I find it super interesting that Mike and his alters have identifiably human names (Manitoba Smith is dubious but he’s clearly meant to be Indiana Jones) but like. Named after a human or someone that’s tangible, identifiable.
Mal is different though. Full name, The Malevolent One. Not a human name, hell, not even a thing, just. A vague concept. He identifies as a manifestation of malevolence, and while sure he can go by Mal its a prefix that carries the same concepts of evil whilst still able to be passed off (eg he can just say short for malcolm.)
And while all the others have consistently human forms, most of the time Mal is represented as a near fully blacked out shadowy figure.
This is actually really interesting to look at. The Malevolent One also has an extra level of detachment because it isn’t even a name, just that he’s someone, or something, that is malevolent.
Why does this matter? I don’t know, I just find it interesting that Mal is so different in his identity and how he’s represented and perceived to the others. I know its likely just because it sounds cool and edgy, but having representation of an alter that sees himself as some abstract inperceivable being/concept of evil is super interesting. I and a bunch of other systems I know have alters that ID fully as manifestations of some concept like rage or sorrow or something somehow even less solid and it’s just… cool and neat.
I think Mal is cool and neat actually and I like thinking about the reasons people and alters identify as they do.