Michael Fisher

Michael Fisher is an orphan boy who serves under Wizard Howl as an apprentice. He is called Markl in the film adaptation.

Howl's Moving Castle (Book)
Michael was kicked out of his old house in Porthaven before the beginning of the story, because he couldn't pay the rent. He slept on Howl's doorstep that night, and Howl made him his apprentice the next day after he told Michael to wait on the doorstep. Calcifer activates fireworks on Michael's fifteenth birthday. Michael meets Sophie Hatter and introduces himself. The next day, he and Calcifer stop Sophie from cleaning the castle. He also visits Wales along with Howl (who was known as Howell Jenkins) and Sophie in search of a poem which also serves as the terms of Howl's curse. Later in the book, Sophie and Michael attempt to catch a falling star on the Porthaven Marshes with the help of the Seven-League Boots. At the end of the book, he tells Howl and Sophie that Calcifer has come back.

Castle in the Air
Michael is not seen in Castle in the Air, only mentioned by Sophie as having moved from the Castle to be with his love, Martha Hatter, leaving Sophie and Howl with a few junior apprentices.