Genevieve Von Ghaste, Queen of the Deserts of Inferno
HellWay was created by Gorecakes, it can be read on ComicFury, Tapas, and Webtoon
Welcome back to the blog! Back at it with a timely spooky character profile! I just wanna put out a reminder that I make updates to all of my blogs as new content releases. If you wanna keep up with them, join my blog's dedicated Discord server!
With that being said, I implore you to stop whatever you're doing and read HellWay. Absolutely more people need to experience this master class series. This webcomic is home to some of my new favorite characters ever, and a few of them honestly deserve their own dedicated blogs. It was a tough pick, but I wound up going with the main villain for this one. Having a mom hero and mom villain blog back to back just sounded right lol. Major props to author Gorecakes for answering some boiling questions I had regarding HellWay, these really helped out for the blog!!! Of course, I gotta give a big spoiler warning for this one. Veeeeeery story-heavy series I can't recommend enough.
Background
"By the WAY, we should DEFINITELY do this more often, beautiful! I soooo needed that. Now that I think about it, I haven't had a proper opponent in YEARS! BUT YOU? MY, OH MY. You really are something else, Daisy Webber. You just don't know it yet!"
On June 7, 1997, the End of Times befell Earth. The sky turned red, rivers of blood overflowed the streets, cities were set ablaze, and the ground split open as monsters crawled out to massacre everyone and everything.
Demons from Hell had infested and replaced humanity, turning it into their new home—Inferno. The near extermination of humankind is thanks to the new rulers of this apocalyptic planet, the seven Von Ghaste Sisters. They're umbra demon children of an ancient evil known as Abaddon, who has existed since the beginning of time. Each sister is dangerous in their own right, but one in particular sister was tasked carrying out this desecration of the planet in the first place. That demon is none other than Genevieve Von Ghaste.
Genevieve is bombastic, dramatic, glamorous, teasing, and incredibly violent. She revels in her villainy, never showing an ounce of remorse for the awful things she says and does. Her dominion is primarily in the city of HellWay. As its queen, she has tons of loyal demons at her beck and call to slay any interlopers who dare target her. She even has her own guild of personal trained assassins known as the Order. While she claims to care for her people, she's just as cruel to her underlings as she is with mortals.
Despite being the primary big bad of the series, Genevieve is considered the weakest of her sisters. As tough and monstrous as she is, she's the one most at risk of being slain due to her exposed heart. Due to this weakness and the special treatment she receives from Abaddon, her sisters resent her and treat her with little respect. Even so, it's foolish to underestimate her just because of a flimsy vulnerability.
Prior to the apocalypse, Abaddon was ousted from Heaven when they proposed to create a new and improved world. Since the angels chose to interfere with their goals, Abaddon waged war. They created Genevieve not only to start the End of Times, but also to annihilate every single angel. She pretty much succeeded in both regards. Demons have lived in total darkness for too long, and despite how cruel of a leader she can be, she was viewed as a hero among demonkind for freeing them.
Still, there's only one loose end that keeps Geneveive from truly being victorious—the human Daisy Webber is still alive. Daisy is a special woman Genevieve has had her wicked eye on ever since the start of the End of Times. She'd sent a demon to murder Daisy's parents and beat her to near death when she was only a child. Miraculously surviving, she'd spend the next 23 years surviving in this uninhabitable hellscape killing any demon who's bold enough to attack her. She'd become the notorious Demon Slayer with a personal vendetta against Genevieve for destroying her life.
There are tons of reasons why Genevieve has such a fascination with Daisy. She's tenacious, it's so much fun to break people as tough as nails as her down, and she even relates to her as a mother doing what's best for her kid to keep them safe. Above all else, she's been observing her for so long because unknown to Daisy, she's half human half angel—a nephilim. She's the only angel remaining for Genevieve to kill, and she'll delight in every moment inflicting pain on her and everything she cares about.
Having watched her adventures for so long, Genevieve knows exactly how to push the Demon Slayer's buttons. Thus, one of her greatest pleasures is prolonging Daisy's suffering for as long as she can as her pet, making a show out of it for her own amusement. Every time they cross paths Genevieve finds new ways to subject her to peril and make her feel helpless. Forcing her into violent arena matches, locking her up in a prison to break her down for days on end, making her gobble up eyeballs, threatening the lives of her adoptive kid K or the allies she's made, all sorts of terrifying stuff. That's not even mentioning the sheer amount of times Genevieve takes advantage of her trauma to get under her skin.
Genevieve may be insanely vile, but she's humanized by her vulnerabilities. As much as she tries to put up a brave face, the belittlement she receives from her sisters can really strike fear and insecurity in her. Her control over her nemesis actually gives her the confidence to stand up to her sisters, especially Aerona and her repeated abuse.
By far the most humanizing aspect of her is her relationship with Crowley Whitmore. Crowley is half-human half-demon born from Abaddon's blessing, possessing similar powers to them. She raised him to be HellWay's prince, treating him like her own son. Genevieve genuinely loved and cared for him, but this is a Von Ghaste we're talking about, and her expressions of love could be pretty harsh.
In a world where a mortal has set a goal to eradicate her people, Genevieve has done whatever she could to ensure Crowley's safety. This led her to force Crowley to do her dirty bidding to toughen him up. If there's one thing in life she fully regrets, it's giving Crowley a scar for not listening to her.
Crowley was a gentle pacifist, but Genevieve's treatment of him irreversibly altered him. He couldn't bear to see his mom continue her atrocities and wanted to stop them once and for all. This led to him planning an assassination with his Order boyfriend Stephan Graves so they could run away together. In the end Crowley was able to escape, but the lovers were separated and Genevieve lived... only short of one eye.
It's been ten years since his disappearance and she's still searching for her son. She's convinced that it's all Steph's fault, labeling him as a traitor to her people and blaming him for poisoning Crowley's mind. That really comes to bite her in the ass later when Crowley finally reappears, now affiliated with the Demon Slayer and declaring war on his mother for everything she's done.
That… completely shatters what remnants of a heart she had left. She can't fathom that her own flesh and blood would truly turn against her, after everything she's done. And yet she still doesn't put the blame on herself, shifting it to Daisy. After all, angels just take everything they want, and now one turned her son against her!
After a really tough fight Genevieve is forced to flee, not before breaking ties with her son. After this turning point, who knows how Genevieve will proceed…
Experience and Skill
Genevieve is immortal, having existed for aaaaaages. Due to her exposed heart, she had to seriously up her game in order to have as much sway as her sisters. She became stronger and fearless, gaining respect of the deadlands' demons. With all her experience, she wracked up an absurdly large kill count. She eviscerated the angels, including archangels like Daisy's dad Michael.
During her first fair fight against Daisy she was holding back, and yet she still proved a big challenge. Even with all her swagger, she's still far stronger than she lets on.
She's also quite the expert when it comes to messing with Daisy. Genevieve has kept an eye on Daisy all her life, so she knows exactly how to push her buttons and bait her into rage. As a Von Ghaste, she's especially skilled in torture, torture, torture, and more torture.
Genevieve is immortal, having existed for aaaaaages. Due to her exposed heart, she had to seriously up her game in order to have as much sway as her sisters. She became stronger and fearless, gaining respect of the deadlands' demons. With all her experience, she wracked up an absurdly large kill count. She eviscerated the angels, including archangels like Daisy's dad Michael.
During her first fair fight against Daisy she was holding back, and yet she still proved a big challenge. Even with all her swagger, she's still far stronger than she lets on.
She's also quite the expert when it comes to messing with Daisy. Genevieve has kept an eye on Daisy all her life, so she knows exactly how to push her buttons and bait her into rage. As a Von Ghaste, she's especially skilled in torture, torture, torture, and more torture.
Equipment
Bony Heels
To anyone about to ask her to step on them, don't.
To anyone about to ask her to step on them, don't.
Ear Mufflers
She has these to protect her ears from noises strong enough to explode heads
She has these to protect her ears from noises strong enough to explode heads
Abilities
Watchful Eyes
Genevieve may only have one eye, but nothing gets past her sight. She can conjure hundreds of watchful eyes in any given location and surface in her proximity and sees through them, allowing her to personally spy on people in the area. The main drawback of this ability is that when activated, she's unable to see what's in front of her presently. Thankfully it does seem to enhance her other senses when in use.
Genevieve may only have one eye, but nothing gets past her sight. She can conjure hundreds of watchful eyes in any given location and surface in her proximity and sees through them, allowing her to personally spy on people in the area. The main drawback of this ability is that when activated, she's unable to see what's in front of her presently. Thankfully it does seem to enhance her other senses when in use.
Shadow Manipulation
She's able to create these shadowy arms that sprout out from surfaces to target her opponents. Said arms can pull whoever she ensnares into the shadows to whisk them directly to her. Like her watchful eyes, they have a pretty broad range for where they can appear in the world. She can even fire shadowy beams from her hands that can render one unconscious.
She's able to create these shadowy arms that sprout out from surfaces to target her opponents. Said arms can pull whoever she ensnares into the shadows to whisk them directly to her. Like her watchful eyes, they have a pretty broad range for where they can appear in the world. She can even fire shadowy beams from her hands that can render one unconscious.
Summons
So far she has shown to be able to summon basic types of hellspawn like the impish shadowmen and the queen's protectors wraiths. She can even spawn monstrous fusions of the two species.
So far she has shown to be able to summon basic types of hellspawn like the impish shadowmen and the queen's protectors wraiths. She can even spawn monstrous fusions of the two species.
Sleep Manipulation
It is bed o'clock, you best be sleeping
It is bed o'clock, you best be sleeping
Shapeshifting
Genevieve is capable of all sorts of shapeshifting. She can turn her limbs into whatever weapon she wants (usually blades or monstrous arms bigger than her own body), she can perfectly disguise herself as other people, and can even turn into a gigantic hellhound! She hasn't really used her people disguises for any espionage reasons, more so just to psychologically torture Daisy by transforming into specific people.
Genevieve is capable of all sorts of shapeshifting. She can turn her limbs into whatever weapon she wants (usually blades or monstrous arms bigger than her own body), she can perfectly disguise herself as other people, and can even turn into a gigantic hellhound! She hasn't really used her people disguises for any espionage reasons, more so just to psychologically torture Daisy by transforming into specific people.
Immortality (Type 1)
Abaddon has been around since forever, and their seven daughters aren't far behind them. Genevieve may be the youngest, but she's been around for an absurdly long time prior to the apocalypse. Just like the angels, she doesn't age unless killed.
Abaddon has been around since forever, and their seven daughters aren't far behind them. Genevieve may be the youngest, but she's been around for an absurdly long time prior to the apocalypse. Just like the angels, she doesn't age unless killed.
Fire Manipulation
C'mon, she's a demon, of course she has sick fire powers!
C'mon, she's a demon, of course she has sick fire powers!
Limited Regeneration (Low-Mid)
Genevieve's regeneration abilities are focused in her limbs. Unless you're armed with holy light or powers stemming from Abaddon, it's easy for her to recover from damage her limbs take.
Genevieve's regeneration abilities are focused in her limbs. Unless you're armed with holy light or powers stemming from Abaddon, it's easy for her to recover from damage her limbs take.
Size Manipulation
Via being able to turn into a big hellhound
Via being able to turn into a big hellhound
Telekinesis and Paralysis
Granted this power from Abaddon, she mainly uses it to make her targets feel too heavy to flee. Similarly she can paralyze peoples' entire bodies.
Granted this power from Abaddon, she mainly uses it to make her targets feel too heavy to flee. Similarly she can paralyze peoples' entire bodies.
Wing Generation
She can fly now? She can fly now.
She can fly now? She can fly now.
Techniques
Slaps
When Daisy hits a nerve, she tends to slap her around.
When Daisy hits a nerve, she tends to slap her around.
Feats
Overall
- Genevieve started the apocalypse that wiped out most of humanity
- Responsible for the deaths of Daisy’s parents, which molded her into the person she is today
- Observed Daisy’s entire journey
- Tracked down and killed Vaughn after he helped Daisy escape
- Genevieve was created to kill the numen race, and she did exactly that
- Completely bodied Genevieve during their second fight
- Massacred a bunch of escaping prisoned demons
- Killed Eddie
- Nearly broke Daisy's spirit and sanity after torturing her days on end in the Limbo Penitentiary
Strength
- Disemboweled one of her shadowmen
- Broke Daisy's arm under her heel
- Cut a bunch of demons in half
- Kicked Daisy into the ground from several stories, creating a small explosion
Speed
Durability
- She lost her eye to Steph
- Received consecutive lashes from one of Aerona's tendrils
- Chomped and thrown into a wall by a hellhound
- Injured by Crowley, who scorched her arm to the point where she struggled to regenerate
- Hit through a wall
- Was hit through a window
Scaling
The Rejects
Daisy and her crew have been through hell and back on their journey across Inferno, so they've become quite formidable rivals for Genevieve.
- Daisy beat the giant demon Heimlich
- Daisy's fight with the giant Aerona Von Ghaste—the Von Ghaste who existed as long as Abaddon—left parts the city of HellWay in ruins
- Daisy unlocking her powers shook the entire Limbo Penitenriary and killed pretty much everyone in her cell.
- Daisy was hit through a wall
- Daisy was hit by a giant tentacle
- Daisy was caught in an exploding grenade
- K bit off Ryleigh's ear
- Steph got stabbed in the stomach
- Crowley caused a small explosion in an arena
- Crowley exploded a bunch of heads at once
- Crowley made this enormous fire that could be seen from afar outside a town
- Rosemary set a building on fire
- Rosemary dodges bullets
Abaddon and the Von Ghastes
While most other Von Ghaste sisters haven't had their time to showcase relevant feats yet, their creator Abaddon is responsible for the best feats in the series so far. Given how they have worked with their daughters for an insanely long time prior to the End of Times, not to mention characters like Crowley have been stated to be as powerful as him, it's reasonable to say they downscale.
- Lorna shook an entire room
- Abaddon opened the Earth to unleash hellfolk and spread massive fires across the planet
- Abaddon caused the Earth's sky to turn red in a brief timeframe (5565.97 m/s, or Mach 16.8 if it took an hour, AKA hypersonic+)
- Abaddon turned the sun "dead", altering its appearance to resemble a skull in a brief period of time
- Abaddon destroyed the realm of Heaven after Genevieve had cleansed its inhabitants. Note that it hasn't been confirmed if heaven is considered a universe or not yet. More worldbuilding on Heaven will be answered in future updates, and I'll clarify once more information has been revealed. As of writing this, there haven't been much visuals for heaven, and those that are out there don't contain stars.
Weaknesses
- Born the weakest out of all her sisters due to her exposed heart. A simple puncture is sure to put her down, but good luck trying.
- She goes soft on her prey, preferring to put on a show and elongate their torture before getting to the nitty gritty. Even though she's effective at breaking people down, extending their suffering is how her enemies were able to get the jump on her
- Her regeneration can be slowed down, as demonstrated during her fight against Crowley
- Her telekinesis powers are limited by her size, so it drains her energy if she uses it too much
- She says she has her peoples' and son's best interests at heart, but really, all she cares about is herself
- Unless she's gloating about how she wrecked Daisy's life, she deflects all blame directed at her for shit she's done
Matchup Potential
Genevieve Von Ghaste vs Aku (HellWay vs Samurai Jack)
(thumbnail by Vibe Check)
Vibe Check
Both are overarching shapeshifting demon villains who are as entertaining as they are vile. Both succeed in taking over and ruling the world for countless years, and make it a personal goal to extinguish the one person standing in their way. Both constantly antagonize their nemeses and take pleasure in kicking them while they’re down.
I have yet to watch Samurai Jack, but this matchup was suggested to me and it really vibes. Having it written out like that does make the connections sound pretty basic, but from what I know about Aku, I think what really sells it for me is the lengths both go to make their nemeses suffer. That does mesh pretty well with Genevieve's treatment of Daisy.
And of course there's how stylized both series are, which could totally make for a visually distinct episode. The fight itself could be really fun too. I can see Genevieve bouncing off Aku's powers fairly well and the banter is godlike.
Even with Abaddon's scaling, I'd imagine Aku wins pretty easily.
NEXT TIME ON WCAB… whenever I feel like it
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