Blavatsky and Theosophical Painters and Artists Bitter Winter Massimo Introvigne 2

See Part 1 See also Enchanted Modernities

also  Theosophical Library Center and Press, Altadena, CA Eaton Fire  

 

Reginald W. Machell, Theosophical Artist 

May 31, 2025 

1. Surviving the 2025 Los Angeles Fire 

2. Machell in Lomaland 

3. “The Path” and Beyond

https://bitterwinter.org/reginald-w-machell-theosophical-artist-3-the-path-and-beyond/ 

 

Jean Delville & Theosophy (1867 – 1953) 

Apr 20, 2026 

Belgian symbolist painter, author, poet, polemicist, teacher, & Theosophist, leading exponent of Belgian Idealist movement in art during 1890s 

1. Brussels’ Esoteric Milieu 

2. The Krishamurti Crisis 

https://bitterwinter.org/jean-delville-and-theosophy-2-the-krishamurti-crisis/ 

 

Lawren Harris, Theosophical Painter

Aug 2, 2025  

Canada's most expensive artist at auction, iconic Group of Seven member - most extensive text on his Theosophical involvement? 

1. Discovering 

2. Spokesperson 

3. Transcendental Painting Gr 

4. Writings on Theos Art 

5. How to Be  

https://bitterwinter.org/lawren-harris-theosophical-painter-5-how-to-be-a-theosophist-artist/

 

Theosophy and the Visual Arts

Feb 5, 2026  

1. Early Theosophical Didactic Art

https://bitterwinter.org/theosophy-and-the-visual-arts-1-early-theosophical-didactic-art/

2. Theosophy and Symbolism

https://bitterwinter.org/theosophy-and-the-visual-arts-2-theosophy-and-symbolism/ 

3. Theosophy and Abstract Art

https://bitterwinter.org/theosophy-and-the-visual-arts-3-theosophy-and-abstract-art/

 

Theosophy, “Thought-Forms,” and the Arts 

Jul 1, 2026 

1. Discovering the Esoteric Roots of Abstraction

2. Artists Who Saw the Invisible

3. Kandinsky and Theosophy in Munich

4. From Ringbom’s Legacy to Today’s Scholarship

https://bitterwinter.org/theosophy-thought-forms-and-the-arts-4-from-ringboms-legacy-to-todays-scholarship/

 

Around Giacomo Balla: Italian Futurists and Theosophy

Aug 16, 2025  

1. Early Theosophy in Italy and the Arts

2. Futurism and the Theosophical Society

3. Balla: The Early Years

4. Balla’s Encounter with Theosophy

5. The Mature Balla and Theosophy

https://bitterwinter.org/around-giacomo-balla-italian-futurists-and-theosophy-5-the-mature-balla-and-theosophy/

 

Salarrué: A Theosophical Artist in El Salvador

Aug 15, 2026 

https://bitterwinter.org/salarrue-a-theosophical-artist-in-el-salvador/

 

José Villegas and the Theosophical Decalogue Paintings 

Aug 8, 2026  

https://bitterwinter.org/jose-villegas-and-the-theosophical-decalogue-paintings/

 

Theodora Walter and the Theosophical Roots of Trinidadian Art

Jul 11, 2026  

https://bitterwinter.org/theodora-walter-and-the-theosophical-roots-of-trinidadian-art/

 

Grant Wallace: Psychic Art, Theosophy, and Spiritualism

Dec 13, 2025 

https://bitterwinter.org/grant-wallace-psychic-art-theosophy-and-spiritualism/

 

Walking Toward the Hereafter: Rediscovering Maurice Chabas, Painter of the Invisible

Feb 28, 2026 

https://bitterwinter.org/walking-toward-the-hereafter-rediscovering-maurice-chabas-painter-of-the-invisible/ 

 

A Rose Is a Rose Is a Rose: Hilma af Klint, Flowers, and Theosophy at the MoMA

Aug 9, 2025 

https://bitterwinter.org/a-rose-is-a-rose-is-a-rose-hilma-af-klint-flowers-and-theosophy-at-the-moma/ 

Blavatsky, Theosophy & Jack Kirby, Part 2 (1960-1985)

See Part 1 

1960s   

It is somewhat strange that the Morning of the Magicians came out 1960, with an English translation in 1963 (US release in 1968), and seems to echo the space age feel of the new Marvel comics supeheroes. Is it because of the common pulp fiction roots? Or is it just part of the general zeitgeist? The very first superhero Marvel introduced in the  1960s was Kirby's magician hero, who goes on a mystical quest to Tibet, Dr. Droom (a kind of fore-runner to Doctor Strange). Marvel Comics' rise from a small outfit publishing a handful of mystery anthologies operating out of a cramped office to a major pop culture franchise capturing the imagination of the baby-boomer generation was predicated on many Jack Kirby creations, or concepts of his developed by others in the 1960s.

 

Some Theosophical elements that can be noticed with the Marvel Comics super heroes can be found with: the Fantastic Four, there is a character called the Watcher, which is a term used in Blavatsky's Secret Doctrine. With Thor, Norse mythology was a topic Blavatsky commented on. The Hulk has echoes of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, a story that Blavatsky appreciated. With the X-Men, the notion of mutants echo a kind of transhumanism concept that was influenced by Theosophical notions of spiritual evolution.  For Magneto, one can point to a real-life model: Anton Mesmer; Theosophy closely correlates magnetism with magic.  Dr. Doom's origin story features elements of the occult and magic, as well as science.

 

1970s 

Kirby began the decade by launching his ambitious magnum opus at DC Comic, known as the Fourth Wold Saga comprised of three titles: The New Gods, The Forever People and Mister Miracle. The series has been noticed to have influenced Star Wars. The Fourth World can be related to the fourth globe in Theosophy, which corresponds to the planet Earth in an sevenfold evolutionary process.  The cancellation of the those titles lead to a very fractured, albeit remarkably creative, period. Here Kirby's vision more consistently emerges, characterized by a crude, primal, bluntess which co-exists with remarkably sophisticated, grandiose concepts, often with a kind of Biblical/mythical cataclysmic eschatology, (which can be considered as a kind of distorted form of the more esoteric, cyclical world view). 

 

Unfortunately, what would follow for most of his 1970s creations is a tension between personal artistic vision and commercial considerations, hence he was likely discouraged from developing his ideas in the the way he wanted, and most of his regular periodical creations' potential were not able to be fully developed (insofar  as the nature of the monthly pamphlet story is to remain perpetually unresolved, as Umberto Eco would say). Posterity tends to indicate that his ideas were often prescient and ahead of the curve. For example, one can point to the gradual lionization of his Fourth World mythos to canonical status. Kirby launched several new titles, of which two, Kamandi and the Demon, were moderately successful. One can notice various Theosophical themes. For The Demon, an Indian occultist, Randu Singh is part of Jason Blood's team of esoteric ghost busters. With Kamandi, a post-apocalyptic series similar to the Planet of the Apes, he introduces ancient aliens concepts in isssue #30. 

 

OMAC, has cyber punk themes with satellite technology akin to the Theosophical notion of seven rays. Sandman, in this new version, the dream aspect is fully embraced with a multi-modal ontology of alternate dimensions similar to Theosophical astral planes and spiritual dimensions. Manhunter, features an ancient secret society of crime fighters with special powers. Kobra features a secret tradition of systemic reincarnation concepts by snake people, loosely resembling eastern Nagas, which has Theosophical commentary.  Atlas, features a world similar to Robert E. Howard's King Kull, which has Theosophical influences. Spirit World was a brief attempt by Kirby to introduce a magazine dealing with various occult and mystical themes.

 

On his return to Marvel comics in 1976, Kirby continued to mine the grandiose, epic ancient aliens, mythical, magical science-fiction vein. The  Black Panther has similarities with Indiana Jones, H. Rider Haggard (who received positive notice from Blavatsky), and Talbot Mundy. The Eternals feature ancient aliens concepts with a secret society of ancient adepts with mystical powers.  Moon Boy & Devil Dinosaur, features alternative prehistorical notions related to Theosophy-inspired ancient aliens theories. Moreover, Kirby adapted the classic mystical ancient aliens film, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and a spin-off series. In a Silver Surfer graphic novel, he re-visits the classic Fantastic Four Galactus trilogy, making it an even more explicitly gnostic fable. Blavatsky was a pioneer in the modern revival of gnosticism. 

1980s-90s 

Working with a creator-owned publisher, Captain Victory was more straightforward science-fiction in the vein of Star Trek, but he tied it in with the New Gods in the final issues (#'s 11-13). Silver Star, based on an unused 1970s screenplay, features transhumanism concepts in an apocalyptic tale with gnostic elements. His final major mainstream work marked a return to the Fourth World mythos with a pair of stories titled Super Powers. Just before his passing in 1994, he presented a final project, produced by others, for Topps Comics: Secret City Saga, an appropriately ambitious, grandiose, epic transhuman secret history magical, mythical project, which features notions of cyclical history, similar to Theosophical ideas. Every fifteen millennia, the humanity is devastated, due to the ravages of “The Darkstorm,” Current humanity are know as the Tenth Men, the Ninth Men being earlier super-powered beings still alive. The greatest military heroes and finest scientific minds are sequestered in a secret city built far beneath what is now Chicago, to wait for the next inevitable collapse and try to save remnants of humanity.

Blavatsky, Theosophy & Jack Kirby, Part 1 (1940-1960)

Progress in computer special effects in cinema has allowed for Marvel comics to achieve a widespread popular cinematic success since the beginning of the new millennium. This achievement was based on eleven new comic book creations published between 1961 and 1964. The driving force behind ten of these creations was pioneering comic book artist Jack Kirby, who would go on to elaborate a considerable superhero mythos based in a science-fiction cosmology and supernatural forces.  From the very beginning of his career in the 1940s, one can notice a wide array of Theosophical concepts and influences: the supernatural, psychic powers, alternate realities (evoking the astral plane), mythology, alternate/cyclical history, lost civilizations, ancient aliens, transhuman evolution, secret societies- good & bad, and a science/magic inter-connection.

 

'In an age which believes in neither the creative power of sound nor a musical cosmos, such ideas must enter the collective mind through the back door of fantasy.' (Joscelyn Godwin, Harmonies of Heaven & Earth, p. 69 - commenting on C. S. Lewis)

 

Much of the Theosophical influence in comic books came through popular literature such as pulp fiction magazines of the 1930s. Jack Kirby was an avid reader of Amazing Stories and Astounding Stories. Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875 – 1950) is believed to have been influenced by Theosophy. Theosophist and pulp writer Talbot Mundy's The Devil's Guard (1926) is an example of Theosophical eastern adepts incorporated into adventure fiction. Weird Tales featured Theosophical elements, notably with  Howard Philips (H. P.) Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard, and Clark Ashton Smith. 

1940s 

Early superheroes were kind of an unfiltered random mix of pulp culture sub-genres originating in the Victorian era, thus Kirby's longstanding fascinations were present early on: science-fiction, horror, supernatural, occult, fantasy, prehistory. In fact occult influences can be noticed at the very beginnings of the superhero genre. The first comic book superhero, Siegel and Shuster's Superman had an earlier influence in their Doctor Occult character and the second superhero, Bill Everett's the Sub-Mariner, was inspired by Atlantis concepts. Everett also included secret Tibetan mystical societies, in his Amazing Man creation. (1)

Kirby's first collaborated with Joe Simon on the Blue Bolt, a hollow earth themed story with an ancient green sorceress. With Captain America, you have transhumanism (super soldier) and mythologized WW2. Elements of gothic supernatural fiction was prominent in early adventures, with a Hounds of Baskerville-inspired story, as well as an 'X-Files'-type supernatural investigation feature.

 

Also in Captain America #1, Simon and Kirby introduced an Atlantis-inspired lost civilisation story. Around 50,000 BC, the cave-boy named Tuk was the son of Phadion and Rhaya, two exiles, and the first offspring of the Inhumans. They came from Attilan, the so called "Island of the Gods", in reality a home of technologically advanced humanoids.  

His parents died in the harsh environment, and Tuk was rescued by the ape-man named Ak who raised the boy to young adulthood. Having reached old age, Ak told Tuk of his origins and urged the boy to find his homeland before dying. Tuk ventured out and was attacked by a group of savage Goreks, only to be rescued by the Cro-Magnon Man named Tanir. The two became inseparable allies continuing along to search for Attilan.

Kirby presents an interesting modernization of Greek Mythology with Mercury in Red Raven Comics #1, 1940.  Another interesting character with alternate reality concepts is The Vision, a very loose of mix of science-fiction, fantasy, horror, occult, crime concepts. Aarkus, is an alien law enforcement officer from a dimension called Smokeworld. While he is looking for a suitable place to exile a prisoner, he is accidentally contacted by Earth scientist Markham Erickson. Leaving the prisoner on the planet Jupiter, Aarkus accepts Erickson's invitation to fight crime on Earth

 The Sandman in DC's Adventure Comics (#72–97, #100–102) introduced a distinct signature element where villains were plagued by haunted, prophetic nightmares before committing crimes, blending fast-paced urban action with mythic and dream-like threats and occasional occult, mythical, science-elements. Esoteric dream theory was part of early Theosophical teachings.  

1950s

As the superhero genre, which allowed to blend fantasy genres, went on a downturn, Simon & Kirby continue to use Theosophical concepts related to ancient aliens, alternate dimensions, psychic/occult powers, and science-fiction in supernatural fiction anthologies.

 

For Harvey comics, in some brief contributions to Black Cat Mystery and Alarming Tales, one can see hints and ideas that Kirby would later expand upon. For DC Comics, brief contributions to House of Mystery have a focus on mysteries of ancient civilisations, for example, House of Mystery #85 (April 1959) features Kirby's "Stone Sentinels" theme (inspired by Easter Island statues), which prefigured his later work on Thor (Journey into Mystery #83) and stone men concepts.. The Challengers of the Unknown, a team of paranormal investigator adventurers, prefigures the  space-age scienc-fiction, mythical Theosophical superhero vision that Kirby would bring to Marvel Comics.

 

(1) The influence of Theosophy on pop culture is an interesting topic, and a general book on the subject could give original insight into modern society. A book devoted to Theosophical influences on the fantasy/science-fiction alone could easily fill a book. For example, in comic books, Captain Comet has many suggestive Theosophical elements. In the pulp field,  the Lensman series of science fiction novels by American author E. E. "Doc" Smith has many unnoticed Theosophical elements. 

 

Part 2