Archetype:Bogeyman

"I was the dark in the cave! I was the shadow in the trees! You've heard about... the primal scream? That was... at me!"

― The First Bogeyman, Discworld

"From ghoulies and ghosties and long-leggety beasties and things that go bump in the night, good Lord, deliver us!"

― Welsh Prayer

"It's not just the wind. It's not all in your head. And it's definitely something to worry about."

― Bump in the Night, Magic: The Gathering.

"Don't fear the dark. Fear me."

― The Secret World

The archetype for the characters who possess traits of, or are the Bogeyman. Archetype of a malevolent Spirit or Monster. Variation of Tormentor.

Also Called[]

Bogeyman Archetype
Bogieman/Boogeyman/Boogieman
Bogeywoman/Bogiewoman/Boogeywoman/Boogiewoman
The Bogeyman

Properties[]

As an archetype, the Bogeyman is an amorphous being that has no specific appearance. In many cases, it has no set appearance, but is simply a non-specific embodiment of terror.

The Bogeyman often targets children, either to simply scare them or for some other nefarious purpose, they are primarily designed to enforce social norms and behavior, as well as keep children from doing things that are dangerous - for example the medieval Bugbear was a scary bear that lurked near the edge of woods to deter children from entering woods, river-hags were invented to keep children from playing near water and drowning, likewise trolls and goblins became a common tactic to stop children playing in marshes or abandoned ruins.. tales of the kelpie and other water-horses prevented children disturbing both wild horses and horses that belonged to nobles who would likely take vengeance on those who dared disturb their prized equines.

While still practice the tradition of scary stories and monsters to keep children away from dangerous areas the practice of using bogeymen to force children into "good behavior" is no longer seen as socially acceptable and has fallen out of favor in many places - nevertheless the bogeyman itself is a powerful icon that has spread across almost every culture on Earth and thus survives as a deep-rooted part of human imagination.

Associated Powers[]

Bogeymen Entities[]

Associations[]

Flaws/Weaknesses[]

Daytime
Many with Fear Immunity.

Known/Example Characters[]

Folklore/Mythology

The Krampus (Alpine Folklore)
Boggart (English Folklore)
Boogeyman (English Folklore)
Bugbears (English Folklore)
Belsnickel (German Folklore)

Literature

Bogeymen (City of Devils)
Boogeyman/The Tooth Fairy (Discworld)
It/Pennywise the Dancing Clown (Stephen King's It)

Live Television/Movies

The Woogyman (Charmed)
Rawhead (Supernatural)
The Grand Guignol (A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting)
Babadook (The Babadook)
Boogeyman (Boogeyman film series)
The Bye Bye Man (The Bye Bye Man)
Daniel Robitaille/Candyman (Candyman franchise)
Michael Myers (Halloween series)
Boggart (Harry Potter franchise)
Freddy Krueger (A Nightmare on Elm Street series)
The Pale Man (Pan's Labyrinth)

Comics/Cartoons

Martin Berger/Boogieman (DC Comics)
Dark Man/Mr. Dark (Fables)
Boogeyman (The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy)
Boogeyman (Martin Mystery)
Oogie Boogie (The Nightmare Before Christmas)
- All the citizens of Halloween Town
Boogeyman (The Powerpuff Girls)
Boogieman (The Real Ghostbusters)
Pitch Black (Rise of the Guardians)