History Characters / TheThreeInvestigatorsTheInvestigators

* DeadpanSnarker: Out of the three, he definitely snarks the most and is the most likely to make sarcastic comments.

** In the radio plays, Kelly has been written out, leaving the relationship either ambiguous or non-existent.
* PungeonMaster: Though he doesn't make jokes at every given moment, he says it often enough that Jupiter and Bob have token to groaning in response to his bad jokes.

--->''Das scwartze Monster''

* BerserkButton: He does ''not'' like it when Pete teases him about [[ArchEnemy Clarissa Franklin]] to him. After what she's done to him, it's not surprising at all.

* BigGuyLittleGuy: He often hangs out with Pete, who is significantly taller than him.
* TheCasanova: His post-original series characterization has him as this. He dates as many girls as he hits on, though they never really develop into long-lasting relationships, but he likes it that way.

* DeadpanSnarker: Not as much as Pete, but he does make the comment or two sometimes.

* DoingResearch: His main role in the Three Investigators in the original series. He stops doing it for a bit in Crimebusters, as he is too often busy with his job and wanted to step away from research, he eventually returns to this role in the German extended release, though Jupiter also does it as well.

* RidiculouslyAverageGuy: Out of his two peers (Jupiter is 'stocky' while Pete is noticeably tall), Bob doesn't particularly stand out from your average American kid, even his name is very average. In fact, it comes in handy once in a while for some undercover work. He grows out of this by Crimebusters, where he's noted to be quite lean and handsome and quite the ladies' man.
* ShipTease: With Pete in the radio plays. Bob taking on some of Kelly's lines, it does feel this way. Especially since they have officially kissed in the radio play version of''Der verschollene Pilot''.
* TheShortGuyWithGlasses: In the original series, he is the shortest and smallest of the trio. And he is usually portrayed wearing glasses too. He ages out of the glasses out of this in Crimebusters, having swapped to using contact lenses, but is still the shortest of the three and will occasionally use his glasses once in a while.
* TheSmartGuy: Although he is not as smart as Jupiter, he is quite intelligent on his own and . If Jupiter isn't around, he will do most of the thinking for him and Pete.

* TheWatson: Technically shares this role with Pete to Jupe's Sherlock Holmes, but he tends to ask the better questions than he does.

** In Crimebusters and beyond, the junk has finally been cleared away from the trailer and everything inside has been modernized. There is even a computer with internet in there.

* AdaptationDeviation: A slight one. Peter in the radio plays generally tends to be more good natured, friendlier, and hysteric than his novel counterpart, who comes off as more short tempered. Radio play Pete still does argue with Jupe but it seems comes more from genuine fear than anger. He also does not show his attraction and interest in pretty girls like he does in the novel.

* NervousWreck: Peter is prone to have a FreakOut. He absolutely ''hates'' it when he and his friends get involved in dangerous things. At times, he has been consumed by his fear and anxiety, sometimes even described to have panic attacks because of them. He can work through them most of the time, especially if it's to help out his friends, but is still a huge worrier he always needs some convincing to stay on the case.

* HiddenDepths: On the surface he appears to be just a very [[CowardlyLion cowardly]] DumbJock who comes off as irritatingly superstitious. He pushes back on cases so much it's a wonder that he even indulges in detective work at all. But underneath that surface level exterior, he extremely alert and quick to respond physically to almost any situation. And despite how scared he is, once he is determined or mad, he can be notably reckless himself. He is pretty tolerant when it comes to physical pain and has thrown himself into many life-and-death situations to save his friends or even people he doesn't even know. He might not know much academically and needs Jupiter or Bob to explain things to him, he has more practical know-how like wilderness survival, sailing, diving, locking picking and more. His deduction skills may need some work, but he can make correct ones when it counts (past all the paranormal theories of course). He is notably loyal and will always end up doing what is asked of him, despite his own anxiety and fear. Pete, himself, has wondered whether or not there was secretly a part of him who is a dare devil and actually enjoys the thrill of danger, which explains why he always lets himself get convinced by Jupiter to stay on cases and do dangerous tasks. It may also explain why Peter sometimes has sudden moments of bravery even without prompting.

* HiddenDepths: On the surface he appears to be just a very [[CowardlyLion cowardly DumbJock who comes off as irritatingly superstitious. He pushes back on cases so much it's a wonder that he even indulges in detective work at all. But underneath that surface level exterior, he extremely alert and quick to respond physically to almost any situation. And despite how scared he is, once he is determined or mad, he can be notably reckless himself. He is pretty tolerant when it comes to physical pain and has thrown himself into many life-and-death situations to save his friends or even people he doesn't even know. He might not know much academically and needs Jupiter or Bob to explain things to him, he has more practical know-how like wilderness survival, sailing, diving, locking picking and more. His deduction skills may need some work, but he can make correct ones when it counts (past all the paranormal theories of course). He is notably loyal and will always end up doing what is asked of him, despite his own anxiety and fear. Pete, himself, has wondered whether or not there was secretly a part of him who is a dare devil and actually enjoys the thrill of danger, which explains why he always lets himself get convinced by Jupiter to stay on cases and do dangerous tasks. It may also explain why Peter sometimes has sudden moments of bravery even without prompting.

* TheLeader: He's unspoken the leader of the investigators. Apparently he chose himself for that role and while both Bob and Pete complain about it, they don't really want to be the leader either.

* MeaningfulName: While most people think of the planet Jupiter, which also coincides with Jupe being the "stockiest" of the three, Jupiter is also the cheif Roman god which lines up with Jupe's status as the leader of the three.
* NervesOfSteel: Jupiter is definitely the boldest of the three. It doesn't mean that he isn't afraid, but he is pretty good at keeping his nerve despite how scared he is. The only times he really lets his fear show is if he believes that Bob or Pete are in genuine mortal danger.

* OfficialCouple: In Crimebusters, Jupe had a girlfriend named Lys, but they canonically separated after she moved away to New York.

* WeNeedToGetProof: Part of the reason why the boys get into trouble so often is that Jupiter decides that they need to get proof before contacting the police and casting guilt. He's usually right.

* HiddenDepths: On the surface, he seems like your typical [[CowardlyLion cowardly]] DumbJock, he is superstitious and the most cautious out of all three. He is the one who openly complains about dangerous cases and sometimes feels as though they should drop them. Compared to Jupe and Bob, he doesn't seem all too smart. But dig a little deeper, he is always the first to react to dangerous situations and despite the complaints, will usually do what's asked of him without fail no matter how scared he really is. He has thrown himself into life-and-death situations to save his friends and other people. And while not knowledgeable academically, knows a lot more practical know-how like sailing, survival, and more. He also wouldn't be part of the trio if he wasn't also a good detective himself, being pretty good at making his own deductions when it counts.

** Pete, himself, has wondered whether or not there was secretly a part of him who is a dare devil and actually enjoys the thrill of danger, which explains why he always lets himself get convinced by Jupiter to stay on cases and do dangerous tasks. It may also explain why Peter sometimes has sudden moments of bravery even without prompting.

* MeaningfulName: "Peter" means "rock" or "stone", which suits Pete's role as the big, tough guy of the group.

* MrExposition: Oftentimes, Jupe will ask him to read into stuff and then he'll come back with several pages [[Infodump worth of history and whatnot to share]].

* BeserkButton: He does ''not'' like it when Pete teases him about [[ArchEnemy Clarissa Franklin]] to him. After what she's done to him, it's not surprising at all.

* DistressedDude: If Bob isn't the one kidding held hostage, it's Pete instead. He's has gotten into some ''real'' pickles. The entire story of 'Die späte Rache' is about his kidnapping, half of ''Tontensinel'' is him being trapped on a ship onthe way to Micronesia (Totensinel). He was also was [[ColdBloodedTorture tortured]] by the Colorphonic, which induced him with all sorts of [[MindRape horrific memories and sensations]].

* CharacterRerailment: His Crimebusters interpretation made him deeply insecure about his appearance and his ability to talk to girls, to the point where ever other sentence was him lamenting how 'ugly' he was because he was overweight; becoming extremely jealous of Bob. However, he regains most of his confidence back in the German release and doesn't seem so insecure anymore (though he still gets crushes from time to time depending on the story).

* CharacterRerailment: In Crimebusters, he is often portrayed to have hated his past as a shy, bookwormish kid and complains whenever Jupiter tries to get him to research stuff. He also prioritizes his part-time job and girls more than he does detective work, which makes him completely absent for most of the stories in that era. However, in the German extended release has slowly returned to some of his original characterization, becoming more involved in cases again and picking up his role again as Records and Research; is Casanova tendencies are also downplayed. Eventually, he has become a mix of most of his original characterization and a little of his Crimebusters interpretation.

* CharacterTic: Jupiter tends to pinch his lip when he's deep in thought.
* DarkAndTroubledPast: In the 2007 movie series, Jupiter is shown to have personal angst regarding his parents' death as they were murdered instead. But in the novels, his parents are rarely ever brought up and he seems quite happy with his aunt and uncle.
* {{Determinator}}: While all of them are determined to solve mysteries, Jupiter is definitely the ''most'' determined.

-->When he told other people that his parents had died many years ago, they often reacted with a strange dismay that he himself could not really understand.\\
Aunt Mathilda and Uncle Titus ''were'' his parents.

* ParentalAbandonment: His parents died in a car accident or plane crash when he was four years old (five in Die Drei ??? kids) and subsequently adopted by his aunt and uncle.

* DisneyDeath: In ''Der Meister Des Todes'', he gets electrocuted in the pool when coming into contact with loose wiring in the pool lights. He goes into cardiac arrest, his heart having stopped beating and was no longer breathing. For a moment, it seemed like it was too late, but was able to be successfully resuscitated via [=CPR=].
* DistressedDude: Although all three of the investigators have their fair share of being in danger, Pete has gotten into some ''real'' pickles. The entire story of 'Die späte Rache' is about his kidnapping and got captured and sent all the way to Micronesia (Totensinel). He was also was [[ColdBloodedTorture tortured]] by the Colorphonic, which induced him with all sorts of [[MindRape horrific memories and sensations]].

* TheDriver: He has his own car in Crimebusters and onwards, a red [[=MG=]] that he takes very good care of. He has also owned several other cars, which he had fixed up and sold. Pete is usually the designated driver of the three, being the most skilled at it and has saved them from crashes multiple times.

* HopelessWithTech: He is clueless about technology and has no idea how the internet works. He at least, knows how to play video games and use a phone.

* BestFriend: With both Pete and Jupiter.
* {{Bookworm}}: Comes with the role of being involved in research, Bob enjoys reading books. He also worked part-time at the library in the original series. He loses some of his bookworm-ish tendencies in Crimebusters, growing more outgoing and confident, but he still has a penchant for reading.

* TheHeart: He is the most emotionally perceptive and logically balanced of the three. When Jupe and Pete fight, Bob is usually the one holding them together. He doesn't always like it, but if he didn't do it, no one would.
-->"Bob sighed internally. If he wasn't constantly playing the mediator, Pete would probably have left the Three Investigators. It really got on his nerves to always be the one who had to pay for the arguments between Jupe and Pete."
--->-''Geheimsache [=UFO=]''

* TheNavigator: Pete is said to have a very good sense of direction and is usually the one leading the way in new and unknown places or when they're being chased.
* NervousWreck: Pete is the most likely out of the investigators to get nervous or FreakOut. He absolutely ''hates'' it when Jupe and Bob make him do dangerous tasks or investigating spooky things. If things get serious, he will be able to work through it thanks to adrenaline, but it doesn't stop him from panicking on the inside or after.

* ShipTease: With Kelly being nonexistent in the radio plays after being written out, he has had ship teases with both Bob and Jeffery. He straight up shares a kiss with Bob in ''Der verschollene Pilot'' and his previous dates with Kelly are instead hangouts with Jeffery instead.
* TheSoCalledCoward: Despite being the muscle and brawn of the group, Pete is arguably the most cautious of the three with a propensity to be afraid. He innately wants to avoid all types of danger and will openly complain when Jupe and Bob make him do the dangerous tasks and is notoriously superstitious. Despite his apparent [[CowardlyLion cowardly nature]], Pete is actually noticeably braver than he appears on the surface. When things get dangerous, he is the first to react and will face them head on, even becoming [[LetsGetDangerous dangerously reckless]] himself and can be notably [[RevengeBeforeReason vengeful]]. Even though his friends tease him for being a coward, Pete does not call himself one at all. In fact, both Jupe and Bob believes the reason why he so openly voices his fears and complains is because he is just trying to relieve tension.

* ActionSurvivor: While all the boys survive harrowing moments, Pete has arguably survived some ''really'' rough stuff. Not only did he survive two distinct plane crashes (and one involved him getting thrown from the plane upon the crash) like his colleagues, he also survived several hostage situations, been kidnapped for an extended period of time on several different occasions. He has been left to bake alive in a car trunk, had his arm sliced open, was [[ColdBloodedTorture tortured]] by a machine that induces [[MindRape horrible feelings and sensations]] and ultimately, had to he resuscitated after he went into cardiac arrest via electrocution. On a meta level, he actually died from a gunshot wound in one of the drafts (which he avoided when the author reversed it).

* BestFriend: They are each other's best friends.
* ChildhoodFriends: It's unclear when the three boys met, but they have been hanging out together at least since they were ten years old or younger.

* JustAKid: They were roughly thirteen years old when they started their detective work, though age up to roughly seventeen (sixteen in the German release) in the Crimebusters and beyond. They're even younger in the 'Die Drei ??? Kids' spinoff, which pegs them at ten years old instead.

* OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent: Middle school students in the original series, but they are just a trio of teenagers that play detective for fun.
* PlotRelevantAgeUp: They were roughly between twelve-thirteen years old in the original series and were aged up to sixteen-seventeen for Crimebusters to appeal to an older audience.

** FreudianTrio: With Jupiter being the Superego, Pete being the Id, and Bob being the one to balance them both with the Ego.

* TheDriver: Not only does he have his own car(s) in Crimebusters (he swaps them out frequently as he sells them), he is usually the designated driver. He is inarguably the best driver out of the three, having been able to save them from crashes multiple times.

* IWillFindYou: If one of them is missing or captured, you can bet rhe rest will do all they can to get them

* VitriolicBestBuds: Although they teased each other a lot as kids, it becomes more prominent as they grew up: Jupe [[IAmBigBoned about his weight]] or his strange dieting plans, [[TheCharmer Bob]] and [[TheCasanova penchant for 'collecting girls']], and Pete for being a [[AgentMulder superstitious]] [[CowardlyLion coward]], being a bit BookDumb, and his loyalty to his girlfriend. But despite this, these guys will literally do anything for each other.
* WeWorkWellTogether: Despite having many differences on the surface and having the occasional argument, the three boys work extremely well together and are great friends.

* FreeRangeChildren: The investigators are free to explore the whole area of Rocky Beach, as long as they come home to dinner at time. Their parents are also pretty liberal with giving them permission to go camping or out of town (as long as they have an adult tagalong). When they got older, their parents are usually okay with letting them go around without too much permission.

---> ''Geheimsache [=UFO=]''

* RidiculouslyAverageGuy: Out of his two peers (Jupiter is 'stocky' while Pete is noticeably tall), Bob doesn't particularly stand out from your average American kid, even his name is very average. In fact, it comes in handy once in a while for some undercover work. He grows out of this by Crimebusters, where he's noted to be quite lean and handsome and quite the ladies' man. Now he's the one who sticks out compared to the three.

* TheSmartGuy: Although he is not as smart as Jupiter, he is quite intelligent on his own. If Jupiter isn't around, he will do most of the thinking for him and Pete.

A 'stocky' former child actor who acts as the leader and the First Investigator and one of the main protagonists of the series.\\

The Second Investigator and one of the main protagonists of the series.\\

* AffectionateNickname: Mostly known by his nickname 'Pete'. He is also called 'Second' by Jupiter and Bob, which refers to his status as the Second Investigator.

The Third Investigator, a bookish fellow turned Casanova charmer who is in charge of taking notes and researching and one of the main protagonist of the series.\\

* AffectionateNickname: His first name is actually 'Robert', but he mostly goes by Bob. He is also called 'Records', by Pete and Jupiter, which refer to his role as Records and Research. After he ages out of that role, is also called 'Third' (the third investigator).

-->Bob sighed internally. If he wasn't constantly playing the mediator, Pete would probably have left the Three Investigators. It really got on his nerves to always be the one who had to pay for the arguments between Just and Pete.
--- Geheimsache [=UFO=]
* DoingResearch: His main role in the Three Investigators in the original series. Though by Crimebusters, he has more or less become dropped this role in favor of being the group's charismatic talker, but is still the one who keeps files and records of all their cases.

This page details the three main protagonist from [[Literature/TheThreeInvestigators]].