C.H.Y.K.N.

The following is a list of characters in the ''W.I.T.C.H.'' comics. The series revolves around five teenage girls who possess magical powers over the five elements of nature and are revealed to be the Guardians of Kandrakar.

Main characters

The main characters all serve as Guardians of Kandrakar.
* Wilhelmina "Will" Vandom – 14 -year-old leader of W.I.T.C.H. and the keeper of the Heart of Kandrakar. She moves to Heatherfield with her newly divorced mother after leaving her hometown of Fadden Hills. Will has power over absolute energy, allowing her to project electricity and call down lightning. She can bring electrical appliances to life, granting them distinct personalities and the ability to speak. She also develops animal empathy. In issue 80 (''Emotions'') Will's half-brother William was born. Later on, William found that he is magical like Will.
* Irma Lair – 13-year-old Irma is the comedic. The Guardian of Water, she has the power to manipulate water around her; she is later able to create water from thin air. She can implant mental suggestions into people's minds, and can see visions in water via hydromancy. Irma learned that Anna is her stepmother in issue 66.
* Taranee Cook – 13-year-old Taranee is the Guardian of Fire. Although she is timid and bashful, she has been known to be very intelligent and willing to help out in school and when W.I.T.C.H. goes into action. She was born on March 23, and her zodiac sign is Aries. Taranee learned that she was adopted in issue 78.
* Cornelia Hale – 14-year-old Cornelia is vain, but is very loyal and friendly. The Guardian of Earth, she can control earthen matter such as stone, dirt, certain metals and she can manipulate the growth of plants. She later gains telekinesis and prophetic visions.
* Hay Lin – 13-year-old Hay Lin is cheerful, creative, and sometimes enthusiastic. The Guardian of Air, she can control air and wind, and can use air to manipulate sound. She later develops psychometry.

Secondary characters

Boys

* Matt Olsen – Will's love interest, who sings and plays guitar for the band "Cobalt Blue". During the ''Trial of the Oracle'' story arc, he becomes aware of W.I.T.C.H., and after Will tells him of her secret, their relationship progresses. Later, during the ''New Powers'' arc, the old Oracle Himerish secretly makes him an emissary of Kandrakar and W.I.T.C.H.'s tutor for the ensuing crisis.
* Martin Tubbs – A student at Sheffield Institute and peer of the Guardians who is infatuated with Irma.
* Andrew Hornby – Irma's first serious crush, who she tries to flirt with, but ended up turning him into a frog.
* Stephen – Irma's boyfriend as of the seventh saga. He was her boyfriend when they went to camp together. He is a member of the U18, a group of young vigilantes living and working (literally) underground. Irma later tells him about her magical powers (though not about W.I.T.C.H.), and he becomes her confidante.
* Nigel Ashcroft – A former silent and reflective member of Uriah's gang, who eventually leaves their company when he develops feelings for Taranee. He tries his best to prove to Taranee and her family (especially her mother) of his good intentions. After Taranee started spending more time at the Jensen Dance Academy and less with him, they have an argument which leads Taranee to break up with him. After the breakup, he appears as a minor character in the comics.
* Caleb – Cornelia's first serious crush, who is leader of the rebel forces opposed to Phobos' rule and quickly gains popularity throughout Meridian. Later he becomes a denizen of Meridian under Elyon's rule.
* Peter Lancelot Cook – Taranee's older brother and Cornelia's current boyfriend. He is kind and loves to spend time with his family. He enjoys sports that require physical endurance. In the past, despite Cornelia's love for Caleb, she could not help but find Peter cute (a feeling which he reciprocated), leading her to avoid him. In the course of the ''Ragorlang'' saga, Peter and Cornelia start going out more and eventually admit their love for each other.
* Eric Lyndon – Hay Lin's crush and later boyfriend, who lives at the Heatherfield Observatory with his astronomer grandfather, Zachary. He is crazy about science and technology and has a great imagination. He owns an electric scooter and loves to play basketball. Hay Lin and Eric met when she was rollerblading and ran into his motor scooter. He moves away in the fifth saga, but continues to video-chat with Hay Lin.

The Council of Kandrakar

A few members of the Council/Congregation of Kandrakar are human, such as Yan Lin, but the others are alien—as seen by the Guardians after the demise of Nerissa.

* The Oracle – Originally a denizen of the world of Basiliade by the name of Himerish, he is the ruler of Kandrakar and gave the girls their powers. He possesses dimension-breaching powers, but acts as a guardian for the maintenance of the balance of power and is cautious in using his abilities. Originally aloof and occasionally committing errors. In the ''Endarno'' story arc the Oracle was deposed by the devious Phobos, who had assumed his friend Endarno's identity. After he is stripped of his name and position as the Oracle and banished to Basilíade, his experience as a mortal makes him more friendly towards the Guardians after his reinstatement. When the threat of the Dark Mother becomes known, he enacts a controversial and unsuccessful plan to defeat her, due to him underestimating the villain's powers. He steps down as Oracle and gives the title to Yan Lin, who had recognized the threat. In the final chapter of the arc Magical Sovereigns, Himerish returns to Kandrakar to meet the Girls. He is invited to celebrate with the Guardians after they successfully become Magical Sovereigns.
* Yan Lin – Hay Lin's grandmother, a member of W.I.T.C.H.'s predecessors and a member of the Congregation. She is a wise and perceptive person, offering advice to the girls. She was the previous Guardian of Air and the only ex-Guardian to remain faithful to the Oracle. In her last days on Earth, Yan Lin assisted her granddaughter and her friends in becoming familiar with their magical powers and gave them the Heart of Kandrakar; with her death, she passed into the halls of Kandrakar to join the Oracle's council. At the end of the New Power series, Yan Lin becomes the new Oracle.
*Halinor – see below
* Tibor – The first Oracle's faithful advisor. He has served the Oracle for centuries, and often argues with Luba.

Minor Members

* Bolgo – An elfin old man who inquired if the Oracle recommended Kandrakar to intervene during the final battle against Phobos. He also discussed the Oracle's decision to simply wait and see "how events unfold" with other Council members, including Luba and Althor.
* Althor – An old man who resembles an elf or a dwarf who first appears asking the Oracle who should be the new Guardians, next appearing during the battle against Phobos where he listens 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, long gray hair and wrinkles. Representing the Council he informs the Oracle that the Congregation does not wish to use the destructive power of the Resonance, to counteract Nerissa's attacks on Kandrakar as the results might be catastrophic for Kandrakar and Nerissa. The Oracle insists that they activate the Resonance, as it may be their last hope. Below his chin is a device that might be a speech translator.

The board of Northern Lords

* Board of Northern Lords – Governing board of a cold and mountainous country north of Meridian consisting of elderly gentlemen. They have a powerful army of humans and are independent. When Elyon sends homeless ogar north and unwittingly unleashes a war council, the Guardians agree with the Lords.
* Lord Regnar – one of the youngest councillors who helps W.I.T.C.H and is committed to preserving peace.
* Lord Balder – The grand master or lord supreme council of the north. Usually compels unanimous decisions, yet when settlers arrive does not hesitate to send an emissary. He is a great friend of Lord Regnar.

Former Guardians of the Veil

The original five Guardians of the Veil many decades before W.I.T.C.H. Their first initials make up the word C.H.Y.K.N. (pronounced "Chicken"):
* Cassidy – A russet-haired woman and original Guardian of Water. She was entrusted with the Heart after Nerissa's betrayal, but was later killed by an increasingly bitter and jealous Nerissa, in retaliation, by being pushed off a cliff on Mount Thanos. Cassidy's star appeared at Will's birth, and she eventually makes a spiritual connection with Will. Cassidy, before she was killed by Nerissa, was a caring and life-loving woman who was close to her mother and has the same water-based powers as Irma.
* Halinor – The original Guardian of Fire. A blonde-haired woman and past Guardian of Fire, now deceased. She kept a diary that told of the Star of Cassidy. Like Kadma, Halinor was banished from Kandrakar for questioning the Oracle's power. She was a founding member of the Rising Star Foundation and her diary talks about the Star of Cassidy. Before she died she was best friends and inseparable from Kadma. Halinor is kindhearted, although she can be aggressive and insecure, and has the same powers as Taranee.
*Yan Lin – see above
* Kadma – The original Guardian of Earth. She and Halinor were banished from Kandrakar for questioning the Oracle's power when Nerissa killed Cassidy out of envy. She secretly guides Will through the Rising Star Foundation in Fadden Hills until Will moves to Heatherfield and becomes a Guardian. She later helps Will in series two by giving her Halinor's diary, which Eric's grandfather decodes. She helps Will by getting rid of her greedy father who wants to take Will away. Kadma resides on Earth. Even though she is no longer connected to an Auramere, she still has the same earth-based powers as Cornelia.
*Nerissa (see also below) – The original keeper of the Heart of Kandrakar and Guardian of Quintessence, the fifth element. She was gradually consumed by the Heart's mighty power, and turned against her fellow Guardians. Enraged that the Oracle had given the Heart of Kandrakar to Cassidy, she had lured her into a trap and destroyed her. She was then imprisoned in a cave on Mount Thanos and would never be released until "the five powers were united." She came to covet the Heart of Kandrakar even more, and planned to steal it from Will at any cost. W.I.T.C.H. co-creator and designer Alessandro Barbucci has stated that himself and Barbara Canepa left the project before Nerissa's concept were created.

Antagonists

Part I antagonists

* Prince Phobos Escanor (originally known as "Prince Phobos Portrait") – The prince of Meridian, who rules his world while searching for his sister (rightful heir to the throne) to absorb her immense magical powers. Although considered an immortal possibly thousands of years old, he spends most of his time in his castle, granting few audiences. Phobos plans to use Elyon's powers and the Heart of Kandrakar to destroy the veil sealing him within Meridian and spread his life-absorbing powers to other worlds. The only ones standing in his way are the five Guardians of Kandrakar. His motives were eventually exposed to Elyon and after a climactic battle with his sister and the Guardians, Phobos was defeated and his place as ruler of Meridan rightfully given to Elyon. The name " Phobos" means " fear" in Greek, and came from the name of the Greek God.
* Lord Cedric – A general of Phobos' army, who is a shape shifter with two forms, one human and one animal. In his human form Cedric is a young and slender Caucasian man with neatly-kept blonde hair wearing a green robe. In his animal form, he is a green-tailed, red-banded snake-like creature with the power to slither up mountains, shoot energy blasts, raise magical barriers, trap others in impenetrable bubbles, disrupt other's memories, telekinesis and feel Will's presence. He was entrusted with the task of apprehending Caleb and finding Elyon on Earth, opening the "Ye Olde Book Shop" on Earth under a human identity, Cedric Hoffman. Despite his orders to deceive Elyon, he felt affection for her. In the comics, he falls in love with Orube, but dies shortly afterwards when he sacrifices himself to save her from Ludmoore.
* Princess Elyon Brown/Escanor (originally "Elyon Portrait") – Cornelia's childhood friend in Heatherfield, who is really Phobos' long-lost sister, destined to become the Light of Meridian, a savior position exclusive to the females of the Royal Family. Phobos eventually reveals her true heritage and abducts her to Meridian, but only to claim her power for his own. Thanks to his lies, Elyon gets the impression the Guardians are the enemies at the beginning. In time she realizes Phobos' viciousness, and in a climactic battle with her brother she is rightfully restored to the throne and renews her friendship with W.I.T.C.H. She rules over Meridian since that time, with Vathek and later Caleb as her advisors.
*Vathek – A blue-skinned, large denizen of Meridian. Originally Cedric's henchman, Vathek eventually turns against him and joins the Meridian rebel army under Caleb. He becomes a close friend to W.I.T.C.H., Elyon and Caleb, and following Phobo's first defeat, one of Elyon's most trusted servants and confidants.
* Frost the Hunter – Foremost among Phobos’ warrior's and a formidable tracker. Frost had never lost a battle prior to his defeat at the hands of the five Guardians. Frost swears revenge and devises plans for the Guardians' demise. 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 is lowered, he finds himself in Heatherfield. He takes the opportunity to take revenge although the weakened Guardians defeat him by intelligence rather than strength. He is imprisoned in the Tower of Mists.

Part II antagonists

* Nerissa (see also above) – The previous keeper of the Heart of Kandrakar, who was consumed by the immense power the Heart gave her and eventually began to descend into evil. The Oracle senses this and decides that she is no longer fit to keep the Heart and entrusts it to Cassidy, driving Nerissa over the edge. Mad with jealousy, she turns on her fellow guardians and kills Cassidy. Subsequently, defeated, she is sentenced to be sealed in a coffin located in Mount Thanos until the Aurameres are joined. That eventually comes to pass through the efforts of Luba, who is convinced that the girls are unworthy of their status as Guardians. Awakening from her slumber Nerissa creates the Four Knights of Revenge and, after capturing Caleb, she rejuvenates and declares war on Kandrakar. In issue 22 she attempts to escape and, when the Guardians combine their powers, she is destroyed by W.I.T.C.H.
* Shagon, the Hate – The most powerful and dangerous of the Four Knights of Revenge. In the comics, Shagon is a tall, strong demon wearing a blue metal vest that (like the other Knights) bearing Nerissa's seal. He has a tail that can be used as a weapon. His hair resembles a nest of snakes, giving him a Medusa-like appearance. As a human, he works as a geologist doing research near Mount Thanos. While searching for his dog, Miska, he eventually encounters Nerissa who wants a human as "material" for her right-hand man. Shagon represents Nerissa's hatred for Kandrakar and feeds on expressions of hate. His life essence is nearly absorbed by Nerissa in the final battle but he wounds her and reverts to his original form. Despite his hatred, he does not forget his feelings as a human about the transformed dog Miska.
* Khor, the Destroyer – One of the Four Knights of Revenge and the first to encounter the Guardians. He used to be the dog Miska, but has the misfortune of crossing paths with Nerissa who transforms him into a purple-skinned, muscle man (resembling Vathek) who carries a pair of massive cleavers. He represents Nerissa's anger when she was locked away and desires to destroy Kandrakar. Even in this form, Khor still has the qualities of a loyal dog, sensing 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, Mr. Huggles is transformed into Khor by the Heart of Meridian and reverts to his dormouse form. In the comics, in the final battle, he is nearly absorbed by Nerissa but reverts to his original dog form. According to Nerissa, the name "Khor" means destruction.
* Ember, the Pain – One of the Four Knights of Revenge, created by Nerissa. Ember was created from the