Sâr Dubnotal
Encyclopedia
Sâr Dubnotal is a fictional character
and pulp hero who starred in 20 pulp magazines published in France
in 1909.
The Sâr Dubnotal stories were published anonymously
. Some scholars believe they were written by Norbert Sévestre, a prolific author of popular adventure series, many of which included similarly fantastic
elements, although this has never been proven.
and a superhero
not unlike Marvel Comics
' Doctor Strange
.
He is a learned Master of the Occult, nickmamed the Great Psychagogue, the Napoléon of the Intangible, the Master of Psychognosis, the Conqueror of the Invisible, El Tebib (meaning Doctor in Arabic), or merely the Doctor.
Despite his stylish oriental guise, Sâr Dubnotal is a westerner, schooled by the Rosicrucian
s, who has then learned the ancient secrets of the Hindu
mystics. He is capable of telepathy
, levitation and hypnotism. He was born in Mumbai
. His exact age is unknown, but he is very likely much older than he seems.
Sâr Dubnotal owns houses in Trez-Hir in Brittany
, on the Champs-Élysées
in Paris
and in Cheyne Walk
in London
. He also owns several yachts, including the Brahma and the Derviche. He also owns an atoll
called Redemption Island located along the Tropic of Cancer
in the Pacific Ocean
, where he sends villains to be reformed.
Two recurring enemies include rival evil hypnotist Tserpchikopf who turns out to be Jack the Ripper
and Russia
n revolutionary
Azef, based on a real-life figure.
Episodes 1, 7, 9, 10 and 11 were published in English in a translation by Brian Stableford
under the title Sâr Dubnotal vs. Jack the Ripper by Black Coat Press (ISBN 9781934543948) in November 2009.
published in the anthology
Tales of the Shadowmen
.
Sâr Dubnotal is mentioned in Volume 2 of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
and pulp hero who starred in 20 pulp magazines published in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1909.
The Sâr Dubnotal stories were published anonymously
Anonymity
Anonymity is derived from the Greek word ἀνωνυμία, anonymia, meaning "without a name" or "namelessness". In colloquial use, anonymity typically refers to the state of an individual's personal identity, or personally identifiable information, being publicly unknown.There are many reasons why a...
. Some scholars believe they were written by Norbert Sévestre, a prolific author of popular adventure series, many of which included similarly fantastic
Fantastic
The Fantastic is a literary term that describes a quality of other literary genres, and, in some cases, is used as a genre in and of itself, although in this case it is often conflated with the Supernatural. The term was originated in the structuralist theory of critic Tzvetan Todorov in his work...
elements, although this has never been proven.
Overview
The Sâr Dubnotal is a sorcererMagician (fantasy)
A magician, mage, sorcerer, sorceress, wizard, enchanter, enchantress, thaumaturge or a person known under one of many other possible terms is someone who uses or practices magic that derives from supernatural or occult sources...
and a superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
not unlike Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
' Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange
Doctor Stephen Strange is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was co-created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in Strange Tales #110 ....
.
He is a learned Master of the Occult, nickmamed the Great Psychagogue, the Napoléon of the Intangible, the Master of Psychognosis, the Conqueror of the Invisible, El Tebib (meaning Doctor in Arabic), or merely the Doctor.
Despite his stylish oriental guise, Sâr Dubnotal is a westerner, schooled by the Rosicrucian
Rosicrucian
Rosicrucianism is a philosophical secret society, said to have been founded in late medieval Germany by Christian Rosenkreuz. It holds a doctrine or theology "built on esoteric truths of the ancient past", which, "concealed from the average man, provide insight into nature, the physical universe...
s, who has then learned the ancient secrets of the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
mystics. He is capable of telepathy
Telepathy
Telepathy , is the induction of mental states from one mind to another. The term was coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Fredric W. H. Myers, a founder of the Society for Psychical Research, and has remained more popular than the more-correct expression thought-transference...
, levitation and hypnotism. He was born in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
. His exact age is unknown, but he is very likely much older than he seems.
Sâr Dubnotal owns houses in Trez-Hir in Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
, on the Champs-Élysées
Champs-Élysées
The Avenue des Champs-Élysées is a prestigious avenue in Paris, France. With its cinemas, cafés, luxury specialty shops and clipped horse-chestnut trees, the Avenue des Champs-Élysées is one of the most famous streets and one of the most expensive strip of real estate in the world. The name is...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and in Cheyne Walk
Cheyne Walk
Cheyne Walk , is a historic street in Chelsea, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It takes its name from William Lord Cheyne who owned the manor of Chelsea until 1712. Most of the houses were built in the early 18th century. Before the construction in the 19th century of the busy...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He also owns several yachts, including the Brahma and the Derviche. He also owns an atoll
Atoll
An atoll is a coral island that encircles a lagoon partially or completely.- Usage :The word atoll comes from the Dhivehi word atholhu OED...
called Redemption Island located along the Tropic of Cancer
Tropic of Cancer
The Tropic of Cancer, also referred to as the Northern tropic, is the circle of latitude on the Earth that marks the most northerly position at which the Sun may appear directly overhead at its zenith...
in the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
, where he sends villains to be reformed.
Two recurring enemies include rival evil hypnotist Tserpchikopf who turns out to be Jack the Ripper
Jack the Ripper
"Jack the Ripper" is the best-known name given to an unidentified serial killer who was active in the largely impoverished areas in and around the Whitechapel district of London in 1888. The name originated in a letter, written by someone claiming to be the murderer, that was disseminated in the...
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n revolutionary
Revolutionary
A revolutionary is a person who either actively participates in, or advocates revolution. Also, when used as an adjective, the term revolutionary refers to something that has a major, sudden impact on society or on some aspect of human endeavor.-Definition:...
Azef, based on a real-life figure.
Stories
All 20 magazines were published by Eichler, starting in January 1909 - at the same time in France and translated in Germany.- Le Manoir Hanté de Creh'h-ar-Vran (The Haunted Manor of Creh'h-ar-Vran)
- La Table Tournante du Docteur Tooth (Dr. Tooth's Turning Table)
- Le Puits Fatal (The Fatal Well)
- Le Médium Tragique (The Tragic Medium)
- La Grêve Sanglante (The Bloody Beach)
- La Détraquée du Passage Rimbaut (The Madwoman of Passage Rimbaut)
- Tserpchikopf, le Sanglant Hypnotiseur (Tserpchikopf, the Bloody Hypnotist)
- La Piste Astrale (The Astral Trail)
- L'Écartelée de Montmartre (The Quartered Woman of Montmartre)
- Jack l'Éventreur (Jack the Ripper)
- Haine Posthume (Posthumous Hatred)
- La Fiancée de Gibraltar (The Fiancée from Gibraltar)
- Les Vampires du Cimetière (The Vampires of the Cemetery)
- L'Empreinte Rouge (The Red Mark)
- La Somnambule du Gué Sanglant (The Somnambulist of the River of Blood)
- L'Affaire Azzef-Poloukhine (The Azzef-Poloukhine Case)
- Un Complot Terroriste (A Terrorist Plot)
- Dans l'Enfer Sibérien (In the Siberian Hell)
- Azzef, le Roi des Agents Provocateurs (Azzef, King of the Agents Provocateurs)
- Double-Taf, le Dernier des Pentyerns (Double-Taf, Last of the Pentyerns)
Episodes 1, 7, 9, 10 and 11 were published in English in a translation by Brian Stableford
Brian Stableford
Brian Michael Stableford is a British science fiction writer who has published more than 70 novels. His earlier books were published as by Brian M. Stableford, but more recent ones have dropped the middle initial and appeared under the name Brian Stableford...
under the title Sâr Dubnotal vs. Jack the Ripper by Black Coat Press (ISBN 9781934543948) in November 2009.
Other appearances
Sâr Dubnotal has appeared in several short storiesShort story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
published in the anthology
Anthology
An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
Tales of the Shadowmen
Tales of the Shadowmen
Tales of the Shadowmen is an annual anthology of short stories edited by Jean-Marc Lofficier and Randy Lofficier, published by . As of 2010, seven volumes have been released, with a eighth slated for late 2011...
.
Sâr Dubnotal is mentioned in Volume 2 of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is a comic book series written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Kevin O'Neill, publication of which began in 1999. The series spans two six-issue limited series and a graphic novel from the America's Best Comics imprint of Wildstorm/DC, and a third miniseries...
.