| Character | Gallery |
|---|
| Character Statistics | |
| Full Name: | Nicodemus Pennwolf |
| Alias: | Torodus Morsus Lord Morsus |
| Gender: | Male |
| Eye Color: | Brown |
| Hair Color: | Auburn |
| Talents: | Magic |
| Dislikes: | Russo Family |
| Lives In: | Wizard World |
| Species: | Wizard |
| Occupation: | Evil Wizard |
| Affiliations: | Pennwolf Family |
| Relationships | |
| Family: | Damian Pennwolf (son) Billie Russo (granddaughter) Alex Russo (daughter-in-law) |
| Friends: | Bigelow McFigglehorn (underling; formerly) The Changeling (underling) Quentin Thompson (underling) |
| Nemesis: | Alex Russo Justin Russo Billie Russo Roman Russo Milo Russo |
| Production Info | |
| Portrayed by: | Tobias Jelinek |
| Season(s): | 2 |
| First Appearance: | Curse Me Baby One More Time |
| Last Appearance: | The Wizard at the End of the World: Part Two |
Lord Morsus (a pseudonym secretly adopted by Nicodemus Pennwolf) was the mysterious new threat that arose to threaten Billie and the rest of the Russo family. Having somehow enlisted Minister Bigelow Figglehorn of the Wizard Tribunal to serve him, he enacts a plan to exploit the prophecy by stealing Billie's magical powers, and destroy her protectors, the Russo family wizards.
History[]
Curse Me Baby One More Time[]
Mere hours after the defeat of Silas Evilini, the masked mastermind sends Minister McFigglehorn to retrieve the Eye of Evilini, the amulet which encases the jewel imprisoning both Dr. Mary Beth Evilini, and her son from the Russo residence. After the Minister delivered the item to him in his secret sanctuary, Lord Morsus employed the gem to force McFigglehorn to become his absolute unquestioning servant, and orders her to begin his scheme to destroy the Russos by secretly planting a Changeling pod in their home. A month later his pawn returns and reports that her mission was successful. The enigmatic armored villain gloats, anticipating that the Russo family would soon fall and Lord Morsus would seize Billie's great magical power as his own.
Ooze!...I Did it Again[]
At the secret behest of Lord Morsus the Changeling emerges from its pod to cause chaos within the Russo home. It successfully siphons off most of the magical abilities of the wizard residents before being driven off and defeated by the combined efforts of Billie and the male Russo wizards. However, the Changeling does manage to evade capture, to hide away and await a more opportune chance to strike at the family once again.
Don't Go Changeling My Heart[]
After evading capture for more than a week within the Mortal World, still determined to follow the sinister schemes of Lord Morsus, as well as avenge itself against the Russo wizards and Billie for its defeat, the Changeling seizes the opportunity to co-opt the identity of their neighbor, Winter, when she leaves with her family on a trip to Mexico. As was its nature, the creature infiltrated the Russo household in the guise of their trusted friend, seeking to subtly undermine the familial bonds between the Russos, with the goal of isolating Billie and leave her vulnerable to the machinations of Lord Morsus. Despite the deception eventually being uncovered, the Changeling managed to capture both Billie and Roman Russo. As it gloated in the form of their female friend, the creature was about to name the person behind the danger threatening Billie. However, Roman managed to stomp upon a fallen plastic squeeze bottle of mustard, squirting its contents all over the Changeling, with a scream it resumed a purple oozy form and dissipated, utterly defeated, yet still denying any secrets Billie desperately wanted to learn, that were lost in the wake of its destruction.
Cruel Detentions[]
Lord Morsus sends an underling from the Wizard World to Greenwald Middle School using the name Quentin Thompson, with the instructions to find a way to befriend Billie and gain her confidence. A few months later, when the opportunity arises for the pair to finally interact during a Saturday detention at school, Lord Morsus has Minister McFigglehorn distract Justin Russo with Tribunal busywork, to allow his agent the time to bond with Billie. The two teens swifty form a blossoming friendship. He later sends McFigglehorn to hear Quentin's report. The teen spy confirms that Lord Morsus's plan was successful, and Billie now trusts him.
Boogie and the Beast[]
Lord Morsus decides to allow the magic of the talisman maintaining his pawn's faux human form to falter, causing Quentin's natural Orc arm to begin to appear on his human body when the creature was alone in a deserted hallway in Greenwald Middle School. The panicked teen states that Billie accepted his invitation to the dance and asks what was happening. In a disembodied voice, Lord Morsus reminds his creature of the consequences of failing his orders. He teleports a magical device with a button atop and tells the underling to use it when he has isolated Billie, and it would bring her directly to Lord Morsus's presence. However, despite the fact the servant vowed to do as commanded, he instead betrayed his master and revealed to Billie everything the creature knew of Morsus's plans, before fleeing from the wrath of an enraged Justin Russo who had uncovered his duplicity.
The Wizard at the End of the World: Part One[]
Lord Morsus contacts his minion, at the Wizard Tribunal Tower, Minister McFigglehorn, via a life-size hologram projected from the Eye of Evilini amulet. He informs her of the betrayal of the Orc sent to entrap the wizard known as Billie. Yet McFigglehorn argues that the Orc was now irrelevant, as his mission was accomplished as a rift between Billie and her mentor, Justin Russo, was created. Morsus scornfully berates his underling that she knows nothing, as he insists the Orc was the key to capturing the girl wizard. He gloats that once he has her, Morsus will use all her power to fulfill the Prophecy. McFigglegorn points out that could destroy Billie, But Morsus cares only that his dark ambitions are on the verge of fruition and arrogantly laughs. McFigglehorn tries to join in his amusement, but Lord Morsus cuts her off--decreeing that only he is allowed to laugh, to which his lackey swiftly offers an apology. Later that day, after Morsus has captured his rebellious Orc to serve as bait and engaged a Messenger Fish courier to further his scheme to entrap Billie, he was contacted by McFigglehorn, who informs him that Justin Russo and his sister, Alex, have arrived at the Tribunal Tower. The armored mastermind was gratified by the news, and proclaims his plan was nearly complete, He elaborates that Billie's greatest fear was that she was not part of a family, and that he will exploit that emotional flaw to make her lose control of her powers, thus fulfilling the Prophecy. However, the Russos then make their presence known, and MeFigglehorn kicks the amulet away across the floor, before the newcomers can discover it. The masked master makes an awkward noise at the unexpected shift of perspective, as the link was disconnected. After preparing his lair for Billie's imminent arrival, Lord Morsus assumes a human disguise and teleports to the building in Manhattan where Alex Russo maintains an apartment. Knowing Alex has placed precautions preventing magical means of entry, he continually knocks, while turning the knob until those within unlock the door, calling for him to enter. As he steps inside the darkened room, a small avian skeleton snaps at his feet, causing him to lose his balance until he stumbles into a nearby stuffed chair, which arms move to hold him immobile in its grasp. As Morsus discerns footsteps approaching, he calls out what the boys thought they were doing. Roman and Milo Russo then appear, relievedly identifying the intruder as their dad, as the pair begin attempting to force the chair arms to release the captive. The triumphant Lord Morsus, in the form of Justin Russo, confirms he is indeed their dad, while noticing his own true black armored reflection in the mirror, with a malicious expression.
The Wizard at the End of the World: Part Two[]
As the oafish Russo brothers finally release Lord Morsus, still in the guise of their father, Justin Russo, by tickling the enchanted item, he stalks toward the full-length mirror to peer at his true form again, as the boorish boys babble their apologies for entrapping him. When they question how he was caught in the first place, as he knew the password to the magic entryway was "Password." The disguised Dark Lord assures the boys that of course he knew, but under his breath mutters to himself that he is dealing with a family of idiots. The unsuspecting twits report that everything was fine, except for Billie being missing. The elder sibling attempts to elicit sympathy by pointing out how much of a pain the girl wizard has been since she entered their lives. Morsus tells them Billie was fine. A relieved Roman acknowledged that yet still pointed out that she was in trouble. Lord Morsus agrees that she was certainly in trouble, and told the boys to follow him, as he was taking them to where she was. However, an annoying Roman began asking exasperating questions until his own fed-up younger brother just forcefully pushed a sweater at him. Morsus had already opened the door and left the apartment, when Roman pointed out to Milo, that he only wore a single shoe. As the younger Russo pondered the location of the missing piece of footwear, the frustrated faux father whipped out his wand and conjured a mismatched leather loafer to go with the yellow sneaker the dolt already wore. The impatient mastermind then asked if they could go now, tossing in a less-then-authentic "Please," before turning away, stalking down the hallway leaving the irksome pair of imbecilic Russo youths to trail behind him. Morsus led his new pawns to his concealed passage to his secret lair. Deactivating the mystic safeguards on the door, he allowed the unsuspecting boys to enter his domain and reunite with their missing friend, Billie. As the elder Russo stated he was glad to have brought a sweater as he found the place freezing, he was slow to take note of his surroundings. As Morsus had anticipated, Billie had attempted to release the treacherous oafish Orc she knew as "Quentin." and inadvertently removed the talisman which maintained his false human form, thus when the trio of newcomers arrived, they witnessed Billie seemingly being menaced by an advancing monstruous Orc. Feigning alarm, the disguised Morsus exclaims that Billie was about to be hurt. Spotting a wand on a nearby table, the older Russo predictably snatched up the item and ignoring the frantic calls of Billie, impulsively cast a spell which created a portal which sent the fearsome creature to the Nowhere Zone, thus fulfilling the Dark Lord's plan of dispatching the disloyal underling. Crestfallen, Billie retrieved a necklace from the floor and told Roman he had just banished Quentin. As Morsus had foreseen, the emotional bond between the teen wizards began to fray as they bickered over Roman's awareness of Quentin's Orc identity. Milo asked the superior being bearing his father's visage whether he could bring back the unfortunate victim from the Nowhere Zone. Realizing the last phase of his plan had finally commenced, Lord Morsus adopted a cruel, arrogant expression over Justin Russo's replicated features. The disguised Dark Lord declares that he could retrieve Quentin, but he refuses to do so. When Billie asks why, Morsus takes the opportunity to exploit Billie's weakness, her desire to be part of a family, by having her paternal figure turn on her by blaming the intrusive young wizard for all the dangers threatening the Russo family ever since the day she entered their lives. Roman tries to mitigate his father's harsh words, but Milo points out his brother had already stated the same sentiments. Billie expresses betrayal, as they had told her she was part of their family, and now believes that it was all a lie, and that the Russos really wanted to have nothing to do with her. Seizing the chance to fully sever Billie's link to the detested Russos, Lord Morsus declares that she was correct, they did not want her. Moving to place his arms over the Russo dolts in a seemingly protective gesture, he proclaims that she was too dangerous. Hearing those cruel words coldly stated by her beloved mentor finally broke the vulnerable young wizard, as her powers began to grow out of control, as glowing bolts of mystical energy crackled wildly from Billie's fingertips. The disguised Dark Lord notes her condition with smug satisfaction, as every facet of his plan was proceeding exactly as he had planned. Metaphorically twisting the knife, Morsus claims that Justin made a mistake in agreeing to teach Billie, and pointed out she didn't deserve her power, as she already had lost control of them causing the young wizard to back away. But before the final phase of Lord Morsus's plan could commence, somehow the cursed pair of Russo siblings, Alex and Justin, abruptly appeared within the secret sanctum. The presence of two Justin Russos did cause confusion, as soon both wizards had their wands drawn and warily circled each other, both claiming to be the genuine auricle. Swiftly adapting to the unforeseen complication, the outnumbered disguised Morsus pocketed his wand when the actual Russo did as both maintained that he was the real Justin Russo. Milo attempted to differentiate between the pair but conceded defeat. Roman declared they had to ask them something only the real Justin would know.
Appearances[]
Season 2[]
- Curse Me Baby One More Time (first appearance)
- Ooze!...I Did it Again (behind the scenes)
- Don't Go Changeling My Heart (mentioned)
- Cruel Detentions (mentioned)
- Boogie and the Beast
- The Wizard at the End of the World: Part One
- The Wizard at the End of the World: Part Two
4/10
Trivia[]
- He prefers to use pawns rather than face his foes directly.
- Pawns of Lord Morsus include:
- He used the abandoned Waverly Sub Station as his secret lair.
- He briefly assumed the appearance of Justin Russo to entrap the Russo cousins.
- His real name is mentioned by Gossip Stone at the end of The Wizard at the End of the World: Part Two
- He is extremely reminiscent of Onyx, the main antagonist of The Villains of Valley View.
- His appearance/costume is extremely similar to the iconic antagonist of the Star Wars franchise: Darth Vader, and The Marvel Comics Group Super Villain Doctor Doom. Like Vader, he's related to the hero, a fact that gets revealed in a climactic confrontation.
- His appearance unmasked bears a resemblance to Lord Voldemort from the Harry Potter franchise, particularly the nose being flat. Like Voldemort, he has a blood vendetta against the Russo family similar to Voldemort's against the Potter Family, and his animosity also stems from a prophecy about a powerful wizard. Also, one of their names is an anagram, with Tom Marvolo Riddle being an anagram of “I am Lord Voldemort,” and Torodus Morsus being an anagram of “Doom to Russos.”
- Torodus Morsus also translates to "Twisted Bite" in Latin, while Voldemort translates to "flight of death" or "flight from death" in French.
- His actor, Tobias Jelinek, previously appeared as Jay in Hocus Pocus, another Disney film featuring witches and magic.
References[]