Vincent Stark is the protagonist of the Black Mesa machinima series Stark's Mind, a spin-off of the popular machinima series Freeman's Mind.
In a reality near-identical to the one seen in Freeman's Mind, Stark occupies the role of Dr. Gordon Freeman on the day of the Black Mesa Incident, resulting in him travelling through various sections of the Black Mesa Research Facility in order to put an end to the invasion. He is portrayed by series creator Dylan Lumanta-Simon.
Profile
Appearance
Stark is a young Asian-American male of average height and build who bears a keen resemblance to Gordon Freeman, albeit with jet-black hair, dark-brown eyes, and a goatee that separates around the lip. This resemblance to Freeman tends to result in people either noting the similarities between the two or even outright mistaking them for one another, which often earns Stark's ire.[1]
His hair is well-kept and parted to the right, with a few locks of hair hanging on the left. Following the resonance cascade, however, Stark's hair becomes disheveled and dirty, though this is due to the large amounts of physical labor Stark has to endure.
Personality
Stark is representative of the everyman: an ordinary individual pit against extraordinary circumstances that far outpace them.
Personality-wise, Stark is an amicable, well-intentioned individual with a conscience that drives him to do what is right by whatever means necessary. On top of that, Stark is both stubborn and tenacious, as even after his life is threatened numerous times throughout the series, he continues onward despite knowing full well that he could die at any moment. This is best demonstrated when Stark is told by surviving personnel that the Lambda Team are the only remaining personnel capable of putting an end to the invasion.[2] After learning this, Stark immediately sets out to locate them, even going as far as to accomplish additional tasks such as launching a satellite rocket into orbit for them.[3]
Stark undergoes extreme psychological stress during the events of the series, which eventually culminates in him passing out due to sheer exhaustion and stress.[4] Following the resonance cascade, Stark is heavily disoriented, unable to cope with the countless dead personnel around him. As a result, Stark develops a case of survivor's guilt, blaming himself for the accident as he should not have been at the facility in the first place.[5] Ironically, this guilt is what pushes him into the position of de facto leader, as Stark willingly places himself in harm's way in order to do whatever it takes to save lives and bring an end to the invasion of the facility. Later on in the series, however, Stark's commitment to ending the invasion is revealed to serve as a coping method for him rather than inherent altruism, given that he struggles to reconcile the death of countless personal with his survival.[6]
Biography
Early Years and Harvard
Stark was born in September of 1984 to Swedish-American accountant Adam Stark, and his wife Kana Stark, a Japanese immigrant.
Raised in the suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina, a young Stark displays an affinity towards more academic-oriented subjects such as mathematical game theory, Newtonian physics, and modern physics. By the age of 15, Stark proves himself to be a prodigy by way of getting accepted into the prestigious Harvard University. Stark stays with a relative in Massachusetts during his time at university, visiting his parents when possible.
At Harvard, Stark begins studying quantum mechanics and its various applications, later writing a dissertation on Quantum Electrodynamics and special relativity. During his time at the university, Stark attends a panel hosted by Harvard alumnus Dr. Eli Vance. After the panel, he has a brief yet meaningful conversation with the doctor, who sees potential within the young Stark, believing he would make a valuable addition to the Black Mesa staff. Stark graduates from Harvard at the age of 19 with a PhD in Physics, and is quickly brought on board the Black Mesa Science Team at the suggestion of Eli Vance. Initially apprehensive about his recruitment as employment would lead to him living farther away from his parents, Stark decides to take the opportunity, in the hopes that he would contribute to the future and betterment of humanity.[7]
Black Mesa
Stark worked in the Anomalous Materials department alongside the likes of Eli Vance, Isaac Kleiner, and eventually, Gordon Freeman. During his time at Black Mesa, the prodigious scientist would go onto befriend people such as Gordon's younger brother, Felix Freeman, and another scientist by the name of Ramirez.
Intervening Years
The Black Mesa Incident
Main article: Stark's Mind
Relationships
Gordon Freeman
In the timeline of Stark's Mind, Gordon Freeman bribed Stark into standing in for him on the week of the Black Mesa Incident. Stark resents Freeman for this, all the more when he finds himself trapped inside the facility having to fight off various aliens. Initially planning to reveal his identity to the survivors of the resonance cascade, it is the intervention of the US military (who plan to silence all parties connected to the resonance cascade) and their subsequent focus on "Gordon Freeman" that causes him to remain quiet about his identity.
Felix Freeman
While he was employed at Black Mesa, Stark mentioned Felix in a way that suggested that they were friends and on good terms during a visit to Sector D.[8]
Ramirez
An employee at Black Mesa that Stark befriended during his tenure there. Stark's remarks on him suggest that they were fairly close, especially as Stark showed concern when Ramirez had not been seen for some time following his assignment to a confidential research project.[9]
Kana Stark
Stark states that he came back to the research facility as a stand-in for Freeman in order to fulfill a promise to his mother.[10] He and his mother seem to have a very close relationship, as Stark becomes regretful over having not visited his parents often during his employment at Black Mesa and after his termination.[11]
Adam Stark
He and his father seem to have a very close relationship, as Stark becomes regretful over having not visited his parents often during his employment at Black Mesa and after his termination.[12]
Aaron Stark
Stark's uncle who owns a moving company. Stark mentions having worked for his uncle.[13]
Gallery
Official Artwork
_(beard).png "2c - Stark (young) (beard).png (257 KB)")
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References
- ↑ Stark's Mind episode -1, "Depreciation"
- ↑ Episode 13, "Charlie Foxtrot"
- ↑ Episode 22, "Amplifier"
- ↑ Episode 26, "Doppler Effect"
- ↑ Episode 3, "Unforeseen Consequences"
- ↑ Episode 33, "Character Displacement"
- ↑ Episode 30, "Apprehension"
- ↑ Episode -1, "Depreciation"
- ↑ Ditto.
- ↑ Episode 33, "Character Displacement"
- ↑ Episode 27, "Two-Stage Recovery"
- ↑ Ditto.
- ↑ Episode 33, "Character Displacement"