The Trickster HEROES

In a fevered state, I'm trying to find the trickster figure(s) in the NBC series Heroes. Claire, Hiro & Ando, and many others in the cast all pose certain weaknesses and identity issues as the eclectic cast slowly reveals a separate evolved race of mutants with super powers. One could begin to correlate this shows mutant race with the entire underground movement from South to North of black Americans. Leland's hipster qualities of freedom of the individual, identities, enlightenment, tragedy and myth are present in all cast members. Leland's trickster qualities may be best represented by one character, The Haitian.

The not often seen black-male character, known as The Haitian, for those less familiar with the series, is mysterious and he is able to manipulate minds. This figure is one of the most powerful characters in the series and viewed as a powerful asset to the front company, Primatech Paper Co., better known to insiders as the Company.

It suits well with this origin of hip theme to place a black male in the position of greatest power. His power is not simply obvious mind bending. He is clever and possesses the timing and instinct to deceive even those he is close friends with in order to provide, "an escape from unreality, from the greater absurdities that define race in America." (p.162) While instructed to remove a memory, he may not do if left to his own vices thus providing an escape from unreality. When the deception surfaces between The Haitian and the Company, "the points of guilt and race begin to shift." The Company is out to control or eliminate the mutants, however, those in control of the daily work are either mutant or have crossed the line in relationships and become fond of members of the supposedly new race. The Haitian is a religious character. His actions give him a loner stance and when chaos ensues he is the only one who still knows what is going on.

However, there is a character that may better fit the trickster defined under, "con men and hustlers...whom the culture invents to undermine its own rules." The carnie Samuel Sullivan, who manipulates geological material, is a master of the hoax and surrounded by a, "...long and varied family tree." He is constantly on the road and may very well be the most sorrowful character.

I could easily sit here and analyze every Heroes characters' hip-trickster moves and qualities...but I am not going to. I have to stick with The Haitian as my favorite. Heroes can be followed in series or comics and has humorous qualities that surface most between Hiro and Ando. Perhaps Hiro is the true trickster? Or his sidekick Ando? Perhaps identity chaos is the theme of Heroes.