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Human Characters Of Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter





MAJOR CHARACTERS


Anita Blake

Anita Blake is a twenty-something resident of St. Louis . Born a Necromancer with the power to raise zombies as well as power over other forms of undead, Anita leads a complicated life. Her main job is as an animator for "Animators, Inc.," a St. Louis-based business that raises the dead for the right price. Anita is also a licensed vampire executioner (known to vampires as "The Executioner") and a consultant for RPIT , the area's police division in charge of supernatural crimes.

Anita has major emotional issues, and tends to come across as quite prickly and stubborn. She also has a strong protective streak, and usually champions any vulnerable characters who ask for her help.

Anita fits many of the characteristics of a Mary Sue -- she bears a close physical resemblance to series author Laurell K. Hamilton , has a similar personality to Ms. Hamilton, becomes dramatically more powerful and important with each novel, and is found sexually attractive by many beautiful men.

Appearances: All novels.


Anita's history

Anita was born with the talent to be a Necromancer .

Anita's formative experiences appear to be a series of traumas. In particular, Anita has never fully recovered from seeing her mother die in a car accident, which occurred when Anita was eight. Later, she clashed with her stepmother, Judith, particularly over Anita's powers as a necromancer. When not controlled and used, the powers manifested during Anita's adolescence, causing various dead animals to reanimate and visit Anita's home. In order to control her powers, Anita's parents let her study animation with her maternal grandmother, Grandmother Flores, a Vaundun Priestess . Flores believed that training a necromancer in Vaundun ritual would lead to evil and encouraged Anita to become a Roman Catholic . Later, when the Pope Excommunicated all animators, Anita became an Episcopalian .

Anita majored in preternatural biology in college, earning a bachelors degree. While in college, she had another of her formative traumas, when her fiance's parents convinced him to break their engagement because Anita's mother was Mexican. Anita decided to forego additional sexual experiences until marriage.

After college, Anita was recruited by Bert Vaughn to join Animators, Inc. as a professional zombie animator. She was also trained by Manny Ramirez and became a licenced vampire executioner. At some point, she became associated with Edward, and she, Manny, and Edward were involved in at least one dicey confrontation with vampires -- a battle against and his pack in which Anita received a number of severe scars, including a cross shaped brand on her arm, put there by some of the vampires' human thralls. The series begins some time after that confrontation, shortly after the legalization of vampires.


Anita's talents


In almost every book, Anita either discovers new abilities, develops old ones, or both. At this point, she is probably one of the most powerful humans in history.

  • Necromancer : Anita is one of the most powerful necromancers in the world. She can raise and inter zombies, sense the dead, sense vampires and lycanthropes and estimate their power level, and can resist (at least partially) mental influence from vampires. She can raise zombies that are centuries dead, and can do so without human sacrifice, and can raise vampires (during daylight) as if they were zombies. Her power would allow her to perform magic with the proper training.


  • Combat training: Thanks to Manny and , Anita is trained in combat skills, especially handguns and knives.


  • Detective training: Anita has been involved with many investigations with RPIT and, in the later books, with the FBI. Her police contact, Ruldolph Storr, routinely requires her to engage in independent Crime Scene Reconstruction in order to obtain an independent analysis -- Anita's reconstructions are almost always correct and frequently include insights that the police have missed, especially local police.


  • Supernatural experience: Anita holds a bachelor's degree in preternatural biology and is a trained vampire executioner. Over the series she learns more about Vampires, Lycanthropes, and other preternatural creatures. RPIT relies on her for information about a wide variety of supernatural entities.


  • Human servant: In books 1-3 and 6+, Jean-Claude has marked Anita with two or three of the four marks necessary to make her his human servant. This grants Anita unusual strength, durability, and rapid healing, increased resistance to vampire's abilities and an almost complete resistant to Jean-Claude's mental influence, as well as a spiritual connection to Jean-Claude himself. In books 10+, Anita blake has given Damien, her vampire servant, the fourth mark. This does not interfere with Jean Claude's marks. It is uncertain if this unconventional fourth mark grants Anita immortality.


  • Triumvirate member: Anita is a member of a "triumvirate" with Jean-Claude and Richard. Because of Anita's own connection with the dead, as well as Jean-Claude's unusual choice of two other members with power levels similar to his own, their triumvirate is the most powerful seen in any of the novels. As a result, Anita's own spiritual powers are strengthened, and she has developed several powers similar to those of vampires and lycanthropes.

  • --- Animal to call - leopards (''Narcissus in Chains'')

  • --- Ardeur (''Narcissus in Chains'')

  • --- Spiritual blades

  • --- Power to bind vampire and animal servants: Anita has the power to bind a vampire servant and an animal servant. She inadvertently used this power to attract a vampire servant (''Blue Moon'') and formed a second triumvirate (''Cerulean Sins''), which presumably has increased her power further.



Edward

Edward is 5'9" with blond hair and blue eyes. Anita describes Edward as "not an imposing man", appearance-wise. She also describes his eyes - "as cold and as distant as wintery skies". A former hitman, he now specializes in assassinating supernatural targets, because humans were too easy. He particularly hunts vampires and lycanthropes, and taught Anita most of her combat skills.

Edward is an extremely dangerous man, as Anita describes him. He is known to the monsters as Death, seemingly because he has had so many kills. Edward is a gun freak, knowing a lot about every brand of gun. Anita says, "He carries more firepower than Rambo." Which is true. His arsenal includes a Beretta 9mm, a Mini-Uzi, a shotgun... and much else. He supplies Anita with several "toys" (how he refers to his weapons), at various times. He uses any sort of firepower, regardless of any innocent bystanders. Edward has been known to use a flamethrower. He also has a special home ingredient for bullets, he adds holy water, then fills it with wax, so that when he shoots a vampire, the bullet goes through, and the holy water continues to burn the vampire like acid.

Edward is a sociopath. Sociopathy plays a big part in this series, between Anita and Edward's relationships. They often talk about how effortlessly they can kill, without feeling anything, without caring for the ones they kill. Another topic that they openly discuss, have discussed, many times, is "who would be better". Edward says that his greatest fantasy is to go against Anita, and see who is better. "I've dreamed about it." and Anita can see the excitement in his eyes. Edward acts like he doesn't really care about anything, but we see in Obsidian Butterfly he shoots through a whole gang of baddies, to save the kids. "I always thought Edward killed emotionless, his eyes cold." Anita states, in Obsidian Butterfly, "But when I looked into his baby blues, they were filled with fire. I had always thought Edward was scariest at his most cold. I was wrong. Edward the family man downright terrifying."

Edward leads a double life; Edward as an assassin is the true Edward (as far as we know). He has an alias, his only legal identity (as far as we know) called Ted Forrester. Ted is a licensed bounty hunter, and "good ol' boy" operating out of Santa Fe. Ted is engaged to a widow, Donna Parnell, with two kids, Peter (who is 14) and Becca (who is 6), not to mention the two pomeranians Peeka and Boo. He appears to have a close relationship with them, and Anita almost thinks that Edward could be in love.

History: Edward's past is shrouded in mystery, however we do know that he once worked for a man named Van Cleef. According to Anita's account in and his nest of vampires. Ultimately, Edward used a flamethrower, buring a house down around himself and Anita.

Appearances: Guilty Pleasures, Circus of the Damned, The Lunatic Café, The Killing Dance, Obsidian Butterfly.


ANIMATORS, INC.


Bert Vaughn

Bert is the founder and managing partner of Animators, Inc. Over 6 feet tall and built like a former athlete, Bert is an unscrupulous boss who is inclined to sign the animators up for almost any job if the price is right. He and Anita often clash over Bert's choices of potential clients and jobs for Anita. Appearances: Most of the books.


Veronica Sims

Veronica "Ronnie" Simms is Anita's best friend and her usual workout partner and confidante. A private investigator on retainer with Animators, Inc. Appearances: ''Guilty Pleasures'', ''Laughing Corpse'', ''Circus of the Damned'', ''Cerulean Sins'', ''Incubus Dreams''.


Jamison Clarke

Jamison is an animator at Animators, Inc. He is a thin African-American with curly hair and green eyes, who typically clashes with Anita over Anita's side job as vampire executioner. Unlike Anita, Jamison believes that vampires are essentially people, and disapproves of executing them without trial. Appearances: ''Guilty Pleasures'', ''Laughing Corpse''.


Charles

Charles is another animator who works for Bert Vaughn. Because he is built like an offensive lineman, Anita sometimes uses Charles as "muscle." However, he is actually a gentle family man who would not hurt anyone. Appearances: ''Laughing Corpse''.


Manny Rodriguez

An older animator/vampire executioner, Manny is an animator at Animators, Inc., and was Anita's mentor, but is largely retired. Manny was present when he and Anita confronted Valentine's nest, before the events of ''Guilty Pleasures''. Before his marriage and conversion to Christanity Manny was a necromancer and a vaundun priest. Appearances: ''Laughing Corpse'' (first mentioned in ''Guilty Pleasures'').


John Burke

Six feet tall with movie-star good looks and a white streak in his dark hair, John Burke is a powerful animator, vaundun priest, and vampire hunter. He was originally active in New Orleans, Louisiana , but moved to Saint Louis after his brother Peter was killed in that city. Burke also stated that the New Orleans police and he had had a "misunderstanding" over Burke's involvement in a series of murders. After moving to Saint Louis he and Anita dated briefly, and he accepted a job at Animators Inc. He can raise at least four zombies in a single night. Appearances: ''Laughing Corpse'', ''Circus of the Damned''.


Laurence Kirkland

Five foot four and red-haired, Larry Kirkland reminds Anita of Howdy Doody . Larry first joined Animators Inc. as a twenty year old co-op student and wants Anita to teach him to be a vampire hunter. Anita feels very protective towards Larry and doesn't want to see him killed. Larry is very powerful, probably a Necromancer in his own right. Married to Tammy Reynolds of RPIT. Appearances: ''Circus of the Damned'', ''Bloody Bones'', ''Incubus Dreams''


RPIT


Rudolph Storr

Well over six feet tall and built like a wrestler, "Dolph" Storr is head of the RPIT (the "spook squad") and friend to Anita. In the more recent books, Dolph has become more and more critical of Anita's relationship with the supernatural. This is due in part to Dolph's own personal situation; his son is in love with and engaged to a vampire, and Dolph is having trouble coping with this choice. Appearances: Most books


Zerbrowski

Another friend and member of the spook squad. Zerbrowski is the stereotypical rumpled, smart-alec detective and a loyal friend to Anita. Appearances: Most books.


Katie Zerbrowski

Zerbowski's wife. First appearance: ''The Lunatic Cafe'' (First mentioned in ''Guilty Pleasures'')


Clive Perry



OTHER


Catherine Maison-Gillette

One of Anita's friends, Catherine serves mainly as a plot point in the first few novels, as Anita is forced to attend or prepare for her bachelorette party, wedding, Halloween party, etc. She is an attorney. Appearances: ''Guilty Pleasures'', mentioned in ''The Laughing Corpse'' and ''Circus of the Damned''.


Monica Vespucci

Vespucci is a lawyer at Anita's friend Catherine's law firm, and a vampire afficionado. She was one of the bridesmaids at Catherine's wedding. In ''Guilty Pleasures'', Vespucci was part of the plot to blackmail Anita into solving a series of vampire murders. Later, Vespucci married .


Luther

Human bartender for , Luther works the day shift and frequently acts as Anita's informant on Dave's behalf. Luther is a grey haired chain smoker, and Anita describes him as fat, but a solid fat like a kind of muscle. Appearances: ''Guilty Pleasures'', ''The Laughing Corpse''.


Charlotte Zeeman

Richard's mother. First appearance: ''Blue Moon''


Daniel Zeeman

Richard's brother. First appearance. ''Blue moon''


Olaf

Assassin, sadist and convicted rapist, associate to Edward. Serial killer with physique and M.O./victim profile similar to Edmund Kemper . First (and only) appearance: ''Obsidian Butterfly''.


Bernardo Spotted-Horse

Bodyguard, mercenary and assassin, associate to Edward. Not as psychotic as Olaf. First (and only) appearance: ''Obsidian Butterfly''.


NON-RECURRING CHARACTERS



Guilty Pleasures



Burchard

Nikolaos's human servant, Burchard was centuries old. He was bald, skilled with weapons, and carried himself like a soldier. Anita killed Burchard in ''Guilty Pleasures''. Appearances: ''Guilty Pleasures''.


Philip

A former ''pomme de sang'' (literally: "apple of blood"; a person who regularly donates blood to a specific master vampire) to Jean-Claude. Philip was a "vampire junkie" and a stripper at Guilty Pleasures, and was the first in a long line of beautiful but wounded strippers who have looked to Anita for healing and protection. He was killed by Valentine and Aubrey, raised as a zombie, and then reinterred by Anita, all in ''Guilty Pleasures''. Appearances: ''Guilty Pleasures''.


Winter

Built like a circus strongman, Winter was a human employee of Nikolaos. Nearly killed Anita. Anita killed Winter in ''Guilty Pleasures''. Appearances: ''Guilty Pleasures''.


The Laughing Corpse



Harold Gaynor

Gaynor was a self-made multimillionaire with organized crime connections. The product of a nonmarital relationship, Gaynor was obsessed with revenge on a family that did not admit he was a member, and wanted Anita to raise one of his ancestors in order to find the location of a family treasure. He was confined to a wheelchair, and made a practice of dating handicapped women. Anita ultimately ordered him torn apart by zombies. Appearances: ''The Laughing Corpse''.


Dominga Salvador

The most powerful Vaundun Priestess in the United States, Dominga Salvador was simultaneously grandmotherly and terrifyingly evil. She was Manny Rodriguez's former lover and very innovative in developing new and terrifying ways to use her powers. Salvador was initially quite interested in Anita, and attempted to recruit her as a protege and as a partner in a scheme to create and sell ensouled zombie slaves. When Anita refused, Salvador first tried to have Anita killed, then created a spell to enslave her. Ultimately, Salvador died when Anita raised a cemetery full of zombies, who tore Salvador limb from limb. Appearances: ''The Laughing Corpse''.


Peter Burke



Wheelchair Wanda



Cecily



Anthony



Enzo



Bruno



Tommy



Circus of the Damned



Jeremy Rubens

The leader of Humans Against Vampires , Rubens attempted to enlist Anita in a scheme to kill the master of the city. Appearances: ''Circus of the Damned''.


Karl Inger

Tall, formal, and with muttonchop , and was approximately 900 years old. He attempted to enlist Anita in Mister Oliver's plan to assume control of the city of St. Louis , but ultimately died when Anita killed his master. Appearances: ''Circus of the Damned''.


Marguerite

A beautiful but unstable blue eyed blond, Marguerite was human servant and lover. After Yasmeen was killed, Marguerite clawed her eyes out in grief. Appearances: ''Circus of the Damned''.


The Lunatic Cafe



George Smitz



Sheriff Titus



Deputy Aikensen



Chief Garroway



Samuel Williams



Bloody Bones



Raymond Stirling



Lionel Bayard



Ms. Harrison



Mr. and Mrs. Quinlan



David St. John



Beth St. John



Sergeant Freeman



Beau