Codename: Vulture
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| Codename: Vulture | |
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 Awriɣ Rabus as "Raz Zadiya, the Vulture," in the 1979 film Codename: Vulture III | |
| Created by | Kassu Farra and Takensust Sadri |
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Codename: Vulture (Takelat: ⵉⵙⵎⵦⴼⴰⵔ: ⵜⴰⵎⴷⴰ; Ismeffar: Tamda) is a Talaharan media franchise developed by Kassu Farra and Takensust Sadri over a series of seven novels written and set during the 1930s and 1940s. Following the exploits of the eponymous protagonist, a member of the fictitious "Section Zero" of the Special Intelligence Division, the franchise has expanded from the original print series to several comic book runs, nine feature films, and several other media entries.
The protagonist, Raz Zadiya, is introduced in the first novel as a new agent in Section Zero, tasked with preventing the capitalist rulers of the fictional country of Tamaria from manufacturing a global famine to drive up food prices. Initially planned as a single novella, the story exploded in popularity across Talahara and was soon serialized by several newspapers and magazines for broader consumption. The series' creator, Kassu Farra, began to develop a sequel with the assistance of Takensust Sadri. Sadri ultimately developed the character of Zadiya from a stern and practical professional to a sardonic and suave secret agent who tended to test the limits of his orders.
After Farra passed away in 1948, the franchise ended until Sadri partnered with Metira Akel from the Lithograph-Printers Syndicate to create a comic book series, continuing the adventures of Zadiya. This was followed up by a film adaptation of the first novel in 1970 in which famous actor Asifa Ra'ad portrayed the protagonist. From 1975 to 1984, Awriɣ Rabus took on the role of Zadiya in four feature films. This portrayal is widely considered the iconic iteration of the character. Following Rabus's retirement, Tinitran Atala portrayed the character in two further films in 1988 and 1990. The character was portrayed again by Vermina Vaziri in 2008's Special Agent Vulture and by Thinzerth Seraha in the 2019 reimagining of the series, Day of the Vulture.
Development
The original novel was developed by Kassu Farra, a writer with the Avana Print Entertainers Collective, beginning in 1930. Farra specialized in pulp adventure serials and had previously written short stories about secret agents and military deceptions in the late 1920s. Codename: Vulture was Farra's first novel-proper and the author had few expectations regarding its success, despite the effort that had been put into its creation.
The shock success of the first novel led Farra to seek assistance from long-time friend and fellow writer Takensust Sadri. Farra and Sadri quickly adopted a workflow together, with Farra primarily writing while Sadri edited. Several of the protagonist's most iconic character traits were developed by Sadri, who pushed for a darkly comedic element to juxtapose the intensity of the spy thriller. Following the publication of the second entry into the series, Farra and Sadri publically recognized each other as co-creators of the franchise.
Following the untimely death of Kassu Farra in a passenger train derailment, Sadri did not continue the series until approached by an agent from the National Lithograph-Printers Syndicate to create a comic book series in the early 1950s. Sadri ultimately acquiesced and co-authored the first run of the comic series. The first issues of the comic were based heavily on the writings of Farra and Sadri from a decade prior, and Sadri was credited as an author up to 1962. Sadri retired from the series in 1960.
Sadri passed away in 1968, but not before giving her blessing to a film adaptation of the first novel. Directed by Munatas Dadjan and starring Asifa Ra'ad in the titular role, the movie was a modest success in the domestic Talaharan market but achieved little renown globally. Five years later in 1975, a loosely-connected sequel was released directed by Bamwanil Farhat and starring Awriɣ Rabus who would go on to portray Raz Zadiya in three additional features to broad acclaim. Four additional films were produced over several decades. The most recent film is set in the 1980s, starring Tahuska Xazi as a female agent Vulture with Awriɣ Rabus playing the role of Chief Zero, hinting at continuity with the original hit film series.
Inspiration
Neither of the series co-creators had experience with military intelligence or spycraft prior to the development of the first novel. Born in 1898, Kassu Farra elected to make the protagonist approximately his own age and drew on the broad experiences of his own generation over a number of political and military conflicts around the world.
In the early stages of the development of the first novel, Farra interviewed a number of soldiers and individuals on the periphery of the Talaharan intelligence community to learn more about what spies could do and what techniques and technologies they relied upon. In an interview in 1944, Farra conceded that much of what was written was purely fictitious, either from his or Sadri own imaginations, the imaginations and boasts of the soldiers they interview, or at the specific request of Talaharan intelligence officers who were seeking to avoid having classified information published. Farra also commented that Sadri's involvement in the series was partially driven by his own insecurities regarding the perceived authenticity of the work and to obtain assistance for research.
It has been established that no single individual has provided the basis for Raz Zadiya's character. In terms of appearance, Farra wrote of meeting a theatre usher in Maktarim with a striking appearance who inspired the "tough" look of Vulture. Sadri noted that the dark sense of humour she assigned to Zadiya was inspired by an anatomy professor from when she was studying medicine at the Health Sciences College of Maktarim between 1922 and 1925.
Characters
The Codename: Vulture series has had a small cast of recurring characters, typically consisting of the protagonist, the bureau staff at Section Zero, and occasionally recurring antagonists. Otherwise, each entry in the franchise has introduced a new supporting cast, specific to the setting and plot of the story.
Raz Zadiya
Born in 1900, Waraz "Raz" Zadiya is the eponymous principal character of the franchise, adopting the codename "Vulture" at the beginning of the first novel in 1934. Initially portrayed as a gruff professional in the first novel, future installments introduced his penchant for sarcasm, independence, and signature one-liners; typically some form of morbid humour. In terms of appearance, Zadiya is described as tall and broad-shouldered with sharp features and an impressive mustache. In foreign markets, his red, felt, tassel-less tarbuš is also considered an iconic element of his appearance. His surname is traditionally Kel Hadar, but he is noted as being of mixed Kel Aman, Kel Hadar, and possibly Jewish descent. In addition to his military training, Zadiya has notable abilities in hand-to-hand combat, ciphers, and a nearly eidetic memory.
Zadiya is a dedicated socialist and internationalist. Throughout the run of the original novels, Zadiya espouses a number of pro-statist political comments, though the iteration seen in the comics from the 1950s and 1960s is perhaps more politically anarchist. In foreign-language translations and adaptations of the series, local editors frequently downplay the political elements of Zadiya's character and exploits. Across all iterations, Zadiya is generally skeptical and frequently questions his orders, generally taking a roundabout way to accomplish his missions.
In terms of relationships, Zadiya is described as having few friends or familial connections outside of work. He generally has positive relationships with the bureau staff and a number of minor characters at Section Zero. His relationship with Chief Zero, the head of Section Zero, is generally the most tumultuous. While some fans and analysts describe their relationship as occasionally paternal, Zadiya and the Chief are frequently at odds regarding Zadiya's methods and opposition to the Chief's authority. Zadiya also has a long-term relationship with Terminat "Minat" Tazgwaɣt, a technology specialist in Section Zero. Tazgwaɣt was introduced in 1938 in Codename: Vulture and the Blue Menace, providing Zadiya with a concealable camera and radio transmitter. Throughout the rest of the series and each of the films, Tazgwaɣt provides Zadiya with numerous esoteric gadgets which frequently prove essential to him accomplishing his missions. Despite romantic tension in the early novels, Zadiya's and Tazgwaɣt's relationship remains platonic. In Codename: Vulture in the Desert and Codename: Vulture Strikes Back, Tazgwaɣt is promoted to field agent and provided with the codename "Eagle".
Little is known of Zadiya's life prior to his assignment to Section Zero. In the first three novels, Zadiya and other characters noted distinguished service in "the war". The rest of the novels and the early cinematic adaptations scarcely touched on his background. The 1984-1985 run of the comic series Codename: Vulture: Origins visited Zadiya's life as a young man enlisting with the Army Corps in 1918 and serving during the Annexation of Amara. The comic further details Zadiya's involvement as a foreign volunteer in the Ottonian Civil War, after which he began working in military intelligence. The series culminates in a difficult assignment that proves to be his ultimate test. After completing the assignment, he is inducted into Section Zero and provided with his new codename.
