Javert
Context
Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables was published in 1862. It mixes realism and capital-r-Romantism in a sweeping description of the working class of contemporary France, with a large cast, action, drama, quasi-documentary descriptions, melodrama, out-of-the-blue asides about poverty or human nature, etc..
By any definition, it is a core novel in Francophone literature, and it remains popular 150+ years later.
Les Misérables was adapted umpteen times worldwide in various format. In 1980, an adaptation as a musical — not a common medium in France — was a huge success in Paris. By 1985 an Anglophone adaptation was an even larger success in London, and soon it became an even even bigger hit on Broadway. Which in turn led to a 2012 blockbuster movie.
The following isn’t a full profile for major character Javert. It’s more like character notes.
Advertisement
Background
- Real Name: Unrevealed.
- Marital Status: Single.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: French Police.
- Base Of Operations: Many, around France.
- Height: 6’ Weight: 145lbs.
- Eyes: Blue Hair: Dark
Powers and Abilities
A police man and quite a detective.
He could perhaps be a Holmes, without his geniality. Or perhaps it would be better to relate him with Inspector Lestrade …
History
When he was a child he lived in a prison. When he was young he was a guard in a penitentiary, the one where Jean Valjean was locked up in. It’s with this background that the manhunter and crimefighter personality of Javert is born.
Years later, Valjean, under a false identity, became Mayor of the Montreuil-sur-Mer village. Javert was sent there as the new police chief. He suspected that the mayor was Valjean, but he didn’t have proof.
To save an innocent, Valjean revealed his identity. Javert went after him. He deduced that Valjean would first take Cosette, Fantine’s daughter, from the Thenardiers. But Javert couldn’t get them then, or when they took refuge in a school in Paris.
Years later, with Cosette now a grown up, the Revolution exploded. Cosette fell in love with a young student, Marius. Javert tracked Valjean through them. He infiltrated the revolutionaries, only to be captured by them.
Valjean managed to free Javert. He ran away with a wounded Marius through the sewers. Javert went after him and finally caught him.
But when Valjean saved Javert’s life something began to swell inside the human hound. His only way out was to leave Valjean free and commit suicide by jumping handcuffed into the Seine’s waters.
Description
He’s before anything else a policeman, and that’s why he’s always perfectly dressed in that way.
Perhaps that’s why he’s so easily captured when infiltrates the revolutionary… ^_^
Personality
“A man who totally believes that he is in the right in imposing the law on those who break it. He has taken this stance that the world is divided into two lots of people – law breakers and law abiders ; and he has no belief that a person can reform themselves or be redeemed. This is one of his demons ; because of his parentage, he lives in fear of crossing the line into criminality, from where he sees there is no way back” (From the Sony Les Miserables page)
Oh, and of course he has focused his live in catching Valjean.
Quotes
“God be my witness I never shall yield till we come face to face.”
DC Universe History
Javert would fit as is in the DC Universe. Or perhaps in an Elsewords where Clark Valjean is hunted by Bruce Javert… Hmmm… Or perhaps the opposite, Clark Javert in a driven mad crusade for Law against Bruce Valjean.
Some other suggest the tandem being Hal and Ollie. But that brings in some identity problems. Well, there always is the J’Onn J’avert idea…
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Javert
| Dex: 03 | Str: 02 | Bod: 02 | Motivation: Seeking Justice |
| Int: 05 | Wil: 08 | Min: 04 | Occupation: Police chief |
| Inf: 03 | Aur: 03 | Spi: 05 | Resources {or Wealth}: 005 |
| Init: 011 | HP: 040 |
Skills:
Animal Handling (Riding): 02, Charisma: 04, Detective (except ID Systems)*: 05, Military Science (Cartography, Tracking): 06, Thief (Locks and Safes, Stealth): 05, Weaponry (Firearms, Melee): 03
Advantages:
Police Rank (Inspecteur), Scholar (Religion), Sharp Eye.
Connections:
French Police (High).
Drawbacks:
MIH (Criminals), CIA (catching Jean Valjean), Unluck.
Equipment:
- Gun [BODY 04, Projectile weapon: 04, R#05, Ammo: 02].
- Handcuffs [BODY 05].
Helper(s): Lord John Colagioia, Lord Vinnie, Sébastien Andrivet.
Source of Character: Les Misérables novel, musical play and 1998 movie.