Aleister Crowley

**Aleister Crowley** is a satanist who enjoys throwing lavish parties full of debauchery. He is a recurring character in the first season and second season of *Pennyworth* .

## Throughout *Pennyworth* Series

### Meeting the Waynes

He is first seen as the enigmatic host of a lavish party to which Patricia Wayne drags Martha Kane. He takes a liking to Martha, going as far to tell her he is a satanist. But Martha doesn't believe him.

Sometime later, as Martha begins to piece together what happened at his party, he also meets Thomas Wayne. He offers Patricia's freedom from his master, in exchange for Thomas selling his soul to the devil. Thomas initially believes his soul to be a metaphor for his company, however it is revealed that Crowley literally means his soul. Crowley also reveals that he is aware that Martha and Thomas work for the No Name League, also revealing in front of everyone in the room that Thomas works for the CIA.

Thomas demands to meet with Lucifer himself and Crowley takes him to a dimly lit room where they watch a video tape. Thomas sees Patricia having sex with multiple men. In a fit of rage, he attacks Jason Ripper, strangling him with the videotape. Thomas is horrified by his actions and demands that Patricia leave with him. Declaring that Thomas has indeed met the devil - his own rage - Crowley lets Thomas and both ladies leave his house.

### Return

A year later, Thomas Wayne shows up at Alfred's club, who at the request of his superiors from the CIA is tasked to recruit his old foe Aleister Crowley to do a job for him. Meeting the notorious Alfred Pennyworth, having heard so much about him. Crowley states "I thought you'd look more butch, but your so young and pretty." Alfred call Sheri over to take care of Thomas Wayne whom is his old friends. Sitting down to talk, Mr. Crowley is to remove some unspecified public figure from his position. Crowley accepts, but in return, requires a kiss from Thomas Wayne to seal the deal.

After agreeing to Thomas' terms, Crowley enters a church telling a nun that he is looking for salvation only to find the Prime Minister, who is his apparent target. Crowley offers to take him on a journey to explore the depths of his imagination.

It is revealed that Crowley was employed by Wayne and the CIA to discredit the Prime Minister of the English League, Archbishop Potter. Crowley, manipulated the archbishop into taking part in one of his orgies, and a few pictures sent to the newspapers gets the CIA the result they want. As a result, the League starts the search for a new Prime Minister, while a disgraced Archbishop Potter hangs himself.

Taping a fly inside a pentagram on a small piece of paper, Victor Aziz's plan comes together. After drinking something from a vial, and putting makeup on his cheeks and lips, Crowley leaves to walk his dog. While walking, a car pulls up. John Ripper is in the back seat. Crowley remarks "I was thinking about you." Ripper tells him to get in, they need a chat. Crowley picks up his dog and walks around to get in on the other side. The driver gets the door, Crowley kisses Ripper on the cheek, Ripper grabs the little dog and throws it out the window. Wiping off the lipstick from the kiss, Ripper pulls out the paper, with the star and fly taped in the middle. Ripper states he thinks it is a threat from him, Crowley then lets Ripper rant. Ripper pulls out a knife and states he eats men like him for a snack, but the lipstick turns out to be drugged. It at last takes effect, and Ripper loses consciousness. When the driver stops to check on Ripper, Crowley kills the man with the knife, and drives the car away with John Ripper still inside.

## Personality

Aleister at first glance seems to be the life of the party, but behind this facade hides a darker person.

## Appearances

Season One
* *Cilla Black*
* *Julie Christie*
* *Sandie Shaw* (Only in "Previously on" section)

Season 2
* *The Burning Bridge*
* *The Belt and Welt*
* *The Rose and Thorn*

## Trivia

* This character is based an a real historical figure. The real Aleister Crowley - while he referred to himself as "the Beast 666" - was not, in fact, a Satanist; but he did nothing to dissuade people from that perception. He was a - if not **the *-*** preeminent occultist of the 20th century. He is considered the "prophet" of the philosophy of Thelema, which does actively declare the end of the Christian era (or "Æon"). Crowley was born on October 12, 1875, and would have been in his late 80s during the time in which Pennyworth is set. He died in 1947. It should be noted that his portrayal in the show is actually fairly faithful to the image he cultivated.
* The real Aleister Crowley actually cooperated with British intelligence during World War Two, working with no less a person than Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond 007. Thus, the character's recruitment by the CIA in Pennyworth is likely inspired by historical fact.
* After his banishment from London, Jason Ripper is seen in Crowley's mansion. They have formed a bond, and Crowley refers to the younger man as "my angel" on several occasions. There are implications that their relationship is even romantic and/or sexual in nature.