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Vinnie Genzianna
The main protagonist and leader of the Stompers.
- Character Development: For most of the film he is a Dirty Coward who chickens out when danger happens and seems to be mostly interested in Rozzie for sexual desires. When it's revealed that the older gentlemen is actually Vinny grown up, we see that he's actually gotten wiser. When older Rozzie gives Vinny a second chance, he doesn't run away from commitment. He also doesn't take sexual advantage of Rozzie anymore as we see him holding her tight and comforting her as she hugs him.
- Character Tic: Throughout the movie, Vinnie tends to comb back his very typical-of-a-thug pompadour. This is best shown in his proper introduction; A single, stubborn lock of hair keeps falling out, causing Vinnie to mess his hair up and comb it back up repeatedly.
- Covert Pervert: He ogles and gropes his girl whenever he gets the chance.
- Deconstructed Character Archetype: Vinnie is this for the typical 1950's greaser. He may be cool but as it turns out, he is not as admirable as expected from these kind of characters. He's a Dirty Coward who gets his gang into trouble and chickens out having them to deal with the rumble.
- Dirty Coward: His Fatal Flaw. He ropes his gang into a rumble to fight for their girls, but chickens out and tries to skip town at the last minute, resulting in the death of his best friend, his girlfriend feeling abandoned and depressed for decades, and who knows how many members of his Stompers injured or dead.
- Fake Ultimate Hero / Anti-Hero: His cowardice makes him this.
- Fatal Flaw: His cowardice and his need to protect his honor above anything else.
- Gonk: His face vaguely looks like a monkey's and he has very large lips.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: He does want to fight for his girl, and on several cases tries to be strong, cool, and respectable. Problem is, he's an absolute coward.
- What the Hell, Hero?: He chickens out of the rumble because he was afraid of potentially dying. When he is reunited with Rozzie years later, she calls him out for his cowardice.
- Vinnie himself gives one to Crazy when he senselessly shoots two members of Boogaloo's gang to death.
Crazy Shapiro
Vinnie's certifiably insane best friend. The son of an abusive cop who routinely tries to hurt him.
- Abusive Parents: His cop father is willing to beat the crap out of him to get what he wants.
- Ax-Crazy: He's not called "Crazy" for nothing.
- Beware the Nice Ones: Crazy is a loyal friend, but he certainly lives up to his name, especially with a weapon in his hand.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Subverted. He dies leaping off a building and landing on his father, taking the man with him. This sacrifice prevents his dad from killing Vinnie. If that isn't enough, his last word is screaming Vinnie's name.
- My God, What Have I Done?: It's implied that his wacky hallucinations and following Heroic Sacrifice in the climax are caused by the remorse of him blaming Vinnie for his murder of Boogaloo's gang members to his father.
- Undying Loyalty: He would never give up on his best friend, even after Vinnie leaves town without telling him.
Rozzie Featherschied
Vinnie's love interest. A kindly and busty woman who is strong-willed and independent, but appreciates Vinnie willing to fight for her.
- Abusive Parents: Her father always thinks she is up to no good and as a result he either beats her with his belt and even handcuffs her to the bed with a cloth over her mouth so no one can hear her scream.
- Beware the Nice Ones: Rozzie is a sweet girl, but she is strong-willed and does know how to throw a punch.
- Impossible Hourglass Figure: She is very curvy, busty, and voluptuous.
- Ms. Fanservice: Big time. Easily one of the sexiest characters in any Ralph Bakshi film. Her boobs are often groped, squeezed, or bouncing throughout the film.
- Nice Girl: She is a compassionate young woman. She is as sweet and kind-hearted as she is tough and scrappy.
Eva
Rozzie's best friend. She eventually becomes Crazy's girlfriend.
- Big Beautiful Woman: She is a bit of a heavy set but that doesn't mean she is not pretty.
- Break the Cutie
- Nice Girl: Eva may not throw a punch like Rozzie, but she is equally, if not more sweet than her.
- Put on a Bus: She is pretty much a major character for most of the movie, and then she suddenly disappears for the last 20 minutes.
Boogaloo Jones
The main antagonist of the movie. He's the leader of the Chaplains, the rivals of Vinnie and the Stompers.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: Despite being the villain of the movie, he just vanishes in the middle of the climatic fight scene.
Officer Solly Shapiro
Crazy's abusive cop father, who actively seeks to harm and/or kill his son.
- Abusive Dad: He has no shame in pummeling his son to get any answers he wants.
- Jerkass: He might just be the biggest asshole in the movie.
- Rabid Cop: A cruel law enforcer who has no issues beating or shooting his son.
