Svengali was a master musician living in Paris around the mid 19th Century, who had developed powerful hypnotic abilities. He seemed to be capable of entrancing people simply by playing piano, but to acquire full control, a person had to look deep into his gazing eyes.

After meeting a beautiful, but tone deaf, 17 year old model named Trilby O'Ferrall, he decided that he would become her master and teach her how to sing. As his protege, Trilby became a renowned singer, but being under Svengali's power caused her mind and soul to wither until she no longer knew who she was. Svengali also controlled a talented young violinist named Gecko.

Svengali eventually died of a heart attack, but Trilby died soon after, longing for her cruel master.

*Trilby (1894)

*Svengali (1931)

*Famous Authors Illustrated #12
*Kid Eternity #13

*A villain in issue four of the IDW series [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FX_(comics) FX] is inspired by Svengali.

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svengali Wikipedia]
Category:Villains
Category:1894 Debuts
Category:Literary Characters
Category:Comic Book Characters
Category:Male Characters
Category:Hypnotist Characters
Category:French Characters
Category:Musician Characters
Category:Kid Eternity Summons
Category:Tales of the Shadowmen characters
Category:George du Maurier - Creator
Category:Jewish Characters
Category:Quality Characters
Category:Looney Tunes Characters
Category:Seaboard Publishing Characters
Category:Portrayed by Basil Rathbone