Analysis of Major Characters
John Hartigan
Sin City: That Yellow Bastard centers around the story of John Hartigan, a retired police detective in Basin City. The graphics in the novel display his physical appearance. He has a distinctive X-shaped mark on his forehead, which is never explained. In the beginning of the novel, he is “pushing 60;” he is portrayed as a strong man who is honorable, persistent, and entirely altruistic. He also suffers angina which is the reasoning behind his retirement; he is constantly portrayed fighting through or disregarding this issue. The novel begins with Hartigan’s last day as a detective, his determination to protect a young girl drives the plot, and his suicide ends the novel. Hartigan faces many setbacks throughout the novel; he is framed and convicted of raping a young girl, Nancy Callahan, who he was only trying to save; his wife leaves him and he is threatened, giving him no way to prove his innocence and ultimately destroys his life. However, his determination to keep Nancy safe never ceases despite all of these tragic events. Throughout the novel the reader is given access to Hartigan’s thoughts which provides the reader with an explanation for his actions. He is constantly fighting his heart problems, telling himself to "get over it"and motivating himself with thoughts like "prove you're not completely useless," and "Hold on. Settle down. Play it smart. Think like a cop" as seen on page 34. Hartigan is one of the few honorable detectives in this town, he cares more about the protection of others than his own health and this is evident in his determination to keep Nancy safe; he is no longer a detective, yet he still sees the need to keep people safe and he risks his life in order to do this. The end of the novel truly illustrates Hartigan's complete selflessness; in realizing that as long as he is around Nancy will never be safe, he takes his own life in order to protect her own.
Sin City: That Yellow Bastard centers around the story of John Hartigan, a retired police detective in Basin City. The graphics in the novel display his physical appearance. He has a distinctive X-shaped mark on his forehead, which is never explained. In the beginning of the novel, he is “pushing 60;” he is portrayed as a strong man who is honorable, persistent, and entirely altruistic. He also suffers angina which is the reasoning behind his retirement; he is constantly portrayed fighting through or disregarding this issue. The novel begins with Hartigan’s last day as a detective, his determination to protect a young girl drives the plot, and his suicide ends the novel. Hartigan faces many setbacks throughout the novel; he is framed and convicted of raping a young girl, Nancy Callahan, who he was only trying to save; his wife leaves him and he is threatened, giving him no way to prove his innocence and ultimately destroys his life. However, his determination to keep Nancy safe never ceases despite all of these tragic events. Throughout the novel the reader is given access to Hartigan’s thoughts which provides the reader with an explanation for his actions. He is constantly fighting his heart problems, telling himself to "get over it"and motivating himself with thoughts like "prove you're not completely useless," and "Hold on. Settle down. Play it smart. Think like a cop" as seen on page 34. Hartigan is one of the few honorable detectives in this town, he cares more about the protection of others than his own health and this is evident in his determination to keep Nancy safe; he is no longer a detective, yet he still sees the need to keep people safe and he risks his life in order to do this. The end of the novel truly illustrates Hartigan's complete selflessness; in realizing that as long as he is around Nancy will never be safe, he takes his own life in order to protect her own.
Roark Junior, aka That Yellow Bastard
Roark Junior is the antagonist of the novel; as the son of the Senator of Basin City, he gets what he wants and his father hides every bad thing he does. At the start of the book Roark is young and rich but his hobby of child molestation and murder is what drastically sets him apart from the rest. When Hartigan prevents Roark Junior from raping and killing eleven year old Nancy Callahan, Roark Junior ends up with his genitals, his ear, and his arm blown off. Senator Roark pays for extensive treatments and surgery to get his son as close to recovering as possible and because of this his skin turns yellow and his body gives off a foul smell. This yellow color that Roark Junior's body develops is the only color shown in this graphic novel, setting him apart from the other characters. This catches the reader's eye on the importance of Roark Junior's character, for just like the turn in the novel with this new color, Junior turns the development of the story with his return into Nancy and Hartigan's lives. Junior is used to getting what he wants; his sick and cruel desires are at complete odds with that of Hartigan. Instead of doing whatever it takes to protect others, Junior is only portrayed thinking about himself even though it involves raping, torturing, and killing you children. He is reliant on his Dad for everything; he is depicted as incapable of fixing his own mistakes or taking responsibility into his own hands. On page 159 he is quoted saying "everything's got to be perfect or I'm calling my Dad!" Thus, when Roark wants something he gets his Dad, whereas Hartigan does everything in his own power when he has a goal in mind. Though the novel ends in Hartigan's death, Roark Junior also gets what he deserves, for Hartigan kills him by stabbing him and castrating him for the second time; losing his 'weapon' for good.
Roark Junior is the antagonist of the novel; as the son of the Senator of Basin City, he gets what he wants and his father hides every bad thing he does. At the start of the book Roark is young and rich but his hobby of child molestation and murder is what drastically sets him apart from the rest. When Hartigan prevents Roark Junior from raping and killing eleven year old Nancy Callahan, Roark Junior ends up with his genitals, his ear, and his arm blown off. Senator Roark pays for extensive treatments and surgery to get his son as close to recovering as possible and because of this his skin turns yellow and his body gives off a foul smell. This yellow color that Roark Junior's body develops is the only color shown in this graphic novel, setting him apart from the other characters. This catches the reader's eye on the importance of Roark Junior's character, for just like the turn in the novel with this new color, Junior turns the development of the story with his return into Nancy and Hartigan's lives. Junior is used to getting what he wants; his sick and cruel desires are at complete odds with that of Hartigan. Instead of doing whatever it takes to protect others, Junior is only portrayed thinking about himself even though it involves raping, torturing, and killing you children. He is reliant on his Dad for everything; he is depicted as incapable of fixing his own mistakes or taking responsibility into his own hands. On page 159 he is quoted saying "everything's got to be perfect or I'm calling my Dad!" Thus, when Roark wants something he gets his Dad, whereas Hartigan does everything in his own power when he has a goal in mind. Though the novel ends in Hartigan's death, Roark Junior also gets what he deserves, for Hartigan kills him by stabbing him and castrating him for the second time; losing his 'weapon' for good.
Nancy Callahan
As an eleven year old, Nancy was almost raped and killed by Roark Junior; the look on her face in the first photo on the left displays the true terror and fear that she experienced during that moment. When Hartigan saves her, she is extremely thankful. Her appreciation is apparent when she goes against her parents orders to visit Hartigan in the hospital, promises to write him every week, and tells him she loves him before she leaves. Nancy is angelic and intelligent. She signs her letters to Hartigan with the name "Cordelia" so that no one knows who she really is. She never mentioned her personal life in the eight years that she wrote to Hartigan because she knew that if she did then she would be found, raped, and killed. When Nancy is nineteen years old she is an erotic dancer at Kadie's Saloon and all the men flock to her. However, her angelic personality is still present when she sees Hartigan for the first time in eight years. She jumps off the stage, kisses him, and ultimately confesses that she is in love with him and always has been. Throughout the entire novel, she is completely grateful for Hartigan and his determination to keep her safe. She is a strong, intelligent young woman who remains completely devoted to her hero.
As an eleven year old, Nancy was almost raped and killed by Roark Junior; the look on her face in the first photo on the left displays the true terror and fear that she experienced during that moment. When Hartigan saves her, she is extremely thankful. Her appreciation is apparent when she goes against her parents orders to visit Hartigan in the hospital, promises to write him every week, and tells him she loves him before she leaves. Nancy is angelic and intelligent. She signs her letters to Hartigan with the name "Cordelia" so that no one knows who she really is. She never mentioned her personal life in the eight years that she wrote to Hartigan because she knew that if she did then she would be found, raped, and killed. When Nancy is nineteen years old she is an erotic dancer at Kadie's Saloon and all the men flock to her. However, her angelic personality is still present when she sees Hartigan for the first time in eight years. She jumps off the stage, kisses him, and ultimately confesses that she is in love with him and always has been. Throughout the entire novel, she is completely grateful for Hartigan and his determination to keep her safe. She is a strong, intelligent young woman who remains completely devoted to her hero.