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| “ | What was our goal? What was it that we were trying to create? What was our purpose? Tell me, Franz Bonaparta... | „ |
| ~ Capek's last words right before he's shot by his remaining henchmen. |
Peter Capek is a major antagonist in the Naoki Urasawa manga and anime Monster. He is a corrupted political official, who happens to be a leader of a Nazi organization that wants to control Johan for their own ends. Like the Baby and Professor Goedelitz, he is a white supremacist who plans to make Johan the "next Adolf Hitler" and have him annihilate anyone that they deem inferior.
Capek is voiced by the late Dave Mallow in the English dub and Nobuo Tanaka in the Japanese dub.
Personality[]
Capek emerges as a complex character, showcasing a blend of charisma, manipulation, and loyalty alongside moments of arrogance, anxiety, and regret. His charismatic demeanor and adept manipulation tactics are evident as he carefully crafts a facade of calmness and concern, all while harboring ulterior motives. His admiration and unwavering loyalty to Franz Bonaparta, despite the latter's involvement in unethical experiments, underscore his dedication to a cause beyond personal gain. Capek's emulation of Bonaparta's methods, particularly in employing mind control techniques on children, highlights his commitment to perpetuating his mentor's legacy.
However, Capek's arrogance becomes apparent when he seeks to exert control over Johan, envisioning him as the successor to lead Germany. His willingness to resort to threats, such as endangering Nina's life, underscores his ruthless ambition. Yet, the traumatic loss of the Baby prompts a dramatic shift in Capek's demeanor, as he grapples with overwhelming anxiety and paranoia. His descent into fear is exemplified by his impulsive act of shooting one of his own men and his palpable unease in Johan's presence, indicating a loss of control over his once meticulously crafted facade.
Following the revelation of his complicity in Bonaparta's experiments and the consequences of his actions, Capek experiences a profound sense of regret and existential despair. His plea for Nina to end his life reflects a recognition of his culpability and a desire for absolution. As he contemplates the purpose behind the experiments while departing from the ruins of the Red Rose Mansion, Capek's internal turmoil reaches its zenith. His existential ponderings are abruptly cut short by the betrayal of his remaining subordinates, who perceive his introspection as a descent into madness.
Biography[]
Past[]
Čapek was raised in a small village located on the border between Austria and the Czech Republic. In his youth, he formed a close friendship with Milan Koláš, with whom he would often ponder about the mysteries of what lay beyond the border. As they grew older, their paths diverged - Milan pursued a career as a dentist, while Čapek followed in his father's footsteps and became a bureaucrat. It wasn't until August of 1969, amidst the turmoil of the Soviet invasion, that the two friends reunited in Prague. Čapek shared with Milan that he finally had the opportunity to cross over to the western side, only to discover that it was not as extraordinary as they had once imagined during their carefree days of youth.
Experiments with Franz Bonaparta[]
Milan observed Čapek's talent for advancing in the world, to which Čapek mentioned his recent encounter with Franz Bonaparta, a man who saw potential in utilizing his skills. Intrigued by Bonaparta's unique perspective on life, Čapek shared that the man's mindset was so captivating that it could alleviate the fear of competition and comparison in the world. He further explained that Bonaparta's philosophy had transformed his outlook on life, making him realize the insignificance of worldly pursuits. When Milan inquired about Bonaparta's intentions, Čapek cryptically hinted at the potentially unsettling outcomes of their collaboration.
In 1970, he left his position at the Ministry of Education after working there for two decades and transitioned to a career as a teacher. Alongside Bonaparta, he played a role in organizing the Red Rose Mansion reading seminars and later took part in an eugenics experiment that resulted in the creation of twins. In 1974, they kidnapped Anna (Viera Černá) from Brno University, prompting the dorm supervisor, Marie Kavanova, to contact the police about her disappearance. Bonaparta had Čapek pretend to be a detective and, without revealing their true intentions, managed to obtain all photos of Anna. He then reassured Kavanova that Anna was safe and living in Prague with someone she had met. Through their experiments, they produced one exceptional student, Hermann Fuhr.
When Bonaparta developed romantic feelings for the mother of the twins, he confided in Čapek, which became evident when Čapek later shared with a young boy that money cannot win over someone's affection, which is what one truly desires. Consequently, Čapek assisted Bonaparta in erasing any trace of the experiment's existence. Subsequently, Bonaparta requested that Čapek eliminate four innocent individuals, including two children and two adults, in order to create the illusion that he, Viera, and the twins had also perished. Čapek reluctantly carried out this task due to his expertise, but he was tormented by guilt and experienced nightmares even after seven years had passed.
Escape to Germany[]
One fateful day, chaos erupted among the children, resulting in a violent eruption of rage. They turned on each other, attempting to harm and even kill one another. Thankfully, the authorities intervened and managed to halt the bloodshed. In the aftermath of the incident, Milan, who had been a close friend to Čapek, visited the police station to speak with one of the older children who had acted as the instigator. He sought an explanation for such a heinous act, hoping to find some semblance of understanding. However, the boy remained silent, refusing to provide any answers. Instead, he whispered softly, expressing his desire to return to the eerie book readings that Čapek had conducted. In the year 1989, during a time when communism was still in power in the Czech Republic, Čapek made a daring escape to Germany. Under the cover of darkness, he managed to flee his home country and seek refuge in Frankfurt. Interestingly enough, it wasn't just a chance escape; he had actually been invited by his close friend, Milan, to come over to Germany. Upon arriving in Frankfurt, Čapek found work as a German language teacher, specializing in instructing the children of foreigners. On the surface, his intentions seemed admirable, as he aimed to help these young minds learn a new language. However, unbeknownst to the unsuspecting parents in the neighborhood, Čapek's teaching methods were far from conventional. Tragically, that very night, Milan's own son, the boy who had caused such devastation, took his own life by hanging himself. The weight of the situation proved too much for him to bear, and he succumbed to the darkness that had consumed his young mind. In the wake of this devastating loss, Čapek vanished without a trace, disappearing amidst a riot that had been ignited by right-wing extremists. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance only added to the mystery and horror of the events that had unfolded under his guise as a German language teacher. Little did they know, Čapek had actually recreated a reading seminar from the infamous Red Rose Mansion, a place associated with dark and disturbing events. As the children attended his classes, one by one, they began to tragically take their own lives. The parents, oblivious to the connection between the suicides and Čapek's classes, actually praised him for his teaching methods. They believed that he was instilling strength and resilience in their children, ensuring their survival in the harsh realities of the world.
Partnership with "The Baby"[]
Years later, Čapek resurfaced as a completely transformed individual, assuming a new identity and assuming leadership of an underground organization in Frankfurt. He collaborated with right-wing extremists, specifically The Baby and Helmut Wolf, who were also attempting to exert control over Johan. Together, they pursued a shared agenda of expelling Turks and other foreigners from their designated territory within the city. Čapek had a talent for amassing wealth and it was rumored that he had the backing of the Sievernich group. He instigated riots, small-scale fires, and issued threats, causing great unrest. In response to his actions, the Turkish community formed a defense squad, but their five leaders all mysteriously perished under strange circumstances. In 1996, he and The Baby plotted to set fire to the Turkish district, but their plans were thwarted by the combined efforts of Kenzo Tenma, Anna Liebert, Otto Heckel, and Dieter. Following this failed attempt, he launched a campaign asserting that the Turkish district was plagued by "public disorder" and advocated for its eradication. His scheme proved successful, resulting in the demolition of the entire area. Several years later, Čapek crossed paths with Christoph Sievernich, a former resident of Kinderheim 511 who shared a connection with Johan Liebert, although their acquaintance remained unknown at that time. Recognizing Christoph's potential as a valuable ally in achieving Johan's goals, Čapek enlisted the help of Eva Heinemann to locate Johan in Munich, where he was known to frequent exclusive gatherings of influential individuals. To ensure Eva's compliance, Čapek employed the services of Martin Reest as her bodyguard, with the intention of eliminating Eva once her mission was accomplished.
Little did Čapek know that Johan and Christof had actually orchestrated their long-awaited encounter a decade prior, completely independent of his involvement. It was Eva who had guided Christof towards Johan, while Martin Reest, in a fit of desperation, swore that they had inadvertently paved the way for the reunion of the devil himself with his loyal follower. Upon their fateful meeting, Čapek, consumed by his sinister intentions, commanded Martin to eliminate Eva. However, unbeknownst to Čapek, Martin had already succumbed to an intense love for Eva, to the extent that he was prepared to lay down his own life just to safeguard her from harm.
Attack on his Life[]
Milan, who resided with five individuals connected to the five leaders murdered by Čapek, reached the conclusion that he held responsibility for all the chaos and destruction that ensued as a result of bringing Čapek to Germany. Consequently, Milan made an attempt on his own life at the Rödelheim Convention Center in 1998, but tragically, he lost his life in the process. Shortly after, Johan decided to betray the organization, and with the death of The Baby, Čapek's paranoia escalated. In order to safeguard himself, Čapek had Anna captured, using her life as leverage in case he encountered Johan. While en route to his secure mountain villa, Čapek's mental state began deteriorating rapidly, leading him to mercilessly shoot his own bodyguard due to his overwhelming paranoia. Eventually, he arrived at the villa alone and had a meeting with Johan, who had come to verify if Franz Bonaparta was still alive. Once Johan departed, Čapek engaged in a discussion with Anna, convinced that she intended to assassinate him, but instead, she demanded information about Johan's whereabouts. In compliance, Čapek escorted her to an abandoned structure. Following the confrontation, Anna was on the brink of taking her own life but was saved by Tenma. Suddenly, Čapek emerged and disclosed that Johan's next move would be to kill Franz Bonaparta, revealing that he informed Johan that Bonaparta's son was alive in Prague. Subsequently, he exited the building and pondered aloud, "What was our goal? What was it...that we were trying to create? What was our purpose? Tell me, Franz Bonaparta," only to be fatally shot in the head by his colleagues, who believed he had succumbed to insanity.
Quotes[]
| “ | "Keeping secrets from this man is a no-no" | „ |
| “ | "Now, come with me...!" | „ |
| “ | "There's something that ruins people, really? I sure would like to see that." | „ |
| “ | "What does he create? Well, my friend, the results could be something...rather frightening." | „ |
| “ | "And what are you going to do with the money? Money can only buy things. What you really want to own is a person's heart, right? But that can't be bought with money." | „ |
| “ | "I've been terrified for the last seven years, ever since that incident... At the time I puzzled over changing the number from 42 to 46, but I carried out the plan in his place, because there was no one else qualified. I've never suffered through a more dreadful experience than that, and that man was entirely to blame." | „ |
Trivia[]
- Oddly, there is different spellings for his name, which tends to lead to confusion like Heinrich Lunge's name. Sometimes its spelled "Petr Capek" or "Peter Chapeck".
- In Another Monster, it is revealed that Capek was investigating Czech refugees to gather information on Hermann Führ, who is the main antagonist of the novel and was a product of Capek and Bonaporta's reading circles. Capek stopped his investigation when finding out that Fuhr died, but never realized that Hermann faked his death so he can get Capek out of the way.
External Links[]
- Peter Čapek on the Monster Wiki