3/12 – The Strands of the Void: The Holy Alliance of Total Expression, aka H.A.T.E.!
The above art is by Scott Reed, who also drew the cover to Void #1. Scott helped me bring many of my characters to life in a comic format. This one, from 2006, depicts a scene from my planned 3rd novel, Stands Against the Wind. The heroic native American fighting for his life is US Army CSM Greg Samson. The large SS thug is a genetically enhanced (DGH maybe?) enforcer for H.A.T.E. named Kreed. Look for Kreed to appear in the latter issues of Void!
The genetically enhanced Nazi monster known as Kreed! Art by Evan Driscoll.
Welcome to part 3/12 of the special feature, The Strands of the Void. In this 12-part series, I’ve been spotlighting characters and themes found in Void that stretch either from Dogwoods Blush or, most of all, forward into Dove of War. This week, let’s look at a very unique strand, the bizarre cult called the Holy Alliance of Total Expression, or H.A.T.E.!
H.A.T.E. sprang from my love of the old James Bond type tales of the 1960s. As you may recall, Agent 007 uncovered his nemesis, Blofeld, who was the head of an international crime syndicate called S.P.E.C.T.R.E. (SPecial Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion). I LOVED the concept of a group whose name was an acronym for their purpose. Soon after, television debuted the small screen version of 007, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (United Network Command for Law and Enforcement). And in MARVEL Comics, as everyone now knows from the Iron-Man and Captain America movies, Colonel Nick Fury leads an organization called S.H.I.E.L.D. (Supreme Headquarters International Espionage and Law Enforcement Division).
One of my favorite TV shows from the 1960s, "The Man From U.N.C.L.E.", inspired me to create H.A.T.E.
Thus, I designed H.A.T.E. to be a homage to those great tales of the past, and readers of Void know that this organization made its debut in the Bill Cain Universe (BCU) in Void issue #2, Like A Thing Alive! So far as Void is concerned, H.A.T.E. begins and ends with Darwin Koenig, the creepy leader of the London-based branch. Assisted by his thuggish bodyguard, Apollo Thorne, Koenig preaches total freedom by doing away with laws and allowing survival of the fittest. Just who is Koenig and what are his true plans? Suffice it to say that he will be the #1 enemy to Void in this series, and Void’s battles with Apollo Thorne will become legendary. Yes … BATTLES … as in MANY!
Is this the true face of Apollo Thorne? And if so, what's hiding behind the surgical mask of Darwin Koenig? You DON'T want to know!
The face of the true leader of H.A.T.E. More on him and this group in later tales. Art by artist and friend Darren Auck!
But H.A.T.E. is much larger than Koenig’s London operation. And while they do not appear in Dove of War, they and their mysterious as yet unnamed leader will be a MAJOR threat to the world in my planned 3rd novel, Stands Against the Wind! More on that as it unfolds, but for today, just know that when anyone associated with the organization of HATE appears, RUN away as fast as you can. Their origins and objectives are monstrous, both literally and figuratively!
Coming July 25, 2012: Part 4/12 – The Strands of the Void: Maria Taliffero!
6 Comments
Darwin Koenig – an anagram for “I dare knowing”? Hummmmmm Knowing what? LOL
Actually, his name … Darwin … is a hint to the type character he actually is! Evolution, anyone?
I figured that out the first time his name popped up. Just thought that it was interesting what else his name comes out at. LOL
You must be one of those Intel types!!!
Koenig, Thorne and those pesky “Ani-Men” influenced by the writings of H.G. Wells will hopefully cause you a jump or two in the pages ahead!
My best friend loved this show, we watched it every week. I thought it was a very predictable show, but I don’t think your series will be predictabe or silly like U.N.C.L.E. there were some evil people in the programs though….so Darwin hmmm,mm. Very interesting, oops that was Hogans Heros
!!! Well, is the lady in your story smarter than the man too?
Actually, “very interesting!” was LAUGH-IN. HOGAN’S HEROES had Schultz saying “I know NOTHING!”
U.N.C.L.E. was good for its day … TV was much different back then. You may be thinking about GET SMART maybe? Anyway, OF COURSE the woman is smarter than the man in VOID! Gotta keep this real! 