Vampire hunter

For the video game also known as "Vampire Hunter: Darkstalkers' Revenge", seeNight Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge.For the television series, seeBuffy the Vampire Slayer.

Avampire hunterorvampire slayeris a fictional occupation in folklore and fiction which specializes in findingvampires,and sometimes other supernatural creatures. A vampire hunter is usually described as having extensive knowledge of vampires and other monstrous orundeadcreatures, including their powers and weaknesses, and uses this knowledge to effectively combat them.

Vampire hunters range in characterization in fiction fromsageswith more than average knowledge about theoccult,toathleteswith the skill and ability to confront vampires with traditional or holy weapons often includingwoodenstakes andholy water,tosupernaturalbeings themselves who fight vampires withmysticalpowers. Many characterizations draw from thehistoryandfolkloreof theBalkans.

A well-known and influential archetypal vampire hunter is ProfessorAbraham Van Helsing,a character inBram Stoker's 1897 horror novelDracula,a foundational work in the genre.

In folklore

Professional or semi-professional vampire hunters played some part in the vampire beliefs of theBalkans(especially inBulgarian,Serbian,andRomanianfolk beliefs). InBulgarian,the terms used to designate them includedglog(lit. "hawthorn",the species of wood used for the stake),vampirdzhiya,vampirar,dzhadazhiya,svetocher.

They were usually either born onSaturday(then calledSabbatarians,Bulgariansâbotnichav,Greeksabbatianoí) or the offspring of a vampire and a woman (typically his widow), called adhampirinRomanianor avampirovićinSerbian.It was also believed that someone born on a Saturday could see a vampire when it was otherwise invisible(and sometimes other supernatural entities as well); similarly for thedhampir.In the case of the Sabbatarians, it was believed in some places that they needed to be fed meat from a sheep killed by a wolf (Bulgarianvâlkoedene); this would enable them not to fear the things that only they were able to see. InCroatianandSlovenianlegends, the villages had their own vampire hunters that were calledkresniks,whose spirits were able to turn into animals at night to fight off vampires orkudlaks.

Some carried a kit that included a mallet, a stake, and a crucifix. If part of a church, it included holy water, holy oil, etc. However, the most important things that it carried were items such as rope, crowbars, or even pistols.

In fiction

The vampire hunter has found new popularity in modern fiction and popular culture.

The most widely known example of a vampire hunter isAbraham Van Helsingof the novelDraculaand in other works of fiction adapting or modifying that work. Other more recent figures includeBuffy "the Vampire Slayer" Summersfrom thefilmandtelevision seriesof the same name. Buffy's spin-off television seriesAngelis also focused on a vampire hunter; the titular character, Angel, a vampire himself who is cursed with a conscience, is often portrayed battling vampires as well as demons. Created byMarv Wolfman,theMarvel ComicscharacterBlade the Vampire-Slayeris a half human/half vampire who uses his super-strength and agility to hunt vampires and other monsters. The character spawned a1998 film adaptationwhich developed into afranchise.Vampire hunters have also appeared in video games, such asCastlevania(the occupation of the famed Belmont lineage), andThe Elder Scrolls(with factions such as the Dawnguard).

As well as being knowledgeable about vampire lore, vampire hunters in fiction are often armed with an eclectic mix of items and weapons which are designed to take maximum advantage of the monster's traditional weaknesses. These have includedfirearmswithsilverammunition,appropriate religious symbols,crossbowsthat fire all-wooden bolts and evenwatergunsfilled with blessedholy waterin the moviesThe Lost BoysandFrom Dusk Till Dawn.

The organizational strength of depicted vampire hunters can vary wildly. Most hunter characters are in small groups working alone and in secret. By contrast, theHellsing Organizationin theanimetelevision seriesHellsingis a British government paramilitary strike force with access to troops, heavy combat vehicles and weapons and even allied vampires.

While predominantly depicted as human, examples of other types of vampire hunters also exist.Dhampiricfigures, having a mix of human and vampire blood, are a popular form.Alucardfrom theCastlevaniaseries,D from theVampire Hunter Dnovel series, and the aforementionedeponymoushero of theBladeseries of comic books,films,television series,andanime,are examples of dhampir vampire hunters. Some vampire hunters are vampires themselves. Two examples of this type can be found inMorbius the Living VampireinMarvel Comics,and Zero Kiryuu in the manga and anime seriesVampire Knight.

The image of the vampire hunter is often a mysterious anddramaticavenging hero, aneccentricextremist,amad scientist,or sometimes a mix of these. A hunter may be a heroic figure, a villain (from the perspective of the vampire), a lonesome avenger, or sometimes, although not usually, abounty-hunter-style character, hunting vampires for profit. Vampire hunters have also popularly been depicted as hunting various creatures such aswerewolves,demons,and other forms ofundeadas well. Others have been depicted asmagesandcyborgs.Vampire hunters are often associated with or are members of the clergy, holy orders, or other religious organizations which may be dedicated to fighting vampires, other demons, and other supernatural forces. Vampire hunting as a family tradition or birthright is a popular use of the archetype in fiction, such as theBelmont familyfrom theCastlevaniaseries. Some hunters devote their entire lives to the eradication of vampires; for others it is just a strange hobby. They can also sometimes be members oflaw enforcementorgovernment agencies.

The job comes with the risk of getting bitten and the hunters turned into vampires themselves. More often than not fellow hunters usually do mercy killing to prevent them from becoming monsters, though in some fiction it may be possible for a hunter to cure themselves (and others) of vampirism, especially if the person in question was recently turned into a vampire. Another common trope is hunters being forced to slay their loved ones or allies who have been turned into vampires. Alternatively, after becoming a vampire, sometimes hunters will continue to fight and hunt vampires using their newly acquired vampire powers and abilities (sometimes being hunted by their former allies and other human vampire hunters). In addition to human hunters, dhampirs, and vampires that hunt other vampires, it is not uncommon for vampire hunters to be other supernatural creatures such as werewolves or witches.Additionally, some human hunters may possess holy powers, superhuman, or other supernatural abilities that they can use both to fight and protect themselves from vampires and other supernatural entities they hunt. Some hunters may even resort to using dark powers or weapons (usually dark magic or demonic in nature). Some human hunters may even be tempted to become vampires themselves in order to obtain their powers and immortality, either to continue hunting them due to fear of their own mortality, or simply a lust for power.

Bibliography

• McClelland, Bruce (2006).Slayers and their Vampires: A Cultural History of Killing the Dead.Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.ISBN0472069233.
• Perkowski, Jan (2006).Vampire Lore.Slavica.