W.I.T.C.H.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This is about the comic book series. For the animated version of this series, see W.I.T.C.H. (TV series). For organization "W.I.T.C.H.", see Women's International Terrorist Conspiracy from Hell. For other uses of the word "witch", see Witch (disambiguation).
| W.I.T.C.H. | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
W.I.T.C.H. is a fantasy/superhero comic series created in Italy by Elisabetta Gnone. It tells the story of five teenage girls who are chosen to be the new Guardians of Kandrakar5, who protect the center of the universe from people and creatures who wish to cause harm to it. For this purpose, they have been given powers over the five elements.
The title W.I.T.C.H is an abbreviation of the first letters of the main characters' names: Will, Irma, Taranee, Cornelia, and Hay Lin.
W.I.T.C.H. was originally published in Italy, and is currently being published in over fifty countries and translated into over twenty different languages around the world.
For reasons unknown, the comic was never published in Japan, and instead a manga based on the comic, with art by Haruko Iida (飯田晴子 Iida Haruko?), was published by Kadokawa Publishing (角川書店 Kadokawa Shoten?) in their monthly magazine Asuka Monthly (月刊あすか Gekkan Asuka?) and later collected in two trade paperback volumes, upon which the comic was canceled. The paperback volumes had covers by Daisuke Ehara (江原大介 Ehara Daisuke?).
In the beginning, America only had chapter books which were also adapted from the comic. In 2005, graphic novels (containing two issues each) began being released with only a bit of nudity censored. The graphic novels are released about every two months, and at the beginning and end of every story there is a pin-up or miniature poster.
Lene Kaaberbøl has written nine books taking place in the W.I.T.C.H. universe, published 2002-2003.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Characters
[edit] Guardians
The Guardians seem to be immortal, as voiced by Nerissa the first time she set eyes on Hay Lin. However, Nerissa also stated that this does not means the Guardians do not age, which may lead to some confusion.
Wilhelmina/Wilma "Will" Vandom1 - Red hair, brown eyes, she is 14 years old. Her birthday is January 19, making her a Capricorn. She is in class 3A at Sheffield Institute. She is the leader of W.I.T.C.H. and the keeper of the Heart of Kandrakar, which allows the girls to magnify their powers. She first came to Heatherfield after leaving her hometown of Fadden Hills. Will has issues with trusting people because she is scared of being let down. She is a bit of a tomboy, but is also sensitive towards other people. Will didn't trust the other girls at first because her former friends talked negatively about her behind her back, but she soon began to trust her teammates through friendship. She excels at biology and swimming, and enjoys caring for animals. Her powers include giving life to appliances, which allows them distinct personalities and the ability to speak; animals are empathetic to her feelings and she can understand their thoughts. She has the ability to teleport people wherever she wants and can sense strange phenomena. She can shoot and manipulate large forms of energy and change her appearance at will. Will lives with her divorced mother; her father left them when she was young. Her theme color is fuchsia (pink) and her symbol is a pink equal sign. Her big crush is Matt Olsen; who, incidentally feels the same way about her.
Irma Lair - Light brown hair, blue eyes. Birthday is March 13 (Pisces); Irma is 13, class 2A. Irma is a bit sassy and unpredictable. She is always late for events and can be found using her powers for personal gain rather than the good of humanity. She owns a pet turtle, Leafy, who is the only one in the world to know her deepest secrets. She relishes shopping, rock music, making up nicknames for her friends, and indulging in long baths and showers. Her powers include intuition and manipulating water to do her bidding. She can also change the physical appearance of things and people. She has also been known to exhibit light mind control. Her latest power allows her to see visions in the water. She lives with her father, who is a police officer, and her step-mother, Anna6, who she often finds herself at arms with. She also has a younger half-brother, Chris, who annoys her to no end. Her theme color is turquoise (blue) and her symbol is a blue wave crest. Irma is crazy about boys, and her crush is varied every week. Martin Tubbs thinks Irma likes him, but really, he is just an annoyance to her. She's also a fan of the local soccer player David Adams, and played soccer with his daughter, Vicky. Her big idol is the rock artist Karmilla.
Taranee Cook - Birthday is March 23 (Aries) Taranee is 13, class 2A. She may be shy and laid-back, but Taranee can be very determined when she sets her mind to a goal. Out of all her friends, she is usually the one that has to remind every one about an important task at hand. Her hobbies include basketball, photography, listening to classical music, and even math. Her powers include controlling fire at her will, producing heat waves, reading minds and being able to communicate with people telepathically.3 She is very close to her family, which consists of her mother, father, and older brother Peter who is very nice to her. Though she is shy and somewhat sensitive, Taranee gets extremely annoyed when someone hurts her feelings and she becomes dangerous after it happens. Her theme varies from red to pink and her symbol is a red triangle. Her boyfriend is Nigel Ashcroft.
Cornelia Hale - With long blonde hair and blue eyes, she might seem to be a stereotypical girl of that kind whose interest is seeming worthy of both love and envy; however, her character develops much in other directions. Birthday is May 10th (Taurus); she's 14, class 3A. Cornelia comes off as tough and overconfident, but buried deep within her is a romantic girl begging to be released. She is a competitive ice-skater and has won numerous medals for her achievements on the ice. Her best friend is Elyon Brown and she owns a cat named Napoleon which she received from Will. She can manipulate earth, stone and wood and speak with the Earth, make plants and flowers grow big and tall, can move objects with her mind (telekinesis), and can sometimes experience prophetic visions from the earth. She understands plants the way Will understands animals. Cornelia can also be extremely cold; She made Will cry a few times, questioned her position as leader, and she often argues with Irma and Will, though she has opened up later in the series. She has a younger sister, Lillian, who is a big pain in her neck. Her theme color is light green and her symbol is a green circle with a dot in the center. Her soul mate is Caleb, leader of the rebels.
Hay Lin - Birthday is June 4 (Gemini); she's 13, class 2A. Hay Lin is a little bit cheerful, very creative, and sometimes full of enthusiasm. Her family owns a Chinese restaurant called the Silver Dragon where she often works to help out. Her favorite thing to do is draw and her favorite subject is art. Hay Lin loves to collect comics and alien collectibles. She can always be seen writing on her hand so she won't forget important things like names, dates, and numbers. Her powers include the control over air4, the ability to fly and being able to recall the past by the use of sound. She can also touch an object and get a complete history of where it's been and the atmosphere it came from. Hay Lin also has the powers of empathic premonition. Her theme color varies from royal blue, to purple, to grey and her symbol is a silver swirl. Her grandmother, Yan Lin, was the previous Guardian of Air. Eric Lyndon is her new crush. She met him while rollerblading shakily when her purse got caught on Eric's electric scooter's handlebars. She later came to his house and also saw him at the Silver Dragon.
Orube2 - An indigo-haired female who was trained since birth to be a destructive warrior. She bears some feline features. Unlike the other Guardians, she originates from the world Basiliade. Assuming the name of Rebecca Rudolph and posing as a college student, she lives on Earth with the other girls and has a bad case of culture shock when it comes to fitting in with humans. She controls no elemental powers, but is an expert in martial arts and is able to conjure up blasts of energy from her hands. She has an advanced form of smell and hearing which she uses to track her prey and has amazing agility, strength, and reflexes. She also has the miraculous sense of receiving radio signals. Orube is very good with pets, and this ability enables her to apply for a job in Matt Olsen's grandfather's pet shop. She later falls in love with Cedric, but when he dies inside Ludmoore's book, Orube returns to Basiliade.
[edit] The Boys
Matt Olsen - He sings and plays guitar for his band “Cobalt Blue”. He works part-time at his grandfather’s pet store along with Will and shares the same interest in animals as she does. He is strong, kind, and a bit laid-back. He finds Will a bit cute, has feelings for her, and has a hard time admitting them. He also becomes Shagon in the cartoon.
Martin Tubbs - Honor student and totally dependent on his glasses, Martin is what most people would call a nerd. Despite this, he has proven himself to be brave when he stood up to the bully Uriah and his gang. He is madly attached to Irma, who only sees him as a friend. He is a member of the Happy Bears, a boy-and- girl-scout group located in Heatherfield. He is good friends with Nigel. Irma, his major crush, joins the Happy Bears a little later in the book series. She surprisingly feels comfortable there.
Andrew Hornby - Andrew Hornby is Irma's real crush; tall, handsome, and popular. She has tried to flirt with him by making her body look more mature using her magic, but that backfired when she turned him into a toad for a few days out of nervousness when he tried to kiss her.
Nigel Ashcroft - Silent and reflective, Nigel is viewed as a hoodlum by Taranee’s mother, who does not trust him with her daughter since he was once part of Uriah’s gang. He tries his best to prove himself to Taranee and her family that his feelings are pure and of good intentions. He is good friends with Martin. He has an older brother who holds a grudge against Taranee's mother.
Caleb - Once a Murmurer conjured up by Phobos to do his bidding, Caleb developed a will of his own and broke free of Phobos’ control. He became the leader of the rebel forces who were opposed to Phobos' rule and has quickly gained popularity in Meridian. He is a kind and benevolent young man whose heart is bound to Cornelia’s; even before he met her, he had dreams about her and has longed to one day meet the girl of his dreams. After Nerissa's defeat, he decided to return to Meridian, leaving Cornelia disillusioned. By this act he falls into disgrace with the other Guardians, particularly with Irma, who wished to kick him back to Meridian. Eventually, after being in the presence of Elyon for such a long time because he decided to go back to Meridian, he falls in love with her and it is assumed that his affections are requited. When Cornelia discovers this, she is heartbroken, and leaves them both, leaving Caleb with a slap, and Elyon enwrithed in poisonous vines.
Rick Fortworth - Handsome, popular, smart, and with an ego to match, Cornelia met Rick when she partook in the exchange program with Redstone Institute. Their first encounter was anything but pleasant; in fact, she purposely struck him in the head with a frisbee. But since then, Cornelia has been growing more and more interested in the exotic young man from another country. Although she has feelings for him, she tried to keep it a secret from the other girls due to her relationship with Caleb.
Peter Cook - Peter is Taranee's older brother. He is very kind and wholesome and loves to spend time with his family. On his free time he enjoys playing basketball, surfing, and other sports that require physical endurance. Despite Cornelia being in love with Caleb, she cannot help but find Peter cute; which makes being around him uncomfortable for her, so she tries to avoid him at all costs. When that fails, she often tries not to start any conversations with him.
Eric Lyndon - Hay Lin's new crush. A new boy in town, Eric lives at the Heatherfield Observatory with his grandfather, Zachary Lyndon, who is an astronomer. He is crazy about science and technology and his brain is bursting with imagination. He owns an electric scooter and loves to play basketball with Nigel and the other boys. His mother and father are named Louise and Charles; Hay Lin met them when she spilled soup on them! Louise and Charles travel to an island in the middle of the ocean.
Joel Wright- Matt's friend and also a part of their band Cobalt Blue and it also seems like Irma has a crush on him. Irma calls him Jay, they are both sweet and comfortable with each other and they have a similar traits and attitudes. He has a younger brother named Billy who's in Grade 4.
Luke Pradd-Taranee's classmate in the dance academy who gave her a wristband when she accidentally overrubbed Hay Lin's phone number.
Kandrakar is a threshold to all other universes, and if evil was to cross its magical defenses, chaos would be unleashed throughout the entire universe and evil would roam free unchecked.
[edit] Council/Congregation of Kandrakar
Note: Some members of the Council/Congregation of Kandrakar, such as Yan Lin, are human, but many others are not, as seen by the Guardians after the demise of Nerissa.
The Oracle - The wise and just being who gave the girls their powers. He is literally the God of the universe and has existed since the beginning of time itself. He possesses unimaginable powers, including the ability to tear down the Veil in seconds while Phobos was unable to for over years, possibly centuries, even. He does not ever need to walk, because he is able to levitate, and has the job as Oracle to watch over other worlds and dimensions and has observed billions of lives. His omnipotent abilities also enable him to delve into the minds of others, feeling their emotions and feelings. He can also observe others by conjuring an emerald screen that can display anyone or anything he wills it to, and can materialize anything he wants, such as the photograph of W.I.T.C.H. and Elyon together during the Halloween party seconds after it was taken. The Oracle is also capable of gazing into the future, though he never uses this useful ability to predict the actions, and thus counteract the forces of, future foes, and even permits Cassidy to be killed by Nerissa. It can be argued that he rules the element of Spirit. After being banished to Basiliade and having his title as Oracle renounced by Endarno, he lives peacefully under the name Himerish. He is allowed to return later, but his experience as a mortal made him much more human and friendlier towards the Guardians. Both sides of the Oracle's head seems to be marked with the symbol of the Heart of Kandrakar, and he always wears a long, green robe that stretches to his feet. The Oracle seems rather inferior, however, to the villains of Story-Arc 2-4, as he himself stated he was unable to defeat Nerissa due to the fact she possessed the Heart of Kandrakar, the need of the Guardians to protect him when Ari, the powerful lord of Arkhanta wages war on Kandrakar, and his incapability to discern Endarno's true self and his outrageous decision to put himself on trial, even as he knew doing so would bring great peril to the universe, which it did.
Tibor - The Oracle's faithful adviser who believes 100% in the Oracle's abilities. He has been with the Oracle for centuries and often argues with Luba. Irma said once when they visited Kandrakar, that Tibor looked like Santa Claus.
Yan Lin - Hay Lin's grandmother and a member of the Congregation. She offers advice and words of wisdom to the girls when they need it. She was the previous Guardian of Air and the only ex-Guardian to remain faithful to the Oracle, which saddens him. In the Nerissa series she is the only one who truly understands the power of Nerissa.
Luba - The first keeper of the Aurameres. She is against the Oracle's decision of giving the job of Guardianship to young, inexperienced Earth teenagers. She caused a lot of trouble for the girls by fusing the Aurameres together on purpose. She was then put on trial. During the Guardians' battle against Nerissa, it is revealed that Nerissa used Luba for her plans. Luba also sacrifices her immortality for the Guardians. Luba is aggressive at times, but can be kind. She has a catlike face and is about 10013 years old.
Caleb (W.I.T.C.H.) - The ex-Herald of Kandrakar and Cornelia's former lover. He came into Kandrakar's service as the Herald of Kandrakar in order to give Cornelia her power of earth back. After the battle of Nerissa, he left Cornelia on earth to return to Meridian.
Minor Council/Congregation Members
- Bolgo - An elfin old man that inquired if the Oracle meant Kandrakar should intervene during the final battle against Phobos. He also discussed the Oracle's decision to simply wait and see "how events unfold" with several other Council Members, including Luba and Althor.
- Althor - An old man that bears some resemblance to an elf or a dwarf that first appears asking the Oracle who shall be the new Guardians, and next appears during the battle against Phobos, listening to Bolgo when he discusses the Oracle's decision to simply wait and see "how events unfold".
- As-Sharwa - One of the oldest and wisest of the inhabitants of Kandrakar, and the elected Voice of the Congregation. He has an elongated forehead tattooed with mystical runes, and long gray hair, along with many wrinkles. He, representing the Council, informed the Oracle that the Congregation, that they do not wish to use the destructive power of the mighty force called the Resonance to counteract Nerissa's attacks on Kandrakar, as the results might be catastrophic for Kandrakar as well as Nerissa, but the Oracle insisted that they do activate the Resonance, as it may be their last hope.
[edit] Former Guardians
Kadma - A tanned/purple haired woman, the past Guardian of Earth. She and Halinor were banished from Kandrakar for questioning the Oracle's power when Nerissa killed Cassidy out of envy; if he knew what was going to happen, why did he entrust the Heart to Cassidy? She is secretly guiding Will through the Rising Star Foundation in Fadden Hills. With the little power of Earth she has left, Kadma continues her favorite hobby - gardening.
Halinor - A blonde haired woman, past Guardian of Fire, now deceased. She kept a diary that contained information on the Star of Cassidy. Like Kadma, Halinor was banished from Kandrakar for questioning the Oracle's power; she was also a founding member of the Rising Star Foundation.
Cassidy - Russet haired woman, past Guardian of Water. She was entrusted with the Heart after Nerissa's betrayal, but was later killed by Nerissa in retaliation. Cassidy's star appeared at Will's birth and she later makes a spiritual connection with Will.
Yan Lin - Yan Lin was the past Guardian of Air, Hay Lin's grandmother, and was once extremely good friends with Nerissa and Cassidy. She later became the keeper of the Heart after Cassidy was killed by Nerissa. She also had the power to sense evil, was a telepath and had all the powers Hay Lin has.
Nerissa - Nerissa was the first to carry the Heart of Kandrakar, but after her betrayal the Heart was given to Cassidy. In the cartoon Nerissa is the villain who revives the former Guardians of the Veil and uses them against W.I.T.C.H.
[edit] Villains
[edit] Part I villains
Prince Phobos7 - Sly, arrogant and ruthless, Phobos rules as prince over Meridian while searching for his sister to rule with him. He spends most of his time in the confines of his castle, which is surrounded by a field of poisonous black roses. He communicates with the public mostly through his Murmurers (beings that he has conjured himself from flowers), only granting auditions to those he deems worthy to see his face. Having drained Metamoor nearly dry of its magic, he seeks to move on to other worlds and dimensions. To counter this, the Oracle of Kandrakar set up a barrier around Metamoor to separate it from the rest of the universe. Phobos' devious plan is to absorb the immense magical powers of his long-lost sister, Elyon --killing her-- and thus incite the denizens of Meridian to tear down the barrier. The only ones standing in his way are the five Guardians of Kandrakar. Later on, he jumps off a balcony in Kandrakar after he, as Endarno, becomes Oracle, where he will fall for eternity.
Cedric - Faithful lieutenant in Prince Phobos’ army, he was entrusted with the task of finding Phobos’ lost sister, Elyon. To this end, Cedric opened "Ye Olde Book Shop" on Earth and adopted a false human identity named Cedric Hoffman, although he presented himself to the Guardians as "Rick Hoffman" to avoid suspicion, and from his bookshop he could plan his tactics to defeat the five Guardians. The shop also held a secret portal which Cedric used to travel back and forth between Meridian and Heatherfield. He serves under Phobos in the hopes that he will one day be granted the honor of becoming a Murmerer in Phobos’ garden and allowed to drink from the legendary Black Spring. Despite his orders to deceive Elyon, he felt a certain affection for her.
When Endarno assumes the position as Oracle in the fourth arc, the imprisoned Cedric believes he has met a kindred spirit, since the new Oracle displays manners similar to those of Phobos.
Later still, Cedric is sent back to Earth and his occupation at the book shop. Although stripped of his powers, he still manages to threaten the Guardians in insidious ways. He later falls in love with Orube. Cedric dies shortly afterwards when he's shot by a killing beam from Ludmoore's eye. The beam was supposed to hit Orube but it hits Cedric as a result of his sacrifice, who dies shortly afterwards.
Cedric has been stated to be a personification of lies and deceit, which is less-than-subtly reflected in his true form - a cross between serpent and human.
Frost the Hunter - Foremost among Phobos’ warriors and a formidable tracker, Frost had never lost a battle prior to his defeat at the hands of the five Guardians. Since then, Frost has sworn revenge and has been devising plans on how to best destroy them. In combat, he rides a large, green, rhinoceros-like mount named Crimson and wields a magical blade that can deflect enemy spells and fire energy blasts at his opponents. When the Veil was lowered, he accidentally found himself in Heatherfield. He took the opportunity to take revenge. The weakened Guardians defeated him rather by smartness than strength. He is currently imprisoned in the Tower of Mists.
Elyon Brown - Not really a villain. Sandy blonde hair, light blue eyes. Her birthday is October 31 (Scorpio), she is 14 years old and she is in class 3A . Her best friend is Cornelia Hale and in Light of Meridian created an earthquake with her. Like Hay Lin, Elyon's passion is art. Shy and a bit naive, Elyon is really a long-lost princess: the Light of Meridian (located in the world known as Metamoor), a savior position exclusive to the females of the Royal Family. The name Elyon can be interpreted as a Hebrew language term for "the highest". Her adoptive parents, known as Eleanor (Miriadel, captain of the Meridian army) and Thomas (Alborn, commander of the royal guard) Brown, took her to Earth when she was just a baby to escape Phobos' sinister plans for her. Her best friend is Cornelia, who is also the only one who believed in her after she betrayed the girls and tried to kill them while under Cedric’s influence. In a climactic battle with her brother in issue #12 (The Challenge of Phobos), she is rightfully restored to the throne. Her power is light, and she has complete control over all matter. She has no symbol (although under Cedric she wore the seal of Phobos). Elyon is the true owner of the Crown of Light. She is currently ruling over Meridian along with Vathek and (later) Caleb as her advisors. Later on, after being with Caleb for so long, she unconsciously falls in love with him. In Sweden, her surname is Portrait.
[edit] Part II villains
Luba- It can be argued that she is a villain because she combined the Aurameres and awoke Nerissa. Nerissa took advantage of the mistake Luba made. Still Luba kept on saying the Guardians are not suitable for their task, and she even betrays Kandrakar by leaving. Nonetheless she is still put on trial many times in Part II. She does sacrifice her immortality for the Guardians, with which she redeems herself.
Nerissa - The previous keeper of the Heart of Kandrakar, Nerissa was consumed by the immense power the Heart gave her and eventually began to descend into evil. The Oracle sensed this and decided that she was no longer fit to keep the Heart. When he entrusted it to Cassidy (who was then the Guardian of Water), It drove Nerissa over the edge. Mad with jealousy, she turned on her fellow guardians and killed Cassidy. When she was defeated, she was sentenced to be sealed in a coffin located in Mount Thanos until the day all of the Aurameres were joined together. That eventually came to pass through the efforts of Luba, who was convinced that the girls were unworthy of their status as Guardians. Awakened from her slumber, Nerissa got her teenage looks back and created the Four Knights of Revenge, declaring war against Kandrakar.
One of Nerissa's more insidious powers is her ability to change the girls' dreams, turning them into nightmares. The dreams may occasionally affect the real world as well. At the beginning of the second arc, Will's arm is branded with Nerissa's special seal (shaped like the Heart of Kandrakar, but with one scar-like line crossing it) during a dream. It is implied that Hay Lin is less susceptible to these fiendish assaults, since her grandmother, Yan Lin, shared a "special bond"(she was Nerissa's best friend) with Nerissa before their group was dispersed. One sequence sees the team confronting their tormentor in the so-called "World of Nightmares", entering a "mutual dream" by going to sleep in the same room. This is another episode which stresses the importance of unity - the girls manage to survive the dream because they are together, as opposed to being attacked one by one. They succeed in trapping Nerissa in the Heart, and then wake up. However, they find she was only defeated in the realm of dreams, and they still have to face her in reality.
In the TV series it is implied that there was a close relationship between Nerissa and Cassidy when Yan Lin says to her "Are you going to destroy us like you destroyed Cassidy? Does her memory mean so little to you?" And Nerissa responds "You have no idea what she meant to me." Oddly she then spares Yan Lin and Halinor implying that she may not be pure evil.
Shagon, the Hate - Most powerful, and dangerous, of the Four Knights of Revenge, Shagon is a tall, strong, ominous-looking demon wearing a blue metal vest that (like those of his fellow Knights) has Nerissa's seal on it. His face is concealed by a bronze mask, and his long black hair resembles a nest of snakes (giving him a Medusa-like appearance). As a human, he worked as a geologist and was doing research near the mysterious Mount Thanos. While searching for his dog, Miska, he eventually came across Nerissa, who wanted a human as "material" for her right-hand man. Shagon represents Nerissa's hatred for Kandrakar, and feeds on expressions of hate. Hence, his power increases whenever he is struck by anger. In the animated series, Will's boyfriend Matt is transformed into Shagon by Narissa. The mask worn by the Shagon is similar to a DC Comic character Anarky.[1] He was nearly absorbed by Nerissa in the final battle, but wounded her and reverted back to his original form.
Khor, the Destroyer - Khor was the first of Nerissa's Four Knights of Revenge, and also the first to encounter the Guardians. He used to be the dog Miska, who had the misfortune of crossing paths with Nerissa. Transformed into a hulking, purple-skinned, muscle man (not unlike Vathek in appearance) who carries a pair of massive axes, he represents Nerissa's desire to destroy Kandrakar. Even in this form, Khor still has the qualities of a loyal dog, and even senses a bond with his former master, Shagon. In the final battle, he is nearly absorbed by Nerissa, but reverts to his original dog form. In the animated series, Matt's pet dormouse, Mr. Huggles, is transformed into Khor by Nerissa who names him after a great monster from legend who fed on hatred. According to Nerissa the name "Khor" means destruction.
Ember, the Pain - One of the Four Knights of Revenge, given life by Nerissa. Ember was created from the lava which flowed around Nerissa's tomb. She looks like a slender woman made of smoldering lava, with bat-like wings on her back and hair made of flames. Befitting her nature, she attacks foes with blazing hot beams from her weapon - a type of trident. She represents the pain that Nerissa felt while being locked away - that which she now wants to inflict on Kandrakar. She was absorbed by Nerissa in the final battle.
Tridart, the Despair - One of the Four Knights of Revenge, created by Nerissa. Tridart was made from the numerous icy stalactites found in the cave which Nerissa was sealed in. His form is that of a bald, muscular man with large, angel-like wings, and his weapon of choice is a short, double-edged axe. He represents the despair Nerissa felt in her prison. He was absorbed by Nerissa in the final battle, alongside Ember.
[edit] Part III villains
Ari - Ari was a young farmer in the world of Arkhanta. A man of little means, he struggled to make ends meet. His wife, Jamayeda, died giving birth to his son, Maqi, who was born mute and obviously a loner, for he lived in his own little world. Since then, Ari searched incessantly for a way to rid his son of his strange affliction, consulting the land's wisest physicians and scholars, but none could help Maqi, for science could do nothing for the young troubled boy. He had heard stories of how anyone who could capture a banshee would be granted three wishes in exchange for their freedom. Ari caught Yua, the most powerful of the banshees, and would have her help his son. Alas, for all her power, Yua was not able to cure Maqi's illness; her magics extended only to material wishes, and life and death were powers beyond her capacity. Devastated, Ari instead wished for the Scarlet Citadel, an enormous palace that would serve as their home, and sufficient wealth to satisfy any earthly desire his son could have. Lastly, he wished for the banshee's eternal servitude, and she could not refuse. With Yua's aid, Ari soon became Lord of Arkhanta, doing his best to improve the lot of the common man.
Time and time again, Ari made pleas to the Oracle of Kandrakar. The Oracle, however, reasoned that such matters were not his concern, as they had little impact in the universe as a whole. Disgusted at this, Ari eventually made war on Kandrakar, hoping that the Oracle would reconsider the statement that his pain was of no consequence. This jeopardized the order of the entire world, and so the Guardians were assigned the task to stop Ari at any cost, as even the Oracle said that Ari's power, enhanced with his undying fury and rage, is capable of annihilating Kandrakar.
Yua - Yua is the banshee whom Ari managed to capture on his journey to find a cure for his son. This sly and evil being promised to grant Ari three wishes if he were to release her. However, Ari's final wish was for her to fulfill any and all of his future wishes, and thus she was forced remained in his servitude. She is kept chained up in Ari's basement and is only called upon when he needs her magic to assist him. Her hatred for Ari grows more and more each day, and she enjoys frightening her custodians by magnifying the sound of the water drops that fall around her.
Astral Will, Irma, Taranee, Cornelia, and Hay Lin - The Astral Drops were tired of being treated like slaves to the girls, who only called upon them when they needed chores done or to take their place when they needed to go on a mission. They soon turned against them, causing horrible problems for the girls' lives on Earth, such as turning friends and family against them in acts of revenge upon the girls. The distrust the Astral Drops caused to the girls' social lives had everlasting effects on their boyfriends, families, and teachers. The girls continue to feel the aftershock of the Astral Drops' deeds even to this day.
Riddle - An elite psychic detective that was brought in to combat the W.I.T.C.H. girls when their supernatural secret was exposed to the Government. Although his skills are impressive, which range from mind control to telepathy, he is not powerful enough to combat W.I.T.C.H. directly. He also carries a handgun due to his motto "bullets are always faster than the mind" in case he is in trouble. His goal is to experiment and analyze the W.I.T.C.H. girls and uncover how their powers work. Although he was hired by Interpol, he seems to have his own agenda.
[edit] Part IV villains
Endarno - As ruthless and sneaky as Phobos, Endarno is the new Oracle after the previous one has been banished to Basiliade. He played a major role during the Trial of the Oracle, and was also the cause of Oracle's banishment. People took his side during the Trial because of his reasons for blaming the previous Oracle. He protested that the Guardians he chose did not run their tasks as asked. Will and the other Guardians do not refer to him as the Oracle, but instead call him by his name. The Council of Kandrakar calls him Endarno the Wise. He is the Guardians' biggest villain so far, since he is doing everything to get rid of the Guardians, as he sees Will and her friends as being incompetent. He also despises other people who remain loyal and faithful to the previous Oracle Himerish, such as Tibor and Yan Lin. Currently he is showing signs of Phobos' attitude and behavior in the past. It is shown that Phobos switched his mind with Endarno's with the negative emotions he felt. The minds are switched back to their respective bodies once Phobos is defeated.
Vaal - Phobos's loyal servant, he helped Phobos, without knowing it thinking he served Endarno not Phobos. He comes from Meridian and sometimes questions "Endarno"'s decisions. He does not understand why Endarno wants Elyon to stop being queen, as he came from Meridian. His name is based on the Semitic fertility-, vegetation- and weathergod named Baal.
[edit] Part V Villains
Jonathan Ludmoore: Jonathan Ludmoore came as the first Meridian to Earth. He tried to weaken the Veil by opening portals to be able to travel between the two dimensions. He discovered that Heatherfield lies in a place where the five elements meet, and tried to suppress them. When he failed he disappeared into his magic book of the five elements. When Cedric found the book, Ludmoore used him as an instrument to gather the five missing stones representing the parts of the elements he couldn't suppress. When it was finished, he trapped the Guardians, Orube and Cedric into the book where Matt had already been imprisoned in. In the end the Guardians defeated Ludmoore after he killed Cedric.
[edit] Other characters
Uriah Dunn, Kurt Van Buren, and Laurent Hampton - The three bullies that make up Uriah's gang. They love to cause trouble such as lighting fireworks in school, vandalize property, and commit robberies. Nigel used to be a part of their gang until he left to continue a relationship with Taranee. Since then, Uriah has held a strong hatred for Nigel and often tries to harm him and get him in trouble. These greasy scoundrels are always getting themselves into mischief and detentions.
Bess and Courtney Grumper- The scandaloustic sisters and the writers of the gossip section of Sheffield Institute's paper. They almost got the W.I.T.C.H. gang to break up in the ninth issue, but in the end, they got what they deserved. Cornelia told them there was a "Costume Party" after the Christmas Play, but really, no one else was in costume and the two conniving sisters were sitting around in pink-and-purple ballroom gowns!
Agent Maria Medina - An Interpol agent from the crime psychology department who was assigned to investigate the Brown family’s disappearance. Due to her experience on the job, she believes that Will and her friends know something about Elyon’s family's disappearance that they are not sharing and has decided to keep an eye on them.
Agent Joel McTiennan - Another Interpol agent who was assigned to investigate the Brown family’s disappearance with Agent Medina. He is a friendly and little-speaking guy who thinks that Agent Medina’s theories are off-the-wall and that the case is just a dead-end and they will return empty-handed.
Because of their different builds, McTiennan and Medina are affectionately monikered "Big Guy and Small Fry" by their colleagues.
Agent Raphael Sylla - Handsome and charming, he poses as Sheffield Institute's newest computer teacher when in fact he is a colleague of Maria and Joel who was hired to keep tabs on the W.I.T.C.H. girls. His goal is to uncover what secret the girls are hiding and if it does in fact involve supernatural powers.
Yarr - A Commander from Basiliade, who met the banished Oracle (now referred as Himerish) while traveling with his two faithful minions, Kilubi and Ih-Sui. He recognized him from the past as a battle partner. Now he serves Himerish loyally. His weapon is a sword.
Kilubi - The feisty and colder minion of Yarr. She has dark purplish hair (like Orube) and pointy elf ears. She has red paint around her eyes. Appears somewhat tomboyish, with gold breastplates and shoulder plates as her battle attire. Her weapon is a sword.
Ih-Sui - The calmer and tranquil minion of Yarr. She hardly talks, but shows true spirit of a warrior. Like Kilubi, Ih-Sui has Orube's hair color and uses a sword to battle. She has slanted eyes. Her battle attire is a Chinese suit with long, wide sleeves.
[edit] WElcome
WElcome is a side magazine of W.I.T.C.H. In total, there are eleven issues of the magazine. It is only published in some parts of Europe, and is not published in the UK or Australia. Its mascot is We, a creature from Basiliade which name explains that of WElcome.
Now WElcome is included into the Italian W.I.T.C.H. magazine, starting with issue #64. The Swedish W.i.t.c.h. magazine started publishing WElcome stories much earlier, instead of publishing a separate magazine.
[edit] Issues, Titles and Storylines
The W.I.T.C.H. comic book released one issue per month and written so that each story arc is twelve issues long, which equates to one year. Each year gives the readers an exciting new storyline to read.
[edit] Part I: The War in Meridian
Five teenage girls - Will, Irma, Taranee Cornelia, and Hay Lin - are chosen to become the new Guardians of Kandrakar; a group of special powered warriors who keep peace in the universe and do the Oracle's bidding. They find that balancing this honorable position along with keeping up with their lives on Earth is a difficult task. Their first mission is to defeat the evil Prince Phobos who rules over Meridian, the capital of Metamoor. He plans to suck Metamoor dry of its magic and then move on to the next world and repeat this process until he is ruler of the universe and able to defeat the Oracle.
- 1. Halloween
- 2. The Twelve Portals
- 3. The Dark Dimension
- 4. The Power of Fire
- 5. So Be It Forever
- 6. Illusions and Lies
- 7. One Day You'll Meet Him
- 8. The Black Roses of Meridian
- 9. The Four Dragons
- 10. A Bridge Between Two Worlds
- 11. The Crown of Light
- 12. The Challenge of Phobos
[edit] Part II: Nerissa's Revenge
The girls face off against a new foe - the previous keeper of the Heart of Kandrakar! Nerissa betrayed her fellow Guardians after the power of the Heart corrupted her mind and she killed one of her Guardians, and was sentenced to slumber for eternity in the distant Mount Thanos on Earth. She was awakened from her sleep when Luba disobeyed an order from the Oracle and merged the five powers of the Guardians together in an attempt to prove that the girls were inept at their job, which broke the seal on Nerissa's tomb. Nerissa then conjured up four powerful knights using a portion of her own power and fueled them with her hate and power to challenge the new Guardians and destroy Kandrakar. While battling this new foe, the Guardians learn about the history of Kandrakar and about the hardships the previous Guardians had to face when one of their own became corrupt with power.
- 13. I Know Who You Are
- 14. The End of a Dream
- 15. The Courage to Choose
- 16. Nerissa's Seal
- 17. Don't Close Your Eyes
- 18. Remnants of Summer
- 19. The Other Side of the Story
- 20. A Gust of Hate
- 21. Shadows of Tomorrow
- 22. A Broken Heart
- 23. Goodbye!
- 24. Trust Me
[edit] Part III: The Reign of Arkhanta
Crisis after crisis threaten to break up the girls once and for all! Along with stopping Ari, the powerful lord of Arkhanta, from rising up and destroying the Oracle, the girls have a whole bunch of new problems on Earth that needs their attention. The government discovers the secret of the W.I.T.C.H girls and wants to capture them and use their powers for their own mysterious intentions. As if that wasn't enough, the girls' Astral Drops decide to rebel after months of being taken advantage of by the Guardians and start causing numerous problems between their families, teachers, and boyfriends. Also, Will's father returns into her life after a decade of absence, and his intentions are anything but loving and trustful...
- 25. Water Shadows
- 26. Blackmail
- 27. Divided
- 28. So Close, Yet So Far
- 29. The Lesser Evil
- 30. The Chamber of Tempests
- 31. The Voice of Silence
- 32. Behind the Mask
- 33. The Greatest Gift
- 34. The Scent of Freedom
- 35. Mirrored Lives
- 36. Rebel Souls
[edit] Part IV: Trial of the Oracle
The members of the Congregation are questioning the Oracle's recent actions, and he shocks everyone by putting himself under trial. The Guardians are called in to recall his deeds. Back home in Heatherfield, Will confronts Orube and Matt, while Principal Knickerbocker goes to drastic measures to raise the girls' grades at Sheffield. In Kandrakar, the council has to choose between Endarno and Yan Lin for the position as Oracle.
- 37. The Dispute
- 38. Desires of the Heart
- 39. On the Wings of Remembrance
- 40. The Ultimate Secret
- 41. The Whole Truth
- 42. Beyond All Hope
- 43. Tricks of Light
- 44. Never Alone, Ever Again
- 45. Double Deception
- 46. The Power of Courage
- 47. The Sands of Time
- 48. New Horizons
[edit] Part V: The Magic Book
- 49. Between Dreams and Reality
- 50. Forever Magic
- 51. Out of Control
- 52. Unseen Enemies
- 53. A Whole New Song
- 54. One More Hug
- 55. The Day After
- 56. The Riddle
- 57. The Isle Of Enchantment
- 58. Illusions of Water
- 59. The Fire Within
- 60. Air and Earth
- 61. The World in the Book
- 62. Between the Pages
[edit] Special Issues
Every year, the W.I.T.C.H. comic book releases a special issue that tells a unique story about the girls, such as a what if story, or a deeper look into their own lives. So far the following five special issues have been released:
- The Year Before
- Elyon: Return of the Queen
- Cornelia and Caleb: A Love Not Meant to Be
- Core of Kandrakar
- Planet Boys
[edit] Influences
The origin of the Heart of Kandrakar is based upon the story of the Emperor's Four Dragons.
- Yellow Dragon - the dragon of Earth.
- Black Dragon - the dragon of Air.
- Red Dragon - the dragon of Water.
- Pearl Dragon - the dragon of Fire.
- Jade Emperor - a cruel and uncaring ruler who punished the dragons for bringing rain to the people. He had the dragons sealed away in four mountains.
- Xin Jing - a nymph, her name (心晶) means Heart of Crystal Chinese. When the Emperor sealed away the dragons, Xin Jing used all her powers to gather those of the four dragons together and turn their bodies into the four rivers of China. All that remained of Xin Jing was a small crystal: the Heart of Kandrakar. Will reminds Nerissa about the origins of the Heart.
[edit] Special items
- Heart of Kandrakar - a small crystal kept on a chain, held by Will (the past keepers were Nerissa and Cassidy); the Heart was absorbed into Will's body and emerges when it is needed. Created by (and containing the spirit of) Xin Jing, the Heart possesses the power to turn the five basic elements into pure energy; it transforms the girls into Guardians (they age to 16 and wear special costumes) and strengthens their elemental powers. At first, the Heart's primary function is to transform the girls and close portals, but after absorbing the Seal of Phobos, it is able to open portals as well. It also has other various powers: the gift of regeneration, creating Astral Drops, and putting up force fields. According to Cassidy, the Heart leaves a 'spark' of itself in its Keeper.
- Map of the Twelve Portals - an ancient map given to Hay Lin from Yan Lin. It displays portals to Metamoor when the Heart is held over it. Destroyed when the girls first visited Kandrakar.
- Seal of Phobos - kept in a secret book in Elyon's basement, the seal has the power to open anything that's hidden. Absorbed along with the book into the Heart of Kandrakar.
- Crown of Light - especially reserved for the Light of Meridian (Metamoor's matriarchal savior), the crown absorbs Elyon's immense powers under the influence of a spell. Should that spell be broken, it would make her even more powerful.
- Star of Cassidy - a copy of the Heart of Kandrakar, previously part of Cassidy and later absorbed into the Heart itself.
[edit] Notes
- Note 1: In Italy and most of Europe, Will's full name is "Wilhelmina", while in Anglophone countries her full name is "Wilma".
- Note 2: Orube first appeared in issue 28 during the Arkhanta saga, therefore she is not part of the W.I.T.C.H. acronym.
- Note 3: Unlike the five other Guardians, Taranee goes through a hair change from her ordinary self to her W.I.T.C.H. costume. Cornelia's and Hay Lin's hair grows a little longer when transforming, but is not as obvious as Taranee's hair change.
- Note 4: It is slightly ironic that Hay Lin is the Guardian of Air. While the group stays with the Classical Elements (Air, Water, Fire, and Earth), Hay Lin is of Chinese culture and in Chinese culture, Air is not one of the five elements; rather, they are Earth, Fire, Water, Metal (gold), and Wood. This also counts for the ancient Chinese myth of the four dragons and the nymph Xin Jing.
- Note 5: In Italy, most of Europe, and Asian publications, the spelling is 'Kandrakar', but in Anglophone (Excluding England, where it is the original Kandrakar.) countries it is 'Candracar'. It is also not spelled 'Kandracar' or 'Candrakar'. In Poland it is called 'Kondrakar'.
- Note 6: On the W.I.T.C.H. TV series, Anna is Irma's birth mother, not her stepmother, as she remembers when Irma was a baby.
- Note 7: The name Phobos means "fear" in Greek, and it fits him very well as he often uses fear and dread to his advantage.
[edit] Video Game
Currently, W.I.T.C.H (the game), from the creators of Zathura (film), is being published by Buena Vista Games.
[edit] Trivia
- Blair and Todd's teenage daughter, Starr Manning, was shown reading a copy of the W.I.T.C.H. novel, The Power Of Five, while recuperating in the hospital at the beginning of the 09/06/06 episode of the American ABC daytime series, One Life to Live. When Blair noticed her reading it Starr replied defensively, "Don't tell anyone that I'm reading a kid's book."
- In the comic, Cornelia can change the way other people can be heard (she called her sister, Lillian a toad, and Lillian began croaking), and Irma can change the way other people can be seen (she turned Martin invisible and Andrew into a toad and she can change the colour of her clothes); also, Taranee can change the way people touch things, by changing their temperature.
[edit] References
- ^ Lene Kaaberbøl. Kaaberbøl's W.I.T.C.H. books. Retrieved on 19 September 2005.
