The following is a list of characters in the W.I.T.C.H. comic books. The series follows five teenage girls who possess magical powers over the five elements of nature. The main cast are at least the second generation of Guardians of Kandrakar.
Main characters The main characters all serve as Guardians of Kandrakar. They live in the fictional town of Heatherfield. Wilhelmina "Will" Vandom is the leader of W.I.T.C.H. and the keeper of the Heart of Kandrakar. Will moves from her hometown to Heatherfield with her newly divorced mother Susan Vandom, and meets the future members of W.I.T.C.H. at Sheffield Institute. As the Guardian of Energy, Will can project electricity and call lightning. She can also bring electrical appliances to life. Will also develops animal empathy, in contrast to Irma's limited mind control and Taranee's ever-developing telepathic abilities. In issue 80 (Emotions), Will's half-brother William is born. Irma Lair is the comic relief of the group, often cracking jokes even in dire situations. As the Guardian of Water, she has the power to manipulate water. Irma is later able to create water. She can implant suggestions in people's minds, and can see visions in water via hydromancy. Taranee Cook is intelligent, yet timid. Taranee is Will's first friend and also new to Sheffield Institute. As the Guardian of Fire, Taranee uses pyrokinesis, which is triggered by rage, and her powers are fierce and can be hard to control. Taranee learns that she was adopted in issue 78. Cornelia Hale is vain, but loyal and friendly. The most fashionable of the group, Cornelia often flirts with boys and is popular. As the Guardian of Earth, she can control stone, dirt, and certain metals, and can manipulate the growth of plants. She later gains telekinesis and prophetic visions. Hay Lin is cheerful, creative, and sometimes enthusiastic. She is Irma's best friend and the only member of the group who can fly while transformed. As the Guardian of Air, she can control air and wind, and can manipulate sound. Hay Lin later develops psychometry.
Secondary characters
Boys Matt Olsen is Will's boyfriend, 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 her secret, their relationship progresses. Later, during the New Power arc, the old Oracle Himerish secretly makes Matt an emissary of Kandrakar. Martin Tubbs is a student at Sheffield Institute who is infatuated with Irma. Andrew Hornby is Irma's crush starting in The Twelve Portals story arc. Irma attends a party in her guardian form, and when Andrew offers to drive her home and tries to kiss her, Irma turns him into a frog. Stephen is Irma's boyfriend as of the seventh saga. He is a member of the U18, a group of young vigilantes living and working underground. Irma later tells him about her powers (though not about W.I.T.C.H.), and he becomes her confidante. Nigel Ashcroft is a quiet member of Uriah's gang who eventually leaves their company when he develops feelings for Taranee. Nigel tries his best to prove his good intentions to Taranee. After Taranee spends more time at Jensen Dance Academy and less with Nigel, Taranee breaks up with him. After the breakup, Nigel appears as a minor character. Caleb – Leader of the rebel forces opposed to Phobos' rule. Caleb has an on-and-off relationship with Cornelia. Later, he becomes a denizen of Meridian under Elyon's rule. Peter Lancelot Cook is Taranee's brother and Cornelia's current boyfriend. He is kind and loves to spend time with his family. He enjoys playing sports. 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. During the Ragorlang arc, Peter and Cornelia get closer and eventually admit their love for each other. Eric Lyndon is Hay Lin's boyfriend, who lives at the Heatherfield Observatory with his astronomer grandfather, Zachary. He loves science and technology and has a great imagination. He owns an electric scooter and plays basketball. Hay Lin and Eric met when she was rollerblading and ran into his scooter. He moves away in the fifth arc, but continues to video-chat with Hay Lin.
The Council of Kandrakar A few members of the Council of Kandrakar are human, such as Yan Lin, but the others are aliens.
The Oracle – Originally called "Himerish," he is a denizen of the world of Basilíade. As ruler of Kandrakar, he gives the girls their powers. He can travel between dimensions, but acts as a guardian and is cautious with his abilities. In the Endarno story arc, the Oracle is deposed by the devious Phobos, who has assumed his friend Endarno's identity. After he is stripped of his name and position as the Oracle and banished to Basilíade, he experiences mortality. This experience makes him more friendly towards the Guardians after his reinstatement. When he fails to defeat the Dark Mother, he steps down as Oracle and gives the title to Yan Lin, who recognized the threat. In the arc Magical Sovereigns, Himerish returns to Kandrakar to celebrate with the Guardians after they become Magical Sovereigns. Yan Lin – Hay Lin's grandmother, a previous W.I.T.C.H. member and a member of the council. She is wise and perceptive, 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 with their magical powers and gave them the Heart of Kandrakar. Yan Lin later dies and enters the halls of Kandrakar to join the Oracle's council. At the end of the New Power arc, Yan Lin becomes the new Oracle. Halinor – see below Tibor is the first Oracle's faithful advisor. He has served the Oracle for centuries.
Minor Members Bolgo is an elfin old man who plans strategy during the final battle against Phobos. He also discusses the Oracle's decision to simply wait and see "how events unfold" with other Council members, including Luba and Althor. Althor is an old man who resembles an elf or a dwarf who first appears asking the Oracle who should be the new Guardians. He also participates in the battle against Phobos. As-Sharwa is one of the oldest and wisest of Kandrakar and the elected Voice of the Congregation. He has an elongated forehead tattooed with mystical runes. 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.
The Board of Northern Lords Board of Northern Lords – Governing board of an independent, cold and mountainous country north of Meridian. These elderly gentlemen have a powerful army of humans. When Elyon unwittingly unleashes a war council, the Guardians side with the Lords. Lord Regnar is one of the youngest councillors who helps W.I.T.C.H and is committed to preserving peace. Lord Balder is the Lord Supreme of the Board. 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 is a russet-haired woman and original Guardian of Water. Cassidy's star appeared at Will's birth, and she eventually makes a spiritual connection with Will. Cassidy was a caring woman who was close to her mother. She was entrusted with the Heart of Kandrakar, but was later killed by Nerissa in retaliation, being pushed off Mount Thanos. Halinor is a blonde woman and original 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. She was a founding member of the Rising Star Foundation. Before she died she was best friends with Kadma. Halinor was kindhearted, although she could be aggressive and insecure. Yan Lin – See above Kadma is the original Guardian of Earth. She and Halinor were banished from Kandrakar for questioning the Oracle when Nerissa killed Cassidy. She secretly guides Will through the Rising Star Foundation until Will moves to Heatherfield and becomes a Guardian. She later helps Will by giving her Halinor's diary. Kadma resides on Earth. She still has her powers. 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 power and turned against her fellow Guardians. Enraged that the Oracle had given the Heart of Kandrakar to Cassidy, she murdered her fellow Guardian. Nerissa was imprisoned in a cave on Mount Thanos and would never be released until "the five powers were united." Nerissa planned to steal the Heart from Will at any cost.
Villains
Part I Villains (originally known as "Prince Phobos Portrait") is the Prince of Meridian, who rules his world while searching for his sister Elyon (rightful heir to the throne) to absorb her powers. He is immortal, possibly thousands of years old. Phobos plans to use Elyon and the Heart of Kandrakar to destroy the veil sealing him within Meridian and spread his life-absorbing powers to other worlds. His motives are exposed and after a climactic battle with his sister and the Guardians, Phobos is defeated. Elyon succeeded the throne. He is named after Phobos, the Greek god of fear. Lord Cedric is a general of Phobos' army who can transform into a snake-like creature. In this form, Cedric can slither up mountains, shoot energy blasts, raise magical barriers, trap others in impenetrable bubbles, disrupt memories, and use telekinesis. He is entrusted with the task of apprehending the rebel Caleb and finding Elyon on Earth, opening a book shop under the identity Cedric Hoffman. Despite his orders to deceive Elyon, he feels affection for her. He falls in love with the warrior Orube, but dies shortly afterwards when he sacrifices himself to save her from Johnathan Ludmoore. Elyon (originally "Elyon Portrait") is Cornelia's childhood friend in Heatherfield, who is really Phobos' long-lost sister, destined to become the Light of Meridian. Phobos eventually reveals her true heritage and abducts her to claim her power. Thanks to his lies, Elyon gets the impression the Guardians are the enemies at the beginning. In time she sees the truth, and in a climactic battle with her brother she is restored to the throne and renews her friendship with W.I.T.C.H. She rules over Meridian, with Vathek (and later Caleb) as her advisors. Vathek is a blue-skinned denizen of Meridian. Originally Cedric's henchman, Vathek turns against him and joins the Meridian rebel army with Caleb. He becomes a close friend to W.I.T.C.H. Following Phobo's defeat, he is one of Elyon's trusted confidants. Frost the Hunter – Foremost among Phobos' warriors and a formidable tracker, Frost had never lost a battle before falling to the Guardians. Frost swears revenge against them. He rides a green rhinoceros-like mount named Crimson and wields a blade that can deflect spells and fire blasts at his opponents. When the Veil is lowered, he finds himself in Heatherfield. He takes the opportunity to take revenge, but the Guardians outwit Frost, who is imprisoned in the Tower of Mists.
Part II Villains Nerissa (see also above) is 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. She is sentenced to be sealed in a coffin located in Mount Thanos until the Aurameres are joined. Luba, who is convinced that the girls are unworthy of their status as Guardians, helps free her. Nerissa creates the Four Knights of Revenge and, after capturing Caleb, she declares war on Kandrakar. In issue 22, she is destroyed by W.I.T.C.H.