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Samson
Samson1
Judge of God
Vital statistics
Race Hebrews
Age Deceased
Height Unknown
Weight Unknown
"Fortunately for us, God is merciful! And despite our failings, he uses us to accomplish his divine will. Like with your father ..."
Manoah reflects on his son Samson's many moral failings[src]

Samson was a judge of ancient Israel, who served as leader of his people for twenty years until he died in the collapse of a pagan temple. His character in the series is based partly on the life of the historical judge of Israel as recorded in chapters thirteen to sixteen of the book of Judges. The major difference between the real and fictional Samsons is that the latter has two illegitimate children, Zarah and the series protagonist Branan. Though Samson's mother is deceased, his father Manoah is still alive during the events of the comic and plays a major role in some of Branan's adventures.

As Samson has been dead for ten years by the start of volume one, his presence is felt in the series principally through flashbacks. Most installments of the series contain at least one comic book representation of Samson's renowned feats from biblical canon, such as his slaughter of thirty Ashkelonite men, his destruction of Dagon's temple, his tearing of a lion in two, etc. The only time the story writers depart from scripture is in the Adventures of Young Branan episode "Brigand's Lair" in which Samson goes off searching for Branan and his uncle when they fail to arrive home to Branan's mother on time.

Samson makes an appearance in each volume of the series, including volume five when the Witch of Endor conjures up a false apparition of him to distract Branan from seizing the bronze serpent staff in Amalek's citadel.

Personality[]

Like his biblical counterpart, Samson is a wild, impulsive man beset by the vices of vengeance and lust. In addition to the three women (his wife, a prostitute, and Delilah) whom scholars know consorted with the historical Samson, the Son of Samson creators add two more paramours to the judge's list of comely flings - the Philistine mothers of his two children Branan and Zarah.

However, the writers do delineate the cartoon version of Samson with some positive qualities as well. In addition to his handsome features and supernatural strength, Samson is also presented as a man who watches out for his children from the sidelines. Though it would appear he has little to do with the day-to-day rearing of his progeny, the "Brigand's Lair" episode of the Adventures of Young Branan would indicate that he chooses to be a quiet, reliable presence in the background of his children's lives.

Regardless of his flaws, Samson is portrayed as a hero of the Israelite people and the hammer of the Philistines more than anything else. Perhaps his longsuffering father Manoah puts it best when he concludes that "despite our failings, [God] uses us to accomplish his divine will" - a sentiment that surely goes double for the imperfect man of God Samson.

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