"Ink," the origin and meaning of his tattoos...

[Eviebae]

I just found out about your podcast! I listened to the last one but not the live one (I wanna). I can't believe you've been going for so long without me knowing.

BTW I noticed you did some awesome isolations (shutup spell check, it is too a word) of the tattoos. Can Jannit and I use them for The Symbols category for the Wiki? We wanna have his head and have closeups with possible meanings (the Wiki "no more than 5 attachments" rule sucks mud)

I first recognized the Voodoo Veve on his hand in the art for Chapter 27 and I've found bunches more since.
Attachment 1685
Ah yes, fun on a Saturday night.

The thing about the veves is there are lots of sub-types for the same Loa (spirit) depending on who it comes from. Papa Damballah figures very prominently in Mr. Ink's face-lapedia. Here's a doll from a website that has a bunch of his symbols on it:
vevedoll.jpg

But here's another one from a different website that looks very much like the ones on his left cheek near his mouth and his chin.
Attachment 1678
Why this photo isn't showing up I have no clue; just click on it I guess

The sort of ginormous one on his scalp I believe is for Loko (now no longer a gray image on a black background). He was the first priest/hougan and looks after them.
Loko_2100x2100b-300x300.jpg
Funny thing is, none of the Loas he's tattooed himself with are dark or difficult. Papa Damballah is a protector and guider of mankind (hrm, sound familiar?)

Also, I am drawn back to this area on his scalp:
scalp.JPG

I think that's the seal for either the angel Bethor or Phaleg, from a book Agrippa wrote--I haven't decided which.
Seals.jpg
Here's a link that I hope works to a book on talismans and amulets which quotes it (by a guy with the wonderful name of Budge )

It was also used in Silent Hill, something about a bunch of symbols on the TVs in the mall.

Of the two, I'm leaning towards Bethor.

• #2 "Seal of Bethor who commanded 29,000 legions of spirits"
• #3 "Seal of Phaleg the warlord."

There's more but it's late...like late