Hellboy2

"Look at the size o' that whammer!"
--Sgt. Whitman

    Sgt. Whitman never claims to be Hellboy's father, never raises him or tries to influence him. Nonetheless, it is apparent that he made an impression on young Hellboy, whether either of them realized it or not. One of the first things we hear Sgt. Whitman say is, "What a load o' crap! Hell, a week ago, I'd never even heard the word par-ab-normal!" Of course, "crap" will become one of Helboy's trademark words. When he is really in trouble or seriously annoyed, you can be sure to hear, "Aw, crap!"

     As well, Sgt. Whitman shows Hellboy's cavalier attitude, gruff demeanor and tendency to use colloquialism or invented phraseology to diffuse a difficult situation or supernatural encounter. For one example, Hellboy refers to Sammael as "Sammy," "Stinky," and "Chunk Face."

     We can also see Whitman as the source of a few lesser Hellboy characteristics, such as his love of cigars (mostly stumps) and perhaps even his choice of footwear - combat boots. Both are unique to the film. It is also from Whitman, ostensibly, that Hellboy derives his reliance on a very big gun, the Samaritan.

               Click Here for a Visual Comparison of Sgt. Whitman and Hellboy.

    As with Hellboy's other father figures, Sgt. Whitman has some definite differences with Professor Broom. He doesn't take the supernatural seriously and relies on force, where Broom is deeply involved with the supernatural and says, "I abhor the use of violence." This is evident in the first scene we see between the two.

     Broom is distracted, looking up at a large crucifix while Whitman and his men are moving in for combat. He opens a box of rosaries and offers one to Sgt. Whitman, who in turn suggests that Broom would do better to rely on a gun. The two men snipe at each other a bit until Whitman finally sees that Broom has known what he has been talking about and begins to listen to what the professor has to say.

     Here, we see the conflict between two basic parts of Hellboy's psychological makeup - his impulsive, somewhat destructive side and his peaceful, thoughtful side. Interestingly enough, this symbolism is also echoed in the contrast between Hellboy's smaller, gentler left hand and his large, stone Right Hand of Doom.

Later, Whitman saves Broom's life by shooting at Kroenen, distracting him from killing Broom long enough to allow the professor to plant a grenade inside the Ragnarok device. So, in this scene, Whitman and Broom must, at various times, rely on each other's way of doing things. Both, it would seem, have merit and have their place. The challenge for Hellboy will be ordering the two temperaments.

Tom Manning

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