Striker and Jake's relationship. While he may seem standoffish and even unkind to Jake, Striker loves his son deeply and is very protective of him. On the other hand, while he doesn't always understand his father's motives, Jake idolizes him and is equally protective of him as shown in Truth Seekers.
The fact that Jane went up against her father and left her life of privilege and luxury behind just shows how strong her love for Striker was. She was willing to give up everything she had to be with him. Then there's the fact that she willingly forfeited her own life to give her then-unborn child a chance to live.
Amelia, Striker's mother, was kind and loving towards her son. Though she's been dead for years, she still has a deep influence on the lives of her son and grandson.
Striker is shown to have a particularly close friendship with Millie. He calls her by her full name Mildred as an affectionate gesture and is very respectful towards her than with Blitzo or Moxxie. Though he occasionally flirts with her in a playful manner, he never crosses a line and respects her marriage to Moxxie.
Jake is shown to consider Blitzo a sort of uncle, even calling him Uncle Blitz a few times.
Vol. 1: Murder Family
Striker's intimidating speech to Moxxie regarding killing a family, as he's acting out of concern for Moxxie's and everyone else's safety.
Despite being royally pissed at Moxxie for getting them captured in the first place, Striker does acknowledge his quick-thinking with a tip of his hat after subduing Martha's kids.
The first thing Jake does after being freed is to jump straight into his father's arms.
Vol. 2: Loo Loo Land.
Striker plays his guitar and sings You'll be in my heart to baby Jake to lull him to sleep.
Striker refuses to purchase a stuffed dragon for Jake for being too expensive, but in the end he did get it for his son from the shooting gallery, placing it next to him in his bed as Jake is sleeping before kissing his forehead.
Vol. 3: Nerd.
Being five years old, Jake doesn't speak in complete sentences and mispronounces words.
Striker's angelic rifle turns out to have a sentimental value because it belonged to his late wife, though this isn't directly mentioned.
Despite their previous differences, Striker and Moxxie discover they share a passion over weapons.
Vol. 4: Spring Broken
When Verosika tries to seduce Striker, he points a gun at her and states that 'his heart already belongs to someone else'. This implies that he still deeply loves Jane even after nine years of her death.
Striker going straight into the mutant fish's maw to save Jake shows how protective he is of his child.
Striker goes all the way into the monster fish's stomach to retrieve Jane's blessed tip rifle, showing just how attached he is to it.
While Blitzo drops Moxxie to the ground, he carefully passes Jake over to his father.
Vol. 5: Mom
The first half of the story depicts Striker taking care of Jake, as the latter has a hangover from the beer he accidentally consumed the previous day. Striker bathes him in warm water, makes him tea and a broth, and dabs his feverish forehead with a humid cloth. It's fatherly love at its fullest.
Somewhat Played for Laughs with Blitzo. He was tied up and locked up in the closet because he wanted to be present for Jake's first hangover, and was more than happy to stay with him while Striker went out for a few hours. In the end, Blitzo is spying on Striker and Jake through the latter's window, prompting Striker to startle him and make him fall.
Striker finally gathers the courage to tell Jake about his mother. The way he looks at Jane's photo as he recalls all of their times together shows that he still loves her and misses her very much; he even admits that Jake resembles her in many ways.
Vol. 6: Jake
Zigzags with Tearjerker. Despite having lost his wife a few mere hours ago, Striker's first priority is his newborn son. The short story focuses on the two of them bonding for the first time ever.
Jake recognizes Striker's voice from when he was in his mother's womb.
As a way to honor Jane, Striker decides to pick the name she wanted for their son despite previously considering it 'too regular'.
Yes, it's Jake.
Vol. 7: C.H.E.R.U.B.
Despite the fact that demons don't believe in Santa Claus, Striker distracts Jake by sending him for ice cream to keep him from witnessing the unmasking of the Shopping Mall santa claus, which was heartbreaking to the human kids (and Lyle Lipton).
Striker admits he's proud of Jake for killing Lyle by himself (even if it was an accident).
Vol. 8: Pilot
Striker briefly stands up for Millie when Eddie insults her, showing just how much he cares about her.
Vol. 9: The Harvest Moon Festival
Striker allows the rest of I.M.P. to stay over at his house even though they practically came uninvited, even lending Millie and Moxxie his own room so they can 'have fun'.
Millie and Travers's reunion is unusually warm and friendly for a pair of exes; they even call each other by their childhood nicknames.
Striker is shown to still be held in high regard by Lynn and Joe, with the latter even greeting him with a friendly man hug. Further lampshaded in Part 3 by Joe.
Joe: Only a real man has the balls to 86 a demon blueblood! Just look at Striker, he's offed more bluebloods than I can actually count
Despite Travers's villainous role and animosity towards Striker and Moxxie, he never harms Millie and continues to act in a casual, gentle manner even after his true intentions were revealed.
Additionally, he seems to be genuinely fond of Millie's family, considering that he's technically known them for his whole life.
Travers is shown to care about his mare Wendigo just like Striker with Bombproof.
Striker goes into full Papa Wolf mode to protect Jake from Travers when he finds the latter strangling his son.
Striker refusing to go after Travers without tending to Moxxie's wound first shows just how much he cares about him as a friend despite his constant teasing of him.
In the end, Jake ends up talking Joe and Lynn down for scolding Millie over 'letting Travers go', pointing out that she saved him from Travers and adding that Moxxie has made Millie happy.
Vol. 10: Truth Seekers
When the humans attack, Striker realizes that Jake would try to cross over to try and fend them off; being the protective father he is, Striker immediately tells Loona to close the portal before Jake can do so to keep him out of harm's way.
Jake, too, is shown to be fiercely protective of his father.
Blitzo does not make a joke nor make fun of Striker when noticing him crying, showing genuine concern about him instead. After Striker lets out his repressed grief, Blitzo and Moxxie reassure him that he can count on them as friends. This show of understanding and genuine concern improves the three characters' relationship as a whole.
This leads to Striker finally revealing his true name to the rest of I.M.P. later on.
In the end, it's revealed that Bombproof was the one to alert Stolas that I.M.P. was in trouble. He even nuzzles Striker's cheek as if saying 'I'm glad you're okay' when they return.
Striker gifts his angelic pistol to Jake after seeing him in battle, declaring that he is ready for it and tearfully telling him that his mother would be proud of him.
Vol. 11: The Blood Countess
Five-year-old Jake's curiosity and shenanigans.
Millie shows the most concern for Striker throughout the first half upon noticing his uncharacteristically quiet and tense behavior.
In spite of the abuse she made Striker go through, a gentler side of Bathory is shown when she watches Jake sleeping, finding him adorable.
So far this is the only –more or less-–'positive' interaction between Striker and Bathory. She genuinely opens up to him, going as far as to reveal a secret from when she was alive.
Despite her newfound cruelty and power down in Hell, the vampiress Overlord retains her–perhaps– only positive aspect: the heart of a mother. It's lampshaded by Bathory herself that she could never bring herself to harm children.
Vol. 12: Ozzie's
Striker and Moxxie's brief interactions in this chapter are the friendliest they've had so far. Rather than making fun of Moxxie's song, Striker gives him constructive criticism and outright warns him of a possible negative reaction by the audience at Ozzie's. Later, he smashes a guitar on Fizarolli's head, allowing Moxxie to finish his song for Millie.
This is probably because it's Millie and Moxxie's wedding anniversary. Having been married himself, Striker understands the importance of such a special day and why Moxxie wants it to be special.
Though Striker was the one who got Moxxie the reservation at the usually-overcrowded Ozzie's as a favor, he lets Moxxie take the credit for it in Millie's presence.
The ending zigzags with Tear Jerker, as Striker looks through old photos of him and Jane to remember the good times. The final photo is from the day before her death, which naturally drives him to tears.
Intermission: Painful Truths
Striker and Blitzo have a heartfelt conversation about their feelings, evidently the first one they've had since they started working together. Striker actually opening up about his wife's death shows just how much he's come to trust Blitzo and call him a friend.
Likewise, Blitzo has no problem in finally letting everything out in front of Striker as he weeps and seeks comfort.
Striker points out that, despite the emptiness and pain Jane's absence causes him, he doesn't regret loving her in the least. Once again, this proves how deep his love for his wife is even after ten years.
Vol. 13: Howdy!
Striker and Jake's first meeting with Blitzo and company.
Millie's parents are shown to hold Striker in very high regard, both as a farmhand and a 'better husband' for Millie. Joe lampshades it in the third chapter after Striker correctly deduces that he and Lynn have been trying to set him up with Millie.
Joe: It's a pity that Mildred didn't meet ya before meeting him, I certainly would have loved to have ye in the family.
Striker trusts his five-year-old son enough to let him handle killing a hellhog by himself.
Millie and Striker's first interactions. In spite of Lynn and Joe's attempts at setting them up together, Striker is respectful and cordial towards Millie, respecting her marriage to Moxxie.
The way he describes her love for Moxxie.
Striker: I saw the love in her eyes when she spoke of him, I can tell that he's made her very happy for however long they've been together.
And the way he talks about his late wife.
Striker: My wife may be dead, but I'm still madly in love with her. I cannot look at another woman the way I used to look at her, I just... sigh I just can't.
Blitzo and the gang throw a surprise party to welcome Striker and Jake to I.M.P. Though somewhat embarrassed, Striker is visibly touched by the gesture.
Helluva Dad Drabbles
Most of the short stories as a whole contain plenty of this. A majority of them explore Jake and Striker's relationship at different stages of the former's life, most notably as a baby. Others act as prequels showing Striker's relationships with other characters, most notably his wife Jane and Bombproof.
