Conjure the Coin with Magica De Spell

Magica De Spell is an Italian sorceress (her name means “magical” in Italian) who desperately wants to steal Scrooge McDuck’s Number One Dime. Her plan is to toss the dime into Mount Vesuvius, then turn the melted piece into a magical amulet that will give her wealth at the level of Uncle Scrooge. She made her first appearance in Uncle Scrooge #36 (December 1961).

Created by Carl Barks, Magica is recognizable for her black hair and dress, bright white feathers, and purple eyeshadow. Barks didn’t want her to look like a stereotypical ugly old witch, instead he wanted her to be young and attractive in a way that was seductive and a little threatening. He drew inspiration from Italian actresses Sophia Loren and Gina Lollobrigida and comic strip character Morticia Addams from The Addams Family.

Magica’s family has also appeared in the comics, who help or hinder her efforts, like her grandmother, Granny De Spell, who has also tried to steal the dime. Her sister is the Wicked Witch of the West, who has occasionally asked Magica to babysit her kids, Witch Child and Warlock. Her cousin Witch Matilda has been one of Magica’s apprentices.

She often uses minions to help in her schemes to steal Scrooge’s Number One Dime. The Beagle Boys are regularly in her employ, as is Ratface the raven, and her hapless apprentice Samson Hex. One that is more of a distraction than help is Rosolio, a goofy goose who claims that he’s Magica’s fiancé even though she has rejected him time and again.

Magica has been regularly featured in animation with several different accents. June Foray voiced her in DuckTales (from 1987 until 2013), affecting an Eastern European accent. The Italian translation of the show was voiced by Sonia Scotti who gave her a Neapolitan voice. When the series was rebooted in 2017, comedienne and Doctor Who star Catherine Tate voiced Magica with an English accent.