Warriors of Legend

Many centuries of myth have provided fantastic starting points for characters in American comics. Some of them are heroes, some of them are villains, and some of them can’t be lumped easily in either category. Here’s a look at some you may not be familiar with (and one you most likely are).Antaeus: In Greek mythology, Antaeus was the giant son of Poseidon and Gaia. The best-known comics version is Mark Antaeus, the son of an experimental scientist. Antaeus was injected with growth hormones by his father, and later added cybernetic enhancements to his body.Circe: This goddess imprisoned Odysseus and turned his men into pigs. In DC Comics, she is a villain of Wonder Woman who also turns people into animals and can raise the dead. In Marvel Comics, there is a character called Sersi who is a member of the Eternalsgod-like creatures who evolved from humans. (more…)

DreamWorks Animation’s last traditional animated film was Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas. Part of the reason was the film’s “poor” financial receptiona little over 80 million for a film with a budget of 60 million. Regardless of your thoughts on Hollywood logic, the film is actually a hidden treasure, with expert performances from Brad Pitt as Sinbad, Michelle Pfeiffer as Eris, goddess of chaos, Joseph Fiennes as Proteus, and Catherine Zeta-Jones as the love interest who shifts allegiances from the beginning to the end of the film.Sinbad was originally an Arabic story, but the film takes place in Greece. For a more accurate presentation of the material, look for the original tale in Richard Burton’s translation of The Book of One Thousand and One Nights. Still, enjoy the film for what it is, and mourn the fact that we won’t see its like again.

The anime series Sailor Moon captured the spirits of ’90s viewers so expertly that it is today at least recognizable to a wide variety of people. Eventually becoming a part of Cartoon Network’s “Toonami” block, the series had a similar appeal to Dragon Ball Z, but featured teenage females as the protagonists instead of burly muscle-men. These women were referred to as the Sailor Scouts, each one named after a planetary body.Elements of different mythologies (typically Western) reveal themselves throughout the series. For example, the powers of each of the Scouts typically originate from the planet they’re named after. Sailor Moon’s powers are based around light and mystery (like the goddess Diana), while Sailor Mars is a warrior archetype who plays with fire (like the Roman god). Sailor Neptune (from the Roman king of the seas) holds power over all of the oceans. (more…)