Monsieur Zenith
286601
217326717
2008-06-05T15:29:29Z
Elsan
228525
Typo
[[Image:Monsieur zenith the albino.gif|frame|''Monsieur Zenith the Albino'' ([[Savoy Books]], [[2001]])]]
'''Monsieur Zenith the Albino''' is an ambiguous [[villain]] created by writer [[Anthony Skene]] for the [[Sexton Blake]] series of detective [[pulp magazine|pulp fiction]].
Zenith is a world-weary [[albino]] master thief, originally Romanian royalty but in exile for undetermined reasons. He is full of an ennui which can only be relieved by opium, danger and adventure. Zenith sets himself against Blake not out of avarice but for the joy of the game, and treats Blake with sportsmanship rather than anger or hatred.
Zenith is influenced as much by the anti-heroes of [[Gothic fiction]] as he is by the master villains of 20th century pulp fiction, notably [[Fantômas]]. Zenith remains one of Blake's most popular adversaries.
Monsieur Zenith was an important influence in the creation of [[Elric of Melniboné]]. Elric author [[Michael Moorcock]] influenced the publication of ''Monsieur Zenith: The Albino'' [ISBN 0861301099], for which he would write an introduction.<ref>http://www.worldfamouscomics.com/bakersdozen/back20050105.shtml</ref>
==Other uses==
*Zenith is briefly mentioned in [[Kim Newman]]'s novel ''[[Judgment of Tears]]'' as a possible leader of anti-[[vampire]] murders in Rome.
*Zenith appears in [[Alan Moore]] and [[Kevin O'Neill|Kevin O'Neill's]] ''[[The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Black Dossier]]'' as a member of Les Hommes Mysterieux, a French version of Britain's League.
==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.multiverse.org/ Moorcock's Miscellany] (formerly Tanelorn, Multiverse.org & Moorcock's Weekly Miscellany)
* [http://www.geocities.com/jessnevins/zenith.html Jess Nevins' Zenith the Albino Page]
[[Category:Fictional people with albinism|Zenith, Monsieur]]