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Madmartigan is the deuteragonist of Willow. He was a male Daikini from Galladoorn. A disgraced knight, Madmartigan crossed paths with Willow Ufgood, a Nelwyn who was tasked with bringing the infant Elora Danan to safety so she could fulfill a prophecy and bring end to the evil rule of Demon Queen Bavmorda. Although they had a rocky start, Madmartigan and Ufgood became friends. During their adventurous journey, the former knight met the love of his life, Princess Sorsha, who abandoned her mother Bavmorda to side with those who rebelled against her.

Biography[]

Early life[]

Madmartigan was the son of a noble Daikini family of Galladoorn. He was given impeccable schooling, so that; someday would ascend to administrative duties of the kingdom.[1]

But Madmartigan was far too restless, reckless and truant as a child. He would escape his lessons in the palace to visit Galladoorn's eclectic bazaars and became friends with a group of Eastern horsemen who taught him horseback riding and archery. At age ten, he was able to save his friends from bloodthirsty Pohas by slaying some. The famed swordsman Roniro noticed his raw talent and took the boy as an apprentice and taught the lost art of sushin but died shortly after Madmartigan reached knighthood. Madmartigan befriended Airk Thaughbaer, but never spent time with his fellow knights, preferring the company of caravan drivers.

Madmartifan was also at odds with minister Jarenth; who was jealous of him.[1] When he fell in love with a princess Carissima of Cashmere and forced to choose between breaking the knight's code or his own heart. With Jarenth's orchestrations, she was convinced that; Madmartigan had been cheating on her, the princess accused Madmartigan of revealing court secrets to her. Thus, Madmartigan lost all honor along with the armor and stature of knighthood. He then spent much time in taverns and other haunts while queen Bavmorda began to expand her borders, crushing all opposition. The knights of Galladoorn took to arms to repulse her at the Land's End and Airk gave him one last chance to regain his honor. Madmartigan lost this opportunity by deserting Airk at Land's End.[1]

Hunt for Elora Danan[]

As a punishment, Madmartigan was put in the crow's cage at the Daikini crossroads where he was left to die of thirst. He was freed by Willow Ufgood; who was seeking someone to watch over Daikini baby, Elora Danan. Madmartigan took the infant to one of his many lady acquaintances, but the baby was kidnapped by the thieving Brownies Rool and Franjean before Madmartigan got too far.[2]

Willow retrieved Elora, and found Madmartigan at a roadside tavern, while dressing up as "Hilda" to hide the fact that he and a wench were cheating on her brutish husband, Llug. As Llug discovered his wife's indiscretion, Nockmaar soldiers appeared seeking Elora. Both Madmartigan and Willow narrowly escaped with Elora as Madmartigan took out the soldiers.[2]

Seeing that both he and Willow had the same route, he saw him safely to the fishing village near the island where Fin Raziel was captive, but shortly after Nockmaar soldiers caught up to him. Although he did not give the location away, they rode to the fishing village where Willow and Raziel were taken prisoners by Sorsha and all were led to General Kael's camp. Rool and Franjean who followed Willow, freed them from the camp, but in the process, Madmartigan became smitten with a fairy spell, the Dust of Broken Heart that drew him to sleeping Sorsha. The confusion allowed him and Willow time to escape on a sleighing shield.[2]

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Madmartigan professes his love to Sorsha while under the effects of Dust of the Broken Heart.

They ended up in a snow village to which Madmartigan arrived in the form of a rolling snowball. But the Nockmaar soldiers were after them. They hid in a basement where Airk and other soldiers were also hidden. As Sorsha searched the hut, Madmartigan took her captive at the knife's point. Airk refused to help them to Tir Asleen but as they left on horse, Airk and the Galladoorn knights stopped Bavmorda's soldiers from going after them.[2]

The team fled to Tir Asleen but Sorsha questioned whether Madmartigan meant the words of love, and while riding in the canyon maze, she escaped them. Madmartigan and Willow arrived to Tir Asleen expecting an army to defeat Bavmorda. All they found instead was a cursed castle infested with trolls.[2]

Madmartigan equipped himself with the armor from the castle's armory, and organized a singlehanded defense from Bavmorda's hordes, impressing Sorsha who abandoned her allegiance to her mother and fought by his side. Despite the arrival of reinforcements from the surviving Knights of Galladoorn, the Nockmaar soldiers were able to steal away with Elora Danan.[2]

Willow Ufgood brought the battle back to Nockmaar. While he, Sorsha and Fin Raziel infiltrated Bavmorda's tower, Madmartigan and Airk lead the knights in an attack on Nockmaar. With a clever ruse that hid their forces in covered trenches, they were able to make their way past the castle walls. Airk fell in battle, but Madmartigan took up his sword and defeated the Nockmaar commander, General Kael.[2]

Willow and Fin Raziel were successful in destroying Bavmorda, and her reign of darkness came to an end. Raziel lifted the curse on Tir Asleen, and Madmartigan became a knight in service of the city as protector.[2]

Quest for the Kymerian Cuirass[]

After the defeat of Bavmorda, Madmartigan married Sorsha and with her, had a son named Airk and a daughter named Kit. Cautious of the coming evil, Sorsha sent Madmartigan in search of the Kymerian Cuirass, a piece of armor that would act as a shield against evil forces. Madmartigan journeyed with Allagash and Thraxus Boorman in search of the Cuirass, where they eventually found their way to the Dread Mines of Skellin.[3][4]

Madmartigan decided to venture deeper into the mines and stayed behind to fight evil, leaving his sword behind within Wiggleheim's Tomb. Boorman escaped and Allagash was captured by the trolls that lived within the mines after claiming to be Madmartigan to prevent them from searching for him.[4]

The Search for Airk[]

The Lich's distraction[]

10 years after Madmartigan's disappearance, his son, Airk, was taken by the Gales. Kit, along with Boorman, Jade Claymore, Elora Danan, Graydon Hastur and Willow Ufgood, ventured on a quest to rescue Airk. During their quest, the group took shelter in Nockmaar after Graydon was wounded and possessed by the Lich. As Willow and Elora tried to save Graydon, the Lich attempted to distract them with various voices, including that of Madmartigan's during his first meeting with Willow.[5]

A Request for Help[]

Treasure Vault

Madmartigan's sword, left behind in Wiggleheim's Tomb.

Willow and the others on the journey to save Airk eventually made their way to the Dread Mines of Skellin. After finding their way inside Wiggleheim's Tomb, Kit saw Madmartigan's sword and heard what seemed to be his voice, calling to her for help, but she was pulled away before she could proceed further.[4]

Children of the Wyrm[]

In the Immemorial City, Kit hears Madmartigan’s voice tell her that leaving her was the hardest thing that he has even done - he only gave her up because he had to follow what he believed in. He tells her this is the only way to save Elora - Kit must be her shield.

Personality, appearance and traits[]


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Behind the scenes[]

"I like the fact that he's unpredictable. He's a hustler so he has a lot of different characteristics that come out of living through hard times. He's definitely one of the most interesting characters I've played. "
Val Kilmer, in The Lucasfilm Fan Club Magazine 3

The dashing Madmartigan first appeared in Willow, a 1988 fantasy film directed by Ron Howard, produced and with a story by George Lucas.[2] He was portrayed by actor Val Kilmer, who had notably played the talented F-14 pilot Tom "Iceman" Kazansky in the box-office smash Top Gun.[6] He was later voiced by Kilmer's son, Jack, in the Disney+ Willow television series.

John Cusack auditioned for the role and even screen-tested for it, but he was eschewed in favor of Kilmer.

Alternate History[]

The Shadow War Saga[]

When the Cataclysm erupted a year after the Battle of Nockmaar, Tir Asleen was wiped off the face of the world and all those who inhabited it vanished including Madmartigan.[7]

Appearances[]

Non-canon appearances[]

Sources[]

Notes and References[]

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