Edward Van Helgen
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Edward Van Helgen is a fictional character from the LucasArts Adventure Game The Curse of Monkey Island. Initially encountered working in a barbershop called the Barbery Coast, he later joins Guybrush Threepwood's pirate crew and travels to Blood Island.
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[edit] Pirate Past
Some time before the events of Curse of Monkey Island, Van Helgen was a highly feared pirate. During the game, he says of his past:
- Mine is the name pirates fear the most: Edward "Snugglecakes" Van Helgen!
He was renowned as the greatest duellist in the Tri-Island Area.
However, Van Helgen's pirating days came to an end after an ill-fated voyage, of which he was one of few survivors. Several days out from land, the winds died and the ship was left adrift. Things took a terrible turn when they were afflicted with a catchy, haunting melody that spread around the crew like wildfire and drove them all mad (when demonstrating to Guybrush, Van Helgen actually hums several bars of the Monkey Island theme tune).
After they finally returned to port, Van Helgen gave up pirating and instead took up singing, hoping to start up a barbershop quartet on Plunder Island. He set up the Barbery Coast in Puerto Pollo as a front, and recruited Cutthroat Bill, Haggis McMutton and a fourth member named Dominique. Incidentally, Dominique is also alluded to by Guybrush in the first game, in which he can inform the Citizen of Melee "I once had a barber named Dominique". Dominique, however, left due to artistic differences and to cover expenses the remaining three (Van Helgen, Bill and Haggis) were forced to switch from singing to actually cutting hair. They remain in the Barbery Coast at the beginning of the third game, 'Curse of Monkey Island', and the arrival of Guybrush Threepwood.
[edit] During the Curse of Monkey Island
Like the rest of Plunder Island's inhabitants, Van Helgen seemed largely unaffected by the Zombie Pirate LeChuck's siege of the island. After the siege's collapse, he could be found in the Barbery Coast. His role in the barbershop was unclear (Haggis McMutton seemed to be responsible for administering the actual haircuts, and Cutthroat Bill was sharpening a razor). Nevertheless, after a brief introduction, Guybrush asked him to join his pirate crew.
At first, Van Helgen refused, claiming that he could only follow a captain that could best him in a duel. After delivering sufficient insult to start a duel (Guybrush's first attempt, by calling him a "big ole bed-wetting doodyhead" did not work, so he instead slapped him with a glove), Van Helgen led Guybrush to an outside area where they could battle and demanded that Guybrush select a weapon. Though Van Helgen completely outclassed Guybrush in the use of pistols, Guybrush also had the option of duelling with banjos.
When selecting a banjo, Van Helgen would first play a few notes and have Guybrush repeat the sequence precisely. However, if Guybrush succeeds then it becomes clear that Van Helgen was merely toying with him as he launches into a powerful rock solo. Instead of competing, Guybrush then had to collect one of the unused pistols and shoot Van Helgen's banjo. Van Helgen, shocked, exclaims: "I completely misjudged you! You *are* a pirate after all!" He then agrees to join Guybrush's crew.
If while Guybrush (You) is tarred and feathered and you walk into the Barbery Coast, the barbers will shout phrases saying to get out. One of the phrases yelled by Van Helgen was "Beat It", possibly making a reference to Eddie Van Halen's guitar performance in Michael Jackson's song, "Beat It". Another phrase, uttered by Haggis was "We don't serve yer kind here", one of many Star Wars references in the game.
Van Helgen joined Guybrush on his journey to Blood Island with the other crewmates and was soon approached by enemy Captain Rene Rottingham; Rottingham would steal the Map to Blood Island of which Threepwood would have to get back. It proved that Van Helgen along with his shipmates would prove useless in the battles to come, and preferred to sing rather than sail.
When Guybrush finally obtained the map they reached Blood Island in a storm and were ship-wrecked in the island. The crew decided to mutiny Guybrush and sail back to Plunder Island. Guybrush aided their attempt by giving them some make-shift tar. Whether they did get back to Puerto Pollo remains a mystery.
Van Helgen's final appearance in the game is during the end credits, when he (along with Guybrush's other crewmates and Lemonhead the Cannibal) attended Guybrush's wedding to Elaine Marley. Van Helgen could be seen waving as Guybrush sailed off into the distance. He has not appeared in any game since.
[edit] Appearance
Van Helgen was a tall and slim man, who dressed in typical pirate wear, albeit better tailored than many similar characters. He had a long, twisted moustache and a goatee beard that tapered to a point. He also wore an eye-patch, although it is unknown whether he really had lost an eye or whether he, typically for Monkey Island characters, wore one for the effect.
The way he holds his banjo is exactly how Eddie Van Halen holds his guitar, as Van Helgen is based on Van Halen.
