Flex Mentallo

Loki

The illustrations are to my eye among the most charming in all of literature.

Reynard

Crow

Coyote

Tricksters take many forms and are to be found in all cultures, from the dawn of history.

Tricksters can also be teachers.

The trickster breaks the rules, sometimes maliciously but usually with ultimately positive effects. Tricksters can be cunning or foolish or both; they are often funny even when considered sacred or performing important cultural tasks. The trickster survives on his/her wits, outwitting stronger foes, even the Gods.

The trickster-figure served to account for the mixture of good and bad in human life, who disobeys normal rules and conventional behavior.

Of all the archetypes, the trickster is the one I find most fascinating.

In mythology, and in the study of folklore and religion, a trickster is a god, goddess, spirit, man, woman, or anthropomorphic animal who plays tricks or otherwise disobeys normal rules and conventional behavior. Tricksters have been part of our myths and stories from the very beginning.

And movies.

And cartoons.

Tricksters There are countless tricksters in comic books.

I ought to clarify, that isn't my copy of Captain Marvel #19, but what better Christmas image among comic book covers? Next - Tricksters!

I was hoping to follow up today with something a little more substantial regarding the hero's/heroine's journey, but it is proving to be more difficult to get it straight than it seems in my head. And then there is the small matter of transforming a wall of text into a visual rendition. So I'll break it down into manageable posts over the next few days, and for me at least that will be fun. More in my next! "Has it got any sports in it?" "Fencing. Fighting. Torture. Poison. True love. Hate. Revenge. Giants. Hunters. Bad men. Good men. Beautifulest ladies. Snakes. Spiders. Beasts of all natures and descriptions. Pain. Death. Brave men. Coward men. Strongest men. Chases. Escapes. Lies. Truths. Passion. Miracles." The Princess Bride “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all.” The Princes Diaries To one and all, a Merry Christmas, and a truly wonderful New Year!

To summarise: A hero is any male or female who leaves the world of his or her everyday life to undergo a journey to a special world where challenges and fears are overcome in order to secure a reward (special knowledge, healing potion, etc.) which is then shared with other members of the hero’s community. Spiritually and psychologically, the journey is a metaphor for growth. The journey, seen as a process of self-discovery and self-integration and as a way of maintaining balance and harmony in our lives, can be confusing and painful, but, as with any process of growth and change, it brings opportunities to develop confidence, perspective and understanding.

12.) RETURN WITH THE ELIXIR "And now, back again after 18 years: The New Adventures of Galaxy Quest."