Daywalker
This article possibly contains original research. (April 2008) |
A daywalker is a vampire which, for various reasons, is immune to the effects of sunlight and is able to operate during the day. The term was coined in the Blade comics published by Marvel and was popularized by the Blade films based upon them.[1]
Many dhampir (half-vampire/half-humans) are daywalkers. However, some pureblooded vampires are powerful enough or have found ways to negate the effects of sunlight. An example of this is Count Kinkell from Tsukuyomi - he is able to bend light around himself so that he is not burned. Sometimes, a daywalker may be immune to some of the other classic vampire weaknesses, such as garlic or the need to drink blood.
Actual Folklore vs. Fiction
In most folklore, vampires are not killed by sunlight and therefore are not limited to only nighttime escapades. The belief that sunlight hurts them was actually popularized by F.W. Murnau's classic silent film Nosferatu, in which the vampire Graf Orlock is lured into feeding upon one of the female protagonists until daybreak when he was "dissolved" by the morning light.[2]
List of Daywalkers
Vampiric characters who are partially or fully immune to the effects of daylight, in a setting where daylight is usually fatal or detrimental to vampires.
Individuals
- Alucard (Hellsing)
- Alucard (Castlevania)
- Blade (Blade comics and film)
- Arcueid Brunestud (Tsukihime)
- D (Vampire Hunter D)
- Count Dracula (Dracula and other works by Bram Stoker)
- James Thomas Foxall (Power Rangers: Mystic Force)
- Hazuki (Tsukuyomi -Moon Phase-)[3]
- Kain (Legacy of Kain)
- Count Heinrich von Kinkell (Tsukuyomi -Moon Phase-)
- Karin Maaka (Chibi Vampire)[4]
- Evangeline A.K. McDowell (Negima)
- Necrolai (Power Rangers: Mystic Force)
- Rayne (Bloodrayne series)
- Selene (following the events of Underworld: Evolution)[5]
- Slayer (Guilty Gear series)
- Vancuria (Mahou Sentai Magiranger)
- Devlin Waugh (Devlin Waugh, following events of Red Tide)
- Miyu Yamano (Vampire Princess Miyu)
Various characters from one source
- Akasha and Enkil, and potentially other ancient or unusually powerful individuals (The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice)
- Molochai, Twig, and Zillah (Lost Souls by Poppy Z. Brite)
- Various characters wearing the Gem of Amarra (Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel)[6]
Daywalker 2.0
Connor (Angel, Buffyverse Continuity) represents the second generation of the daywalker mythology. Connor is the offspring of two vampires, one of whom possesses a human soul. He has all the strengths and powers of a vampire. His powers include, but are not limited to:
- Vampiric speed and agility
- Vampiric physical strength - Several times the strength of an average human.
- Vampiric durability - a 50 ft. drop doesn't trouble him, however he is still injured like a human by piercing wounds
- Vampiric senses - sensory perception several times more powerful than that of a human.
Connor also has none of the weaknesses of a vampire. The sun, holy water, wooden stakes, crosses etc. affect him no differently than they would a normal human. He also lacks the vampiric blood lust, and possibly even vampiric fangs, and consumes normal food and drink. In some ways, his powers resemble those of the Slayer.
References in media
- In the South Park episode "Ginger Kids", Eric Cartman dubs Kyle Broflovski a daywalker because he has red hair but no freckles and therefore is not as sensitive to direct sunlight.
References
- ^ "WEEKENDER: And now for some serious sucking." (Blade, Stephen Norrington)BusinessWorld. Manila: Oct 30, 1998. pg. 1 " Blade himself is called a "daywalker," or someone who has all a vampire's powers - superhuman strength and speed - without their weaknesses" Source type: Periodical ISSN: 01163930 ProQuest document ID: 35523573 Text Word Count 1066 Document URL: http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=35523573&sid=1&Fmt=3&clientId=76566&RQT=309&VName=PQD (subscription required) Retrieved May 11, 2007
- ^ Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens, Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau, 1922.
- ^ Tsukuyomi Moon Phase episode 14
- ^ Chibi Vampire #1
- ^ Underworld: Evolution, Len Wiseman, 2006.
- ^ Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "The Harsh Light of Day (Buffy episode)", October 19 1999.