JAFFAR
ibn HAROUN Al-RASHIDJAFFAR
ibn HAROUN Al-RASHID
Real Name: Jaffar ibn Haroun
Al-Rashid
Identity/Class: Human (active circa 7 A.D. (see comments) and likely years, if not decades, centuries or millennia before);
Occupation: Sorcerer
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: The Mabdhara (aka the N'Garai masters) and at least one warrior caste demon, Marada the She-Wolf,
Enemies: He
deceived/betrayed the Mabdhara, and if they ever
discovered this, his life was likely forfeit;
he may or may not have ever directly encountered Taric
Redhand, but he considered Redhand to be neither kind nor honest
and felt that he had deserved the fate he received
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: A tower on Djeriabar (the Black
Isle), likely in the Mediterranean Sea
First Appearance: Epic Illustrated#22 "Wizard's Masque part I" (February, 1984)
Powers/Abilities: Jaffar has numerous mystic abilities, some of which are derived from or strengthened by the Mabdhara.
He can sense the presence of others, teleport himself and others, and transform the clothes of others to his whim.
He can mesmerize others, although
his control can be disrupted with distraction. Mesmerism may or may not
have played a role in his defeating Marada in a swordfight.
He can effect magical transformations, for example, turning a dagger into a dove.
He can apparently not be harmed by mortal-forged steel; however, a knee to the groin will drop him to the ground.
Via his mystic sword, he was able
to create a simulacrum of Marada that was so perfect that even powerful
demonic Mabdhara consuming its soul did not appreciate the deception.
As he could make his own gold, he could
not be bought.
As a master of djinns and afrits, he
could not be threatened.
History:
(Epic
Illustrated#22: Wizard's Masque, Part I - BTS) - Via a spell gone wrong
from her young ally Arianrhod,
the warrior Marada was transported from the Raven ship, bound for
Brindisium and Massilia, to the ship of pirate Taric Redhand, where she
saved him from a military ambush. In gratitude, Redhand brought her to
to Djeriabar
(the Black Isle) and showed her the tower of the wizard Jaffar,
figuring that since sorcery brought her there, it was the best and
perhaps the only way to return her from whence she came. Taric advised
her that Jaffar could not be bought or threatened, that sorcerers were
rarely tempted by pleasures of the flesh and "you
can't appeal to his better nature, because he doesn't have one."
After Taric Redhand was slain on Djeriabar
for
being a wanted pirate, Marada was eventually surrounded by pursuing
authorities, at which point Jaffar teleported her into his tower and
garbed her like a princess.
(Epic Illustrated#22: Wizard's Masque, Part I) - Jaffar then introduced himself and greeted Marada, serving her a meal more sumptuous than any she could remember, during which she related her story. Jaffar identified the creature that had pulled her through the mystic portal as a gyatrias, which dwelled in the void between worlds, and he further noted that Taric Redhand had brought his fate upon himself. Attracted to him, Marada wondered if he was magically manipulating her. Teleporting to her side, Jaffar assured her that there was no sorcery between them save for the natural desire of man and woman, and he kissed her. They were interrupted by a lightningbolt, which marked the arrival of his Mabdhara masters, and Jaffar excused himself.
(Epic
Illustrated#23: Wizard's Masque, Part II (fb) - BTS) - Jaffar was
stunned to discover how lonely he had been and what joy Marada had brought
into his life.
(Epic Illustrated#22: Wizard's Masque, Part I) - The communicating demon instructed Jaffar that Marada must die before sunrise.
(Epic
Illustrated#23: Wizard's Masque, Part II - BTS) - While Marada lied
down, daydreaming out Jaffar and wondering whether she was better suited
as warrior or princess, a demon agent of the Mabdhara leapt from the
shadows and attacked her. It clawed her back while announcing the blood
debt between her and the Mabdhara would be paid that night. It revealed
itself to be a creature given life by Jaffar and that Jaffar served the
Mabdhara, after which an irate Marada soon skewered it with her knife. 
(Epic Illustrated#23: Wizard's Masque, Part II) - She fled, plotting to steal a boat and escape, but was confronted by Jaffar, who turned her knife into a dove. Telling her the Mabdhara had left him no choice, he mesmerized her, but was then distracted by thunder, and Marada kneed him in the crotch, dropping him. Unable to bring herself to break his neck, she fled again, took out a guard, and claimed his sword.
Meanwhile, the Mabdhara demon communicated with Jaffar, noting that he had failed to deliver Marada, but Jaffar countered that their summons had weakened his glamor and enabled his escape. When the demon criticized his failure and questioned whether he was plotting with the She-Wolf against them, Jaffar challenged the demons to do better. The demon proposed a wager, a gift of power undreamed of should he succeed where they did not vs. his being sent screaming into the abyss beside her should the reverse come true.
(Epic
Illustrated#23: Wizard's Masque, Part II (fb) - BTS) - Jaffar
resolved to find a way to execute the Mabdhara's wishes while actually
thwarting them.
(Epic Illustrated#23: Wizard's Masque, Part II - BTS) - The Mabdhara sent a group of dead horses and riders who stabbed Marada repeatedly with spectral swords, leaving her weakened, before vanishing. Demons in the forms of Arianrhod and Rhiannon attempted to dupe her into trusting them and then killing her, but her experiences with Y'Garon had left Marada able to sense such demons, and she slew them. The demon riders then reappeared and hurled a spear her through the chest, leaving her body to fall into the waters below.
(Epic
Illustrated#23: Wizard's Masque, Part II) - Perhaps protected by
Jaffar, Marada washed up on the shore, exhausted but without wounds.
Jaffar confronted her and told her that her cause was hopeless.
Throwing sand in his face, Marada stabbed him through the chest, but,
unharmed, he told her that sorcerers did not have a heart that could be
pierced by ordinary, man-forged steel. He then conjured a sword to
engage her sword-to-sword, and, despite her great skill, he easily
blocked her thrusts and soon put her on the defensive. Finally, with an
upward slash through her abdomen and chest, Marada fell.
(Epic
Illustrated#23: Wizard's Masque, Part II - BTS) - Jaffar's
magic blade cast an enchantment that preserved her life even as he took
it, then he secretly healed her wounds and created a simulacrum of
Marada from her own flesh and blood.
(Epic
Illustrated#23: Wizard's Masque, Part II) - Jaffar delivered the
simulacrum to the Mabdhara, who consumed it; his creation was so
perfect that even the demon was fulled. The demon proclaimed that power
was now his in full measure and that amongst all who served the
Mabdhara, Jaffar now stood supreme. Jaffar thanked and bade his
gracious lords farewell.
Jaffar subsequently met with
Marada, revealed the truth and confessed that he had fallen in love
with her. However, knowing that the Mabdhara would discover the truth
if she stayed with him, Jaffar --after a kiss--then sent her back
aboard the Raven ship.
(Epic Illustrated#23: Wizard's Masque, Part II - BTS) - Marada considered that though she was tempted to stay with Jaffar as his queen, in her heart and soul she was a warrior and would remain so till the day she died.
Comments: Created by Chris Claremont and John Bolton.
The introduction for the Epic Illustrated#22 story noted it to be the 760th year of the city of Rome. As Rome was founded in 753 B.C., that would place the story in 7 A.D.
While it's not clearly spelled out, Jaffar's name, his use of djinns and afrits and other in-story references would make him seem to be of Middle Eastern origin. Presumably the island would be in the Mediterranean Sea.
It would seem pretty likely
that the Mabdhara would eventually discover Jaffar's deception and take
vengeance upon him. However, as there has not been a Marada story in
over 40 years, we'll probably never know.
This profile was
completed 09/20/2025, but its publication was delayed as it was intended
for the Appendix 25th anniversary 's celebratory event.
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Jaffar ibn Haroun Al-Rashid should be
distinguished from:
First posted: 09/10/2026
Last updated: 09/20/2025
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel
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