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Resolved: Balrog Wings Debate is unresolvable, but here's another try - Lord of the Rings news - J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings

June 25, 2000 at 16:42:19

One of the most-often asked questions in online Tolkien fandom is, "Did Balrogs have wings". Most people believe they did. A sizeable minority believe they did not.

The debate over the Balrog wings has raged for years on the Internet, sparking long-running feuds and flame wars. Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" movies have been drawn into the long-running controversy partially by the production company's reluctance to make a statement on whether their Balrog will have wings.

A widely publisized pre-production graphic showing Gandalf standing on the bride of Khazad-dum reveals the shadow of the Balrog's (possibly) horned head and what may be the shadow of wings stretching out to the side. Fans could not determine from the image if Peter Jackson's Balrog would have wings, but a recent interview in a French magazine with artist/consultant John Howe finally solved the mystery: Peter has put wings on his Balrog.

Michael Martinez has now written an extensive essay discussing the wings/no-wings controversy, explaining the textual discrepancies in a matter-of-fact style. He has long been an advocate of wings on Balrogs and states many of the reasons for why he accepts the wings. But he also addresses many of the questions and objections which are raised by people who don't accept the wings.

The essay originated as a posting on Tolkien Online's FAQ discussions forum, but Michael quickly realized this response to a popular (and volatile) issue may be the best and most concise explanation of Balrog wings yet. So he slightly revised it and posted it on Xenite.Org as a permanent Web page.

Stephen Geard, one of the Internet's most respected Tolkien researchers, recently admitted on Xenite.Org's White Council that the essay may finally have convinced him that Balrogs had wings. He did point out that one relevant point was omitted in the essay: when the Company of the Ring encounter a flying Nazgul for the first time above Anduin, their first thought (voiced by Gimli) is of a Balrog.

The controversy will no doubt continue, but Peter Jackson's Balrog, much like those of Ralph Bakshi, John Howe, and other Tolkien adapters and illustrators, will undoubtedly have an enormous impact on the popular imagination. Many fans expect the next generation of Tolkien fans to be overwhelmingly influenced by Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" movies, and that influence -- if it develops -- will surely include forming an unforgetable image of a winged Balrog.

Future generations may decide the issue for themselves solely on the basis of the most popular representation rather than on the words of J.R.R. Tolkien.