Why we need to talk more about W.I.T.C.H. - Part I
A passionate intro
I believe we all have something that makes our blood boil a little. Something that when mentioned, suddenly activates all your attention cells. I mean, in a good way. In a really great way.
Mine is W.I.T.C.H.
During the Christmas holidays of 2021, I rescued my old collection of W.I.T.C.H. from the darkest corner of the tallest shelf of my childhood room’s desk. I placed them in a safe wardrobe close to my old bed, but took my time for a fun photoshoot (see images at bottom).
Okay, but what is W.I.T.C.H.?? You ask. I probably should start there but it’s so hard! I want to describe what it is in a very holy-awesome-fireworks-in-your-heart starter kind of way but instead I will allow a Wikipedia intro to explain in a very straight neutral way:
“W.I.T.C.H. is an Italian fantasy comics series written by Elisabetta Gnone, Alessandro Barbucci, and Barbara Canepa. The series follows a group of five teenaged girls who become the guardians of the classical elements of water, fire, earth, air, and energy, and protectors of the mythical Kandrakar, the center of the universe, from people and creatures who wish to harm it. The story follows them as they handle their new powers, their responsibilities, and their lives as teenagers.
The series was first published by Disney Italy in April 2001 before the series was released in other countries. It was released in over 65 countries.”
“The things that made you weird as a kid - make you great today.”
- James Victore
The journey
I still remember super clearly that day I was sitting next to a friend who was reading something, and looked to see what that was. Instant sparkles of magic grabbed my eyes into this new universe. I had never seen anything like it before.
It was September 2003 and I was starting 3rd grade. It quickly evolved into me visiting a newsstand every month looking for a new one, devouring the special editions throughout the year, keeping a box with all the gifts from the magazine, collecting dolls, buying the books I found and entering the drawing competitions to get more W.I.T.C.H. prizes (I won twice!)
I was obsessed. I took the magazines to school and gathered a couple friends, each would choose a character and we would read it together out loud during the breaks.
W.I.T.C.H. viewed by others
This one particular Carnival I wanted to dress like my favorite character: Will. My mom helped me get the textiles and an auntie of mine sewed a costume for me… I was in a magical heaven of happiness. (see image at the bottom)
Turns out during the parade I heard a ton of “What is her? What’s she dressed like? I don’t get it… She’s strange” while strangers and colleagues looked at me. The heart of an insecure little me sank. I realized most people around me didn’t actually know W.I.T.C.H. Most still don’t. That’s why I now get so fired up when people ask me about it.
It’s like knowing an amazing secret but almost no one cares about it.
Or you hear back “Oh, you mean WINX?” And then your hair metaphorically transforms into flames because you can not stand the comparison.
“NO, IT IS NOT THE SAME. AT ALL!!”
I will save you from a Team W.I.T.C.H. vs. Team WINX moment for now.
The fateful day
I was about 9 years old when I started reading them, and Will, Irma, Taranee, Cornelia and Hay Lin (the main characters) were with me up until December 2008, when I was 13 years old and it got canceled in Portugal.
It was issue nr. 62. I remember feeling so desperate for losing them I asked my mom to write a letter with me to the publisher asking why it was over, saying how much it meant to me, even saying I could try to draw to help them… Can you imagine…? It’s like getting a letter from Santa saying he’s retiring, but it was about 5 of my “best friends”.
Like that, that bucket of magic stopped.
A sparkle of hope
For many years, though, I dreamt at night that I would casually go to the newsstand and they would be back! I would rush grabbing and buying them only to wake up holding my blankets, empty in hands, emptier inside.
Some summers ago, I randomly found online a website that seemed to have way more chapters of W.I.T.C.H.! I couldn’t believe it, it was like my dream was telling me there was more indeed, out there… I have recently found more of these websites and people who mentioned that in places like the U.S.A. the final issue of W.I.T.C.H. was released in October 2012, with the nr. 139 issue. Can you believe that?!
This means I still have a loooooooot more to enjoy their company! I’m currently reading all of it, starting from the beginning!
I am embracing this huge side of me and am hoping to find more sweet humans who share the love for W.I.T.C.H.
In the past years there have been more people who heard of it because the comics were adapted into an animated series, itself influenced by anime, in 2004-2006. This also caused a Team Comics vs. Team Animated Series separation… Good topic for another time as well.
About this blog’s artwork
This artwork piece is inspired by the great love and frienship I felt and still feel for W.I.T.C.H. I started to improve my drawing when I was a kid by copying the drawings of Barbucci at eyesight, and I was greatly motivated by that. Therefore, I am sure little kid Rita would be amazed by seeing herself next to Will. A little gift for myself, the possibility of dreaming higher, which I hope to gift you with as well.
Lastly…
Since this is the first blog post from Rasto, I wanted to specially thank you for reading it, and I wanted to tell you that constructive feedback is always welcome!
Stay safe and inspired,
Rita