Now in its second exciting season, The Umbrella Academy continues to be one of the most beloved superhero series in recent years. Full of a colorful cast of characters, and a storyline that encompasses time travel, dysfunctional families, and an apocalypse every episode, it's not hard to see why it's so popular. Based on a graphic novel series by Gerard Way, its art by Gabriel Bá leaps off the page in distinct and creative ways, perfectly complementing the frenetic story about orphaned children raised to be superheroes by an eccentric billionaire.
The Hargreeves siblings have developed into their own distinct entities as the series has progressed, and fans have clamored to each of them with a particular fervor. They've inspired all kinds of devotion among tattoo enthusiasts, and since a number of the characters have tattoos themselves, there are obvious ones to emulate, but the ones found below encompass a wide variety of tastes and styles.
THE WHITE VIOLIN
This beautifully haunting portrait of Vanya Hargreeves, known in The Umbrella Academy as Number 7, depicts her playing her signature instrument, responsible for her sobriquet "The White Violin".
The violin represented a way for Vanya to find solace in a world of seclusion, where her own father kept her separated from her siblings because she didn't express any superhuman abilities. Leroux Body Art captures the quiet strength of the Academy's most secretly powerful member with this black and white portrait.
KLAUS
Klaus has emerged as one of the most popular characters in The Umbrella Academy, where the energetic and charismatic Robert Sheehan has managed to capture Klaus's delightful eccentricity.
This stately and artistic portrait by Cadence from Ink Room Canada has the sort of je ne sais quoi that Klaus would find appealing. The One Line or Continuous Line style gives it a unique look, just like Klaus.
NUMBER 5
The ineffable Number 5, whose intelligence and talents were never commensurate with his incredibly small frame, was easily the break out the leader of the group after Reginald Hargreeves passed away and left his family in disarray.
This striking tattoo by Chibs Tattoo shows Five perpetually straightening his tie after presumably slaughtering a series of foes, much like he does near the end of Season 2. He remains one of the most elite assassins in the world, despite being a 58-year-old man trapped in a child's body.
HAZEL AND CHA CHA
Though portrayed as baddies in The Umbrella Academy, time travel agents Hazel and Cha Cha turned out to be surprise scene-stealers as they chased down Hargreeves siblings in Season 1.
This colorful ode to the dynamic duo by Shauna Gregory rightly conveys that the series might as well be "The Hazel and Cha Cha Show" after all, with their innocent looking masks bellying their sinister association with mayhem and murder.
UMBRELLA
Since the release of the Netflix original series, fans have taken to requesting one symbol above all else - the black umbrella tattoo that is worn by all the Hargreeves children on their inner left forearm. This umbrella tattoo by Antclaytattoo is a perfect example of the simple elegance achieved by its clean lines.
The misfit aspect of the series, which combines dark humor, time travel, the impending apocalypse, and superheroes resonates with fans. They may identify with aspects of the Hargreeves family who, despite being estranged and combative, always look out for one another.
PLANCHETTE HOMAGE
The characters in The Umbrella Academy resonate with a lot of viewers, especially those that consider themselves a part of the LGBT+ community. Characters like Vanya and Klaus who explore their sexuality through intimate relationships with both genders are a prominent part of the series.
This planchette piece by Scott Cook is an homage to all of the Hargreeves children, but especially Klaus, complete with the words "Hello" and "Good Bye" (mimicking the tattoos on his palms) as well as the fluffy pink boa he wore in Season 1. To celebrate his freedom of expression, there are hints of rainbows throughout.
LUTHER AND ALLISON
Despite being raised as siblings, Luther and Allison shared more than a familial bond. They grew to care about each other romantically, and because they weren't biologically brother and sister, explored their feelings during the first season of The Umbrella Academy.
This enchanting tattoo by Semper Tattoo at the Big North Tattoo Fest in the UK highlights a musical scene during Season 1 where they expressed their true feelings to a romantic song and dance routine. While not completely identical to the scene, it's a beautiful moment to capture forever for any fan of true love.
HELLO, GOOD BYE
Klaus, the fan-favorite of the series, has a number of his own visible tattoos that make an appearance in both seasons. After he returned from Vietnam in 1968, he sported several pieces that commemorated his time spent overseas, most notably a "Sky Soldiers" tattoo and a black and white tiger.
The most infamous tattoos that haven't received much explanation are the words "Hello" and "Good Bye" printed on his left and right palms. Here they are, recreated to great stylistic effect by Amelia at Berserk Tattoo in Melbourne.
DIEGO
The moodiest member of the Umbrella Academy, Diego Hargreeves is a lethal killer with a knack for always finding his mark with a knife, and holding familial grudges.
This stick poke tattoo by Elimprestavel puts a playful spin on Diego's edginess, introducing a pun with the symbols he's most associated with -his black eye mask and his throwing knives.
THE FINAL CURTAIN
The malevolent undercurrent tied to both seasons of Umbrella Academy emanates from the most unlikely of places; Vanya Hargreeves and her hidden superpower. When she decides she's sick of the way she's been treated all her life, she decides to enact revenge on everyone who wronged her, family or not.
As The White Violin in this piece by Fionna Barr, seen here in this sophisticated black tattoo, she vows to "give them a performance they'll never forget", which in the first season ends up sending the Moon plummeting into the Earth.