Characters / Zap!

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Zap Vexler

An amnesiac psychic spaceship captain. He sometimes lapses into a Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass, especially when Reona is in danger. Most of the time he's the Idiot Hero, though.

• Amnesiac Dissonance: Zap, Efrem, and Gunner were on the same side, and Zap was much darker than his post amnesia personality.
• Ascend to a Higher Plane of Existence: In the final chapter, he uses up too much energy and disperses throughout the universe. But after three years, thanks to the Power of Love, he is eventually able to piece himself back together.
• Brainwashed and Crazy: Gunner attempts this on him, torturing and brainwashing Zap into helping him Kill All Humans. He eventually resorts to technological means of control.
• Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: Idiot Hero extraordinaire when we meet him, he soon begins to display feats of Psychic Powers. He also used to be a brilliant engineer who built the Excelsior in the first place, as well as a rather ruthless killer. Think Gunner, but saner.
• Falling into the Cockpit: Zap, on the run from the GEF, literally falls into the cargo hatch and is made captain by the sentient ship.
• Glowing Eyes of Doom: When he's sufficiently angry and using his powers, his eyes glow electric green.
• Idiot Hero: For a good while, he's really just goofing around, being silly. Then Cerebus Syndrome happens and he begins to remember who he is.
• Laser-Guided Amnesia: Zap begins the story knowing, pretty much, nothing but his name.
• The Last of His Kind: Along with Gunner and Efrem, he is one of the last known surviving Lost Ones. He believes that there are others out there, but Gunner is not so optimistic.
• Let's Get Dangerous!: When you see Zap start to glow, some shit's goin' down.
• Love Redeems: He was originally working with Gunner to get revenge against the GEF. But after Efrem located the literal girl of his dreams, he was able to get Zap to join his side.
• Psychic Powers: Potent, but he can't remember how to use them, necessitating training from Gunner.
• Replacement Goldfish: There's various comments on how like Ephrem Zap is. At least one side character calls Zap Reona's "Replacement Boyfriend."

Reona Lightstar

The redheaded first mate of the ship with an Arm Cannon.

• An Arm and a Leg: She lost her right arm at the same time when Efrem was "lost".
• Arm Cannon: Reona had it installed it as part of her right arm prosthetic.
• Girl of My Dreams: Zap's dreams of her caused his Heel–Face Turn in the backstory.
• No Conservation of Energy: Averted, sort of, with a Handwave. Her Arm Cannon draws energy from Reona's own body, as confirmed by Word of God. In this strip, she got the power pack upgraded.
• Number Two: To Efrem, and then to Zap. While they were both gone, she moved more into the role of The Captain.
• Tsundere: She seems to be Type A at first, but Character Development reveals that she's hiding emotional wounds and insecurities and is naturally a Type B.

Excelsior

The ship herself, who communicates via Robot and can choose her own captain.

• Sapient Ship: The Excelsior is sentient and chooses its own captain.
• Spaceship Girl: A spectral woman from Zap's forced flashbacks of his earlier life turns out to be the holographic projection of the Excelsior's AI.

Grontar Grott

A huge four armed Genius Bruiser, with overprotective tendencies towards Reona.

• Alliterative Name: Grontar Grott.
• Genius Bruiser: Big, strong, and a spaceship mechanic (this is rocket science).
• Multi-Armed and Dangerous: Four arms. Four muscled, strong arms.
• Undying Loyalty: To Reona. Less so to the Resistance. Everyone else can go hang, although he is fond of Kasey.

Robot

Formerly named XR-7439-Q, Robot is the Snarky Non-Human Sidekick, a sentient Robot Buddy (though the "buddy" part is involuntary and quite questionable).

• A Dog Named "Dog": Because Zap can't remember his real name, XR-7439-Q gets redubbed Robot.
• Last of His Kind: Robot is the last robot left with a learning AI.
• Moment Killer: Robot does this a few times.
• Restraining Bolt: He is programmed to obey the captain, like it or not.
• Ridiculously Human Robots: Rude, snarky, cowardly, apparently has a love life with AIs...
• Robot Names: XR-7439-Q is Robot's former name.
• Silicon Snarker: Very. It appears he's missing a personality chip that would correct the "problem", but he never regains it during the story.

Kasey

Kasey is a lion-like Stickle, an enthusiast of robots and a Bungling Inventor.

• Bishie Sparkle: See for yourself.
• Bungling Inventor: A racial trait, actually. Kasey, having at least one invention that has not catastrophically failed, may be the least bungling inventor of the Stickles.
• Little Bit Beastly: Kasey has a lion's tail and slit pupils, plus long, pointy, and slightly floppy ears.
• Robosexual: This is apparently the norm for Stickles. Kasey, being a Genki Girl, is all over Robot and gets jealous when he interfaces with other AIs.
• Wingding Eyes: Of the Heart Symbol type when she gushes over Robot.
• Wrench Wench: You need anything mechanical done, this is the lass you go to. She's built and maintains Reona's arm cannon. She also unlocks several things in Excelsior AI, although that's soemwhat accidental.

Efrem Nutari

The former captain of Excelsior, presumed dead in action. Reona is the only one who believes otherwise.

• Battle Aura: Like all psychics. His is blue.
• Brainwashed and Crazy: At first when he appears in person, he's wearing the crown, implying he's under mind control, but Efrem himself says he isn't - the crown is set to hide him from detection and amplify his powers, not to control.
• Face–Heel Turn: It looks like this in the amusement park battle, but Reona soon learns he's been The Mole for the Serpent. As it later turns out, this is nowhere near that simple.
• Glowing Eyes of Doom: Psychics' eyes glow while using their powers, and he usually uses them against our heroes.
• Heroic Sacrifice: He sacrificed his own life to save Reona and Grontar. Except he actually used the opportunity to rejoin the Serpent. He does do it in the finale, where he runs out of energy and disperses.
• It's Not You, It's My Enemies: This turns out to be one of the real reasons why he left Reona. He was heading off to rejoin and work as The Mole against Gunner's genocidal scheme and didn't want her drawn into the danger.
• The Last of His Kind: Along with Gunner and Zap, he is one of the last known surviving Lost Ones.
• The Lost Lenore: For Reona, until he pretends to try to kill her, anyway.
• Matchmaker Crush: Efrem had intended Reona for Zap all along, but formed a relationship with her due to wanting to have something Zap wanted.
• The Mole: He was seemingly this to the Resistance. Though he is actually this to Gunner. Gunner is well aware of this however, and has threatened to kill his "friend" if he actively goes against his plan.
• Never Found the Body: After Efrem's apparent death, the crew was teleported back to the ship.
• Psychic Powers: Since only a psychic can pilot Excelsior.

Holly Kidson

A space pirate who kidnaps Reona and Robot seeking to use them in a rescue mission. She later joins the crew of the Excelsior.

• Daddy's Girl: Loves and adores her father. Indeed, Holly's goal in life seems to be carrying her father's legacy. When we meet her, she's on a mission to rescue him, and when she finds him dead, she breaks down.
• Not a Morning Person: As we learn when she and her boys temporarily join Excelsior crew. She drops an entire dish of sugar into the coffee Reona brought to wake her up.
• Space Pirates: Her father's way of life which he loves. She also dresses much more piratically than makes sense in a futuristic setting.
• Talk Like a Pirate: Much to the confusion of her crewmates, sometimes.
  Holly: Arr, shiver her timbers, mates!
  Inman and Scherzer: (confused looks)
  Holly: Just... hit her on the head.

Inman and Scherzer

Holly's underlings, who refused to leave after she dismissed them.

• I Owe You My Life: The reason Schetzer is so loyal is because Holly's father rescued him from slavery.
• Space Pirates: Less cosplay-ish than Holly, but still.

Justin Smith

A high-ranking member of the Rebellion, and Reona's superior. He was captured by William and held captive by the GEF until his rescue by Grontar.

Jason Wilkins

A Rebellion grunt who drinks too much. He pointed the GEF at Zap in the backstory, causing him to flee and land aboard the Excelsior. Captured by the GEF along with Justin.

• The Alcoholic: Always buzzed. His solution to most problems is getting more buzzed.

Demonica

Demonica is Reona's friend - they used to work as waitresses together. She introduced her to Efrem. She has since taken over the Rings of Luck Casino and helps out the Rebellion.

• Blue-Skinned Space Babe: Who wears a slinky red dress to further underline the babe factor. She's also strongly sexually attracted to humans, who are not necessarily attracted to her. She did become the owner of Rings of Luck by seducing the previous owner, though.
• Double Standard: Rape, Female on Male: She never apologises to Zap (then again, she might have had no opportunity on page) for the Forceful Kiss business, but she does apologise to Reona for hitting on her boyfriend.
• Knowledge Broker: According to the cast page, she used to be a spy for the resistance as a waitress - now, as the casino owner, she's more of a node in their information network.
• Hypnotic Creature: Only psychics are immune to this. Disturbingly, she tries the power on Zap during an Attempted Rape.
• Tentacle Hair: Prehensile and quite useful. For various purposes.

Gunner Stryfe

A mysterious psychic from Zap's past with a Meaningful Name.

• Combat Pragmatist: Gunner gets tired of the psychic battle and just shoots Zap.
• De-power: Unwilling to kill him, Zap strips him of his psychic powers and exiles him to an uninhabited planet.
• Evil Mentor: He temporarily joins the Excelsior crew in order to sound out just how amnesiac Zap really is. Since the amnesia is genuine, Gunner ends up schooling Zap in the rudimentary use of his powers, frustrating as it gets.
• Firing One-Handed
• Glowing Eyes of Doom: Using their powers make psychic's eyes glow, and Gunner rarely uses his powers for good.
• The Gunslinger: Helped by being a powerful telekinetic. He never misses.
• Kill All Humans: His ultimate goal is to annihilate the human race as revenge for the GEF destroying his.
• The Last of His Kind: Along with Zap and Efrem, he is one of the last known surviving Lost Ones. Zap believes that there are others out there, but he is not so optimistic.
• Long-Haired Pretty Boy: So pretty he's very much subject to Draco in Leather Pants.
• Meaningful Name: Gunner Stryfe is The Gunslinger who causes strife to bring humanity down. And if that's not enough, his chosen pseudonym is Serpent. As in, slithering into people's confidence to lead them astray.
• Names to Run Away from Really Fast: Gunner Stryfe, also known as the Serpent. And just look at this smile...
• Revenge Before Reason: Most of his race was destroyed by the GEF, and he seeks to Kill All Humans as revenge. He is willing to do anything to accomplish his vengeance, even torture or murder his best friends. Vitale knows that Gunner is beyond dissuasion, but points out just how pointless his actions are.
• The Unfettered: He is willing to kill anyone who gets in the way of his quest for revenge. Even his closest friends, the only other survivors of the destruction of his world.
• Woobie, Destroyer of Worlds: The GEF killed off his entire race, save three (as far as he knows). His response? Kill everyone.

Naveed Catlos

A deadly katana wielding Cat Girl. She cut off Reona's arm in a flashback.

• Berserk Button: If you like your insides where they are, don't damage her katana, and don't hit on Gunner. Or look like you might touch Gunner.
• Cat Girl
• Cats Are Mean: She likes to play with her food, so to speak.
• Clingy Jealous Girl: To Gunner. Implied to be the reason she wiped Zap's memories, or so she thinks. That was Zap's Memory Gambit.
• The Dragon: To Gunner.
• Femme Fatalons: They look sharp.
• Katanas Are Just Better
• Ms. Fanservice: Naveed provides lots of eyecandy with her stripperiffic outfits.
• Perky Female Minion: Not as much "perky" as "murderous sex kitten who spouts one-liners". But this woman is dissappointed when her "boyfriend" won't let her kill someone (who's still useful to the plan - Gunner assures her she can kill the guy when he's outlived his usefulness), so.
• Red Eyes, Take Warning
• The Vamp
• Undying Loyalty: Towards Gunner, not matter how much undeserved it is. She's entirely fine with getting marooned on an uninhabited planet, as long as it's with him.

Io

The leader of the the Galilean Satellites, Io has the power of fire. He seems to be serious in personality.

• Flaming Hair: When he's using his powers.
• Last of His Kind: With the other four Satellites, they are the last of the Elementaros.
• Playing with Fire
• Screw This, I'm Outta Here: After finding out that Naveed doesn't value Callisto's sacrifice all that much.

Callisto

One of the Elementaros, a race that can control the elements, and a member of the Galilean Satellites. Callisto has control over water.

• Elemental Hair Colors: Navy blue for Making a Splash powers.
• Heroic Sacrifice: She sacrifices her life to save Naveed.
• Last of Her Kind: With the other four Satellites, they are the last of the Elementaros.
• Making a Splash
• Water Is Womanly: The last Elementaro of Water.

Europa

One of the Elementaros, a race that can control the elements, and a member of the Galilean Satellites. Europa has control over wind.

• Blow You Away
• Elemental Hair Colors: White, flowing on Dramatic Wind, even when there is no wind.
• Expy: Of Storm, at least in design.
• Last of Her Kind: With the other four Satellites, they are the last of the Elementaros.

Ganymede

They youngest of the Elementaros, a race that can control the elements, and a member of the Galilean Satellites. Ganymede has control over earth.

• Child Soldier: He's, at most, an adolescent, shorter and younger looking than his teammates.
• Dishing Out Dirt
• Elemental Hair Colors: Green.
• Last of His Kind: With the other four Satellites, they are the last of the Elementaros.

President Billings

The bungling head of the GEF, who has started a pogrom of Psychics.

• Asshole Victim: The President was not a nice man, but Gunner, the mastermind behind his murder, is arguably worse.
• Corrupt Politician: He forcibly annexes planets to the GEF and is mostly in it for the money.
• Evil Laugh: Seen here.
• A Glass of Chianti: Billings does this on one scene where he tries to be serious.
• Our Presidents Are Different: President Buffoon. To downright parodic levels.
• Puppet King: While nominally in charge of the GEF, Maximus and Feonix are able to play him like a puppet by baiting him with promises of money. However, they apparently do get tired of technically answering to him and assassinate him. It turns out that they originally had been perfectly satisfied using him as a figurehead, but Gunner planted a desire in their minds to get revenge and seize direct power.
• Shoo Out the Clowns: While thoroughly evil and even genocidal, he is quite comical. Naturally, he gets assassinated by his own generals as the comic is taking a darker tone.

William Haskins

A GEF commander and the head of the Psychic Academy. Happily Adopted by Vitale.

• Mind-Control Eyes: After being controlled by Gunner.
• My Country, Right or Wrong: At first, anyway.

Vitale

A powerful psychic and adviser to the President. Vitale adopted the orphaned William and raised him.

• Mentor Occupational Hazard: He mostly mentors William, but also gives advice to Reona in a dream. Gunner kills him, ostensibly because Vitale is a threat to his plans (that include serious harm to William).

Maximus Verbatim

The general of the GEF's ground forces.

• Eyepatch of Power: It's metal and apparently riveted in place. Ouch.
• The Starscream: He was originally satisfied with using Billings as a Puppet King, but after Gunner plants a desire to rule directly, he works together with Feonix to murder the President in a coup to seize power for themselves

Feonix Yago

The general of the GEF's aquatic forces. His species rebelled against the GEF long ago, but Yago seemingly betrayed them and surrendered. Now he seeks to destroy the GEF from the inside.

• My God, What Have I Done?: After Gunner releases the mind control he used to make Feonix and Maximus murder the president, Feonix is absolutely horrified.
• Off with His Head!: He is killed by Zap that way.
• Really Seven Hundred Years Old: 712, to be precise.
• The Starscream: He supposedly betrayed his people, but in actuality did this to seize power inside the GEF on his people's behalf. For a long time, he was satisfied with using Billings as a Puppet King, but Gunner used his psychic powers to plant a desire for vengeance, resulting in him working together with Maximus to assassinate Billings and seize power for himself.