Anansi

Anansi
Real Name	Paul Mackintosh
Alias(es)	Codenames Anansi
Species	Human
Citizenship	Jamaican
Gender	Male
Date of Death	September 2017
Affiliation	Gwen's
Status	Deceased
Appearances
TV Series	Luke Cage (7 episodes)
Actors/Actresses
Portrayed by	Sahr Ngaujah Desmond Elisha Denis (young)

"Eye for eye make the whole world blind. The past gone. You can't change it! All you can do is build something for the next generation!"

―Anansi to Bushmaster^[src]

Paul Mackintosh, also known as Anansi, was a Jamaican bushman who worked at and co-owned Gwen's and was the uncle and mentor of Bushmaster. He was set on fire by Mariah Stokes, who eventually shot and killed him.

Biography

Early Life

"We grew up together. Me, John and our bredren, Sheldon. Me like an older broda to John-John. There was an elder, Anansi, a bushman, who'd always tell John stories."

―Gideon Shaw to Misty Knight^[src]

Paul Mackintosh, otherwise known as Anansi, grew up in Jamaica. He often told stories to a little boy named John McIver, who had friends named Gideon Shaw and Sheldon.

Saving John McIver's Life

"Anansi, don't let him die. Not Gwen's boy."
"Ingrid, he not going to die. Not today."

―Ingrid Mackintosh and Anansi^[src]

John McIver strolled the local market in Kingston when he was approached by Peter Stokes, who took out a gun and shot John at pointblank. Anansi rushed over to McIver and carried him across the jungle to a local bushwoman named Maddah Myrie. She took out Nightshade. Anansi asked if the substance would save him, but she told Anansi it would reveal him. McIver started screaming in pain as she used it, worrying Anansi. Eventually, his skin hardened and expelled the bullets.

War for Harlem

Life in New York

"We come here with nothing, and build everything up from scratch."

―Anansi to Bushmaster^[src]

Alongside his wife, Ingrid Mackintosh, Anansi opened Gwen's in New York City, named after his dead sister-in-law. Through many jobs, he was able to make enough money to run the restaurant himself. He was surprised to find that John McIver had returned to New York to reclaim his birthright, and tried to warn him off the path of revenge. Days later, McIver arrived at Gwen's, cheering about how he beat up Luke Cage. McIver then walked over to Anansi, who was disappointed that McIver went for revenge. McIver attempted to give him money. Anansi declined it, saying he did not need money from his nephew. However, Ingrid snatched it up right away.

Disapproval of McIver

While Anansi was working at Gwen's when he saw a news report of three decapitated heads being put on posts and shown at Mariah Stokes' opening of her new building. Anansi was very disappointed in John McIver as he knew McIver was the killer. He openly voiced his displeasure, saying that it was cowardice that someone would do such a thing.

At closing time, McIver told Ingrid Mackintosh that she could leave and he would finish cleaning up with Anansi. When she left, McIver and Anansi clashed over their different views. Anansi claimed that his doings made all Jamaicans look bad and it destroyed their safety. McIver argued that Mariah Stokes needed to pay for what she did. Anansi agreed, but told him to just kill her and be done with it. There does not need to be this crusade that spreads fear.

Anansi talked with McIver in his house and tried to reason with him again. Anansi asked how McIver thought Gwen would think of him. McIver went on a long monologue of an old story and how he has a lot of money now. Anansi argued that he did not need all of that money and it was not what he really wanted. McIver asked why he did not share the same anger. Anansi told him that it would not bring Gwen back and even if it did, vengeance was for the lord. McIver told him that he would return the vengeance when he was done with it.

Anansi talked to McIver later, who wanted to recreate the Nightshade. Anansi claimed that he could not recreate n=something like that. Even if he could, he did not need that much power. McIver claimed that even if Stokes died, he was the only one who could take on Luke Cage and he needed powers for that. Anansi was worried that his mind, soul, and spirit was poisoned. McIver wanted Anansi to join him, but he refused, saying that he loved McIver, but love has limits. He slammed the door on his way out and walked towards Gwen's.

Kidnapped

"Me laugh at me own folly. When Johnny declared war on you, me felt sorry for you. Me nah wan' him to destroy you the way the Stokes destroyed him own family. But now me see you with me own two eye, and I understand the temptation. Your darkness matching his. You deserve all the brimstone him gon bring pon yuh."
"Where is he?"
"Me nah know. And I wouldn't tell you raatid if me did. But I'll tell you like I tell him. When one seek vengeance, him must dig two grave."

―Anansi and Mariah Stokes Dillard^[src]

Anansi talked with John McIver; once again warning him. McIver still wanted to create more Nightshade, but Anansi told him he should not mess with that stuff. He left only to be found by Shades, who kidnapped Anansi and put him in the trunk of his car. Anansi stayed there until it was opened, where he found Shades and Mariah Stokes Dillard waiting for him.

Massacre at Gwen's

"Me gonna haunt you 'til the end of your days! You can eat but you won't taste! You can sleep but you won't rest! Everything you love, you gon lose! You hear me!"

―Anansi to Mariah Stokes^[src]

Anansi was brought to Harlem's Paradise where Mariah Stokes, now embracing her family surname, taunted him. He was then blindfolded and brought to Gwen's. Stokes saw Stephanie Miller whom she realized was undercover, spying on her, she shot at Miller, causing even more shooting. Anansi watched in horror as his friends and family were shot and killed around him. Anansi saw his wife, unknowing that she survived. He cried over her "corpse" saying he was sorry. Anansi thought all hope was lost as Stokes' men poured Bushmaster Rum over his head. He put a curse on Stokes, saying he would haunt her. He screamed in pain as Stokes set him on fire. His death was very long, so Stokes shot him to stop the screaming.

Personality

"Don't take nothing, don't ask for nothing and I stay happy."

―Anansi to John McIver^[src]

To be added

This section requires expansion

Facilities

This section requires expansion

• Gwen's: To be added

Relationships

Family Ingrid Mackintosh - Wife Quincy McIver † - Brother-in-Law Gwen McIver † - Sister-in-Law John McIver - Nephew Allies Maddah Myrie Sheldon Gideon Shaw Stephanie Miller †

Enemies Stokes Crime Family Mariah Stokes † - Killer Hernan Alvarez/Shades - Kidnapper

Trivia

• Anansi is an Akan folktale character, a spider-like god of knowledge and stories.
  • Anansi literally translates to "spider".

Behind the Scenes

• Mounir Quazzani was a stunt double for Desmond Elisha Denis in the role of Anansi.