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Torquemada (comics)
Encyclopedia
Tomás de Torquemada is the fictional main villain
from the comic strip Nemesis the Warlock
in British comic 2000 AD
, who eventually appeared in 7 episodes of spin-off adventures of his own. He is named after and inspired by the real life Tomás de Torquemada
.
police force and quasi-religious order in the far future, he became the dictator of the entire human race from its base on Termight (planet Earth). His Empire wages a speciesist war against all alien species, who Torquemada regards as "impure."
Torquemada's goal is to keep the human race united by their fear and hatred of all aliens. He is described as being totally evil, and having absolutely no redeeming features whatsoever. In fact, late in the series, it was revealed (through the actions of Thoth, son of Nemesis the Warlock) that his previous incarnations have included Colonel
John M. Chivington, Witchfinder General Matthew Hopkins
, Adolf Hitler
, and his namesake, the original Torquemada
.
After Nemesis caused Torquemada to have an accident in a teleporter, Torquemada lost his physical body but continued to survive as a ghostly spirit. He then began possessing the bodies of volunteer Terminators to use for himself. The bodies would rot and die after a short time and have to be replaced. This eventually contributed to his first wife's loss of her sanity.
His catchphrase is "Be pure! Be vigilant! Behave!"
, for whom the conical hood symbolizes repentance and grief for the crucifixion of Christ. The costume design of the Terminators suggests confusion on the part of the comic strip's creators between the costumes of Spanish Catholic religious celebrants and the Spanish Inquisition, who did not themselves wear pointed hoods, but dressed penitent heretics accordingly.
Furthermore, the hoods worn by the Terminators (a racist and xenophobic organisation) evoke the robes and hoods worn by Ku Klux Klansmen. The imagery of the pointed hood worn by the villains in Nemesis the Warlock serves to create visual continuity between the Terminators of Termight, the Spanish Inquisition and the Ku Klux Klan.
to Candida. The wedding ceremony ended disastrously when his hated foe Nemesis appeared with Candida willingly fleeing from the temple with him.
Humiliated on live TV
, his evil regime quickly crumbled but he still had one last trick. Stealing Nemesis' Blitzspear, he fled to the Hypogeum to activate a "Generation Bomb
" (which would destroy all alien life on Earth
). Before he could even activate it, Nemesis managed to contaminate him with alien DNA
with his claw
s before using his remaining powers to make sure Torquemada would perish with him. When the bomb exploded, both Nemesis, his Blitzspear and Torquemada were formed together and fell into the timestream for all eternity.
As well as appearing in Nemesis the Warlock he has appeared in his own eponym
ous series:
Villain
A villain is an "evil" character in a story, whether a historical narrative or, especially, a work of fiction. The villain usually is the antagonist, the character who tends to have a negative effect on other characters...
from the comic strip Nemesis the Warlock
Nemesis the Warlock
Nemesis the Warlock is a story created by writer Pat Mills and artist Kevin O'Neill which appeared in the pages of the weekly comics anthology 2000 AD. The title character, a fire-breathing demonic alien, fights against the fanatical Torquemada, Grand Master of the Terran Empire in Earth's distant...
in British comic 2000 AD
2000 AD (comic)
2000 AD is a weekly British science fiction-oriented comic. As a comics anthology it serialises a number of separate stories each issue and was first published by IPC Magazines in 1977, the first issue dated 26 February. IPC then shifted the title to its Fleetway comics subsidiary which was sold...
, who eventually appeared in 7 episodes of spin-off adventures of his own. He is named after and inspired by the real life Tomás de Torquemada
Tomás de Torquemada
Tomás de Torquemada, O.P. was a fifteenth century Spanish Dominican friar, first Inquisitor General of Spain, and confessor to Isabella I of Castile. He was described by the Spanish chronicler Sebastián de Olmedo as "The hammer of heretics, the light of Spain, the saviour of his country, the...
.
Fictional character biography
Originally the leader of The Tube Police, a fascistFascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
police force and quasi-religious order in the far future, he became the dictator of the entire human race from its base on Termight (planet Earth). His Empire wages a speciesist war against all alien species, who Torquemada regards as "impure."
Torquemada's goal is to keep the human race united by their fear and hatred of all aliens. He is described as being totally evil, and having absolutely no redeeming features whatsoever. In fact, late in the series, it was revealed (through the actions of Thoth, son of Nemesis the Warlock) that his previous incarnations have included Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
John M. Chivington, Witchfinder General Matthew Hopkins
Matthew Hopkins
Matthew Hopkins was an English witchhunter whose career flourished during the time of the English Civil War. He claimed to hold the office of Witchfinder General, although that title was never bestowed by Parliament...
, Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
, and his namesake, the original Torquemada
Tomás de Torquemada
Tomás de Torquemada, O.P. was a fifteenth century Spanish Dominican friar, first Inquisitor General of Spain, and confessor to Isabella I of Castile. He was described by the Spanish chronicler Sebastián de Olmedo as "The hammer of heretics, the light of Spain, the saviour of his country, the...
.
After Nemesis caused Torquemada to have an accident in a teleporter, Torquemada lost his physical body but continued to survive as a ghostly spirit. He then began possessing the bodies of volunteer Terminators to use for himself. The bodies would rot and die after a short time and have to be replaced. This eventually contributed to his first wife's loss of her sanity.
His catchphrase is "Be pure! Be vigilant! Behave!"
The Terminators
Torquemada is served by an army of soldiers called Terminators, whose uniforms incorporate a capirote and antifaz (steeple hood) that bears a striking resemblance to the costumes worn by the Nazarenos (members of religious fraternities) who process through Seville during Holy WeekHoly Week in Seville
Holy Week in Seville is one of the most important traditional events of the city. It is celebrated in the week leading up to Easter , and is one of the better known religious events within Spain...
, for whom the conical hood symbolizes repentance and grief for the crucifixion of Christ. The costume design of the Terminators suggests confusion on the part of the comic strip's creators between the costumes of Spanish Catholic religious celebrants and the Spanish Inquisition, who did not themselves wear pointed hoods, but dressed penitent heretics accordingly.
Furthermore, the hoods worn by the Terminators (a racist and xenophobic organisation) evoke the robes and hoods worn by Ku Klux Klansmen. The imagery of the pointed hood worn by the villains in Nemesis the Warlock serves to create visual continuity between the Terminators of Termight, the Spanish Inquisition and the Ku Klux Klan.
Death of a Tyrant
Torquemada's evil reign ended when his first wife Candida mysteriously recovered from her madness. Upon hearing the news, he had his second wife, Sister Sturn murdered and made preparations for his second marriageMarriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
to Candida. The wedding ceremony ended disastrously when his hated foe Nemesis appeared with Candida willingly fleeing from the temple with him.
Humiliated on live TV
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
, his evil regime quickly crumbled but he still had one last trick. Stealing Nemesis' Blitzspear, he fled to the Hypogeum to activate a "Generation Bomb
Bomb
A bomb is any of a range of explosive weapons that only rely on the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy...
" (which would destroy all alien life on Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
). Before he could even activate it, Nemesis managed to contaminate him with alien DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
with his claw
Claw
A claw is a curved, pointed appendage, found at the end of a toe or finger in most mammals, birds, and some reptiles. However, the word "claw" is also often used in reference to an invertebrate. Somewhat similar fine hooked structures are found in arthropods such as beetles and spiders, at the end...
s before using his remaining powers to make sure Torquemada would perish with him. When the bomb exploded, both Nemesis, his Blitzspear and Torquemada were formed together and fell into the timestream for all eternity.
Family
Torquemada's family members have included:- Murcalla de Torquemada (mother, alive)
- Nostradamus de Torquemada (brother, alive but insane)
- He became insane when he was ambushed by the Monads and Torquemada abandoned him to his fate instead of helping him. Torquemada had him committed to a lunatic asylum, and pretended Nostradamus was his senile grandfather.
- Candida de Torquemada (first wife, alive)
- Barbarossa de Torquemada (son, dead)
- Pandora de Torquemada (daughter, dead)
- Sister Sturn (second wife, dead)
- Atilla de Torquemada (son by Sister Sturn, alive)
Publication
- Nemesis the WarlockNemesis the WarlockNemesis the Warlock is a story created by writer Pat Mills and artist Kevin O'Neill which appeared in the pages of the weekly comics anthology 2000 AD. The title character, a fire-breathing demonic alien, fights against the fanatical Torquemada, Grand Master of the Terran Empire in Earth's distant...
(by Pat MillsPat MillsPat Mills, nicknamed 'the godfather of British comics', is a comics writer and editor who, along with John Wagner, revitalised British boys comics in the 1970s, and has remained a leading light in British comics ever since....
):
- List of Nemesis stories
As well as appearing in Nemesis the Warlock he has appeared in his own eponym
Eponym
An eponym is the name of a person or thing, whether real or fictitious, after which a particular place, tribe, era, discovery, or other item is named or thought to be named...
ous series:
- Torquemada (by Pat MillsPat MillsPat Mills, nicknamed 'the godfather of British comics', is a comics writer and editor who, along with John Wagner, revitalised British boys comics in the 1970s, and has remained a leading light in British comics ever since....
):- "The Garden of Alien Delights" (with Bryan TalbotBryan TalbotBryan Talbot is a British comic book artist and writer, born in Wigan, Lancashire, in 1952. He is best known as the creator of The Adventures of Luther Arkwright and its sequel Heart of Empire.-Career:...
, in Dice ManDice Man (comic)Dice Man was a short-lived British comic which ran for five issues in 1986. It was a spin-off from 2000 AD and was edited by Pat Mills, who also wrote almost all of the stories. The stories were designed to be played like gamebooks...
#3, 1986) - "Torquemada the God" (with Kevin O'NeillKevin O'Neill (comics)Kevin O'Neill is an English comic book illustrator best known as the co-creator of Nemesis the Warlock, Marshal Law , and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen .-Early career:...
, in 2000 AD #520-524, 1987) - "Torquemada's Second Honeymoon" (with Kevin O'NeillKevin O'Neill (comics)Kevin O'Neill is an English comic book illustrator best known as the co-creator of Nemesis the Warlock, Marshal Law , and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen .-Early career:...
, in 2000 AD Annual 1988, 1987)
- "The Garden of Alien Delights" (with Bryan Talbot
Awards
- 19841984 in comics-Year overall:* The independent publishing boom continues, as Antarctic Press, Continuity Comics, Deluxe Comics, Matrix Graphic Series, and Renegade Press all enter the arena...
- won Eagle Award for Best Character - 19851985 in comics-Year overall:* More independent publishers enter the marketplace: Aircel Comics, Arrow Comics, Blackthorne Publishing, Dragon Lady Press, NOW Comics, Sirius Comics, Strawberry Jam Comics, and Wonder Comics all publish their first titles...
- won Eagle Award for Favourite Villain (British Section) - 19861986 in comics-Year overall:* Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, a four-issue limited series written and drawn by Frank Miller and published by DC Comics, debuts...
- won Eagle Award for Favourite Villain (British Section) - 19871987 in comics- Year overall :* Independent publishers continue to enter the comics arena, including Amazing, CFW Enterprises, Imperial Comics, Matrix Graphic Series, New Comics Group, and Rebel Studios...
- won Eagle Award for Favourite Villain (British Section)
See also
- The RedeemerThe RedeemerThe Redeemer is a special, 4-issue comic mini-series published by Warhammer Monthly, Games Workshop's monthly comic collection. It was written by veteran British comic writer Pat Mills....
, another Pat Mills creation who (in the Warhammer 40,000Warhammer 40,000Warhammer 40,000 is a tabletop miniature wargame produced by Games Workshop, set in a dystopian science fantasy universe. Warhammer 40,000 was created by Rick Priestley in 1987 as the futuristic companion to Warhammer Fantasy Battle, sharing many game mechanics...
universe) purges mutants and deviants.