In the dark corners of my mind, there lies a haunting memory. A memory of a witch, whose presence still sends shivers down my spine. She was not like any other witch I had ever come across. She possessed a power that seemed to emanate from deep within her soul. It was a power that consumed and transformed those who encountered it. I first encountered the witch on a cold winter's night.
In the comics, Dee is one of the most vicious and cruel characters that fans have ever read or seen. However, in the show, Dee appears to be a lot calmer and have a bigger heart, even having some viewers of the show refer to him as an anti-hero as opposed to the cruel villain he is in the comics. Dee was born to the mistress of the man who captured and held Morpheus hostage. His goal in his thoughts was to make the world a more honest place, in direct opposition to the way he grew up.
She had multiple lovers in the comic book, but in the series, she only ever loved Roderick Burgess, and when he denied her child, she took possession of the tools to survive. She first appeared in the 1st episode of The Sandman when she helped Alex Burgess, son of the Magus Roderick Burgess , to clear out the crowd in front of the Magus house.
I first encountered the witch on a cold winter's night. The air was crisp, and the moon shone bright against the black sky. As I walked through the dense forest, I could sense a presence, an otherworldly energy that drew me closer.
‘The Sandman’ Character: Ethel Cripps, Explained: What Are The Changes From The Comic Book In Her Character?
While searching for his tools, Morpheus, the King of Dreams, learned about his helm and Ruby from the “three sisters”. His helm was traded away with a demon in exchange for the “Amulet of Protection.” The Ruby, which contained a part of himself and the most powerful of all the tools, was passed from a mother to a son. So, Morpheus set his course to collect them all, and while doing so, we were introduced to a character named Ethel Cripps. She first appeared in the 1st episode of “The Sandman” when she helped Alex Burgess, son of the Magus ( Roderick Burgess ), to clear out the crowd in front of the Magus’ house.
According to the comic book, John Dee’s parents were Ethel Cripps and Roderick Burgess. John Dee changed his name to Destiny to keep his identity safe as he knew he had done bad things that could bring shame to his parents. Ethel gave him the Ruby, and he altered its materials. He started affecting people’s dreams with the help of Ruby and called himself “Doctor Destiny.” Somehow, the Justice League stopped him from doing more damage and put him in Arkham Asylum. The Ruby was kept in an old warehouse in the upstate of Gotham. This information was passed to Morpheus by Martian Manhunter, one of the most senior members of the Justice League. Ethel Dee died and left the “Amulet of Protection” to her son, John. It was traded away to a demon by Sykes, one of Magus’ partners in Ancient Mysteries. Sykes seduced Ethel Dee, Burgees’ mistress at the time, and ran away with the tools. He knew that Burgess would use his magic to find them, but he summoned Choronzon, the Demon, and exchanged the helm of the dream lord to get the Amulet of Protection. It worked, and they somehow survived the magical reach of the Magus. In 1936, when Ethel left Sykes and took the Amulet of Protection with her, Burgess managed to put a spell on Sykes that wrecked him.
In the series, Ethel Cripps worked as an independent lady who smuggled different things. She did not run away with Sykes; instead, she grabbed the three tools and fled alone. As the Magus would not want her child, she decided to take on the world independently. Ethel Cripps bargained with the Demon and got the Amulet of Protection in exchange for the helm. She gave the Ruby to John, her son. She came to know from the Corinthian that Morpheus was now free and looking for the tools that were stolen from him. She visited John in the hospital and asked him to give her Ruby so she could return it to the dream lord. But, John refused to trust her as she never told him that Roderick Burgess was his father. Later, Ethel convinced her that he did not want him to be born, and all she did was protect him all the time. John still would not believe her words, so she gave him the “Amulet of Protection.” However, John did not want to have that in the first place, as he had seen what happened to people who stood on the opposite side of the amulet. After Ethel’s convincing, John agreed to have that Amulet and later, she died in his arms. The Amulet kept her alive for 116 years, so when she gave it to John, she grew old instantly and died. John then took the Amulet and escaped from the hospital, searching for the Ruby he had kept in storage. Ethel Cripps’ death had no such effect on John except for a moment.
Some changes were made to the Ethel Cripps character in the comic book adaptation. She had multiple lovers in the comic book, but in the series, she only ever loved Roderick Burgess, and when he denied her child, she took possession of the tools to survive. The Ethel Cripps represented in the comic book was a cunning woman who would bargain with anyone and anything to survive in a world full of vicious men. But, here in the series, we see a mother whose love for her child blinded her. This Ethel Cripps would go to any length to protect John from the impending dangers. Giving away the amulet to gain her son’s trust is one of the reasons that establishes the fact. The selflessness of the mother is what made Ethel Cripps one of the most remarkable characters in this series. In the comic book, she and Sykes stole the three tools for selfish reasons. But, in the series, we see that Ethel Cripps herself stole the tools and gave birth to her son. She stole them to raise her son and survive. It was, however, a personal reason, not wholly selfish. Whatever the reason, Ethel Cripps was portrayed as a character that had more emotional depth in the series, which is a good thing for comic book readers.
Sykes' amulet is a talisman that protects its bearer "from anything", according to its original demonic owner.
And there she was, standing before me, her eyes piercing into my soul. Her gaze was hypnotic, drawing me deeper into her vast depths. Her black hair cascaded down her shoulders, a stark contrast against her pale, porcelain skin. She wore a flowing cloak of deep purple, the color of royalty and mystique. She held a staff in her hand, its intricate carvings telling tales of ancient magic. As I stood before her, my heartbeat quickened, and a mixture of fear and awe filled my senses. I could feel her power, an untamed force that danced on the edge of darkness. It was a power that had consumed many before me, leaving only the remnants of their former selves. Her voice was like silk, caressing my ears as she spoke ancient words that I could not understand. The words echoed through the night, carrying a weight and power that resonated in my very core. It was as though every word she spoke became a part of me, searing into my memory forever. But it wasn't just her words that intrigued me. It was the look in her eyes, the look that seemed to hold centuries of wisdom and secrets. In her eyes, I saw the stories of those who had fallen under her spell, their lives forever altered by her touch. As I gazed into those eyes, I felt a strange mix of fear and fascination. There was a danger in being near her, a danger that I couldn't resist. She was like a flame, both mesmerizing and deadly, drawing me closer and closer until I was consumed by her fire. And then, as quickly as she appeared, she vanished, leaving me alone in the darkness. But her presence remained, etched into my memory, haunting my dreams and waking hours. She was a witch like no other, a force of nature that defied understanding. To this day, I can still feel her presence, her power lingering in the depths of my soul. She left an indelible mark on me, a mark that I can never escape. And though I am left with the memories of her, I can't help but long for her presence once more, to be drawn into her mystic world of darkness and enchantment..
Reviews for "Rewriting History: Berserk's Recollections of the Witch"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Berserk recollections of the witch". The storyline was confusing and disjointed, making it hard to follow and get invested in the characters. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, lacking any depth or emotion. The artwork, which is usually a highlight of Berserk, was also subpar in this volume. Overall, it was a letdown and I wouldn't recommend it to fans of the series.
2. Sarah - 1 star - "Berserk recollections of the witch" was one of the worst manga volumes I've read. The pacing was all over the place, jumping from one scene to another without any coherence. It felt like the author was just trying to fill pages without any clear direction. The characters lacked development, and their motives were unclear. The artwork was also disappointing, with inconsistent proportions and messy panels. I had high hopes for this volume, but it fell flat in every aspect.
3. Alex - 2 stars - As a long-time fan of Berserk, I was hoping "Berserk recollections of the witch" would deliver the same level of dark and compelling storytelling. Unfortunately, it fell short. The plot seemed convoluted and didn't add much to the overall story arc. The character interactions felt forced and lacked the depth I've come to expect from this series. The artwork was also a letdown, with some panels looking rushed and unfinished. I was left feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied after reading this volume.