FYJohan Liebert

Although he may have only appeared in one episode, Mr. Rosso became an unforgettable character with his line, "Killing people is simple. All you have to do is forget the taste of sugar."

While in the series Mr. Rosso was the kind owner of a restaurant Nina worked at, in his younger days he had occupied a position as an assassin. That all changed when he saw a victim-to-be put five sugars in his coffee and enjoy the simple pleasures of life.

Rosso's favorite movie was Summertime, a 1955 film set in Venice. Interestingly, some of the locations and scenes from the movie actually influenced his character. For example, the cafe at which he puts his gun down for good is the same Caffè Florian seen in Summertime. The parting scene between the two main characters also takes place at a train station, similar to the goodbyes Nina and Rosso exchange in the bottom leftmost image.

Uriel has long been listed the fourth among the seven primary archangels. The Roman Catholic Church accepted Uriel as an archangel for many centuries, but later removed the name because this angel is not named in The Bible. The name and most of what we know of Uriel is found in other ancient apocryphal books, most of them Hebrew in origin.

Nevertheless, Uriel appears to be one of the more important angels in that realm. He sometimes is known by other names with Auriel/Oriel among the most common alternative references. This name is interpreted to mean "Light of God" or "Fire of God" or "Flame of God." Some refer to Uriel as the "Sun of God." Uriel is often identified as a cherub and angel of repentance.

At St. John's-tide Uriel hovers in the heights, weaving his body out of golden light in the golden radiance of the sun. We must picture him with grave, discriminating eyes, for his gaze is directed down toward the crystal realm of the earth and he sees how little compatible human errors are with the abstract but none the less shining beauty of the crystallization process that goes on below the surface of the earth. That is the reason for his gravely judging gaze, as he looks down and compares human errors with the living activity in the crystals of the earth.

Uriel's gesture is a warning gesture, indicating to human beings what they ought to do. It calls upon them, if they understand it aright, to transform their faults into virtues.

Some believe Uriel may be one of the cherubs guarding the Gate of Eden and that he stands at that gate with a fiery sword. The Book of Enoch states that Uriel is the angel who "watches over thunder and terror." In the Apocalypse of Peter, he is known as the Angel of Repentance. At that time, hell was ruled by fearsome angels. The most noted was Uriel, who was feared by all ("as pitiless as any demon"). [...]

  -- "Oh, most unhappy man, try to be happy! You have red hair like your sister."     -- "My red hair, like red flames, shall burn up the world"

The Man Who Was Thursday: A Nightmare by G. K. Chesterton likely served as inspiration for Urasawa while he wrote the Munich arc.

In a fantasy London, police hero Gregory Syme cannot reveal fellow poet Lucian Gregory is an anarchist. Elected undercover into the Central European Council of anarchists, Syme must avoid discovery and save the world from bombings by anarchists named after the days of the week. Chases by elephant and hot air balloon add humor.

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