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Main Characters
Jackson Smith
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The protagonist and new kid at Jeanes High School.- The Ace: Has all the answers in class, breaks the rope-climbing record in gym, and gets the male lead in the school musical.
- Always Someone Better: When he arrives at Jeanes High, he starts outdoing Exer without even meaning to, showing off his smarts in class, breaking Exer’s rope-climbing record in gym, and scoring a home-run off him in baseball.
- Chick Magnet: All the girls immediately moon over him after seeing his skills as The Ace.
- Gratuitous Spanish: He was adopted by his Colombian aunt and uncle at an early age. Growing up in a Hispanic household means that he's fluent in Spanish and often mixes it into his dialogue.
- New Transfer Student: He starts at Jeanes High at the beginning of his senior year.
- Nice Guy: Is honestly a really nice guy who treats everyone with respect at the beginning, even Exer. Though even Jackson has his limits, and utterly snaps after The Reveal of Exer's magic and afterwards when he thinks Exer used his magic on Pamela. His actions cause him to lose his friends, his relationship with Pamela, and land him in detention.
- Rage Breaking Point: Though an honestly Nice Guy most of the time, after Exer finally reveals his magic and Jackson thinks he used it on Pamela, Jackson snaps and proceeds to beat the stuffing out of Exer. Afterwards Jackson start treating everyone coldly including his adoptive parents until he finally goes to therapy.
Exer Campbell
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The Deuteragonist and most popular guy at Jeanes High who clashes with Jackson.- Ambiguously Bi: Though clearly in love with Brenda he and David have a tender moment when Exer tries to use his magic to heal David’s bruise. They are interrupted by Brenda. Afterwards Exer immediately gets flustered and quickly leaves. As the chapters go on its becomes clearer that Exer is developing genuine feelings for David. Eventually Exer does admit his feelings to David.
- Amicable Exes: Averted. Due to what happened between Pamela and Exer Brenda treats Exer quite coldly. They do start to reconcile when Exer sincerely apologizes to Pamela.
- The Ace: Exer succeeds at everything he does, from athletics to music to academics, even being named Honor Junior student.
- Big Man on Campus: He is the most popular guy in school who stands up to Jerk Jocks and is charismatic and friendly… at least until Jackson shows up.
- Green-Eyed Monster: Exer treats Jackson coldly after the latter starts outshining him at school and attracting his ex-girlfriend’s attention.
- Jerkass Realization: Exer realizes he hasn’t been quite fair to Jackson after the latter is hospitalized during the school play especially since he might have been causing it. He soon starts trying desperately to make amends with everyone including Jackson. Unfortunately The Reveal permanently ruins any chance of Jackson and Exer being friends and leads to Exer crossing the Despair Event Horizon.
- Jerkass to One: Exer is friendly to everyone, but when Jackson comes along and starts stealing his thunder, he turns into a Green-Eyed Monster and gets upset when his friends want to invite Jackson into their circle.
- Must Make Amends: Tries desperately to make up for his treatment of Jackson though The Reveal creates a seemingly huge rift between them.
- The Rival: Quickly becomes one to Jackson due to Jackson’s success threatening his status as the Big Man on Campus, and the growing friendship between Jackson and Brenda.
David Miller
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Exer’s best friend and fellow popular guy.- Big Brother Instinct: Is shown to be protective of Brenda when he believes Jackson peeked in on her changing in the girls’ locker room and stole her skirt.
- Hide Your Gays: Though it's not clear if David is Gay or Bisexual (he's only really shown to have a crush on Exer) he never has come out and said anything. Being that the webcomic is set in 1989, it is understandable.
- Living Emotional Crutch: For Exer. Exer is better able to keep his magic under control whenever David is around.
- Nice Guy: Is very friendly and extroverted willingly trying to befriend Jackson despite some misunderstandings and Exer’s obvious dislike of Jackson.
- Shipper on Deck: Loves the idea of his sister Brenda going out with Jackson, unaware of the Irony for Exer.
- Unrequited Love: Is heavily implied to have a crush on Exer, but has never said anything to anyone, especially Exer. Eventually Exer actually does return his feelings.
Brenda Miller
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David’s sister and a popular girl at Jeanes High who befriends Jackson.- Class Princess: Brenda is a pretty and popular cheerleader who still remains on good terms with her ex-best friend and befriends New Transfer Student Jackson on his first day.
- Implied Love Interest: There seems to be an attraction between her and Jackson at first. This is eventually abandoned when Jackson develops feelings for Pamela and realizes Exer’s feelings for Brenda.
- Romantic False Lead: At first it seems her and Jackson might be developing feelings for each other, much to Exer's horror. Jackson actually develops feelings for Pamela and Brenda is shown to possibly still have feelings for Exer. Later though she fully supports Exer and David confessing their feelings to each other.
- Shipper on Deck: For Jackson and Pamela. And later Exer and David.
Pamela Lopez
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Brenda’s ex best friend and Jackson’s love interest.- Defrosting the Ice Queen: She at first keeps Jackson at a distance, but as they spend more time together, he gets her to open up and trust again.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Initially comes off as cold to others, especially Jackson. After they work on a class project together they start to become genuine friends and develop feelings for each other.
- Love Interest: For Jackson once they get past their rocky first impressions and start to become genuine friends.
- Perky Goth: Downplayed. She’s not so much a goth as she wears dark clothes and is into horoscopes, but it’s enough for her to be called a "witch", which is what usually happens to goths in high school. But when Jackson and later Brenda reaches out to her, she starts to become happier and more optimistic.
- Stepford Snarker: Hides behind sarcasm and a I-hate-everything attitude, but is really lonely after losing her best friend and becoming the school scapegoat after an incident junior year.
Ronald Olegovich Novikov
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A foreign exchange student from Russia who is staying at Jackson’s house.- Foreign Exchange Student: He is an exchange student from Russia.
- Gentle Giant: One of the tallest characters and quite intimidating at first glance he really is a Nice Guy too, even thanking Mr. and Mrs. Smith for taking him in. He is only antagonistic towards Jackson at first due to a misunderstanding.
- Known Only by Their Nickname: After hearing how long his name is, David and Exer dub him "Ron".
- Smarter Than You Look: Ronald is highly observant and knows a lot more about things than he lets on. But since he speaks rarely and always in broken English, few of the other characters actually listen or understand him completely.
The Detention Gang
Jolie, Ken, and Timothy who are all (seemingly) permanently in detention. The three of them reach out to Jackson and eventually become friends with him.
- The Prankster: Ken is unable to not pull some kind of joke or prank, usually with help from his puppet.
- Nice Guy: All three are actually really nice caring people. They ended up in detention when Ken and Timothy protected Jolie from a arrogant jerk... by accidently dropping a bookshelf on him.
Side Characters
Richard and Marty
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Two bullies who harass unpopular kids at Jeanes High.- The Bully: Their main purpose is to be jerks towards the protagonists.
- Flat Character: They are nothing more than Jerk Jock background characters who act up here and there, as they are not serious antagonists and nothing they do causes the characters serious trouble.
- The Foil: They’re a mirror version of Exer and David. All four are handsome and popular jocks, but Exer and David are generally very friendly and cool, whilst Richard and Marty are your typical Jerk Jocks.
- Jerk Jock: Their whole character is this.
Popular Girls
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A group of popular girls that Brenda hangs out with.- Flat Character: They are nothing more than stereotypical Alpha Bitch background characters whose sole purpose is to make Brenda realize she’d rather be friends with Pamela than with mean popular kids.
- Girl Posse: They are the popular mean girls.
Tío Frank and Tía Carol
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Jackson’s adoptive parents.- Good Parents: They are shown to be trying their hardest to raise and care for Jackson properly, even if they sometimes fall flat because he pushes them away.
Dr. Harry Campbell
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A Mental Health Therapist and Exer’s dad.