THE LAGAHOO IN THE COMIC   In Terror of the Midnight Robber, the Lagahoo rises from a grave in Lapeyrouse cemetery.  He literally explodes from the earth, towering over a hapless vagrant that found refuge in the peaceful graveyard.  He then begins walking into downtown Port-of-Spain, leaving wrecked cars and damaged property in his wake.  In this way he represents the archetype of the lumbering beast wreaking havoc on an unsuspecting and powerless population.  This is key to many of the characters in Trinidad and Tobago’s folklore, where supernatural creatures terrorized children and adults as they emerged from the shadows.   Like Frankenstein’s monster or Godzilla, this archetype is used in over and over in contemporary literature to represent fear of the unknown, a monster born of some dark practice (like playing God or rampantly polluting the earth).  It is a way for people to come to terms with things that they cannot understand or that do not fit neatly into their world-view. As the story continues we learn of the Lagahoo’s origin, and we come to realize that when he was human he was misunderstood and persecuted for his spiritual practices- an obvious allegory for the suppression of indigenous culture as African slaves were brought to the West and treated like beasts of burden that lacked the cultural or societal sophistication of their European masters.  The Lagahoo practiced obeah (magic), and was a respected priest among his fellow slaves. This is where the comic story greatly deviates from the actual legend of the Lagahoo.  The entire back story in the comic was created to show the Lagahoo as a sympathetic character.  His attempt to help during a crisis by using obeah only made him a target for blame when things went from bad to worse.  He was branded as the cause of the tragedy, and was tortured and buried alive by his master because of it.  It was only then that he chose the path that led to him becoming the monster that he is today. Visually, the Lagahoo takes many cues from the actual folklore character.  He was designed to be physically imposing; tall and muscular, with chains hanging off of his body and attached to his chest.  He carries a coffin on his back and has the ability to change into a wolf.  The Lagahoo has a part to play in the Midnight Robber’s sinister plan, but that is a story for another time.   (Illustrations by Christopher Riley)
THE LEGEND OF THE LAGAHOO   The term Lagahoo is derived from the French name Loup Garou, which refers to the werewolf.  He is also referred to as the Ligahoo.  The legend came to the Americas and the West Indies from Europe and was adapted regionally.  The Loup Garou has a very strong place in the mythology of Louisiana, USA, but is known there as a pure werewolf.  In Trinidadian folklore the Lagahoo maintains the shape-shifting abilities of the original creature but also has elements of African culture blended in, making him a unique hybrid.   Most Lagahoo stories involve him having a coffin on his head and chains on his body that drag behind him when he walks.  The Lagahoo is an Obeah Man or practitioner of what are considered to be dark arts.  In many villages there were actual people who were called Lagahoos, because they were known Obeah Men. Villagers would sometimes turn to these men for help but feared and ostracized them, because obeah supposedly made them powerful and evil.  All Lagahoo stories involve his ability to shape-shift into various animals, most notably the wolf.  According to some, if you wish to see a Lagahoo at night you must remove the mucus from a dog’s eye and place it in your own and then at the stroke of midnight look through a keyhole.   One legend suggests that he does not have a head, but instead has the coffin sitting on his neck in place of it. On top of the coffin there are three lit candles.  He has a heavy chain around his waist which drags behind him and warns people of his presence.  He thrives on both the blood of animals and humans alike.  This version of the Lagahoo can be killed by using a stick that has been anointed with holy water and holy oil to beat him.  During the beating, the Lagahoo will change into different creatures before dissolving into a mist. From a storytelling point of view, the legend of the Lagahoo varies wildly across Trinidad and Tobago, possibly because it is derived from so many sources, combining pure myth from different cultures with real world experiences.   (Illustration by Alfred Codallo)