coven-93060-manii1-coven-fullCOVENcoven-93060-manii2-coven-redface

Real Name: Heather Parks, Jessica, Samantha, Trisha

Identity/Class: Alternate Reality (Earth-93060/"Ultraverse") magically-powered collective being;
    otherwise, Covens hosts were normal teenage girls

Occupation: Warrior;
   
Coven's hosts were students

Group Membership: All four individuals had their own Mantra Club

Affiliations: Empowered by an unrevealed being/source (see comments);
    as individuals, they were all fans of Mantra (
Lukasz in the form of Eden Blake)

Enemies: Gus Blake (and whatever was possessing/empowering him), Mantra (Lauren Sherwood)

Known Relatives: None as Coven (see sub-profiles for the girls' relatives, but Heather is the daughter of Fred and Mrs. Parks)

Aliases: "Girls" (by Mantra/Lauren Sherwood, referring to her four hosts)

Base of Operations: Unrevealed;
    the 
Canoga Park, California (they most frequently gathered in Heather's room at her parents' house)

First Appearance: (Heather, Jessica, Samantha, & Trisha) Mantra I#21 (May, 1995);
    (Coven (identified on cover)) Mantra II#1 (October, 1995);
    (identified in story) Mantra II#1 (November, 1995)

coven-93060-manii1-coven-postPowers/Abilities: The magically-powered collective being known as Coven was immensely strong, able to the pick up and throw a semi-truck perhaps 30-40 yards. In addition, she could even crumple a magically-durable weapon such as the Sword of Fangs.

    She was also extremely durable, being only distracted by bullets fired from a handgun at close range.

    She could fire magical blasts from her hands, with a largely concussive effect.

    While she could not fly, she could jump perhaps 30 feet across or high, and she could do so in rapid succession.

    Coven had a humanoid body, but, in addition to the face on her head, she also had one of her hosts' faces on each shoulder and a third face between her chin and chest.

    All four girls/hosts could think and speak through their faces on Coven's body. However, when pained or distracted, Coven's violent/savage/animalistic nature would take over; she seemed to be paralyzed by a fear of fire.

    Additionally, Coven had a pathologic hatred of Mantra and would attack and try to kill her at every opportunity. When things calmed down and the girls' minds/personalities resurfaced, the mere sight or mention of Mantra would restore Coven's violent persona to the fore and cause her to attack Mantra anew. As Coven, she either shouted how she hated Mantra or made bestial growls and hisses.

    The four hosts were normal teenage girls without any other notable abilities, although they did purchase a book of magic and perform a spell.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 6'8")
Weight: Unrevealed (her durability was magically-based, so it is unrevealed whether her body was superhumanly dense)
Eyes: Dark (apparently black)
Hair: Brown
Skin: Light red

History:
(
Mantra I#21 (fb) - BTS) - Heather, Jessica, Samantha, and Trisha formed a fan club for the heroine Mantra (Lukasz in the form of Eden Blake).

    Trisha bought a book of magic, and Heather gathered the ingredients for a magical spell based on the book's instruction.

(Mantra I#21) - Gathered in Heather's room, wearing Mantra cloaks and masks, Heather, Jessica, Samantha, and Trisha used the book to perform a spell, and when the brazier flared up, at least some of them jumped back and screamed. When Lauren Sherwood, seeking to join their club, showed up, they rudely dismissed her.

coven-93060-manii1-bulletproof(Mantra I#21 - BTS) - An unidentified demon serving the evil sorcerer Boneyard transformed Lauren into the form of Mantra.

(Mantra I#21) - As Heather, Jessica, Samantha, and Trisha prepared to use their book of magic again, Lauren in the form of Mantra passed through the ceiling of Heather's house. Pretending to be the Mantra they adored, Lauren denounced them as wannabes and then showed them what she thought of them by blasting Heather, who collapsed and was taken to the hospital.

(Mantra I#21) - In the hospital, a doctor told Mrs. Parks that she had never seen anything like Heather's condition before, that it was growing worse, and that if she did not come out of it soon...but her mother interrupted, begging the doctor to help her.

    As Jessica wondered why Mantra would do that to Heather, Trisha asked if the others thought they would come after them next, and and Samantha repeated that she thought they should tell them about the book, the real Mantra, disguised as a nurse (wearing the uniform of Nurse Ratchet; see comments), walked past them.

(Mantra I#21) - The real Mantra went into Heather's room, planning to protect her in case the would-be-killer returned and also hoping that encountering that that person might be the best chance at saving Heather.

(Mantra I#21 - BTS) - Coerced by the demon, Lauren agreed to kill Heather and her friends so she could retain her beautiful and powerful Mantra form forever.

(Mantra I#21) - Mantra (Lauren) arrived in Heather's room and was surprised to find the real Mantra there. After a brief fight, Mantra (Lauren) fled.

    Following Lauren's mystic trail, Mantra (Lukasz) encountered Jessica, Samantha, and Trisha, who initially feared another attack. Mantra convinced the girls to talk, and they revealed the mystic book they had used and the arrival of Lauren.

(Mantra I#21 - BTS) - Evie, the daughter of Eden Blake, convinced Lauren to turn against the demon-empowering her, and Lauren returned to her normal form after the demon fled.

coven-93060-manii2-coven-drownmant(Mantra I#21) - After Heather recovered, Mantra arrived, warning the girls about messing with magic and noting that she had taken their book.

(Mantra II#1) - Heather, Jessica, Samantha, and Trisha met again in Heather's room as the Mantra Club and in costume. As energies coursed through the sky, the girls operated a Ouija board. When one of them asked, "Will we ever have mystic powers?" the stylus moved to "Yes," after which a thunderbolt sounded, the room was struck with energy, and the quartet was merged into the combined magical form of Coven.

    The girls were shocked at their transformation. Opening the door and seeing Coven's form, Mrs. Parks ran downstairs and told Fred that a monster was attacking the girls. Exclaiming, "Not again," Fred entered the room, asked where was his daughter, and fired on Coven. Although the bullets bounced off her superhuman form, Coven found that the distraction made it too hard for her to think, and so she tore through the room and fled.

(Mantra II#1 - BTS) - Coven traveled to the nearby mall.

(Mantra II#1 - BTS) - With Lauren having succeeded Lukasz/Eden Blake in the role of Mantra, she followed an energy trail to Heather's house, where Heather's distraught father fired on her and demanded to know where his daughter was.

(Mantra II#1) - Hearing shouts, Mantra flew to the mall where Coven was rampaging, sensed the magical energies emanating from her form, and recognized the girls' faces on the creature's body. She tried to introduce herself and calm them, but Coven hated Mantra and gave her two powerful punches in the face. Mantra reluctantly attacked Coven with the Sword of Fangs, but Coven caught in one hand and bent it into a spiral before releasing a mystic blast into Mantra's stomach. When flames surprising erupted around them, Lauren told Coven to get away from her, and she did, falling back into the flames. Seeing Coven is a frightened animal, Mantra pulled her out of the flames, at which point the girls started speaking through Coven again. Offering help, Mantra asked how they had gotten that way, and they replied that they had been trying to get magic, like Mantra. However, upon saying Mantra's name, Coven's rage took over again and she punched Mantra in the abdomen before throwing her into the fountain and holding her under water.

coven-93060-manii1-coven-face-prof(Mantra II#2) - The girls' individual minds reasserted themselves, and as they realized they did not want to kill anyone, they lifted Mantra's head out of the water. Trisha noted that they were like some kinda one-woman coven.

     However, when another woman identified the other warrior as Mantra, Coven's hatred took over, and they shoved Lauren below the waters again. As Eden/Lukasz's spirit urged Lauren to save herself, Lauren recalled that she had control of the ancient elements, including water, and she caused a waterspout to knock Coven off of her. As Mantra caught her breath and then retrieved the crumpled Sword of Fangs, Coven smashed through a wall and fled.

(Mantra II#2 - BTS) - Considering that she needed power to try to help free Eden/Lukasz and that she was not powerful enough to stop either Coven or the demon-possessed Gus (Eden's son), Lauren resolved two set the two against each other.

(Mantra II#2) - Following Coven's magical trail and finding her picking through garbage (apparently hungry due to being composed of four people), Mantra blasted her to get her attention and then taunted the girls, telling them she bet that they wished they had let her join their dumb fan club. Coven threw a semi-truck at Mantra who apparently dodged and let it crash, after which she let Coven catch her legs so she could swing her to crash back into the ground.

    Continuing to taunt Coven, Mantra led her directly to Gus, and the two fought. After Coven shattered Gus' mystic talisman, Mantra formed a mystic sphere to contain the explosive energy discharge, which both split Coven into its component girls and knocked the girls and Gus unconscious.

    Gus was tranquilized and taken away by Aladdin agents including Wrath (Tunney), Samantha told the others that she had had the strangest dream, and Trisha told her to shut up.

Comments: Heather, Jessica, Samantha, & Trisha created by Mike Barr, Terry Dodson, and Jim Amash;
    Coven created by (presumably Mike Barr), Dave Roberts, and Jim Amash.

    The source of Coven's powers are unrevealed, but Gus had been empowered by a mystic bolt with a very similar energy effect in the preceding Mantra Infinity, so perhaps the events were connected. Maybe there were dimensional portals caused by the reality-warping events of Black September.
    There were a number of characters with interesting but vague natures in this brief series, and who knows if we will ever learn anything more about them?

    Mantra (Lukawz/Eden Blake) wore a nurse's uniform with the name "Rachet" on it. Nurse Ratchet is a legendary character from the classic Jack Nicholson movie "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest."

    Which face is which?

  

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Coven
should be distinguished from:


Heather Parks
(see note)


coven-93060-man21-heather-face

     Heather is the Caucasian ("white") blonde (she had a red checker-pattern shirt in the first adventure).
     In Mantra II#1-2, she wore a green top (see the group picture in Samantha's sub-profile)
     It was her house/room in which the Mantra Club met.
     She lives with her parents, Fred and Mrs. Parks.
     She was interested in the club and moving forward with things, although she was not afraid of telling Trisha to shut up.

(Mantra I#21 (fb) - BTS) - Heather, Jessica, Samantha, and Trisha formed a fan club for the heroine Mantra (Lukasz in the form of Eden Blake).

    Trisha bought a book of magic, and Heather gathered the ingredients for a magical spell based on the book's instruction.

(Mantra I#21) - Wearing Mantra cloaks and masks, Heather, Jessica, Samantha, and Trisha reviewed Ultra Monthly #6 in Heather's room.

    Heather wondered whether Mantra had really threatened to kill this "Al Baker" guy, but Samantha and Trisha were certain that she had not, or Baker would be dead.

    Agreeing, Heather told everyone to get ready, and when she lit the materials in the brazier, Jessica noted it to be smelly and wondered what it was. Heather told her that it was what the book said to use but that it was actually pretty gross.

    After Trisha recited the spell, one of the girls shrieked and most of them jumped back as flames burst from the brazier. They were then interrupted by a knock on the door from Heather's mom. Heather told her mom they had just been reading the scary Nancy Drew story she had given her, and her mom told her that one of her friends was there.coven-93060-man21-heather-blasted

    Heather told their classmate Lauren Sherwood -- with whom she was not friends -- that they were busy, and Lauren tried to show them the story from Ultra Monthly, but Jessica told her they had seen it ages ago, and they insultingly uninvited her.

    As Lauren departed dejectedly, the Mantra Club returned to Heather's room and cheered Mantra as the coolest ultra of all.

(Mantra I#21 - BTS) - An unidentified demon serving the evil sorcerer Boneyard transformed Lauren into the form of Mantra.

(Mantra I#21) - As Heather, Jessica, Samantha, and Trisha prepared to use their book of magic again, Lauren in the form of Mantra passed through the ceiling of Heather's house. Pretending to be the Mantra they adored, Lauren denounced them as wannabes and then showed them what she thought of them by blasting Heather, who collapsed and was taken to the hospital.

     When arriving EMTs told Mrs. Parks that Heather was in some sort of coma, Samantha confirmed that it was Mantra who had done this to her.

(Mantra I#21 - BTS) - In the hospital, a doctor told Mrs. Parks that she had never seen anything like Heather's condition before, that it was growing worse, and noted concern of what would happen if she did not come out of it soon.

    As Jessica wondered why Mantra would do that to Heather.

(Mantra I#21 - BTS) - Coerced by the demon, Lauren agreed to kill Heather and her friends so she could retain her beautiful and powerful Mantra form forever.

(Mantra I#21) - Mantra (Lauren) arrived in Heather's room and was surprised to find the real Mantra there. After a brief fight, during which Mantra (Lauren) taunted the comatose Heather that she bet she was sorry and that she would be her best friend now, Mantra (Lauren) fled.

(Mantra I#21 - BTS) - Following Lauren's mystic trail, Mantra (Lukasz) encountered Jessica, Samantha, and Trisha, who initially feared another attack. Mantra convinced the girls to talk, and they revealed the mystic book they had used and the arrival of Lauren.

(Mantra I#21 - BTS) - Lauren reverted to her true form.

(Mantra I#21) - Heather recovered, and her friends asked her about her near-death experience. Mantra then arrived, warning the girls about messing with magic and noting that she had taken their book.

(Mantra II#1) - Heather, Jessica, Samantha, and Trisha met again in Heather's room as the Mantra Club and in costume. Heather asked if they had seen the sky, Trisha mockingly asked "Hea-Thur" what about it, and Samantha noted that it was almost like an omen, as they had promised Mantra that they would not do magic anymore. Jessica asked what was the point of their fan club it they didn't, and Heather noted her agreement and added that a Ouija board wasn't magic but just fun. However, when one of them asked, "Will we ever have mystic powers?" the stylus moved to "Yes," after which a thunderbolt sounded, and the room was struck by energy. As everybody cried out, Trisha started to tell Samantha to shut up, but then the quartet was merged into the combined magical form of Coven.

     When (presumably) Jessica cried out "I feel different, really different!" Trisha replied, "You feeb! We're some kind of freak!" (presumably) Heather replied, "No Tri-Shuh! Besides that!"

     After Mrs. Park discovered the monstrous Coven, she called to Frank, who shot it. The noise and impacts drove Coven into a savage state, and she dove out of the house through a wall.

(Mantra II#1) - Having since succeeded Lukasz/Eden Blake in the role of Mantra, Lauren followed a magical trail to Coven, recognized the girls faces, and tried to talk to them, but Coven savagely attacked her. After Mantra pulled Coven out of a fire, Trisha stated, "God, if any of our friends see us like this--!" and (presumably) Heather told her to shut up. Mantra tried to help the girls, but as soon as they considered her name, Coven's violent personality took over, and they attacked anew.

(Mantra II#2) - When the girls briefly regained their wits, Heather alerted the others that they were drowning someone; not wanting to kill her, Coven pulled Mantra to the surface. However, hearing Mantra's name returned Coven to her savage state, and they attacked again.

    Mantra ultimiately led Coven into mystic confrontation with the demon-possessed Gus (Eden's son) that split them up and briefly knocked them out.

    Samantha told the others that she had had the strangest dream, and Trisha told her to shut up.

--Mantra I#21

Note: See the comments, but I believe Heather's face was the one on Coven's chest.

     Heather is also pictured in the Mantra Club image



Jessica

coven-93060-man21-samjess-full-uncost     Jessica was the Caucasian ("white") black-haired girl (in the green shirt and blue overalls in the image on the left).
     In Mantra II, her hair was more brown, and she wore the yellow top
(see the group picture on the right below and in Samantha's sub-profile).
     Jessica was solidly interested in moving forward with magic.

(Mantra I#21 (fb) - BTS) - Heather, Jessica, Samantha, and Trisha formed a fan club for the heroine Mantra (Lukasz in the form of Eden Blake).

(Mantra I#21) - Wearing Mantra cloaks and masks, Heather, Jessica, Samantha, and Trisha reviewed an issue of Ultra Monthly in Heather's room, and they discussed whether Mantra had really threatened to kill Al Baker. Jessica had no real opinion on the matter.

As they prepared to perform a spell in hopes of learning magic to be like Mantra, Jessica wondered where Trisha had gotten this cool old book, and Trisha told her, "An old bookstore! Duh!" As Heather lit the materials in the brazier, Jessica noted it to be smelly and wondered what it was. Heather told her that it was what the book said to use but that it was actually pretty gross.

    After Trisha recited the spell, one of the girls shrieked and most of them jumped back as flames burst from the brazier. They were then interrupted by a knock on the door from Heather's mom, who asked about the shouting and informed them that one of their friends was there. Jessica wondered who would interrupt their meeting like this, but when she saw it was their classmate Lauren Sherwood, she told Samantha that she might have known. 

    Lauren tried to show them the story from Ultra Monthly, but Jessica told her they had seen it ages ago, and they insultingly uninvited her.

    As Lauren departed dejectedly, the Mantra Club returned to Heather's room and cheered Mantra as the coolest ultra of all.

(Mantra I#21 - BTS) - An unidentified demon serving Boneyard transformed Lauren into the form of Mantra.

(Mantra I#21) - As Heather, Jessica, Samantha, and Trisha prepared to use their book of magic again, Jessica told the reluctant Samantha, "There's lotsa knowledge and stuff in here! If we can find out how to use it..."

     Lauren in the form of Mantra passed through the ceiling of Heather's house; Jessica exclaimed, "Wow..". Pretending to be the Mantra they adored, Lauren denounced them as wannabes and then showed them what she thought of them by blasting Heather, who collapsed and was taken to the hospital.

(Mantra I#21) - When arriving EMTs told Mrs. Parks that Heather was in some sort of coma, Jessica stood by as Samantha confirmed that it was Mantra who had done this to Heather.

(Mantra I#21) - In the hospital, Jessica and the other girls stood by as a doctor told Mrs. Parks that she had never seen anything like Heather's condition before, that it was growing worse, and noted concern that if she did not come out of it soon...

    As Jessica wondered why Mantra would do that to Heather, the girls failed to notice as the real Mantra, disguised as a nurse (wearing the uniform of Nurse Ratchet; see comments)), walked past them.

(Mantra I#21 - BTS) - Coerced by the demon, Lauren agreed to kill Heather and her friends so she could retain her beautiful and powerful Mantra form forever.

(Mantra I#21) - After Mantra (Lauren) encountered Mantra (Lukasz) at Heather's beside and fled,  Mantra followed Lauren's mystic trail back to the book in Heather's room. There she encountered Jessica, Samantha, and Trisha, who initially feared another attack. Mantra convinced the girls to talk.. Jessica assured Mantra that they had only tried one spell, but Samantha admitted that they were going to try again but were interrupted by Lauren.

(Mantra I#21 - BTS) - Lauren reverted to her true form after another encounter with Mantra (Lukasz).

(Mantra I#21) - Heather recovered, and Samantha asked her if she had a her near-death experience.Mantra then arrived, warning the girls about messing with magic and noting that she had taken their book. When they asked her to join them, Mantra told them that she had to take her friend Lauren home. Lauren mocked that the girls could not join her Mantra club.coven-93060-manii1-oiuja

(Mantra II#1) - Heather, Jessica, Samantha, and Trisha met again in Heather's room as the Mantra Club and in costume. Heather asked if they had seen the sky, and Samantha noted that it was almost like an omen, as they had promised Mantra that they would not do magic anymore. Jessica asked what was the point of their fan club it they didn't, and Heather noted her agreement and added that a Ouija board wasn't magic but just fun. However, when one of them asked, "Will we ever have mystic powers?" the stylus moved to "Yes," after which a thunderbolt sounded, and the room was struck by energy. As everybody cried out, Trisha started to tell Samantha to shut up, but then the quartet was merged into the combined magical form of Coven.

     Jessica (presumably) cried out "I feel different, really different!" After Mrs. Park discovered the monstrous Coven, she called to Frank, who shot it. The noise and impacts drove Coven into a savage state, and she dove out of the house through a wall.

(Mantra II#1) - Having since succeeded Lukasz/Eden Blake in the role of Mantra, Lauren followed a magical trail to Coven, recognized the girls faces, and tried to talk to them, but Coven savagely attacked her. After Mantra pulled Coven out of a fire, Trisha stated, "God, if any of our friends see us like this--!" and (presumably) Heather told her to shut up. Mantra tried to help the girls, but as soon as they considered her name, Coven's violent personality took over, and they attacked anew.

(Mantra II#2) - When the girls briefly regained their wits, they wondered what they were doing, and Jessica (presumably) noted that they had been in Heather's room. However, hearing Mantra's name returned Coven to her savage state, and they shoved Mantra under the water's surface.

    Mantra ultimiately led Coven into mystic confrontation with the demon-possessed Gus (Eden's son) that split them up and briefly knocked them out.

    Samantha told the others that she had had the strangest dream, and Trisha told her to shut up.

--Mantra I#21

Note: See the comments, but I believe Jessica's face was the one on Coven's right shoulder.


     I don't think it matters, and artistic license explains the differences, but they gray-haired girl in Mantra II#1-2 seemed to fit more with the height and build of Jessica than Samantha. However, the dialogue did seem to match Samantha.

     Jessica is also pictured in the Mantra Club image


Samantha

coven-93060-man21-sam     Samantha is the Caucasian ("white") straighter and brown-haired girl (she had a short-sleeved pink shirt in the first adventure; see Jessica's image above)
     In the Mantra II issues, however, her hair was more of a gray color (far, right, full body image in the image to the right below) and she wore the pink/lavendar top.
     Samantha was the most concerned about getting involved with and using magic, and she was willing to reveal what they had done if it would help their friend.

(Mantra I#21 (fb) - BTS) - Heather, Jessica, Samantha, and Trisha formed a fan club for the heroine Mantra (Lukasz in the form of Eden Blake).

(Mantra I#21) - Wearing Mantra cloaks and masks, Heather, Jessica, Samantha, and Trisha reviewed an issue of Ultra Monthly in Heather's room. When Heather wondered whether Mantra had really threatened to kill this "Al Baker" guy, Samantha, who was certain that she had not, because if Mantra had threatened to kill him...and Trisha interrupted, "He'd be dead. Mantra doesn't take any crap."

     Heather told everyone to get ready to perform their spell, and Samantha prepared the brazier, while Trisha got out the book of magic she had bought. Samantha noted that the book smelled funny, like visiting her gramma. As Heather lit the materials in the brazier, Samantha expressed reservations, but Trisha reminded her that they wanted to learn about magic, like Mantra.

     After Trisha recited the spell, one of the girls shrieked and most of them jumped back as flames burst from the brazier. They were then interrupted by a knock on the door from Heather's mom, who asked about the shouting and informed them that one of their friends was there. Samantha noted that all of the cool people were already there, and when she saw that it was their classmate Lauren Sherwood, she noted her to be "The Human Drip."

    Lauren tried to show them the story from Ultra Monthly, but Samantha told Lauren that they would let her know if they want her to join, but that she shouldn't hold her breath..."or, better still, do!"

    As Lauren departed dejectedly, the Mantra Club returned to Heather's room and cheered Mantra as the coolest ultra of all.

(Mantra I#21 - BTS) - An unidentified demon serving Boneyard transformed Lauren into the form of Mantra.

(Mantra I#21) - As Heather, Jessica, Samantha, and Trisha prepared to use their book of magic again, Samantha expressed reservations. Regardless, they were interrupted as Lauren in the form of Mantra passed through the ceiling of Heather's house. Pretending to be the Mantra they adored, Lauren denounced them as wannabes and then showed them what she thought of them by blasting Heather, who collapsed and was taken to the hospital. coven-93060-manii2-girls-sep

(Mantra I#21) - When arriving EMTs told Mrs. Parks that Heather was in some sort of coma, Samantha confirmed that it was Mantra who had done this to her.

(Mantra I#21) - In the hospital, Jessica and the other girls stood by as a doctor told Mrs. Parks that she had never seen anything like Heather's condition before, that it was growing worse, and noted concern that if she did not come out of it soon...

    As Samantha repeated to her friends that she thought they should tell them about the book, they failed to notice as the real Mantra, disguised as a nurse (wearing the uniform of Nurse Ratchet; see comments), walked past them.

(Mantra I#21 - BTS) - Coerced by the demon, Lauren agreed to kill Heather and her friends so she could retain her beautiful and powerful Mantra form forever.

(Mantra I#21) - After Mantra-powered Lauren encountered Mantra (Lukasz) at Heather's beside and fled, Mantra followed Lauren's mystic trail back to the book in Heather's room. There she encountered Jessica, Samantha, and Trisha, who initially feared another attack, but Mantra convinced the girls of her true nature.. Jessica assured Mantra that they had only tried one spell, but Samantha admitted that they were going to try to use the book again but had been interrupted by Lauren.

(Mantra I#21 - BTS) - Lauren reverted to her true form after another encounter with Mantra (Lukasz).

(Mantra I#21) - Heather recovered, and her friends asked her about her near-death experience. Mantra then arrived, warning the girls about messing with magic and noting that she had taken their book. When they asked her to join them, she told them that she had to take her friend Lauren home. Lauren told the girls that maybe she would let them join her Mantra club but not to hold their breath..."or, better still, do."

(Mantra II#1) - Heather, Jessica, Samantha, and Trisha met again in Heather's room as the Mantra Club and in costume. Heather asked if they had seen the sky and Samantha noted that it was almost like an omen, as they had promised Mantra that they would not do magic anymore. Jessica asked what was the point of their fan club it they didn't, and Heather noted her agreement and added that a Ouija board wasn't magic but just fun. However, when one of them asked, "Will we ever have mystic powers?" the stylus moved to "Yes," after which a thunderbolt sounded, and the room was struck by energy. As everybody cried out, Trisha started to tell Samantha to shut up, but then the quartet was merged into the combined magical form of Coven.

     Samantha (presumably) asked, "What happened?" and Trisha replied, "You feeb! We're some kind of freak!" After Mrs. Park discovered the monstrous Coven, she called to Frank, who shot it. The noise and impacts drove Coven into a savage state, and she dove out of the house through a wall.

(Mantra II#1) - Having since succeeded Lukasz/Eden Blake in the role of Mantra, Lauren followed a magical trail to Coven, recognized the girls faces, and tried to talk to them, but Coven savagely attacked her. After Mantra pulled Coven out of a fire, Samantha (presumably) realized, "We're in the mall!" Mantra tried to help the girls, and Trisha (presumably) explained that they were trying to get magic; Samantha (presumably) added, "Like Mantra!" However, as soon as they spoke her name, Coven's violent personality took over, and they attacked Mantra anew.

(Mantra II#2) - When the girls briefly regained their wits, Samantha wondered what they were doing. However, hearing Mantra's name returned Coven to her savage state, and they attacked again.

    Mantra ultimiately led Coven into mystic confrontation with the demon-possessed Gus (Eden's son) that split them up and briefly knocked them out.

    After recovering, Samantha told the others that she had had the strangest dream, and Trisha told her to shut up.

--Mantra I#21

Note: See the comments, but I believe Samantha's face was the one on Coven's head (normal face placement).


     I don't think it matters, and artistic license explains the differences, but they brown-haired girl in Mantra II#1-2 seemed to fit more with the height and build of
Samantha than Jessica.

     Samantha is also pictured in the Mantra Club image


Trisha

coven-93060-man21-samtrishjess     Trish is the African-American girl (central in the picture to the left).
     In Mantra II, she wore a red top.
     Trisha was confident and she encouraged the others to move forward in learning magic.
     She liked to mock the other girls by saying their names in a accentuated fashion: "Hea-Thur," "Su-Man-Tha"

(Mantra I#21 (fb) - BTS) - Heather, Jessica, Samantha, and Trisha formed a fan club for the heroine Mantra (Lukasz in the form of Eden Blake).

    Trisha went into an old book store to which she had never gone before, and she went straight to a book, which was the only thing she even looked at there, as is she was drawn to it.

    Trisha bought the book of magic, and Heather gathered the ingredients for a magical spell based on the book's instruction.

(Mantra I#21) - Wearing Mantra cloaks and masks, Heather, Jessica, Samantha, and Trisha reviewed an issue of Ultra Monthly in Heather's room. When Heather wondered whether Mantra had really threatened to kill this "Al Baker" guy. Samantha was certain that she had not, because if Mantra had threatened to kill him...and Trisha interrupted, "He'd be dead. Mantra doesn't take any crap."

    Agreeing, Heather told everyone to get ready, and Trisha got out her book. When Jessica wondered where she had gotten this cool old book, Trisha told her, "An old bookstore! Duh!" As Heather lit the materials in the brazier,  Samantha expressed reservations, Trisha reminded her that they wanted to learn about magic, like Mantra.

     Trisha then read the spell "Let the portal now be opened. Let the staid and puerile cower...as the mystic forces gather and engulf us with their power."

    One of the girls shrieked as flames burst from the brazier, and one of them mocked Trisha for having jumped a foot, although Trisha countered that the other girl had jumped, too. They were then interrupted by a knock on the door from Heather's mom, who asked about the shouting and informed them that one of their friends was there.

    Their classmate Lauren Sherwood tried to show them the story from Ultra Monthly, but Trisha told Lauren that the Mantra Club was by invitation only.

    As Lauren departed dejectedly, the Mantra Club returned to Heather's room and cheered Mantra as the coolest ultra of all.

(Mantra I#21 - BTS) - An unidentified demon serving Boneyard transformed Lauren into the form of Mantra.

(Mantra I#21) - As Heather, Jessica, Samantha, and Trisha prepared to use their book of magic again, Lauren in the form of Mantra passed through the ceiling of Heather's house. Pretending to be the Mantra they adored, Lauren denounced them as wannabes and then showed them what she thought of them by blasting Heather, who collapsed and was taken to the hospital.

(Mantra I#21) - When arriving EMTs told Mrs. Parks that Heather was in some sort of coma, Trisha stood by as Samantha confirmed that it was Mantra who had done this to Heather.

(Mantra I#21) - In the hospital, Jessica and the other girls stood by as a doctor told Mrs. Parks that she had never seen anything like Heather's condition before, that it was growing worse, and noted concern that if she did not come out of it soon...

    As Trisha asked if the others thought that Mantra would come after them next, the girls failed to notice as the real Mantra, disguised as a nurse (wearing the uniform of Nurse Ratchet; see comments), walked past them.

(Mantra I#21 - BTS) - Coerced by the demon, Lauren agreed to kill Heather and her friends so she could retain her beautiful and powerful Mantra form forever.

(Mantra I#21) - After Mantra (Lauren) encountered Mantra (Lukasz) at Heather's beside and fled,  Mantra followed Lauren's mystic trail back to the book in Heather's room. There she encountered Jessica, Samantha, and Trisha, who initially feared another attack. Mantra convinced the girls to talk.. Jessica assured Mantra that they had only tried one spell, but Samantha admitted that they were going to try again but were interrupted by Lauren.

(Mantra I#21 - BTS) - Lauren reverted to her true form after another encounter with Mantra (Lukasz).

(Mantra I#21) - Heather recovered, and her friends asked her about her near-death experience. Mantra then arrived, warning the girls about messing with magic and noting that she had taken their book. When they asked her to join them, Mantra told them that she had to take her friend Lauren home. Lauren mocked that the girls could not join her Mantra club.

(Mantra II#1) - Heather, Jessica, Samantha, and Trisha met again in Heather's room as the Mantra Club and in costume. Heather asked if they had seen the sky, Trisha mockingly asked "Hea-Thur" what about it, and Samantha noted that it was almost like an omen, as they had promised Mantra that they would not do magic anymore. Jessica asked what was the point of their fan club it they didn't, and Heather added that a Ouija board wasn't magic but just fun. However, when one of them asked, "Will we ever have mystic powers?" the stylus moved to "Yes," after which a thunderbolt sounded, and the room was struck by energy. As everybody cried out, Trisha started to tell Samantha to shut up, but then the quartet was merged into the combined magical form of Coven.

     Samantha (presumably) asked, "What happened?" and Trisha replied, "You feeb! We're some kind of freak!" After Mrs. Park discovered the monstrous Coven, she called to Frank, who shot it. The noise and impacts drove Coven into a savage state, and she dove out of the house through a wall.

(Mantra II#1) - Having since succeeded Lukasz/Eden Blake in the role of Mantra, Lauren followed a magical trail to Coven, recognized the girls faces, and tried to talk to them, but Coven savagely attacked her. After Mantra pulled Coven out of a fire, Trisha stated, "God, if any of our friends see us like this--!" and (presumably) Heather told her to shut up. Mantra tried to help the girls, but as soon as they considered her name, Coven's violent personality took over, and they attacked anew.

(Mantra II#2) - When the girls briefly regained their wits, Trisha noted that they were like some kinda one-woman coven. However, hearing Mantra's name returned Coven to her savage state, and they attacked again.

    Mantra ultimiately led Coven into mystic confrontation with the demon-possessed Gus (Eden's son) that split them up and briefly knocked them out.

    Samantha told the others that she had had the strangest dream, and Trisha told her to shut up.

--Mantra I#21

Note: See the comments, but I believe Trisha's face was the one on Coven's left shoulder.


Her name was spelled "Trisha" in Mantra I#21 and Mantra II#1 and 2, but "Tricia" at least once (I can't find it as I write this profile).

     Trisha is also pictured in the Mantra Club image



Mantra Club

coven-93060-man21-mantra club

(Mantra I#21 (fb) - BTS) - Heather, Jessica, Samantha, and Trisha formed a fan club for the heroine Mantra (Lukasz in the form of Eden Blake).

    Trisha bought a book of magic, and Heather gathered the ingredients for a magical spell based on the book's instruction.

(Mantra I#21) - Wearing Mantra cloaks and masks, Heather, Jessica, Samantha, and Trisha reviewed an issue of Ultra Monthly in Heather's room, and they discussed whether Mantra had really threatened to kill Al Baker.

    Seeking to learn more about magic to be like Mantra, the girls next performed a spell from the book.

    After Trisha recited the spell, one of the girls shrieked and most of them jumped back as flames burst from the brazier. They were then interrupted by a knock on the door from Heather's mom. After they had quickly removed their cloaks and masks, Heather answered the door. Mrs. Parks asked about the shouting and informed them that one of their friends was there.

     When they found out it was their classmate Lauren Sherwood, who was also interested in Mantra, they rudely univited her.

    As Lauren departed dejectedly, the Mantra Club returned to Heather's room and cheered Mantra as the coolest ultra of all.

(Mantra I#21 - BTS) - An unidentified demon serving Boneyard transformed Lauren into the form of Mantra.

(Mantra I#21) - As Heather, Jessica, Samantha, and Trisha prepared to use their book of magic again, Lauren in the form of Mantra passed through the ceiling of Heather's house. Pretending to be the Mantra they adored, Lauren denounced them as wannabes and then showed them what she thought of them by blasting Heather, who collapsed and was taken to the hospital.

(Mantra I#21) - When arriving EMTs told Mrs. Parks that Heather was in some sort of coma, Samantha confirmed that it was Mantra who had done this to her.

(Mantra I#21) - In the hospital, Jessica, Samantha, and Trisha were present as a doctor told Mrs. Parks that she had never seen anything like Heather's condition before, that it was growing worse, and noted concern for her fate if she did not come out of it soon.coven-93060-man21-mantfanclub-room

    As the girls discussed the situation, they failed to notice as the real Mantra, disguised as a nurse (wearing the uniform of Nurse Ratchet; see comments), walked past them.

(Mantra I#21 - BTS) - Coerced by the demon, Lauren agreed to kill Heather and her friends so she could retain her beautiful and powerful Mantra form forever.

(Mantra I#21) - After Mantra (Lauren) encountered Mantra (Lukasz) at Heather's beside and fled,  Mantra followed Lauren's mystic trail back to the book in Heather's room. There she encountered Jessica, Samantha, and Trisha, who initially feared another attack. Mantra convinced the girls to talk.

(Mantra I#21 - BTS) - Lauren reverted to her true form after another encounter with Mantra (Lukasz).

(Mantra I#21) - Heather recovered, and her friends asked her about her near-death experience. Mantra then arrived, warning the girls about messing with magic and noting that she had taken their book. When they asked her to join them, Mantra told them that she had to take her friend Lauren home. Lauren mocked that the girls could not join her Mantra club.

(Mantra II#1) - As energies coursed through the sky, the girls operated a Ouija board. When one of them asked, "Will we ever have mystic powers?" the stylus moved to "Yes," after which a thunderbolt sounded, the room was struck with energy, and the quartet was merged into the combined magical form of Coven.

(Mantra II#1-2) - With Lauren having succeeded Lukasz/Eden Blake in the role of Mantra, she engaged Coven and eventually led her into a mystic confrontation that split Coven back into the four girls.

(Mantra II#2) - As they recovered, Samantha told the others that she had had the strangest dream, and Trisha told her to shut up.

--Mantra I#21

Note: There are also good group pictures of the team on the lower right in the sub-profiles for
Jessica and Samantha), as well as for the unidenfied book of magic.


book of magic

coven-93060-man21-ritual1

Mantra (Lukasz in the body of Eden Blake) confirmed it to have mystic power, although its origins and nature are otherwise unrevealed.

(Mantra I#21 (fb) - BTS) - Heather, Jessica, Samantha, and Trisha formed a fan club for the heroine Mantra (Lukasz in the form of Eden Blake).

    Trisha went into an old book store to which she had never gone before, and she went straight to a book, which was the only thing she even looked at there, as is she was drawn to it.

    Trisha bought the book of magic, and Heather gathered the ingredients for a magical spell based on the book's instruction.coven-93060-man21-book

(Mantra I#21) - Wearing Mantra cloaks and masks, the Mantra Club met in Heather's room. Heather told everyone to get ready, and Samantha prepared the brazier, while Trisha got out her book. When Jessica wondered where she had gotten this cool old book, Trisha told her, "An old bookstore! Duh!" Samantha added that it smelled funny, like visiting her gramma.

     As Heather lit the materials in the brazier, Jessica noted it to be smelly and wondered what it was. Heather explained that it was what the book said to use but that it was actually pretty gross. Although Samantha expressed reservations, Trisha reminded her that they wanted to learn about magic, like Mantra, and she read the spell
.

"Let the portal now be opened.
Let the staid and puerile cower
As the mystic forces gather
and engulf us with their power.
"

coven-93060-man21-ritual1    Ghe girls shrieked and jumped as flames burst from the brazier.They were then interrupted by a knock on the door from Heather's mom, who asked about the shouting and informed them that one of their friends was there. When they found out it was their classmate Lauren Sherwood, who was also interested in Mantra, they rudely univited her.

(Mantra I#21 - BTS) - An unidentified demon serving Boneyard transformed Lauren into the form of Mantra.

(Mantra I#21) - As the Mantra Club prepared to perused their book of magic, Samantha asked if they were going to use it again, after what happened, and Jessica replied, "There's lotsa knowledge and stuff in here! If we can find out how to use it..."

     They were interrupted as Lauren in the form of Mantra passed through the ceiling of Heather's house. Pretending to be the Mantra they adored, Lauren denounced them as wannabes and then showed them what she thought of them by blasting Heather, who collapsed and was taken to the hospital.

(Mantra I#21) - Following Lauren's mystic trail to Heather's room, the real Mantra (Lukasz) encountered Jessica, Samantha, and Trisha. Examining the book, Mantra noted that it had mystic power..

(Mantra I#21) - After Lauren reverted to her true form, Heather recovered, and her friends asked her about her near-death experience. Mantra then arrived, warning the girls about messing with magic and noting that she had taken their book.

--Mantra I#21

Note:
Mantra confirms the book to have mystic power. The demon is the one manipulating Lauren. The connection is not spelled out, but it seems to be fairly logical that the book facilitated the demon's empowering and manipulation of Lauren. The book presumably opened a portal that allowed the demon to empower Lauren as Mantra. Presumably it did so because of its previous association with Mantra (Lukasz) and due to Lauren's connection to Mantra as the babysitter of Eden's kids.
     Or, perhaps not...




Mrs. Parks

coven-93060-manii1-parksmrscoven-93060-manii1-parksmrs-mostfull

The mother of Heather and presumed husband of Fred.

(Mantra I#21 (fb) - BTS) - As Heather and her friends in the Mantra Club -- Jessica, Samantha, and Trisha -- had a meeting in her room, Mrs. Parks answered the door to Lauren Sherwood, one of her daughter's classmates who was also interested in Mantra but with whom Heather and the others were not friends (not that Mrs. Parks knew that). About the same time, she heard shouting from Heather's room (as they performed a spell from a book of magic they had bought, and there was a fiery eruption from the brazier).

(Mantra I#21) - Mrs. Parks knocked on the door and asked Heather about the shouting. Heather told her mom they had just been reading the scary Nancy Drew story she had given her, and her mom told her that one of her friends was there.

(Mantra I#21 - BTS) - Empowered by a demon, Lauren took the form and power of Mantra, traveled to Heather's room, and mystically blasted Heather in front of her friends.

(Mantra I#21) - When arriving EMTs told Mrs. Parks that Heather was in some sort of coma, Samantha confirmed that it was Mantra who had done this to her.

(Mantra I#21) - In the hospital, a doctor told Mrs. Parks that she had never seen anything like Heather's condition before, that it was growing worse, and that if she did not come out of it soon, but her mother interrupted, begging the doctor to help her.

    Opening the door and seeing Coven's form, Mrs. Parks ran downstairs and told Fred that a monster was attacking the girls. Exclaiming, "Not again," Fred entered the room, asked where was his daughter, and fired on Coven. Although the bullets bounced off her superhuman form, Coven found that the distraction made it too hard for her to think, and so she tore through the room and fled.

(Mantra II#1 - BTS) - With Lauren having succeeded Lukasz/Eden Blake in the role of Mantra, she followed an energy trail to Heather's house, where Heather's distraught father fired on her and demanded to know where his daughter was.

--Mantra I#21



Fred
(last name presumably "Parks")


coven-93060-manii1-parks-fred-full-postcoven-93060-manii1-parks-fred-prof

     Fred was the father of Heather and presumably the husband of Mrs. Parks.

(Mantra II#1) - Opening the door and seeing Coven's form, Mrs. Parks ran downstairs and told Fred that a monster was attacking the girls.

    Exclaiming, "Not again," Fred grabbed his gun from his cabinet, rushed upstairs, entered Heather's room, asked where was his daughter, and fired on Coven.

    Although the bullets bounced off her superhuman form, Coven found that the distraction made it too hard for her to think, and so she tore through the room and fled.

(Mantra II#1 - BTS) - Coven traveled to the nearby mall.

(Mantra II#1 - BTS) - With Lauren having succeeded Lukasz/Eden Blake in the role of Mantra, she followed an energy trail to Heather's house, where Heather's distraught father fired on her and demanded to know where his daughter was.

--Mantra II#1


images
: (without ads)

Mantra I#21, pg. 1 (Mantra Club; discussing Ultra Monthly#6);
       pg. 2, panel 1 (Mantra Club in Heather's room);
          panel 2 (book);
          panel 4 (ritual);
       pg. 3, panel 3 (Heather, unmasked);
          panel 4 (Samantha & Jessica, full, unmasked);
       pg. 10, panel 4 (Heather blasted);
       pg. 16, panel 3 (Samantha, Trisha, & Jessica unmasked, upper);
Mantra II#1, pg. 15, panel 1 (Ouija);
       pg. 16 (Coven, main);
       pg. 17, panel 1 (Mrs. Parks, upper);
          panel 2 (Mrs. Parks, fuller, distant; and Fred full, posterior oblique)
          panel 3 (Fred, profile);
          panel 5 (Coven, bulletproof)
       pg. 18, panel 1 (Coven, full, posterior);
       pg. 20, panel 3 (head profile);
    #2, pg. 1 (drowning Mantra);
       pg. 3, panel 5 (Coven, red face);
       pg. 20, panel 1 (Mantra club, separated)


Appearances:
Mantra I#21 (May, 1995) - Mike Barr (writer), Terry Dodson (penciler), Jim Amash (inker), Dan Danko & Roland Mann (editors)
Mantra II#1-2 (October-November, 1995) - Mike Barr (writer, presumably, not listed), Dave Roberts (penciler), Jim Amash (inker), Jerald DeVictoria (assistant editor), Roland Mann (editor)


First posted06/27/2023 - Happy 30th Anniversary of the Ultraverse!
Last updated: 06/27/2023

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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