Favorite Fictional Character (8)

Today's fictional character is one of my absolute favourites. He's Howl, the wizard from Diana Wynne Jones's awesome novel, Howl's Moving Castle.

(This is the cover for the UK edition.
I think it does a great job of capturing
the characters' personalities.)

If you think you know Howl because you've seen the mediocre movie adaptation, think again. Howl is at once annoying, charming, mysterious, and petulant. He lives in the land of Ingary in a magic castle and has a bit of a reputation as a playboy. He dyes his hair, wears fancy clothes, and sulks (with hilarious results) when things don't go his way. Throughout the story, we get to watch the developing relationship between Howl and Sophie Hatter, a young woman who has been cursed with an aging spell by the Witch of the Waste.

(Really? He's supposed to protect her like that?
What's he going to do... tickle their enemies
to death with his pretty feathers?)

The Howl of the movie is a deep-voiced, whiny, emo she-man (seriously... he looks girlier than Sophie!) who sprouts wings and goes flying off into war. He retains little of the fun (or depth) of Jones's character. If you're altogether unfamiliar with the story, read the book first. And if you've only seen the movie, go and get the book. Nothing can compare with the author's original imagining of this delightful character.

The Favorite Fictional Character meme was started by Ryan G. at Wordsmithonia.