Characters who appear in the New Pantheon series.
The character information includes events from all three books. Therefore:
This character page has unmarked spoilers. Proceed at your own risk.
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Main Characters
Mike Rhee
Mike Rhee
A talented musician and incorrigible goof-off, Mike Rhee is always ready with a quick quip. But when immortality is thrust upon him and danger threatens the world, can he suppress his carefree nature long enough to devise a plan to fight giants?
- Air Guitar: Is fond of playing air-trombone with his fellow bandmates before school starts.
- Animorphism: Can transform into a fox. He's also fond of partial transformations, popping out fox ears or a tail for fun.
- Annoying Younger Sibling: Mike's two siblings, Carol and James, frequently squabble.
- Bare-Fisted Monk: Initially, as he has a black belt in taekwondo. He starts using weapons along with everyone else, but wields tonfas (and later, katars) that he can use with his martial arts techniques.
- Big Brother Instinct: Despite their annoying behavior, Mike does love his two younger siblings and looks out for them.
- Blow You Away: He learns to wrap winds around himself to hover and fly, though not as fast as Tiff or Jason. He can also hurl objects with his winds.
- Class Clown: Mike is frequently cracking jokes.
- Dual Wielding: Fights with two tonfas. Later, he upgrades to katars.
- Disappeared Dad: Mike's father left shortly after Mike's younger brother James was born.
- Flechette Storm: One of his favorite tricks is to dump a handful of nails into the winds around himself, then spray them at an opponent.
- Guile Hero: Though he's a quite capable combatant, Mike prefers to outthink his opponents. The other New Pantheon members rely on him to cobble together plans.
- Musicians: He's a talented performer, and loves Jazz. He plays the trombone.
- Near-Death Experience: Unlike the other teens who accidentally consumed immortality-giving food or drink, Mike gained immortality when he's hit by a minivan and almost dies. Fortunately, Miss Olsen injected him with a healing capsule meant for immortals.
- Once per Episode: In each of the first three books, Mike has an unfortunate encounter with a different minivan.
- Partial Transformation: Mike enjoys partially transforming into a fox, manifesting fox ears or a tail.
- Super-Senses: Mike can sense the flow of magic. He sees auras around immortals, and can perceive the Fountain of Souls node at the center of the school.
- Survivor Guilt: Wrestles with this throughout Awakenings.
- The Face: His natural charisma and wit push him into this role.
- The Trickster: Particularly when he gets bored.
- Vampiric Draining: Learns he can drain some of a person's blood with a touch, though he doesn't gain nourishment from (or enjoy) doing so. Coach Brown used this talent to forge vampiric katars for him.
Jason King
Jason King
Jason King thought he was living a blessed life as a star high school football player with a loving family. But when he gains immortality and learns about the mystical realms neighboring the Earth, how can he reconcile the revelations with his faith?
- An Arm and a Leg: The giant Veltornen cuts through his axe and arm, and into his chest. Fortunately, the other teens injected both his severed arm and his body with healing capsules within a minute or two, enabling them to reattach it.
- Angelic Transformation: Jason can transform into an angelic form.
- Dumb Muscle: Sometimes thinks of himself this way, particularly in Awakenings. He grows out of it.
- Crazy-Prepared: Jason tends to over-prepare. He was a Boy Scout.
- Crisis of Faith: Struggles to reconcile his faith with his immortality and the knowledge he gains from his teachers, who predated Christ.
- Elemental Shapeshifter: Subverted. While Jason can deform his watery form, it hurts a lot. Squeezing through a window causes him pain, while shoving himself under a door leaves him in agony for several minutes.
- Emotion Control: Jason can radiate an aura encouraging others to cooperate to achieve a common goal.
- Fights Like a Normal: Jason has to learn to control his supernatural strength and speed on the football field.
- Lovable Jock: Despite being a star athlete, Jason genuinely tries to to the right thing.
- Making a Splash: Learns to transform himself into water.
- Official Couple: He and Aliki become a couple.
- Partial Transformation: Jason learns to partially transform into water to lessen damage he takes in combat.
- Power Gives You Wings: Jason learns to manifest angelic wings, six of them to be precise: Two from his shoulders, two smaller ones from his hips, and two even smaller ones from the outsides of his ankles.
- Super-Senses: Jason gains a tactical sense which only works in combat (or similar activities like football). He can instinctively sense major threats, attack capabilities, and defenses of all combatants, allowing him to adapt quickly.
- Supernormal Bindings: Jason gains the binding chains of a wight in Adversaries, and later uses them to entrap an immortal who can change into a lightning bolt. He has to entrap himself at the same time, though.
- Talking Animal: Jason befriends a talking raccoon named Roscoe from the Animal Realm.
- Team Spirit: Gains a talent from the Heaven Realm that subtly guides people to cooperate toward a common goal.
- The Big Guy: He's much taller, stronger, and broader than his teammates.
- The Paladin: Jason is religious, despite his immortality, and fights for what he believes is good.
- The Quarterback: Jason's not actually the quarterback - he plays middle linebacker. But he functions as the leader of the defense.
Tiffany Gardner
Tiffany Gardner
A popular cheerleader and honor student, Tiffany Gardner has worked hard for her successes. But with immortality, she discovers astonishing new challenges and dangers. Will these ordeals crush her spirit, or will she triumph?
- Animorphism: Can transform into an eagle. She can also combine her eagle form with her elemental transformations.
- Elemental Embodiment: Tiff gains a sylph (an intelligent air elemental resembling a girl) as a friend and frequently summons her to Earth.
- Elemental Shapeshifter: She can transform to both fire and lightning, though she can't change her shape freely. She can combine her elemental transformation with her eagle transformation though.
- Go-Getter Girl: Tiff takes honors courses, participates in the cheerleading squad, has an active social life, and commits to the New Pantheon without a second thought.
- Katanas Are Just Better: Her weapon of choice
- Lecherous Stepparent: In a moment of depression and weakness, Tiff's stepfather tries to molest her. She refrains from killing him.
- Only-Child Syndrome
- Our Banshees Are Louder: She gains the ability to howl like a banshee.
- Playing with Fire: She can transform into a fiery form. When she combines it with her transformation into an eagle, she resembles a phoenix.
- Pom-Pom Girl: She's one of two girls who earn a spot on the cheerleading squad as freshmen, even before she gains supernatural abilities.
- Secret-Keeper: Her mother becomes this when Tiff reveals her abilities to her.
- Shock and Awe: She can also transform into an electric form. Like her phoenix form, she can combine her electric transformation with her eagle transformation to become a Thunderbird.
- Super-Senses: Tiff has telescopic vision even in human form. She also learns to peer through dimensional barriers, allowing her to see Earth from its neighboring realms.
- Teens Love Shopping: Tiff certainly does.
Aliki Papadaki
Aliki Papadaki
Unsure of her place in school or in the world, Aliki Papadaki stumbles into a hidden society of immortals. Now immortal herself, can she find the courage to fight against the fearsome foes that threaten her friends and the entire Earth?
- Animorphism: Can change into both a rhinoceros and a dolphin
- Casting a Shadow: She can surround herself with shadow, and she can see in darkness.
- Girls with Guns: She discovers a talent for using rifles. At first, she doesn't like it.
- Guns vs. Swords: Unlike the rest of the New Pantheon, who use traditional bladed weapons, she uses rifles.
- Immigrant Parents: Aliki's parents immigrated from Greece.
- Intangibility: Learns to become intangible like a ghost.
- Long-Range Fighter: Pretty much useless in melee, but give her a firing position and watch out.
- Named Weapons: She names her rifles Striker, Shade, and Spectre.
- No Sense of Direction: Occasionally gets her directions confused.
- Official Couple: She and Jason become a couple.
- Super-Senses: Aliki can see in darkness
- Trick Bullet: While her first rifle is (initially) normal, she gains two new rifles in Adversaries. One fires bullets of darkness that suppress living energy, while the other fires bullets that pass through the first object in their path to strike the second. She dubs them Shade and Spectre, respectively. When Coach Brown increases the power of her first rifle using her rhinoceros affinity, she dubs that one Striker.
Kyle Coleman
Kyle Coleman
Kyle Coleman loves nothing more than curling up to read a good history book. But when the sheltered teen gains immortality and surprising magical talents, will he emerge as a savage or a hero?
- Animorphism: Can transform into a bear.
- Badass Bookworm: Prefers the library, but learns to fight from MacKenzie.
- Black and Nerdy: Unlike his two older athletic brothers, Kyle prefers academic pursuits, in particular history.
- Carry a Big Stick: Kyle fights with a morningstar when he's not rampaging as a bear.
- Dishing Out Dirt: While he can't transform himself into earth, he gains an earth sense. Later, he learns to summon earth spirits to manipulate earth and stone.
- Luckily, My Shield Will Protect Me: Kyle adds a shield to his arsenal in Adversaries, and it contributes to his Taking a Level in Badass. Coach Brown crafts a magical one for him.
- Partial Transformation: Kyle can transform part of himself into his bear form.
- Savage Spiked Weapons: Due to his lack of athletic skill, he wields a morningstar as a weapon - when he's not transformed into a bear instead.
- Speaks Fluent Animal: Can speak easily with mammals, particularly bears. Other animal classes are harder for him to understand.
- Super-Senses: Kyle learns to perceive time distortion zones, enabling him to avoid them on Flussora.
- The Berserker: In addition to changing into a bear, Kyle also can lose himself to a raging berserker state.
- The Nose Knows: As a bear, Kyle's sense of smell is better than bloodhounds. It's even very sharp when he's in his human form.
- Took a Level in Badass: At first, Kyle is only dangerous in his bear form. In Adversaries, he adds a shield to his arsenal, and helps defeat Thyr-Shae-Dahl.
Immortal Mentors
Paul Oxinos
Paul Oxinos
A handsome art teacher and an immortal who's lived for thousands of years. He was also worshipped by the Greeks as Apollo.- Bow and Sword in Accord: Though he prefers the bow, he also fights effectively with a sword.
- Cool Teacher: His students certainly think so.
- Emotion Control: He can radiate an aura that enhances people's creativity and inspiration. At its strongest level, it can function as an ADHD-inflictor.
- Energy Bow: His stringless bow fires shafts of light energy.
- Light 'em Up: Can emit light at will, and his bow fires shafts of light.
- Master Archer
- Mayfly–December Romance: Begins a relationship with fellow teacher Angela Barnes, a mortal.
- Really 700 Years Old: a few thousand years old
- Steven Ulysses Perhero: His current full name (an assumed name) is Alexander Paul Oxinos. He signs formal documents as "A. Paul Oxinos". And many of his students call him "Mr. O." Aliki puts two and two together.
- Theme Mobile: Has a golden luxury sedan that can fly, glow like the sun, transport itself into realms, and hide from mortal detection. He normally doesn't drive it to school - he has a small compact for everyday use.
Ida Olsen
Ida Olsen
A quiet and capable blonde woman who serves as the school nurse. She's Idun, who keeps the apples of immortality in Norse myth.- Carry a Big Stick: Fights with a war staff
- Green Thumb: She can summon tree spirits to animate nearby trees or accelerate their growth, and has other hidden powers according to
Word of God. - Really 700 Years Old: a few thousand years old
- School Nurse: Her role within the high school.
Greg Brown
Greg Brown
An imposing black man who coaches football at Jefferson Hill. He also teaches gym and shop, and forges weapons and armor for the New Pantheon. His true name is Ogun, the Yoruba Orisha of war and metalwork.- Animorphism: Has several animal transformations, including an African hunting dog, a leopard, and a large snake.
- Extra-ore-dinary: Can transform into metal.
- Master Swordsman: Fights with a large, curved blade.
- Playing with Fire: He can surround himself with flames, though he doesn't transform like Tiff does.
- Really 700 Years Old: a few thousand years old
- Scary Black Man: When he needs to be, but Greg usually has a jovial manner and a sense of humor.
- Tech Bro: He also fashions technological devices, though he doesn't obsess over them.
- The Blacksmith: Forges weapons and armor. He also works with plastics and leather, depending on the need.
MacKenzie Morgan
MacKenzie Morgan
A feisty Irish woman who becomes the teens' combat instructor. Her true name is Macha, one of the three sisters who make up The Morrigan.- Animorphism: Can assume several animal forms, most frequently a raven or crow.
- Dark Action Girl: One of the ur-examples.
- Dark Is Not Evil: Pushes the teens, but cares for them.
- Fantastic Firearms: Along with her many melee weapons, MacKenzie also has a magical shotgun stylized to look like a small dragon.
- Fiery Redhead: Her hair is naturally auburn, though when she channels power from the Demon Realm, it turns black.
- Fighting Irish: Well, ancient Celt, but close enough.
- Insistent Terminology: Insists the teens call her MacKenzie, not Miss Morgan or some variant.
- Multi-Melee Master: Wields different weapons depending on the circumstances and her whims.
- Power Trio: Originally, she accompanied her two sisters on adventures; stories conjoined them into a single being.
- Really 700 Years Old: a few thousand years old
- She Cleans Up Nicely: She typically wears a T-shirt and shorts, jeans, or sweatpants. When she dresses up, Tiff doesn't recognize her at first.
- Shipper on Deck: Takes steps to push Mr. Oxinos further in his relationship with Angela Barnes.
- Supernatural Fear Inducer
- Terror Hero: frequently uses an aura of terror to intimidate everyone around her.
Tom Fathy
Tom Fathy
An erudite researcher from Egypt, Dr. Tom Fathy enjoys pursuing knowledge of any sort. Kyle deduces his real identity: Thoth.- Animorphism: Can transform into an ibis, and presumably a baboon.
- Gadgeteer Genius
- Gentleman and a Scholar
- Immortal Genius
- Really 700 Years Old: Over five thousand, actually - the oldest immortal mentioned in the series so far.
- Sesquipedalian Loquaciousness: Tends to explain things in a convoluted fashion.
Miguel Acosta
Miguel Acosta
A thin man from Mexico, and Pedro's real father. He keeps his involvement with Pedro's mother (and his existence) a secret because he doesn't want to destroy Pedro's family. He didn't know Pedro had inherited his immortality until the events of Conundrums. Also known as Mictlantecuhtli- Embarrassing Nickname: MacKenzie calls him Micky, much to his annoyance.
- Mysterious Parent: to Pedro, who doesn't know about him
- Summon Magic: Can summon denizens of the Ghost Realm, particularly Calacas.
- Uncanny Valley: Like other immortals, his strong affinities manifest as a subtle aura. But since he's strongly attuned to the Ghost Realm, he gives off a creepy vibe. At first, Jason calls him Mister Spook.
Other New Pantheon Members
Pedro Rivera
Pedro Rivera
A young boy who the teens discover in the Ghost Realm, and learn he accidentally manifested his powers to transfer himself there.- Animorphism: Can transform into a (half-grown) wolf.
- Calacas: Can transform himself into a skeletal form.
- Divine Parentage: Pedro inherited his immortality from his real father, Miguel Acosta.
- Extra-ore-dinary: He learns to transform himself into metal.
- Precocious Crush: He's infatuated with Tiff.
- Rescued from the Underworld: The teens discover him lost in the Ghost Realm and bring him back to Earth. He didn't actually die, but accidentally transferred himself into the realm.
- Turn Out Like His Father: Pedro has an affinity for the Ghost Realm, like his real father.
Julisha Jackson
Julisha Jackson
An athletic girl who starts trying to join the New Pantheon after MacKenzie's combat exhibition, forcing the teens to find ways to dissuade her. Later, they need her help and reveal their talents. In Conundrums, Kyle takes her to the Animal Realm, inadvertently causing her to gain superhuman speed and strength, becoming the New Pantheon's first Hero.- Fights Like a Normal: Like Jason, Julisha has to be trained to hold back her enhanced physique in athletics.
- Intrepid Reporter: Naturally curious, and she works on the school newsletter.
- Magic Enhancement: When Kyle takes her to the Animal Realm, she accidentally gains superhuman strength and speed. The immortal mentors teach her how to hide it, and she helps them out from time to time.
- Secret-Keeper: Initially tries to join the New Pantheon before she learns the truth, then the teens turn to her for help, revealing their abilities in the process. She keeps their secret.
Faisal al Numan
Faisal al Numan
A charismatic Arab teen who transfers to the school in Adversaries. Initially arrogant, he learns several hard truths during the book.- Animorphism: Can transform into a caracal.
- Dual Wielding: Fights with paired blades - first long knives, later falchions
- Knight Templar Big Brother: Very protective of Sumayya, and prone to taking action at perceived threats, not just after the fact.
- Lightning Bruiser: A quick combatant with the durability of an immortal.
- My Sister Is Off-Limits: Only allows Mike to take Sumayya to a dance as friends.
- Never Bring a Knife to a Fist Fight: Averted. When Faisal pulls a knife in the middle of a fistfight, Jason takes it very seriously. The appearance of the knife gives Faisal a significant advantage in the fight.
- New Transfer Student
- The Power of Glass: Learns to grow glass spines along his arms and legs
- Throwing Down the Gauntlet: Challenges Jason and his fellow athletes Pete and Carson to a fight, hoping to establish his reputation. It doesn't go as planned.
Sumayya al Numan
Sumayya al Numan
Faisal's younger sister by two years. Initially quiet because of her upbringing, she gains confidence and begins to assert herself.- An Ice Person: She learns to manipulate cold to a limited extent.
- Animorphism: Can transform into a gazelle.
- Beautiful Singing Voice: Once she comes out of her shell, she reveals she's a talented singer
- New Transfer Student
- Sensing You Are Outmatched: She agrees to return to Earth rather than remaining on Deigantu to face the chimerical beasts.
Allies
Angela Barnes
Angela Barnes
A young history teacher at Jefferson Hill High School, she becomes suspicious of the teens' activities. Later, due to a joke by Mike, faeries believe she's a queen and kidnap her, taking her through the Spirit Realm. Because of this, she becomes sensitive to spirits, bewildering her and threatening to drive her crazy. Kyle has to reveal the truth in Adversaries.- Mayfly–December Romance: becomes romantically involved with Paul Oxinos.
- Secret-Keeper: Once she learns the truth
Rigashun
Rigashun
A young giantess, the equivalent of a late teenager, who inherited her father's immortality. Initially, the teens encounter her in the Primal Realm and defeat her (and her father and brother). Unlike her brother Kundomal, she didn't display a mean streak.- Sibling Rivalry: After their father's death, she and Kundomal feud over the leadership of their clan, eventually splitting it.
- The Chief's Daughter: One of two immortal children of a giant chieftain.
Kundomal
Kundomal
A young giant about as mature as a 13-year old boy. Kundomal's father brought him and his older sister Rigashun to the Primal Realm. Seeing the elementals as playthings, Kundomal terrorized the hapless denizens until the New Pantheon and their mentors defeated him in battle. He learned his mistake and asked for MacKenzie to train him in the place of his deceased father.- Heel–Face Turn
- Screw the Rules, I Have Supernatural Powers!: His general attitude. MacKenzie helps him see the error of his ways.
- Sibling Rivalry: After their father's death, he and Rigashun feud over the leadership of their clan, eventually splitting it.
- Teens Are Monsters: He's the equivalent of a young teenager, spoiled by his powers and immortality, and obnoxious at first. He begins to grow out of it.
Meadow, Nettle, and Zinnia
Meadow, Nettle, and Zinnia
Three faeries who become friends with the teens at the end of Conundrums. Meadow is fascinated by human culture, Nettle is timid and easily frightened. Zinnia was just an unnamed worker until Kyle injured her, then cared for her until she recovered. While Meadow and Nettle have immortality and magical powers, Zinnia does not.- Heel–Face Turn: At the end of Conundrums, Cuvosira exiles the three faeries, and they start living at Tiff's house.
- Intrigued by Humanity: Meadow finds humans fascinating and elects to stay on Earth, essentially exiling herself.
- Year Inside, Hour Outside: Nettle can create a bubble of fast-time around herself.
Antagonists
Asta
Asta
A ravishingly beautiful immortal member of the Lisakku. Her real name is Astłik.- Circassian Beauty: She's an Armenian immortal.
- Femme Fatale
- Making a Splash: can transform into water. Unlike Jason, she seems adept at changing her shape while aqueous.
The Faeries
The Faeries
A swarm of faeries initially led by Erestila as their queen. Later, Cuvosira ascends to become the next queen after Erestila's defeat. The teens initially meet a group of seven faeries in the Heaven Realm - Crimson (who becomes Cuvosira), Nettle, Meadow, Dulcet, Sapphire, Marigold, and Dapple. Each faerie has different magical talents and personality; each is also brightly colored with different insectoid wings.After the events of Conundrums, Nettle and Meadow are exiled and become allies of the New Pantheon.- Animorphism: Some faeries can assume an animal form. Unlike a human immortal's transformation, they require multiple faeries to form a single larger animal.
- Emotion Control: Dapple can radiate a calming aura
- Heterosexual Life-Partners: Dulcet and Sapphire. When Sapphire is captured by chimeras, Dulcet panics.
- Hour Inside, Year Outside: Dulcet can create a bubble of slow time around herself.
- Humans Through Alien Eyes: They don't understand humans or human society.
- Invisibility: Several faeries can turn themselves invisible
- Mana: Some of the faeries can form constructs with mana.
- Our Fairies Are Different: They have insectoid features, including an exoskeleton, faceted eyes and antennae. Their social structure resembles a beehive. Furthermore the queens (Erestila, later Cuvosira) are larger and bloated like a queen bee or ant.
- Year Inside, Hour Outside: Crimson and Nettle can create a bubble of fast-time around themselves.
Thomas Raven
Thomas Raven
An imposing Native American warrior and immortal, originally a chief of the Natchez tribe. Larger even than Coach Brown.- Animorphism: can transform into several animals
- Badass Native
- Magical Native American
Thyr-Shae-Dahl
Thyr-Shae-Dahl
A vicious but crafty chimera who comes to Earth, supposedly out of curiosity. However, his plans go deeper.- Emotion Control
- Intangibility: Or rather, the ability to co-exist with other matter. He phases one claw through Kyle's shield.
- Mana: Can shape mana to form weapons and bindings
- Memory Jar: He implants knowledge of his world in several apples
- Mind Reading: One of his many magical talents
- Mix-and-Match Critters: He has the heads of a horse, eagle, and dinosaur, plus features of those same creatures on his body.
- Self-Duplication: He can create (at least) four duplicates of himself
- Sizeshifter: Can grow parts of himself
- Spontaneous Weapon Creation: Can create mana javelins
Veltornen
