Cult of the Pallid Hunter

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Synonyms: whump, get'ems, woobie
See also: hurt/comfort
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Cult of the Pallid Hunter is a term coined by Helena Handbasket, and popularized in the 1999 essay, We Always Hurt the One We Love ... and then turn him into a sorry-ass, emasculated, mentally unstable, whiny, co-dependent tag-along.

Handbasket's original essay's topic was what the author saw as the propensity of many hurt/comfort fans to turn the Hercules: The Legendary Journeys character, Iolaus, into a weak, dumb passive man who couldn't take care of himself and was constantly whumped. In other words, a woobie. From the essay: "[Iolaus] is the Pallid Hunter, immortalized in poorly plotted fiction and incomprehensibly worshipped at feeble temples around the globe."

"Pallid Hunter" is a nod to the description of Iolaus as the "Golden Hunter," a fanon epithet where Iolaus is often called simply 'the hunter' in fanfic.

From Handbasket's Essay

Even the most tungsten-free of dim bulbs must acknowledge that characterization is a critical feature of fiction, particularly in fan fiction which is almost by definition a fundamentally character-driven genre. Apparently, however, not everyone has been informed that inherent in the term "characterization" is the notion that a character ought to bear some sort of resemblance to his pre-established representation. There is no better example of this common lack of awareness than the appalling prevalence of what shall henceforth be known as the Cult of the Pallid Hunter. The Cult of the Pallid Hunter is widespread and pervasive, manifesting everywhere from Young Hercules to slash. Why anyone would mutilate and mangle their favorite character into an unrecognizable, wimpy husk remains one of the great mysteries of the ages and yet the stories continue to pour forth in shocking abundance, depicting Iolaus as a needy, skulking, self-effacing creature who would be hesitant to take a piss in the woods without first asking Hercules for his advice or, even worse, permission.

The Topic and the Term

The topic hurt/comfort and fans deeming certain characters to suffer beautifully and therefore appealing to whump is a common fanwork topic, but the term "cult of the pallid hunter" appears to have narrow use, one utilized in only certain fandoms, such as The Sentinel and Man from U.N.C.L.E..

Examples of Use

2000

Now, I'll admit that part of what squicks me about these series is characterization. I've long railed against "helpless, weepy Blair," have no patience for what Helen A. Handbasket (did I get that right?) calls the Cult of the Pallid Hunter, and I prefer my Obi-Wans adult and competent, thanks. But I can't put my whole reaction down to characterization, because what finally drives me nuts is the abuse of the characters. [1]

2010

I don't see Illya as a bottom-only; I have no trouble seeing him as a top as well. Problem is, I struggle to see Napoleon as a bottom, and I can't say why *shrugs*. I've written a fic in which Illya predominantly tops, to try and get to the bottom (pardon the pun! *g*) of my aversion to Napoleon on the receiving end, but at the end of it I was none the wiser.

And I'm no believer in the Cult of the Pallid Hunter, or what draycevixen calls the "My Little Illya" syndrome! Simply he's enough of a hedonist that he'd enjoy the hell out of bottoming, IMO. [2]

Iolaus from HtLJ! Who did, in fact, sell himself to slavers in one fanfic so Hercules could spend time with his dead family. (No, really.) See also: Pallid Hunter Syndrome. [3]

References

  1. ^ comment by Lucy Gillam in When Bad Things Happen to Good Characters (January 7, 2000)
  2. ^ comment by miwahni at Bottoms up - a slash question today (October 22 2010)
  3. ^ from marycrawford at Woobies Wanted (February 27, 2010)
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