Warning: The following contains spoilers for Strange Academy #17, on sale now from Marvel Comics.
A recent addition to Marvel, Strange Academy’s mysterious Gaslamp keeps growing in power and influence, manipulating the students of the Academy. Little is known of his history, yet Gaslamp has found a way to influence and manipulate some of the most powerful students in the Academy. Yet, his identity remains a secret, although his power level seems quite high. In Strange Academy #17 (by Skottie Young, Humberto Ramos, Edgar Delgado, and VC’s Clayton Cowles), the mysterious villain’s plans begin to coalesce.
Gaslamp’s first appears in Strange Academy #13, watching the students from a darkened alley. His interest falls on the morose Calvin. Dressed in a green and purple-black tailcoat, a top hat adorned with golden orbs, a wide green scarf covering all but his eyes, Gaslamp is an intentionally mysterious character. In his white-gloved hands, he carries a staff with a glowing gas lantern at its tip.
Gaslamp makes his home in New Orleans and deals in magical wishes. He provides Calvin with an opportunity to regain his magic. In searching out Gaslamp, Calvin discovers that the residents of New Orleans recognized the description of Gaslamp but reacted in fear and outrage. Gaslamp has had dealings before his appearance with one of the Academy’s students, Zoe Laveau. Zoe sought out Gaslamp to gain magical power, over and over, until it killed her. Her parents brought her back to life but she was forever altered by the dark magic. Calvin was captured by her story.
Gaslamp’s wishes have rules. The first is simple: “If you tell anyone your wish, it won’t come true.” The second rule is that every wish has a price. Like a classic pusher, Gaslamp gives the first wish for free, reminding them “But if you like it and would like more, you come back here to see me and we’ll make ourselves a deal.” When Calvin’s power fades, he returns to Gaslamp who asks him to simply bring him more customers: “[A]ll you have to do is bring me more friends just like you.” Returning to the school, Calvin opens his knapsack to reveal a collection of tiny gas lanterns like Gaslamps, from which he offers other desperate students answers to their wishes. Soon, Calvin is dealing in magical wishes, demanding higher and higher payments from those he’s hooked. However, Calvin is soon caught and expelled by Doctor Voodoo.
Gaslamp calls the school “Jericho Drumm’s School of the Mystic Arts.” When Calvin doesn’t recognize that name, Gaslamp corrects himself, “Doctor Voodoo.” In issue #17, Doctor Voodoo goes hunting for Gaslamp in The French Quarter of New Orleans. Doctor Voodoo is familiar with Gaslamp, but their prior history is unknown. Gaslamp repeatedly refers to Doctor Voodoo by his first and more familiar name, “Jericho.” The two confront each other with Voodoo warning Gaslamp to stay away from his students. Gaslamp prods Voodoo wondering why the students seem to not matter to him at all. In the end, Calvin rejoins Gaslamp overlooking the city.
What is known about Gaslamp is limited: he’s significantly older than Brother Voodoo, he’s known within the larger magic community and across New Orleans as a legend. Gaslamp confirms that he is ancient: “I have walked in the darkness of magic’s shadow long before you were born . . .” Gaslamp’s ability to grant magical power makes him incredibly powerful. He amps up the wisher’s natural abilities with dark and powerful magic.
Gaslamp’s appearance and location mirror that of the mythological figure Baron Samedi—arrayed in a top hat, black tailcoat, dark glasses, all is to mimic a corpse prepared for a Haitian burial. Folklore about him has him being quite outrageous, with strong links to magic and death. However, a character named Baron Samedi exists within the Marvel Universe, having fought against Brother Voodoo on behalf of A.I.M. Doctor Strange combated another character named Sagbata with a similar description. Sagbata was a Vodu deity that took on the name of Baron Samedi. This Baron Samedi had the ability to converse with the Elder God Chthon. The results of these actions led to the rise of Brother Voodoo to fight off a host of Chthon-empowered zombies. Both of the Baron Samedi’s within the comic book Marvel Universe could be the current Gaslamp.
Gaslamp’s identity remains a secret, although he is definitely tied to Brother Voodoo. He has plans for the students of Strange Academy, which is frightening considering the power represented in the student roster, including that of Doyle Dormammu, the son of the ruler of the Dark Dimension. If Gaslamp continues to undermine Voodoo’s efforts in training the students, the fallout for the rest of the magical world of Marvel could be significant.
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