Black Annis is a bogeyman figure in English folklore. She is imagined as a blue-faced crone or witch with iron claws and a taste for human (especially child) flesh. She is said to haunt the countryside of Leicestershire, living in a cave in the Dane Hills. She supposedly goes out onto the glens at night looking for unsuspecting children and lambs to eat, then hangs their skins around her waist. She would reach inside houses to snatch people, which was the professed reason why houses in that area had small windows. Legend has it that she used her iron claws to dig into the side of a sandstone cliff, making herself a home there which is known as Black Annis's Bower.^{[citation needed]} For other uses, see Bogeyman (disambiguation). ... English folklore is the folk tradition which has developed in England over a number of centuries. ... Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, The Hag, August 1890. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Witchcraft. ... Leicestershire ( IPA: (RP), IPA: (locally)), abbreviation Leics. ... It has been suggested that Lambing be merged into this article or section. ...

This legend is of disputed origin, some say it is based on a Fifteenth century hermit called Agnes Scott, while others say it is much older and probably Celtic in origin, based on a Christian demonisation of a Celtic goddess known variously as Aine, Annis, Ana, Anu, Dana and Danu. ^{[citation needed]} (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ... For other uses, see Hermit (disambiguation). ... This article is about the European people. ... For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). ... In Irish mythology, Áine (also Aillen) was a goddess of love, growth, cattle and the moon. ... In Irish mythology, Danu or Dana was the mother goddess of the Tuatha Dé Danann (peoples of the goddess Danu), although little is recorded about her as a character. ...

In his run on Doom Patrol, Scottish comics writer Grant Morrison made a monstrous figure with the same name one of the superpowered "alters" of his multiple-personality character Crazy Jane. This version of Black Annis is a blue-skinned, red-eyed, psychopathic misandrist who mistrusts all men and has sharp iron claws growing out of her knuckles. The Doom Patrol is an idiosyncratic DC Comics superhero team. ... Grant Morrison (born January 31, 1960) is a Scottish comic book writer and artist. ... For other uses, see Superhero (disambiguation). ... Crazy Jane isa a fictional character in the comic book Doom Patrol, created by Grant Morrison and Richard Case. ...

Black Annis made a brief appearance in the short story "London Falling" which was published in famous comic 2000AD. Black Annis is also the name of a song by Antje Duvekot. Final panel of the first installment of London Falling in prog 1491, drawn by Lee Garbett. ... 2000 AD logo 2000 AD is a weekly British science fiction oriented comic. ... Promotional photograph of Antje Duvekot Antje Duvekunt is a drummer, tong wearer, and obscurantist encased in Budapest, Madras. ...

References

• Katharine Briggs, An Encyclopeidia of Fairies, Hobgoblins, Brownies, Boogies, and Other Supernatural Creatures, "Black Annis", p24-5. ISBN 0-394-73467-X

Katharine Mary Briggs (November 8, 1898 – 1980) is the author of The Anatomy of Puck, the definitive 4-volume Dictionary of British Folk-Tales, and various other books on fairies and folklore. ...

External links

• Mysterious Britain entry