Characters / Vampire Cheerleaders

The Vampire Cheerleaders

Tropes that The Vampire Cheerleaders have in common:

• All Guys Want Cheerleaders: Typical of most highschool settings, the cheerleaders are considered the hottest girls at Bakerstown High. Though, obviously, it's largely attributed to them also being vampires.
• All Women Are Lustful: They're all sexually active, with Suki being the horniest one of the bunch, and they have no shortage of willing partners because of the preceding trope.
• Daywalking Vampires: So long as Lori and her coven apply their sunscreen, they can attend classes like normal students. They're even regulars at the local tanning salon.
• Even Evil Has Standards: While the vampire cheerleaders are undoubtedly self-centered, petty, and occasionally cruel, they adhere to a strict set of rules in regards to feeding. Anyone who violates them, will find themselves having a word with Lori.
  • Its mostly Pragmatic Villainy type of standards, but applies even to seemingly minor things like not being unnecessarily mean to Leonard.
• Graduate from the Story: At the start of vol.4, Lori, Zoe, and Leslie, have all graduated and enrolled in college, though they each make a brief appearances when Leonard and co. end up in the distant future. Suki is the only senior on the team, who flunked and had to repeat the grade, because the readers liked her.
• Immortal Immaturity: Justified as Lori's the only one who's been a vampire for more than a couple of years.
• The Vamps: Duh!
• Heroic Comedic Sociopath/Sociopathic Hero/Villain Protagonist: Saying they're divisive would be an understatement (see Broken Base), you're either gonna love 'em, or you'll find yourself rooting for the Paranormal Mystery Squad to stake 'em all.
• Vapor Wear: Comes with the uniform.
• Villain Ball: After being freed of Lori's mind control, Leonard briefly joined PMS to take her and the others down. Given that he had no problem with keeping their identities secret, until they made him their thrall, they had no one to blame but themselves. Yet, Lori reacted as if her trust had been betrayed.
• With Friends Like These...: You'd think being surrounded by a group of hot cheerleaders would be a guy's dream come true. Not with these girls.

Heather Hartley

Associated tropes:

• Abusive Parents: Subverted. While Heather's parents did seem to be strict with her, there's no evidence of actual abuse by either of them. They were only shown being upset because Heather had stayed out past her curfew, without at least calling them to let them know where she was.
• All Love Is Unrequited: According to Adam, while she's aware of Leonard's feelings for her, she's friend-zoned him for life.
• Big "NO!": Her reaction when she thought Stephanie was about to kill Lori.
• Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Hoo boy. See the Jumped Off The Slippery Slope entry.
• Corrupt the Cutie: Mostly all of volume one as she discovers more of her powers. Vol 2 sees her rein it in a bit, probably out out penance costing her school the big game.
• Demoted to Extra: Starting in vol.4, due to Michael Schelfer's contempt for her character. So she was given a bit part and was effectively written out, shortly after the opening strips of the final arc.
• Easily Forgiven:
  • Shortly after acquiring her power, she fed on her school's entire football team, leaving them too weak to play in the big game. So Suki covered it up for her by making it seem as if the guys had gotten so smashed that they'd had sex with each other. Afterward, they drained the opposing team so they'd be on equal ground. Once the deed was done, Lori let Heather off the hook.
  • Leonard didn't hold being enthralled by Lori against Heather either. In his own words: "You do what you have to for a little BC", adding that he "kinda enjoyed it" (aside from being stuffed in the trunk).
• Evil Feels Good: She certainly thought so. At least, until she and the others were finally exposed as vampires and had to answer for it.
• Jumped at the Call: Fans originally thought Heather had been turned against her will, only for her to later reveal she'd been given a choice, which she accepted. Which Adam confirmed by saying there was a block of time missing from Heather's initiation, because he wanted to leave it ambiguous so the readers could draw their own conclusion. It was poorly received by the readers, who called bullshit, since it seemed like an attempt to paint the cheerleaders in a better light.
• Jumping Off the Slippery Slope: Did she ever. After being turned, her first order of business was to turn on her parents and, under Lori's instruction, turned them into her thralls. Then ordered them to make her a baby sister. From that point onwards, they were reduced to being her mindless slaves.
• Legacy Character: She was promoted to captain of the Bakertown Bats, after Lori's graduation (vol.4), coinciding with her effectively being written out of the plot.
• Oh, Crap!: When Zoe explains what "Plan BC" stands for, a super-deformed Heather is shown with a horrified expression. She still goes through with it, as she is naked on the next page.
• Pet the Dog: Seen near the end of vol.4 when she finally apologizes for the way she and the others treated Leonard, and asks Charlotte to convey it to him, since she couldn't travel across time with her, to tell him herself.
• Pure Is Not Good: To say she's supposed to be innocent and naive, she took to being a vampire surprisingly well and had no qualms about misusing her parents, after making them her thralls.
• Put on a Bus: Heather only appears in the opening five strips of the comic's final arc. Her last and only other appearance wasn't until near the end, where she asks Charlotte to apologize to Leonard for her. She's absent from Lori's rally^note which was a major event, where Lori bestowed the "Thurston" family name on all members of her progeny. The only members of A-squad not present were Heather and Suki, the latter of whom was time jumping across space-time. No explanation is given for Heather, though it's possible that she may have been in attendance and simply not shown. and the reunion scene at the end.
• Transhuman Treachery: Though she is chided twice for being bloodthirsty, she still has a soft spot for Leonard, which is why she was slightly horrified upon seeing Leonard stuck in the trunk of Lori's car, having been reduced to being her thrall. While Heather thought Lori had gone a bit too far, she didn't push the issue with her.
• You Are in Command Now: By vol.4, she's become the new captain of the Bakertown High cheerleading team, after Lori and the others have graduated.

Lori (Originally Lorna) Thurston

Associated tropes:

• Alpha Bitch: At the start of the series, she's a textbook example of the stereotyical blonde cheerleader: hot, popular, self-centered, petty, manipulative, etc. With the added perk of being supernaturally empowered.
  • Lovable Alpha Bitch: To the members of her squad and most of the school; not so much when it comes to humans, with the lone exception of Leonard. Sort of.
• Character Development: She begins the series as a stereotypical blonde cheerleader, but through a chain of events involving a Stable Time Loop, she eventually matures into the admiral of an entire space fleet and becomes a close friend of her former enemy: Stephanie Kane.
• Compulsory School Age: Subverted. She has been returning to school every 20 years or so since at least 1892 of her own volition, apparently in a quest for the perfect senior year.
• Fire-Forged Friends: With Stephanie by the end of vol.4, when she and her space fleet comes to her aid against the Reptilians. In the comic's final scene, they're shown having breakfast together, as good friends.
• I'll Kill You!: Lori became so angry, that she nearly staked Heather with a Wii-mote, for draining their school's entire football team the night before the homecoming game. Leslie and Suki managed to talk her out of it, by coming up with a plan to cover up the incident, then drained the opposing team's players to level the playing field.
• Improbable Weapon User: I'm pretty sure Nintendo didn't design the Wii-mote for staking vampires, Lori.
• A Mother to Her Men: She regards the members of A-squad as family and made it official during a flashback in vol.4, when she held a rally to proclaim them as her progeny and bestowed the Thurston family name upon them.
• No-Nonsense Nemesis: When threatened, Lori doesn't believe in wasting time, or pulling punches.
  • First seen when she went straight for Leonard's jugular when he planned to out her coven as vampires.
  • Bianca raped and tortured Lori for three days. It was a mistake she didn't live to regret.
  • She nearly did the same thing to Char, by tearing her carotid artery open, dropped J.C. to keep him from saving her. Then moved on to Steph and disabled her by breaking her sword arm and bit her as well, not caring that Steph had taken garlic. Fortunately for PMS, Steph was able to turn the tables on her.
• Older Than They Look: Her collection of high school tassels contains two '92s. That means one of them must be from 1892, meaning that she's approximately 138 years old assuming she was 18 at the time of being bitten.
• Rape as Drama: She ends up being captured after attempting to seduce Bianca Harrow so she could feed on her, not knowing she was a gorgon until Bianca paralyzed Lori with her stare. Then spent the next three days feeding on Lori and repeatedly raping her.
  • Rape and Revenge: But the moment Lori was freed, she pounced Bianca and snapped her neck, killing her instantly.
• Refuge in Audacity: So Lori... you turned Leonard into a thrall, despite the fact that he agreed to keep your identities safe, generally treated him like crap; including habitually stuffing him in the trunk of your car and working him like a slave... yet you were upset once he was freed and turned on you? Really?
• Vampire Monarch: The Bakertown Bats cheerleadering squad are her coven and she ensures they keep their vampire activity to a minimum so as not to attract hunters.
• You Wouldn't Like Me When I'm Angry!; Heather and Bianca Harrow each learned, firsthand, why it isn't a good idea to piss off Lori. The former nearly got staked for it (with a Wii-mote), the latter wound up dead, after Lori snapped her neck. And she all but single-handedly curbstomped the PMS crew for ruining her "perfect senior year" by exposing her and her coven at her prom.

Zoe Weller

Associated tropes:

• All Love Is Unrequited: See the Incompatible Orientation entry.
• Amicable Exes: With Lesley, during the latter half of vol.4. Katie assumed they were married, since they had both taken the surname, "Thurston". But they offhandedly replied that they'd already "been there and done that," 'til Lesley realized she still liked guys too much. So they divorced and went back to being friends.
• Cloud Cuckoolanders Minder: Somebody's gotta keep tabs on Suki, or there's no telling what craziness she might get up to. Nine times outta ten, Zoe's the one who gets stuck with the job.
• Dope Slap: Just about anytime Suki says, or does, something stupid that could possibly blow their cover as vampires. Except instead of a whap on the noggin, Zoe flat-out bitch slaps her, or slugs her.
• Glad-to-Be-Alive Sex: Zoe is so overcome with emotion at seeing Suki was alive, that she lays one on her then tackles her to the ground and humps her leg in front of everybody at the amusement park.
  • Immodest Orgasm: Zoe gets so into it, that she shoves Suki's face in her boobs and keeps going 'til she achieves the big "O"!
• Incompatible Orientation: Though she vehemently denies it, vol.4 confirmed she's got the hots for Suki. However, the feeling isn't mutual since Suki is straight and was put-off by Zoe kissing her. And moreso after Zoe humped her leg.
• Jizzed in My Pants: She was so horny, that she didn't bother undressing. So when she finally got herself off, she soaked her employee uniform's hot pants.
• The Lancer: Possibly, when Lori disappears, she fills in the role of squad leader quite well.
• Les Yay Subtext: At least, it was subtext, 'til she kissed Suki and humped her leg immediately afterwards.
• Lovely Angels: In Vol.4, she and Lesley wear Kei and Yuri's 3WA uniforms from The Dirty Pair.
• Oh, Crap!: During the "Adventures in Space... and Time?!" arc, she and Lesley initially mistake Katie for one of the park employees and compliment her on her likeness... until Leonard tells them it's really her. They nearly shit themselves.
• Reunion Kiss: With Suki, after reuniting with her, during the Adventures in Space... and Time?! arc. She runs over and lays one on her.
• Sassy Black Woman: She seems to be off to a good start.
• This Cannot Be!: Sums up Zoe's reaction when Suki gets killed, right in front of her. See the: Deader than Dead entry in her section, below.

Lesley Chandra

Associated tropes:

• Amicable Exes: With Zoe, during the latter half of vol.4.
• Bit Character: Compared to the rest of the cheerleaders and the cast, in general.
• Flat Character: She was given the least amount of characterization and focus among the cheerleaders.
• Get a Room!: Said word-for-word, while watching Zoe hump Suki's leg, in front of everyone at the amusement park.
• If It's You, It's Okay: She's straight, but during the "Adventures in Space... and Time?!" arc, she offhandedly mentions having been married to Zoe. But they divorced because Lesley still liked guys too much.
• I Have Boobs, You Must Obey!: She pulled this on the training club manager in vol.2 as part of a bribe to steal the Ainley team's timeslot. Then added "plan BC" to sweeten the deal. It worked.
• Lovely Angels: In Vol.4, she and Zoe wear Kei and Yuri's 3WA uniforms, from The Dirty Pair.
• Marshmallow Hell: As seen in the I Have Boobs, You Must Obey! entry.
• Oh, Crap!: Already covered in Zoe's examples section.
• Only Sane Woman: Is the team's ameliorating influence.

Suki Taft

Associated tropes:

• All Women Are Lustful: Suki has a raging libido, so it doesn't take much to get her aroused. And she'll bang Leonard at the drop of a dime if she's horny, which she nearly did twice while they were in Lemuria.
• Asian Airhead: Taken to its logical conclusion at the start of vol.4, when she ends up being the only one of the seniors to flunk and have to repeat the grade. Truthfully, it was an excuse to keep her in the story, because she's popular with the readers.
• Batman Can Breathe in Space: She manages to get to the space craft Leonard and Katie are on, although nude. And the craft is above the Earth when she does.
• Boyish Short Hair: Yep, and you know what that means.
• Cloud Cuckoo Lander: She isn't stupid, so much as eccentric and very easily distracted. Such as attempting to climb the lion statue outside the casino in Las Vegas, or thinking she could spot Lori by bungie jumping while they were searching for her. Or... look, suffice to say, she ain't all there.
• Excuse Me While I Multitask: She got her own crowning moment, during the battle with the PMS, by casually dodging multiple attacks from Katie and Charlotte, without even looking, all while having light conversation with Zoe!
• Friends with Benefits: By vol.4, she's officially become Leonard's "VWB", which gets lampshaded by Katie and Suki, herself. Not that she wasn't already banging him before then.
• Heroic BSoD: Has one seeing Delenn'us, in which she remembers Cressida Harrow eating her liver again and again (it continually regenerated, making Suki a "renewable resource"). Giving Cressida's threat to make Suki into a "Suki-yaki" Harsher in Hindsight.
  • "Shut Up" Kiss: Leonard gives Suki one to snap her out of it, which she gladly returns; prompting Empress Delenn'us to jovially request the same thing Suki was having.
• Incompatible Orientation: Despite all the jokes and speculation about her and Zoe, earlier in the comic, vol.4 revealed the attraction was one-sided on Zoe's end, since Suki is straight.
• Jerkass: She's quick at the lip (even where Lori's concerned), and just as quick to pick a fight if someone ticks her off. But she isn't as bad as she first seems.
• Lovable Sex Maniac: She has a raging libido and is the most sexually active member of the Bakertown Bats™.
  • Suki was the one most interested in giving Leonard another go 'round, during the time he was a thrall and often had him massage her feet. By vol.4, she openly refers to him as her "frell buddy" and even bangs him while they're at the Lemurian hotsprings.
  • Also, leaving Suki alone with male guards to supervise her is never a good idea.
  • When Katie complained about them having sex, in front of her, Suki reminded her that she had offered to let her join in. But seeing that she was reluctant, Suki offered to let her use "Kitty-chan" instead. Katie replied, "maybe later".
  • After she and the others finally find Stephanie and see she's in bed with a mothman, with several others waiting their turn, Suki whips out "Kitty-chan" and asks if there's room for one more.
• Ms. Fanservice: As seen in the footnotes for this concept sketch, every aspect of her design in the "Adventures in Space... and Time?!" arc was meant to deliberately invoke this.
  • Shameless Fanservice Girl: In addition to sleeping without underwear, she spends nearly half of the first segment of vol.4 stark naked and didn't mind others seeing her. And touched herself while taunting Katie (in the Double Entendre example).
  • She even had sex with Leonard while Katie was present and could hear them. When Katie complained afterward, Suki reminded her that she could've joined in.
• My Own Grampa: She was sired by Lori, and yet somehow managed to be the one to sire Lori via Time Travel.
• Offscreen Villainy: In chapter 1, she gets into an argument with Zoe, where she brags about having screwed her boyfriend, before killing him.
• One of the Boys: Suki doesn't concern herself much with her looks; much less, feminine modesty. Instead, she's the rowdy, foulmouthed, member of the bunch and the one most interested in sex.
• Shout-Out: Apparently, she's a fan of LazyTown.
  • Here, she's shown singing "Cooking by the Book".
  • And, here, she's singing "Galaxy" while playing a game of Cheer Cheer! Coup DeTat. Which, itself, seems to be a shout out to both DanceDanceRevolution and Karaoke Revolution.
• Too Dumb to Live: In Vol 2 when the snooty rivals manage to outwit the squad in retaliation for taking their training time, she suggest biting and turning them. Zoe has to remind her that would unleash a squad of unrestrained vampires loose in the building, exposing themselves in the process.

Leonard Duvall

Associated tropes:

• Badass Longcoat: Subverted. When he showed up in a black duster and shades to confront the cheerleaders, they didn't take him seriously because of how ridiculous he looked.
• Better as Friends: On the comic's Q&A section, Adam states that while Heather is aware of Leonard's feelings toward her, he's been friend-zoned for life. And goes on to say that Suki has made the most of the situation.
• Butt-Monkey: He starts off as a wannabe vampire hunter, but, for most of Vol.2, he ends up being a thrall instead. Stephanie, Katie, and Char eventually snap him out of it.
• Crazy-Prepared:
  • Up till Plan BC, he was actully doing pretty good against the girls. Even having chugged Listerine and gorged himself on garlic event they tried to bite him. Lori tried. It didn't work out well for her.
  • Once he's become this again he's intending to take on Cressida Harrow—with some unlikely help.
• Did Not Get the Girl: He got to bang Heather as part of Plan "BC," but she only went along with it because it was Lori's idea. It didn't change how she felt about Leonard any.
• Dragged into Drag: Done in vol.2, after Lori went missing. Since the deadline for the cheerleading competition was drawing near, Heather made Leonard fill in for Lori's part of their routine.
• Endearingly Dorky: Leonard's self-aware enough to know he's a nerd, like the time he geeked out when he realized he was in the PMS crew's headquarters.
• Every Man Has His Price: ...and for Leonard, it's sex. All it took to buy his silence about A-Squad being vampires, was for Lori and her girls to spread 'em for him.
• Friends with Benefits: With Suki as of vol.4 (see the related entry in her section).
• Hero Antagonist: At least, he was right up until the girls pulled Plan "BC" on him. By morning, he was cool with keeping their secret. After the Paranormal Mystery Squad girls put on their "nerd burlesque" for him, he briefly resumed his prior role. But as of vol.4, he's now on good terms with the cheerleaders, to where he and Suki have become Friends with Benefits.
• Jizzed in My Pants: As a result of seeing Katie hula dancing in a Slave Leia costume, during the aforementioned "nerd burlesque" show. Which she couldn't help noticing, while he was passed out on the floor:
  Katie: (smiling) "Still, there's definitely something going on in his pants. Big white wet stain, in fact."
• A Man Is Always Eager: As far as he was concerned, having to ride in Lori's trunk wasn't that big a deal, so long as he was getting laid by Lori and her girls.
  Leonard: (to Heather) "Heck, I even kinda enjoyed it. Maybe not riding in the trunk, but you do what you have to for a little "BC."
• Mistreatment-Induced Betrayal: Was perfectly happy to keep vampire cheerleaders secret after they banged him silly, but not so much after his subsequent enthrallment was broken.
• Nosebleed: Leonard gets one, during the "Adventures in Space... and Time?!" arc, once they finally find Stephanie and he realizes she's naked. Katie clocks him to keep him from trying anything.
• The One Guy: You'd think that being surrounded by a group of hot cheerleaders would be a guy's dream come true. Not with these girls, and especially not if the guy is Leonard. Both sides get better.... sorta.
• The Renfield: Lori turned him into a thrall during vol.2, which was unnecessary, as Sasha and Danielle noted he was already "pussy whipped". But they still worked him like a slave anyway and periodically reinforced the glamour by continuing to screw him.
• Took a Level in Badass: He was pretty clearly your factory standard geek, starting out. However the minute he realizes his best friend/prospective love interest has been turned into a vampire (which he actually realized was happening before she was turned), he immediately levels up to Crazy-Prepared Badass Longcoat Vampire Hunter. He gets weakened once he gets thralled by the vampires, but once he is freed from their thrall however, he is shown with enough skill to cut down a room of monsters on his own.
• Vampires Are Sex Gods: He probably thinks so at this point. Stephanie, Charlotte and Katie doing their "nerd burlesque" for him might have him realize they're not the only "sex goddesses" around, especially if his reaction to Katie's "Slave Leia" routine is a sign.

B Squad

Associated tropes:

• Big Damn Heroes: Seen near the end of vol.4, when they swoop in to save Leonard and Suki just as they'd been about to be sucked into the vacuum of space. Then they clear a path so Stephanie and the others can escape the Mothworld's destruction. The page is even titled: "B Squadron to the Rescue".
• The Cutie: All of 'em. You may as well call 'em "Team Moe".

The Paranormal Mystery Squad

Tropes that The Paranormal Mystery Squad have in common:

• Action Mom: Both Stephanie and Charlotte become mothers in the comic's final volume (noted in the next entry) and take part in the war against the Reptilians.
• Babies Ever After: By the end of the comic, Stephanie has several offspring with the mothmen, while Charlotte is Happily Married to J.C. and has a son by him.
• Breaking the Fellowship: In vol.4, the group was disbanded by order of PETM, after Steph is abducted by the mothmen. In the following months, Katie joined the BHS cheerleading team and J.C. assumes command of the newly established PETM.
• Dark Is Not Evil: Aside from Stephanie, their group is comprised of cryptids, who would typically be seen as villainous, but they're actually the good guys; especially when compared to the cheerleaders.
• Demon Slaying: They protect the rest of humanity by hunting and eliminating cryptids which, naturally, puts them at odds with PETM.
• Fun with Acronyms: Stephanie chose the name "Paranormal Mystery Squad" because the initials signify that they're an all girl group. Get it?
• Hero Antagonist: PMS took on this role, during the "Vampire Cheerleaders Must Die!" arc, in order to save the students at Bakertown High by exposing Lori's Coven as vampires.
• Heroes With Bad Publicity: As far as the general public's concerned, the Paranormal Mystery Squad's actions were cruel and inhumane. Steph's flippancy only made things worse for their image.
• Monster Mash: Their team consists of: a human, a werewolf, a dhampyr, a Wiccan, a ghost, and a bat as the team pet.
• Paranormal Investigation: It's what they do, hence, the group's name.
• Secret-Keeper: Stephanie, Katie, and Charlotte know of the existence of Charybdis Heights, due to having close ties with the Delacroix Family. A fact which they've kept hidden from J.C., because he's a liasons officer from PETM.

Stephanie Kane

Associated tropes:

• Character Development: She's introduced as having a staunch zero-tolerence policy against all cryptids, because of what happened to her parents. This changes over time, as she gradually comes to accept that not all crpytids are evil, thanks to her sister and their friends, who happen to be cryptids themselves.
• Childhood Friends: With Layla Delacroix, who gave Stephanie one of her skullpins as a parting gift.
• Elegant Gothic Lolita: Especially in her debut in Aoi House. Early PMS, cover, and pin-up art also depict her wearing dresses of this style.
• Expressive Accessory: Her hairpin was a gift from Layla Delacroix. It reflects her thinking, at times "winking" as well.
• Fire-Forged Friends: With Lorna Thurston by the end of vol.4, as noted in the related entry in her example section.
• Go-Karting with Bowser: In vol.3, the gang wound up dancing in a parade with Bigfoot, in a scene similar to the "Twist and Shout" scene from Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
• Goth: When on-duty she always dresses in EGL fashion.
• The High Queen: She becomes the new regent of the mothmen during vol.4. Though it's subverted since it was by way of selection, rather than lineage.
  • Authority Equals Asskicking: See: More Deadly Than the Male and Royals Who Actually Do Something.
  • The Chosen One: The mothmen selected Stephanie as their new queen after silently observing her for months.
  • Kicking Ass in All Her Finery: Which is preceded by a magical transformation into her queenly regalia.
  Leonard: (in awe) "Whoa...!"
  Suki: (likewise) "Where can *I* get a costume like THAT?"
  • Lady of War: It comes with the territory (seen in the related entries).
  • More Deadly Than the Male: Whereas the males of the Mothman species lack the ability to fight, as their Queen, Stephanie has the power to either revert someone to an infant, or make them age rapidly 'til they wither away in ash!
  • Pregnant Badass: She finds out she's been knocked up in the middle of a battle with the Reptilians. She even tells Katie she's about to be an aunt, and an earlier order to "guard the nursery" implies that it's not her first.
  • Royals Who Actually Do Something: The Reptilians launch their attack on the Mothworld while Stephanie was in power. They couldn't have picked a worse time.
  • Took a Level in Badass: She's gone from cryptid hunter to being the Moth Queen, along with all the powers and authority that comes with the position. 'nuff said.
  • Winged Humanoid: As Queen of mothmen, she's grown wings of her own, which gives her the power of Flight.
• Irony: The girl who dedicated her life to hunting and killing cryptids, ends up becoming the queen of an entire brood, in vol.4. Including breeding with the mothmen and leading them in battle against the Reptilians, to avenge their fallen.
• Intimate Healing: Done just before the battle with K'aanll'Ngua, at the climax of vol.2. J.C. had been severely drained by Lita, who had fed on him for days. So Stephanie cut her arm and allowed him to feed on her to regain his strength.
• Jerkass: Steph can be bossy and is quick to assume the worst when it comes to cryptids, but this changes over time.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Very rarely comes up. But she does try to keep innocents out of the crossfire and looks out for her teammates if nothing else.
• Mercy Kill: How She views slaying monsters that were born human. She initially plans to do this with her sister, but is talked down by JC and Charlotte.
• Ms. Fanservice: She channels Samus Aran in an effort to help break the hold the Vampire Cheerleaders have over Leonard. And she rubs her bosom in his face to weaken him further.
• Older Than They Look: She's 22, yet barely looks a year older than her kid sister, Katie^note said to be 15 in vol.1-3, turned 16 by vol.4.
• Old Shame: The fact that she's had an active sex life is something she'd rather her friends not know about.
• Only You Can Repopulate My Race: After silently observing her for months, the mothmen chose her as their new Queen and abducted her in order to replenish their dying race. Her sister (Katie), Leonard, and Suki, had to journey across space and time to find her. When they finally did, they found her breeding with them. Though it wasn't until the Reptilians attacked, moments later, that Stephanie realized she was pregnant (again), and began giving birth to multiple moth larva.
• Really Gets Around: Though she initially denied it, Steph's gotten laid more than a few times:
  • While they were investigating the crash at "Inspiration Point", she accidentally let it slip that she'd been there more than once, during her days at MSU^note Mooreland State University, though she tried to cover it up. Two scenes later, she wound up admitting it to Agent Lisbon - then tried to take it back again!
  Lisbon: "After all, this is "Inspiration Point". You know what kids do out here."
  Stephanie: (proud smile) "Don't I EVER."
  *makes 'oh shit!' face after realizing she just said that out loud*
  *J.C. and Charlotte both smirk behind her*
  Stephanie: "Er--no! I totally DON'T!!"
  • Also suffice to say she was "busy", during the time Katie and co. were looking for her, in vol.4. When they finally found her, she was getting it on with a mothman, while surrounded by several others who were waiting their turn. Which Steph coyly referred to as her "queenly duty".
• She Who Fights Monsters: Mostly covered in the Character Development entry. Though, in vol.4, she became a rare literal example of the trope when she became a cryptid, herself.
• Supernaturally Young Parent: As the newly appointed Moth Queen, her natural lifespan has been greatly extended and she'll never grow a day older. Plus, she can bestow the same gift on anyone she chooses, as she did for Charlotte when she permanently locked her age at 32.
• Tragic Bigot: What happened to her parents definitely contributed to her original murderous attitude towards cryptids of all kinds.
• Tsundere: Towards J.C. see the following entry.
• Unresolved Sexual Tension: It's heavily implied that she secretly has a crush on J.C.
  • In vol.2, Katie joked by telling Stephanie that J.C. wanted to jump her bones and asked if she'd let him do it. Stephanie mumbled 'yes', though she was half asleep at the time and quickly denies it.
  • Later, after she and Katie had been freed from Lita's mind control and were preparing to move out against her, she blushed when she asked about him:
  Stephanie: (blushing) "And J.C?"
  Katie: (chibified) "Food source. Pet. Love slave. All of the above."
  Stephanie: (blush deepens) "Unacceptable! Let's go save his sorry ass!"
  *Charlotte and Katie snicker behind her back*
• Van Helsing Hate Crimes: She firmly believed all cryptids were inherently evil, as a result of what happened to her parents. Her view began to change once her kid sister became a werewolf and moreso after learning J.C. was a dhampyr.

Katie Kane

Associated tropes:

• A-Cup Angst: Her lack of a noticeable bust is definitely a sore point for her.
• Black Eyes of Crazy: As a werewolf, she has black sclera and is more vicious than she was as a human.
• Brain Bleach: Katie ends up needing some in vol.4, when she finally reunites with Stephanie and finds her in bed with a mothman, with several others waiting their turn. The moment the realization sinks in, she shoves Stephanie away from her and gags.
  Katie: (in disgust) "Oh God! Stephanie--!!"
• Curse Cut Short: When she finds out her sister is pregnant for the mothmen and was about to give birth, Katie's speech bubble gets censored.
  Katie: (groaning) "You have GOT to be f*** kidding me."
• Cute Monster Girl: She became one after being bitten by a werewolf in vol.1.
• The Cutie: Mainly in the first two volumes, where she was young and moe in appearance. From the "Vampire Cheerleaders Must Die!" arc onwards, she's given an older appearance and portrayed as being moody and foul tempered instead.
• Emergency Transformation: Somewhat, she gets infected with lycanthropy but Charlotte manages to use a spell so she doesn't become a mindless creature.
• Idiot Hair: She has a cowlick that sticks up all the time. While not as bad as Suki, Katie has a habit of acting without always thinking first.
• I Just Want to Be Normal: At first, anyway. According to the cast page, she'd rather spend time dating and hanging out with her friends in highschool - except Stephanie insisted on draggin' her into the family business. Of course, that was before she became a werewolf. Now she doesn't mind getting in on the action.
• The Load: For most of the first two volumes of PMS, where Katie's inexperience, clumsiness, and tardiness made her a liability to the team.
  • She wound up being cornered by Mr. Campbell's son, due to wandering off on her own and was almost fatally bitten. Thus, becoming a werewolf, herself.
  • She also released Lita, when she accidentally broke the Urn of Karthos, while searching for her purse, then lied to cover it up. Which resulted in the members of PMS being enthralled by Lita, after she attacked them at their hotel room. Not to mention the entire incident with K'aanll'Ngua could've been avoided had she been more careful.
• Ms. Fanservice: Deliberately invoked during the "nerd burlesque" show, when she channels Slave Leia to aid the others after Lita taunts her. JC does a Double Face Palm when he sees her, but it was the push Leonard needed.
• Near-Rape Experience: Midway through the first volume, Theodore kidnapped Katie and tried to take advantage of her while she was in heat. It didn't end well for him. She was so enraged, that she broke free and beat the ever living sh*t out of him.
• Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Literally. Which is how Lita got free (see the second entry under The Load).
• No Periods, Period: Averted. Katie seems to delight in using her teenaged PMS as an excuse to ignore diplomacy (and propriety).
  • When Charlotte opens her purse for smelling salts and out come lots of tampons, Katie snarks "Heavy flow month?" Stephanie tells her "It's the whole team's supply, you dingbat!" before giving her a fist upside the head.
• Took a Level in Jerkass: Seen repeatedly, during the "Adventures in Space... and Time?!" arc in vol.4, where Katie becomes unjustly bitchy and abusive towards Leonard for things that aren't his fault. Such as these two instances, where it should've been obvious that Leonard wasn't to blame. She tries to justify it by saying that's she's actually tsundere for Leonard.
• Unprovoked Pervert Payback: Every time she and Leonard wind up in a compromising position in vol. 4, she hurts him.
• Our Werewolves Are Different: She transforms when aroused.

Charlotte Roth

Associated tropes:

• Buxom Beauty Standard: People tend to focus on her breasts when they notice how large they are.
• Cute Witch: A shy one with freckles, who tends to fumble her magic half the time and substitutes botched incantations with comicbook and movie references.
• Happily Married: Sometime during the 10 years Stephanie was missing (in vol.4), she marries JC and has a son by him.
• Hidden Buxom: You don't see 'em often, since she's shy and usually dresses conservatively. But when you do get to see 'em - YOWZA!!
• Inept Mage: Her magic is undeniably powerful... when she can actually get it to work, that is. Which is often hit-or-miss, since she tends to forget the proper incantations and has to make one up instead.
• Ms. Fanservice: She and Stephanie deliberately invoke this by cosplaying as video game characters to free Leonard from Lori's enthrallment. Chars dresses as Vanille of Final Fantasy XIII before summoning Shiva, Mighty Isis and Ominous Oya, the last who seems a Shout-Out to the late-80's Storm.
• My Significance Sense Is Tingling: Among her gifts, is a type of sixth sense that allows her to sense evil, or simply when something is amiss.
• Playful Cat Smile: She sports a mischievous cat smile when she sees Katie's prom dress. Katie's not as pleased. Charlotte then sticks a flowery hat on Katie's head to finish with "I know! You look fluffy enough to eat! <3"
  Katie: I am not wearing this.
  Charlotte: Oh, but, Katie, it looks so good on you!
  Katie: (frowning) I look...like a Strawberry Shortcake reject.
• Shrinking Violet:
  • She's incredibly self-conscious about her breasts, particularly when anyone calls attention to them. Also seen when Katie joked about why she had so many tampons in her bag, causing Charlotte to tear up in embarrassment.
  • In the same time frame Katie makes a remark about how it takes Charlotte time to get her magic going...and it comes out as an entendre. Charlotte doesn't take it well and when Steph gets mad at her for it Katie goes for her then favorite excuse: her period.
  Katie: "See, this here eligible wiccan is descended right from the good ol' Salem witches. Unlike them, though, it takes Char here a while to get her magical mojo flowin'. But once you get her warmed up she can go allll night!"
  Stephanie: "Katie..."
  Charlotte: *Pulling her knees up to her chest* "I'll be curling up into my shell now."
• Supernaturally Young Parent: Thanks to Steph, who permanently locked Charlotte's age at 32 at her request. Which has also greatly extended her lifespan, much like her husband's and their son.
• Took a Level in Badass: After stepping through the time portal and arriving at the Mothworld, she's attacked by a giant winged demon. Charlotte nuked it with an explosive fire spell and bisected what was left, using her sword. Suffice to say, she ain't timid anymore.
• Youthful Freckles: Hers are limited to both her cheeks, accentuating her youthful appearance and adorkableness.

J.C. Summerfeild

Associated tropes:

• Dhampyr: J.C's half human, half vampire.
• Happily Married: Despite the UST between him and Steph in the earlier parts of the comic, he eventually marries Charlotte and fathers a son with her. Meaning, he got to tap it.
• Nosebleed: See the UST entry below.
• The One Guy: As Steph pointed out, PMS had been all female, which was a conscious decision on her part. But PETM filed a lawsuit against them^note as a result of Stephanie blatantly ignoring the cryptid preservation act by publicly executing the Deer Woman, thus they were court ordered to accept J.C. on their team, so he could monitor their activities on PETM's behalf and ensure they operated within their guidelines.
• Only Sane Man: He's usually the voice of reason on the team, especially when talking Stephanie out of making rash decisions; like the time he kept her from killing Katie, when she first turned into a werewolf.
• Red Eyes, Take Warning: Black eyes due to the B&W style of the comic but same thing.
• Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right!: In vol.2, when given the choice between following PETM's guidelines, or saving the people of Las Vegas from K'aanll'Ngua, he chose the latter without a moment's hesitation.
• "Shut Up" Kiss: Just before Charlotte prepares to leave in order to find Stephanie and the others, she starts to tell J.C. she may not be coming back, 'til he cuts her off by kissing her.
• Sixth Ranger: In the first volume, he joined them on behalf of PETM. By volume 2, he had quit the organization to work with PMS full time. While in the third, he's rejoined PETM, but still prefers to work with the PMS.
• Super-Speed: Being half vampire allows J.C. to move at superhuman speeds, so long as he's been allowed to feed. In vol.2, he was fast enough to leap from the driver's side of the team's winnebago and still catch Charlotte as she fell from the passenger side, then was able run near vertically up K'aanll'Ngua's tail.
• Unresolved Sexual Tension: It's subtly implied that he has feelings towards Stephanie, such as when he got a nosebleed at the thought of her and Charlotte shagging Leonard, or the time she caught him looking up her skirt, while they where spying on the cheerleaders.
• You Are in Command Now: By the time vol.4 begins, Adam states that J.C. has become the new head of PETM.

Babs

Associated tropes:

• Evil-Detecting Dog: When Lita made her way to PMS's hotel room in the second volume, it started screeching.

Lita/Lilita

Associated tropes:

• Big Bad: She was the main antagonist of volume two, which had her attack the PMS gang in their hotel room and enslave them. After being freed from her control, they had to save the people of Las Vegas when she summoned Kaanll'Ngua.
• Came Back Wrong: See the Eldritch Abomination entry.
• Defeat Means Friendship: In her case its more like defeat means getting her ghost bonded to the one who killed her.
• Demonic Possession: The body she has isn't her real one (in fact its the corpse of a recently deceased woman, Bianca's former servant in fact whom her sister killed.), her true form is a black mist.
• Eldritch Abomination: The Reptilians thought they had succeeded in killing her, but she came back as something far worse than anything they were expecting and soon die horribly.
• Fun Size: Pfft...
• Horned Humanoid: She has horns that get longer the more powerful she becomes.
• Killed Off for Real: In the distant future during Katie, Leonard, and Suki's dimensional and time travel. It doesn't stick.
• Our Demons Are Different: She's a succubus that needs to possess a host body.
  • Our Ghosts Are Different: She somehow bonded to Katie after her defeat and now stuck as a spirit haunting the group.
• Winged Humanoid: She has bat-like wings.

PETM

Tropes that PETM have in common:

• Fun with Acronyms: The name of their group is pronounced: "pet 'em" because they're the People for the Ethical Treatmeant of Monsters.
• Monster Wrongs Group: Under Marcy's leadership, they're more concerned with monster rights, than the safety of the general public.
• Nebulous Evil Organization: It's eventually revealed that their organization was secretly being run by Reptilians in human guise, who were eating the cryptids that were being released to their custody. Which is why the PMS burned their HQ to the ground once they found out.

Marcy O'Keeffe

Associated tropes:

• Animal Wrongs Group: She makes PETM look like this to the PMS on her introduction. Not only does she also treat cryptids like animals herself, but she's so much more concerned about the "rights" of belligerent and dangerous cryptids that she tried to fine Steph while she was battling a cryptid that revealed itself by attacking innocent dancers at a rock concert, and had a history of seducing men to kill and eat them.
• Artificial Limbs: Marcy wears high-tech prosthetic legs. Steph speculates they have something to do with her pro-cryptid sympathies but J.C. can't confirm it. It's eventually revealed she lost her legs in a botched sacrificial ritual.
• Belligerent Sexual Tension: When J.C. reveals that Marcy's a lesbian, it causes Stephanie to wonder if that explains why Marcy's always on her case.
• Lawful Stupid: She's more concerned about protecting cryptids than the thousands of people whose lives said cryptid's actions put at risk.
• Lipstick Lesbian: Which was news to Stephanie, when J.C. finally told her.
• Obstructive Bureaucrat: Almost to the point of being Too Dumb to Live. She went so far as to contact offices in Washington to confirm that K'aanll'Ngua was protected by the "Endangered Species Act" of 1973. Which effectively made it impossible for the military to take action against it, even though thousands of civilian lives were at stake.

Mr. Lomax

Associated tropes:

Cryptids

Tropes that Cryptids have in common:

• Always Chaotic Evil: Stephanie initially assumed all cryptids were inherently evil and needed to be put down. But gradually came to realize she'd been wrong, after her sister became a werewolf and after spending time with Charlotte and J.C. who each have cryptid ancestry.
• Monster of the Week: Each major story arc has ended with a battle against some sort of cryptid:
  • Volume 1 concluded with Steph and co. trying to save Katie from Theodore Campbell and his wolf pack. Except by the time they got to her, Katie had already taken care of him, herself.
  • The next one ended in a massive battle against K'aanll'Ngua, a towering four-armed monstrosity that'd been summoned by Lita. While they managed to defeat it, they destroyed a sizable portion of the Vegas Strip when it collapsed; prompting them to flee the scene before charges could be filed against them, by PETM.
  • The "Vampire Cheerleaders Must Die!" arc culminated in the showdown between the Paranormal Mystery Squad and Lori's vampire Coven. In the end, they were exposed and taken into custody by PETM.
  • The climax of the fourth and final volume had the members of PMS (and Suki) battling the Reptilians, who were hellbent on wiping the Mothmen out of existence... and nearly succeeded, when they destroyed Mothworld.
• What Measure Is a Non-Human?: Aside from the Delacroix Family, Stephanie originally thought of cryptids as being no better than animals. That eventually changed.

The Deer Woman

Associated tropes:

• Half-Human Hybrid: She had the upper body of an adult female and the legs of a deer.
• Offscreen Villainy: When Marcy demanded Stephanie turn the Deer Woman over to her, Steph brought up the 7 victims the Deer Woman had killed and said she was too dangerous to be permitted to live. Then...
• Off with Her Head!: ...executed her and left Marcy with the body. This came back to haunt her, when PETM filed a lawsuit against her for flagrantly disregarding the Cryptid Protections Act.
• Starter Villain: She's the very first one we see Stephanie eliminate.
• We Hardly Knew Ye: Steph killed her only a few pages into the first chapter. She didn't even have a single line of dialogue.

Mr. Campbell

Associated tropes:

Theodore Campbell

Associated tropes:

• Attempted Rape: Theo tracked Katie down after she and her friends escaped his father's farm, then waited 'til she was alone and kidnapped her. She regained consciousness, just as he'd been about to take her against her will.
• Entitled to Have You: He tried to convince Katie that it was only natural that he take her, since she was in heat and they were both werewolves. Katie was justifiably insulted by the implication and became enraged enough to break the chains on her wrists. Then...
  Theo: (prying Katie's legs open) "C'mon girl... why resist? I own you now. You and me are gonna make beautiful little puppies together! A whole howling litter."
  *Katie growls and breaks free, the slams Theo on the floor*
  Katie: (pissed) "Like hell I'll just give it up for you, you mangy mutt! I don't know what kind of girl you think I am, but I ain't gonna take that lying down... AND I'M YIFFING MAD!"
• No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: Suffice to say, he chose the wrong girl to try that with, 'cuz he got his ass beat.
• Wolf in Sheep's Clothing: A near literal example. Theo pretended to be a Nice Guy when he first met Katie, but in the end, he was just a horndog looking to get laid. Instead, he got laid out.

The Moth Men

Associated tropes:

• Butterfly of Death and Rebirth: Which is a power only their Queen possesses, as seen when Stephanie invoked it to revert one group of Reptilians to infants, while causing another group to age rapidly 'til they withered away in ashes.
• Doomed Planet: The Reptilians ultimately succeed in annihilating the Mothworld, forcing Stephanie and the few survivors with her to flee their planet's destruction.
• Dying Race: As a result of being hunted to the brink of extinction by the Reptilians, who feared the mothmen for their ability to see into the future.
• Humanoid Aliens: Simply picture a moth in the shape of an average adult human male. Though they lack a visible mouth of any kind.
  • Winged Humanoid: Moths have wings (and antenna), so....
• Mysterious Watchers: They've made appearances during each of the PMS crew's adventures, since the very beginning, and have a keen interest in Stephanie and Charlotte.
• One-Gender Race: Their species is all male.
• Only You Can Repopulate My Race: Which was the primary reason they chose Stephanie as ..._the_moth_queen!'>their new Queen and abducted her. By the time Katie and the others found her, she had already begun breeding with them and was carrying multiple embryos. When the Reptilians launched their attack on the Mothworld, Steph's contractions started and she began laying eggs on the battlefield. She had also ordered several of her guardsmen to protect the nursery, which is where the rest of her eggs were being incubated.
• Psychic Powers: Their abilites are nothing short of astonishing, despite their passive nature.
  • Seers: They're capable of perceiving future events and can even share their visions with others. Which is how Charlotte knew when and where to find Katie and the others. And it's the reason the Reptilians fear them, even though they're a peaceful race.
  • Telepathy: Since they lack visible mouths, they communicate telepathically and can even project their thoughts across time and space.

K'AAN'NGUA/The Great One

Associated tropes:

• Colossus Climb: PMS climbs up his body to take him down.
• Eldritch Abomination: He is a titanic demonic entity summoned in an arcane ritual to destroy the world. PMS still manages to kill him.
• Eye Scream: Stephanie rips one of his eyes out.

Sea Monster

Associated tropes:

• Captain Ersatz: of The Gill Man, which is of course lampshaded.

Others

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Bianca Harrow

Associated tropes:

• Bond Villain Stupidity: Of her own accord as she admits she before she would just outright eat her victims in the past, but now likes to savor them nice and slow. A good thing for Lori as it allows her to form a plan of escape.
• Depraved Bisexual: She flirts with Lori then she chaines her and rapes her. In the distant past, she had sex with Vibius Priscus before eating him.
• Food Chain of Evil: She eats vampires.
• Gorgeous Gorgon: She looks like
• Killed Off for Real: She's killed when Lori snaps her neck.
• Neck Snap: How Lori deals with her.
• Really 700 Years Old: She's over two-thousand, since she was alive at the time of the Roman Empire.
• Red Herring: For the longest time the fans suspected that Bianca's would become the corpse that Lita would later possess. It wasn't until Lori broke her neck and the fans started going I Knew It! that Adam informed them they were wrong, pointing out the time of death for the bodies doesn't match. At that point the fans sadly realized who it was that Lita would truly possess.

Cressida Harrow

Associated tropes:

• The Bad Guy Wins: At the end of the pre-epilogue "Vampire Cheerleaders Must Die!" it's shown she's rerouted the PETM shipment with the Vampire Cheerleaders to Miami thanks to bribing a Reptilian Senator, and is intent on using the Squad for getting payback thanks to Lori killing Bianca...
  • Big Damn Heroes / Just in Time: ...until Leonard brings the Paranormal Mystery Squad to crash Cressida's "dinner party".]]
• Bad Boss: Once she learns her sister is dead, she heads to Las Vegas and instantly kills Bianca's servant in the cruelest way possible.
• The Chess Master: She's played the Paranormal Mystery Squad and gamed PETM to get the Vampire Cheerleaders to Miami for payback. She just didn't count on JC realizing he's been played...or Leonard tossing in to make things right.
• Eye Scream: The script for an unfinished chapter reveals she escaped, though Lori ripped out one of her eyes.
• Gorgeous Gorgon: Just like her sister, in fact.
• I'm a Humanitarian: She taunts the cheerleaders with making Suki into a "suki-yaki," and it's revealed she actually DID repeatedly eat Suki's liver and followed through to a point on that.
• Kick the Dog: Killing Bianca's servant in the cruelest way possible is a much worst kick the dog moment. Even though the fans already knew it was coming, that didn't make it any easier.
• Offscreen Villainy: The author ran out of time to draw the epilogue for the volume set. So instead wrote what became of Bianca's servant in simple text formet on the webcomic. However if you're reading from the volume, you might be understandably confused why the servant is suddenly dead.
• Really 700 Years Old: She's been alive since at least the time of the Roman empire.
• Roaring Rampage of Revenge: The epilogue in the second book sets it up.

Vibius Priscus

Associated tropes:

• Pointy Ears: Since he is a vampire
• We Hardly Knew Ye

General Briggs

Associated tropes:

• Four-Star Badass: Apparently ready to lead an attack on K'aan'ngua from the front lines. His moment of glory gets stolen by O'Keefe when she gets the President to order him to retreat. He gets even by having the PMS team cleared of their community service much to O'Keefe's chagrin.
• Reasonable Authority Figure: He is put in charge the incident in Volume 2 comes off sympathetic to the PMS crew, and most definately does not like O'Keefe's presence and interfeerence.
• The Brigadier: Fits to a tee.

Cassy

Associated tropes:

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