Talk:Baphomex (fictional character)

So, it the Baphomex a bit like the Phantom? --Sikulu 03:05, 9 January 2007 (PST)

Not at all. For one thing, he's a criminal. Not sure how familiar you are with these french and italian fictional characters but he as elements similar to Fantomas, Arsene Lupin, Diabolik, etc... --Marc Pasquin 18:38, 9 January 2007 (PST)

I'm vaguely familiar with Diabolik. There was a cartoon about him a few years ago. --Sikulu 01:39, 10 January 2007 (PST)

I'm just gonna gush a bit here. WHAT A GREAT IDEA! I love it! The "in-jokes" are great, too. I do wonder if there've been any films, plays, comic books, etc. based on Baphomex. Zahir 09:23, 9 January 2007 (PST)

within the gallosphere, a fair few. Outside, I would assume he would no more famous then Arsene Lupin is *here*. --Marc Pasquin 18:38, 9 January 2007 (PST)

Incidently, what in-jokes (I didn't realised I had done any) ? --Marc Pasquin 18:38, 10 January 2007 (PST)

The source material is unfamiliar to me. Do I detect a Batman vs. the Da Vinci Code craze incorporated in here? In which case Baphomex, Baphomex Revient, Baphomex Toujours, and Baphomex Commence could be playing in an arthouse cinema near you, even as we speak -- AndrewSmith 00:26, 10 January 2007 (PST)

I do not know about you all, but I would love to see some more info on Baphomex. This is definitely one of the most original characters *there*. Also, I am actually looking into getting some Arséne Lupin books, seeing as how I've begun reading some Sherlock Holmes. I love to see what the different cultures look for in their iconic characters Seth 08:03, 12 November 2009 (UTC)

what kind of infos are you looking for ?--Marc Pasquin 20:58, 14 November 2009 (UTC)

About Baphomex

I think some peoples are getting the wrong idea about Baphomex. First off, although the backstory, name and distinctive mask are original (in that they don't directly copy anything in particular), the type of character itself is prety much stereotypical of a certain genre of french and italian crime novels.

The "Criminal Mastermind" novels has a protagonist which is a "Bad Guy". He is not an anti-hero (like some private dectective) or a robin hood-type character but definitly a criminal by any standards. The reason why the reader would take his side however is that his main motivation is rarely greed but rather thrills or some sort of anarchist notion of ridiculing the authorities. Probably the best word to describe his ethic is "amoral" in that he will not go out of his way to hurt the innocents for quicks but if he needs to manipulate one, through violence or threats of violence, he will.

All of them are masters of disguise but will usualy sign their crime with a calling card of some sort (Arsene Lupin leaves a card that read: "Arsene Lupin, Gentlemen-Thief"). Most also have a distinctive way of dressing up when they appear to people and want to be recognised such as the skin tight black suit worn by Diabolik. The fact that they can diguise themselves as anyone is one of the fun of this genre as in addition to appearing as themselves, you try to guest which secondary character is also played by him.

Their personnality can range from the taciturn to the light hearted but tend toward being charismatic in some ways. One intersting thing is that the more somber their demeanour, the more chance there is of them having a true love interest. Apart from this lover, they usualy have a few trusted henchmen that are completely dedicated to him and who can count on him saving them from prison.

One trait common to all is the fact that they enjoy the notoriaty they gain from their crimes. Regarding this, while most novel are concern with a crime being planned, a few deal with the mastermind coming head to head with another mastermind after the same loot. In one novel, Arsene Lupin solves a crime commited by another who had usurped his personna while murdering someone.

There isn't any famous series of this type I can think of in the english language except for "Hunter Rose" is some early Grendel Comics but perhaps a good comparison would be to imagine a novel written with Sherlock Holmes's Moriarty as the protagonist.

--Marc Pasquin 18:34, 10 January 2007 (PST)

I think I get it. Methinks this is related to what in American cinema is called the "Caper film," i.e. focussing on a caper, a heist, a job. The protagonist is attempting to commit a crime, nearly always theft, for a reason other than mere greed. A good example would be Bound (the Gena Gershon and Jennifer Tilly) in which a pair of lovers can only escape the dead-end lives in which they are stuck by stealing from the very people who threaten them. Another would be the Paul Newman classic The Sting in which a bunch of conmen avenge the death of one of their own by "taking" a gangster for a small mint. Our heroes in both these (and other) flicks are indeed criminals stealing someone else's valuables.

Presumably Baphomex's victims (or targets) are not folks with whom we're supposed to feel too much sympathy, but then perhaps that is just an Anglo assumption on my part.

Maybe another thing to consider (in order to see what Baphomex is all about) is to consider how much more interesting the Bad Guys usually are. Batman is cool and everything, but isn't the Joker in many ways more impressive? Who's the better, more charismatic actor--Michael Keaton or Jack Nicholson? How many movies have been made about Dracula versus how many about Van Helsing? For that matter, which first officer on a starship is more interesting--William Ryker or Colonel Tigh?

Some other characters that come to mind: Scorpius on Farscape, Cancer Man on The X-Files, Ethan Rayne on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Couple a compelling, charismatic "Bad Guy" with a "Caper Story" and methinks that kinda/sorta conveys what these stories are all about.

Am I right? Zahir 23:49, 10 January 2007 (PST)

Probably "the Sting comes closest in term of atmosphere at least in the lighter ones like Arsene Lupin. With some of the Gialo novels, you probably would have to go with something like "Reservoir Dogs".

The best thing I could recomand for those interested is to read some. This is a downloadable english version of http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/6133 Arsene Lupin's short stories at project Guttenberg.

--Marc Pasquin 17:54, 15 January 2007 (PST)

Categorisation

I agree with the "popular culture" tag but I'm not sure about the mythology one. He is not a legendary character, only a literary one.--Marc Pasquin 22:38, 11 July 2007 (PDT)

I was assuming "mythology" in the same sense that Dracula, Superman and Sherlock Holmes are in some sense modern mythological figures *here* Zahir 10:10, 12 July 2007 (PDT)

I think you risk getting too much overlap if you use the term in too wide a meaning, better to simple put in the mythology category things like the vompire that are not specific to a given series of books. --Marc Pasquin 21:23, 12 July 2007 (PDT)