Characters / Hero Complex

Protagonists

Noah Newport

The central protagonist of Hero Complex. Noah begins the story as a withdrawn, socially awkward, Ridiculously Average Guy whose life is flipped upside down once he learns he's the unlucky target of an intergalactic terrorist.

---

• Action Survivor: He's a normal, innocent bystander who is swept up in an epic, universe-threatening plot. He's also quick and agile and manages to keep a cool head when he's in danger.
• All-Loving Hero: Noah's general attitude toward everyone. Even when faced with people who act antagonistically toward him, such as Matriarch Safir, Noah is always willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.
• Alliterative Name: A shoutout to similarly-named comic book characters such as Peter Parker, Lois Lane, Matt Murdock, etc.
• Audience Surrogate: The workings of the multiverse and the Brotherhood are explained to Noah and all major story revelations are seen through his eyes.
• Asian and Nerdy: Averted in that Noah is more savvy than stereotypically nerdy.
• Badass Adorable: He may look like The Twink, but he's not afraid to throw down.
• Badass Normal: Gradually evolves into an Empowered Badass Normal.
• Beware the Nice Ones: Overall he's good-natured and polite, but do not insult him or cross someone he cares about.
• Brainy Brunette: While not portrayed as academic, Noah frequently demonstrates the ability to problem solve and calmly think through situations under pressure.
• Big Eater: Noah frequently thinks about food even after finishing a big meal, owing to his Hyperactive Metabolism.
• Bishōnen: Grant outright tells him he's beautiful, and Henrik describes him as such using an Old Norse term.
• Boy Next Door: Unlike most examples, he's also the central character.
• Character Development: Noah is introduced as a timid and Ridiculously Average Guy who can't raise his voice high enough to fend off the unwanted advances of a blind date. As he learns the truth about his place in the multiverse, his confidence and sense of identity grows and sharpens.
• Cool Sword: When he wields the Ulfbur.
• Combat Parkour: During his fight scenes, but especially with Dark Grant.
• Dark and Troubled Past: One that he gradually reveals over time. Despite this, he tries his best to maintain a positive (if wistful) attitude.
• Despair Event Horizon: When he is ambushed by Dark Grant and forced to watch as Captain Viking sacrifices himself to ensure his safety. Noah is broken by this, realizing that The Ascendant and his army may be unstoppable.
• Did I Just Say That Out Loud?: His verbal diarrhea is a recurring problem for him.
• Distressed Dude: Being the target of an Ax-Crazy Serial Killer has put him in a few dangerous situations, to say the least.
• Fish out of Temporal Water: Somewhat. The multiverse follows a simultaneous timestream, so while Earth Alpha appears futuristic, it's still the present year when he arrives there.
• Friendless Background: Noah tells Grant during "Grant and the Runaway" that most of his friends have grown up and assumed lives of their own, while he still feels like a directionless adolescent.
• Genki Guy: Though he alternates between this and Socially Awkward Hero..
• Grew a Spine: Noah standing up for Grant during "The Trial of the Viking Knight" surprises even him.
• Going Native: He initially struggles to adapt to Earth Alpha culture but grows more comfortable over time. Noah even undergoes fight training with Henrik.
• The Hero: Noah begins the story as a Pinball Protagonist but once he becomes less reactive and more assertive, his actions start to drive the narrative forward.
• Heroes Prefer Swords: Noah undergoes intensive training in order to properly wield the Ulfbur. He gets very, very good at it.
• Heroic Willpower: This is essentially what allows him to embody The Eternal and control its powers.
• Hidden Badass: Noah certainly never expected his life to change so drastically as to let him go toe-to-toe with intergalactic terrorists, superpowered Knights, and cosmic beings.
• I Just Want to Be Free: Once Noah is taken off of Earth 1012.
• The Idealist: Noah tells Grant that he believes all people contain Hidden Depths and deserve to have their stories told.
• Little Guy, Big Buddy: A romantic example with Grant. Played straight with the other male Knights.
• Manchild: Noah is emotionally mature and intelligent, yet he's almost 30 and spends his free time at home watching Netflix, playing videogames, and avoiding any kind of social life. His wardrobe is also pretty childlike, with ripped jeans and animal-themed sweaters.
• Manic Pixie Dream Boy: To Grant, somewhat. While he helps Grant learn to loosen up and enjoy life, its secondary to his role as the story's hero.
• The Many Deaths of You: Somewhat. Noah frequently witnesses the deaths of his alternate selves, although he himself remains alive.
• Masculine Girl, Feminine Boy: When he interacts with Lisette.
• Meaningful Name: Noah is the Hebrew name meaning rest and comfort. Noah’s desire, as he reveals to Grant, is to find safety in his turbulent life. He also shepherds a handful of survivors from an apocalyptic wrath and guides them toward a new world.
• More than Meets the Eye: Many members of The Brotherhood blow off Noah's usefulness owing to his comparatively smaller stature and inexperience, but he gradually proves himself as a Badass Normal. And once he becomes The Eternal.
• Nice Guy: One of his defining traits.
• Non-Linear Character: If you count his alternate selves, Noah is spread out through a vast array of dimensions, worlds, and circumstances.
• Not Quite Back to Normal: The ending leaves it ambiguous as to whether or not he's retained his powers as The Eternal
• No Social Skills: Although he gradually gets better, he's initially tongue-tied and nervous around people he doesn't know.
• Older Than They Look: Most characters mistake him for much younger than his actual age: 28.
• One Character, Multiple Lives: Again, if you count his alternate selves. Played straight toward the climax when Noah as The Eternal spreads himself out across time and space.
• Opposites Attract: Him and Grant.
  • Brooding Boy, Gentle Boy: The gentle to Grant's brooding.
• Official Couple: Again, him and Grant.
• Parental Abandonment: Both of Noah's parents are gone from his life.
• The Pawn: To The Ascendant. And to Matriarch Safir.
• Pinball Protagonist: For most of the story, until he begins taking matters into his own hands.
• Pretty Boy: Although he's rather modest/shy about it.
• Protagonist Power-Up Privileges: First with the Ulburf, then with the Source Crystal.
• Reluctant Fanservice Girl: He's very uncomfortable while wearing his skintight Spider-Man costume. He's similarly bashful when he wakes up naked in front of The Keeper.
• Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right!: Noah invokes this when Grant or someone he cares about is in danger.
• Secular Hero: When he learns of Earth Alpha's creation myth, he admits that he doesn't believe in God.
• Sensitive Guy and Manly Man: The sensitive guy compared to Grant and the male Knights.
• Socially Awkward Hero: Owing to his dorky nature.
• Took a Level in Badass: With the help of Henrik and Thea, who provide intensive fight training to Noah at his request. He then takes another huge level toward the end of the story.
• Trapped in Another World: Noah once he arrives on Earth Alpha under the strict care of the Brotherhood.
• The Twink: Especially compared to Hero Complex's more traditionally masculine male characters.
• Twofer Token Minority: He is both gay and half Asian.
• Waif-Fu: A rare male example. After Taking a Level in Badass, he uses agility, hand-to-hand combat and gymnastic moves during fight scenes. While he also wields a sword, his attack style is more balletic and precise than blunt and heavy.
• What Beautiful Eyes!: There's a lot of emphasis on his green eyes. They're the first thing Grant notices about him.

Grant Bjornlund

Noah's primary love interest and Hero Complex's supporting protagonist. He belongs to an ancient order of superpowered knights from an alternate dimension and quickly forms a romantic bond with the young man he's been sworn to protect. Grant struggles to deal not only with his feelings for Noah vs. his loyalty to the Brotherhood, but with his savage viking lineage vs. the nobility of his title as a knight.

---

• Action Hero: Grant is a rugged, superpowered badass who very easily beats bad guys into a pulp.
• The Atoner: All the people he's killed starts to weigh on his conscience by the time he meets Noah.
• Be All My Sins Remembered: Grant feels unworthy of Noah's love due to his dark past.
• Blood Knight: Hinted at then played straight once he escapes from The Citadel. Grant's bloodthirsty way of fighting acts as a secret shame for him.
• Bodyguard Crush: Grant with Noah.
• Broken Ace: The Brotherhood looks up to and admires Grant for his professionalism and fighting skills, which tends to confound or outright annoy the emotionally stunted Grunt.
• Bruiserwith A Soft Center: He may look mean and tough, but Grant reveals a tender, romantic side when he's alone with Noah.
• But Not Too Bi: Grant’s engagement to Thea was brief and hinted to be nothing more than a beard relationship.
• Carpet of Virility: Noah is surprised by how thick and dark Grant's chest hair is, considering he's a natural blond.
• Chest Insignia: His chestplate armor bares the insignia of the Brotherhood of the Horizon.
• Clueless Chick-Magnet: He's oblivious to pretty much all advances made on him.
• Consummate Professional: Grant's default personality. Meeting Noah puts this aspect of him into a tailspin, though.
• Covered in Scars: Justified given that Grant has spent his entire life fighting.
• Defrosting Ice King: Much of story revolves around Noah melting Grant’s gruff, loner persona.
• Deep Cover Agent: His below-the-radar identity on Earth 1012 was that of a simple, quiet mechanic.
• Establishing Character Moment: When he saves Noah by punching his date-gone-wrong Colin clear across an alleyway and into a car.
• Fallen Hero: Played with after his suspension from the Brotherhood.
• The Fettered: Grant is a very responsible, principled man who values justice, honor, and respect.
• Gag Penis: Noah is simultaneously impressed and put off by his endowment.
• Gentle Giant: When he's around Noah. Not so much around everyone else.
• The Good Captain: He treats his squadmates well and he's highly respected within The Brotherood.
• Good Is Not Nice: Although he means well, he has a tendency to be pretty harsh.
• Has a Type: He shows some muted attraction to the alternate Noahs.
• Hates Small Talk: His first few encounters with Noah invoke this, but he slowly learns to open up.
• He Cleans Up Nicely: The odd times that Grant dresses up.
• Healing Factor: Albeit an artificial one.
• Hunk: Despite his dark attitude and guarded personality, pretty much every character in Hero Complex agrees that Grant is ridiculously attractive.
• Icy Gray Eyes: Grant's gray eyes definitely match the cold, strong-willed, unapproachable aspect of this trope.
• If You Ever Do Anything To Hurt Him: When someone threatens Noah in front of him (also his Berserk Button).

• The Leader: He varies between the Levelheaded and Headstrong types.
• Lightning Bruiser: Grant fights like The Heavy but he's able to singlehandedly take down an entire army in "Gods Must Die" within minutes.
• Made of Iron: He almost always walks away from battle completely unscathed. Briefly averted when he suffers a stab wound in "Noah Takes Flight", but he quickly gets better.
• A Man Is Always Eager: He has a very healthy sex drive, especially when under the influence of the Crystal pebbles.
• Meaningful Name: Grant is a Scottish surname derived from the French “grand”, meaning tall or great.
• Mr. Fanservice: Grant spends many scenes naked or in various states of undress.
• Mysterious Protector: How he's portrayed in the first couple of chapters.

• Old-School Chivalry: Grant even refers to his pursual of Noah as a courtship (which Noah finds helplessly old-fashioned).
• One-Man Army: Grant often finishes missions on his own without the need for backup.
• The Paragon Always Rebels: Grant goes rogue from the Brotherhood after he realizes that the Citadel can't keep Noah safe from The Ascendant's attacks.
• Peerless Love Interest: How Grant views Noah.
• Sexy Scandinavian: Somewhat. Grant is ethnically Scandinavian but speaks with a British accent and is culturally English.
• The Stoic: Grant is usually shown to be guarded and silent.
• Supporting Protagonist: While he fits the traditional mould of the hero better than anyone, his actual role in the story is to assist and protect Noah.
• Super-Strength: Strong enough to stop a speeding car with his bare hands. In "Gods Must Die", he outright kills people with single strikes to their body.
• Terror Hero: Varies between The Intimidator and The Dreaded.

Henrik

• Attack! Attack! Attack!: Henrik definitely prefers action over words in combat.

Antagonists

The Ascendant

Hero Complex's Villain Antagonist. He is classified as an interstellar terrorist who, for mysterious reasons, is systematically murdering or brainwashing the various alternate Noah Newports of the multiverse.

---

• Bright Is Not Good: The Ascendant’s beautiful, sparkling galaxy face mask.
• Bring Him to Me: Commands an army of alternate Noahs to do his bidding.

• Determinator: He will stop at nothing to kill Noah.
• Dimension Lord: He rules over an empty alternate dimension called the Dead Earth.

• Evil Sounds Deep: His voice is disguised.

• Flaw Exploitation: He frequently uses Noah and Grant's starcrossed love against them.

• Lean and Mean: The Ascendant is slender rather than big and bulky.

• Offstage Villainy: He is absent for chunks of the story, in which we only hear of him being discussed by other characters.
• Omnicidal Maniac: The Ascendant wants the Source Crystal all to himself and will do whatever he can to seize control over it, even if it means destroying existence itself.

The Noah Army

• Body Horror: The Ascendant disfigures some aspect of each alternate Noah before he sends them out to battle.
• Brainwashed and Crazy: The individual personalities and identities of the Noahs are mindwiped out of them until they become single-minded villainous Implacable Men.

• The Dreaded: Their appearances are always followed by massive destruction and death.
• The Grotesque: Their various facial deformities.
• No-Nonsense Nemesis: The Noahs do not respond to reason or emotion.
• Starter Villain: Scarred Noah in "Noah Takes Flight" acts as this before the Noah Army are properly revealed.

The Brotherhood of the Horizon

The Brotherhood

Tropes that apply to The Brotherhood as an organization:

---

• Back-to-Back Badasses: During fight scenes, the Knights always have each other's backs.
• Badass Crew: Especially Grant and his squad of Thea, Lanfred, Lisette, and Vangarde.
• Bizarre Human Biology: The Knights gain powers and their Healing Factor from swallowing pebbles mined from the Source Crystal.
• Church Militant: Present, but downplayed. The Knights believe in a divine creator named The Eternal and center many social events around their devotion to him, however their missions are not motivated by their faith.
• Council Of Shadows: The High Council, a mysterious internal affairs department led by Matriarch Safir.
• Dimensional Traveler: Their duties involve taking dangerous missions that take place on alternate Earths.
• Form-Fitting Wardrobe: The Knights wear sleek, black, modern battle suits as opposed to clunky chainmail armor.
• Helmets Are Hardly Heroic: Head coverings of any kind are not part of their outfits.
• Hot Men at Work: The Knights are all very physically attractive.
• Matriarchy: The Brotherhood is led by Matriarch Safir, a woman. Lampshaded by Noah, who questions why the organization would have a male-centric name.

• The Paragon: The Knights of the Brotherhood are highly respected and revered among Earth Alpha's citizens.
• Professional Killers: On the scale of good. They are primarily sent to kill or assassinate threats such as political tyrants, corrupt royalty, and terrorists on their missions.
• Super-Strength: Each Knight has strength that far exceeds that of a regular human.

Matriarch Safir

The mysterious, no-nonsense head chancellor of The Brotherhood of the Horizon. Her past is a mystery to the Knights she rules over.

---

• Animated Tattoo: Her face is covered in living tattoos that morph along with her mood.
• Badass Bureaucrat: She takes no prisoners and suffers no fools as the head of the Brotherhood.
• Comically Serious: Especially evident during her interactions with Noah.
• Cool Crown: The Matriarch wears an intricate jade headpiece when making public appearances.
• The Chessmaster: As revealed during "Gods Must Die", she's been working behind the scenes to ensure all the major players are moving in the right direction.
• Dragon Lady: A mild example. She has a cold attitude and wears a kimono, but her ethnicity is left ambiguous, and her role is not overtly villainous.
• Enigmatic Empowering Entity: Her primarily role as a cosmic mentor to Noah is only revealed toward the end of the story.
• Evil Matriarch: Played with, but ultimately subverted.
• Guile Heroine: The Matriarch uses secret machinations and political power plays to achieve her desired results.
• Hidden Depths: She is introduced as intimidating Headmistress-type character who gradually reveals an unwavering desire to see the multiverse at peace.
• Ice Queen: Her legendary frostiness has earned her this reputation.

• Kimono Is Traditional: She is never seen without wearing some variation of a kimono.
• No Sense of Humor: Her Straight Man tendencies come out when she's paired with Noah.
• Proper Lady: She at one point chastises Noah for wanting to attend a public street fair over a black tie ball.
• Reasonable Authority Figure: While sometimes overly stern, the Matriarch ultimately is invested in fairness and highly opposed to tyranny.

• Utopia Justifies the Means: How the Matriarch was able to mold Earth Alpha into its current state, and what drives her to eradicate any dystopic elements of the alternate Earths.

Vangarde

• Casanova Wannabe: He strikes out with women quite often.
• Casual Danger Dialogue: Grant mentions that Vangarde often needles him about his love life during missions.
• Delinquent Hair: Vangarde's wild, signature red mohawk.
• Friendly Sniper: During "Gods Must Die", Vangarde takes point as sniper backup for Grant. Not that Grant needed it.
• The Gunslinger: Rifles and guns are his preferred method of combat.
• Knight Templar
• The Lancer: To Grant, given his status as Grant's oldest friend and confidante.
• Noble Male, Roguish Male: The roguish to Grant or Lanfred’s noble.
• Sidekick: To Noah during his stay on the Citadel.
• Straight Man and Wise Guy: The wise guy to Grant or Lanfred’s straight man.

Thea

• Action Girl: The most recognized and feared female Knight within The Brotherhood.
• Aloof Dark-Haired Girl
• Amazonian Beauty: Noah's very first impression of her.
• Brutal Honesty: Almost immediately upon meeting Noah, she reveals that she and Grant had a romantic past.
• Distaff Counterpart: To Wonder Woman.
• Ice Queen: Has shades of this, but she is more blunt than deliberately mean.
• Icy Blue Eyes
• Lady of War
• Light Feminine and Dark Feminine: The dark feminine to Lisette’s light feminine.
• Not So Stoic: She reveals a warmer side to herself once she becomes more comfortable around Noah.
• Old Flame: To Grant.
• Parental Substitute: A potential mother figure for Noah.
• The Smurfette Principle: Averted, as there is another female member of her squadron and several other female Knights and characters.
• Statuesque Stunner

Lanfred

• The Cynic: The most vocal one of his squad.
• Foolish Sibling, Responsible Sibling: The responsible to Lisette's foolish.
• Gentleman Snarker
• Masculine Girl, Feminine Boy: Lanfred is much more of a dandy compared to his tomboy sister.
• Polar Opposite Twins
• Stiff Upper Lip
• The Straight and Arrow Path: Despite having access to advanced weaponry, Lanfred prefers the traditional bow and arrow.
• Those Two Guys: With Lisette.

Lisette

• Boisterous Bruiser: A rare female example.
• Braids of Action: Lisette keeps her hair short with the exception of her long, braided ponytail.
• Cute Bruiser: She doesn't know her own strength, especially while interacting with non-powered individuals.
• Constantly Curious: Lisette is fascinated by Earth 1012 culture and tries to wring information out of Noah as often as she can.
• Cool Big Sis: To Noah (averted with Lanfred).
• Foolish Sibling, Responsible Sibling: The foolish to Lanfred's responsible.
• Hard-Drinking Party Girl: She definitely enjoys her beer when she's cutting loose.
• The Lad Ette: Lisette can chug a beer and tell a dirty joke just as well as anyone.
• Masculine Girl, Feminine Boy: With both Lanfred and Noah.
• Motor Mouth: Perhaps her most defining character trait.
• One of the Boys: Lisette gets along very well with her male teammates.
• Plucky Comic Relief: She's introduced by shaking Noah's hand so hard it makes the poor boy lose his balance.
• Polar Opposite Twins
• Those Two Guys: With Lanfred.

Ella / The Keeper

• Adults Dressed as Children: She has the temporary outward appearance of a child, however she is an adult woman.
• Beleaguered Assistant: To Matriarch Safir.
• Body Guarding A Badass: Her role as The Keeper was to watch over Grant as he protected Noah.
• Constantly Curious: Under cover, she annoyed Noah with a constant volley of annoying questions.
• Deadpan Snarker: Especially after shedding her undercover identity.
• Deliberately Cute Child: She invokes this to conceal her true identity as The Keeper.
• Girl Next Door: How Ella is introduced.
• The Fake Cutie: Beneath her sweet little child exterior, she is a deeply bitter adult.
• The Napoleon: Somewhat. While Ella isn't power-hungry, she certainly tries to use authority against Noah and Grant to subconsciously compensate for her small stature.
• Nosy Neighbor: Ella repeatedly asks Noah about his former relationship with Adam, much to Noah's discomfort.
• Older Than They Look: Though it's never stated how old the proper Ella actually is.
• Secret Identity: As Ella, the innocent kid next door.
• Secret-Keeper
• Shapeshifter Mode Lock: Ella notes that her "organic digsuise" as a little girl will last up to a month, much to her displeasure.
• Small Girl, Big Gun: Her method of taking out The Ascendant during the attack on the cottage? A giant rocket launcher.

Other Characters

Adam

• Disposable Love Interest: Adam just sort of appears and disappears throughout the story and isn't given a serious shot at winning Noah's affections.
• Dumb Jock: Has shades of Lovable Jock, depending on your interpretation.
• Idle Rich: Adam comes from a wealthy family and lives off payouts from his dad.
• Naked First Impression: In a locker room. Wearing nothing but a jockstrap. Which he quickly removes.

Tetrarch Noah

• Alas, Poor Villain: A much more sympathetic character than the corrupt ruler Grant was expecting.
• Arc Speech: "So often are we guided by our devotion, our love, our relationships. A bond that pulls us from the dark and into the light. When you are staring into the bedeviling gaze of your reaper... how far will that bond carry you?"
• Despair Event Horizon: Implied to have had one as a result of his kingdom revolting against him.
• Empty Shell: His emotional state by the time Grant invades his castle.
• Face Death with Dignity: He is neither surprised nor afraid when he learns Grant has been sent to kill him.
• Killed Offscreen: His death is not described. Grant simply emerges from his bedroom covered in blood.
• Not Afraid to Die: His last words are "I'm ready".
• Sheltered Aristocrat: He reveals that Tetrarchs are not allowed to have families or sexual relationships.
• Troubled, but Cute: Even though the context is wildly different, he's still Noah in physical appearance.
• We All Die Someday: The philosophy he's resigned to.