Annotated BBWTE 5
The design here parallels the design of the previous page, starting with a Penk medium shot, then a Hammerhead close up, then Penk closer up, then Hammerhead closer up. Almost as if we’re repeating ourselves. And as Hammerhead sees it, that’s exactly what’s going on here… pointless repetition… until he breaks things open with the last panel’s frustrated scream.
Oh, Penk, buddy. Noooo. Ironically, this interaction right here shows the biggest problem with his turn-enemies-to-friends philosophy. Sometimes you’re going to run up against someone with fundamental, unchangeable beliefs who will never, ever share your views or align with your purpose.
“While I cannot touch you…” I mean, we hope he can’t touch Penk. We hoped that mouth-grate was going to restrain his bitey parts too, until it didn’t.
Will never, ever share Penk’s views, or can’t?
It’s more than clear that Hammerhead’s intellect is vastly superior to that of his fellow land sharks, but is it superior enough to deal with pragmatism and moral grays? As far as I can tell, land sharks’ animal instincts are overwhelming in most individuals. Is that a factor on this scene (predator/combat instincts too strong to ignore) or is it pure stubbornnes? (Being smarter means being susceptible to ideological pitfalls, like dogmatism)
TBF to Hammerhead, Penk strikes me as SUUUUPER patronizing/ condescending in this scene. I might have told him to shut up myself, even if I agree with him, just to get him to wipe the smugness off.
I mean, is it a bit condescending, yes. Is Hammerhead acting like a brat that kind of deserves condescension and mockery, also yes.
He is absolutely condescending, and I’m annoyed by him even if I agree with him.
I think it stems from him wanting so badly to believe that there is still a chance to form an understanding. If Hammerhead attacked Frigg because he has trouble grasping the concept of a truce in the face of a common enemy, then there is still hope for Penk to get him on his side.
But in reality Hammerhead understands the idea, he simply finds it to be stupid and futile and Penk has no hope of convincing him otherwise. Penk is just not ready to accept that yet.
Apart from the obvious Hannibal Lecter-mask, this scene is also reminiscent of Mr. Hyde’s interrogation after capture in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. More so, since HAMMERHEAD is of a similar size.
You’re right, that’s a better image!
What bothers me most about Hammerhead is that for all the talk how he’s a predator and others are prey…
He has become intelligent enough to become stupid as a predator as well.
I’m no zoologist or nothing, but I doubt very few predators would focus on a prey, even a wounded one, if there was another predator, which even Hammerhead would recognize as stronger apex than he.
He boasts how much he is a thing of instinct and nature in its purest form, that he is just more clever and stronger beast than his kin. But at the same time he clearly lets his “intelligence” override those instincts, letting him target “prey” even when a clear predator is right next to him.
Someone who’s studied this could make a mention that does such happen in nature with healthy animals?
Good point, that really does not seem like a way any real life beast would act. On the other hand, land sharks seem to have an astounding lack of self-preservation sometimes. Just think back of when we first saw Hammerhead, and some of his kin picked a fight with him, despite being less than half his size.
I don’t know about marine predators (or even non-mammalian terrestrial predators), but big cats become more aggressive in the presence of other predators . . . including domesticated dogs. Enough so that some hiking paths in areas where mountain lions exist warn you not to bring your dog with you.
Actually, regarding that intro clause: since they’re Land Sharks, would aquatic sharks still be the most appropriate analog?
One major issue is that Hammerhead had no idea that the Corruptor Beast immediately became stronger when it devoured souls. He also considered the Peacemakers a major threat already, whereas the Beast just seems to be a big, dumb monster.
Note that he went straight for Frigg, arguably the strongest of the Peacemakers. He didn’t try to pick off the weakest enemy. He went for the one he considered the greatest threat.
And, honestly, if not for the fact that the Corruptor Beast levels up, he’d probably have been right with his threat assessment.