal-opportunity kind of monsters.

There are, of course, plenty of influential heterosexual vampire tales to fill out the roster too. Varney the Vampire, a penny dreadful from the 1840s, was so successful it ran for over 200 chapters. The 1960s had their own wildly successful Varney-equivalent in the soap opera Dark Shadows. Love it or hate it, we really can't ignore Twilight either. My own introduction to the genre was Christopher Pike’s The Last Vampire series, which came out alongside the original Vampire Diaries novels. So there's plenty of material around to keep the straights entertained – and honestly, that’s only as it should be, because the very thing that makes vampires so queer-friendly is that the sex of their victims doesn’t matter. And it’s so easy to make vampires sexy (let alone a full vampire-proposal!) that even the Victorians could do it.

Now, if your reaction to all this theorising is to tell me "but the LGBTQ’s shouldn’t have to hide behind plausible deniability!" I can only counter, "well sure, but why should the straights have all the fun?" Because playing with all the ambiguity of "is this monster really just after my blood or is this going somewhere?" can be all sorts of fun, regardless of the genders involved. And as long as they’re up for exchanging bodily fluids with persons-and-or-victims of either gender equally, why not have some fun with it?

So, okay, maybe the real title of this post should have been "why are there so many pansexual vampires?" But the answer doesn’t change. Vampires have been the bisexual disaster fuckmonsters for as long as anyone’s been writing about vampires, and have been a metaphor allowing people publish barely-coded gay attraction since 1872. And much like the queer community, they’ve only become more complex, more sympathetic, and all the more popular as romantic paramours as the years have gone by.

[pumpkinstrawbrew]

░a░p░e░x░ ░p░r░e░d░a░t░o░r░

[̲̅&]

a 🆂🅽🅰🅲🅺

...

(a second batman x venom crossover. i mean, they just kinda keep having similiar themes all around, an' with two my fav halloween freaks. i cannot just pass this chance, haha.

either way, jon n' jack havin' a swell time as you can see. they're at the bottom of the food chain quite literally. poor twinky ghouls are about to become a dinner in more ways, than one. how unfortunate for them! but what a feast for a nosferatu n' alien parasite. one drinks 🩸, the other love eatin' human 🧠, so it's no biggie that both jon an' jack are scrawny an' undernourished. their predators aren't after their meat or limited fat. they are after more individual body parts an' components.

so yes, this is my halloween 'special' thingy! a conjoined mash-up about big bad predator an' their twangy, evil prey. the sort of dynamic, that both pairs had going on at one point or another. less so 'canically' for scarebat, since that series of comics *where batman was a savage vampire* is technically a separate 'what if' reality. but still, jon n' jack had a very real brush with smth, that is way stronger than them. an' only one made it out alive, but oh well, this is what AUs n' other stuff is for. bc how about no, an' how about some more homoerotic take on those scenes? like, it was 'hot' to me in some ways. esp with words like 'territorial dispute' an' implication of batman givin' scarecrow good ole vampire succ, post morten or not.

i honestly always amazed, when the comics does smth very servicing for my tastes / interests, without actually ever tryin' to pander to people like me. it's prob one of the most 'erotic' things to me as to an author. it's like a possible wink wink to someone, who wants to see it. but generally, just a part of the story. not even a big one, but that's just a tasty bit anyways! i always had a weakness to predator/prey thrope, esp when it's less of fluffy, twinlight kind of romance, but instead a gore-ish sort of deal, where one party can end up actually dying even if by pure accident. it provides some pretty big stakes. not to meantion, that there is always an unspoken paralell between sex n' death in horror genre. including consuming / stabbing / sucking blood an' such. it's important for me as horror movies fan. i like there to be some 'love' in my horror, even if it's not traditional or on the nose. it gives all those exederated gore-y / deadly scenes more meaning, if one wants to impliment it there. an' it just makes for a memorable scene as well.

also while i'm not super into the heroes 'turnin' bad' stuff, in this case, there is an appeal of flash / bruce going feral. it's hard to resist the playful thought about how bruce n' flash find their foe tempting, *iresistably attractive*, but in a different manner now. jack n' jon aren't no rosy maiden, who usually gets the spot of main dish / love interest, but this what makes it even better. jon an' jack are walking ginger bread, an' that's that, really. but tbf, they're kind of weirdos, who would always partly dig it. their handsome, brooding *arch*-enemy wants to eat them an' not some random hussie. that's very scary, an' also sexy lol.

still it's one of those moments in comics, where i wish that they kept the secenes going for a bit longer. just expanded on that suggestive possibility of them taking it step futher. but i also get why they didn't drag it out, cuz it wasn't the point of issue, anyways. just some lil fun moment. tho, i do love how batman *out of his mind or not* seemed to have enough mercy on crane to kill him off relativly quickly compared to the others. the riddler, pen-pen *yeah, i call oswald this* n' ivy had to suffer through the whole overdeal with full awarness, feeling their throats being ripped out, as they were still alive. jon was spared of such fate. the bat came, lectured him, broke his hand an' beheaded him. way quicker vs when you have to feel your meat and blood dripping all over ya. an' in venom's case, i loved how jack was so oddly forgiving of flash nearly decapitating him on the spot lol. flash *at that point* had already ate a fella or two. like bruce, he clearly wasn't proud of those times or enjoyd it, but out of all people, who managed to snap him out of the murder mode, it was jack. but hey, not on my watch! no one will die, but someone will be 'consumed', alright. that's just natural order of things or whatever. an' it's so bc i do make all the rules, haha.

as for more technical side of things, i did altered a few things. mainly with flash n' jack. i made flash's berserk venom form smalles an' all black, bc of well...uh, reasons. and also jack has an actual face here lol. also while at first, i wanted to draw him with his trade-mark messed up features, but kinda end up drawing him all 'dolled up' instead lol. so i suppose, along with all other au-ish elements, his face wasn't blown off in this universe either. an' on somewhat unrelated note, i like how both jack *even some of spiderman's ones* and jonathan are usually shown to be brunette or redhead. my pref will always be with those two being redheads, but still, it's a funny thing to ponder on. another technical bit is that, i wanted both jack n' jon being unable to use their hands / arms in one of the picture, since for me it's like snaring a 'prey' and then, they are kinda useless without it too. jon can land one hell of a kick for sure, but it won't help him to push away the vampire from his neck. also no fear gas to spray from his gloves, even if it would have acomplished nothing. in jack's case, it's similiar situation. he can throw / shoot lil flames from his gloves, the only thing that all symbiotes seem to detaste, besides specific levels of noise. but if he can't do it, and it's too risky to shoot flame from his helmet, welp, he's screwed lol. an' i also wanted to use venom's tongue as bondage tool lol. it was one of those things, that i always loved about venom symbiote / carnage looks an' anatomy, is how 'bendy' their bodies are. an' how creepy they can strech their body parts as well. both, bruce n' flash possess superhuman powers in this, so nor jon nor jack is actually a match for them. but taking away even the last of their defenses is a cherry on the top. jonathan is already always spooked animal, an' with someone as dumbly tunel-visioned as jack, it take a tad more to scare him shitless. esp bc he thinks, that he's such hot shit of a mercenary, haha.

so yups, this year batman n' flash got a treat. jack and' jonathan *in comparison* got tentacles and anemia respectively. can this count as trick? i mean, i guess lol. but on bright side, jonathan is kinda bruce's bf / blood bank in this one, an' jack is....well, he's a bitch. i mean, he touched the toxin, so now flash have to 'mark' him lol.

anyway, this is as pg-15 as i can go about it on here. i have two extra adult-ish artworks for these set ups. you can call it a follow up, if you want. here's the link, if someone is curious. but pls remember adults only. while there is no nudity in this one, there is still a clearly sexual cut in it. *also, i'm working on fics related to these set-ups as well. already workshoping vamp!bruce/crane one. sadly, had no free time to finish it all on halloween as well, but hey, it's always halloween on this blog!*)

[pixies-and-poets]

I wanted to write this down before I go to sleep! A little warning, it's a bit... juicy.

---

"You... You want me to...?", Woodrow's voice faded, in both disbelief and hesitation. A flurry of thoughts flooded his mind, keeping him from uttering a single word. His wandering eyes shifted, darting from her eyes, to her neck, to... no. No, he mustn't - it would be most rude of him. Woodrow went to turn away, only for him go feel a warm and gentle tug at his hand.

"Yes. Yes, I do." said the beauteous Prima Donna, "Please... Let me be beside you, forever." If it hadn't been silent for an eternity, Woodrow's heart would have lept from his chest. His ears could not perceive what they were hearing. The immortal poet delicately held her hand as he contemplated. He shook his head, "What a thoughtful offering, one of which I have never heard from any other mortal in all my existence. But I must decline, for I am a beast. A wretched demon of night. I am cursed, and I fear that if I were to... take you, you would fall into the same fate."

Prima Donna furrowed her eyebrows, silently pleading as she went to caress his cheek. Woodrow jolted slightly, only to melt in her touch. "Think of me not as a poor, helpless maiden." she continued, "Think of me as your salvation. A candle to light your way through the lonely darkness. While this may not remove your burdens, you will not endure it all alone. I have heard you in the dead of night, Woodrow, 'neath the moonlight, letting out the most inner thoughts alone. I have hear you and I... I know the suffering you feel. Oh, my sweet, my darling poet, please - take me. Make me yours, forever and always, and may we spend the rest of time together."

Woodrow stared at Prima Donna, latching on to each and every word she spoke. He opened his mouth to respond; nothing came out. Nothing but a soft stammer that was then silenced as her lips pressed against his. An sudden overwhelming sensation shocked Woodrow. Her scent... Her heartbeat... Her blood rushing through her veins... The silkiness of her bodice. It was all too tempting.

Woodrow pulled back to speak, his breath shaking with a growing frenzy, "Are you... Are you certain of this?"

"Yes, Tristan..." Prima Donna cooed, "Please..."

A hungry growl escapes his lips as Woodrow tightened his grip around her waist and kissed her. With his hunger now inescapable, vigorous and oh so passionate, Woodrow almost hurriedly laid his lover into the curtained bed and lifted her arms by the wrists. Woodrow lowered his head, his lips brushing lightly against her skin. "I am yours, my sweet..." he purred,"and you are mine."

This whole AU has been juicy and you know it, lmaooo. (I'm entirely a SFW creator but goodness, one can skirt the line with vampires- I mean, it's just a lot of biting and sucking and inevitable sensual moaning and-- yeah I never understood why they were such popular fantasy creatures when I was younger but I did when I grew up LOL)

BUT GOSH I READ THIS BEFORE I WENT TO BED LAST NIGHT AND I WANT TO SCREAM... the way he holds her by the wrists!! As if to feel her pulse for one last time before he silences it forever... Her paws surely limp, letting him be in full control, ultimate trust... MwaaAAARGH

They will make such a good pair... No longer to give and take of each other in the same way, but instead to share the hunt, to fly together, one long and lanky bat and one rounder bat silhouetted against the moon- to sleep in their sepulcher together, bodies entwined, cold and stiff, eyes open if unconscious, gazing at each other in the embrace of their daily death-rest, fangs resting on their smiling lips...

Mwaaaaa, GET IT GIRL (where "it" is eternal life with your freaky poet nosferatu)

[seewetter]

Mythic Creatures by Culture & Region

Part 5: East Europe, Northwest Asia

Europeans often think that East Europe and Northwest Asia is simply Slavic: if Poles, Czechs, Russians and many Balkan people are Slavic, surely all the areas of East and Southeast Europe must be Slavic. And if West Asia has Indo-Germanic languages and cultures, surely those must be Slavic too? Well no.

So here is an exhaustive list of Wikipedia's creatures for people who just get lumped in as "Slavic" when they are, in fact, from totally different cultures. While browsing Wikipedia, I also learned that there is a autonomous Buddhist European Republic run by descendants of the Mongol horde in Eastern Europe, something I was utterly unaware of (probably because they are incorporated into Russia, but also because I have some biases to work on).

Albania (not Slavic)

Djall Albanian (technically not Slavic!); Drangue; En_Albanian_Deity; Fatia; I Verbti_Albanian_Deity; Kukudh; Kulshedra; Ljubi; Lugat; Nëna e Vatrës; Ora; Perëndi; Perria; Prende_Albanian_Deity; Shtojzovalle; Shtriga; Shurdh; Stihi; Tur; Turoń; Vitore; Xhindi; Zana; Zojz_Albanian_Deity

Armenian (not Slavic)

Griffon; Hayk; Lake Van Monster; Vishap; Werewolf

Caucasus Region (not Slavic)

Batraz North Caucasian culture may not be Slavic; Germakochi; Ossetian Myth; Tutyr; Vainakh religion Georgia (NOT Slavic); Kopala; Ochokochi; Q'ursha Hungary (NOT Slavic); Busós ; Lidérc; Luwr; Ördög; Sárkány; Turul also Turkic; Vadleány

Romanian (not Slavic) (Land of Vlad Tepes)

Iele; Ileana Cosânzeana; Little Wildrose; Moroi; Muma Pădurii; Muroni; Nosferatu (word) allegedly Romanian; Pricolici; Samca; Sântoaderi; Sânziană; Solomonari; Spiriduș; Strigoi; Swan Maiden; Uriaș; Ursitoare similar to Roma & Slavic Ursitory; Vâlvă; Vântoase; Zână; Zburător; Zmeoaică; Zmeu

Slavic

Having said that, many East European cultures are in fact Slavic. I will have to revise this section at a later date because I am rarely differentiating the Slavic cultures and lumped them all together.

Ala (from Bulgaria, Serbia, Macedonia); Alkonost; Aq Bars (winged snow leopard, heraldry from 800s onwards, also Mongolian); Baba Yaga; Babay; Baloz; Bannik; Bardha; Baš Čelik; Bauk; Bies; Black Arab; Black Panther; Błędnica; Blud; Błudnik; Bobak; Božalość; Božić; Bukavac; Cambion; Căpcăun (Romanian ogre); Chort; Chut; Cikavac; Cornflower Wraith; Čuma; Death; Ded Moroz; Devil Boruta Poland; Dhampir; Djadadjii (Bulgarian vampire hunter); Dobrynyna Nikitich; Domovoi; Drekavac; Drioma; Dvorovoy; Dzedka; Dziwożona; Fext; Fiery serpents; Firebird; German; Gold Duck; Goldenhorn; Ispolin; Karapandža; Karzełek; Kikimora; King Kojata; Kostroma; Krasnoludek; Kukeri Bulgarian; Laddy Midday; Lakanica; Lazavik; Likho; Likhoradka; Lisunki (see Lyeshi); Lyeshi; Mara_Goddess identical name with unrelated(??) death goddess from India Mara_Goddess2; Marțolea; Maruda; Masovian dragon; Mavka; Mermaid of Warsaw; Misizla; Moryana; Nav; Nocnitsa; Ovinnik; Paraskeva Friday; Pavaró; Pereplut; Płanetnik; Polevik ; Poleviki; Poroniec; Psoglav; Psotnik; Pvitrulya; Rarash; Raróg; Rokita; Rozhanitsy, Narecnitsy and Sudzhenitsy; Rübezahl; Rusalka ; Rusalky; Samodiva; Schrat also medieval European; Shatans; Shubin; Simargl; Skrzak; Slavic Fairies of Fate; Slavic Mythic Creatures; Slavic Pseudo-deities; Slavic Water Spirit\; Spor; Stricha (Ukrainian, while Strigoi are Romanian); Strzyga; Stuhać; Swan Maiden; The Nine Peahens and the Golden Apples; Tintilinić; Topielec; Unclean Force; Upiór; Ursitory also in Roma similar to Ursitoare from Romania; Vampire pumpkins and watermelons; Vazily; Ved; Vedmak; Verlioka; Vesna; Vila; Vjesci; Vrykolakas also Greek; Wars and Sawa; Wawel Dragon; Werewolf; Wild Hunt; Wild Man, Wild Woman ; Wild Men, Wild Women; Wurdulac; Zduhać; Zheuzhyk; Zhytsen; Zilant; Zlydzens; Zmaj; Zwodziasz

Russia (the European parts)

Russia; A Hut on Chicken Legs; Al (also in Mongolia, Persia, Afghanistan, Caucasus); Azovka; Brosno dragon; Chernava; Gamayun; "Go I know not whither and fetch I know not what" folktale includes creatures; Indruk; Koshchei; Meduza; Oksoko (3 headed eagle see article's points about scripture for ideas); Polkan; Russian superstitions; Shishiga; Swan Maiden; The Mistress of Copper Mountain; The Sea Tsar and Vasilisa the Wise; Tugarin; Verechelen; Vodyaniye; Zmei (aka Zmei Gorynich)

Kyivan Rus (modern Ukraine)

Sirin

Notify me please if you find any mistakes or would like a disclaimer added if any of the creatures on this list are sacred or should not be used in art by outsiders.

[chthonic-cassandra]

What, finally, do Nina and Nosferatu have in common? The exchange scene gives it all away. Both are images animated by the same orbit, the same holding pattern, the one that has been running circulation and exchange into the unburial ground. The Count's just another motion picture looking for the way out of yet another release on undeath. Nina too, in the exchange scene, comes into focus as the images that has changed hands, an image that, in exchange, leaves her out of the picture. She makes her move after reading the vampire book, the self-sacrifice manual. She takes the how-to lesson to heart and consummates a relationship she has already enjoyed long distance with the Count, bringing it to the conclusion that takes them both out of circulation. This suicide pact between the woman and the vampire plays to the sacrificial assignment that was mission impossible for the German home front during World War I.

Lawrence A. Rickels, The Vampire Lectures

[vampireshdtw]

Nosferatu (1922)

Tonight Henry, Eve, and Matt watched the 1922 classic, Nosferatu!

Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror, directed by F.W. Murnau and released in 1922, is a movie about Count Orlok and his plot to drink the blood of his estate agent’s wife, Ellen Hutter, while simultaneously bringing a plague to their now shared town of residence.

---

Nosferatu is a slow, precise vampire with little to no humanity present in his actions. He bites his victims with his characteristically long, sharp incisors, controlled by his ceaseless desire for human blood, which he needs to consume in order to live.

His body, despite being very lithe, is capable of lifting heavy weights and moving at extraordinary speeds, which also extends to horses he’s driving. Doors open and mortals stumble back with the aid of his telekenetic powers, which make his entrances all the more horrifying, paired with his long fingernails.

Bats, mosquitos, and most notibly rats seem to follow him wherever he goes, carrying a plague that can easily wipe out an unsuspecting village, making the aftermath of his feeding habits all the more inconspicuous.

However, Nosferatu, also known as the Death Bird, is not a free creature. In order to rest and regain his strength, he must sleep in the damned soil he was buried in, usually packed into coffins. In his coffin, he sleeps like the dead, open-eyed and near-impossible to wake before dusk.

In order to kill Nosferatu, he must burn to ash in the sun’s rays. This is made difficult with his caution, but can be aided with the temptation of a sinless maiden offering him her throat- only this can make him forget the coming of the dawn.

---

Finally, I finally got to see this absolute classic! It’s as slow and over-the-top as I expected from a movie this age, but there were some genuinely impressive moments, and somehow it was more loyal to the source material than its 1979 remake, despite that one actually having the rights to use the original names! I absolutely love how the movie’s limitations influence how Nosferatu’s powers work, turning them into modern-day canon! However, as much as I liked the initiative of the female lead and all of the oldschool charm of this film, Count Orlok is a glaring anti-semetic stereotype, which feels even weirder, seeing as this is a German movie. Overall, I’m glad I watched it, and I think any vampire fan should have watched this film once. (Matt)

I enjoyed this, the original Nosferatu, moreso than its 1979 remake, primarily for the ending and score. While this leans far more heavily into the source material's antisemitic stereotypes (and might have some historical significance given the decades to come), it remains watchable. I enjoyed this version's Lucy/Mina stand-in, but I found their Harker stand-in a little manic. Overall I enjoyed the middle-ground it struck between Nosferatu (1979) and the original book, but think it misses out on the creepiness of Herzog's revision. I had fun, and it was an interesting watch, even if the vampire and his weaknesses seemed really stripped back and minimal in comparison to a lot of other media. Almost certainly a limitation of the time. (Eve)

If you're interested in vampires at all, I recommend you watch it as a curiosity. It's interesting to see not just where a lot of the vampire tropes come from, but also to see how far film-making has come as well. It's really brisk and well-paced for a movie this old, I never found it slow or boring. The characterisation of Hutter was entertaining and Ellen having more agency compared to her remake counterpart was great. Max Shref as Count Orlok was a great screen presence (aside from the anti-semitic makeup) but I found Klaus Kinski's portrayal far more menacing and impactful. I think I prefer the Werner Herzog remake overall for its tension building and sense of dread and bleakness but I'd watch this movie again before that one. Definitely give it a watch! (Henry)

[forthegothicheroine]

Mina/Dracula

I’m actually going to put both sets of questions here, because my feelings are so complicated!

Shipping:

What made you ship it? While I don’t believe the book is ‘about’ sex (I think it’s ‘about’ many things), it does brim with dark sexuality, and Dracula is especially a predatory incubus figure.  I enjoy villain/heroine dynamics where the heroine continues to fight back, and Mina absolutely does that!  It’s also interesting that she says she feels pity for him, and that he wants to keep her as a wife rather than just killing her.

What are your favorite things about the ship? There’s the potential for so many different ways to handle this, from captivity to power plays to twisted grasps at redemption.  And there’s some good fic for it, too!

Is there an unpopular opinion you have on your ship? Not sweet and loving and reincarnated!  Not sweet and loving and reincarnated!

Not shipping:

Why don’t you ship it? Because there is absolutely no reason for Mina to forgive him for what he did to Jonathan and Lucy and adaptations either ignore this or say it’s okay because Jonathan was abusive or a nonentity and Lucy was a slut.  He attacks her and she doesn’t want it!  The book is very unambiguous about that!

What would have made you like it? As a nice ship?  Probably if Dracula had been sadder and more tired, like a combination of Herzog’s Nosferatu and Maxim from Rebecca.  That way Mina’s feelings could be more mixed, and I could believe that she loved Jonathan and also cared for the tragic monster who haunted her life.

Despite not shipping it, do you have anything positive to say about it? Death and the Maiden is a great artistic motif and there’s some great art out there of them.

[daveslutstaine]

I was tagged by the wonderful @elp-asia72802 for this! Thank you so much!!!!

Favorite Movies: Nosferatu (the 1920s one), V for Vendetta, Angels' Egg, Metropolis, A Clockwork Orange, 9, Nausicaa and The Valley of The Wind, The Cube, As Above So Below, Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro, Fantastic Planet, The Sound of Music, Lilo and Stitch, and Pan's Labyrinth

Favorite Bands: Megadeth, Acid Bath, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Rush, Deep Purple, King Crimson, Saxon, Led Zeppelin Death, Pentagram, Acid (BEL), Helloween, Scorpions, UFO, Pink Floyd, Anthrax, Blackmore's Night, TOOL, Medieval Steel, The Mars Volta, ELP, Rammstein, Iron Maiden, Van Halen, Motorhead, Misfits, The Who, BÖC, Obituary, Immortal, and Primus

Favorite Decade: 80s

Day or Night: Night

Nicknames: Andy

Zodiac: Virgo

MBTI: INFJ apparently

Favorite vehicle: I like trucks

Pets: none

I now tag whoever wishes to do this!

[see-arcane]

It'd be funny if you actually finish on the movie release day lol

👁️: "Merry Christmas! Have a plague and a bloodsucking rat man."

[reyloisblessed]

My List of Current Reylo Multi-Chapter WIPs...

BROKEN SCION 🔮🏜️

[dark tower series au / gunslinger kylo / red witch rey]

BEING REVAMPED/REWRITTEN! NOT YET POSTED!

Introductory Page + Art [POSTED]

Prologue [NOT YET PUBLISHED]

Chapter I: Serpent Seed [NOT YET PUBLISHED]  

Chapter II: Runaway Sister [NOT YET PUBLISHED]

Chapter III: [...] [NOT YET PUBLISHED]

ALL REMAINING CHAPTERS HAVEN’T BEEN WRITTEN YET.

HER KILLING MOON 🐺 🦇

[modern dark au / werewolf+vampire romance]

WE ARE AT THE END~ 

Chapter I: Dark Mother Metropolis

Chapter II: Monochrome Finish

Chapter III: Hazel Eyes

Chapter IV: Dangerous Mistake

Chapter V: Heavens Night

Chapter VI: Farewell Sacred Sun

Chapter  VII: The Plot Thickens

Chapter  VIII: Traitors and Sins

Chapter IX: Nightbrother

Chapter X: Honeyed Tongue

Chapter XI: Heaven’s Night Redux

Chapter XII: Necessary Control

Chapter XIII: A Traitor’s Plea

Chapter XIV: Fountain of Rapture 

Chapter XV: Questionable Choices 

Chapter XVI: Her Killing Moon 

Chapter XVII: Masque of Red Death

Chapter XVIII: Scion of the Scourge  [POSTED] ❗❗❗

Chapter XIX: Mother Lykos  [POSTED] ❗❗❗

Chapter XX: Father Nosferatu [POSTED] ❗❗❗

Chapter XXI: Gate of Starfall  [POSTED] ❗❗❗

Chapter XXII: Scars and Sacrifice [IN PROGRESS]

Chapter XXIII: Epilogue - His Rising Sun [NOT YET PUBLISHED]

HIEROS GAMOS 🌆⛓️

[sci-fi dark au / aliens+ergo proxy elements / monster kylo]

COMPLETED SAVE FOR THE SMUT EPILOGUE! FOR @leofgyth! 💜💜

Part I: Child of Waiting

Part II: Aphotic Depths

Part III: Consummation

Part IV: Child of Sorrow

Part V: Godhead Emanation

Part VI: Epilogue - Paradise Found [IN PROGRESS]

OATHBREAKER ⚔️ 🥀

[dark lotr au / abo dynamics / elf maiden rey]

AFTER HER KILLING MOON’S COMPLETION THIS WILL BECOME MY MAIN FANFIC PROJECT.

Introductory Page + Art 

Chapter I: Blood Moon 

Chapter II: Grimchild 

Chapter III: Loyalty to His King 

Chapter IV: A Prick of Essence [POSTED] ❗❗❗

Chapter V: Sharp Tongue [POSTED] ❗❗❗

Chapter VI: A Stranger’s Confession [POSTED] ❗❗❗  

Chapter  VII: [...] [IN PROGRESS]

Chapter  VIII: [...]  

Chapter IX: [...]

Chapter X: [...]

Chapter XI: [...]

Chapter XII: [...]

Chapter XIII: [...]

Chapter XIV: [...] 

Chapter XV: [...] 

Chapter XVI: [...]   

Chapter XVII: [...]

Chapter XVIII: [...]

Chapter XIX: [...]

Chapter XX: [...] 

THE GIRL WITH THE STAR TATTOO 💫🚕

[modern au / hospital surgeon ben / drug addict rey]

NOT YET POSTED! CURRENTLY BEING DRAFTED!!! THIS ONE’S FOR @thisgarbagepicker. 😘😘

Chapter I: One Night Stand [IN PROGRESS]

Chapter II: Stars and Blunt Force Trauma

Chapter III: Stale Coffee

Chapter IV: Star Girl’s Rap Sheet

Chapter V: Kiss the Bruises

Chapter VI: Dad of the Year

Chapter  VII: My Star-Eyed Girl

Chapter  VIII: FOA (Fucked on Arrival)

Chapter IX: Family Values

Chapter X: Rise From the Ashes

[200046]

Creative Development Term 4 Week 6

On German Expressionism, I suppose.

Well, lo and behold, I was pretty busy this week. Fortunately, one of my subjects in uni called for me to watch some films.

There’s a movement of films known as German Expressionism that originated in the early 1920’s. It’s German, just so you know. The films are known for their dark tones, creepy atmospheres and general peculiarity. They’re based in large part on the works of German Expressionist painters. This can be seen in their set designs and costume designs.

The films I watched were Nosferatu, The Crow and The Cabinet of Dr Cabineri (which I actually saw earlier). Disregarding that The Crow is a 90’s film, these films all do a brilliant job of creating a dark atmosphere. There are many tall structures and evils beyond human comprehension in each of them. The films feel vivid, but awry. They don’t think with the same logic as our world.

What I enjoy about the genre (from the films I’ve watched) is the Gothic horror. My favourite game is From Software’s Bloodborne. You may have heard of it. The game is inspired by the works of Gothic horror authors and one HP Lovecraft. A huge theme of the game is dreams. Following Lovecraft’s ideas, Bloodborne’s setting is unnatural and unsettling. It brims with atmosphere. Tall structures tower over you. And you wonder about the history of the ancient civilization that must have built the place.

German expressionism inspired a lot of these themes in modern cinema. The films are creepy, strange and difficult to grasp. Death is a major theme in them, and danger always lurks within. Adding to the eeriness is the fact that the films are silent. If not for the constant stream of music, you would be left utterly alone in the grim worlds these films explore. This loneliness is key to modern horror.

As for how I’ll use this, I already have plans for a story in mind that utilizes aspects of Gothic horror. Like the dark imagery and monsters. For whatever reason, I’m rather fascinated by the genre. I love the colossal landscapes and architecture. I like how hopeless the settings feel. After all, the faintest light shines brilliantly in the most forsaken darkness.

I feel inspired by the brooding atmosphere and the dark settings of these works. Such things have influenced my art quite a bit. One thing that old German Expressionist films don’t account for is sound design. Sound in these settings is utterly terrifying. Weeping maidens, screeching monsters, crying babes. In Bloodborne, you feel enveloped in the atmosphere because of the visuals as well as the sound in the game.

Thus, I would also like to try to create ambience for my own future works. How I’d implement it, I’d have to figure out.

German Expressionism is a movement of the otherworldly. It explores the territories that a portion of humanity hopes don’t exist. And creates an endless curiosity in the unknown.

[alextherake]

THE ALBUMS

https://alextherake.tumblr.com/gettingmetal

So these are the works I’ll be exploring, in whatever order feels right. They were chosen according to a half-followed algorithm on rateyourmusic.com; hopefully the selection is broad and high-quality enough to do the job of showing me what’s good. I’ll hotlink my comments in the page above.

I give myself permission to miss the point of many of these works of art, and I will forgive myself my ignorance as I’m enlightened to their value, amen.

Acid Bath - When the Kite String Pops Acrimony - Tumuli Shroomaroom Agalloch - The Mantle Alcest - Souvenirs d'un autre monde Alice in Chains - Dirt Angel Witch - Angel Witch Arcturus - The Sham Mirrors ASP - Requiembryo Assück - Misery Index Atheist - Unquestionable Presence Atomsmasher - Atomsmasher Autopsy - Mental Funeral Bathory - Blood Fire Death Between the Buried and Me - Colors Biohazard - Urban Discipline Black Sabbath - Paranoid Blasphemy - Fallen Angel of Doom… Blind Guardian - Nightfall in Middle-Earth Blood Stain Child - Epsilon Boris - Boris at Last -Feedbacker- Botch - We Are the Romans Burzum - Filosofem Candlemass - Epicus Doomicus Metallicus Candye♡Syrup - iDOL Can Dye Sick Rock!! Carcass - Heartwork Cathedral - The Ethereal Mirror Converge - Jane Doe Coroner - Mental Vortex Cryptopsy - None So Vile Cult of Luna - Somewhere Along the Highway Cynic - Focus Darkest Hour - Deliver Us Dead Infection - A Chapter of Accidents Deafhaven - Sunbather Death - Symbolic Death Breath - Stinking Up the Night Deformity - Murder Within Sin Deftones - White Pony Delusional Parasitosis / Ecchymosis / Dissevered / Bleeding - Scaphism 4-way Split Demilich - Nespith Diabolical Masquerade - Nightwork Diamond Head - Lightning to the Nations Discordance Axis - The Inalienable Dreamless dISEMBOWELMENT - Transcendence into the Peripheral Dissection - Storm of the Light's Bane DOLL$BOXX - Dolls Apartment Down - NOLA Drudkh - Кров у наших криницях (Blood in Our Wells) Dying Fetus - Destroy the Opposition Edge of Sanity - Crimson Electric Wizard - Dopethrone Emperor - Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk Ensiferum - Ensiferum Entombed - Wolverine Blues Esoteric - Metamorphogenesis Every Time I Die - Low Teens Exhumed - Gore Metal FACT - Fact Faith No More - Angel Dust Fredrik Thordendal's Special Defects - Sol Niger Within Gamma Ray - Land of the Free Genghis Tron - Dead Mountain Mouth Godflesh - Streetcleaner Gojira - From Mars to Sirius Gorguts - Obscura Gris - Il était une forêt... Helloween - Walls of Jericho Helstar - Nosferatu Heol Telwen - An deiz ruz HORSE the band - The Mechanical Hand Iamerror - Demo '09 In Extremo - Sünder ohne Zügel Iron Maiden - Powerslave Isis - Panopticon Jamie Christopherson - Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance Vocal Tracks Jason Becker - Perpetual Burn Jesu - Jesu Judas Priest - Painkiller Katatonia - Brave Murder Day Kayo Dot - Choirs of the Eye Kazik na Żywo - Porozumienie ponad podziałami Killswitch Engage - Alive or Just Breathing Korn - Korn Kvelertak - Kvelertak Kyuss - Kyuss Last Days of Humanity - Putrefaction in Progress Machine Head - The Blackening Mastodon - Leviathan maudlin of the Well - Bath Megadeth - Rust in Peace Melvins - Houdini Meshuggah - Nothing Metallica - Master of Puppets Midnight - Satanic Royalty Ministry - Psalm 69 Minsk - The Ritual Fires of Abandonment Moonsorrow - Kivenkantaja Motorhead - Ace of Spades Nails - Unsilent Death NECRONOMIDOL - VOIDHYMN Negură Bunget - OM Neurosis - Times of Grace Nokturnal Mortum - Голос сталі Nothingface - Violence Obsequiae - Suspended in the Brume of Eos Ocean Machine - Biomech Opeth - Blackwater Park Pagan Altar - Pagan Altar Pantera - Cowboys from Hell Pig Destroyer - Prowler in the Yard Primordial - To the Nameless Dead Primus - Sailing the Seas of Cheese Protest the Hero - Kezia Rage Against the Machine - Rage Against the Machine Rainbow - Rising Rammstein - Mutter Riot - ThunderSteel Ron Thal - Hermit Rosetta - Galilean Sattelites S.O.D. - Speak English or Die Sacramentum - Far Away from the Sun Satan - Court in the Act Septicflesh - Communion Sepultura - Roots Shining -  V Halmstad Skepticism - Stormcrowfleet Slania - Eluveitie Slayer - Reign in Blood Sleep - Dopesmoker Slice the Cake - Odyssey to the West Soundgarden - Badmotorfinger Strapping Young Lad - City Suffocation - Pierced from Within Suicidal Tendencies - Lights Camera Revolution Summoning - Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame Sunn O))) - Monoliths & Dimensions Sybreed - Slave Design Symphony X - The Divine Wings of Tragedy Teitanblood - Death Terrorizer - World Downfall The Dillinger Escape Plan - One of Us Is the Killer The Gathering - Mandylion The Ocean - Precambrian Therion - Secret of the Runes Tiamat - Wildhoney Tony MacAlpine - Maximum Security Tool - Lateralus Trouble - Psalm 9 Type O Negative - October Rust Ulver - Bergtatt: Et eeventyr i 5 capitler Vektor - Terminal Redux Venom - Black Metal Voivod - Dimension Hatröss Weakling - Dead as Dreams White Zombie - Astro-Creep: 2000 - Songs of Love, Destruction and Other Synthetic Delusions of the Electric Head Windir - Arntor

[comics-manga-videos]

Para que no digan que no los amo... 😁😁 Batman (Ultimate Collection) https://goo.gl/Q9JnS2 👆 El personaje apareció por primera vez en Detective Comics # 27 (portada de mayo de 1939). Batman demostró ser tan popular que un auto-titulado continua serie de cómics comenzó a publicarse en la primavera de 1940. Se anunció por primera vez a principios de abril de 1940, un mes después de la primera aparición de su nuevo compañero, Robin, el Boy Wonder. Aunque el cómic Batman fue lanzado inicialmente como una publicación trimestral, más tarde se convirtió en una serie bimestral a finales de 1950, después de lo cual se convirtió en una publicación mensual y se ha mantenido así desde entonces. La serie original terminó en 2011 y fue relanzada con un nuevo primer número. Batman (Ultimate Collection) consiste en: Batman is an ongoing comic book series featuring the DC Comics hero of the same name. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #27 (cover dated May 1939). Batman proved to be so popular that a self-titled ongoing comic book series began publication in the spring of 1940. It was first advertised in early April 1940, one month after the first appearance of his new sidekick, Robin, the Boy Wonder. Though the Batman comic book was initially launched as a quarterly publication, it later became a bimonthly series through the late 1950s, after which it became a monthly publication and has remained so since. The original series ended in 2011 and was relaunched with a new first issue. Batman (Ultimate Collection) consist of : Arkham Asylum Arkham City Bane of the Demon (001-004) (1998) Batman & Lobo Batman & Tarzan – Claws of the Cat-Woman (001-004) (1999) Batman & the Monster Men (001-006) (2006) Batman 80-Page Giant (001-003+) (1998-2000+2010) Batman Family (v1+v2) (1975-2003) Batman Odyssey (v1+v2) (2010-2012) Batman Sword of Azrael (001-004) (1992-1993) Batman, Hellboy & Starman (001-002) (1999) Batman-Batgirl Batman-Catwoman Batman-Deathblow – After the Fire (01 – 03) (2002) Batman-Huntress Battle For The Cowl Black & White (v1-v2+)(1996+2013-2014) Bruce Wayne – The Road Home (One-Shots)(2010) Cacophony (001-003)(2009) City of Light (001-008) Damian – Son of Batman (001-004+Variants)(2013-2014) Dark Detective (001-006) (2005) Death & the Maidens (001-009) (2003-2004) Death Mask (001-004) (2008) Gates of Gotham (001-005) (2011) Gordon of Gotham (001-004) (1998) Gotham After Midnight (001-012) (2008-2009) Gotham Girls (001-005) (2002) Gotham Nights (001-004) (1992) Gotham Underground (001-009) (of 09) (2007-2008) Grendel (v1+v2) (1993-1996) Harley & Ivy (001-003+) (2004) Knight and Squire (001-006) (2010-2011) Knightfall (001-003) (2000) No Man’s Land (000-005+) Orphans (001-002) (2011) Orpheus Rising (001-005) (2001-2002) Penguin – Pain & Prejudice (001-005) (2011) Shadow of the Batman (001-005) (1985-1986) Tenses (001-002) (2003) The Ankh (001-002) (2002) The Long Halloween The Return of Bruce Wayne (001-006+) (2010) The Saga of Ras Al Ghul (001-004) (1988) The Ultimate Evil (001-002) (1995) The Widening Gyre (001-006+Variants) (2009-2010) Turning Points (001-005) (2001) Two-Face Strikes Twice (Book 01.01-02.02) (1993) Unseen (001-005) (2009-2010) Year One Batman – Book of the Dead (001-002)(Elseworlds) Batman – Dark Knight of the Round Table (001-002)(Elseworlds) Batman – Haunted Gotham (001-004)(Elseworlds) Batman – Hollywood Knight (001-003)(Elseworlds) Batman – League of Batmen (001-002)(Elseworlds) Batman – Manbat (001-003)(Elseworlds) Batman – Nevermore (001-005)(Elseworlds) Batman – The Doom that Came to Gotham (001-003)(Elseworlds) Batman-Dracula (Elseworlds) Thrillkiller (001-003) (1997) (c2c)(Elseworlds) Batman & Demon – A Tragedy (Elseworlds) Batman & Houdini – The Devil’s Workshop Batman & Lobo (Elseworlds) Batman – Batman of Arkham (Elseworlds) Batman – Brotherhood of The Bat (Elseworlds) Batman – Castle of the Bat (Elseworlds) Batman – Dark Allegiances (Elseworlds) Batman – Dark Joker The Wild (Elseworlds) Batman – Dark Joker The Wild [Ashcan] (Elseworlds) Batman – Dark Knight Dynasty (Elseworlds) Batman – Detective #27 (Elseworlds) Batman – Gotham by Gaslight (1989) Batman – Gotham by Gaslight (1989, 2013 Edition) Batman – Gotham Noir (Elseworlds) Batman – Holy Terror (Elseworlds) Batman – I, Joker (1998) Batman – In Darkest Knight (1994-12) 01 Batman – Knight Gallery (Elseworlds) Batman – Master of the Future (1991) (digital) (1920) Batman – Nine Lives (Elseworlds) Batman – Nosferatu (Elseworlds) Batman – Realworlds Batman – Scar of the Bat (Elseworlds) Batman – The Blue The Grey & The Bat (Elseworlds) Batman – The Golden Street of Gotham (Elseworlds) Batman – The Last Angel (Elseworlds) Batman – The Order of Beasts (2004) Batman – Thrillkiller (Elseworlds) [TPB] Batman – Two Faces (Elseworlds) Batman and Captain America (1996) Batman Chronicles #14 (Elseworlds) Batman vs Lobo (2000) (JNX-HaCsA) The Batman of Arkham 001 (2000)1966-xx Batman featuring The Catwoman’s Catnapping Caper (Kellogg’s Pop-Tarts) 3-D Batman (1953) (1966 Reprint) Batcave Companion (2009) Batman – 12-Cent Adventure (2004) Batman – A Death in the Family TPB (1988) (c2c) Batman – A Word to the Wise (1992) Batman – Bane (1997) Batman – Birth of the Demon (1992) Batman – Bride of the Demon (1990) Batman – Bruce Wayne – Fugitive (2014) Batman – Bruce Wayne – Murderer (2014) Batman – Bullock’s Law 001 (1999) Batman – Child of Dreams HC (2003) Batman – Day of Judgment (1999) Batman – Death By Design (2012) (1920) Batman – Digital Justice (Pepe Moreno autograph) (1990) Batman – Earth One (2012) Batman – Earth One v2 (2015) Batman – Ego TPB (2000) Batman – False Faces TPB (2008) Batman – Fortunate Son TPB Batman – Harley Quinn 001 (1999) Batman – Harvest Breed (2000) Batman – Haunted Knight (1996) Batman – Hidden Treasures 01 (2010) Batman – Hong Kong (2003) Batman – Hong Kong (2003) Batman – Joker’s Apprentice 001 (1999) Batman – Joker’s Daughter 001 (2014) Batman – Legends of the Dark Knight Halloween Special, 1993-10-00 (#01) Batman – Mad Love and Other Stories (2009) Batman – Madness – A Legends of the Dark Knight Halloween Special, 1994-10-00 (#01) Batman – Mitefall (1995) Batman – Night Cries Batman – Night of the Owls Booklet 001 (2012) Batman – No Man’s Land 00 – Ground Zero (1999) Batman – No Man’s Land Secret Files (1999-12) 01 Batman – Our Worlds at War 01 Batman – Phantom Stranger (1997) Batman – Scarface – A Psychodrama (2001) Batman – Scottish Connection (1998) (Titans Books) Batman – Second Chances, 2015-07-15 (#TPB) Batman – Shadow of Sin Tzu (webcomic) Batman – Son of the Demon (1987) Batman – Special 001 (1984) Batman – Strange Apparitions TPB Batman – The 10¢ Adventure 01 (2002) Batman – The Animated Series Guide v1 (2003) Batman – The Black Mirror (2011) Batman – The Chalice (complete) Batman – The Deal (2013) Batman – The Man Who Laughs (2008) Batman – The Resurrection of Ra’s Al Ghul (2008) Batman – The Return 01 (2011) Batman – The Road to Arkham (2009) Batman – The TV Stories (2013) Batman – Time Thaw (2003) Batman – Vengeance of Bane I (1993) Batman – Vengeance of Bane II (1995) Batman – War on Crime TPB (1999) Batman & Danger Girl 001 (2005) Batman & Deadman – Death And Glory (1996) Batman & Green Arrow – The Poison Tomorrow (1992) Batman & Houdini – The Devil’s Workshop (1993) Batman & Spawn – War Devil (1994) Batman & The Spirit 01 (2007) Batman – Year Two TPB (1990) Batman 3D GN (1990) (B&W) Batman 3D GN (1990) Batman Activity Book (c2c) (2010) Batman Activity Book with Stickers (c2c) (2010) Batman and Son (2014) Batman Blind Justice TPB (1992) Batman Chronicles The Gauntlet (1997) Batman Dark Joker – The Wild (1993) Batman Dead To Rights TPB (2010) Batman Death in the Family TPB (1989) Batman Essentials – Batman – Hush 001 (2014) Batman False Faces TPB (2008) Batman Gates of Gotham (2011) Batman Graffiti (Ronse, Belgium) Batman in Barcelona – Dragon’s Knight 01 (2009) Batman Jumbo Coloring and Activity Book (c2c) (2010) Batman Legacy TPB (1996) Batman Monthly Presents Joker Special (1989) Batman Noel (2011) Batman Noel OGN preview (2011) Batman R.I.P. – The Deluxe Edition (2009) Batman Record Comic (1966) Batman Returns Movie Storybook (1992) Batman Special, 1984-04-00 (#01) Batman The Complete Hush (2005) Batman The Killing Joke (1988) Batman The Killing Joke (The Deluxe Edition – HC) (2008) Batman The Story of the Dark Knight Batman Through the Looking Glass (2012) Batman Trading Cards (1960s) Batman Trading Cards (Topps 1966 Blue Bats Puzzle Backs) Batman Trading Cards – Blue Bats (1966) (1990s Reprint) Batman Versus Predator – The Collected Edition TPB (1993) Batman War Drums ctc TPB (2004) Batman Year Zero Director’s Cut 001 (2013) Batman-Doc Savage Special 01 (2010) Batman-Ego (2000) Batman-Scooby-Doo Halloween Fest 001 (2012) Batman-Superman-Wonder Woman – Trinity (2004-06) HC Death of the Family (2012) Detective Comics Annual 01-Green Arrow v1 Annual 01-The Question Annual 01 (1988) Fruit of the Loom Presents Batman – Too Many Jokers Gotham (Fancomic) (2008) Millennium Edition – The Dark Knight Returns 001 (2000) Six Flags Park Map & Guide 2000 (Featuring Batman & Bugs Bunny) The Batman – Judge Dredd Collection (2014) The Batman Vault (2009) Totino’s Presents – Batman (2008) http://ift.tt/2ySkyAo

[strangegatewaysbeckon]

INTERVIEW Johannes Andersson of Tribulation

Translated to English TRIBULATION as one of the very best bands of the year 2015 would equal a sacrilege. With their third album "The Children Of The Night", the Swedes have played to the top of the royal gloomy metal band, and have also demonstrated live a combination of over-arching gameplay, active stage performance, and evoking a creepy, impressive atmosphere Just a rumor is. Before their performance in the cellars of the Viennese Viper Room, we asked frontman and singer Johannes Andersson in the appropriate dark backstage chambers to chat loudly and quite humorously about LADY GAGA, bloody horror movies, the underground and misunderstandings in the gothic segment. Johannes, 2015 was a very drastic year for Tribulation. With "The Children Of The Night", you almost made the breakthrough - equally with the fans, as well as with the critics. How has the past year changed your life? First of all, the change of label to Century Media was a big thing. Before, however, were strongly arrested in the underground and the change was surely the complicity that the album was so successful - so honestly we can be already. We have never regretted this step, of course. It was certainly also important that you have further developed your sound in comparison to your predecessor. Our debut album feels almost historically old. [Laughs] We wrote "The Horror" as early as 2007, which made the release of 2009 no longer fresh. Since then, we have developed a lot, but the biggest leap was of course between "The Horror" and "The Formulas Of Death" 2013. "The Children Of The Night" I see rather as a congruent development. 

Especially in Sweden the courage to be different is preached for years. In addition to you, bands like the unfortunately faded Morbus Chron and In Solitude show this. Is this constant change and development your top priority? Not really, at least we are not looking for this way actively - it just happens. The older we get, the more mature the music becomes. There are more rock segments and you are broader. I always compare this with my own vinyl collection, because I am growing with increasing age also different things collect. As a teenager, of course, you are much more narrow-minded, since you only want to be fast and brutal and perhaps fearful. But you will not care, because you will find so many good bands, who are no longer underground. The Beatles are terrific, I would not have admitted that ten years ago. [Laughs] Tolerance goes to different styles of music? I am now very much connected with the taste of my father, who listened to many 70s psychedelic bands, but also Black Sabbath or Creedence Clearwater Revival. Somewhere between 15 and 17, I was totally arrested in this totally elite Death / Black Metal school, but that's all too little for me. Why should I represent only one style? The world is big enough. Especially the mean metal fan is usually however very strongly in a certain area arrested. Many are, unfortunately, very narrow-minded, of course, I also notice. I would appreciate it if that changed. Somehow, however, I feel that people are getting more and more open and do not get so stiff. Bands like us or the ones you've mentioned before are good examples of this because they cross all style boundaries. All these bands are getting bigger and bigger, and the underground fans will probably be able to listen to a Beatles or ABBA record. This is becoming more and more accepted. A band like Ghost is already directly linked to ABBA. Could you imagine this also for Tribulation? We do not know, Where our music drives us and do not have a strict plan. We take everything as it comes, since you can not control that anyway. Of course, we have certain sources of inspiration, but we can not fix it. There is a Tribulation feeling that we can not escape anyway. Whether we like it or not. In spite of our many developments, there are still many fans who can hear this certain Tribulation sound on every disc and that is a huge compliment. Although you do not stand still it is in some ways also understandable that fans want to have their bands as equal as possible. A "Reign In Blood" fan of Slayer will hardly describe one of the newer albums as particularly great. How are you doing it yourself? Do you really welcome changes in your favorite bands? This is, of course, not an easy question. [Laughs] If one of your favorite bands is actually crap, you're obviously disappointed. What did Morbid Angel think of their last album? On the other hand, it often takes a few years until you get to know how great a disc is actually, whereby I have to say that my first impression unfortunately, but mostly confirmed. [Laughs] A few good songs can be found on every album, so I would not throw any in a corner. As long as a band brings at least one, two good songs to an album, it is still okay. But good - if Iron Maiden would do something with disco or hip hop, I would certainly question the meaning of mankind. [Laughs] The most beautiful summary for Tribulation you have delivered in an interview with the statement "we look for the romantic beauty in death and darkness" itself. Where did your dark souls come from? Why are you children of the night? That is hard to say. We have always played very dark, heavy riffs. Perhaps we even make a positive riff, but from the present point of view, we are very far from it. The fact that we romanticize the darkness and find it beautiful is due to our environment and the things we actively deal with every day. My whole apartment is equipped with gargoyles and dark walls. [Laughs] I like the whole aesthetic of the dark. Especially intensively I experience also really old Horror film, Which make you shake to the bone. You can certainly get that feeling in all other genres, but I've chosen myself for the dark side of the world. For gloomy albums and gothic clothes, that feels good for us and for me a good lead or riff is definitely dark and mysterious. Horror films are among your greatest sources of inspiration. Do you prefer the psychologically frightening, or visually dull-brutal films? This is, of course, taste, but we all in the band are relatively similar to us. If you're young, you want to see the most brutal films, of course. [Laughs] I started with the zombie and cannibal films from the 70s and 80s. So I have quite stopped, but the quality I see in these movies still, When I unpack them between. But this also depends on the aging process. The more professionally something is done, the more it touches me - for example the old "Nosferatu", but also the remake from 1979. Films like "The Omen" or "The Exorcist" simply lead you to a much deeper level of darkness A gore splatter movie. I find it interesting that nearly all artists call the legendary old Horror film as a source of inspiration, almost never but the many new ones. What is the reason? This question I have asked myself and especially my generation should like the newer films, but I think much is also connected with the great director-masters of the old days. They knew exactly what they were doing and today it is only about the one frightening moment, Where they all crawl behind their sofas. But I want to feel the sick, the exile of horror films, and not let me be frightened by a scene every 15 minutes. Of course, there are also good new films, such as "Insidious" or "The Conjuring" - these films have horror moments and equally a well thought-out story.

Would you say that the music of Tribulation transported a similar atmosphere as the legendary Dissection 20 years ago? I think, of course, the listener must decide. The Vibe is certainly similar, although I would not compare directly, but this will inevitably happen more often. [Laughing] Dissection were great and there are certainly worse comparisons. 

How would you like to be seen by the people? What should they think of when the name Tribulation comes up in their minds? We should be open-minded. Directs us and our fans not because of our appearance or our clothes. The biggest compliment would be, of course, if someone comes to our show for the first time and goes home impressed. If the concert was good, the light also fit and the atmosphere was just right. If you can feed into our music. We are satisfied if we feel that the show was worth it. To the current tour you have the EP "Melancholia" published, where a lot of interesting remixes are to be found, For example the one with the well-known underground artist Author & Punisher. Honestly, I know damn little about this EP. It happened very quickly and Century Media wanted us to take something on the tour. I have not really even heard the CD myself. [Laughs] Not at all. The Author &  Punisher version is certainly the most interesting and a statement that you want to expand your spirit and set limits. The label has written the type and we were, of course, enthusiastic about the idea - we are always open to the new. You have to take risks to get where and the version was really good. With these remixes you get more out of Tribulation songs. The biggest surprise and further proof, That you want to open the mind of your listeners is undoubtedly The Offspring cover of "Pay The Man". No one really expected that. [Laughs] You're right. This song is from their biggest mainstream album of all time, the "Americana". When the album came out, I and all my friends got it as a Christmas present. I still remember that I did not like the album at first because I was more in the direction of the Sex Pistols and The Clash. Of course I was much more connected to the "Smash" of Offspring, but this song, "Pay The Man", is basically Tribulation. We could have written this song from the beginning. Our blond guitarist Jonathan and I had the band Stench, in which I played the drums and whenever we were warming up in the pro-chamber, We played "Pay The Man". The song was totally untypical for this band and especially their album. We always liked the song, and it was almost logical that the song would end up as a cover with us - even if it was originally planned for Stench. The others were also enthusiastically inspired by the idea and so led then one to the other. That would be a nice idea for Tribulation - to make a cover album with totally unknown numbers. Why not? It will always sound Tribulation, so much would be fixed. There are damn good songs that have nothing to do with Metal. Who knows? There are already so many pop songs with a dark soul, which might offer for you. In any case. There is a huge amount of darkness in every kind of music. If Lady Gaga makes a really good song - maybe we get lost?

If you are as much connected with the dark side of life as you do, does this possibly lead to Gothic Metal? We're always flirting with this genre, but I personally do not have a single gothic album in my collection - I could not really define the genre, because I just do not know about it. The look is naturally cool and the few songs I know are very catchy. But we will probably not become a Goth band, even if it is certainly part of the inspiration. We like the clothes, but also there are differences between, for example, these plastic Goth types and those who are totally wrapped in black clothes and look more fashionable. What do I know - there are just so many sub-natives and it's hard to say where we're going to go. If you write a Tribulation song, what is the most important thing? The riff? The hookline? The text? The atmosphere that is transported? In the end the atmosphere is probably decisive. I've never really thought about it yet, but if we make the proverbial, stanza, riff and chorus, it's still not enough, as long as there is no suitable atmosphere. Of course, everything has to work together, but the atmosphere is most important. A song can be two or eleven minutes long - one must have the right feeling that it is finished, it is always different. The metal and rock scene in Sweden is currently flourishing as hardly before. Do you see behind the big draft horses Ghost still bands, which could create the breakthrough? Is it you or Enforcer, for example? Ghost are really well on their way to becoming big. The business is damn hard and it takes a lot of dedication and perseverance to get through here. Most importantly, patience - if you do not have patience for this business, then you will give up relatively quickly and disappointedly. We see this patience humbly and work congruently. We are always striving for new and bigger goals - many do not and fail. We are currently in the middle of this spiral, in which a lot happens. At the moment everything is going too fast, but when we get together after the tour at home, we can reflect in peace. About a year ago we opened a tour as an opener - now we are headliners for the first time. This is of great importance to us. It is also nice to see that the country Sweden and its inhabitants slowly understand what cultural products are created in their homeland. Sweden has always been slow, but we've been nominated for the Grammys at home, which is great. The Swedish media is finally opening up the big eyes for hard rock and metal bands. If I were still on the same level as ten, twelve years ago, I would not do it any more. We also want to make money and become more familiar. To achieve this, one must take advantage of the opportunities and take risks. We are definitely one of the bands that are currently on the ascending branch. At some point, however, the point may come, where you have to make concessions in order to become even bigger. You possibly sell or at least drastically change. We only go through these steps, where we also feel comfortable. There will always be people who do not like what we do and, of course, also those who go along with us. This is always the case with bands that do not repeat, but one must not think too much about it. Some fans go, some come, you can not always influence. I am sorry, dear underground patriots, but we will not remain there forever. Are there certain limits, Which you would not exceed in musical and career terms? I would not necessarily have to sign a contract with the world's biggest label, but becoming more successful is something we live and work for. We try to become as big and known as possible, but of course it takes time. [Laughs] Can you understand those bands who want to stay arrested in the underground? Sure, absolutely. I respect them totally, but I personally want to go on. I still listen to the worst underground black metal, but for me and Tribulation it is about further development. "The Children Of The Night" was a great step in this direction. And what are the next steps? Slowly we begin, On the fourth album. At the moment, however, we are so often and permanently on tour that this does not happen. Where did the year 2015 go? So quickly everything went by and this year it looks not much different. We want to release the next album in 2017, and I hope we'll get it into the studio. This is the big plan, but you never know what is still in between.

[see-arcane]

I like the subtitle of the Thoseferatu project

I was surprised and thankful to see neither Dracula nor Nosferatu had gotten their hands on 'Death and the Maiden' in any spinoff books I found. It's such a good motif to work with too! But it's too late now, I'm calling dibs.

(And I may be getting up to some nefarious trickery with just how that motif plays out >:} )