Niall Ó Glacáin, or Nellanus Glacanus (c. 1563-1653) was an Irish physician during the time of the Bubonic plague. Of all documented plague doctors, Ó Glacáin was the most notable. He treated victims throughout France, Spain and Italy. Bubonic plague is commonly believed to be the cause of the Black Death that swept through Europe. Sometime before 1600, Ó Glacáin made his way to Spain, possibly to treat victims of an outbreak of the plague, which was rampant from 1595 to 1602. The beak doctor costume was invented around 1619 (during the second plague pandemic); the beak-like mask was filled with aromatic items for air purification. In 1627, Ó Glacáin moved to France to assist during another plague outbreak. In 1629, as a respected authority on plague treatment, Ó Glacáin published his most famous work, Tractatus de Peste, which contained his concise descriptions of the plague, its various effects on patients, and treatment and prevention recommendations.
I’ve been saving this 8-bit plague doctor character for a long time. I wanted Ó Glacáin to be No. 800, which meant waiting until this year’s All Hallows’ Eve. On that note, I have now drawn 800 of these primitive pixel art characters over the past four years. Here are seven other individuals that I chose to honor numerically: No. 100 (Benjamin Franklin), No. 200 (Johnny Cash), No. 300 (Leonidas I), No. 400 (Charles Darwin), No. 500 (William Gibson), No. 600 (Jeff Mangum), No. 700 (J. D. Salinger). Happy Halloween! Also, Ebola. As previously tweeted, the following is the plot of Absolute Zero, a book published in 1999: “A man with Ebola flew to Dallas and began the Ebola pandemic in America.” Creepy.
Mike Wazowski is a green, one-eyed monster and employee at Monsters, Inc. in the 2001 computer-animated Pixar film of the same title. The parallel city of Monstropolis is inhabited by monsters and powered by the screams of children in the human world. At the Monsters, Inc. factory, employees called “scarers” venture into children’s bedrooms to scare them and collect their screams, using closet doors as portals. But the monsters are themselves afraid that the children may contaminate them. The plot of the film involves Mike Wazowski (voiced by Billy Crystal) and his best friend Sully (John Goodman) discovering and trying to return a young human girl who has entered Monstropolis.
In Haitian Vodou, he is the intermediary between the loa and humanity. He is the master linguist, the trickster, warrior and the personal messenger of destiny. He stands at a spiritual crossroads and gives (or denies) permission to speak with the spirits of Guinee. Papa Legba’s colors are red and black (as worshipped in New Orleans voodoo rituals).
A personification of death. The concept of death as a sentient entity has existed in many societies since the beginning of history. In English, Death is often given the name Grim Reaper and, from the 15th century onward, came to be shown as a skeletal figure in a hooded black cloak carrying a large scythe.
A sacred figure venerated in Mexico, probably a mix of Mesoamerican and Catholic beliefs. The name literally translates to “Holy Death” or “Saint Death.” A reverence toward death can be seen in the widespread Mexican celebration of the Day of the Dead. Catholic elements of that celebration include the use of skeletons to remind people of their mortality.
Catrina figures have been a staple of Mexican imagery since printmaker José Guadalupe Posada created a zinc etching called La Calavera Catrina (The Elegant Skull) in 1913. His skeletal parody of a Mexican upper-class woman is often incorporated into artistic manifestations of the Day of the Dead, such as altars and calavera costumes.
A fictional character from the Land of Oz book series by L. Frank Baum. Jack was made by a little boy to scare his guardian, an old witch named Mombi. She then brought him to life using the Powder of Life. Jack has a jack-o’-lantern for a head and his tall figure is made from tree limbs and jointed with wooden pegs.
A fictional monster that first appeared in Frankenstein, the 1818 novel by Mary Shelley. The creature is often erroneously referred to as “Frankenstein,” but in the novel the creature has no name. Frankenstein includes elements of the Gothic novel and the Romantic movement and is also considered to be one of the earliest examples of science fiction.
The fictional antagonist of Bram Stoker’s 1897 Gothic horror novel Dracula and archetypal vampire. Some aspects of his character have been inspired by the 15th century Romanian general Vlad the Impaler. In the U.S., the character is in the public domain and frequently appears in all manner of popular culture, from films to animated media to breakfast cereals.
The blue cartoon ghost mascot of Boo Berry breakfast cereal. Introduced in 1973, it is one of three currently distributed General Mills monster-themed breakfast cereals. This sugary variety features blueberry-flavored corn cereal bits and marshmallows. Beginning in 2011, these cereals are only sold during the fall/Halloween season.
The cartoon Frankenstein’s monster mascot of Franken Berry breakfast cereal. Introduced in 1971, it is one of three currently distributed General Mills monster-themed breakfast cereals. This sugary variety features strawberry-flavored corn cereal bits and marshmallows. Beginning in 2011, these cereals are only sold during the fall/Halloween season.
The cartoon vampire mascot of Count Chocula breakfast cereal. Introduced in 1971, it is one of three currently distributed General Mills monster-themed breakfast cereals. This sugary variety features chocolate-flavored corn cereal bits and marshmallows. Beginning in 2011, these cereals are only sold during the fall/Halloween season.
Niall Ó Glacáin – No. 800
Niall Ó Glacáin, or Nellanus Glacanus (c. 1563-1653) was an Irish physician during the time of the Bubonic plague. Of all documented plague doctors, Ó Glacáin was the most notable. He treated victims throughout France, Spain and Italy. Bubonic plague is commonly believed to be the cause of the Black Death that swept through Europe. Sometime before 1600, Ó Glacáin made his way to Spain, possibly to treat victims of an outbreak of the plague, which was rampant from 1595 to 1602. The beak doctor costume was invented around 1619 (during the second plague pandemic); the beak-like mask was filled with aromatic items for air purification. In 1627, Ó Glacáin moved to France to assist during another plague outbreak. In 1629, as a respected authority on plague treatment, Ó Glacáin published his most famous work, Tractatus de Peste, which contained his concise descriptions of the plague, its various effects on patients, and treatment and prevention recommendations.
I’ve been saving this 8-bit plague doctor character for a long time. I wanted Ó Glacáin to be No. 800, which meant waiting until this year’s All Hallows’ Eve. On that note, I have now drawn 800 of these primitive pixel art characters over the past four years. Here are seven other individuals that I chose to honor numerically: No. 100 (Benjamin Franklin), No. 200 (Johnny Cash), No. 300 (Leonidas I), No. 400 (Charles Darwin), No. 500 (William Gibson), No. 600 (Jeff Mangum), No. 700 (J. D. Salinger). Happy Halloween! Also, Ebola. As previously tweeted, the following is the plot of Absolute Zero, a book published in 1999: “A man with Ebola flew to Dallas and began the Ebola pandemic in America.” Creepy.