The World of ‘NOS4A2’ Part 1: Charlie and His Wraith

Written by Juanita ‘Obi-Juan’ Bonner

Welcome back my friends to yet another one of my expeditions into the delectably evil world of NOS4A2. This time, we’re going to drift (*WINK*) through a three-part series allowing us to take a closer look at themes and characters across the comics, novel and television series. Of course, I’ll be sprinkling in my own deviant theories along the way because… DUH!! LOL!

If you’re late to this jolly journey (LOL!), feel free to slide down the chimney (WEEE!) into NTG’s very own NOS4A2 Collections page where you can catch up on recaps, reviews and discussions across all three platforms. If you’ve been following along you know that we ended with the final volume in the 7-part limited comic The Wraith: Welcome to Christmasland (Nov 2013; IDW Publishing) designed to be a prequel to the NOS4A2 novel (April 2013; William Morrow and Company). It’s here that I concluded Charlie’s Wraith is a bit more sentient than once imagined. And it’s with this in mind that I’d like to DRIVE into Part 1: Charlie and His Wraith.

If you’re at all a vampire fan like myself, no matter which platform you start with, meeting Charlie Manx is an unforgettable encounter. Mostly since as far as vamps go, Manx offers quite a different take on the genre as a whole. Similar to most vampires, he ages when not fed. He has long fingernails and sharp teeth. He’s over 100 years old and he has a creepy yet seductive presence. Especially in the flesh! Bravo, Zachary Quinto!!! Nevertheless, as you get to know this character, it’s easy to see that he’s NOTHING like the vampires we’re used to. For Charlie – rather than blood – survives on souls. And though this type of vampire can be found in the genre, it’s rather rare when compared to their blood sucking cousins. Still, Manx stands out for other reasons as well. Namely because he’s in no way a self-proclaimed vampire. In fact, Charlie TRULY believes he’s saving the children he kidnaps. That he’s providing eternal happiness to these suffering youngsters while serving up justice to the parents who wronged them. I mean… the whole idea sounds appealing, no? But, once you actually see these dirty, blood stained, spiked teethed creatures, and realize their cold black little eyes are nothing but windows to immortal, soulless killers, it’s obvious that Manx is the REAL monster. However, even above his self-righteous… um… save the children (LOL!!) nature, it’s the Christmas background that REALLY sets Charlie apart.

---

Similar to soul sucking, Christmas themed tales are not exclusive to NOS4A2. Which, by itself is just hilariously odd… HAHAHA!! Christmasland however? Now that’s definitely new!! And this original concept is brightly decorated (LOL!!) with so much evil, even Krampus would cringe. Not to mention, all of it comes from Charlie’s imagination, which has been building since childhood… YIKES! From his horrible mother to his overbearing wife Cassandra, Charlie ends up hating women and basically grown-ups in general. In his eyes, women are usually dirty whores who make men and children suffer. As little girls, his daughters are perfect! And in his attempt to truly make them happy he’s fooled by the con man Tommy Porter (AKA: Nick LeMarc) into believing in Christmasland. Once the scheme is revealed, Charlie changes forever and the ACTUAL Christmasland is born, albeit housed in fantasy. Honestly, if you think too hard about this, you’ll get lost… LOL!! But don’t worry, we’ll visit this notion in Part 2. For now, it’s important to understand that Charlie could’ve fashioned virtually anything with his imagination, but his go to, was a Christmas themed playland and it’s scary AF… LOL!! And though the origin of it all begins in Charlie’s childhood when he discovers his Christmas sleigh as his first Knife, it’s arguably the Wraith that allows his true villain to emerge. Let’s discuss, shall we?
​
As if Charles Talent Manx III isn’t disturbing enough on his own (RIGHT!?!), once paired with the Wraith, he becomes virtually unstoppable. That is, until he tangles with the likes of one Victoria McQueen! God, I love her!! But even above Charlie, the Wraith seems to be quite the anchor in all three mediums. And as the comic hints, it’s also more alive than the novel or television series explores. Because even though we find out the Wraith is obviously tied to Charlie’s life, overall, it’s implied that Charlie is the one in control. As evidenced in Season 1, Episode 5: ‘The Wraith’. As soon as Maggie Leigh (Jahkara Smith) touches the door handle, Manx is alerted to her presence. And from inside the bus station no less. WHOA!! The car then, presumably under Manx’s influence, runs Maggie over. Geez, I remember the first time I watched this. I screamed seeing one of my new favorite characters struck down. You?? At the time, I overlooked the detail that Manx has no idea who Maggie is, let alone her name, until she touches the Wraith. However, after more thought, I believe this could very well imply that anyone who touches the Wraith lends something about themselves to the car’s consciousness. The information is then transferred to Manx and the car then drives at his command. Or so Manx thinks! Interesting, no? And the comics go even further to support my theory. For, Volume 7 seems to be told from the perspective of the Wraith itself. NICE!! A detail that isn’t truly evident until the end. Weaving the threads of Charlie’s backstory to that of the con man Tommy Porter makes for one hell of a diabolical tale!! Yet, this final volume stands alone, not only in its narration, but in its artistic style and speech when compared to the other 6 in the lot. This too supports the idea that the Wraith is a conscious being. If not, at the very least, possessed. And one hell of a storyteller too… LOL!!

Within, we learn that this limited-edition Rolls Royce comes to Manx “for cheap” when a family man uses it to suffocate himself right along with his wife and children (WOW!) after his investments with Tommy bankrupt him. This is where my theories ramp up to full speed… LOL!! Was the car already alive at this point, or did these deaths infuse it with some sort of demonic possession making it hungry for more? Maybe a combination of both? If so, Joe Hill’s creation might very well be the ultimate homage to his father’s haunted car Christine (1983; Viking Press). HECK YEAH!! Plus, both the book and the television series may potentially be toying with ghostly ideas since they appear to Wayne McQueen (Jason David) during his journey to Christmasland. In the book, it’s his grandmother and in the TV series, it’s Craig Harrison (Dalton Harrod). Both of which try to get Wayne to fight being turned by remembering who he is. It’s odd that these ghosts can cross realms solely via the Wraith! Or, at least as far as we know, right!?!

---

Also in the TV series, Cassandra’s entity(??) remains locked in Christmasland and by extension, a corner of Charlie’s mind. She’s not able to leave because she is in fact, dead. There’s no Christmas ornament holding a little piece of her soul at the Sleigh House. And speaking of the Sleigh House, the ornaments are a fun detail. And if by fun, you agree they're a totally hellish and disturbing detail, then yes… LOL!! Especially since they are the key, in both the book and the series, to FULLY restoring the children and must be crushed to do so. I see this as a subtle statement regarding the fact that one’s soul may not always be tied to their humanity. Because Wayne clearly exists outside Christmasland in both the novel and series but isn’t made whole until his ornament is destroyed. He sits basically half turned and missing something, right!? I conclude that the ornaments hold a human part of a soul which it NEEDS, or evil will take over. YEP, that sounds about right… LOL!!
​
Of course, these are just my theories, but they are intriguing, none the less, right?!? I mean… what if the car has always had a thirst for death but realized Charlie’s gifts would EASILY provide it with all it ever wanted… forever!?! What if Charlie was the first one the Wraith turned? And now, it manipulates him into bringing it more souls by playing to his love (and loss) of innocence? WHOA!! I mean, wouldn’t this be a much faster way to get souls than wading through car auctions and owners… LOL!?! Whether any of this is true or not, it’s abundantly clear to me that the Wraith isn’t just an extension of Charlie. Plus, as far as only taking children. This doesn’t fully appear to be true since Charlie, or depending on your point of view, the Wraith, actually turns Tommy’s wife Lew. Charlie assumes it’s because she was a child at heart, but maybe the Wraith WANTED her! It’s a small but odd connection. Yet, considering Charlie’s spiteful wife Cassandra didn’t change on the drive to Christmasland, but rather died at the hands of her turned daughters, it’s a connection worth considering. And just like the rest, bone-chillingly eerie!

Overall, it’s clear that neither Charlie or the Wraith would be who or what they are without the other. Two halves of the same coin!! Each growing hungrier as the years go on. Each disrupted in their depravity by Vic McQueen. Each seeking revenge on her by taking Wayne. But maybe… just maybe… the car WANTED to turn Vic and use her Strong Creative abilities to find lost souls for it to devour. Charlie wanted to pair with Vic. So, why not the Wraith? It’s certainly interesting to think about. In fact, for me, I can unquestionably entertain that this 1938 classic car, having sensed Charlie’s abilities, sought him out. And in doing so, is actually running the show by tying itself to Charlie and using his gifts to feed. This would make the Wraith the REAL soul sucking vampire and Charlie merely its puppet, right?!? Geez… it’s all so candy cane twisted (LOL!!), it’s hard to tell and for that, I love it all the more!! Just like Christmas kiddies, there’s plenty to unwrap!! *WINK*

See you next week for Part 2: Strong Creatives, Knives and Inscapes.

---