Anti-Christ with a Thousand Faces

For the hero’s journey, I read Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. Both authors are known to apply aspects of Campbell’s monomyth and its structural pattern. However, Gaiman said that he started reading The Hero with a Thousand Faces but refused to finish it: "I think I got about half way through The Hero with a Thousand Faces and found myself thinking if this is true – I don’t want to know. I really would rather not know this stuff. I’d rather do it because it’s true and because I accidentally wind up creating something that falls into this pattern than be told what the pattern is."  

Nevertheless there is evidence of some elements of the monomyth. Furthermore, I think there are two overlapping journeys, the demon and the angel’s journey and Adam, the Anti-Christ’s journey. Both journeys converge to stop the Apocalypse. Adding to the mythological aspect of the journey is the prophesy of Agnes Nutter which outlines every event that will take place.

Azirophale (angel) and Crowley (demon) meet in for the first time in the Garden of Eden. Crowley is the snake that temps Adam and Eve to eat the apple. Azirophale is an angel from the Garden. Over thousands of years, they have reached a compromise, a type of friendship. They are called to action at the birth of the Anti-Christ. After getting drunk and deciding to go against their bosses, they decide to work together to stop Armageddon.  Of course, there are supernatural elements involved as they enter the world of a normal family as gardener and nanny. There are many comical elements as they wait for the coming of the demon dog who is to watch over the devil’s child. The biggest ordeal is when they find out that they are watching the wrong child and attempt to find him. Crowley hears the voice of his boss in his Best of Queen calling him to make sure that he is working to secure the end of the Earth. Both refuse to give up the fight and find the Anti-Christ, Adam.  Their search is thwarted by many obstacles. However, together they find Adam and attempt to lead him away from the destruction of the universe. Adam with the help of his crew stop Armageddon because Adam realizes that starting over is futile.

The duality of Adam is evident from the beginning of the story. His innocence as a baby and his Adonis features are contrary to a satanic form. However, he cannot deny his leadership and his attractions to the dark side. He is called to a journey of fulfilling the destiny set out by his father, Satan. His path is full of temptations on both sides, good and evil. He meets the witch, who introduces him to the magical side of his powers. The Them join with him to fight the Four Horses of the Apocalypse. They defeat all but Death who cannot accomplish the end of the earth alone. Adam realizes the strength of his powers and is even able to turn Satan into his earth father.

At the end of the journey, everything comes full circle. No one remembers or they pretend not to remember what has occurred. Adam has repaired the damage from the battle. The angel and demon are lunching at the Ritz. And Adam, he is grabbing the forbidden apple from the tree.