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| Night Breed | |
| Continuity: | Nightbreed |
| Category: | Terrestrial |
| Status: | Existing |
| Body type: | Various |
| Lifespan: | Prolonged lifespan |
| Limbs: | Various |
| Eyes: | Various |
| Fingers: | Various |
| Toes: | Various |
| Special adaptations: | Unique physiology Shape-shifting |
| Sub-groups: | Berserkers Tribes of the Moon |
| Allies: | None |
| Enemies: | Naturals Philip Decker Shere Neck Police Department Sons of the Free |
| 1st appearance: | Cabal (novel) |
The Night Breed are a fictional race featured in the 1988 horror novel Cabal by author Clive Barker. They were brought to even larger life in the 1990 feature film adaptation Nightbreed. They were also the central characters featured in the Night Breed ongoing series published by Marvel Comics under their Epic imprint in 1990 as well as the twelve-issue Nightbreed comic series published by Boom! Studios in 2014.
Description[]
The Night Breed is the umbrella term used to describe a coalition of races of supernatural creatures. They are divided between different tribes who devote themselves to the service of their god entity Baphomet. The origins of the Night Breed extend as far back as the Dark Ages, where they were hunted and exterminated by the human hierarchy, which the Night Breed has taken to calling "naturals". They were subjugated during the Holy Crusades and forced to go into hiding. Members of the Night Breed do not adhere to any static set of physical characteristics, and each member of each tribe demonstrates their own unique gifts. Most Night Breed are shape-shifters to some extent, and some have even possessed the ability to retain a relatively humanoid appearance. While many members of the Night Breed are born with their special characteristics, others can be made into a Night Breed. This universally involves surrendering the corporeal flesh in death, and allowing themselves to be born again. Many, though not all Night Breed are sensitive to ultraviolet radiation, and for some, the blistering touch of the rays of the sun are fatal.
One of the most prolific of factions under Baphomet's leadership is known as the Tribes of the Moon. After being forced to flee Europe during the Holy Crusades, Baphomet established a massive subterranean safe-haven known as Midian. Midian was located beneath a necropolis in Alberta, Canada, not far from the town of Shere Neck.
One non-tribe of Night Breed is known as the Berserkers. They were once human subjects who were experimented on by Nazis during World War II. These beings are the most monstrous and uncontrollable of Night Breeds, bearing no semblance of humanity at all whatsoever.
For centuries, it had been prophesied that one person from the natural world would embrace the ways of the Night Breed and lead the Tribes of the Moon to Salvation. This chosen one was realized in the form of a young man from Calgary named Aaron Boone. In his first encounter with the Night Breed, Aaron suffered a bite from the cannibalistic Peloquin. Boone died as a result, but his body was taken to Midian where he was resurrected and became a member of the Tribes of the Moon. Shortly thereafter, human aggressors from the nearby Shere Neck Police Department as well as the radical fringe group the Sons of the Free staged a massive violent raid on Midian, with the intent of exterminating all creatures above and below. Baphomet baptized Aaron Boone as Cabal, and from there, Boone assumed a leadership role within the Tribes and fought against the naturals. Although Midian was destroyed, most of the Night Breed survived. Boone led them away from the fires of their old home with the promise of establishing a new safe-haven for the Night Breed.
Representatives[]
- Aaron Boone
- Annastasjia
- Ashberry
- Babette
- Baphomet
- Beloit Motto
- Cocholat
- Devil Lude
- Dirk Lylesberg
- Leroy Gomm
- Kinski
- Kushnir Day
- Lisa Winston
- Narcisse
- Ohnaka
- Otis and Clay
- Peloquin
- Philip K. Decker
- Rachel
- Shuna Sassi
Notes & Trivia[]
- The Night Breed were created by author Clive Barker.
Related pages[]
See also[]
Appearances[]
Books Film Night Breed, Vol. 1 (Marvel/Epic)
Hellraiser/Nightbreed (Marvel/Epic)
Nightbreed, Vol. 1 (Boom! Studios)
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