Professor Ian Thatch
Ian Theodore Thatch was a writer and professor who was roped into the world of the supernatural following his involvement in aiding the British Paranormal Society, of which he led, to stop the destructions of World War I. He was also a mentor to Professor Broom and helped him create the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense.
History[]
Background[]
Educated at Oxford University (1896-1903), Thatch holds a double doctorate in the fields of Chemistry, Literature (French, Old English, and Chinese), Art History, Sociology, and Anthropology. Ian was orphaned after an unknown accident and was raised by his grandparents.
Due to his incredible skills in such fields, Ian was recruited by British Intelligence to become part of the British Paranormal Society in order to aid the British Empire during the global catastrophe of World War I. He was proven to be one of the integral members of the Society for he, alongside others, aided the other members in destabilizing infrastructures that held valuable equipment for the enemy. After World War I, Thatch was knighted by the British Monarchy and led the Society.
Shadow over Innsmouth[]
In 1922, Professor Ian Thatch alongside his cohorts, sailed across the vast ocean and encountered a small but highly sinister town known as Innsmouth, which was located on the coast of Essex County, Massachusetts. It was there that Thatch along with the crew discovered unholy and horrendous activities being conducted in the town, and according to his journal, the town was under the command of a cult known as the Esoteric Order of Dagon that worship the "Old Ones from the Stars Above". While they were forced to combat the inhabitants of Innsmouth who turned out to be monsters themselves, the town was later destroyed after one of the crew members called in the Marine Corps to burn it to the ground.
World War II[]
In 1944, Ian aided a new recruit by the name of Trevor Bruttenholm, an occult researcher, during a raid upon one of the Ahnenerbe's bases which held the developments for Project Ragna Rok. The project was led by Grigori Rasputin and it's goal was to summon Yog-Sothoth, in order to assist the Nazis in winning the war. The project was also meant to be held on the British Isles. While most of the members within the British Paranormal Society were killed or defected, from the ashes arose a new organization to maintain the peace which became the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense.
Their facility was established in Fairfield, Connecticut, where Bruttenholm and Ian Thatch decided that the young demon they discovered during the mission, Hellboy, would be a ward of the organization. Bruttenholm would eventually served as a director for B.P.R.D., after Ian Thatch returned to field work. His great grandson, Milo Thatch would later become a member of the B.P.R.D.
Personality[]
Ian in the beginning was known to be a mild-mannered, smart, friendly, funny, socially awkward, determined, eager, and sympathetic individual. He appears to be capable of creating friendly bonds with people indicating that he possesses good social skills but can be slightly shy. During the course of his ventures with the British Paranormal Society, Ian displayed remarkably bravery and determination in the face of seemingly impossible odds. He would often be one of the voices of reasons for the team when inner strife and doubt rises within alongside Mina Harker. After their successful mission, Ian became stoic, responsible, mature, and brave but still retains his former mannerisms before he joined the Society.
It is shown that Ian was also something of a mentor to Professor Broom to the point where the latter would also speak of Thatch with a tone of respect and admiration. In fact, it is often believed that much of Professor Broom's current traits were taken from Thatch during their time together showing how highly the professor held Thatch in esteem. Hellboy also appeared to have held some form of respect towards Thatch despite only knowing briefly during his youth. And given how his adopted father spoke of him, Hellboy at times wished to have met him. Ian was also known to be quite stubborn and headstrong, often insisting on partaking in certain missions are normally deemed too dangerous for human field agents though this was mostly in part of his experience during the classified mission in World War I.