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| "Anybody got a PowerBar?" - Tom Manning |
| Tom Manning, the FBI agent assigned to the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense, represents a father figure for Hellboy, not because of the things Hellboy draws from him, but because of his position of authority and the strained relationship between the two. Manning is, quite simply, the authoritarian with no authority. Yes, he is in charge of public relations for the B.P.R.D. He has the power to lead field missions, even shut down the B.PR.D., which he threatens to. But Manning does not earn the respect he demands. He loves to be in charge, holds disdain for the Bureau, which he refers to as a "freak show" and has outright animosity toward Hellboy. "This whole thing is a farce," he tells Hellboy, "because in the end, after you've killed, after you've captured every freak out there, there's still one left. You." This does not bring out Hellboy's best side. "Manning," he says, "I wish I could be more gracious, but�" and proceeds to throw a large metal canister at Manning, which shatters a window. "I want that thing locked up!" Manning shouts, "Right now!" Click Here for Images of this Scene. |
| Manning's feelings about Hellboy are made clear in this scene. Not only is he hostile to Hellboy, but his hostility is based in fear. He wants to be in control because he is a coward. What he can't understand or control, he fears. He seeks to cover that fear by exerting his perceived authority, the one thing in which he feels secure, which he does not truly hold. Manning represents the outsider's response to Hellboy, the very things the B.P.R.D. is supposed to protect him from - fear, distrust and animosity. Manning reacts like the man on the street. When Kroenen attacks him, slashing the sleeve of his jacket, he looks up and yells, "Hey! What's wrong with you?" He sounds more like a typical New Yorker who was tripped on the sidewalk than a man whose life is being threatened. What really makes Manning get under Hellboy's skin is that this cowardly, self-aggrandizing buffoon represents everything Hellboy feels about the worst parts of himself - that he is a freak who is to be feared, a selfish, reckless boy who has to be controlled, a monster who needs to be put into a cage. When Hellboy sees distrust, anger and fear in Manning's eyes, this pale, pasty bald guy questioning Hellboy's ability to do his job, it cuts straight to his deepest insecurities and he lashes out in anger. Manning is a reminder for Hellboy of everything about himself he tries so hard to escape, from filing down his horns to "fit in," to courting a very human lady. But Hellboy reconciles with Manning after the FBI agent saves his life. Like Whitman saved Broom so many years ago, Manning distracts Kroenen long enough for Hellboy to get the drop on him and finish him off for good. After the ordeal, the two men stand side by side and Hellboy begins to light a cigar with his trusty Zippo, which for some reason will not light. A cigar aficionado himself, Manning tells Hellboy, "You never light a cigar that way. You use a wooden match." He then lights the cigar with a match saying, "It preserves the flavor. See?" Hellboy nods in agreement. "Thank you," he says, but it's not just about the cigar. "Thank you," Manning replies, and the feud between the two is over. |
| Like the moment when a father and son, long separated by conflict based on fear of each other's power, finally resolve their differences, Hellboy and Manning here gain mutual respect. Hellboy is finally behaving as a man, showing Manning that he is responsible, capable and strong. Manning finally takes charge by serving someone else, not by demanding obedience, and thereby earns the respect he has so long demanded. Here we learn that, underneath it all, each wanted the other's respect, but never expected to be able to earn it. So, instead, they defensively struck out at each other. This teaches Hellboy, who is so easily judged by his appearance, not to be prejudiced. It may seem odd that a monster would need to learn to accept others despite their surface differences, but Hellboy is human too and he has this capacity for casting judgement just like everyone does. Instead of blowing up with violence and anger at Manning, he instead finds a common ground on which the two can stand side by side, both boys now men, both monsters now merely human. |
| All Written Site Content Copyright 2001-2007 Kevin C. Neece |
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