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Mystery Villain
A masked villain, also seen as masked mystery villain, is a stock character in genre fiction. It was developed and popularized in movie serials, beginning with The Hooded Terror in '' The House of Hate'', (1918) the first fully-costumed mystery villain of the movies, and frequently used in the adventure stories of pulp magazines and sound-era movie serials in the early twentieth century, as well as postmodern horror films where the character "hides in order to claim unsuspecting victims". They can also appear in crime fiction to add to the atmosphere of suspense and suspicion. It is used to engage the readers or viewers by keeping them guessing just as the characters are, and suspension by drawing on the fear of the unknown. The "Mask" need not be literal (although it often is), referring more to the subterfuge involved. The masked villain originated in early 20th-century French literature and cinema. Key early examples include Zigomar, created by Léon Sazie in 1909, a maske ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hooded Terror
A hood is a type of headgear or headwear that covers most of the human head, head and neck, and sometimes the face. It may be either a separate item of dress or part of a piece of clothing that may be pulled up to cover the head. Hoods that cover mainly the sides and top of the head, and leave the face mostly or partly open may be worn for protection from the environment (typically cold weather or rain), for fashion, as a form of traditional Clothing, dress or uniform, or in the case of knights, an armoured hood is used for protection against bladed weapons. In some cases, hoods are used to prevent the wearer from seeing where they are going (e.g., in cases where a prisoner is hooded). Hoods with eye holes may be used for religious purposes to prevent the wearer from being seen. In the case of Ku Klux Klan members, Terrorism, terrorists, or criminals such as robbers, a hood with eye holes helps prevent identification. Etymology The word traces back to Old English ''hod'' "hood, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Supporting Character
A supporting character is a character in a narrative that is not the focus of the primary storyline, but is important to the plot/protagonist, and appears or is mentioned in the story enough to be more than just a minor character or a cameo appearance. Supporting characters differ from minor characters because they have complex backstory of their own, desires, and emotions. While this is usually in relation to the main character, rather than entirely independently, developed supporting characters add layers and dimension to the story and the protagonist. These back stories can increase the plot or further develop the main character. Different supporting characters have different roles. Some common types of supporting characters include: love interest, antagonist, best friend, mentor, sidekick, comic relief, and caregiver. Each supporting character has their own role that advances the plot and brings about conflict. Often, supporting characters can cross over into different tro ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Villain
A villain (also known as a " black hat", "bad guy" or "baddy"; The New Oxford Dictionary of English (1998) – p.126 "baddy (also baddie) noun (pl. -ies) ''informal'' a villain or criminal in a book, film, etc.". the feminine form is villainess) is a stock character, whether based on a historical narrative or one of literary fiction. '' Random House Unabridged Dictionary'' defines such a character as "a cruelly malicious person who is involved in or devoted to wickedness or crime; scoundrel; or a character in a play, novel, or the like, who constitutes an important evil agency in the plot". The antonym of a villain is a hero. The villain's structural purpose is to serve as the opposite to the hero character, and their motives or evil actions drive a plot along. In contrast to the hero, who is defined by feats of ingenuity and bravery and the pursuit of justice and the greater good, a villain is often defined by their acts of selfishness, evilness, arrogance, cruelty, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Protagonist
A protagonist () is the main character of a story. The protagonist makes key decisions that affect the plot, primarily influencing the story and propelling it forward, and is often the character who faces the most significant obstacles. If a story contains a subplot, or is a narrative made up of several stories, then each subplot may have its own protagonist. The protagonist is the character whose fate is most closely followed by the reader or audience, and who is opposed by the antagonist. The antagonist provides obstacles and complications and creates conflicts that test the protagonist, revealing the strengths and weaknesses of the protagonist's character, and having the protagonist develop as a result. A particularly noble, virtuous, or accomplished protagonist is commonly called a ''hero,'' though the terms are not synonyms. Etymology The term ''protagonist'' comes , combined of (, 'first') and (, 'actor, competitor'), which stems from (, 'contest') via (, 'I conten ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Henchman
A henchman is a loyal employee, supporter, or aide to some powerful figure engaged in nefarious or criminal enterprises. Henchmen are typically relatively unimportant in the organisation: minions whose value lies primarily in their unquestioning loyalty to their leader. The term ''henchman'' is often used derisively, or even comically, to refer to individuals of low status who lack any moral compass of their own. The term ''henchman'' originally referred to one who attended a horse for his employer, that is, a horse groom. Hence, like ''constable'' and ''marshal'', also originally stable staff, ''henchman'' became the title of a subordinate official in a royal court or noble household. Etymology The first part of the word, which has been in usage since at least the Middle Ages, comes from the Old English ''hengest'', meaning "horse", notably stallion, cognates of which also occur in many Germanic languages, such as Old Frisian, Danish ''hingst'', German, Dutch ''hengst'' an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Antagonist
An antagonist is a character in a story who is presented as the main enemy or rival of the protagonist and is often depicted as a villain.About.com, Literature: Contemporary "Antagonist." Online. 18 October 2007. * Retrieved 25 March 2015. * Retrieved on 27 March 2015. * Retrieved on 27 March 2015. * Retrieved on 27 March 2015. Etymology The English word antagonist comes from the Greek ἀνταγωνιστής – ''antagonistēs'', "opponent, competitor, villain, enemy, rival," which is derived from ''anti-'' ("against") and ''agonizesthai'' ("to contend for a prize").Types Heroes and villains The ...[...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fantômas (1913 Serial)
''Fantômas'' () is a French Silent film, silent Crime film, crime film serial directed by Louis Feuillade, based on the Fantômas, novel of the same name. The five episodes, initially released throughout 1913–14, were restored under the direction of Jacques Champreaux and re-released in 2006. Series The series consists of five episodes, each an hour to an hour and a half in length, which end in cliffhangers. Episodes one and three end with Fantômas making a last-minute escape, and the end of the second entry has Fantômas blowing up Lady Beltham's manor house with Juve and Fandor, the two heroes, still inside. The subsequent episodes begin with a recap of the story that has gone before. Each film is further divided into three or more chapters that do not end in cliffhangers. # ''Fantômas I: À l'ombre de la guillotine'' ("Fantômas: In the Shadow of the Guillotine") (1913) ## "Le Vol du Royal Palace Hotel" ("The Theft at the Royal Palace Hotel") ## "La Disparition de Lord ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Louis Feuillade
Louis Feuillade (; 19 February 1873 – 25 February 1925) was a French filmmaker of the silent film, silent era. Between 1906 and 1924, he directed over 630 films. He is primarily known for the crime serial film, serials ''Fantômas (1913 serial), Fantômas'', ''Les Vampires'' and ''Judex (1916 film), Judex'' made between 1913 and 1916. Early life and career Feuillade was born in Lunel, Hérault, Lunel, Hérault, to Barthélémy Feuillade, a modest wine merchant, and Marie Avesque. From an early age, he showed a deep interest in literature and created numerous drama and vaudeville projects. His excessively academic poems were occasionally published in local newspapers, and he acquired a reputation for his articles devoted to bullfighting. At twelve, he was sent by his parents to a Catholic seminary in Carcassonne, which has been credited for his gothic stylization in his later career. His biographer Francis Lacassin has suggested that "the strange, surrealist flashes of anarch ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pierre Souvestre
Pierre Souvestre (; 1 June 1874 – 26 February 1914) was a French lawyer, journalist, writer and organizer of motor races. He is mostly remembered today for his co-creation with Marcel Allain of the fictional arch-villain and master criminal Fantômas. Early life He was born in Plomelin, a commune in Finistère, Brittany, the son of a prefect of Brittany who resigned from his post to settle in Paris. Souvestre studied law at the Lycée Janson-de-Sailly. Career He became a lawyer, then a journalist, and a businessman. He owned a garage in Liverpool from 1898, then a second in Paris from 1905. A ''delegate'' of the ''Automobile Club de France'' (fr), he organized motor races, contributed to the newspaper ''L'Auto'' (fr), and wrote technical books, including the 1907 book, ''A.C.F. History of the Automobile'', and the ''French-English Automobile Dictionary'' in 1910. In 1909, already a published author, Souvestre co-wrote, with his friend and assistant Allain, their first ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Marcel Allain
Marcel Allain (; 15 September 1885 – 25 August 1969) was a French writer mostly remembered today for his co-creation with Pierre Souvestre of the fictional arch-villain and master criminal Fantômas. Career The son of a bourgeois family, Allain studied law before becoming a journalist. He then became the assistant of Souvestre, who was already a well-known figure in literary circles. In 1909, the two men published their first novel, ''Le Rour''. Investigating Magistrate Germain Fuselier, later to become a recurring character in the Fantômas series, appears in the novel. Then, in February 1911, Allain and Souvestre embarked upon the ''Fantômas'' book series at the request of publisher Arthème Fayard, who wanted to create a new monthly pulp magazine. The success was immediate and lasting. After Souvestre’s death in February 1914, Allain continued the ''Fantômas'' saga alone, then launched several other series, such as ''Tigris The Tigris ( ; see #Etymology, belo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fantômas
Fantômas () is a fictional character created by French writers Marcel Allain (1885–1969) and Pierre Souvestre (1874–1914). One of the most popular characters in the history of French crime fiction, Fantômas was created in 1911 and appeared in a total of 32 volumes written by the two collaborators, then a subsequent 11 volumes written by Allain alone after Souvestre's death. The character was also the basis of various film, television, and comic book adaptations. In the history of crime fiction, he represents a transition from Gothic novel villains of the 19th century to modern-day serial killers and supervillains. It was partly influenced by the Ère des attentats, Era of Attacks (18921894) and most especially by the figure of Ravachol. The books and films were released in rapid succession anticipated current production methods of Cinema of the United States, Hollywood, in two respects. First, the authors distributed the writing among themselves; their "working method was t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
