Professor Abraham van Helsing

Abraham van Helsing is a medical doctor with a handful of other degrees, primarily a specialist of rare diseases, but not limited to that. He studies philosophy, folklore, and metaphysics, and is a font of useful trivia. One wonders how he manages to find the time for all his interests, and his personal life, sadly, is empty enough to allow for all that.

He's married, but his wife is insane, to the point where she can't acknowledge him. He's still married to her, out of religious obligation, though in his speaking of her, it seems to be a situation he's dealt with long enough to come to accept it. He once had a son, who died young.

He's a brave, strong willed, constant fellow, and unlike Jack, who may present this attitude in emulation of his teacher, Abraham's strength runs deep. He's an eccentric old man, but he knows what he's doing, and is confidant in his knowledge, which is his principle strength.

His personality is what one'd expect from a man who's spent most of his time around books, and not people. He's a little awkward around others when he steps out of his teacher role, and makes comments that're out of place. He's blunt, but not maliciously so. Still, he's not shy, and likes to share his knowledge - to the point where he can't keep secrets very well. He has a number of quirks and depth to his personality that would otherwise make him one of those annoying, convenient helper character who's good at everything.

He's Bram Stoker's character. They share a name and a general physical description. I don't know anything of Stoker's personality, but he clearly identified with the character. He's my favorite character, but I'll try not to indulge that too much.

The professor's a raccoon simply because it seemed to fit him. Raccoons are curious, bright, nosy, fidgety animals, occasionally difficult to deal with and occasionally gruff. In my experience observing the animals, one of the things that sticks in my mind are the babies, following their moms around, squeaking away. I don't know anything about the role male raccoons take in raising their young, if they do anything at all, but a raccoon person, I think, could certainly have the kind of fatherly kindness the character has. Actually, I just like drawing raccoons ;)