TV-Series
Description
Doctor West is a character rooted in the literary figure Herbert West from H.P. Lovecraft's Herbert West–Reanimator, reimagined within the universe of the Demonbane series as a quintessential mad scientist. His background is that of a scientific prodigy. Exhibiting genius from a young age, he was slated for early admission to the medical department of Miskatonic University but chose instead to pursue independent research. This path led him to develop a reanimation fluid; when his partner, a woman named Elza, died in an accident, West injected her with the formula. She was revived but driven mad, an event that fueled his later work in creating artificial beings. His quest to scientifically analyze magic, which he views as a form of phonology, brought him to Arkham City and eventually led to his membership in the terrorist organization known as the Black Lodge.
Personality defines Doctor West as much as his inventions. He is flamboyant, eccentric, and completely convinced of his own status as the greatest genius in human history. His appearance is iconic, typically featuring green hair and a guitar case that doubles as a rocket launcher, and he is often seen carrying an electric guitar, which he plays with considerable skill. His manner of speaking is unique, using a distinctive first-person pronoun and ending his sentences with a characteristic phrase. Despite a tendency to be the source of comic relief due to his repeated defeats and spectacular failures, his actions stem from a genuine, if unorthodox, scientific philosophy. He prizes his own aesthetic principles and becomes genuinely offended when his work is disrespected or when others, including his own creations like the gynoid Elsa, violate his sense of propriety.
Throughout the story, Doctor West initially serves as an antagonist for the Black Lodge, tasked with opposing the protagonists Kurou Daijuuji and his Deus Machina, Demonbane. Lacking any innate magical abilities himself, he relies entirely on technology to fight fire with fire, creating giant robots called Destroyer Robots to combat the magically-powered Demonbane. His role evolves significantly when he defects from the Black Lodge. This turning point is triggered when the organization’s leaders, whom he refers to as the Anti-Cross, betray and kill his superior, Master Therion, and pursue a plan to summon the god Cthulhu. For Doctor West, this reliance on eldritch magic rather than scientific innovation represents a violation of his personal aesthetics and ideology, prompting him to join forces with the Hadou Group, the organization opposed to the Black Lodge. As an ally, he becomes a vital technical asset, using his genius to repair, upgrade, and even pilot the Demonbane when it is without a copilot, demonstrating that his contributions are far more than mere comic relief.
Key relationships define his journey. His rivalry with protagonist Kurou Daijuuji begins as an adversarial one, with West constantly attacking Kurou in his Destroyer Robots, only to be defeated each time. This relationship eventually transforms into a form of comradeship after West switches sides. His most significant creation is Elsa, an artificial human and combat gynoid he built in the image of the original Elza who was lost to madness. He treats Elsa as a daughter, and his pride in his work leads to comedic outbursts of jealousy when her affections shift toward Kurou. Another of his creations is the mass-produced Destroyer Robot, which he later customizes into a personal unit painted green and named Zombio.
Development for Doctor West is not a radical change in personality but a shift in allegiance and purpose. He begins as a seemingly comedic villain whose inventions are mere obstacles, but as the series progresses, his underlying genius and utility become undeniable. He proves capable of creating technology that can stand up to magical deities, building a near-perfect copy of Demonbane called Demonpain and crafting the Hunting Horror, a motorcycle that can match a Deus Machina in combat. By the end of his character arc, he has successfully defended his scientific principles and become an indispensable ally, with some storylines depicting an Elder God version of him who has transcended to become a protector of worlds.
Notable abilities stem entirely from his unparalleled scientific intellect. He is a super-genius capable of inventing technology that far exceeds the scientific norms of his 1930s-era setting. His most famous creations are the Destroyer Robots, giant mechanical war machines that, despite their often goofy appearance, can go toe-to-toe with the reality-warping power of a Deus Machina. He also created the combat gynoid Elsa, who possesses superhuman abilities and is 99% indistinguishable from a human. For personal defense and offense, he wields an electric guitar that doubles as a rocket launcher, and many of his larger inventions are powered by a bioelectric generator derived from his guitar playing. His abilities also encompass practical engineering, such as instantly understanding and repairing complex magical-mechanical systems and even creating a device that can manipulate time.
Personality defines Doctor West as much as his inventions. He is flamboyant, eccentric, and completely convinced of his own status as the greatest genius in human history. His appearance is iconic, typically featuring green hair and a guitar case that doubles as a rocket launcher, and he is often seen carrying an electric guitar, which he plays with considerable skill. His manner of speaking is unique, using a distinctive first-person pronoun and ending his sentences with a characteristic phrase. Despite a tendency to be the source of comic relief due to his repeated defeats and spectacular failures, his actions stem from a genuine, if unorthodox, scientific philosophy. He prizes his own aesthetic principles and becomes genuinely offended when his work is disrespected or when others, including his own creations like the gynoid Elsa, violate his sense of propriety.
Throughout the story, Doctor West initially serves as an antagonist for the Black Lodge, tasked with opposing the protagonists Kurou Daijuuji and his Deus Machina, Demonbane. Lacking any innate magical abilities himself, he relies entirely on technology to fight fire with fire, creating giant robots called Destroyer Robots to combat the magically-powered Demonbane. His role evolves significantly when he defects from the Black Lodge. This turning point is triggered when the organization’s leaders, whom he refers to as the Anti-Cross, betray and kill his superior, Master Therion, and pursue a plan to summon the god Cthulhu. For Doctor West, this reliance on eldritch magic rather than scientific innovation represents a violation of his personal aesthetics and ideology, prompting him to join forces with the Hadou Group, the organization opposed to the Black Lodge. As an ally, he becomes a vital technical asset, using his genius to repair, upgrade, and even pilot the Demonbane when it is without a copilot, demonstrating that his contributions are far more than mere comic relief.
Key relationships define his journey. His rivalry with protagonist Kurou Daijuuji begins as an adversarial one, with West constantly attacking Kurou in his Destroyer Robots, only to be defeated each time. This relationship eventually transforms into a form of comradeship after West switches sides. His most significant creation is Elsa, an artificial human and combat gynoid he built in the image of the original Elza who was lost to madness. He treats Elsa as a daughter, and his pride in his work leads to comedic outbursts of jealousy when her affections shift toward Kurou. Another of his creations is the mass-produced Destroyer Robot, which he later customizes into a personal unit painted green and named Zombio.
Development for Doctor West is not a radical change in personality but a shift in allegiance and purpose. He begins as a seemingly comedic villain whose inventions are mere obstacles, but as the series progresses, his underlying genius and utility become undeniable. He proves capable of creating technology that can stand up to magical deities, building a near-perfect copy of Demonbane called Demonpain and crafting the Hunting Horror, a motorcycle that can match a Deus Machina in combat. By the end of his character arc, he has successfully defended his scientific principles and become an indispensable ally, with some storylines depicting an Elder God version of him who has transcended to become a protector of worlds.
Notable abilities stem entirely from his unparalleled scientific intellect. He is a super-genius capable of inventing technology that far exceeds the scientific norms of his 1930s-era setting. His most famous creations are the Destroyer Robots, giant mechanical war machines that, despite their often goofy appearance, can go toe-to-toe with the reality-warping power of a Deus Machina. He also created the combat gynoid Elsa, who possesses superhuman abilities and is 99% indistinguishable from a human. For personal defense and offense, he wields an electric guitar that doubles as a rocket launcher, and many of his larger inventions are powered by a bioelectric generator derived from his guitar playing. His abilities also encompass practical engineering, such as instantly understanding and repairing complex magical-mechanical systems and even creating a device that can manipulate time.