Atalix

[A bright red Catholic monster] So, could Hellboy be a Catholic? Bizarrely, yes. The demon is raised by a traditional Catholic (Prof Broom) and he carries a rosary with him, tying it around his wrist before entering battle.

This has a lot to do with Mike Mignola, the Catholic graphic artist who originally created Hellboy.

But it must also have something to do with Guillermo del Toro, the film’s director. Del Toro was raised in Mexico by his grandmother, and it shows. He described Pan’s Labyrinth, his last film which scooped three Oscars, as “a truly profane film, a layman’s riff on Catholic dogma”. But others described it, less paradoxically, as being simply Catholic. –The Catholic Herald 

Anung Un Rama, better known as “Hellboy”, is a demon who is a native of a Hell-like dimension. He was not raised in his native dimension, however, as he was found abandoned in a church as an infant. The young demon was raised as a traditionalist Catholic by Professor Trevor Bruttenholm.

As an adult, Hellboy has remained a devout Catholic. Hellboy works for the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense. He is one of the world’s foremost defenders against demons and other mystical threats. –Religious Affiliation of Comic Book Characters: Hellboy

Here again, there’s a good deal of Catholic imagery throughout, generally superficial, and a perceptible religious subtext. Thus Red’s exercise of free will still trumps both his originally hellish nature and a prophecy that he will cause the destruction of the human race. In that crucial scene of Nuada tempting Red, moreover, a white neon cross glows behind.

That confrontation ended, the city saved from destruction, and the baby returned to its frantic mother, Red – like Christ – finds himself rejected and mocked by the very people he has come to serve. Along with its medieval bestiary and its Gothic atmosphere, this sequel touches on Tolkienesque themes of power and destiny, making del Toro – employing the visual style of his “Pan’s Labyrinth” – a natural fit for the forthcoming adaptation of “The Hobbit.” –Harry Forbes & John Mulderig, CNS Movie Reviews: Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Guillén: When Guillermo and I sat down to talk, we spoke a bit about the Catholic underpinnings prevalent in much of his manifested world. I’m aware that you are also a practicing Christian, are you Catholic?

Jones: I’ve been a lot of denominations over the years but I call myself a generic Christian, yes, and am attending a church now that would remind you of Catholicism. It’s more orthodox. On the first Hellboy, when I was given the script the first day and was told to go home and read it that day and get back to him that night, I’m reading the script called Hellboy and he’s a demon from Hell. I’m thinking, “Okay, I have to respectfully find a way to tell Guillermo I can’t do this movie.” That was my first thought before I cracked open the script. Then I started reading it and realised, “Oh my goodness, I am so not offended by this. In fact, I’m enlivened by it. I’m finding my faith being nurtured and challenged by this story. This is good.”

I loved seeing images in that first movie, where Hellboy had a decision to make. He was being enticed and tempted by the nemesis in that film to regain his princely place in Hell. “Here is the power you can have. Here is what you were meant to be really. And here’s what I can offer you.” That’s when his horns grew back, during this decision, when he was feeling tempted by that offer. Well, that’s when our young agent Myers was watching this, got Hellboy’s attention, and tossed him the rosary that his father Professor “Broom” had given him and that he grew up with as a boy demon. Hellboy caught that rosary in his hand and the image of the cross was burned into his palm. Looking down at his palm is when he realised who he is now and what decisions he had made in the life he’d chosen for himself. That was such beautiful imagery for me. Anyone who comes from the faith that I come from can relate to it and understand. –Hellboy II: The Golden Army - Interview with Doug Jones

“I’m fireproof, you’re not.” –Hellboy

Weapons: Hellboy is known for using various weapons and mystical items in his fight against evil. His most recognisable weapons are the Right Arm of Doom (which seems to be an unnatural addition to his anatomy) and the Samaritan, a powerful hand cannon. In the movies, he also uses special ammunition that is made to be effective against most any supernatural entity. These bullets usually hold silver shavings, holy water, white oak, garlic, and bits of iron, making them dangerous to almost any creature Hellboy might come across.

Hellboy also carries a golden cross that is attached to a chain that hangs from his belt. This cross is a symbol of Hellboy’s Catholic faith and upbringing. –Dark Horse Database: Hellboy [The Sci Fi Catholic - Movie Review - Hellboy II: The Golden Army] “For that which causes us trials  shall lead us to triumph.  We must pass through darkness  to reach the light.” –Hellboy: Blood and Iron

Liz was born normal, but when she was 10, she discovered her power of pyrokinesis! She’s Catholic (cross necklace there) and thought it resulted from her sins. She tried to control it with prayers, but soon destroyed houses and killed her family. –Popgothica: Goths to Remember

i wish somebody looked at me like the way he looked at that onion

use tools

Can be taught to speak (like parrots)

Have huge brains for birds

like seriously their brain-to-body size ratio is equal to that of a chimpanzee

They vocalize anger, sadness, or happiness in response to things

they are scary smart at solving puzzles

some crows stay with their mates until one of them dies

they can remember faces

SIDENOTE HERE BECAUSE HOLY SHIT.  They did an experiment where these guys wore masks and some of them fucked with crows.  Pretty soon the crows recognized the masks = douchebag.  But the nice guys with masks they left alone.  THEN, OH WE’RE NOT DONE, NO SIR crows that WEREN’T EVEN IN THE EXPERIMENT AND NEVER SAW THE MASK BEFORE knew about mask-dudes and attacked them on sight.  THEY PASSED ON THE FUCKING INFORMATION TO THEIR CROW BUDDIES.

They remember places where crows were killed by farmers and change their migration patterns.

Every day, I would watch Buck from my window until one day I opened it and started talking to him. He was small and gangly and he couldn’t caw right. His feathers were all over the place and I felt a kinship. So I made a deal with him. I told him that if he could do it, if he could fly, then I could find the strength to get up. Well… near the end of the season, after talking with him every day, I finally saw him get out of the nest. He went to the edge of his branch, braced himself, and jumped… and just before he hit the ground, he soared back up into the sky. I cheered harder than I ever had before.

That winter, Buck left the area. I was crestfallen. I felt like I’d lost a friend. But I was so damn proud of him. 

Cut to the next spring? I’m walking up the driveway one day when suddenly I hear a sound… a broken caw. I look up, and Buck is sitting in a tree above my head. He stared at me and puffed his feathers, then hopped down in front of me and cawed again. I was so damn thrilled, and I told him how proud I was of him. He ruffled his feathers and then soared off into his old tree. 

That summer? I heard two broken caws. One from Buck… and one from his chick.

i tried to get close and take a better look and one of them dived super low and tried to attack me. so i went back in the house and chopped some sliced raw meat and tossed it at him from a distance.

a few more times later, very soon after, they could tell i was trying to help, and did not attack me. i was “allowed” to walk up close and pick him up, he couldn’t drink water properly so i had to dip my finger in a bowl and stick it in his mouth.

i did this few times a day and it went on for about a week before he disappeared, i thought he recovered and left, but he came back the next day and lands on me, and i see him around the block quite often, and he would come sit on my shoulder for a few minutes and then fly away again. i feel like i’ve adopted a son.

when two Art Gods are complimenting each other