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Despite the circumstances… it's nice to be back.
— Mina Zarei to Agent Day (Chapter 5, Page 154Pnat)


Dr. Mina Zarei is a scientist working for the Paranatural Activity Consortium and the tamer of the Ghost Train. She is a spectral, and her current spirit partner is Patchworm. She often visits Mayview under the attention of her superiors, and is a former associate of Francisco Guerra[3].

Appearance[]

Mina has black pupils, bright orange sclera, and stylized half-lidded eyes. She wears a pair of rimless top glasses possessed by Patchworm, which have 3 dots on either side of their frame resembling the spirit's.

In Chapter 4, Zarei wears a striped green hijab over the Consortium's paranormal research division uniform[2]. In Chapter 5, she wears a red hijab, a beige top with bell sleeves and a black waist tie, and a black dress. After leaving the Mayview Mini Mall, she wears a black leather coat. During a flashback, she can be seen wearing a black hoodie with neon accents depicting the logo "BEAST FEVER", sweatpants, and sneakers.

In Chapter 7's earliest flashback, Mina wears a pink pyjama shirt and patterned pink pyjama bottoms with white socks. Her hair is uncovered and is in a high ponytail, and her glasses have 2 dots instead of 3. In Spender's second flashback concerning Isabel Guerra, she wears a brown hijab and jacket overtop a mango shirt (with two horizontal bars of lighter orange near the top) and dusty rose skirt, brown shoes, and a necklace with an oval jewel. The jacket has a circular cutout pattern at the bottom.

Personality[]

For the most part, Dr. Zarei maintains a calm, serious demeanor with a sarcastic, sardonic sense of humor. She does not appreciate those looking down on her, such as reacting to Francisco's assertion that the Ghost Train would be safer in his care rather than her own. She is also known to have a more mischievous side, as seen when she banters with Spender and tries to prank him for coming to her unannounced by setting off the Ghost Train early.

She is fairly closed-off and reserved, distrusting the Consortium with knowledge of her experiments and distancing herself from her colleagues because of it. However, she begins to open up to others after meeting Agent Day, who causes her to become easily flustered, smile, and open up about her past.[4]

Background[]

Zarei used to be close childhood friends with Richard Spender when they were both thirteen years old, and the two used to visit the local Mayview Mini Mall together[4]. Zarei and Spender both knew Francisco Guerra, who referred to the former as a "little bookworm"[5]. Sometime after a mysterious incident which occurred in Mayview, Zarei moved away and stopped regular contact with Spender, and proceeded to never stay in Mayview for "any significant stretch of time",[2] though they still consider each other friends.

Zarei's Spirit Ch5Pg267 crop

Chapter 5, Page 267-268Pnat

Zarei used to have a spirit partner who resembled a hand puppet with rabbit ears[4], who is implied by Hijack to have once been "the loved one [she could] turn to when [she was] sad"[6]. She is shown alongside the spirit both when as a child[6] and during her adulthood[4]. Sometime in the past, Zarei and Patchworm believed themselves to have "defeated" Vice Principal DuNacht[7], whom Patchworm refers to as "the witch"[8].

At some point, Zarei tamed the Ghost Train, a wild spirit able to pass the barrier surrounding Mayview, with the help of one of her experiments who helped control it[9]. She used the Ghost Train to drop in and out on occasion, as well as to bring Consortium Agents in and out of the town.

As a member of the paranormal research division of the Consortium, Zarei is known for keeping her experiments and results to herself and refusing to share them with her colleagues.[2] Zarei frequently creates man-made spirits who aid her in her medical work, such as Hijack and Hotwire, and keeps some element of this fact hidden from her superiors. She refers to her spirits as "assets"[10][11], and immediately makes plans to protect them once Day makes it clear that people investigating her "research"[12].

Paranatural[]

Chapter 4[]

When Spender comes by with the kids to board the Ghost Train, he meets Zarei accompanied by two other agents. Though she was uninformed of their arrival before she finished sweeping out stray spirits, she allows them to board to conduct their own sweeping[13]. She allows the train to leave early as a small prank on Spender for not calling ahead of time, not knowing that two vile spirits were on board.

Zarei Ch4Pg146

Chapter 4, Page 146Pnat

When they come back, she is excitedly greeted by Agent Day, who reveals that she was given much information of Zarei's and Spender's involvement in Mayview, despite their assumption of being under the radar[14]. While talking with Spender, she notices the wound inflicted by Forge on Spender's chest, and then turns her attention on the wounded Ghost Train. The Train goes berserk after she takes off Day's Love Arrow, forcing Consortium agent Agent Savage to subdue it before she could calm it down, trapping them in Mayview. The Train enters its tool, a lantern, and Zarei takes the lantern so it can feed off her energy.

Chapter 5[]

Zarei is later seen still in Mayview, called to Francisco's dojo to mend one of his student's wounds. Isabel attempts to steal some of her medicine to treat a bite wound she sustained the previous night, but ends up taking the wrong medicine and is caught by Zarei, who demands to know what happened to her the previous night after seeing the wound. While explaining that she doesn't want Mr. Spender to get in trouble with her grandfather, Zarei uses her powers to take the torn patch of skin off of Isabel's arm. Unbeknownst to Isabel, Zarei summons Hijack out of a fly, then sends him to follow her and discover what she and Spender are hiding about the events of last night.

Zarei's Room Ch5P115

Chapter 5, Page 115Pnat

Later, Zarei is shown stitching up the wound remotely with the help of her spirit partners in her parents' basement. After entering Patchworm's spirit world, she releases and attempts to retake control over the Ghost Train to no avail[15]. While Patchworm affectionately teases her to her embarrassment, she is interrupted by her mother, who scolds her over her untidy room. Her father joins them and asks her to eat with them, to which she declines due to having plans.

Afterwards, Zarei heads to the Mayview Mini Mall to meet with Agent Day at Lakeside Lunch[16].. After Zarei expresses astonishment at her having walked across town to reach the mall, Day reveals that her true intention in coming to Mayview was to uncover its many mysteries, including the secrets hidden by Mr. Spender and Zarei herself. Zarei attempts to scare Day off by warning her of the dangers her investigation could involve, but her threat backfires when Day finds it adorable rather than intimidating[17]. Flustered, Zarei ducks into Patchworm's spirit world and makes plans with her to move their "assets", not knowing that Agent Day had entered her own spirit world and could listen in on them. After exiting, Zarei spots a fly whom she believes to be Hijack and attempts to save from their waitress, Penny, before it flies into a glass of water. As their conversation goes on, Zarei begins to allow herself to open up to Day about her past[4] and engage in small talk.[18]

Zarei Ch5P229-235 V3

Chapter 5, Pages 229-235

Later on, a Hijack-possessed Mr. Spender texts Zarei and reveals what he's done along with Spender's chest injury, causing Zarei to hastily leave[19].. After calling out Agent Savage and Griggs for stalking them, Day solicits them for a ride to follow Zarei.

Upon arriving at the school on her motorbike, Zarei checks in at the front desk before spotting Vice Principal DuNacht, who strikes fear into both her and Patchworm due to believing they had "defeated" her[7]. After being unable to find Hijack after several sweeps of the school, Zarei decides to return home before being spotted by Mr. Garcia from the bushes, who gives her an awkward wave before they part ways[20].

Chapter 6[]

As Stephen searches the mini-mall for a lost dog's owner with a shopkeeper's pair of dowsing rods, he briefly passes underneath Day and Zarei's table during their lunch, causing them both to look on in confusion.[21] When her date is over and she returns to her house, she realizes that the Ghost Train's tool is missing and asks where she could have left it, while Penny presents the tool to her mentor, Ángel Guerra for inspection[22].

Chapter 7[]

Mr. Garcia stops by Mr. Spender's house, telling him about Mina's visit to the school and advising him to talk to her.

In Richard's recollections of prior events, a teenage Mina accompanies a similarly young Spender and a middle-aged Texas Walker in the Consortium. She yells at Walker for being dense as she runs with Spender to take an infant Ed Burger to see his mom, with her profanity only being drowned out (and covered) by Spender's protests[23]. When the four get to their desired destination, Mina nervously questions what the tall locked door is, but curtly turns away after Walker dodges the question. While Spender is talking to Gwen Burger, she alerts him to the spirit that is about to attack, and though she has been advised by Boss Leader to flee the room, she rushes back to question Gwen. Gwen tells her that the answer to her questions about the power in Mayview is that the creature engaging in battle with them is a wight, and implores her not to fight it alone before Mina is whisked out of the room by Texas. Back in the Dream Hub, Zarei presses Boss Leader for answers on what a wight is, and gets her answer: a wight is when a spirit is pushed past the Grudge state into a permanent, high-power state that is all feeling rather than thought, and killing one causes it to rip out spectral energy for miles in order to quickly reconstitute itself[24]. Mina pushes further, asking about the wight the Burgers were studying and if it's in Mayview. When Boss Leader tries to placate her, she rebukes this saying that her sudden appearance is suspicious, and questions if they'd remember any of this[25]. Boss Leader responds by ejecting the kids from the dream, and Mina scrambles to write down what fragments she can remember before they slip away.

In another flashback, Mina, now in her 20s, is buying camping food at the Corner Store. After some banter with Sockpuppy about getting booze for the boys and about her leaving Mayview the next day, Mina is confronted by Agent Scabs regarding her taming of the Ghost Train[26]. Mina brushes off Scabs and warns her to not look the gift horse she came in on in the mouth, while Sockpuppy takes her advice and hides from the agent. Mina tries to make a dramatic escape via the Ghost Train after conversing with Scabs, but Spender arrives and ruins her perfectly-timed exit[27]. The young doctor questions Isabel's involvement, and notably refrains from telling an oblivious Spender that the night in Mayview was to be her last[28]. She waits in the car along with Isabel while Spender snags things from his house. <Pages 34-70 not yet added>

Over four years later, Boss Leader remarks that Mina's cynical and suspicious attitudes have worn off on Spender, with him being far more obedient and unquestioning of her (at least in public) than he used to be, and she wonders how much of this is due to her own influence[29].

Relationships[]

Family[]

Zarei's Parents Ch5Pg115

Chapter 5, Page 115Pnat

  • Unnamed parents - After leaving Mayview and only returning for short, occasional visits, Zarei presumably left her parents behind, who still live in the town and let her stay at their home after she becomes trapped in the barrier. She considers her parents to be unaware of her status as a spectral, as shown when she expresses concern over the thought of her mother seeing her during a state of heightened perception.

Friends[]

  • Richard Spender - Zarei has known Spender since their time at Francisco's dojo and is the only person who calls him Richard. She seems to enjoy messing with him, like taunting his position in the Consortium.[30] Though they are close enough that Spender freely talks with her about his activities and Boss Leader's involvement, he chooses not to collaborate with her due to a past event. She also appears insulted when he seemingly stops discussing the subject out of caution. [31] She still considers him a friend, although she belives that he has shut her out[32], to the point that she sends Hijack to spy on him, as she does not think he will tell her what he is up to. She herself has kept many secrets from Spender in turn, having reluctant to even tell him that she planned to leave Mayview to conduct her own studies independently[33].
  • Agent Day - Though initially taken aback by her overt fangirl-like attitude, Zarei begins to fall for Day during their lunch together, frequently blushing at Day's flirting and teasing. She starts letting herself open up about her past[4] and engage in small talk[18] with her, which Patchworm describes as making "cracks" in the "13 years of armor around [her] heart"[4]. Day's spirit, Venus Guytrap, describes the doctor as one whose "heart doth falter with but the slightest teasing. Nary a Love Arrow required!"[34]
  • Mary-Rose Baxter - Although they have not interacted yet in the comic, these two have been confirmed to be friends. Baxter gets an email from Sophie S. notifying her that Mina Zarei has been spotted in town.[35]

Enemies[]

  • Vice Principal DuNacht - Zarei expresses extreme terror upon seeing DuNacht at the school. She shares her concern to Patchworm as the Vice Principal walks away, calling her "the Witch" and saying that "[they] defeated her"[36] and that her return was impossible, and is visibly shaken when dismissing Patchworm's pleas to leave the area[37].

Associates[]

  • Francisco Guerra - Zarei does not have much patience for her former mentor, whom she views as arrogant. When Francisco doubts her ability to help the Ghost Train recover over one of his student's, she seems angry and eager to prove him wrong.
  • Boss Leader - Mina appears to be suspicious of Boss Leader, scoffing at the idea of Agent Day being trusted by her[38] and being greatly concerned by the idea of Boss Leader learning of "what [she's] achieved" and "what [she hopes] to achieve"[39]. This attitude seems to stem from shortly after her first encounter with Boss Leader, with Mina reacting with hostility to any attempts to reach out to her[40]. Zarei is also contemptuous of Spender's trust in her, with Mina going so far as to intimidate him into not revealing information to Boss Leader without getting something in return[41].

Spirits[]

  • Patchworm - Patchworm is Zarei's primary spirit who has presumably known Zarei for many years and adored her for her kindness. She questions Zarei's methods in trying to keep tabs on Spender, suggesting she simply talk to him as a friend[42]. She encourages Zarei to open herself up to others emotionally, and delights in seeing through Zarei's attempts to disguise her fondness for her creations as pragmatism[43]. However, she is also advises Zarei to be more cautious when confronted with obvious, powerful enemies, such as the Witch (who they see in Vice Principal DuNacht)[44].
  • Sockpuppy - Sockpuppy was Zarei's original spirit, and often encouraged her to be indulgent of both her desires and those of others[45]. Patchworm regards Zarei's willingness to engage with Agent Day and her compassion for others as being Sockpuppy's legacy[46].
  • Hijack - According to him, Hijack was created by Zarei three years prior to the events of the comic. Hijack considers Zarei his "mom", though Zarei dislikes it when Hijack calls her this, as it makes her feel old.[47] Zarei trusts Hijack with the task to discover what Spender was hiding from her, leading to him possessing multiple people throughout Mayview Middle School to get to him. She appears to show genuine concern over his well-being, becoming gravely serious after realizing that he may have been killed.[48][49]
  • Ghost Train - Zarei is the "master" of the spirit, being the only person who can properly control it. While her spectral energy is not close enough to the Train's to properly use it as a tool (meaning she relies on her spirit creations to control it)[50], she is still able to slowly heal it.

Abilities[]

Spectral[]

Like all spectrals, Zarei has the power of ghost sight and interaction, meaning she can physically interact with those of the spiritual world where others cannot. As a former student of Francisco, she has proficient control over her spectral energy allowing her to shape it in various forms, such as creating a lasso to pluck objects from a distance as well as use spectral energy thread to use as stitches. Zarei is also a skilled medical professional and carries assorted medicines with her.

Tools[]

Zarei's tool is a pair of glasses inhabited by a spirit named Patchworm, which allow her to transfer wounds through the palm of her hand and leaving behind a layer of skin. She mainly uses this technique to operate on wounds and injuries remotely and away from the patient's body, by first separating the injured area from the patient's body[51], and then returning it once she's finished treating it in the comfort of her laboratory[52].

She also carries a lantern tool mainly used to house the Ghost Train when it is injured. Because the train's color is teal, she cannot safely use the train's power as a tool for herself[53]. Their colors are close enough to allow it to heal, but only very slowly[54], something that annoys those with allies possessing closer colors.

In addition to the Ghost Train, she has a number of other spirits under her control, including ones called Toolbox[55] and Hotwire[56], but it is unknown if they are held within tools or a different method.

Quotes[]

Spender: "I must say, I've no idea how you tamed such a formidable spirit."
Zarei: "Ufufu... a girl has her ways."
Spender: "...You seduced the train?"
Zarei: "What? No."
— Zarei and Spender regarding the Ghost Train (Chapter 4, Page 71Pnat)
"You just trapped us all inside Mayview"
— Zarei to Agent Savage (Chapter 4, Page 146Pnat)
"It's a good thing you called me when you did. Had I arrived a moment later, it might have left a scab."
— Zarei to one of Francisco's disciples (Chapter 5, Page 4Pnat)
Zarei: "It only works on ghosts. The medicine you saw me use. Also you took the wrong one. That goo sublimates flesh."
Isabel: "AAAAH WHAT?! JEEPERS, lady, label them next time!"
Zarei: "...Next time you steal from me."
— Zarei and Isabel (Chapter 5, Page 7Pnat)
Patchworm: "the ghost train's energy was teal. yours is yellow green"
Zarei: "Please, Patchworm. It's chartreuse."
— Patchworm and Zarei as the latter unleashes the Ghost Train (Chapter 5, Page 112Pnat)
Patchworm: "you're being ridiculous"
Zarei: "I am not! The girl is DANGEROUS, Patchworm, this merits a huddle."
Patchworm: "you are hiding under the table from a blind woman"
Zarei: "It's a REASONABLE PRECAUTION!"
— Zarei and Patchworm hiding underneath the table at the Mayview Mini Mall (Chapter 5, Page 147Pnat)

Trivia[]

  • Hijack mentions having an affinity for Wii Sports twice, and offers to have Max come over to "his house" to play it with him.[57][58] As Hijack lives with Zarei as one of her experiments, this indicates that Wii Sports is owned by either Zarei or her parents, whom she was staying in Mayview with at the time.

Gallery[]

Official Artwork[]

Comic[]

Click to expand/collapse.

References[]

  1. "Hm. Hm. *consults official paranatural timeline* Spender and Zarei are 26 and Max's dad is 35."
    Zack Morrison [@paranaturalzack] (18 June 2014)
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Chapter 5, Page 145Pnat
  3. Chapter 5, Page 5Pnat
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Chapter 5, Page 154Pnat
  5. Chapter 5, Page 5Pnat
  6. 6.0 6.1 & 268 Chapter 5, Page 267 & 268link=http://www.paranatural
  7. 7.0 7.1 Chapter 5, Page 276Pnat
  8. Chapter 5, Page 285Pnat
  9. Chapter 5, Page 238Pnat
  10. Chapter 5, Page 114Pnat
  11. Chapter 5, Page 148Pnat
  12. Chapter 5, Page 147Pnat
  13. Chapter 4, Page 71Pnat
  14. Chapter 4, Page 145Pnat
  15. Chapter 5, Page 114Pnat
  16. Chapter 5, Page 142Pnat
  17. Chapter 5, Page 146Pnat
  18. 18.0 18.1 Chapter 5, Page 217Pnat
  19. Chapter 5, Page 218Pnat
  20. Chapter 5, Page 297Pnat
  21. Chapter 6, Page 26Pnat
  22. Chapter 6, Page 46Pnat
  23. Chapter 7, Page 6Pnat
  24. Chapter 7, Page 15Pnat
  25. Chapter 7, Page 19Pnat
  26. Chapter 7, Page 29Pnat
  27. Chapter 7, Page 33Pnat
  28. Chapter 7, Page 34Pnat
  29. Chapter 7, Page 89Pnat
  30. Chapter 4, Page 144Pnat
  31. Chapter 4, Page 145Pnat
  32. Chapter 5, Page 111
  33. Chapter 7, Page 49Pnat
  34. Chapter 5, Page 150Pnat
  35. Chapter 5 Page 195
  36. Chapter 5, Page 276Pnat
  37. Chapter 5, Page 286Pnat
  38. Chapter 5, Page 155Pnat
  39. Chapter 5, Page 148Pnat
  40. Chapter 7, Page 21Pnat
  41. Chapter 7, Page 19Pnat
  42. Chapter 5, Page 110Pnat
  43. Chapter 5, Page 114Pnat
  44. Chapter 5, Page 286Pnat
  45. Chapter 7, Page 29Pnat
  46. Chapter 5, Page 154Pnat
  47. Chapter 5, Page 237Pnat
  48. Chapter 5, Page 297Pnat
  49. Chapter 5, Page 286Pnat
  50. Chapter 7, Page 32Pnat
  51. Chapter 5, Page 8Pnat
  52. Chapter 5, Page 109Pnat
  53. Chapter 5, Page 112Pnat
  54. Chapter 4, Page 147Pnat
  55. Chapter 5, Page 109Pnat
  56. Chapter 5, Page 114Pnat
  57. Chapter 5, Page 93Pnat
  58. Chapter 5, Page 268Pnat


Navigation

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The Activity Club The Journalism Club
Max Puckett · Isabel Guerra · Ed Burger · Isaac O'Connor · Richard Spender Suzy · Dimitri Danger · Collin Sloinne
Mayview Middle School Students Mayview Middle School Faculty
Alex · Jeff Flavors · Cody Jones · Lisa · Student Council · Suzy · Violet Principal Pleezdoo · Vice Principal DuNacht · Ms. Baxter · Mr. Garcia · Mr. Starchman · Coach Oop · Mrs. McJohnson
Johnny's Gang Mayview Academy Students
Johnny Jhonny · Stephen · Ollie Oop · R.J. Ritz Price-Lee · Gage · Paige · Youth Culture
The Consortium Ghosts & Monsters
Boss Leader · Mina Zarei · Agent Day · Agent Savage · Agent Griggs · Francisco Guerra · Scabs · Cinnamon Stix · Greco Stucks · Texas Walker · Pasha Popova PJ · Lefty · Dave Jones
Possessing Spirits Non-Possessing Spirits
Eightfold · Flipflop · Forge · Ghost Train · Gorf · King Catnine · Lucifer · Muse · Patchworm · Peekaboo · Sandman · Scrapdragon · The Shadow · Venus Guytrap Doctopi · Doorman · Hijack · Hotwire · Hissin' Pete · Nin · Queen of Kindness · Ravenous Gobbledygook · Sphinx of Rules · Sphinx of Truth · Vile Spirits · Sockpuppy
Other Characters
Peter Puckett · June Puckett · Zoey Puckett · Damien Day · The Long Dog · Penny Spender · Professor Bigfoot · DJ Mothman · Crystal Clearance Owner · Lavish Price · Ángel Guerra
Minor Characters
Mayview Middle School Students: Angry Band Kid · Ball Golem · Chick Magnet Kid · Doors Suck Kid · Fitzgerald ·Serge's Associates · Simmons · The Twins · Webcomics Sports Anime Kid
Mayview Middle School Staff: Cafeteria Staff · The Receptionist · The School Nurse
Baxborough: Sam · Doghouse
Other Humans: Cops · Doctors Burger · Amy Chen · Shred Eagle · Stephen's Family
Ghosts: Dojo Ghost · Faculty Ghost
Spirits: General Emerald · Night Lamps · Subterranean Insect Spirit · Toolbox · Zarei's Hand Puppet Spirit
Unknown: Doorman's Master
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