Vincent: The Beast

Vincent Wells, the "Beast" in Beauty and the Beast (TV) has been a subject of intense fan speculation and discussion about his motivations, his character, and his origins. Some of these fannish conversations were at odds with those of the character's original creators. One example were George R.R. Martin's comments at conventions. Also see fans' many comments in letterzines. 
Many fans saw him as the "perfect man" and a highly-romantic, and often sexual, creature. Many other fans focused on Vincent's beast qualities, specifically his feline attributes. 
A fan in 2013 told another fan: 
==Some Topics of Discussion==
 
Is Vincent a beast with human qualities or a human with beast attributes?
Do fans like to see him beast-out?
Would a sexual relationship with Vincent be bestiality?
Is Vincent's appeal due to his feline qualities?
Is Vincent circumcised?
Does Vincent have a tail?
What if Vincent "turned into a man"?
==Vincent: More Beast, or More Human?== 
===Comments from George R.R. Martin===
From a 1992 interview:
===Fan Comments===
 
 
 
==The Bestiality Topic==
==The Term: "Beasting Out"==
See more at Beast-Out.
==Vincent's Penis==
=== Retractable?===
Love Bade Me Welcome is a novel by P.S. Nim. It is fondly referred to by some fans as "the zine with the retractable willie" referencing the fact that in the story Vincent, like some cats, has a retractable penis.
===Circumcised?===
Almost all fanworks portray Vincent Wells as circumcised. 
A fan described Vincent describing his penis:
From a discussion in Lionheart #3 in August 1992 (Note: the editor of "Lionheart" and "Thighs and Whispers" are the same person, Beth Blighton): 
File:Beastreflections.jpg|from Tunnels of Love #6, artist is Suzan Lovett (1990)
Image:tunnels6-8.jpg|from Tunnels of Love #6, Jacqueline Kapke (1990)
Image:inamoonlesssky-1.jpg|from In a Moonless Sky, artist is Anna M. Deavers (1990)
Image:vincentsworld8-1.jpg|from Vincent's World #8, artist is Rosemarie Hauer (1992)
Image:thighs4.jpg|from Thighs and Whispers, artist is Beth Blighton (1992)
File:Buns-15.jpg|from Buns -n- Roses, artist is Teri Milliman (1992)
File:Paraworldsart4.jpg|from Parallel Worlds Within the City, artist is Michelle Scott (1993)
File:Humanheart-2.jpg|from Thanks to the Human Heart, artist is Rosemarie Hauer (1996)
File:Ishalllove-1.jpg|from I Shall But Love Thee Better..., artist is Rosemarie Hauer (1995)
File:Firsttimebb-5.jpg|from The First Time I Loved Forever , artist is unknown (2000)
File:Oncemoreart2.jpg|from Once More, With Feeling, artist is Sandy Shelton (2005)
 
==Does Vincent Have a Tail?==
For more, see The Great Tail Debate.
Much of the debate regarding whether or not Vincent Wells had a tail originated with the 1990 story series: Intertwined.
 
Two remarks regarding the tail: 
See Intertwined for many more comments.
==The Feline Vincent==
 
Image:Masquerades1991conzine-4.jpg|"You Purred For Me," a poem in the 1991 con zine, Masquerades
Image:rememberloveinside2.jpg|from Remember Love, Always (1990), artist is Anne Deavers Kelley: Vincent appears to be offering a cat toy
File:Tunnelcon2conzine-11.jpg|from Tunnelcon #2 (1992), artist is Cheryl Duval, Vincent Wells gets a dose of catnip
File:Neverendingdream2-3.jpg|from Soulmates - A Neverending Dream #2, artist is Terrie Milliman
File:Litterbox.jpg|from Tales from the Litterbox, artist is Zapf
File:Litterbox1-1.jpg|from Tales from the Litterbox, artist is Melody Rondeau
File:Litterbox1-3.jpg|from Tales from the Litterbox, artist is Melody Rondeau
File:Foreverandalways2-6.jpg|from Forever and Always #2, artist is Holly Riedel
File:Lifewithout1-2.jpg|from A Life Without Limits #1, Holly Riedel portrays Catherine Chandler and Vincent Wells as lions (1990)
File:Castlesintheair1-13.jpg|from Castles in the Air #1, artist is Pam Tuck, the illo is titled "Kindred Spirits":
File:Vincentsworld7-11.jpg|from Vincent's World #7, the artist is Rosemarie Hauer (1992)
File:Destinybb3-4.jpg|from Destiny #3, the artist may be Beth Blighton
File:Lifewithout1-6.jpg| there's a lot going on here, from A Life Without Limits #1, artist is Chris Schacter
File:Onceuponatimekehoe-10.jpg|from Once Upon a Time, the artist is Jane Curtis (1992)
==Imagining Vincent as a Man==
Image:wishesanddreams1-2.jpg|from Wishes and Dreams #1 (1990), the artist is Dragon, from a story in which Catherine dreams Vincent loses the appearance of a beast: "The hair was similar to Vincent's; it was of the same tawny color, only shorter and curlier. The chin and bottom lip were strikingly like Vincent's own. A mustache graced the upper lip; the nose was strong and masculine, the forehead high arid noble. But two physical qualities were uniquely Vincent's; the beautiful topaz blue eyes and whispery baritone voice. A voice that was now strained with doubt and trepidation, and eyes that glistened with tears... "You mean you think I look normal? Like a man, Father? I look like a real man!" Vincent rose to his full height, a smile crossed his newly formed lips, and the smile revealed beautiful, gleaming white teeth where canine fangs had been."
File:Daydreamsandfant1-5.jpg|from Daydreams and Fantasies #1, artist is Holly Riedel (1990), portrays Vincent as human, and Catherine Chandler as the beast
==References==
Category:Beauty and the Beast