Griffin is the main antagonist in the 1897 novel The Invisible Man by the late English writer H.G. Wells and its following adaptations. He creates a potion that can make him invisible, though at the cost of losing his sanity.
Originating from one of the most iconic literary pieces of its time, the Invisible Man has become an icon of pop culture, and a legendary member among Universal's lineup of monsters, in near equal status with the likes of Dracula and Frankenstein's Monster.
He was portrayed by the late Template:W, who also played Erique Claudin in The Phantom of the Opera.
Personality[]
"We'll begin with a reign of terror, a few murders here and there, murders of great men, murders of little men - well, just to show we make no distinction. I might even wreck a train or two... just these fingers around a signalman's throat, that's all." |
The novel's Griffin is callous and cruel from the beginning and only pursues the experiment for wealth and his ego. The film portrays Griffin more sympathetically than the novel. It shows Griffin as an honourable man who is misguided. His insanity is purely a side-effect of the invisibility drug and his motivation for the experiment was a misguided desire to do good for science and mankind, born primarily out of his love for his fiancée.
Biography[]
Novel[]
"Great and strange ideas transcending experience often have less effect upon men and women than smaller, more tangible considerations." |
Griffin is an albino who studies optical density. His discoveries were supposed to make him famous, and he wants all the credit to himself by quitting the university he's working and continuing his experiments in an apartment. In his studies, he eventually develops a potion that renders him invisible to the human eye.
During his invisible state, he tries desperately to find a cure. He steals money from people which magnetized him to the authorities. To hide when he takes residence at the Coach and Horses Inn in Ipling, Griffin steals a trenchcoat, dark goggles, bandages, and a fake nose to conceal his identity. However, he draws more attention when his experiments and billing to the local reverend arouse suspicion.
While escaping Ipling, Griffin forces a homeless man named Thomas Marvel to carry money for him. Marvel escapes the Invisible Man's clutches and runs off with Griffin's money. While in the town of Port Burdock, Griffin seeks help from a former acquaintance Dr. Arthur Kemp in aiding him in a reign of terror.
""The man's become inhuman, I tell you," said Kemp. "I am as sure he will establish a reign of terror—so soon as he has got over the emotions of this escape—as I am sure I am talking to you. Our only chance is to be ahead. He has cut himself off from his kind. His blood be upon his own head."" |
Refusing, Kemp summons the local authorities including Colonel Adye who is shot dead by Griffin. Enraged and determined to punish Kemp, Griffin follows Kemp back to Ipling. Ultimately, Griffin meets his end at the hands of the mob summoned by Kemp. In death, the invisibility effect wears off and he is visible again once more.
Universal Adaptation[]
"The drugs I took seemed to light up my brain. Suddenly I realized the power I held, the power to rule, to make the world grovel at my feet." |
Griffin's disguise.
The Universal incarnation, given the first name Jack, and unlike the novel version, Jack Griffin had a more sympathetic background. He was a researcher working in food preservation and fell in love with his employer's daughter Flora. Determined to prove himself both a successful researcher and good husband material for Flora, Griffin tests with a dangerous chemical called monocane, eventually discovering the formula for making living beings invisible. However, his applications of the formula to himself drive him to insanity.
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Griffin revealing his "true" appearance to the authorities.
Like in the novel, Griffin seeks aid for a megalomaniacal plot to create invisible armies from Kemp who refuses. Unlike in the novel, Griffin succeeds in killing Kemp by forcing his car to crash down a hill. He is pursued and fatally shot while trying to escape. He later dies in the hospital, apologizing for his actions and noting "I meddled in things a man must leave alone." His body becomes visible after death.
League of Extrordinary Gentlemen[]
- Main article: Hawley Griffin
2020 Film[]
- Main article: Adrian Griffin
In the 2020 film, Dr. Griffin's first name is changed to Adrian, and the character is far more evil. Adrian is an optics engineer whose invisibility comes from a suit covered in many cameras. His goal is to blackmail his ex-girlfriend Cecilia with psychological torture, incrimination and the murder of her loved ones into being with him again and have a child with him. Unlike Jack Griffin, Adrian's evil is done on complete free will, and he not compelled to insanity by an injected serum. This makes him one of the most evil incarnations of Dr. Griffin.
Greatest Universal Horror Show of Circus Gothica[]
Jack Griffin is recurited by Freakshow to assist in his operations, promising world domination to him. He is then made to start working on the invisbiity serum which he manages to do and gives to Freakshow to use on some of their allies and through allows his allies to slip into the Ghost Zone undetected
The Invisible Man pursues Slade and his crew at the Flying Dutchman's graveyard and learns of their plan and tips off Freakshow. He then targets the others at Halverston and Area afterwards
Jack is fatally shot by Bender during his fight with him and the others, which restores his ability to be seen as Anti Cosmo managed to figure the tricks around it. Jack admits that he made a mistake with the formula as he passes.
Gallery[]
