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Rasputin Catamite
From Comixpedia
| Rasputin Catamite | |
 Pictured: (Characters identified counterclockwise) Ace Machiavelli, Sasha Saatchyan, Zoya Malama and Lord Dmitri Satan 121-666 | |
| Creator(s) | Vanesa Littlecrow Wojtanowicz |
| Website(s) | http://rasputincatamite.com |
| Update Feed | http://rasputincatamite.com/feed |
| Update Schedule | 3 daya a week (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays) |
| Launch Date | First published in 2006 |
| Genre | satire, historical, horror, drama |
| Rating(s) | Mature Audiences |
| Format | Multiple Panel Page,,,,, |
| Publisher | Catnose Comics (web and print), Brave Girl Studio/Itak (print), Super Fantastica Comix! (print), |
| Price | $5.50 print version - Ad supported online version |
Contents |
[edit] Summary
Rasputin Catamite follows the lives, loves and excesses of Dmitri Satan, Sasha Saatchyan, Zoya Malama, and Bahktale (Lucky) Vasquez. The first three are the members of Upir's Mark, an experimental heavy metal band from Siberia. Lucky is the protagonist of a major side story. The main story arc takes place between the late eighties and the early nineties in Russia, as the Soviet Union collapses.
[edit] Characters
[edit] Protagonists
- Lord Dmitri Satan 121-666: Also known as: Igor Dmitri Shapinov II, Dmitri Cataha, Dima, and Master. A former member of Nickel and solo DJ, this co-founder of Upir's Mark, also works as its vocalist, DJ, synth, theremin and bass player. In addition to being a musician, he is a bisexual devil worshipper, a serial killer who would rather eat the flesh of a virginal groupie than that of an animal, and a mediocre warlock. Perpetually drunk, promiscuous, crude and disgustingly unhygienic, he is a sadistic dominant who never seems to get any respect from his minions. When not playing music or self-destructing, Dmitri works as a mob goon.
- Sasha (Velvet or Catamite, depending on the translation) Saatchyan: Lead guitarist, folk-instruments, violinist and vocalist for Upir's Mark. Sasha is Dmitri's childhood friend, longtime slave and husband. The bastard son of Jewish bartender, Sasha was raised as a two-spirit priestess by a kindly Chukchi shaman. When Sasha's adopted father was forced to work in the nickel mines by the KGB, he was placed in a boarding school along with his adoptive sisters. It was at this school where he befriended Dmitri (then a school bully,) and remained by his side ever since. In spite of his submissive demeanor, Sasha is the brains of Upir's Mark. Sasha works a second job as an independent companion consultant when he isn't begging or making music.
- Zoya (The Milking Machine) Malama: Upir's Mark drummer and synth player. Zoya is Dmitri's ex-girlfriend who refuses to leave his apartment, and still serves as his lover. She has been obsessed with Dmitri from the time she ran away from her abusive home at age 12. Belligerent, jealous, constantly intoxicated, trashy, political and physically strong, Zoya isn't exactly delicate creature. She desperately wants to be Lesbian, but her fascination with men thwarts her desire.
- Alexander (Ugly) Petrov: A former member of Upir's Mark and Dmitri's ex-lover. Ugly was horribly disfigured in a war accident. He lives as a hermit and works as a folk medic and white witch.
- Ace Machiavelli: The illegitimate child-bride of Father Igor Dmitri Shapinov. She is Dmitri's stepmother.
- Holy Father Igor Dmitri Shapinov: Dmitri adopted father is a corrupt Russian Orthodox monk who works for the mob. He claims that Dmitri is an upir who murdered his parents upon being born.
- Walter Oven Mitty the Leviathan: The oven mitt of the apocalypse.
- Sodom Benitez: Upir's Mark crooked manager.
- Rabbitchy: Upir's Mark landlady and former underground comic star.
- Bahktale (Lucky) Strikes Vasquez Drina the Marquis of the Dingy Calo Settlement in the East Side of Barcelona: A Catalonian Rromani immigrant with a monstrous lust for blondes. He's an irrigation repairman who happens to be related to all five undisputed Rrom kings.
[edit] Sasha's Family and Associates
- Norm Whale-Slayer: A bigamist and alcoholic. Anklyt (Chukchi) shaman and former drag queen who adopted Sasha. Widow of She-Who-Burps Loudly and Naga Hide.
- Duck Bortnik: Daughter of Norm and Naga, and an older sister of Sasha. Was shocked by the concept of Foamy Ashyfat. Loves to inflict good-natured snark on her brother.
- She-Who-Burps Loudly: Norm Whale-Slayer's incredibly beautiful second wife who used the Shlomo as a surrogate father for Sasha. Died during childbirth.
- Anfiia (Beautiful Morning) Bortnik: Sasha's much hated older sister.
- Naga Hide Bortnik: Norm Whale-Slayer's older first wife.
- Solomon (Shlomo) Saatchyan: A bartender. Sasha's hated biological father which he refuses to acknowledge.
- Adonis Seal Clubber: Sasha's childhood crush from the Okrug.
- The friend of Adonis Seal Clubber: Self-explanatory.
- Gerard: An older and French, fashion designer who was involved with both Anfiia and Sasha.
- Short-Haired Toilet Tramp: A curvy older woman who tried to turn Sasha straight.
- Pink Suit Cleavage Chick: Short-Haired Toilet Tramp's envious friend.
- Drunken Ass Who Was Beaten by Sasha: Unintentionally gave Sasha money after a fight.
- Assorted Drunks and Barflies: Self-explanatory.
[edit] Zoya's Family and Associates
- Zoya's Babushka: Zoya's rather cruel grandmother. She is the least abusive member of Zoya's family.
- Kata: A nun. Zoya's friend.
- Miscarried Possible Half-Upir Fetus: Zoya's unborn son, of uncertain parentage. Died of alcohol poisoning while Zoya was celebrating her pregnancy.
- Zoya's Mother: The abusive and jealous woman who gave birth to Zoya.
- The Man Who Married Zoya's Mother: Probably not Zoya's father, but she knows him as such. An abuser.
- Zoya's Uncle: Zoya's Mother's Uncle. An abuser.
- Zoya's Brother: Probably a half-brother. An abuser.
- Zoya's Sister: Probably a half-sister. An abuser.
- Doctor Stroganoff: The owner of an illegal hospital that preys upon the poor and the infirm who can't get into the Soviet clinics fast enough. He fired Zoya from an unlicensed nursing job after she had a miscarriage.
[edit] Lucky's Family and Associates
- Marlborina Julietta: Lucky's wife.
- Camello Basma, King of the Nicotinash Kumpania: Lucky's nemesis and indentured servant. Son of King Gurkha Basma. Marlborina's cousin and former lover.
- Romeo Julietta: Lucky's father-in-law.
- Virginia S. Julietta: Lucky's mother-in-law.
- Viscount Tenorio Vasquez: Lucky's father.
- Troya Drina: Lucky's mother.
- Lechy: The mysterious masked man listening to Lucky's life story.
- Benson Julietta: Lucky's brother-in-law.
- Hedges Julietta: Lucky's brother-in-law.
- Queen Gloria Basma: Camello's horribly abused wife.
- King Gurkha Basma: Lucky's dead best friend and former ruler of the Nicotinash people.
- The Barmaid: One of the few main characters sympathetic to Camello.
- The Non-Rromani Blond Fan Girls: Lucky's most common form of sexual conquest.
- The Rroma and the Sinti: The people living in the agricultural village that Lucky resides in.
[edit] Other Characters
- The Sweet Jewish Babushka Upstairs: Made cookies and vodka for Upir's Mark. Died of starvation while cooking vodka for Upir's Mark.
- The Judge: A gullible Communist judge who fell for Sasha's lies about Dmitri, several "enemies of the state," and himself.
- The Bully: Some kid who was a bigger school bully than Dmitri.
- Mission Lady: A judgmental woman who was trying to prevent Zoya from having an abortion.
- The Moths: A bunch of insects that ate Dmitri's improperly stored clothing who speak like Flavor Flav.
- The Thulist Nazis: Dmitri's second favorite punching bags.
- Bob Antheraea Polyphemus: A moth from Minnesota
- Dmitri's Cats: Self-explanatory.
- The Upir's Mark Groupies: Dmitiri's favorite snack.
- The Upir's Mark Roadies: Self-explanatory.
- The Upir's Mark Fans: The craziest people in Siberia.
- Professor Orlov: Some know-it-all guy.
- Mrs. Petrov: Ugly's mother.
- The Sweet Little Babushkas: Random old ladies from Russia.
- The People of Siberia: Self-explanatory.
[edit] Topics and Themes
Rasputin Catamite concept is a cross between metaphorical autobiography, historical fiction and metaphorical political satire. Despite its superficial appearance as brainless entertainment, this webcomic has tackled controversial issues such as abortion, the concept of family, child abuse, the sexual identity continuum, gender, religion, BDSM, substance abuse, death, the exploitation of musicians, the occult, religious corruption, government oppression, famine, politics, historical veracity, antisemitism and racism.
Although the stories are written by Americans and set in a Russia, they actually seek to touch upon issues that are relevant to people around the world.
[edit] Trivia
- An upir is considered to be the most vicious type of vampire in Russian lore.
- The only way to reduce Dmitri's hunger for human blood is to feeding him fish.
- Sasha's birth year is unknown because he was born in the wilderness while his family was on the run from Soviet authorities. Sasha's birth certificate and identification list no age. The only certainty is that he is younger than Dmitri.
- Lucky is originally from Catalonia and has an intense hatred for the Soviet Union. He identifies as a Catholic Falangist, in opposition to his communist father.
- Sodom is actually a man in a bunny suit.
- Zoya's eyes have no color of their own. They seem to change hue depending on the light and what she happens to be looking at. They usually look white, purple or red.
[edit] Production History
Rasputin Catamite is a webcomic spin-off from Polska, Sucka!, an underground photocopier comic book by Vanesa Littlecrow Wojtanowicz. It was created and co-founded by Vanesa Littlecrow Wojtanowicz (artist, puppeteer, seamstress, voiceover, digitals, photographer, researcher, and art director,) and Caylie Dean (digitals, photographer, voiceover and puppeteer) on April 13, 2006. Rasputin Catamite was originally meant to exist only as a week-long limited run webcomic consisting of four repeating panels about four lazy musicians. With Dean's encouragement and assistance it grew to become a weekly serial, with a spin-off entitled Rasputin Barxotka and the Upir's Mark musical puppet show. Caylie Dean left the project on June 11, 2007, but it continues under the direction of Vanesa Littlecrow Wojtanowicz.
Rasputin Catamite is part of the Catnose Comics mature-audience comics department of VAS Littlecrow.
