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For the video game, see Eternal Champions

The Eternal Champion is a fictional creation of the author Michael Moorcock and is a recurrent feature in many of his novels.

About the Eternal Champion

The Multiverse, which consists of several universes, many layered dimensions, spheres, and alternate worlds, is the place where the eternal struggle between Law and Chaos, the two main forces of Moorcock's worlds, takes place. In all these dimensions and worlds, these forces constantly war for supremacy. But the victory of either Law or Chaos would be disastrous for mankind, and therefore the Balance needs to work for a neutral balance.

The Eternal Champion, a Hero who exists in all dimensions, times and worlds, is the one who is chosen by fate to fight for the Balance; however, he often does not know of his role, or, even worse, he struggles against it, never to succeed.

All the incarnations of the Eternal Champion are facets of each other, and the Champion may also be aided by a companion, who, like himself, exists in various incarnations. Likewise the Champion is often associated with a romantic interest that is possibly an aspect of an eternal figure. Other characters in the various books have occasionally crossed over from one universe to another, although it is unclear what their status in the multiverse may be.

Incarnations of the Eternal Champion

Some of the incarnations of the Eternal Champion include:

• Alan Powys
• Alerik
• Alivale
• Artos
• Asquiol of Pompei
• Brian
• Clen of Clen-Gar, the third identity assumed by John Daker
• Clovis Marca
• Cornell
• Corum Jhaelen Irsei (an anagram of "Jeremiah Cornelius") {aka Corum Llaw Ereint}
• Duke Dorian Hawkmoon
• Lord Erekosë¹, the first identity assumed by John Daker
• Elric of Melniboné
• Prince Flamadin¹, the fourth identity assumed by John Daker
• Franik
• Ghardas Valabasian, Conqueror of the Distant Suns
• Goldberg
• Graf Ulrich von Bek (see note 2)
• Ilian of Garathorm
• Ilanth
• Jerry Cornelius
• Jherek Carnelian
• John Daker¹, the one aspect of the Champion who remembers his previous lives.
• Kane of Old Mars
• Karl Glogauer, who turns out to be the real man behind the messianic figure of Jesus Christ (note also how some other incarnations bear the initials J.C.)
• Klan
• Konrad Arflane
• Mejink-La-Kos
• M'v Okom Sebt O'Riley, Gunholder of the Qui Lors Ventures
• Oshbek-Uy
• Oswald Bastable
• Paul de phalandra
• Pournachas
• Rackhir
• Roland, one of the paladins of Charlemagne
• Ryan
• Sam Bennetts
• Shaleen
• Sojan the Swordsman
• Ulysses
• Umpata
• Count Urlik Skarsol¹, the second identity assumed by John Daker
• Vaughn Marquis

Note: Erekosë, Urlik, Flamadin and Daker are related incarnations of the Eternal Champion, in that the individual transforms over the course of several novels while maintaining the memories of each and is not biologically reborn between each aspect. In addition, he remembers the lives of numerous other incarnations.

Note (2): Graf Ulrich von Bek and his descendants are a somewhat unusual family in Moorcock's works, as they function both as an aspect of his Eternal Champion and as a companion to him.

Incarnations of the Companion to Champions

Some of the incarnations of the "Companion to Champions" include:

• Jaspar Colinadous (with Elric in the Dream Realm)
• Jhary-a-Conel (mostly Corum, sometimes Hawkmoon)
• Moonglum (with Elric in the Young Kingdoms)
• Oladahn (Hawkmoon)
• Timeras (Rackhir)

Incarnations of the Eternal Consort

Some of the incarnations of the "Eternal Consort" include:

• Cymoril (Elric)
• Ermizhad (Erekosë)
• Rhalina (Corum of the Scarlet Robe)
• Medhbh (Corum of the Silver Hand)
• Yisselda (Hawkmoon)

J&C characters

There is also a very obvious repetition of characters whose first names begins with the letter "j", and whose last names begins with the letter "c" (Moorcock himself poked fun at this in the novel The Fortress of the Pearl). Some of these "J&C" characters seem to be companions, while others seem to be mentors, and still others are champions (and at least one was said to be the Spirit of the Runestaff, an instrument of the Cosmic Balance).

A summary of "J&C" characters created by Michael Moorcock:

• Jaspar Colinadous
• Jehamiah Cohnahlias
• Jeremiah "Jerry" Cornell
• Jermays the Crooked
• Jerry Cornelius
• Jhary-a-Conel
• Jherek Carnelian
• Jagged of Canaria
• J'osui C'reln Reyr

See also

• The Hero with a Thousand Faces

References

• Darren Harris-Fain, "British fantasy and science-fiction writers since 1960", Gale Group, 2002, ISBN 0787660051, p.293
• Carter Kaplan, "Fractal fantasies of transformation: William Blake, Michael Moorcock and the utilities of mythographic shamanism" in "New boundaries in political science fiction", (edd Donald M. Hassler, Clyde Wilcox) Univ of South Carolina Press, 2008, ISBN 1570037361, pp.35-52
• Frank Northen Magill, "Survey of modern fantasy literature, Volume 1", Salem Press, 1983, ISBN 0893564516, p.489