List of characters in Astro City series

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The cover to Astro City: Local Heroes, which depicts many of the heroes in the cast

The world of Astro City has numerous heroes and villains in the cast, as well as normal, everyday civilians along with other, stranger entities. It is a rich, well textured array of characters, influenced from a broad spectrum of history, myths, classic literature, and the world of comics itself (both real and fictitious).

1 Heroes
2 Villains
3 Groups
4 Civilians
5 Others
6 See also

[edit] Heroes

Air Ace — a flying hero active in the wake of World War I; the earliest superhero publicly active in what became Astro City, and so considered its first "real" superhero.
The All-American — a hero of the 1940s and 1950s who wore stylized football gear. Retired in 1959.
Alligator - a young outcast hero active in the 1970s; a monster from the sewers recruited by Bravo to become one of the original members of the Astro City Irregulars in the early to mid 1970s.
Altar Boy (Brian Kinney) (viewpoint) - The Confessor's sidekick; becomes the second Confessor after his mentor sacrifices himself to stop an alien invasion.
Anansi – an illusion-casting hero based in Kenya who fought the Enelsians there.
Astra Furst (viewpoint) - a young adventurer/hero able to transform into energy and fly. Daughter of Rex and Natalie born in 1986. A member of the First Family.
Astro-Naut - a hero of the 1940s, active in World War II. Astro City was renamed (From Romeyn Falls) in his honor after he gave his life to save it.
Atomicus (featured) - Nuclear-powered being from another world who was active in the 1960s.
Augustus Furst (featured) – a scientist/adventurer active from the 1950s through the present. Brother of Julius Furst and adoptive father of Nick and Natalie. Leader of the First Family. Smokes a pipe that apparently contains energy. It has since been revealed that he is based on actor Henry Fonda.[1]
Barrier – an Australian hero who fought the Enelsians in Canberra.
Beautie - a powerful living mannequin resembling a life-sized Barbie doll. A current member of Honor Guard.
The Black Badge (K.O. Carson) (featured) - an urban hero active from the 1950s until 1972, when he retired and opened the superhero bar Bruiser's, which he currently owns and operates under his civilian name.
The Black Rapier - a detective hero who wields a sword and wears a modified fencing outfit. Current leader of Honor Guard.
Black Velvet - A mysterious woman with shadow-like powers and a grim demeanor. Became the partner of the Street Angel.
The Blue Knight (featured) - a gun-toting vigilante who wears a police-style riot mask with a ghostly skull outlined by a blue glow for a face. He takes very direct, very violent action against the criminals that he hunts, usually killing rather than capturing them. A frightening crime-fighter who stalks quietly and delivers justice from the barrel of a gun. Active from 1972 to the early 1980s, and a representative example of the type of violent, vengeance-driven hero that emerged during that period. Rumors abound about his current status, but no definitive sighting has occurred since 1988.
The Bouncing Beatnik - acrobatic hero of the 1950s and 1960s. An early ally of Honor Guard. He has also been seen (during a time crisis) in a more late 1960s/early 1970s "hippie" style appearance, possibly a parallel world version of the character (Herocopia gives his name as Halcyon Hippie). A wink-and-nod influence of the colorful and eccentric heroes created by Steve Ditko.
The Brahmin - a Boston area-based superhero.
Bravo (------ Ruiz) - an originally Los Angeles-based hero who started out as El Hombre's sidekick in the early 1970s and struck out on his own after his patron's disgrace, moving to Astro City and founding the Astro City Irregulars. Now retired as a superhero, he serves as Detective Ruiz on the Astro City's police force, and apparently remains the secret patron of the group he founded.
Bullroarer – an Australian hero who fought the Enelsians in Sydney.
Cleopatra - magical heroine whose primary weapon is a mystical staff. The name and staff have been borne by two women in succession, the second of whom is also super-strong. The first Cleopatra was a founding member of Honor Guard in the late 1950s who fought Steeljack in the early 1970s; the current version is also a member. Exact deatails of her powers and origins have yet to be revealed, but she seems inspired by the heritage of Classical antiquity.
The Colonial – an Australian hero based in Melbourne who fought the Enelsians in Sydney.
Commando K - a hero of the 1940s and 1950s, believed lost near Pyongyang during the Korean War.
The Confessor (Jeremiah Parrish) (featured) - the first Confessor was Jeremiah Parrish, originally a nineteenth century Catholic priest who came to what became Astro City in 1869 to help Cardinal Grandenetti build Grandenetti Cathedral. Given administrative duties, including the importation of materials and dealing with immigrant workers from Eastern Europe, he was killed by a vampire, becoming a vampire himself. Fighting his hunger for blood he resorted to study, and after his discovery, to seclusion for decades. Inspired by the example of Air Ace and other early public superheroes, he eventually became one himself, apparently in the late 1940s or early 1950s. Active into the mid-1990s, when he sacrificed himself to expose the Enelsian invasion. A patron of Butler's in civilian guise. After his death, his apprentice Altar Boy (Brian Kinney) became the second Confessor. A religiously motivated hero.
Crackerjack (featured) - an egocentric and reckless blowhard with amazing agility and a staff weapon. Active since 1991. Visually akin to screen swashbucklers and actors like Errol Flynn who portrayed them, he also recalls the marked contrasts that frequently existed between their sterling public personas and their unappealing private behavior.
The Crimson Cougar (viewpoint) — an actor who plays a superhero on a popular soap opera who attained notoriety by performing actual heroic acts.
Daniel (featured) - a religious hero, leonine in appearance. Trained as a healer. A member of the Crossbreed. Named for the biblical figure Daniel and based on the biblical story of Daniel in the lion's den.
David (featured) - a gigantic religious hero. A member of the Crossbreed. Named for the biblical figure David and based on the biblical tale of David and Goliath.
The Flying Fox (Samantha Cronin) (featured) — a non-powered crimefighter who uses an aero-cycle for transportation; rumored to be a lesbian and is in fact openly gay in her civilian life. Somewhat ironically, her mother was also involved with the '60s superhero Atomicus, and was responsible for his abandoning Earth.
The Frontiersman - a hero of the 1950s who dressed like Davy Crockett in a domino mask, smoked, and appeared in Frontiers cigarette advertisements. Active in 1959. Apparently died of lung cancer. Inspired by Davy Crockett and the Marlboro Man.
The Gentleman - a tuxedo-clad and scrupulously polite hero active since the 1940s, super-strong and capable of flight. His appearance is based on Fred MacMurray.
El Guerrero - heroic identity the Conquistador (El Hombre) intended to adopt in 1998 for the culmination of his grand scheme.
The Hanged Man (featured) - a ghostly figure who protects Shadow Hill fiercely for reasons unknown. He appears to be a jet-black corpse with a burlap sack over his head and a noose around his neck. Invariably seen as a floating apparition, usually human-scaled, although it can also expand to great heights. His specific powers are unknown, but appear to include a kind of empathy that guides him to those in need of comfort after traumatic events. Active since at least the 19th century.
Hellhound - Vietnam War veteran transformed into a monster by black magic, active in the early 1970s.
El Hombre (Esteban Rodrigo Suarez Hidalgo) (featured) - an urban hero active in Los Angeles in the 1960s and early 1970s. A member of Honor Guard and partner of Bravo. Disgraced in April 1973 by the misfire of a crisis he manufactured to restore his fading reputation, he became a recluse haunted by his failure, who declined into insanity. In 1998, intending to reprise his earlier scheme in order to relaunch his heroic career in the new guise of El Guerrerro, he masqueraded as the villainous Conquistador and incidentally became the Black Mask Killer.
Homegirl - a young outcast hero, a flying knife-fighter. A current member of the Astro City Irregulars. Formerly known as Jailbait.
The Hummingbird - heroine of the 1970s. A member of Honor Guard. Now inactive.
Iron Cross – a German gun-wielding hero who fought the Enelsians in Stuttgart.
Ironhorse, the Human Locomotive - apparently a steam-powered human-machine hybrid who became active in 1862, “give or take a decade,” and is still extant, though apparently retired.
Jack-in-the-Box (viewpoint) - a bouncy clown-themed vigilante with no real powers but an arsenal of similarly themed weaponry and amazing agility. The role has been taken by three different men: the first, Jack Johnson, active from 1964-1983 (when he died); the second, his son Zachary Johnson, active from 1989 through the mid 1990s; and the third, Zachary's protégé Roscoe James, active thereafter. The first Jack-in-the-Box fought Steeljack in the early 1970s. The second is known to have patronized Butler's. A wink and nod tribute to the kind of unusual and flamboyant characters created by Steve Ditko;
Joshua (featured) - a sonic-powered religious hero. A member of the Crossbreed. Named for the biblical figure Joshua and based on the story of Joshua at the battle of Jericho.
Juice - a "cool" young outcast hero with electrical powers. A current member of the Astro City Irregulars, and apparently their leader.
Julius Furst (featured) - a scientist/adventurer active from the 1950s through the present. Brother of Augustus Furst and a member of the First Family. Patron of Bruiser's. Visually based on and named for Julius Schwartz.
Kitkat - sidekick of Leopardman in the 1960s who could cling to vertical surfaces. A founding member of Honor Guard.
Kookaburra – an Australian hero who fought the Enelsians in Canberra.
Krunch – a Popeye-like strongman with huge forearms and fists who frequents Bruiser's.
The Lamplighter - a hero of the 1940s and 1950s who retired in 1959.
Larkspur - British hero who fought the Mock Turtle about 1996.
Leopardman (rumored to have been Anders Van Rupert) - a feline-themed crimefighter of the 1960s, now deceased. A founding member of Honor Guard.
The Lion - British hero, capable of flight who fought the Mock Turtle; partner to the Unicorn.
Lonestar – a hero based in Austin, Texas.
The Lummox – a blue-skinned behemoth, not based in Astro City, but who comes there to visit Bruiser's.
M.P.H. - superhero with the power to run at high speeds. Apparently 15% alien. A current member of Honor Guard.
Mary (featured) - an angelic, winged religious heroine. A member of the Crossbreed. Named for the biblical figure Mary, and based on stories of the biblical Mary being visited by an angel.
Max O'Millions - a size-changing hero of the 1950s and 1960s who wore a domino mask and red tuxedo. Founder of the superhero team Honor Guard.
Mermaid - an aquatic heroine of the 1970s. A member of Honor Guard. Currently inactive.
Mirage - a hero of the 1970s with a neon-themed costume. A member of Honor Guard. Currently inactive.
Mordecai Chalk — a cyborg whose missing body parts were destroyed by occult creatures. A professional monster hunter and former radio personality. Contracted by Mayor Stevenson to apprehend the Shadow Hill Killer (in reality some kind of demonic Cthulhu-like entity), he was left nearly dead by the assignment.
Nadia - a mysterious woman with energy powers. Third wife of Augustus Furst, later married to Kaspian. Mother by Kaspian of Nick and Natalie Furst. Disappeared in 1961.
Natalia Furst (Natalie) (featured) - an adventurer/hero with energy powers that allow her to shift in size. Natural daughter of Prince Kaspian of the Beastmen, adoptive daughter of Augustus Furst, twin sister of Nikolai Furst, wife (since 1979) of Rex, and mother of Astra. A member of the First Family.
The N-Forcer - a corporate-sponsored bearer of hi-tech armor. Apparently a number of people in succession have assumed the role. The original N-Forcer was a founding member of Honor Guard; the current version is also a member. One N-Forcer fought Steeljack in the early 1970s.
Nightingale - dark and moody heroine, partner of Sunbird. Fought the Enelsians. Their names are partially inspired by the Kandorian Nightwing and Flamebird, the Ak-Var and Van-Zee versions.
Nikolai Furst (Nick) (featured) - an adventurer/hero with projective energy powers. Natural son of Prince Kaspian of the Beastmen, adoptive son of Augustus Furst and twin brother of Natalie Furst. A member of the First Family.
Noah (featured) - a bearded, weather-controlling religious hero who wields a staff in the shape of a shepherd's crook; leader of the Crossbreed. Named for the biblical figure Noah and based on the story of Noah and the flood.
The Old Soldier — a symbolic, legendary figure clad in martial attire of many eras who manifests in wartime, including 1863, 1898, 1918, 1944, 1959, when he assisted Honor Guard against Shirak, October 1972, when he intervened against U.S. soldiers in Vietnam, and 1975, at the fall of Saigon. The factuality of the 1972 appearance, in which he played a controversial role, was doubted by many for that reason.
Orphan - a young outcast heroine active in the 1970s; originally an emotionally damaged psychic child rescued from her abusers by the Astro City Irregulars in their first case, she consequently became a member of that team in the early to mid 1970s.
The Pale Horseman – rogue vigilante superhero active at some point in the past, possibly the 1970s.
Palmetto - a young outcast hero, insectoid in form. Better known as Roach, a nickname he hates. Astra considers him "icky." A current member of the Astro City Irregulars.
Peter (featured) - a bald, grey-skinned religious hero with rock-shaping powers. A member of the Crossbreed. Named for the biblical figure Saint Peter, and based on Matthew 16:18.
Popstar - British hero who fought the Mock Turtle about 1996.
Quark - former sidekick to Starfighter, now inactive; real name Charlie Provost.
Quarrel (II) (Jessica ("Jess") Darleen Taggart) (featured) - daughter of the deceased supervillain of the same name, she is a sharp-shooting archer with trick arrows and a dry sense of humor. A current member of Honor Guard. Patron of Butler's.
The Real Thing – a gigantic Atlanta-based hero who fought the Enelsians there.
Rex (featured) - an adventurer/hero, super-strong and dinosaurian in form. Son of the villainess Madame Majestrix, husband (since 1979) of Natalie Furst, and father of Astra. A member of the First Family. Patron of Bruiser's.
El Robo - a young outcast hero, a human-machine hybrid. A current member of the Astro City Irregulars.
Rockslide – a monstrous rock-creature who frequents Bruiser's.
Roustabout - the 'local superhero' for a large section of the American Midwest. The result of corporate genetic research on unwilling test subjects. Has a good memory for faces.
Ruby - a young outcast hero, a living jewel. Astra considers her "nice." A current member of the Astro City Irregulars.
Samaritan (viewpoint) - an extremely powerful hero who traveled from the future to make the world a better place. Appeared in this era in 1985; active as a hero since 1986. A current member of Honor Guard.
The Silver Agent (Alan Craig, 1932-1973) (featured) - an armored vigilante active from 1956 through 1973. A founding member of Honor Guard. Fought Steeljack in the early 1970s. Now deceased. Sentenced to death for the murder of a mastermind type middle eastern villain. An exemplar of the patriotic hero archetype.
The Silversmith – a Boston-based hero who fought the Enelsians there.
Simon Magus - a European magician who settled in Shadow Hill in the early 1970s.
Skitter - a young outcast hero active in the 1970s; an artificial insectoid creature who rebelled against his criminal creators and was recruited by Bravo to become one of the original members of the Astro City Irregulars in the early to mid 1970s.
Skyscraper – a New York-based flying hero who fought the Enelsians there.
Sledgehammer – a monstrous metallic hero who frequents Bruiser's.
Slugger, the Junior Dynamo - sidekick of the All-American in the 1940s, who wore modified baseball gear and used a bat as a weapon.
Starfighter (featured) - a cosmic hero of the 1970s, active from at least 1972. A member of Honor Guard. Currently inactive.
Starwoman - a heroine of the 1960s from outer space who had energy powers. A founding member of Honor Guard. Currently inactive.
Stray - a young outcast hero, with the form of a wolf or large dog. It is not known whether he has lycanthropic powers, is a natural werewolf or has some other origin. A current member of the Astro City Irregulars.
The Street Angel - urban hero formerly associated with Quarrel II who began his career as a jaunty, upbeat hero whose viewpoint darkened due to a mysterious event - connected by many to his sudden partnership with Black Velvet. He originally fought crime using trick halos - large golden-colored hard rubber rings which had different functions, such as constricting to trip opponets or serve as handcuffs (sonic and adhesive halos are also mentioned). With his dark period he switched to steel circles topped with a layer of ceramic which were simple bludgeons, as well as dove-shaped shuriken. Known to have fought Goldenglove I in the past. Possibly deceased.
Supersonic (viewpoint) - a flying speedster, now retired.
Sunbird - sunny and happy heroine, partner of Nightingale. Fought the Enelsians.
Switchblade - a young outcast hero active in the 1970s, aggressive and vengeance-minded; recruited by Bravo to become one of the original members of the Astro City Irregulars in the early to mid 1970s.
Umbra - a young outcast heroine active in the 1970s, doomed to live half in shadow; recruited by Bravo to become one of the original members of the Astro City Irregulars in the early to mid 1970s.
The Untouchable – a Chicago-based hero who fought the Enelsians there.
The Unicorn - British heroine, capable of flight and projecting energy beams from her forehead, who fought the Mock Turtle; partner to the Lion.
Winged Victory (featured) - a feminist, Greco-Roman themed superhero. Considered controversial due to her emphasis on protecting women first before men regardless of the situation; due to her funding of women's centers and clinics, she has also been called "a cult leader". Patterned after the famous Hellenistic sculpture the Winged Victory of Samothrace.
Wrestla – a massive, powerful heroine, not based in Astro City, but who comes there to visit Bruiser's.

[edit] Villains

Andy Tugliewski – a member of a carjacking gang stopped by the Confessor and Altar Boy.
The Anti-Bodies - human-shaped black energy beings who defend the Silver Brain; possibly aspects of the Brain himself.
The Assemblyman - a twisted robotics genius hired by El Hombre in 1973 to manufacture a crisis and help restore the hero's fortunes; his betrayal ensured El Hombre's downfall.
Aunt Acid - British crimemistress who once employed the Mock Turtle.
The Bishop - armored British-based villain, a member of the Red Queen's resurrected Chessmen, and the only one allowed to escape the debacle of the Chessmen's ill-fated assault on Kiefer Square.
The Black Mask Killer - serial murderer of various supervillains of the Kiefer Square area, so-called by area residents. Ultimately revealed as the Conquistador.
Block - villain resident in Kiefer Square, caught up in the Conquistador's grand scheme. Partner and clueless follower of Tackle.
Boilermaker - villain cited as a suitable sparring partner for the Confessor.
The Box (featured) - future son of Jack-in-the-Box II, an alternate version of the Jackson and Jerome Johnson. An insane cyborg vigilante.
The Brass Monkey (featured) - a living metallic simian statue with a human mind.
Bridwell (viewpoint) - Enelsian spy gathering intelligence on Earth's heroes; enamored of humanity's better instincts, but ultimately disgusted by its baser ones. Later impersonated Crackerjack in order to discredit him in the run-up to the Enelsian invasion; captured and exposed by Altar Boy, he escaped due to the grandstanding of Crackerjack. Name and encyclopedic knowledge based on E. Nelson Bridwell.
The Chain (Gordon ------) - villain resident in Kiefer Square, caught up in the Conquistador's grand scheme and murdered by the Black Mask Killer on suspicion of knowing too much. Was able to shift his mind into a metal body made of links, which he could always pull back together provided that the brain-link was unhurt. Busted to bits. One of the series' few gay characters, he was survived by his lover, an African-American man.
Clever Dick - British crimelord who once employed the Mock Turtle. Nearly driven out of business by the Red Queen, he turned the tables on her by hiring the Turtle to destroy her operation.
The Conquerlord - a would-be world-ruler who attacked the U.N. and was defeated by Honor Guard.
The Conquistador - a mysterious armored villain who hired villains from Kiefer Square and elsewhere as part of a grand scheme to discredit America's superheroes; secretly the disgraced hero El Hombre, his actual intention was to establish a new heroic reputation for himself by thwarting the scheme in the proposed guise of El Guerrerro. To protect his secret he murdered those of his hirelings he suspected of having learned too much, thus becoming the dreaded Black Mask Killer. His larger plot was uncovered through the efforts of Steeljack.
Cutlass - a pirate-themed villainess active in the 1970s and a former member of the Terrifying Three.
The Deacon - head of the crime families of Astro City; despite years of investigation, has never been convicted of any crime. While speculated to be a reuse of the public domain supervillain of the same name, a former arch-enemy of Cat-Man, any similarity is apparently coincidental.
Demolitia - large supervillainess who apparently possess amazing technical skills; said in one issue to have escaped from prison by turning her toilet into a jackhammer. Wears a suit of armor with a wrecking ball and jackhammer to commit her crimes and leads a group called the Unholy Alliance.
Derelikt - a space wanderer, opponent of the First Family, current whereabouts unknown.
The Devil's Own – a villain or possibly a group of villains defeated by the Crossbreed in Montana.
Dr. Ganss - criminal scientist who turned Carl Donewicz into Steeljack about 1970.
Dr. Saturday - villain who uses toys based on Saturday morning cartoons to commit his crimes.
Eisenstein ("Eyes") (viewpoint) - a small-time crook who discovers Jack-in-the-Box's secret identity.
The Enelsians (featured) - a matriarchal alien race of shape-shifters that invaded Earth, with Astro City as their focal point. They managed to discredit several heroes, but were defeated when the Confessor sacrificed his life to expose their plan. The name of the race is a sly homage to E. Nelson Bridwell. See also Bridwell.
Ersatz Ed - a villain defeated by the Astro-Naut in 1943.
Donnelly Fergusson - villain resident in Kiefer Square, caught up in the Conquistador's grand scheme. Rumored to have been the Scarlet Snake in the 1940s; now a broker linking criminal "muscle" to prospective employers.
Fever - a villain who targets women.
Flame-thrower - a pyromaniac villain. A member of the Unholy Alliance.
The Fog - villain possibly resident in Kiefer Square, caught up in the Conquistador's grand scheme.
Foxie Loxy - gun-toting thug and member, possibly head, of the Menagerie Gang. It is not entirely certain that he uses the name "Foxie Loxy"; Quarrel, who calls him that, may just be making a snide joke.
Garrity – criminal fought by the second Confessor.
Getaway - Los Angeles-based villain of the 1970s who dressed as a wild West outlaw and possessed super-speed; an antagonist of El Hombre.
Glue Gun - villain possibly resident in Kiefer Square, caught up in the Conquistador's grand scheme. He once invaded Butler's, where he was defeated by busboy Brian Kinney prior to his debut as Altar Boy.
Glowworm (featured) - a glowing villain with energy-projecting powers and a long, eel-like tail in place of his lower body. A member of the Unholy Alliance. Apparently an African-American man prior to his accident.
Gnomicron - a mystically powered mechanical warrior created by the Mountain Gnomes.
Goldenboy - a pretty-boy villain with metallic golden skin and hair who targets women; he leads a cult who worships him as a god-king.
Goldenglove (I) (Maxie Costello) - boxing-themed villain resident in Kiefer Square, caught up in the Conquistador's grand scheme and murdered by the Black Mask Killer on suspicion of knowing too much. Utilized alien power gloves with various capabilities. Active since the late 1960s, his villainous career had lasted more than 30 years when he was killed in 1998. Father of Goldenglove (II).
Goldenglove (II) (Yolanda Costello) - 15-year old daughter of Goldenglove (I), she attempted to use her father's weaponry to launch a career as a sneak thief. Taken in hand by Detective Ruiz and steered toward the Astro City Irregulars, she may reform.
The Gunslinger – an internationally wanted assassin, half American and half Vietnamese, who dressed as a hi-tech cowboy and utilized teleporting firearms and jet boots. Captured by the Confessor.
Handgun (Chester Morisi) - villain resident in Kiefer Square, caught up in the Conquistador's grand scheme and murdered by the Black Mask Killer on suspicion of knowing too much. Specialized in gimmick glove weaponry.
The Headmaster of Crime - British crimelord who once employed the Mock Turtle. Visually based on John Cleese.
Headstone – an Astro City crimelord who once employed Sean Hanrahan as one of his lieutenants.
Los Hermanos - Los Angeles-based villain of the 1970s who could duplicate himself; an antagonist of El Hombre.
The Human Weasel - a short, wiry villain with weasel-like physical characteristics.
Infidel - Samaritan's greatest enemy, Infidel is an African-slave-turned-immortal-sorcerer from the past who ruled the futuristic wasteland of the 36th century. As a result of Samaritan's quest to save the future, Infidel's empire was made to have never existed. Infidel faced the hero, and, unable to beat him, instead tried to recreate the world without Samaritan, the first of several such attempts. After their battles escalated to the point where they temporarily destroyed reality, the enemies called a truce. Since neither could kill the other, they instead opted to meet once a year for dinner and an exchange of ideas. Think of infidel as Vandal Savage crossed with Dr. Doom. Kang the Conqueror, Ra's Al Ghul, and the Time Trapper may also be apt comparisons.
Insectra - villainess, opponent of the First Family, currently in custody.
The Jackdaw - villain possibly resident in Kiefer Square, caught up in the Conquistador's grand scheme.
The Jackson (featured) - future son of Jack-in-the-Box II, an alternate version of the Box and Jerome Johnson. A fanatic feral vigilante, influenced by Venom.
The Junkman (viewpoint) — an aged villain seeking vengeance on society for age discrimination. Recycles and enhances his weaponry from discarded trash. His closest analog, interestingly, is his primary antagonist, Jack-in-the-Box, whose origin, inventive genius, and use of gimicks parallel his.
Karnus - cult leader and devotee of Shirak the Devourer, active in 1959.
Kaspian - Prince of the Beastmen of Eastern Europe and natural father of the heroes Nick and Natalie Furst. Fought the Praetor in Astro City's city hall in October 1972.
The Kirlian Man - villain, an acquaintance of the Mock Turtle from whom the latter first learned about Kiefer Square.
Korrga - a gorilla outfitted like a Roman legionary, a movie menace brought to life by Professor Borzoi in 1946 to fight the Gentleman. Destroyed by Looney Leo.
Krator the Invincible - a living moon rock, ruler of a race of similar creatures based on the moon. His name notwithstanding, he has been defeated by the First Family nine or ten times, beginning in 1954.
L. S. Deviant - villain possessed of a "tropogenic field" that triggers unpredictable physical transformations in those nearby, as well as other reality changes. In September, 1972, with his powers augmented by alien "puppeteers," his tropogenic field temporarily blanketed the world, causing widespread chaos and panic, with lingering psychological trauma to the population. This incident is considered the beginning of Astro City's "Dark Age." Defeated by Honor Guard.
The Living Nightmare (featured) - monstrous creature composed of peoples' subconscious fears made real, the Nightmare has been both hero and villain at times, and is currently a mindless, random force of nature destroying everything in its path.
Longhorn - villain possibly resident in Kiefer Square, caught up in the Conquistador's grand scheme. A minotaur-like monster.
Lord Volcanus - ruler of the Insiders, a race of volcanic lava men. Possibly a Mayan deity.
Madame Majestrix - villainous ruler of the undersea Monstro City and mother of the heroic Rex of the First Family.
Mechanimator - villain who attacked St. Louis as part of the Conquistador's grand scheme.
The Middleman - a smuggler and gunrunner specializing in acquiring the weaponry of defeated villains and fencing them to other villains.
The Mock Turtle (Dr. Martin "Marty" Chefwick) (viewpoint) - British engineer who created an armored environment suit, who stole his invention from his employers when he discovered they intended it to be tested and used by another man, thus launching his villainous career. Later took refuge in Astro City's Kiefer Square; caught up in the Conquistador's grand scheme and murdered by the Black Mask Killer on suspicion of knowing too much. Inspired by the character from Alice in Wonderland.
The Mockery - villain who married Cherry Goldstein.
Muscleman - villain possibly resident in Kiefer Square, caught up in the Conquistador's grand scheme.
The Myth-Master - armored villain who fought Honor Guard in 1964; actually the disguised Looney Leo, acting as the pawn of Zzardo.
Omniac - an artificial intelligence utilized by Praetor to further his villainous schemes.
The Otter - A small time criminal who uses a bionic otter suit, with a tail.
The Platinum Blonde - Los Angeles-based villainess of the 1970s; a sultry robot who was an antagonist of El Hombre.
Praetor - a high-tech, armored villain, possibly an alien, like a Roman legionary in appearance. Opponent of the First Family. Fought Kaspian in Astro City's city hall in October 1972.
Professor Borzoi - villain active in 1946, arch-enemy of the Gentleman.
Prospero - villain, opponent of Jack-in-the-Box, currently incarcerated.
Quarrel (I) (Doolittle Taggart) - supervillain of the 1970s, father of the heroine Quarrel (II), he was a sharp-shooting crossbowman with trick quarrels. A former member of the Terrifying Three. Now deceased.
The Red Queen (Lucia ------) - childhood acquaintance of the Mock Turtle who exploited their relationship to become a criminal mastermind in Britain; her scheme was ruined when Clever Dick turned the clueless Turtle against her.
The Scarlet Snake - criminal mastermind of the 1940s; in the 1990s, Donnelly Fergusson was rumored to have been him.
Sean Hanrahan – villain, the original Queen's Bishop in the Chessmen; later one of Headstone's lieutenants. Incarcerated in 1987, and paroled in April, 1992.
Senhor Technico - a Brazilian supervillain, opponent of the Birds of Paradise.
The Shadow Hill Killer – a serial killer whose ritual murder victims were discovered at the outskirts of Shadow Hill; apparently an evil cosmic Cthulhu-like being ultimately defeated by the Hanged Man.
Shirak the Devourer (featured) - a shark-like demon from another dimension that attempted to invade the Earth in 1959 and 1964. He was stopped in one of the first (and rather odd) missions of the newly-formed Honor Guard.
The Silver Brain (featured) - a scientist who became pure brain, whose goal is to enslave the world. Imprisoned by the Samaritan in the Mentoverse, and banished back there by the First Family after he escaped.
Slamburger (featured) - a bulky, powerful villain with mottled red skin and hot, sulfurous breath. A member of the Unholy Alliance with whom he was caught up in the Conquistador's grand scheme in 1998. Apparently an acquaintance of Steeljack, he may have originally been a resident of Kiefer Square.
Smoke & Mirrors - villain with illusion-casting powers, opponent of Jack-in-the-Box; as a hireling of the Conquistador, created an illusion of a city-wide conflagration. Currently incarcerated.
Spice - a whip-wielding, dominatrix-type villainess, formerly partners with Sugar. A member of the Unholy Alliance.
Steel Devil - a robotic thief wielding a trident that fires energy blasts.
Strangematter - villain caught up in the Conquistador's grand scheme.
Sugar - a villainess who formerly partnered with Spice. Now deceased.
The Supreme Commandrix – leader of the Enelsian invasion fleet.
Tackle - villainess resident in Kiefer Square, caught up in the Conquistador's grand scheme and murdered by the Black Mask Killer on suspicion of knowing too much. Partner of Block; she was the brains of the duo.
Temblor – villain defeated by the Crossbreed in San Francisco.
The Time-Keeper (featured) - a time-stopping villain from the 1940s who nearly destroyed time itself in an attempt to rid the world of superheroes. A typical expample of the themed (if mostly non-super) villains of the period.
The Toff - British crimelord who once employed the Mock Turtle.
Ugly Max - villain, opponent of the First Family, currently catatonic.
The Underlord - criminal mastermind, opponent of Jack-in-the-Box, active in the 1980s. He blew up Torres Island in 1983.
The Wolfhound (------ Kennealy) - villain resident in Kiefer Square, caught up in the Conquistador's grand scheme. Apparently able to shapeshift into the form of a large wolf or dog; possibly a werewolf.
Wotan - an ax-wielding giant capable of flight, clad like an ancient Norseman. The name is conjectured by the prominent "W" symbols at the top of his boots.
The Xenoform - a huge, homicidal, shape-shifting alien entity, currently confined.
Zzardo - alien villain, arch-foe of Honor Guard, who used Looney Leo as a pawn and proxy to attack the hero group. Active circa 1963-64.

[edit] Groups

The Apollo Eleven - a group of astronauts sent to establish the first moon base who were transformed by aliens to serve as their emissaries to Earth. In their transformed states they each bore different alien forms, mostly quite inhuman, and were possessed of a variety of super powers. Active in the early 1970s.
The Astro City Irregulars - a group of outcast heroes founded by Bravo in the early to mid 1970s, after El Hombre's disgrace; its original roster also included Alligator, Skitter, Switchblade, and Umbra; Orphan was added to the membership as a result of their first case. The current (1998) roster consists of Juice (the apparent leader), Ruby, Palmetto, Jailbait, El Robo and Stray. The name echoes the Baker Street Irregulars of the Sherlock Holmes stories.
The Barnstormers - a group of villains fought by Air Ace in the post-World War I era.
[Birdmen] – unnamed group of three flying villains fought by Jack-in-the-Box.
The Birds of Paradise – a group of at least three Brazilian flying superheroines, all elaborately garbed and capable of flight, who fought the Enelsians in Rio de Janeiro. Later two of them apprehended Senhor Technico.
The Blackout Bandits - a gang of villains defeated by the All-American and Slugger in 1943.
The Brothers of Trouble - devotees of Jack-in-the-Box from the future who have made him the basis of a religion. Possibly a future version of the Trouble Boys.
The Chessmen - group of armored villains patterned after chess pieces; Sean Hanrahan was the original Queen's Bishop. After a defeat by Samaritan their armor was abandoned and later salvaged by the Red Queen to create a new team of Chessmen to serve as her strike force, with equipment improved by the Mock Turtle. This team later hunted the Mock Turtle to Astro City, where it was defeated by residents of Kiefer Square under the direction of Steeljack, on the assumption that it was acting on behalf of the Black Mask Killer. Only one, the Bishop, was allowed to escape, to warn off his employer.
The Crossbreed (featured) - a group of pariah religious heroes, led by Noah and consisting also of Daniel, David, Joshua, Mary, and Peter. Stigmatized by society as "Jesus freaks." Based on biblical figures and possibly the X-Men.
The Dopple Gang - a group of villains capable of assuming the forms of others, particularly of noted celebrities.
The Disastroids - a group of villains, opponents of the First Family.
E.A.G.L.E. Troopers - Short for Extranormal Activities Garrison for Law Enforcement, a federal-level law enforcement agency designed to deal with superhumans.
The Experimentals - a hero group active in the 1970s, and perhaps still. Their stasis pods were confiscated by Enelsian-infiltrated authorities during the run-up to the Enelsian invasion.
The First Family (featured) - A family of interdimensional explorers and superheroes consisting of brothers Augustus and Julius Furst, Augustus' adopted children Nick and Natalie, Natalie's husband Rex, and their daughter Astra. Based in part on the acting family of Henry Fonda, and inspired by small, close-knit hero teams of the 1950s and 1960s such as the Fantastic Four and the Challengers of the Unknown.
The Frigians – extradimensional race, enemies of the Thermians.
The Gorilla Troops - henchmen of the Brass Monkey who wear gorilla masks.
The Guilloteam – group of villains mentioned by the Confessor.
Honor Guard (featured) - the most prestigious grouping of superheroes. Founded in 1959 by Max O'Millions; its original roster also included the Silver Agent, Starwoman, Leopardman and Kitkat, the first N-Forcer, and the first Cleopatra. The Bouncing Beatnik and the Old Soldier assisted Honor Guard on its second case, but did not become members. Throughout its history, Honor Guard appears to have maintained an active membership of seven members. Kitkat seems to have been replaced by the Mermaid early on, and Max by El Hombre by 1964. During the next few years Hummingbird and Mirage took the places of Leopardman and Starwoman. The Living Nightmare was also a member at some point before November 1972, though it is uncertain whether this was before or during the period of El Hombre's membership. By April 1973, at the time of El Hombre's downfall, the Black Rapier and Starfighter had taken the places of Cleopatra (I) and the Silver Agent. It has not been revealed what new member was brought in to fill the vacancy left by El Hombre's disgrace; possibly the Living Nightmare again, as he was apparently once more a member again sometime in the 1970s and is known to have served on two separate occasions. The current (1998) roster consists of Beautie, the Black Rapier, Cleopatra (II), M.P.H., the current N-Forcer, Quarrel (II), and Samaritan. The Black Rapier is the current leader. The modern team has been shown working with Winged Victory and the Gentleman, but these have not become members. As an agglomeration of otherwise independent heroes, Honor Guard is similar to the archetypical super team the Justice Society of America and such modern descendants as the Justice League of America and the Avengers.
The Iron Horde - a group of villains defeated in the recent past and now apparently inactive.
The Iron Legion - armored criminals, defeated by the Samaritan. Possibly the same as the Iron Horde.
The Jade Dragons - a brother and sister duo of martial artists. Active in the 1970s.
The Legions of Midnight - a group of villains defeated by Honor Guard during their first case in 1959.
The Menagerie Gang - a band of non-powered, gun-toting thugs who wear animal masks.
PYRAMID - an international conspiracy seeking world domination, active for decades if not centuries. It has fought Honor Guard and Samaritan in the past, and doubtless many other heroes.
The Queen's Men - British villains, costumed henchmen of the Red Queen who dressed as playing cards. Distinct from her strike force, the armored Chessmen. The name, perhaps coincidentally, is the same as that of an early Elizabethan acting troup.
Ravagers - also known as the Shark Men, acolytes of Karnus' Shirak cult in 1959, transformed into shark men by Shirak.
The Skullcrushers - a Kiefer Square street gang the young Carl Donewicz once belonged to.
Special Incarceration Squad - Astro City's municipal police department counterpart to the EAGLE Troopers.
The Techsperts - a group of villains who facilitate their robberies with high technology. They once infiltrated Honor Guard headquarters.
Tempus Fugitives - a gang assembled by the Time-Keeper, active in 1943.
The Terrifying Three - a group of villains active in the 1970s, whose members included Steeljack, the first Quarrel, and Cutlass. Steeljack reformed after twenty years in prison, Quarrel died, and the fate of Cutlass is unknown.
The Thermians – extradimensional race, enemies of the Frigians.
The Trouble Boys - a Bakerville street gang cum athletic group founded by Roscoe James to keep himself and his friends out of real trouble. Imitators and tormentors of Jack-in-the-Box.
The Unclean – Indian hero group with at least three members, apparently based in New Delhi.
The Unholy Alliance (featured) - a group of villains led by Demolitia. Current members include Flame-thrower, Glowworm, Slamburger and Spice; apparently other villains have also been members in the past. They attacked Detroit as part of the Conquistador's grand scheme in 1998.
The Worst Family - The First Family's "evil twins" from a parallel earth; thus far only mentioned and not seen.

[edit] Civilians

Maria Luisa Alvarado - charity director based in Los Angeles in the 1960s and former girlfriend of Esteban Hidalgo (El Hombre). Later married to Ramon Vega, and later still, divorced, the chief executive of Alvarado Funds, an investment house based in Astro City's Astrobank Tower.
Bob – a friend of Michael Tenicek.
Busboys at Butler's – there were five in addition to Brian Kinney at the time he worked there; the most senior, unnamed, had been there two years. The others were Benny, who had been there eighteen months, Sandy, Jim, and Rachel.
Chet – roommate of Brian Kinney at Robinson Prep. A different Chet was a friend of Michael Tenicek.
Darcy Conroy (featured) - a former district attorney, now a partner in one of Astro City's law firms; known for a tough attitude. The fiancé of Nick Furst.
Irene Costello - widow of Goldenglove (I); mother of Yolanda Costello (Goldenglove II) and at least two sons.
Johnny Crash – person whose memoirs were considered by Brian Kinney as an authority on Astro City, and which mentioned Bruiser's.
Barry Daniels – deputy mayor of Astro City under Mayor Stevenson.
Tamra Dixon (viewpoint) - Anchorwoman of Channel 3's Morning News, married to toymaker and entrepreneur Zachary Johnson (aka Jack-in-the-Box).
Marcy Doerr - a roving reporter with the KAST-TV Roving Report.
Pete Donacek (viewpoint) - Bell captain at the Astro City Classic, the premier hotel in the town. Directs visitors to the best locations to see the heroes "at work", but reminds them that what occurs is real and dangerous, and that the heroes "don't come out and do shows, you know."
Rosa Vlacek Donewicz (1927-1973) - mother of Carl Donewicz (Steeljack).
Sara-Lynne Felton – a girl murdered by the Shadow Hill Killer; as the first white victim, her death brought public attention to the killings.
Jedson Godfrey - former butler for Anders van Rupert (rumored to have been Leopardman); upon Van Rupert's death, Godfrey inherited the mansion that eventually became Butler's, of which he is the owner and proprietor. The hero's servant has a long and not always respectable history in literature, from Sancho Panza to Zorro's Bernardo and various pulp fiction duos.
Cherry Goldstein - an early girlfriend of Carl Donewicz; later married the Mockery.
Cardinal Enzio Grandenetti – a nineteenth century cardinal of what became Astro City who began the construction of Grandenetti Cathedral in 1869. Died in 1908.
Peter Hanlan - an acquaintance of Carl Donewicz, a harmless rummie and "known felon."
Roscoe James - leader of the Trouble Boys street gang, later recruited by Jack-in-the-Box II to become Jack-in-the-Box III.
Jerome Johnson - future son of Jack-in-the-Box II, an alternate version of the Box and the Jackson. A college professor in his home time period.
Mick Keneally - a childhood acquaintance of Carl Donewicz; the Wolfhound's older brother. Turned out bad.
Kennealy, Miss – employee of Butler's who handles business issues.
Margaret Isles Kinney (1954-1982) – mother of Brian Kinney. Deceased.
Thomas William Kinney (1931-1989) – father of Brian Kinney, a physician in Buchanan Corners. Deceased.
Looney Leo (viewpoint) - A cartoon lion brought to life in 1946, he was briefly the Gentleman's sidekick, then a media star, a homeless bum, a supervillain's pawn and a recluse before becoming part owner and host of a nostalgic nightclub bearing his name in the entertainment district.
Steve McAnn – a student who once spent a night in Shadow Hill on a dare.
Dirk McCallum - the man the Mock Turtle's employers intended to be the person to test and wear his environment suit.
Jose Manziano (1952-1966) - a street gang member shot and killed by the young Carl Donewicz.
Marta (viewpoint) - a resident of Shadow Hill who works in the City Center.
Gordon Meadows - television reporter, evening co-anchor of KBAC3 News with Tamra Dixon.
Elliot Mills (viewpoint) - the editor of the Astro City Rocket.
Manny Monkton (featured) - The editor of an Astro City-based comics company, he is responsible for the comics based on real-life superheroes. Manny is a long-time veteran of the comic-book industry shown at one convention answering questions with Stan Lee. A smooth-talking, shrewd and deceitful little man, he ostensibly publishes comics based on actual adventures the heroes have, but always changes the stories around to make them more marketable. He has a deal with Crackerjack, allowing him to legally exploit his fame through excessive merchandise, but always witholds Crackerjack's share on the (false) grounds that it is not selling. He has come under considerable attack from numerous heroes and villains (including Nightingale, whom he implies to be a lesbian), but stubbornly refuses to change his stories. He gets his comeuppance when he publishes a comic featured Jack-in-the-Box and Glowworm, based on a real fight they had but changing details to make Glowworm seem more villainous; among the things he adds is the implication that Glowworm is a racist. Sometime later, the real Glowworm bursts in on him, and, furious to be called a racist, beats Monkton severely. Soon after, Monkton decides to instead start writing about cosmically-powered villains and heroes instead, deciding that they would not be concerned enough to harass him. However, he misjudges, and, one day, he is yanked out of existence along with the building he is in, and never seen again.
Aggie Morisi - widow of Handgun and one of Carl Donewicz's employers in the Black Mask Killer mystery. Used her husband's weaponry to help defeat the Chessmen.
Dr. Prochnow - apparently the psychologist who accidentally created the Living Nightmare.
Ben Pullam (viewpoint) - a new resident of Astro City.
Sharon - a former girlfriend of Carl Donewicz.
Sherrie – a student at Robinson Prep.
Sitterud girl, The – an ill child in Buchanan Corners treated by Thomas Kinney.
Steeljack (Carl "Carlie" Donewicz) (viewpoint) - A former supervillain and member of the villain group the Terrifying Three resident in Kiefer Square who attempts to reform after serving his time. He was active as a villain from about 1970 to 1978, with interruptions due to incarceration. He was in jail when his mother died in 1973. Served 20 years in Biro Island from 1978-1998. Later tapped by former associates as a private investigator to solve the mystery of the Black Mask Killer's string of murders in the supervillain community. Consciously modeled after Robert Mitchum.
Mayor Stevenson – mayor of Astro City, whose place was taken for a time by an alien.
Michael Tenicek (viewpoint) - an ordinary man whose wife was wiped from reality (but not his dreams) by a timestorm.
Miranda Tenicek – wife of Michael Tenicek, wiped from reality (but not his dreams) by a timestorm.
Mrs. Tenicek – mother of Michael Tenicek.
Trench – a homeless Vietnam veteran who supplied information that helped lead to the apprehension of the Gunslinger.
Stanley Tripp - host of the television program Astro Kidz 2-Day on Channel 2.
Anders Van Rupert – a third generation copper millionaire resident in Astro City, rumored to have been Leopardman. Now deceased. His former butler Jedson Godfrey is the proprietor of Butler's.
Ramon Vega - Los Angeles-based activist in the late 1960s and early 1970s who married Maria Alvarado; they were later divorced.
Mr. Vlacek – a prominent figure in Shadow Hill. Possibly related to Rosa Vlacek Donewicz.
Charles Raymond Williams (viewpoint) - police officer who sees superheroes as instigating chaos in the world. Born October 19, 1946 and active as a policeman in the early 1970s. Brother of Royal Williams.
Royal James Williams (viewpoint) - petty crook who sees superheroes as instigating chaos in the world. Born June 5, 1950 and active as a criminal in the early 1970s. Brother of Charles Williams.

[edit] Others

Eterneon (featured) - Lord and watcher of the timestream, fought Samaritan while the latter was on a time-traveling mission. Also fought the Time-keeper to prevent the destruction of time itself.
Giant Spiders - monsters that attacked Dallas in 1972.
The Gorilla Swarm - a horde of ant-headed gorillas whose brains are linked into a hive mind; probably inspired by the frequent use of gorillas on comic book covers of the 1950s and 1960s. Enslaved on one occasion by the Silver Brain in one of his bids to conquer the world.
Helia - a cosmic entity, possibly an ancient goddess of light. Married to Thunderhead.
The Insiders - a race of volcanic lava men, apparently based in a Central American volcano. Ruled by Lord Volcanus.
Mister Smartie - a holographic artificial intelligence invented by Augustus Furst to serve as Astra's teacher.
Monstro City residents - the subjects of Madame Majestrix, inhabitants of the undersea Monstro City. Driven from their home by the Trenchers.
Moon people - a race of living moon rocks, ruled by Krator the Invincible. (Note: the race is thus far not named in the series; the entry title here is a generic description.)
Mountain Gnomes - also known as the Gnomes, an intelligent race of magical little people who share the Earth with humanity.
Night Creatures - endemic menaces in Shadow Hill; a part of the environment.
Scavenger Peoples - non-human intelligent races living beneath the Earth.
Skrek - a small, sycophantic creature, one of the residents of Monstro City.
Teusz - a benevolent deity whose sigil is used as a protective symbol in Shadow Hill.
Thunderhead (featured) - a cosmic entity that destroyed Draketown, Alaska and later threatened Astro City. Possibly an ancient weather god. Married to Helia, who mockingly refers to him as "Dunderhead." Based on Zeus and similar sky deities.
The Tourist - a gigantic insectoid "extraterrestrial gadabout" regarded by Samaritan as an intolerable pest. First seen in 1972, when he attempted to appropriate Mount Rushmore as a souvenir and was stopped by the First Family. Apparently not a villain, but definitely trouble.
The Trenchers - a barbaric undersea race who drove the residents of Monstro City from their home after the disappearance of Madame Majestrix.
Trolls - a race of gigantic humanoids with cold-based powers inhabiting Glittertinden on Hortensfjord, Norway. Attacked Astro City's city center from the sewers in 1972. Later fought the Enelsians.
Vampires - endemic menaces in Shadow Hill, stated by a resident to not be as bad as reputed (though Shadow Hill residents still draw back in fear when confronted by one).