A glossary of recurring names, places, and groups for readers jumping in partway through the archive.
The Global Defense Agency's official training program for new superhumans, recruiting prospects from around the world. Bump-in-the-Night is among its alumni.
One of New York's organized crime families. Took part in the May 29th, 2030 attack, working in cahoots with the other villains involved.
A masked vigilante known for standing against criminals and villains across the city. Longtime partner to Last Light on the hero team Night Shift, and an alum of the GDA's Academy. As of the vigil held outside Manhattan Hospital, he remains in critical condition in Room 909, following an incident referred to publicly as "Bump-in-the-Night Day."
A hero who fought an unnamed, extraordinarily powerful entity on the Brooklyn Bridge during the May 29th, 2030 attack, a battle intense enough to be dangerous even to bystanders watching from a distance.
The international body overseeing the Academy and coordinating superhuman recruitment and training worldwide. Chaired by Sullivan McCarthy.
Jason "Jace" Parker, NYPD Chief. Personally trains incoming officers, and was a key figure during the brief NYPD coup. Known as an active, hands-on presence with close ties to the community he serves, an officer of the people.
Second-in-command of Night Shift alongside Bump-in-the-Night, and by his own account a friend of twenty-three years. Appears as a radiant, coat-wrapped figure while active; reverts to an elderly man in a flat cap once the light fades.
The hospital where Bump-in-the-Night was treated after his injury, and the site of the public vigil held outside it. His room number, 909, became a citywide fixture that night.
One of New York's organized crime families. Took part in the May 29th, 2030 attack, working in cahoots with the other villains involved.
The date of a coordinated, unprecedented attack on New York, carried out not by a single mastermind, but by a large group of otherwise-unaffiliated villains who all shared one thing in common: each had, at some point, been an enemy of Bump-in-the-Night. Fighting hit locations across Brooklyn, with the Brooklyn Bridge among the hardest struck. Independent heroes, hero teams, Skyline, and Bump-in-the-Night himself all responded; some heroes were killed, others barely survived.
The hero team built around Bump-in-the-Night and his second-in-command, Last Light, though likely with other members beyond those two. Hasn't operated as one coordinated group in some time.
A brief, armed uprising within the NYPD, led by Officer Law and Officer Rand following Law's dismissal from the force. Escalated into a large-scale battle involving police trainees, the chief, and the deputy chief. Officer Law was ultimately subdued once Vestige joined the fight; Officer Rand was subdued primarily by fellow officers.
An NYPD officer with an undisclosed teleportation ability. The full extent of it isn't public knowledge. Typically uses it to respond to scenes quickly, or to bring suspects back to the station.
A longtime NYPD sergeant whose conduct grew erratic following the Night incident, marked by excessive force and wrongful arrests, most notably arresting people for jaywalking (which is legal in NYC) and beating them with his baton. After being fired, he and Officer Rand staged a coup against the NYPD, clashing with trainees, the chief, and the deputy chief in a large-scale battle. Subdued only once Vestige entered the fight; currently under arrest.
An NYPD officer who conspired with Officer Law in the attempted coup. Separately charged with tasing an innocent woman. During the coup's final brawl, he was subdued primarily by fellow officers rather than by Vestige.
The hero team led by Your Highness.
One of New York's organized crime families. Took part in the May 29th, 2030 attack, working in cahoots with the other villains involved.
A radical anti-superhuman group, publicly alleged to be responsible for the killing and burning of superhuman activists in Kentucky and Oklahoma. Their stated position, per Chapter Leader Reily Jones, holds that superhumans are not made in God's image.
The homeworld of the Su'Vaelin people, formerly cataloged by humans as TRAPPIST-1e. Its existence, and humanity's first contact with its people, was announced publicly the same day as Bump-in-the-Night's vigil.
Chairman of the Global Defense Agency, and the public face of the Academy's recruitment efforts. Known for having strong opinions about heroes for show versus heroes for the people.
A proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would extend to superhumans the same constitutional protections the 15th (1870) and 19th (1920) Amendments extended along lines of race and sex. Backed publicly by Senator Paloma Cordova and GDA Chairman Sullivan McCarthy; opposed by what's referred to as the "Defense Lobby." Superhumans are currently a protected class in all 50 states, despite a 2005 Supreme Court ruling that they do not qualify as human under the Constitution.
A media and technology conglomerate whose holdings include Vantage News ("For the future, today"), Vantage Laboratories, and the consumer brand Vantage Life. CEO: Julian Calloway.
A Su'Vaelin ambassador, and the first of his people to publicly address humanity, in an address to the United Nations. Describes the Su'Vaelins as an ancient species devoted to recording and preserving the history of life across the galaxy.
A superhero in an almost holographic, spider-like suit, able to discharge ropelike laser grapples to swing through the city. Arrived at the tail end of the NYPD coup to clear out officers so he could face Officer Law one-on-one, who by then had been knocking out trainees in succession.
One of New York's organized crime families. Took part in the May 29th, 2030 attack, working in cahoots with the other villains involved.
Leader of the hero team Skyline, known for a theatrical, self-promotional public style. Publicly pledged Skyline's resources toward Bump-in-the-Night's medical treatment.