Character Sheet for Major Grom.
This sheet refers to characters from the Major Grom comic book series. For the characters from the Major Grom film series, see here.
WARNING: There are unmarked spoilers on these sheets.
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Main Characters
Major Igor Grom
Igor Konstantinovich Grom
Species: Human (White Crow)
First appearance: Major Grom #1
"Major Grom, Senior Investigator. Keep the jokes about the last name to yourself, let's get to the point. What happened here?"
A second generation senior police detective who handles particularly important cases of criminal investigation in Saint Petersburg. He is the main protagonist of the Major Grom comic book line, as well as its spin offs, Igor Grom and Major Igor Grom.
Igor was responsible for the initial defeat and arrest of Sergey Razumovsky, the Plague Doctor. The case would permanently alter the trajectory of Igor's life, making Razumovsky his sworn enemy. Igor was a major player in the "Time of the Raven" crossover event, which saw him joining forces with Nika Chaikina and the rest of Team Delta, as well as Andrey Radov and Danila the Demonslayer to face Razumovsky after the latter became the vessel for Kutchka, the Raven God.
- The Ace: Grom sets out to do the best he possibly can in everything — and more often than not, he succeeds. He possesses superb analytical abilities, athleticism, hand-to-hand combat skills, and an all around tough-as-nails constitution.
- Action Hero: Grom's greatest asset (besides his investigative skills) is his physicality — and he has yet to see a case where it wasn't put to good use.
- Aesop Collateral Damage: Several of his friends and loved ones — including Konstantin Filatov, Alexey Kapustin, and Yulia Pchelkina — are murdered by bomb collars, just so that Razumovsky can show Grom what it means to truly experience grief and loss.
- Alternate Self: Every AU of the Bubbleverse features a version of Igor Grom — be it a talking eel, a Soviet-era Amateur Sleuth, or a high school jock.
- Always Save the Girl: He tries to do so (though he doesn't always succeed).
- Amicable Exes: He and Alexandra Filipenko remain friendly, years after they've stopped dating.
- Awesomeness by Analysis: Within minutes of entering an area, Igor has completely assessed the environment and determined the weaknesses of everyone in the vicinity (just in case he needs to kick their asses).
- Badass Longcoat: His trademark brown leather jacket qualifies (though its actual length varies depending on the artist).
- During the dream sequence in Issue #7 of Major Grom, he wears a red, ankle-length, military-style coat
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- During the dream sequence in Issue #7 of Major Grom, he wears a red, ankle-length, military-style coat
- Badass Normal: In a world that is home to gods, angels, demons, mutants, superspies, mages, dimension-hopping holy men, and artificially-created soldiers infused with Satanic blood, Igor Grom is...an ordinary cop who's spent a lot of time training his mind and body. And yet, he remains one of the most competent, capable asskickers in the Bubbleverse.
- Beard of Sorrow: He wears one over the course of Igor Grom, as he struggles to cope with his new life as a civilian, Yulia's death, and his tenuous grasp on reality. When he returns to official police work in Major Igor Grom, he shaves it off.
- Berserk Button: Hurting a woman in his presence is a surefire way to get a brutal beat-down.
- Brought Down to Badass: Between the final arc of Major Grom and the start of Igor Grom, he's deemed mentally unfit to continue working, fired from the police force, and spends time in a mental hospital – going from "that cop who caught the Plague Doctor" to "that cop who went crazy". And yet, when it comes to protecting the people of Saint Petersburg and weeding out criminal scum, it all barely slows him down.
- Canine Companion: He gets an emotional support dog during Igor Grom.
- Cassandra Truth: He tells everyone that Ilya Kosygin is alive and responsible for the massacre of Saint Petersburg's drug mafia. No one believes him, as Kosygin was pronounced dead years ago.
- Color-Coded for Your Convenience: He regularly dresses in earth tones, and prefer brown above all.
- Cowboy Cop: Chasing down and beating up suspects is his standard M.O., and he has no problem working outside the law. However, he has a strong moral code that most representations of the trope are lacking — namely, he refuses to kill criminals.
- Demonic Possession: In the climax of "Time of the Raven", Igor temporarily becomes host to Kutkh's light side, engaging in a heated debate with the raven god's dark side (represented by Sergey Razumovsky).
- The Determinator: He never lets a case go unsolved — even when it costs him dearly.
- Fair Cop: He's a tall, dark,'handsome, extremely fit criminal investigator who frequently ends up shirtless.
- Forced Transformation: During the battle with Kutkh, he (along with several others) is transformed into a Ghoul. It doesn't last long, fortunately.
- Forgiveness: The ultimate solution to stopping Kutkh lies in Igor forgiving Sergey Razumovsky for his sadistic and cruel actions – namely, murdering Yulia and his friends.
- Genius Bruiser: Igor is as renowned for his intellect, attention to detail, and sharp analytical abilities as he is for his hand-to-hand combat skills.
- Good Is Not Soft: Igor won't kill you, but he'll put you in a world of pain.
- He Cleans Up Nicely: On the rare occasions in which he's required to wear a suit, he looks rather striking.
- Hellbent For Leather: He's rarely seen without his signature brown leather jacket.
- Heroes Fight Barehanded: Igor carries a firearm, but he seldom uses it, preferring to use his fists.
- Hunk: Despite his physical flaws (scars, a "potato nose) Grom is regarded as ruggedly handsome.
- Long Runner: Single-character example: he's appeared consistently in BUBBLE publications since 2012, with no signs of going away any time soon.
- Made of Iron: He's a champion boxer and martial artist, and his body has withstood a shocking amount of punishment in the line of duty — including being shot, beaten, drugged, tortured, falling from a three-story scaffold, and having a wine bottle smashed over his head.
- Majorly Awesome: Major Igor Grom, who is awesome. He loses the "Major" title during Igor Grom, but doesn't quite lose the awesomeness.
- Meaningful Name: "Igor" is an old Norse (via Russian) name meaning "warrior", while "Grom" is the Russian word for "thunder".
- The Mentor: He becomes one to Dmitry Dubin after the rookie is assigned as his partner.
- Mistaken for Murderer: At the end of Major Grom, he's blamed for the massacre of a drug mafia family (which Rubenstein believes was carried out by Grom's murderous alter ego). The actual culprit — police Major Ilya Kosygin, who was "assisting" Grom with the investigation — had faked his death years earlier, and no evidence of his presence is found at crime scene; hence, no one believes Grom's story. It ends up costing Grom his job, and getting him committed to a mental hospital.
- Mistaken for Racist: During their first case, Dmitry trails Igor one evening and catches him talking to a group of Neo-Nazis — later following him to an underground fight club that the group frequents. It turns out Igor infiltrated the club for info on Kirill Gretchkin (who was their sponsor). The two partners have a laugh about the misunderstanding later."Major Grom...a charismatic investor with Sherlock Holmes skills, appears to be a good friend to some skinheads...disgusting."
- Not Wearing Tights: His "uniform" consists of a pullover (usually blue, though the color varies), a brown leather jacket, a flat cap, and a long scarf.
- Official Couple: With Yulia.
- Properly Paranoid: During Igor Grom, he fears that monsters lurk in the shadows of Saint Petersburg. In light of what he's experienced firsthand, you can't blame him in the slightest. (He's ultimately vindicated.)
- Scarf of Asskicking: When he's out on business, he wears a long, blue-colored scarf. It's a habit he started shortly after an investigation saw him braving frigid temperatures atop a moving train.
- Smart People Play Chess: As a boy, Igor was the chess champion of his school along with Alexie Kapustin. Together, they pioneered the "Grom-Kapustin Winning Move": a tactic in which a piece is sacrificed for the sake of a mate. Igor eventually grew tired of the game and gave it up — because he felt that he could advance his skills no further.
- Smith of the Yard: Grom is well-known throughout the city for his detective skills and the dangerous criminals he has taken down. So much so that a citywide surveillance system is later named after him (G.R.O.M.).
- Signature Headgear: He wouldn't be Igor Grom without his flat cap (which varies in hue from brown to nearly black).
- Split Personality: At the end of "One Last Thing", Dr. Rubenstein tells Igor that he developed a murderous alter ego — which takes the guise of Ilya Kosygin — due to the grief and trauma of losing Yulia (and their unborn child). This turns out to be not quite the case.
- 10-Minute Retirement: He is forced to leave police work after being accused of murder and committed to a psychiatric hospital. However, after he is released, he goes right back to solving crimes — this time as a civilian. In due time, he also returns to official police work.
- Thou Shalt Not Kill: While Igor has zero qualms about roughing up suspects and known criminals, he draws the line at killing people: a personal vow that he made to himself on the day he was sworn in as a police officer. He nearly breaks it after the events of "The Game", and by the start of "Time of the Raven" he fully intends to kill Sergey Razumovsky the next time he sees him, declaring that "rabid dogs must be put down". However, when presented with the chance to avenge Razumovsky's victims by killing him, he refuses, and forgives him. (This is ultimately what causes the light and dark sides of the Raven God to be reconciled, and halts its destructive actions.)
- Unusual Eyebrows: His eyebrows are naturally shaped like lightning bolts.
Lieutenant Dmitry Dubin
Dmitry Evgenievich Dubin
"We don't have a search warrant! This is madness!"
Species: Human
First appearance: Major Grom #1
Dmitry Dubin is Igor Grom's co-worker, partner, and friend. He's a romantic and an idealist, and sincerely believes that law and justice always prevail — even in the face of life's sometimes harsh realities.
- Affectionate Nickname: He's often called "Dima", the diminutive form of his name.
- Afraid of Needles: Implied; during the Plague Doctor investigation, he masquerades as a first-time client at a tattoo parlor; when talking to the tattoo artist, one of his first questions is whether the procedure will be painful.
- Beware the Nice Ones: Don't mistake his kindness for weakness: Dima grew up in a rough neighborhood, and is a skilled judo artist, capable of dropping a much larger opponent in a single punch.
- By-the-Book Cop: Initially, he adheres strictly to the rules; he is aghast at Igor's disregard for procedure and love of violent solutions, and insists they try to do things the "right way". He gradually realizes that doing thing by the book doesn't always yield results, and becomes more open to bending the rules in investigations.
- Hair of Gold, Heart of Gold: He's blonde-haired, and is the kindest, most sympathetic, and most morally upstanding man on the police force.
- Hidden Depths: On the surface, he's a gentle-natured optimist who is a bit squeamish — and more than a bit naïve. Aside to this, he's extremely brave, a skilled researcher, an expert tracker, and is extremely proficient in judo (having studied the sport since he was five).
- Kindhearted Cat Lover: As a boy, he once convinced his mother to take in a mother cat and her babies.
- Naïve Newcomer: He starts out as such.
- Nice Guy: He's a genuinely kind, good-hearted person who sincerely cares about others.
Yulia Pchelkina
Yulia Pchelkina
Notable aliases: The Black Queen
Species: Human
First appearance: Major Grom #1
A journalist who is Igor Grom's love interest.
- Bitch Slap: She attempted this with Razumovsky in "The Game", after he took her hostage. It failed, as Razumovsky only got angrier.
- Black-Tie Infiltration: For her investigation of Deputy Mayor Kamenny's dirty dealings, she sneaks into Kamenny's birthday gala. Amusingly, she runs into Igor and Dmitry, who are carrying out their own Black Tie Infiltration.
- Buxom Beauty Standard: She has a very prominent bosom, and isn't afraid to show it off.
- Damsel in Distress: In every arc where she's part of the main cast, she ends up threatened, mugged, kidnapped, tortured, or all of the above. And then she gets Killed Off for Real.
- The Fashionista: Be it stylish street clothes, sexy evening gowns, or slinky nighties, Yulia has a passion for fashion. This directly contributes to her kidnapping during the "St. Patrick's Day" arc, as she decides to visit Dublin's upscale shopping district alone, enabling McAlister's men to abduct her.
- Fiery Redhead: She's bold, feisty, and outspoken — all of which make her the perfect match for Igor.
- Going for the Big Scoop: When she meets Igor, she's trying to get the inside info on Nikolai Kamenny's shady business dealings; Kamenny tries to frighten her off, sending her threatening phone calls and even hiring Neo-Nazi bikers to mug her on the street. Luckily, Kamenny didn't count on Igor Grom appearing in her life.
- Impossibly-Low Neckline: While none of her dresses are strapless, all of them skirt this line (as shown in the image above).
- Intrepid Reporter: She's an extremely brave journalist who isn't afraid to chase a story or expose the truth — even at the risk of her own life. Her dedication to her job and the pursuit of justice through the printed word are the main reasons why Igor falls in love with her.
- Killed Off for Real: During "The Game", she is taken prisoner by Razumovsky and forced to act as one of the pieces in his chess game. Igor, mistakenly believing that Yulia is the White Queen, sacrifices the Black Queen, whom he assumes is Alexandra; Yulia's bomb collar detonates instead, killing her instantly.
- Mistaken for Murderer: While she's infiltrating Kamenny's birthday party for her investigation, Igor sees her hiding under Kamenny's table and — mistaking the recorder in her hand for an incendiary device — believes she's The Citizen, attempting to assassinate the Deputy Mayor.
- Second Love: Yulia is the second woman with whom Igor's had a serious relationship; the first was Alexandra Filipenko, who was his girlfriend while he attended the academy.
- The Smurfette Principle: She's the only female character in the main cast.
- Supermodel Strut: Pulls off one at the start of "The Game", while wearing an appropriately sexy white cocktail dress.
Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs
Saint Petersburg
Colonel General Fyodor Prokopenko
Fyodor Ivanovich Prokopenko
Species: Human
First appearance: Major Grom #1
The head of the police department in Saint Petersburg, and Igor Grom's boss.
- Clint Squint: His eyes are almost perpetually in a squint (such that you can barely see the color of his eyes).
- Da Chief: Naturally, he is this to Igor. While he tolerates his antics reasonably well, he has his limits.
- Large and in Charge: He's the head of the Saint Petersburg Police, and has a rather stout build.
Major Konstantin Grom
See his folder under "Allies".
Major Ilya Kosygin
Ilya Kosygin
"Young man, there's only one rule I've followed my whole life: you can only rely on yourself."
Species: Human
A Moscow investigator who transferred to Saint Petersburg after the murder of his wife and daughter. He was allegedly killed while trying to investigate a drug trafficking case.
- Faking the Dead: He faked his death years before the comics.
- Split Personality: Because no one can find any evidence that he's alive, Dr. Rubenstein assumes that Kosygin is actually a hallucination representing Igor Grom's own murderous alter ego.
Lieutenant Aisa Ulanova
Aisa Ulanova
Species: Human
First appearance: Major Igor Grom #1
Igor Grom's partner after Dima Dubin. She is a supporting character in Major Igor Grom.
Lieutenant Kostya
Kostya
Species: Human
First appearance: Major Grom #25
Grom's friend and classmate from the MIA academy. He works in the Economic Crimes Division.
Officer Ivan Sorokin
Ivan Sorokin
"Damn rats! Fuck, who wants some more!?"
Species: Human
First appearance: Major Grom #3
A warrant officer who worked the Vasileostrovsky District of St. Petersburg. He was the accomplice and second victim of the Plague Doctor.
- Death by a Thousand Cuts: Razumovsky beats him within an inch of his life, cuts his throat, and ties him up to a telephone pole before unleashing a hoard of hungry rats upon him.
- Dirty Cop: He was secretly working with Sergey Razumovsky, using his position in the police department to supply him with homeless people to kill in the Garden of Sinners.
- Failed a Spot Check: He abducts a drunk man (whom he believes to be a homeless vagrant) from a bus stop and takes him to Razumovsky — failing to recognize the man as Ivan Penkov, a well-known blogger.
- Jerkass Victim: While his death was undeniably horrible, it's hard to feel any sympathy for a crooked cop who beat innocent protesters and sent homeless people and vagrants to a horrifying death.
- Karmic Death: Sorokin was caught on camera beating protesters and calling them "rats". The Plague Doctor subjects him to a brutal beating, cuts his throat, and ties him to a telephone pole before releasing a hoard of rats on him.
- Police Brutality: Has a record of this. He famously beat peaceful protesters at a rally (while calling them "rats").
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: He mistook a popular blogger for a homeless drunk and accidentally sent the man to his death in Razumovsky's Garden of Sinners. When the mistake was realized, Razumovsky's collaborators (Sorokin included) bailed on him; Razumovsky, fearing that they would expose his crimes, murdered them under the guise of the Plague Doctor — birthing a terrifying new criminal mastermind who caught Igor Grom's attention and set into motion events that would not only change the city forever, but one day bring the entire cosmos to the brink of Armageddon.
Moscow
Major Anna Arkhipova
See her folder under "Antagonists".
Saint Petersburg City Administration
Mayor Nikolai Kamenny
Nikolai Kamenny
Species: Human
Introduced as the Deputy Mayor, he later becomes the Mayor of Saint Petersburg.
- Corrupt Politician: He is involved in multiple shady business dealings.
- Mayor Pain: Surprisingly subverted: despite his corrupt dealings as Deputy Mayor, he's apparently a competent enough politician that he's later elected as Mayor of Saint Petersburg.
- Mistaken for Murderer: Grom initially accuses him of being the Plague Doctor, due to having personal connections to each of the murderer's high-profile victims.
- Pie in the Face: At Kamenny's birthday party, Igor Grom mistakes a waiter carrying a cake knife for an assassin and tackles him — collapsing the table holding the cake, and causing Kamenny to be covered in frosting.
Russian Federal Security Service (FSB)
Kirill Strelkov
Kirill Strelkov
Allies
Grom Family Members
Konstantin Grom
Konstantin Grom
Species: Human
Igor Grom's father, a former Senior Police Detective from Saint Petersburg.
Love Interests
Alexandra Filipenko
Alexandra Filipenko
Notable aliases: The White Queen
Species: Human
First appearance: Major Grom #25
Igor Grom's ex-girlfriend from college.
- Ambiguously Bi: She and Igor were formerly in a very intense (and sexual) relationship. However, when she's introduced to Yulia, she gazes at her with an enamored expression, buries her face in her breasts upon embracing her, and moments later asks her about her and Igor's sex life, remarking, "You're a bad girl, too. I can see it in your eyes" (while blatantly staring at her chest).
- Amicable Exes: While she and Igor are no longer dating, he still counts her as a friend (enough that he still has her name in his phone contacts).
- The Lad-ette: She's loud, boisterous, greets her (male) friends with a fist-bump, and talks openly about her sex life with Yulia (making her extremely uncomfortable).
- Little Black Dress: She wears a short, black, strapless dress to Igor's birthday party.
- One of the Guys: She grew up around boys, feels more comfortable around men than in the company of women, and will side with men in any battle of the sexes.
- One True Love: According to Razumovsky, she is this to Igor: it was one of the most meaningful relationships he's had, and — unlike Yulia — Igor directly told her "I love you". This is why Sergey gives her the position of the White Queen in his chess game, rather than the Black Queen.
- Tomboy: She's athletic, and doesn't care much for traditionally feminine pursuits.
Irina Charlotte
Irina Charlotte
Species: Human
First appearance: Igor Grom #1
The mysterious girlfriend of Igor Grom. She occasionally assists him (and Dmitry) with their investigations.
Others
Alexey Kapustin
Alexey Kapustin
Species: Human
First appearance: Major Grom #25
A Childhood Friend and classmate of Igor Grom, and the chess grandmaster of their high school. He taught Igor everything he knows about the game of chess.
- Childhood Friend: To Igor. As boys, the two shared many common interests; Alexey taught him how to play chess, and together they created the "Grom-Kapustin move". Due to their personal connection, Alexey is chosen by Sergey to act as one of the pieces in his living chess game.
- Killed Off for Real: He is killed by one of Razumovsky's bomb collars during the living "chess game".
- Minor Major Character: He encouraged Igor to take up chess, which sharpened his mind and taught him situational analyses and strategy...eventually helping to mold him into the detective we meet in Major Grom.
- Smart People Play Chess: He encouraged Igor to take up chess, and taught him everything he knew about the game. The two of them collaborated to create the "Kapustin-Grom Winning Move": a strategy in which one chess piece is sacrificed for a win.
Liliya Abramenko
Liliya Abramenko
Species: Human
Igor’s friend and the former subject of Dima’s affections. She is the current owner of the Raido Cafe.
- Devious Daggers: She wields a butterfly knife, which Dima found out the hard way.
Antagonists
Major Villains
The Plague Doctor
Sergey Razumovsky
Click here to see Sergey unmasked
Click here to see Sergey as he appears in Plague Doctor
Alter ego: Sergey Razumovsky
Notable aliases: The Citizen, Raz00m, Il Diabolo Russo (The Russian Devil)
Species: Human (White Crow)
First appearance: Major Grom #1
"This city is sick. Its people are drowning in... inequity, filth, and fear... It's time to end it all...in the purifying fire. Soon."
A billionaire, philanthropist, and founder of the Vmeste social network. He is the main antagonist of Major Grom, and one of the main characters in the Plague Doctor spin-off comic series.
In General
- Above the Influence: As a teenager, he had no interest in the shallow, hedonistic activities that normally consume young people. In college, he focused obsessively on his studies while his peers were drinking, doing drugs, and having sex (often in the same room). He takes great pride in this.
- The Ace: He's a genius and a technology guru, and was the creator of the Vmeste social media platform, the success of which eventually made him the world's youngest billionaire. All this, and he's a handsome, charming, charismatic criminal mastermind.
- Accidental Pervert: When he was a boy, one of his school teachers caught him sketching The Birth of Venus in his notebook (having finished his exam early). The teacher drew attention to it, loudly accused him of being a pervert (on the basis that he was drawing naked women), and failed him.
- Affably Evil: Even when he's describing his plans of mass murder, Sergey is unfailingly polite, courteous, and charming.
- Affectionate Nickname: Oleg calls him "Seryozha" and "Seryozh", both familiar forms of his name. In Plague Doctor, he also calls him "Gray" (symbolizing a merger, of sorts, between the light and dark sides of his personality).
- Agent Peacock: Razumovsky is a very flamboyant, Ambiguously Gay young man known for his over-the-top eccentric behavior and campy wardrobe (including, on at least one occasion, a fur-trimmed, tiger-striped dressing gown with a train). He's also a twisted, brilliant criminal mastermind with an impressive knowledge of booby traps, explosives, and various torture and execution methods – and he's devilishly skilled with a blade to boot.
- Ambiguously Gay: While his sexuality is never stated, Sergei's behavior is explicitly Camp Gay-coded, especially in the "Plague Doctor" arc of Major Grom: he has theatrical mannerisms and presentation, enjoys the fine arts, sports a flamboyant wardrobe, and makes a point of stripping his (all male) victims in the Garden of Sinners naked; when he has Igor Grom subdued and stripped, his first course of action is to compliment every part of his sculpted body, while slowly caressing him...stopping just shy of his crotch (with the remark that Grom has "other impressive parts"). "The Game" arc further reveals that he has a very close relationship with his male Best Friend-turned-bodyguard, which implicitly mirrors that of the primary heterosexual couple in the seriesnote and is given the same emotional weight; it's later established the two have lived together on multiple occasions, and the Plague Doctor spinoff reveals that they share a bedroom (and are heavily implied to share a bed). His campiness is toned down considerably in later appearances, but never quite vanishes.
- Animalistic Abomination: His internal manifestation of The Bird appears as a black, ichorous, shapeshifting corvid-like being with Sergey's face. Sometimes, he appears more humanoid, with his wings acting as a cape or coat.
- Animal Motifs: Corvids. As a boy, he frequently drew ravens and raven-like creatures, referred to himself as a "White Crow", and imagined that he was watched over by a powerful alter ego named The Bird, who resembled himself as a shapeshifting, humanoid raven. As an adult, he crafts a vigilante identity as the Plague Doctor (whose mask was based on a raven's face), adopts the silhouette of a raven's skull as his personal calling card, and keeps a flock of crows to help him dispose of his victims, as well as a pet albino raven named Margo (who helps him carry out small tasks). Sergey also becomes the vessel for Kutkh, the Raven God. And, when he returns in the Plague Doctor spinoff series, his successor sports a costume (designed by Sergey himself) which evokes a corvid, with a helmet resembling a modernized Plague Doctor's mask, a coat with a forked tail that resembles folded wings, and Sergey's personal symbol on the breastplate.
- Arbitrarily Large Bank Account: He began the series as the world's youngest billionaire, and seemingly maintains access to his fortune at all times — even after he becomes an international fugitive. (Presumably, his computer hacking skills have something to do with it.)
- Attention Whore: Sergey loves being the center of attention in all that he does. He enjoys dressing in attention-grabbing outfits (even when he's supposed to be in hiding), and engaging in attention-grabbing behavior — be it his theatrical mannerisms, his eccentric publicity stunts as the head of Vmeste, or his over-the-top presentation as the Plague Doctor. He mourns when his name ceases to appear in the news and trend on Vmeste.Oleg: You are no longer the top news story.Sergey: Sic transit gloria mundi.note
- Axe-Crazy: While he hides it beneath a campy, sophisticated demeanor, Razumovsky is the most bloodthirsty of Grom's foes by a wide margin. As the Plague Doctor, he murders hundreds of construction workers, drunks, vagrants, and homeless people, and then murders his accomplices in shockingly brutal ways when they try to back out of their arrangement. After his time in a detention center, he becomes even '"more'" unhinged, murdering dozens of random civilians and Grom's acquaintances with explosive devices, for no reason other than to break his nemesis and make him suffer. Notably, his bloodlust doesn't vanish when he reforms, as he gleefully stabs and slices his way through Altan Dagbaev's men after Oleg is taken hostage.
- Badass Longcoat: As the Plague Doctor, he wears a lavender frock coat with violet designs on the lapels. It varies in length from "knee-length" to "swishy, undefined train".
- During the Ragnar arc of Plague Doctor, he sports an ankle-length violet overcoat in a cheetah print. Somehow, he makes it work.
- Badass Long Robe: During the final act of his debut story, he wears a red, tiger-striped dressing gown with white feathers on the hem and a long, winding train; not badass in the traditional sense, but it definitely sends a message.
- Beauty Is Never Tarnished: His diet, exercise regimen, and sleep schedule are inconsistent at best, and over the course of two series (and one Crisis Crossover) he's been attacked with a knife, battered by a prize fighter (including being punched repeatedly in the face), assaulted by thugs twice his size (possibly in more ways than one), drugged, endured solitary confinement in a no-frills detention center, served as a guinea pig for an experimental medication, suffered multiple mental breakdowns, was mind raped by a pagan god (and transformed into its entity), became the puppet of a vengeful psychic, and nearly burned to death in a locked room. To say nothing of the day-to-day stressors of running his own company — and, later, various criminal and vigilante operations. In spite of it all, his good looks haven't suffered in the slightest (aside from a faint cross-shaped scar on his chest).
- Beneath the Mask: Underneath his cocky exterior, he's terrified of situations he can't control. At one time, this would have resulted in The Bird taking control; post-"Time of the Raven", however, he has no such recourse.
- Childhood Friend: Oleg Volkov.
- Conspicuous Consumption: Sergey is the world's youngest billionaire — and he never lets you forget it for one second. He enjoys costly publicity stunts (like launching paper airplanes made out of folded paper bills from the windows of Vmeste's corporate headquarters), gives away exorbitant amounts of money to charitable causes (like spending a small fortune renovating the orphanage where he and Oleg grew up), and goes on outrageous spending sprees, (purchasing a Venetian castle on a whim, lavishing himself with luxurious furnishings, piles of snacks, and a massive designer wardrobe). Strangely, this doesn't change during the Plague Doctor spin-off, even though he supposedly no longer has access to his vast fortune.
- Covert Pervert: Sergey (or at least his darker, more hedonistic side) enjoys making subtly perverted remarks and dirty jokes. During "The Game" arc, he considers hitting Igor Grom with an infamous "prison riddle"note , sets the defusion weight on a subway bomb to exactly 300 kilograms,note and leaves a puzzle for Igor in evidence slot 69. It's also implied that he has viewed (or enjoys viewing) porn: in Issue #2 of the Plague Doctor spin-off, after Oleg tells Lera to "[s]ay goodbye to your free time[,] [y]ou won't have any", Sergey quips, "I've seen movies that start this way".note
- Create Your Own Villain: Nearly all of Sergey's foes are people who were hurt, either directly or indirectly, by his actions:
- Igor Grom wants revenge on Sergey for Yulia's murder. (He later forgives him and moves past this.)
- Altan Dagbaev's mother was killed when the car they were riding in was hit by Sergey's explosives.
- Poet was subject to terrible experiments at the hands of Dr. Rubenstein, because the doctor wanted to create a dark passenger in his patients like Sergey's.
- The Dandy: He favors flashy designer suits in bold colours. Prime example: his Plague Doctor costume features a purple frock coat with lavender lapel designs; it's not the only purple coat he owns.
- Deadpan Snarker: While watching Lera and Chrysalis interact with The Poet:Chrysalis: (to Poet) What are you doing here?Sergey: Obviously calling 2007 to tell them green is back in style!
- Devious Daggers: He wields a knife when fighting at close range.
- Early Installment Character-Design Difference: While Sergey has always been portrayed as handsome and young-looking, with a sharp chin and red hair, his facial design during the "Plague Doctor" arc was much more angular and gave him squinting eyes and strawberry blonde hair sticking out at gravity-defying angles. With the addition of Phobs to the art team, his features (while still angular) became softer, his hair became longer and coppery red, and his eyes became larger (showing off their blue and gold colorations). This continued into the Plague Doctor spinoff series.
- Evil Redhead: He starts off a cruel, sadistic, serial-murdering psychopath, and his hair is naturally red – first strawberry blonde, then (beginning in Issue #10 of Major Grom) coppery red. He later reforms (somewhat), but he never loses the bloodlust — or the red hair.
- The Fashionista: Despite his occasionally questionable taste in clothing, he is rather fashion-forward, and loves snarking about the fashion faux pas of others.
- Faux Affably Evil: He comes across as a friendly, cordial fellow and a gracious host, even when he's conversing with the people he plans to murder.
- Fiery Redhead: As The Bird (and sometimes as Grey), he has zero filter.
- Freudian Excuse: As a boy, he had no friends (before meeting Oleg) and was bullied because of his intelligence, love of refined things, and disinterest in pedestrian life. The defining incident involved a cruel teacher who, failing to recognize that the nude female figure Sergey had drawn on his test was a recreation of his favorite painting, accused him of being a pervert and mocked his explanation ("Botticelli, Crapacelli!"), leading the entire class to laugh at him. Because of this, Sergey grew to despise the "common man", and yearned to eliminate the ignorant and the uncouth people of the city.
- Friendless Background: In early childhood, Sergey had no friends; his shy, introverted nature, disinterest in pedestrian life, and love of classical art set him apart from his peers, getting him in trouble in school and earning him ridicule and accusations of being a pervert (due to drawing nudes – namely, recreations of Sandro Botticelli's The Birth of Venus). This was his motivation for creating The Bird, who acted as his friend and protector until Oleg came along.
- Fun T-Shirt: He wears a variety of tee-shirts with funny and ironic slogans. Memorable examples include the "Busy Fighting Dragons" tee (notable for also appearing in the film adaptation of "Major Grom: Plague Doctor"), "God, Guns and Government", and "Cool Story Babe, Get Me A Beer".
- Hypocritical Humor: He prides himself on his work ethic, sophistication, and general disinterest in pop culture ephemera and hedonistic pleasures. Meanwhile, as the world's youngest billionaire, he throws around piles of money, indulges in junk food, red wine, and expensive fashion, and behaves like a petty Manchild — with a penchant for dirty jokes (and porn) to boot.
- He also ridicules The Poet's green wardrobe, when his own ensembles are just as tacky (and, in fact, he owns a suit in the exact same color and shade).
- Innocent Blue Eyes: As a boy, he had these. They occasionally show up in the present when he's having a moment of honest vulnerability.
- Insufferable Genius: He's well aware of his own brilliance, and he won't hesitate to remind you of it if given the chance.
- Ironic Name: The root of his surname, razum, is the Russian word for "mind"…for a man who suffers from an undefined mental illness (i.e. has lost his mind).
- Large Ham: Virtually everything the man does is exaggerated, bombastic, or both. (Except when "Rag" is in control, during which he becomes far more soft-spoken and subdued.)
- Manchild: He's extremely petty, has a childish sense of humor, and (when he isn't working on Vmeste, committing crimes, or visiting art museums) lives like an (extremely wealthy) slacker, lounging around the house in tacky slogan tees (one of which says "Cool Story Babe, Get Me A Beer"), playing video games, and stuffing his face with junk food.
- Meaningful Name: His last name, Razumovsky, is derived from the Russian word for "mind"; rather appropriate, for a man who is both a genius and a shrewd businessman. It becomes even more appropriate when he reveals himself to be The Citizen, a criminal mastermind – and, ironically, mentally ill.
- Missing Mom: In the Plague Doctor series, it's strongly hinted that Sergey's mother — a mysterious blonde woman, whose face remains hidden in Sergey's memories — cared for him when he was very young, until she was killed (or otherwise met a terrible fate).
- Non-Idle Rich: He ran his own media company (doing all of the coding himself) and did tons of charity work around the city — when he wasn't carrying out terrorist activities, that is. In Plague Doctor, he also runs a vigilante operation — and continues to do all the coding for Vmeste.
- Not So Above It All: Sergey claims that he's above the hedonism of the common man, and has zero interest in pop culture. However, he is knowledgeable about memes, plays video games, and has a penchant for dirty jokes — and his joke about "I've seen movies that start this way" hint that he has viewed some porn in his time.
- Nouveau Riche: While he likes to put on airs and pretend he's more refined than the common man, Razumovsky is still a nerdy orphan who got rich during the mobile services boom era, who's compensating for his impoverished roots (and poor social skills) by throwing around tons of money. It's further insinuated that he isn't nearly as sophisticated as he makes himself out to be: he isn't very worldly (having spent most of his life in one city), and makes a point of consuming nothing but classical art and music (and shunning modern pop culture) simply because he believes that that's what "sophisticated" people do.
- Prefers Going Barefoot: Downplayed: when he's not out and about, committing crimes, or dealing with the repercussions thereof, Sergey sometimes enjoys lounging around the house barefoot (though he's just as often in his socks or house slippers).
- Pretty Boy: He's a slender, well-groomed young man with delicately beautiful, almost angelic facial features. His physique bulks up somewhat by the time of the Plague Doctor series, but not enough so as to spoil his boyish good looks.
- Rags to Riches: From a penniless orphan to the world's youngest billionaire. In less than five years, no less.
- Renaissance Man: He's a computer programmer, engineer, surveillance expert, businessman, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and amateur mathematician. He single-handedly created the Vmeste social media platform, the success of which made him the world's youngest billionaire before the age of 30 and the most recognizable man in Russia (besides the president). As a criminal mastermind, he's one of the world's greatest hackers, and has a superb knowledge of explosives, human torture, and execution methods and a passing knowledge of pharmacology, as well as being a decent marksman and knife-wielder. He's also an amateur historian (with a particular interest in medieval history and the Black Death) and a classical art, music, and literature aficionado, and enjoys visiting museums and sculpting in his free time.
- Sarcasm Mode: In Issue 32 of Plague Doctor, Mark claims that his building only houses a hotel and a restaurant, when a basement casino with slot machines is clearly visible.Sergey: (watching remotely) Uh-uh, and I was only growing potatoes in the Garden of Sinners.
- Self-Made Man: He built the Vmeste network from the ground up.
- Split Personality: Sergey has at least two personalities: "The Bird", (or Black Bird) who embodies his dark, aggressive, murderous urges (and influenced the Plague Doctor's actions), and "The Rag", (a.k.a. "The Doormat" or "Softie") who represents Sergey's fears and insecurities. The Bird is an extreme extrovert, because he hoards most of Sergey's confidence — which, ironically, may have led to Rag's creation in the first place. Bird is eventually killed by Kutkh when he attempts to defend them from the Raven God, leaving Rag as Sergey's only alter (and Sergey vulnerable). As of the Plague Doctor spin-off, it's hinted that aspects of the two personalities have integrated somewhat, creating a more genuine, stable personality (known as "Grey").
- Unlimited Wardrobe: Outside of the obvious exceptions (the Plague Doctor gear, prison uniforms) and a purple owl pattern sweater (which has reappeared in variations incarnations throughout his life), Sergey has never worn the same outfit twice —be it a tailored couture suit or a ironic slogan tee-shirt.
Major Grom Era
- Anime Hair: During much of Major Grom, he sports coifed hair that is combed forward at a gravity-defying angle. He somehow manages to pull this off even when his hair is shoulder-length.
- Arch-Enemy: Razumovsky is the arch nemesis of Igor Grom for many years. Their conflict begins during his run as the Plague Doctor/The Citizen; it escalates after he escapes from prison and forces Grom into a deadly real world chess game (which permanently alters the trajectory of both their lives), and finally culminates in "Time of the Raven" — when both Razumovsky and Grom become an avatar of the pagan god Kutkh, which forces both men to confront their shared history and come to terms with it.
- Big Bad: Of much of Major Grom, most notably in the "Plague Doctor" and "The Game" arcs.
- Bird People / Winged Humanoid: The Bird, as he appears in Sergey's imagination and dreams (and Igor Grom's), takes the form of a darker, more evil-looking version of Sergey with bird-like features. Sometimes, he looks like a man with black-feathered Cape Wings and gold eyes, dressed in an elaborate black suit — with or without a plague mask. Other times (such as during "The Game" arc), he's a humanoid crow or raven with Sergey's face and red hair, and black, clawed hands.
- As the host of Kutkh, he is transformed into a massive, feathered entity dressed in a medieval suit of armor.
- Bunny-Ears Lawyer: As the CEO of Vmeste, he was known for his zany, eccentric behavior; people just accepted it as a symptom of his brilliance (and his sudden, extreme acquisition of wealth).
- Civvie Spandex: His Plague Doctor costume is, aside from the mask, made up of ordinary (if extravagant) street clothes: purple dress slacks, a dark grey turtleneck, a flowing purple frock coat, white gloves, and dress shoes.
- Defiant Strip: During the Rainbow Orphanage benefit gala, Igor accuses him of being the Plague Doctor on stage before the crowd; Sergey confesses and strips down to the waist, proudly exposing the cross-shaped scar Igor gave him during their fight at the London Mall.
- Foil: In Major Grom, he is a foil to Igor Grom: both men are Saint Petersburg natives, physically fit, highly educated, brilliant strategists, and renowned experts in their respective fields; additionally, neither is averse to employing unusual, violent, or dangerous methods. However, Sergey is a (more) refined, wealthy, slender-figured Pretty Boy who relies primarily on his brains and technology to commit (usually) murderous crimes, while Igor is a muscular blue-collar policeman who relies more on his physicality and has a strict moral code against killing.
- Freudian Excuse: As a boy, he was bullied by his peers and teachers alike for being an odd, reclusive aesthete.
- Glowing Eyes of Doom: The Plague Doctor's mask has glowing yellow lenses in the eye holes, creating this effect.
- It's Personal: His entire plan during "The Game" hinges on causing Igor Grom to suffer for putting him in prison.
-
Lawful Evil: Veers between this and Chaotic Evil. In the "Plague Doctor" arc, he has a definite moral code: he generally refuses to murder people outright (giving them at least a fighting chance of escaping or being rescued), and he has tangible goals behind his killings (albeit very twisted ones); his ultimate plan for changing Russian society involves being legitimately elected president. This gets thrown out the window after his arrest, at which point his main goal becomes to cause Igor Grom as much pain and suffering as possible — regardless of how many people have to die along the way. - Long-Haired Pretty Boy: By the time he's broken out of the detention center, his hair has grown to shoulder length (such that he occasionally wears it in a ponytail). He maintains the look through the "Time of the Raven" arc.
- Malevolent Masked Men: As the Plague Doctor, he sports a modernized take on a white plague doctor's mask (with red, reflective lenses for added fear factor).
- Man of Wealth and Taste: He veers between this and being a
Fashion-Victim Villain. - Meaningful Rename: After yielding to his alter ego (The Bird) in the detention center, Sergey officially christens himself the "Plague Doctor", discarding his old identity and fully leaning in to his supervillain persona.
- One-Winged Angel: Bird's form becomes more feral and animalistic when he takes charge.
- Practically Joker: He's an occasionally Ax-Crazy, theatrical nihilist with a twisted sense of humor who sports unusually brightly-colored hair ans a Slasher Smile (which occasionally veers into an outright rictus grin), prefers to dress in purple, and strives to cause chaos and get under his arch nemesis's skin.
- Serial Killer: He has a body count in the hundreds:
- In the "Plague Doctor" arc, he kicks off his plan to "cleanse" Saint Petersburg by sending countless vagrants, drug addicts, and criminal low-lives to die in a Death Trap-laden garden of his own design. He also murdered the construction crew who built the garden and — after one of them mistakenly sent a popular blogger to his death — murdered his accomplices under the Plague Doctor persona, to prevent them from leaving or accidentally leading the authorities back to him.
- During "The Game", he abducts Igor Grom's friends and loved ones and forces them (along with Oleg Volkov's mercenaries) to act as living pieces in he and Igor's chess game, killing one of them with a bomb collar whenever a piece is lost. He also plants bombs in various locations throughout the city, and tasks Igor with finding and defusing them. His body count for this escapade reaches into the dozens, and includes Alexey Kapustin, Yulia Pchelkina, and Igor and Yulia's unborn child.
- Split-Personality Takeover: Happens periodically from the story "Metamorphosis" onward, peaking during "The Game" when The Bird takes over almost completely (even shooting Oleg five times in the chest).
- Supernatural Gold Eyes: As the Plague Doctor, he initially wears a mask with glowing yellow lenses in the eyeholes, giving the impression that he has bird-like golden eyes.
- Naturally, Black Bird (as he appears in Sergey's mind) also has golden yellow eyes. After being unmasked, Sergey wears yellow contact lenses both to maintain the appearance and as visual shorthand that his alter ego is in control. Notably, Sergey finds himself unable (and unwilling) to wear the lenses after Bird's "death".
- That Man Is Dead: After The Bird takes control in the Epilogue of "Plague Doctor", Sergei sheds his civilian identity, declaring, "Sergey Razumovsky is dead. From this day forward, there is only...the Plague Doctor."
- Ungrateful Bastard: The "Bird" side of his personality has definitely demonstrated itself to be this:
- Sergey brutally murders his co-conspirators in the Garden of Sinners when they (understandably) try to back out of the deal, despite all four having helped him greatly in his endeavors.
- In "The Game", he drugs Oleg's mercenaries and forces them to participate in his living chess game, even though they recently helped to break him out of the hospital.
- During the same story arc, he shoots Oleg himself — his lifelong Only Friend (and possibly [[Ambiguously Gay more), co-conspirator, and the man who rescued him from the hospital — for no reason other than to adhere to the rules of the same said game.
- Wicked Cultured: He's a twisted, ruthless serial murderer and a social Darwinist; he also loves classical art, music, chess, fine wines, and couture fashion. The "Metamorphosis" story shows that he's loved art since childhood, with Sandro Botticelli's The Birth of Venus being his favorite painting of all time.
- Wicked Pretentious: Razumovsky fancies himself a sophisticate, with refined tastes and an intellect above that of the common man. His master plan in the "Plague Doctor" arc was to reshape society, beginning with murdering those he deems "societal parasites" (petty criminals, vagrants, drug addicts, etc) who don't fit into his vision of a perfect society.
- Yellow/Purple Contrast: Downplayed: the clothes that make up the Plague Doctor's costume are mostly varying shades of purple, while the lenses of the mask glow yellow (like a bird's eyes). He also wears yellow contact lenses underneath the mask to maintain the appearance. When forced to don (a version of) the costume again in Plague Doctor, Sergey contemplates adding the lenses to complete the look; his nerves give out, and he decides against it (using the expiration date on the lenses as an excuse).
Plague Doctor Era
- Always a Bigger Fish: His former reign as the Top Criminal of Saint Petersburg is officially ended by the time he returns to Saint Petersburg. He vows to re-establish himself as the city's greatest threat, but has yet to make good on his promise.
- Anti-Hero: Becomes one in the Plague Doctor spin-off comic. While he still works outside the law, he specifically targets criminals like thieves and rapists, as well as terrorists.
- Character Check: In one issue of Plague Doctor, Altan Dagbaev holds Oleg for ransom, demanding an audience with the Plague Doctor himself. He gets exactly what he asked for, with Sergey breaking free of his restraints, freeing Oleg, and then gleefully shooting, stabbing, and slicing his way through Altan's men.
- Hiding in Plain Sight: Deconstructed: despite being an international fugitive, Sergey has been presumed dead for several years now, and no one is looking for him; as such, he makes little effort to change his appearance or sense of style, and his returns to the city where he started his criminal career goes virtually unnoticed.
- Legally Dead: Sergey confirms in the second issue of Plague Doctor that he is widely believed to be dead as of the incident in Siberia, and that even Interpol isn't searching for him anymore. Despite this, he chooses to remain mostly at the base while Oleg trains Valeria, in order to avoid being seen. (Unfortunately, he still fails on that front.)
- Paper-Thin Disguise: When he returns to St. Petersburg, he alters his appearance by...cutting his signature red hair into a slightly shorter style, and donning a hat and sunglasses when he goes out in public. Justified, as he's believed to be dead and no one is really looking for him — especially in Saint Petersburg. It's also implied that vanity and ego play a part.
- Reformed, but Not Tamed: He may no longer be a mass-murdering Social Darwinist or hate Igor Grom, but Sergey still enjoys trolling people, has a mildly perverted sense of humor, and isn't afraid to spy on or manipulate others or deliver a brutal beat-down to criminal scum (when not giving Lera orders to do so). He also doesn't have a problem with killing to protect his own life — or Oleg's.
- Split-Personality Merge: To some extent: while The Bird was killed by Kutkh, and Sergey claims that Rag still takes over when he becomes overwhelmed with fear), we see aspects of both personalities present in Sergey, with neither one having dominance. That Oleg calls him "Grey" further alludes to this.
Oleg Volkov
Oleg Volkov
"Happy to see you, too."
Notable aliases: Wolf, The Wolf, Little Chef
Species: Human
First appearance: Major Grom #25
Razumovsky's partner, bodyguard, and close friend, with whom he grew up in the orphanage. A former mercenary.
- Affectionate Nickname: When they served together in the military, Vadim called him "Little Chef". He's also known as "Wolf" or "The Wolf"; Sergey calls him "Wolfie".
- All for Nothing: He spends all of "The Game" worrying about Sergey's mental state and trying to help him, only for The Bird to take over and shoot him in the final act.
- Ambiguously Gay: While Oleg is the furthest thing imaginable from Camp, he's never had a girlfriend, and has a very close relationship with Sergey Razumovsky: a lifelong friend with whom he's lived on multiple occasions, shares definite "married couple" vibes, and (as of the Plague Doctor series) seems to share a bed. During "The Game" arc, The Bird shooting Oleg is portrayed as equal to Igor losing Yulia. Then there's Oleg's undefined relationship with Vadim, with whom he had a close friendship during his time in the service.
- Animal Motifs: Wolves. The "Volk" in his name means "wolf", his nicknames include "Wolf" and "Wolfie", he has a giant wolf tattoo on his back, and he wears a pendant with a wolf's head and claw. He even wears a novelty howling wolf tee-shirt on occasion.
- Bodyguarding a Badass: Sergey is definitely capable of taking care of himself, but still needs Oleg's help from time to time.
- Born Lucky: Oleg is almost supernaturally lucky. If there's any possibility of him coming out on top in a situation — whether it's being shot point blank at close range, a botched intubation, or playing the slot machines — then it will happen.
- But Not Too Foreign: He is dark-haired, slightly more olive-skinned than Sergey, and the creators have alluded to him possibly having Middle Eastern roots. However, he is distinctly Russian-born and raised.
- The Dragon: Acts as this to Sergey during "The Game", leading a group of mercenaries who help put Sergey's plan into action. Among other things, he scouts out Igor Grom's birthday party, kidnaps his friends and loved ones, and helps set bombs throughout the city.
- Evil Sounds Raspy: Downplayed: his voice is permanently raspy from the botched intubation he received in the hospital after being shot by Sergey. However, despite being an accomplice to a former serial killer and terrorist, Oleg isn't evil.
- Hidden Depths: He's an excellent chef, and privately enjoys watching baking shows. He also majored in economics in college before joining the military.
- In-Series Nickname: He's often called "The Wolf" or "Wolf".
- Made of Iron: He was still walking after being shot point blank in the chest five times.
- Only Friend: Oleg is the only real friend Sergey has ever had.
- Real Men Cook: Cooking is one of his passions. One of his nicknames in the armed forces was even "Little Chef".
- Tall, Dark, and Snarky: He's one of the tallest (human) characters in the comics, dark-haired, handsome, and very snarky.
Three Princesses
In General
A gang of bank robbers who style themselves after characters from Disney movies.
- Action Girls: All three of the "Princesses" qualify as such (particularly Anna, who is a former policewoman).
- Adaptational Skimpiness: The ladies' Disney princess costumes are far more revealing that the iconic outfits worn by those characters. This was done deliberately to avoid copyright infringement.
- Bare Midriffs Are Feminine: The "Princesses" sport bra-like tops that show off their torsos. The "Prince", meanwhile, wears a white racing jumpsuit that covers his entire body.
- Gang of Hats: They're themed around various animated Disney characters.
- Girls with Guns: The ladies are all packing heat during their robberies. Their firearms were supplied by "Princess Jasmine", who is a former policewoman.
- The Smurfette Principle: Inverted: all the gang members are female, with the exception of a lone male getaway driver.
- Stripperiffic: The Princesses' costumes are less Disney Princess more "Disney Princess-themed strippers", consisting of very short skirts (or shorts) and bikini tops.
- White Mask of Doom: All three of the Princesses hide their identities with plain white face masks. The masks don't look all that intimidating, with bow-shaped mouths and eye holes that showcase the girls' doe-eyes and colorful makeup; this belies how dangerous they really are.
Cinderella
"Hands up! This is a fucking robbery!"
Click here to see Olga unmasked
Alter ego: Olga Victorovna Isaevna
Species: Human
First appearance: Major Grom #19
The daughter of former criminal (and current bank director) Victor Isaev. She founded the Three Princesses gang to get revenge on her father for her miserable life. Her criminal persona is based on Cinderella.
- Daddy Issues: She despises her father because his devotion to his job alienated Olga's mother, leading the two of them to get divorced — and, after she lost custody drove her mother to suicide. This left Olga traumatized and deprived her of a normal childhood.
- Driven to Suicide: After learning that her friends, girlfriend, and father are all dead thanks to her, and that her father was the only person who had truly loved her (and that he had sacrificed everything for her), she takes her own life out of guilt and despair.
- Hoist By Her Own Petard : She turns to a life of crime to get revenge on her father for ruining her childhood by putting work before his family and divorcing her mother (which she believes led to the latter's suicide). Instead, her criminal antics end up killing her girlfriend and one of her friends (while ruining the life of another) and ending the life of her father — who, as she learns after the fact, was Good All Along and willing to give up everything for her. At that point, she practically begs Grom to arrest her; he refuses, stating that she's suffered enough. She later commits suicide, unable to live with the guilt.
- True Blue Femininity: Subverted: her criminal disguise features a blue midriff top and skirt (even though Cinderella's dress in the animated film is silver); however, the persona she adapts is anything but traditionally feminine.
Princess Jasmine
“The money goes into the bag! Chop chop!”
Click here to see Anna unmasked
Alter ego: Anna Arkhipova
Species: Human
First appearance: Major Grom #19
A police major-turned criminal. She was recruited into the gang by Olga, who later became her girlfriend. Her criminal persona is Princess Jasmine.
- Brownface: Downplayed: the very Caucasian Anna dresses as Princess Jasmine, an Arab woman, to commit crimes; however, she only wears a (vaguely ethnic) costume and a wig, without actually trying to darken her skin. Ironically, her actual face is covered by a white mask, which obscures her identity completely.
- The Bad Guys Are Cops: Anna was formerly a Major in the Saint Petersburg Police; after becoming disillusioned with police work and deciding that the risks associated the job outweighed the benefits, she quit and turned to a life of crime.
- Dirty Cop: Lives a double life as a bank robbing terrorist.
- Gay Guy Dies First: She's the first member of the (rather small) gang to die.
- Killed Off for Real: Dies after being shot in a police standoff during the ransom drop for Olga.
Princess Ariel
Click here to see Ekaterina as The Lady
"Do you remember me?"Alter ego: Ekaterina Khokholkova
Notable aliases: The Lady
Species: Human
First appearance: Major Grom #19
A street racer who joins the Three Princesses gang with her boyfriend, Grigory. Her criminal persona is inspired by Princess Ariel. She later takes on the identity of The Lady, a mysterious cult leader who dresses in Victorian clothing.
- Awesome Anachronistic Apparel: As The Lady, she wears full Victorian mourning garb, complete with a veiled hat.
- Beauty to Beast: Her face is disfigured in the car accident that kills Gregory.
- Fiery Redhead: As Ariel.
- Kicking Ass in All Her Finery: She has no trouble fighting in an ankle-length Victorian gown.
- Leg Focus: As Princess Ariel, she wears a pair of super short shorts that show off her legs.
- Malevolent Masked Men: As The Lady, she wears a creepy mask that looks like cracked porcelain.
- The Mourning After: Never quite gets over the death of Grigory.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: She and Grigory bail on the rest of the gang during their shootout with the police, taking off in his white sports car.
- White Mask of Doom: Aside from the white face mask she wears as Ariel, she sports an ominous, white, doll-like mask as The Lady (to conceal both her identity and her disfigured face).
- Wrench Wench: She's a street racer, and knows her way around the inside of a hood.
The Prince
Alter ego: Grigory Semyonov
Species: Human
First appearance: Major Grom #19
Known as "The Prince" or "Prince Charming". An auto mechanic and street racer (and boyfriend of Ekaterina) who serves as the gang's Getaway Driver.
- Cool Car: He drives a white "Furarri" Mustang with a specialized color-changing paint job (it turns black when exposed to heat).
- Hoist by His Own Petard: During the police chase in the final act of "Like A Fairy Tale", he fatally crashes his sports car when he turns around to flip the police the bird.
- Killed Off for Real: He's killed in a car crash while trying to outrun the police.
- Screw the Rules, I'm Beautiful!: Ekaterina overlooks his obnoxious personality because he's "hot".
Minor Antagonists
Neo-Nazis
In General
- Cool Helmet: The duo who mug Yulia Pchelkina wear black bike helmets resembling skulls. May also count as Putting on the Reich, given the association between Nazism and skull imagery.
- Fight Clubbing: Vasya's group operates an underground boxing club, with the assistance of anonymous donors (including Kirill Gretchkin). Grom, being a prize fighter himself, agrees to participate in several bouts in exchange for information about Gretchkin.
- Tattooed Crook: All of them sport lots of tattoos. In fact, Igor visits tattoo parlors for leads before anything else.
The Skull
Alter ego: Vasya
Species: Human
A leader of a renowned group of Neo-Nazi criminals. He acts as Grom's informant in the Plague Doctor case.
- Meaningful Name: While "The Skull" has a rather obvious association with Nazism, "Vasya" is also significant: it comes from the Greek root meaning “royal”; he's the head of a group of criminals who believe that their ethnicity places them above others in society.
Saint Petersburg Civilians
Dr. Gennady Zilchenko
Gennady Zilchenko
"So what? More people died from medicine in the middle ages."
Species: Human
First appearance: Major Grom #4
The head physician of the oncology department in St. Petersburg's public hospital. He is among the most famous and overpaid doctors in the entire city. He was an accomplice, and the third victim of, the Plague Doctor.
- Dr. Feelgood: Zilchenko stole drugs from the hospital and sold them to third parties as narcotics. Every time he registered the use of a certain drug on a patient, he gave the latter a placebo, keeping the actual drug and selling it on the black market instead.
- Friend in the Black Market: He cornered the black market on narcotics in Saint Petersburg, supplying third party vendors with medicine stolen from the oncology department.
- Jerkass Victim: He was an amoral scumbag who stole pain medicine intended for cancer patients and sold it on the black market — all while charging his patients exorbitant fees for placebos. He also supplied Razumovsky with Promedol for the Garden of Sinners, and is heavily implied to have given him the names of known drug addicts (so Razumovsky could have them arrested and sent to him for slaughter).
- Lack of Empathy: When his criminal activities are exposed and he's accused of killing his patients, he scoffs, "More people died from medicine in the Middle Ages!"
- Karmic Death: The Plague Doctor hangs him in front of his own treatment center, utilizing a common medieval execution method.
Anna Terebkina
Anna Terebkina
Species: Human
First appearance: Major Grom #1
A news anchor for the Life News channel.
- Buxom Beauty Standard: She's an attractive young woman who enjoys showing off her breasts.
Victor Isayev
Victor Mikhailovich Isayev
Alter ego: The Solder
Species: Human
First appearance: Major Grom #19
A gangster-turned businessman, and the current CEO of Ros-Garant Banks. He is the father of Olga.
- Cold-Blooded Torture: He got his nickname ("The Solder") for his habit of torturing debtors with a soldering iron.
- Daddy Didn't Show: Olga states that he was never present for any of the important events in her life. It's one reason (among many) why she has so much resentment towards him.
- Falsely Reformed Villain: Implied: while Victor served time for his crimes and now operates a legitimate business, Grom states that the Isaevs are believed to have strong connections to both organized crime and the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. (Whether this is actually the case isn't revealed.)
- Good All Along: After his death, Olga learns that her father truly loved her: he divorced her "long-suffering" mother, and prevented her from receiving any of his money (or custody of Olga), because he learned that she'd been hired by his business rival to seduce and marry him, with the intention of divorcing him and taking half his fortune — and that she'd never loved or cared about either of them.
- Killed Off for Real: He dies of a heart attack, brought on by stress and anxiety after learning that the ransom drop for his daughter's freedom has ended in a shootout — not realizing that the "kidnappers" are members of his daughter's own gang.
- Married to the Job: During Olga's childhood years he was consumed by his work, such that he hardly ever saw his family; this allegedly drove a wedge between him and Olga's mother, and eventually caused them to get a divorce — and, after she lost custody of their daughter, drove his ex to commit suicide.
- Not Helping Your Case: Grom posits that Alex Kogan (Isayev's enemy from the 90s and current business rival) might be behind the robbery, noting an inflammatory statement that Kogan recently made about him to the press. Isayev insists that the two of them have buried the hatchet,and that Kogan's statement "[Wasn't] personal, it's just business." When he realizes what he just said, he gives Igor a sheepish look.
- Reformed, but Not Tamed: He may be a legitimate businessman these days, but Victor is still someone you definitely don't want to cross: he's rumored to have connections with The Mafia and people inside the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs—and he has a very nasty temper to boot (as demonstrated when he lays into a client over the phone).
- Reformed Criminal: He was a gangster who rose to power during The '90s. After being arrested and serving time for his crimes, he cleaned up his life and became a businessman, eventually establishing the largest private bank in the city. However, many believe that he isn't truly reformed, at least where his criminal activities are concerned (see above).
- Workaholic: He's almost constantly focused on his work. Olga believes that this led to his marriage falling apart; she's wrong.
