Ways to improve Brother Voodoo

[Madrox84]

Sorry about that the actual post is from one of my flat mates, who signed in using my log on name by accident, his post follows below.

[Sunlitspire]

Sorry about that Madrox, here is the actual post:

I have been thinking of a number of ways that the character of Brother Voodoo could be improved, as I feel that he lacks some important qualities that could really grab readers. So I have made a few suggestions:

1) Get a few more facts about his spiritual path right:

I feel that when writers are exploring a spiritual character, mixing in some of the basics of the path they follow can really add mystery and excitement to them. I think Brother Voodoo has had some extremely lazy writers on this front (I'm looking at you with your shrunken heads Mr Bendis and whoever had Baron Samedi as a main villian needs a slap). Danballa is also a Lwa who has had an extremely short end of the stick, as in the comics he is actually a aspect of Set (no, no, no and more no). In voodoo the snake Danballa is actually the purest of the Lwa and the closest to the Good God. When he comes, he spreads peace and serenity, obvious this clashes with his evil nature in the comics.

For a start lets have a list of the Lwa that walk with him (these are the Lwa that are close to a person and give them their power): Legba obviously does so, but I would also suggest him having one of the Simbis (the snake magicians) as Brother Voodoo is very much a magician, I would also suggest he has an Ogun (the warriors of voodoo) as he demonstrates a mastery of fire, which is very much in their domain. He also clearly has a Ghede (these are the dead spirits of the voodoo world) in the form of his brother Daniel. Also, who is his Met Tet? (this is the voodoo practisioners secret guardian angel and protector and one of the most important Lwa a voodoo priest can have)

2) Focus on what connects the character to the world:

Just as Brian Vaugh did with Dr Strange I would like to see Brother Voodoo's personal life and background mix with his spiritual life.

Brother Voodoo was actually a psychologist before he became a Hungan. I find that fasinating, the most rational job that anyone could have, mixed with the otherworldness of voodoo. How does this conflict with who he is now? Does he ever doubt his sanity? Does he practise psychology to fight or profile his enemies?

Also as a Voodoo practioner, Brother Voodoo would probably be a catholic as Voodoo is predominately a catholic faith. After all the Voodoo Lwa are seen as saints sent by God. Again how does this effect his world view? How does he mix the two in his own mind and what does his Catholic community think of his magical practises.

Anyway these are just a few of my thoughts on the matter, if anyone else has any I would love to hear them.

[Joe Franklin]

Give him to Jeph Loeb.:biggrin:

[StoneGold]

Bring back Sistah Voodoo and Voodoo Chile.

[Greg Anderson]

Wow, you seem to have quite some knowledge of Haitian voodoo. That's one thing I'd really love to see in a Brother Voodoo book. Heck, I don't even think you'd have to include all of that to make the character work, as long as you have a good solid story and a passing guideline type thing on how his powers and abilities work, but I love all the ideas you've presented.

A favorite writer of mine who I can see really tackling the character is Hine. He's a fan of doing research to write characters and knows some stuff on vodou which he showcased a bit in a Spawn issue he wrote. He's also a big horror fan. I can really see a good Brother Voodoo book being written as a bit of a horror tale. Maybe if he were in a boogey man type setting with him going after people.

There's lots of ways to present Brother Voodoo into a good book and I think with the right presentation there'd be an audience, but it all depends on the creative team and just how much care they'd put into it and how much they care about the character himself and also depends on an audience to give it a chance and not pass it up because it's only Brother Voodoo.

I myself would love to see a Brother Voodoo/Blade one-shot or mini with them on some supernatural road trip or something. :redface:

[Michael P]

A significant redesign of his visual would be a good start.

[Joe Franklin]

A significant redesign of his visual would be a good start.

He should look like this.:biggrin:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a337/HereticPB/Boogeyman2.jpg

[Greg Anderson]

He should look like this.:biggrin:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a337/HereticPB/Boogeyman2.jpg

I love that guy! :biggrin: :biggrin:

[Babylon23]

I agree with everything you've pointed out sunlitspire. A writer with a deeper understanding of Voodoo could really make something out of Jericho Drumm. There's a wealth of untapped potential for any writer willing to look beyond the stereotypical depiction of voodoo practitioners.

[Freakzeek]

Sorry about that Madrox, here is the actual post:

I have been thinking of a number of ways that the character of Brother Voodoo could be improved, as I feel that he lacks some important qualities that could really grab readers. So I have made a few suggestions:

1) Get a few more facts about his spiritual path right:

I feel that when writers are exploring a spiritual character, mixing in some of the basics of the path they follow can really add mystery and excitement to them. I think Brother Voodoo has had some extremely lazy writers on this front (I'm looking at you with your shrunken heads Mr Bendis and whoever had Baron Samedi as a main villian needs a slap). Danballa is also a Lwa who has had an extremely short end of the stick, as in the comics he is actually a aspect of Set (no, no, no and more no). In voodoo the snake Danballa is actually the purest of the Lwa and the closest to the Good God. When he comes, he spreads peace and serenity, obvious this clashes with his evil nature in the comics.

For a start lets have a list of the Lwa that walk with him (these are the Lwa that are close to a person and give them their power): Legba obviously does so, but I would also suggest him having one of the Simbis (the snake magicians) as Brother Voodoo is very much a magician, I would also suggest he has an Ogun (the warriors of voodoo) as he demonstrates a mastery of fire, which is very much in their domain. He also clearly has a Ghede (these are the dead spirits of the voodoo world) in the form of his brother Daniel. Also, who is his Met Tet? (this is the voodoo practisioners secret guardian angel and protector and one of the most important Lwa a voodoo priest can have)

2) Focus on what connects the character to the world:

Just as Brian Vaugh did with Dr Strange I would like to see Brother Voodoo's personal life and background mix with his spiritual life.

Brother Voodoo was actually a psychologist before he became a Hungan. I find that fasinating, the most rational job that anyone could have, mixed with the otherworldness of voodoo. How does this conflict with who he is now? Does he ever doubt his sanity? Does he practise psychology to fight or profile his enemies?

Also as a Voodoo practioner, Brother Voodoo would probably be a catholic as Voodoo is predominately a catholic faith. After all the Voodoo Lwa are seen as saints sent by God. Again how does this effect his world view? How does he mix the two in his own mind and what does his Catholic community think of his magical practises.

Anyway these are just a few of my thoughts on the matter, if anyone else has any I would love to hear them.
Totally Agree about Baron Samedi not being a villian and they should put the series in New orleans, deal with Katrina, Have him solve mysteries, Change his costume( Ideal: Top hat Skull Paint, Dreadlocks,Skull cane) and More love interest and better supernatural villians

[StoneGold]

Heh, I was about to make a joke about having him die and getting someone new to pick up the mantle, but I think that's actually kind of in BV's wheelhouse.

[Greg Anderson]

Totally Agree about Baron Samedi not being a villian and they should put the series in New orleans, deal with Katrina, Have him solve mysteries, Change his costume( Ideal: Top hat Skull Paint, Dreadlocks,Skull cane) and More love interest and better supernatural villians

I've always seem Baron Samedi as a neutral type God. But wasn't the Baron Samedi that fought against Brother Voodoo just a guy using his name?

[Freakzeek]

Or he could do something like Vertigo's Hellblazer or Sandman, being a dark figure

[Freakzeek]

I've always seem Baron Samedi as a neutral type God. But wasn't the Baron Samedi that fought against Brother Voodoo just a guy using his name? I don't Remember, I think They should really translate the Baron's Crude sense of humor instead of using him as some cheap two bit villian

[Greg Anderson]

Or he could do something like Vertigo's Hellblazer or Sandman, being a dark figure

Most definitely. Especially with artwork sort of from the likes of Leo Manco. Very dark, moody tones and colors.

[Shellhead]

I actually like Brother Voodoo just the way he is and only want to see him show up in more stories. His team-up with Jack Russell in Werewolf by Night was really bizarre and interesting.

[Freakzeek]

I actually like Brother Voodoo just the way he is and only want to see him show up in more stories. His team-up with Jack Russell in Werewolf by Night was really bizarre and interesting. You really like the green tights and feathers ? It's sorta cool but I can't take him serious as a psychiatrist or a Vodou practitioner,

(p.s.) I would love if Voodoo had some Loa Veve Tattoos

[Shellhead]

You really like the green tights and feathers ? It's sorta cool but I can't take him serious as a psychiatrist or a Vodou practitioner,

(p.s.) I would love if Voodoo had some Loa Veve Tattoos


Brother Voodoo's costume may be a little garish, but not really, compared to many other superheroes. I actually think that his look is pretty restrained.

Look at Doctor Strange, I mean really look at him... poofy shirts, gaudy jewelry and a big cape with weird curly things sticking up from the collar. And I think that he's wearing ballet pants.

Or how about Thor? His traditional costume is all kinds of wrong, with huge yellow boots and those odd sky blue circles on his chest.

Captain America is kind of over-doing it, wearing that flag costume. Vision looks like a stoplight gone wrong. Even Iron Man's modern armor bothers me, with those thigh-high boots looking like they should go with a metal garter belt.

I was thinking that all Brother Voodoo needs is a boost from one of the top writers in comics, like Alan Moore. Then I remembered that Alan Moore sort of had his own version of Brother Voodoo, a dude named King Peacock who is a practitioner of the Yazidi religion. (Which is not voodoo, but still quite exotic compared to mainstream religions like Christianity or Islam).

King Peacock:

http://www.adherents.com/lit/comics/KingPeacock.html

http://www.angelfire.com/comics/mooreportal/images/peacock01.jpg

[Greg Anderson]

Nice! Seems like an awesome character!

[Wind-Breaker]

He should look like this.:biggrin:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a337/HereticPB/Boogeyman2.jpg

Who need's the Boogeyman? When you got the Bootyman!

http://www.wrestleslamuk.com/images/brutus22.jpg

But I agree an update on Voodoo's visual would be nice

[Greg Anderson]

Who need's the Boogeyman? When you got the Bootyman!

http://www.wrestleslamuk.com/images/brutus22.jpg

But I agree an update on Voodoo's visual would be nice

That's so not cool. :redface:

[Frank]

Start making human sacrifices! He would be so edgy!

j/k

He could be a creole in a suit and hat, working as a detective in New Oleans. If you have a case that could be paranormal-related, get Brother Voodoo. Have Alex Maleev draw this, creating a whole sinister surreal embiance. Similar to what Chris Priest did with Valiant's Shadowman mixed with Tony Harris' Doctor Strange and the Book of Magic.