Characters of 8-Bit Theater

The events in the webcomic "8-Bit Theater" center around four major characters — the Light Warriors — and a number of minor ones.

The Light Warriors

Black Mage, Fighter, Thief and Red Mage are the protagonists of the story, a dysfunctional group of supposedly predestined warriors who are supposed to save the world.

Other main characters

=White

First Appearance: Episode 024: "She's a White Magic Woman."cite web |date=2001-05-03 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=010503 |title=Episode 024: "She's a White Magic Woman." |work=8-Bit Theater]
Sprite: White Mage ("Final Fantasy III", Famicom)

White Mage was originally a candidate to be one of the Light Warriors, but was rejected by the group in favor of Red Mage.cite web |date=2001-06-24 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=010624 |title=Episode 047: The Last of Survivor 8-bit Style Part 12 |work=8-Bit Theater] She then made it her life's mission to help the Light Warriors save the world, and thus has followed them on the journey for most of the comic's history. White Mage specializes in casting healing spells, which has compensated for the sheer incompetence of the Light Warriors on multiple occasions. There is ongoing tension with Black Mage's lustful attraction to her, usually resulting in White Mage hitting him with her hammer, although she is attracted to his rarely emerging sensitive side and has healed his wounds out of devotion to her position as a healer. White Mage accidentally influenced the creation of the universe when Sarda sent her to a pocket universe, which was revealed to be the universe moments before its birth.cite web |date=2005-01-01 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=050101 |title=Episode 495: Set into Motion |work=8-Bit Theater]

She often questions her purpose in the world since, despite her good intentions, all her actions seem to result in destruction and suffering. White Mage does not realize these results are exclusively the Light Warriors' fault and constantly blames herself, even going so far as to "turn evil" for a very brief period of time. However, the most evil acts she could bring herself to commit were calling Fighter dumbcite web |date=2007-07-12 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=070712 |title=Episode 869: The Best Medicine |work=8-Bit Theater] and kicking Red Mage in the shin.cite web |date=2007-07-17 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=070717 |title=Episode 871: Moral Complications |work=8-Bit Theater]

Black Belt

First Appearance: Episode 074: Guest Appearances By...cite web |date=2001-09-02 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=010902 |title=Episode 074: Guest Appearances By... |work=8-Bit Theater]
Sprite: Monk/Black Belt ("Final Fantasy I", NES)

Black Belt was an extremely skilled martial artist whose sense of orientation was all but non-existent. As a result, he was capable of defying the laws of physics by simply misunderstanding them, which rendered him capable of Münchhausenesque feats such as walking across a pit on a rope that had been untied at both ends. Black Belt was assigned to guard White Mage on her mission, but was later killed in the Light Warriors' battle with Kary, the Fiend of Fire.

Black Belt's teachers (who have color palettes identical to Ken and Ryu from the "Street Fighter" video game series) identify the fighting style they and Black Belt use as Wu Xia. Black Belt himself described the prevailing theory of his school as the credo that an opponent who is too broken to move is an opponent who is defeated.

Episode 622, "Now shut up" [cite web |date=2005-11-10 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=051110 |title=Episode 622: Now shut up |work=8-Bit Theater] , in which White Mage unsuccessfully revives a headless, petrified clone of Black Belt, closely resembles a method to revive Black Belt that was suggested multiple times on the Nuklear Power Forums.

arda the Sage

First Appearance: Episode 300: The House Always Winscite web |date=2003-06-26 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=030626 |title=Episode 300: The House Always Wins |work=8-Bit Theater]
Sprite: Dorga ("Final Fantasy III", Famicom), modified

Sarda is the self-proclaimed Wizard Who Did It (in reference to the common cop out, "a wizard did it" as an explanation for inconsistency and plot errors) due to his impulsive nature and sole occupant of the Circle Cave. He is an omnipotent wizard who, among other things, can reverse and stop time, as well as manipulate reality itself. He will readily do so out of sheer boredom or just to have others suffer. For example, humanity used to have 36-hour days, but Sarda reduced them to 24 just to make everyone hurry up. He never stops to think about the consequences of his actions, citing that he wouldn't be the Wizard Who Did It if he did. The Light Warriors harbor a strong dislike for Sarda, referring to him as a jackass on multiple occasions;cite web |date=2008-03-27 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=080327 |title=Episode 971: Just Talkin' 'Bout Sarda |work=8-Bit Theater |quote=Thief: Even if I wanted to give it to you, Sarda's going to "jackass" us away at any second. / Dragoon: "What" is a Sarda? / Thief: Seriously. "Jackass" covers that one.] however, they choose not to argue with him for fear he will "unmake [them] before [they] were born".cite web |date=2008-03-29 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=080329
title=Episode 972: Department of Un-History, Item D-36 |work=8-Bit Theater |quote=Thief: The thing about Sarda is that the more he talks, the more chances it gives him to unmake you before you were born, so no one would know you were alive.]

Sarda plays a much more vital role in the comic than in "Final Fantasy", where a character named Sarda only serves to let the player explore one dungeon. In the comic Sarda drives the Light Warriors to recover the four Orbs, often using forceful means. His reasons for collecting the Orbs are not yet made clear, although a malevolent intention was implied when he received the fourth and final Orb. He is not concerned with the Light Warriors' chances of survival, repeatedly sending them on suicidal missions with the same shaky vessel of transportation,cite web |date=2005-05-28 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=050528 |title=Episode 556: The Gang's All Here |work=8-Bit Theater] cite web |date=2006-04-25 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=060425 |title=Episode 687: Graphic Detail |work=8-Bit Theater] cite web |date=2008-04-26 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=080426 |title=Episode 984: So Totally Safe |work=8-Bit Theater] known as a "deathtrap." He holds a grudge against White Mage for accidentally taking away his role as the creator of the universe,cite web |date=2007-06-12 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=070612 |title=Episode 857: A Big Splash |work=8-Bit Theater] as well as trapping him in the developing universe for billions of years,cite web |date=2005-05-26 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=050526 |title=Episode 555: A Brief History of Time |work=8-Bit Theater] cite web |date=2008-06-14 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=080614 |title=Episode 1005: Of Hardships |work=8-Bit Theater] despite the fact that this was his fault for sending her to the beginning of the universe in the first place.cite web |date=2004-12-30 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=041230 |title=Episode 496: A wizard did it...to himself. |work=8-Bit Theater]

Major enemies

The Dark Warriors

The Dark Warriors are major enemies the Light Warriors have defeated separately in the past who teamed up to take revenge. With the exception of Drizz'l, they are based on antagonists from the game; Drizz'l is the son of Astos, who is based on a game character.

Garland

First Appearance: Episode 052: Meanwhile...
Sprite: Dark Knight ("Final Fantasy III", Famicom, modified from Episode 053 on)

Garland is the first major enemy faced by the Light Warriors and a former military leader of Corneria.cite web |date=2003-09-30 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=030930 |title=Episode 336: Elves Love Talking |work=8-Bit Theater |quote=Thief: ...some local political posturing between the ruling class and a disenchanted ex-military leader, okay?] [cite web |url=http://forum.nuklearpower.com/showpost.php?p=357826&postcount=109 |title=Garland |publisher=Nuklear Power forums] Despite his best attempts to become an evil villain, he is a nice and caring person who enjoys cooking. He treated the Light Warriors more like guests rather than prisoners during their imprisonment in his castle and ended up having to be assisted by his prisoner, Princess Sara. After his first failed encounter with the Light Warriors, he formed the Dark Warriors and began a propaganda campaign against the Light Warriors. After some time as the Dark Warriors' leader, he has shown a more calculating side to him while retaining his friendly personality. Garland is continually wrestling with his fear of Forest Imps (the weakest creatures in the world) and has the ability to summon huge creatures, including a giant squid, a dinosaur and a really big marmoset; his original plan was even to summon Chaos himself. Garland was, at one point, visited by a dark god looking for an understudy to the Avatar of Evil, but the dark god quickly realized Garland was not what he was looking for and has since redirected his attention to Black Mage.cite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=070130| title = Episode 802: Rude Awakening| work = 8-Bit Theater]

Bikke the Pirate

First Appearance: Episode 208: Look Who's Backcite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=021029| title = Episode 208: Look Who's Back| work = 8-Bit Theater]
Sprite: Thief ("Final Fantasy I", NES), modified

Bikke is an incompetent and dim-witted pirate captain and the second member of the Dark Warriors. He is known for his intense body odor and his tendency to speak in a clichéd pirate accent. Bikke managed to let his entire crew almost die from scurvy, due to the fact that he fed them nothing but Cheetos, which led directly to his defeat. Although he is a pirate captain, he cannot swim and, despite having two perfectly normal, functional hands, desires to be called "The Claw".

Prince Drizz'l of the Dark Elves

First Appearance: Episode 268: Out on a Webcite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=030403| title = Episode 268: Out on a Web| work = 8-Bit Theater]
Sprite: ("Final Fantasy II", Famicom), modified

Drizz'l, a Dark Elf and the son of King Astos, is the third member of the Dark Warriors. His name, a parody of the name of Drizzt Do'Urden, roughly translates from Elven into "The Relentless Scourge." Drizz'l is a sword master equal to Fighter and controlled a pack of giant spiders before he was defeated by the Light Warriors in Marsh Cave. His sword skills are severely impacted by the fact that Fighter took away his swords after he was defeated, although Fighter eventually gave them back.cite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=080809| title = Episode 1023: Armed and Advantageous| work = 8-Bit Theater] Drizz'l considers himself the most intelligent of the Dark Warriors, although his inherent Elven arrogance often gets the better of him. He temporarily became the leader of the Dark Warriors before being usurped by Black Mage and forced to join the Light Warriors.

Vilbert von Vampire

First Appearance: Episode 366: Evil Has a Namecite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=031230| title = Episode 366: Evil Has a Name| work = 8-Bit Theater]
Sprite: ("Final Fantasy III", Famicom), modified

Vilbert, the son of Lich, is a vampire and the fourth member of the Dark Warriors. Prior to meeting the Light Warriors, Vilbert lived in the basement of his parents' house, where he indulged in his hobbies: writing clichéd goth poetry, live action role-playing and being misunderstood. Like any other vampire, he can only be killed with a wooden stake. In an attempt to kill him, the Light Warriors drove an armoire (the "Armoire of Invincibility") through most of his organs. He later recovered and joined the Dark Warriors.

The Cultists

First Appearance: Episode 523: The Doom That Came to Ice Cavecite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=050305| title = Episode 523: The Doom That Came to Ice Cave| work = 8-Bit Theater]
Sprite: Black Wizard ("Final Fantasy", NES; modified)

The Cultists are a doom cult the Light Warriors have encountered twice so far. The true name of their cult is not mentioned, due to the fact that it "cannot be said or written without driving you mad."cite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=050311| title = Episode 526: The Unnamable| work = 8-Bit Theater] They dwell in extremely remote areas and worship ancient beings that are reminiscent of the ones found in H. P. Lovecraft stories. The Cultists induce new members by chopping their heads off and implanting the larva of an "Old One" in the body, where it matures, giving the Cultists the appearance of a humanoid being with long tentacles in the lower half of their faces. The Cultists thus resemble illithids or Mind Flayers, fictional monsters from the roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons who look similar and procreate in much the same way. The Cultists take pleasure in disturbing paraphilia (especially those that carry taboos). All of the Cultists have names that are pronounced similarly to female names, such as L'zlhe (Leslie), Lv'rn (Laverne), or Suh'zahne (Suzanne). All the Cultists have orange skin with grey robes, except the leader, Mrr'grt (Margret), who has lavender skin with purple robes.

The Light Warriors first encountered the Cultists in an Arctic cave, where they were trapped in another dimension by the cult's object of reverence, a monster called "the Eyestalk" by the Light Warriors. The group escaped this dimension and slaughtered the cult members.

The second encounter took place in the sunken Sea Shrine (how they returned is not explained, Red Mage says he is "pretty sure" the Light Warriors slaughtered the Cultists), where the reformed cult worshipped Ur, the third Fiend. They were again slaughtered, this time by Black Mage only, and the Light Warriors accidentally used their ancient "end of the world formula" to summon Ur by invoking his true name, Jnn'efur (Jennifer).

The Fiends

The Fiends are evil elemental beings, far stronger than regular monsters. They guard the orbs the four elements are tied to. All of the Fiends have done battle with the Light Warriors separately and violently attacked a single main character, usually removing them either temporarily or permanently. After their defeats, all the Fiends entered Hell one by one and gathered there. [cite web |date=2008-03-18 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=080318 |title=Episode 968: A Spear In The Head Is Worth Two In The Bush |work=8-Bit Theater forums]

In the "Final Fantasy" video game, the Fiends served as major bosses. They consisted of Lich (Earth), Kary/Marilith (Fire), Kraken (Water) and Tiamat (Air/Wind).

Lich, Fiend of Earth

First Appearance: Episode 380: Introducing...cite web |date= 2004-02-05 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=040205 |title=Episode 380: Introducing... |work=8-Bit Theater]
Sprite: Black Wizard ("Final Fantasy", NES; modified)

Lich is an undead, immortal wizard and self-proclaimed "Master Bonecraftsman" who believes all things live to die and that the dead exist to serve him. Lich confronted the Light Warriors after they defeated his son, Vilbert. He killed Black Mage by breaking his spine. Afterwards, he easily stopped multiple attempts by Fighter to kill him, as he had put his soul into the Earth Orb, rendering him immortal. Thief "stole" his soul out of the Earth Orb, the Light Warriors managed to get Lich's soul back into him and Black Mage, who emerged as the ruler of Hell, banished Lich to the underworld. However, Lich revived the minions of Hell, whom Black Mage had incapacitated by removing their spines, and ousted Black Mage from his position. Lich's departing words were "Death is but a door, time is but a window; I'll be back", a direct quote from "Ghostbusters 2". Following this, Lich took Black Mage's place as the king of Hell and has since been seen greeting the other three Fiends there after their defeats.

Kary, Fiend of Fire

First Appearance: Episode 466: Trigger Happycite web |date=2004-10-15 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=041005 |title=Episode 466: Trigger Happy |work=8-Bit Theater]

Kary is a Fiend who enjoys indiscriminately killing people via combustion, feeling it's the only way to prove she's evil. However, she overdoes it and ends up killing all her minions with little, if any, provocation, to the point where by the time the Light Warriors infiltrate her lair, she has no minions left to defend herself. During her battle with the Light Warriors, she killed Black Belt. After Fighter held the six-armed Kary at bay using his newly-crafted Sword-Chucks, Red Mage managed to stuff her into a bag of holding and cast Ice-9 , an enormously powerful Ice spell which causes all thermodynamic activity in the universe to cease, into it (a reference to the Kurt Vonnegut novel Cat's Cradle). White Mage then shattered the frozen bag with her hammer, destroying the bag and all its contents, including Thief's collection of more riches than actually exist.

Ur, Fiend of Water

First Appearance: Episode 753: Day of the Tentaclecite web |date=2006-10-07 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=061007 |title=Episode 753: Day of the Tentacle |work=8-Bit Theater] (vessel), Episode 764: Red Octobercite web |date=2006-10-07 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=061102 |title=Episode 764: Red October |work=8-Bit Theater] (actual)

Ur, the Fiend of Water, is an ancient being worshiped by the Cultists that Fighter accidentally summoned by invoking his true name, Jnn'ef"ur" . It initially appeared as a large chaotic mass of sticky tentacles that engulfed Red Mage just before he could reveal the Fiend's weakness.cite web |date=2006-10-10 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=061010 |title=Episode 754: He's Gone To A Better Place |work=8-Bit Theater] While Thief stole the Orb of Water, Fighter attacked the being until it fell apart and Ur emerged as a separate tentacled, humanoid entity. Black Mage told Ur he was the one who summoned him and ordered him to first destroy Fighter and Thief, then carry on with his actual task, bringing about the Apocalypse. However, before Ur could begin, Red Mage cut him open from the inside and killed him, making Red Mage the first Fiend victim to not actually die, despite having his skeleton removed.

Ur represents the fiend Kraken from the video game. It is referred to exclusively as Ur in the comic, but Red Mage does note that Ur is "your basic Krakenoid". Black Mage's use of the name prompted Fighter to bounce it around against the inner walls of the Sea Shrine in further reference to the video game Arkanoid. The author, Brian Clevinger, notes that the Fiend can be referred to as either Ur or Kraken. [cite web |url=http://forum.nuklearpower.com/showthread.php?p=454839#post454839 |title=Kraken/Ur's name |publisher=Nuklear Power forums]

Muffin, Fiend of Air

First Appearance: Episode 907: Animal Companioncite web |date=2007-10-16 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=071016 |title=Episode 907: Animal Companion |work=8-Bit Theater]
Sprite: ("", GBA) [cite web|url=http://forum.nuklearpower.com/showthread.php?t=25077|title=Idoun is Muffin|work=8-Bit Theater forums]

Muffin, the owner of both the Sky Castle and the Orb of Air, is a dragon who Dragoon considered his "pet parrot", having never seen a parrot before, and believing her lie about her species. Muffin had established the order of Dragon Knights ten thousand years ago in order to kill the other dragons, allowing her to take their powers, treasure, and knowledge.cite web |date=2007-11-6 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=071106 |title=Episode 916: Getting To Know You |work=8-Bit Theater] Afterward, she slaughtered the dragoons so they would not learn of her plot. When the Light Warriors learned of this and told Dragoon his "parrot" was a dragon, Muffin revealed her true intentions by betraying Dragoon and the Light Warriors and attempting to personally kill Thief. Thief became the second 'Fiend victim' to survive, despite suffering severe head and neck damage. When the Light Warriors attacked Muffin's Sky Castle, Dragoon killed her by spearing her through the head.

Muffin is the comic's version of Tiamat, the Fiend of Wind from "Final Fantasy". While she is never directly referred to as Tiamat, Dragoon does indicate that Muffin may not be her real name.cite web |date=2008-03-01 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=080301 |title=Episode 962: Clearly, they do not |work=8-Bit Theater]

King Astos of the Dark Elves

First Appearance: Episode 245: Wheels Within Wheelscite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=030204| title = Episode 245: Wheels Within Wheels| work = 8-Bit Theater]
Sprite: Thief ("Final Fantasy", NES), modified

Astos, originally a boss in the first Final Fantasy game, is the father of Drizz'l. He planned to drive Elfland into a civil war by overthrowing the currently ruling Elven clan, using the alias "Chancellor Usurper of Clan Sahn'ta" to get close to the king and Prince Elf (Thief). He had the king poisoned and put into a coma to this end.

In a stroke of luck, Thief and the Light Warriors overheard Astos dictating his plot to himself. The next day, the Light Warriors confronted Astos. They never got around to an epic battle, however, as Astos was killed by a bad pun from Black Mage ("Astos? Mo' like yo' ass IS toast!"). He turned out to carry both Matoya's Crystal Eye and the formula for an antidote for King Elf.

The Ordeals

First Appearance: Episode 608: Teleporting never screws anyonecite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=051006| title = Episode 608: Teleporting never screws anyone| work = 8-Bit Theater]
Sprite: Kraken ("Final Fantasy III", NES; Greed), Dracocotta ("Final Fantasy III", NES; Sloth), Black Mage ("Final Fantasy", NES; Atrocity), Spirit Naga/Grey Naga ("Final Fantasy", NES; Pride), Lunasaur/Lunasaurus ("Final Fantasy IV", SNES; Zombie Dragon)

In the Castle of Ordeals, the Light Warriors were separated temporarily. During this time, each of them had to do battle with the worst flaw in their personality, each of them being one of the seven deadly sins, except for Black Mage's. Fighter had to contend with the personification of Sloth, while Red Mage had to deal with his Pride. Thief had to fight his Greed; however, due to interference from Fighter, Black Mage ended up fighting it, as well as his own Ordeal, which was a manifestation of all his atrocities. All the ordeals appeared as unnatural monsters, except for the ordeal Black Mage fought, who was a doppelgänger of Black Mage, as nothing else was evil enough to represent his sins.

After each of the Ordeals were defeated, the Light Warriors were reunited to fight the final Ordeal, a giant Zombie Dragon, to which Red Mage comments that "a giant Zombie Dragon has little relation to facing one's own inner struggles". It was defeated when Thief stole some of its vertebrae. As in "Final Fantasy", defeating the Zombie Dragon earned the Light Warriors a Rat's Tail, which they later exchanged for a Class Change.

Other characters

Princess Sara

First Appearance: Episode 052: Meanwhile...cite web |date=2001-07-07 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=010707 |title=Episode 052: Meanwhile... |work=8-Bit Theater]
Sprites: (modified) and Princess Sarah (both "Final Fantasy III", Famicom)

The Princess of Corneria, daughter of King Steve and Queen Jane and the heir to the Cornerian throne, Princess Sara had already been kidnapped about six times by the time Garland got to her. Her rescue is the first mission that King Steve gives to the Light Warriors. Although she appears to be a respectable princess, Sara hides a calculating and bloodthirsty nature. For this reason, she used her time as Garland's "prisoner" to coach him into becoming a proper villain. After the Light Warriors "rescued" her, she has continued to show interest in evil, but has not taken any villainous action. At one point, she turned down an offer to take the fourth position in the then-forming Dark Warriors, declaring them hopeless. The vacant position was eventually occupied by Vilbert von Vampire. She has since usurped the rulership of the Kingdom from her clueless father, and runs the kingdom without his knowledge.

King Steve

First Appearance: Episode 058: Government At Workcite web |date=2001-07-20 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=010720 |title=Episode 058: Government At Work |work=8-Bit Theater]
Sprite: Prince Alus ("Final Fantasy III", NES; modified)

King Steve is the father of Princess Sara and de facto ruler of Corneria. He recruited the Light Warriors, requesting that they rescue his daughter, Sara, from Garland. Steve initially sent hundreds of "light warriors" on his errand, surmising that the chosen ones, being destined to save the world, would prevail and those who were not the chosen ones would die off; he was oblivious to the many deaths this would cause, and once informed was still dismissive of this fact. Steve is a capricious and entirely delusional despot with only a tenuous grip on reality who, among other things, has devastated his country in an attempt to drill for mana (a reference to FFVII's mining for materia), believed he was running for election against a length of string (ignoring the fact that Corneria is a monarchy) and made a coffee stain his right hand man ("Rodney").cite web |date=2004-11-04 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=041104 |title=Episode 478: King Steve, You So Crazy |work=8-Bit Theater] After Sara was "rescued", he started spending his time making excuses to wage war on Elfland. Steve lost his position as King to Rodney in a game of poker, then to the aforementioned length of string. His "left hand man", Gary, tried to get it back for him, but ultimately, King Steve regained his position by "assassinating" the string (cutting it with scissors). Following the conclusion of the Sara kidnapping arc, Steve has not been involved in the main story, but he continues to make frequent appearances in the comic, his adventures often serving as a sideline to the main story.

Left-Hand Man Gary

First Appearance: King Steve Theater: New Shoescite web |date=2003-12-23 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=031223 |title=King Steve Theater: New Shoes |work=8-Bit Theater]
Sprite: Scholar ("Final Fantasy III", Famicom)

Gary is King Steve's chief advisor, although the king's imaginary friend, Rodney the Coffee Stain, holds the title of "right-hand man". Along with Princess Sara, Gary is the usual foil to King Steve's antics. Most of his duties detail taking orders from King Steve, reminding him that he is a king (which King Steve often forgets), and otherwise advising him, although King Steve usually misunderstands or ignores him outright.cite web |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=041104| title=Episode 478: King Steve, You So Crazy |work=8-Bit Theater] cite web |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=070306 |title=Episode 816: Cornerian Hold 'Em |work=8-Bit Theater]

Dr. Swordopolis

First Appearance: Episode 083: A Shout Out to All You Web-Heads Out Therecite web |date=2001-10-03 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=011003 |title=Episode 083: A Shout Out to All You Web-Heads Out There |work=8-Bit Theater]
Sprites: Dymlos ("Tales of Destiny", PlayStation), modified

Dr. Swordopolis is the very incarnation of all things sword. He appears to Fighter in visions, taking the form of a bespectacled blade and bringing cryptic and oft-ignored advice. He has numerous powers, including spiritual possession through the anus and the ability to cut through the fabric of space-time. His origins and motivations are unknown.

Doctor Malpractice

First Appearance: Episode 084: Maybe he's greedy for a good cause?cite web |date=2001-10-05 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=011005 |title=Episode 084: Maybe he's greedy for a good cause? |work=8-Bit Theater]
Sprite: Minwu ("Final Fantasy II", NES; modified)

Doctor Malpractice was the doctor consulted by King Astos to dispatch of Clan Khee'bler, starting with its king. However, upon discovering his father's "illness," Prince Elf (alias Thief) told Dr. Malpractice that he would secretly leave Elfland and travel the world, stealing treasures and sending them to the doctor to fund research on the disease. The doctor, taking the opportunity to get easy money, agreed and put the funds in his own pocket while, at the same time, receiving money from Chancellor Usurper to keep the king incapacitated. When Thief returned to Elfland, Malpractice's plan went to waste and he fled the Elven lands.

Matoya

First Appearance: Episode 172: The Inhabitant of the Cavecite web |date=2002-07-13 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=020713 |title=Episode 172: The Inhabitant of the Cave |work=8-Bit Theater]
Sprite: White Magic Seller ("Final Fantasy", NES; recolored)

Matoya is a blind witch who sends the Light Warriors on a side-quest to regain her magic eye after feeding them poisoned nightmare-inducing cookies, promising them an antidote if they return with it. Due to her poor hearing, she also grants Fighter the Armoire of Invincibility, instead of the "Armor" of Invincibility Fighter was actually searching for (although Fighter did not seem to notice or care). She is almost as greedy as Thief and once almost tricked Thief into paying her the entire kingdom of Elfland in return for his father's cure. Matoya has a romantic relationship with Bahamut, the Dragon God-King, much to the disgust and horror of the Light Warriors.cite web |date=2005-12-15 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=051215 |title=Episode 635: Secret Ingredient |work=8-Bit Theater]

The Other Warriors

The Other Warriors are a band of adventurers based on "Dungeons & Dragons" character classes who travel the world and occasionally meet the Light Warriors on their journey. They have stolen, or attempted to steal the Orb of Air from Dragoon for unknown reasons (though the Orb itself was in the possession of Muffin).
Generic Half-Elven Dual-Class Ranger

First Appearance: Episode 435: He's a Fighter, Not a Diplomatcite web |date=2004-06-29 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=040629 |title=Episode 435: He's a Fighter, Not a Diplomat |work=8-Bit Theater]
Sprite: Bard ("Final Fantasy III", Famicom)

Ranger is very poetic and adventurous, as well as extremely friendly and trusting, though a bit naïve. He is capable of firing multiple arrows at once with uncanny accuracy. Ranger is a dual-class character, with both classes being Ranger, and has mixed ancestry, making him half-Elven, one-quarter Lefeinish, and one-quarter half-Orcish (translating to one-eighth orc; the final eighth of his heritage has not been specified, but is presumed to be another kind of human based on "Dungeons & Dragons" rules).cite web |date=2007-02-03 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=070203 |title=Episode 804: Origin Of The Ranger |work=8-Bit Theater |quote=Red
A dual-class half-elven ranger who's also a quarter Lefeinish? What's the final quarter? / Ranger:"' Half-Orc.]

Berserker Axinhedcite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=040729| title = Episode 446: "Stand Up Next to a Mountain..."| work = 8-Bit Theater|quote=Berserker: I had readied them with an official seal of my family, Axinhed, so they could travel without fear of being struck down by the populace.]

First Appearance: Episode 437: Companioncite web |date=2004-07-03 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=040703 |title=Episode 437: Companion |work=8-Bit Theater]
Sprite: ("Final Fantasy III", Famicom), modified

Half of the time, Berserker is a civilized, gentle dwarf and a great conversationalist. The other half of the time he is in a blind rage, swearing and shouting incoherently while mauling whoever happens to stand nearby (usually Thief). In his civilized state, he tends to wear a monocle and often does not remember what he did in his berserk rage. The Light Warriors fear Beserker for his chaotic state, ignoring his civilized form.

Cleric

First Appearance: Episode 446: "Stand Up Next to a Mountain..."cite web |date=2004-07-29 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=040729 |title=Episode 446: "Stand Up Next to a Mountain..." |work=8-Bit Theater] (mentioned), Episode 577: So Many Warriorscite web |date=2005-07-16 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=050716 |title=Episode 577: So Many Warriors |work=8-Bit Theater] (actual)
Sprite: Summoner ("Final Fantasy III", Famicom), modified

A "miracle shopper" who makes deals with the gods. In order to keep an open market, Cleric prefers not to devote himself to one single deity and is, in fact, an atheist. His use of divine intervention is often faulty and unreliable. Cleric made a deal with a Trickster God named Raven to bring Thief back to life; in return, Raven bestowed him with a "healing shiv", which has shown its worth in bringing Thief back from the very brink of death.

Rogue

First Appearance: Episode 446: "Stand Up Next to a Mountain..."cite web |date=2004-07-29 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=040729 |title=Episode 446: "Stand Up Next to a Mountain..." |work=8-Bit Theater] (mentioned), Episode 578: One More Look Into The Mind Of Fightercite web |date=2005-07-19 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=050719 |title=Episode 578: One More Look Into The Mind Of Fighter |work=8-Bit Theater] (actual)
Sprite: Thief ("Final Fantasy III", Famicom)

Like Thief, Rogue is constantly scamming people, including his own teammates. However, unlike Thief, who conducts his business through contracts and legal loopholes, Rogue relies on a network of shady contacts, one of whom is Thief himself.cite web |date=2007-02-13 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=070213 |title=Episode 808: "Who Else?" |work=8-Bit Theater]

Bahamut

First Appearance: Episode 569: What Dragon?cite web |date=2005-06-28 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=050628 |title=Episode 569: What Dragon? |work=8-Bit Theater]
Sprite: Bahamut ("Final Fantasy III", "Famicom"), modified

Bahamut is the God-King of Dragons who was awakened by Black Mage, although Fighter was blamed for doing so. He offered to give the Light Warriors "the power of self-realization and the power that comes with it" in exchange for the tail of the dreaded Dire Rat. When the Light Warriors brought him such a tail from the Castle of Ordeals, he granted their Class Changes. It later turned out that the reason Bahamut desired a rat tail was that rat tail soup is a potent virility drug, to be concocted by his girlfriend, Matoya. According to Muffin, Bahamut will slumber until the prophecy of the Enlightened Warrior is fulfilled in order to usher in the end of the world. Red Mage thus suspects that in attempting to save the world, they may have accidentally endangered it.cite web |date=2007-11-08 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=071108 |title=Episode 917: Let Sleeping Dragons Lie |work=8-Bit Theater]

Raven

First Appearance: Episode 581: Of Tricksters and Thievescite web |date=2005-07-26 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=050726 |title=Episode 581: Of Tricksters and Thieves |work=8-Bit Theater]

Raven is a totemistic representation of trickery. When Thief was nearly killed by Berserker, Raven tricked Thief into thinking he was dead. At the brink of dying, Thief's soul was in his own personal Hell, in which everything was his and there was nothing left to steal. Thief said that he would do "anything" to get out of the personal Hell he was in; subsequently, Raven got Thief to sign a contract, which Thief failed to read closely. The nature of the contract is still unknown. Raven is friends with Bahamut.

Unnamed Dark God

First Appearance: Episode 654: Ominouscite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=060128| title = Episode 654: Ominous| work = 8-Bit Theater]
Sprite: Magus ("Chrono Trigger", SNES)

One of the Dark Gods Black Mage worships and the one who made his class change effective. The Dark God's name, if any, has not been revealed, so Black Mage himself makes up the name "Darko, the Dark God of the Dark" in an attempt to convince his friends that he had really met a dark god. Darko appears to be involved in some sort of rivalry with Doctor Swordopolis, although the exact implications of this rivalry are still unclear.cite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=060202| title = Episode 656: Simply Stunning| work = 8-Bit Theater] His official title is "Executive Assistant to Chaos", being one of many middle management deities in the organization of evil. Darko is known to work in the 'Ministry of Earthly Affairs'.

Megahedron

First Appearance: Episode 661: All Kinds of Hallucinationscite web|url = http://nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=060214|title = Episode 661: All Kinds of Hallucinations|work = 8-Bit Theater]

Megahedron is a somewhat mysterious character. He is apparently a patron deity to Red Mage, like Dr. Swordopolis is to Fighter and the Dark God is to Black Mage, but Red Mage's flat-out refusal to believe he exists, citing him as a result of his "three-point hallucination flaw", complicates matters. He appears as a red twenty-sided die wearing aviator sunglasses.

Dragoon

First Appearance: Episode 787: Course changecite web| url = http://nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=061226| title = Episode 787: Course Change| work = 8-Bit Theater]
Sprite: Dragoon ("Final Fantasy III", Famicom), modified

Dragoon is the last of the Dragon Knights, an elite group of spear-carrying warriors who attack by jumping high in the air and coming down on their opponents.cite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=070927| title = Episode 899: Don't Mention The Dragon War| work = 8-Bit Theater] Dragoon uses this technique as a travel method, but is unable to perform these jumps without having a target.cite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=070915| title = Episode 894: Jump To Conclusions| work = 8-Bit Theater] His usual target is Black Mage, although he does not harbour any ill will against the Light Warriors. In fact, he is extremely polite towards them, remaining oblivious to the considerable pain his travel method causes. Dragoon has encountered the team several times, mostly in passing.cite web| url = http://nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=061226| title = Episode 787: Course Change| work = 8-Bit Theater] cite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=070224| title = Episode 812: And He Has A Lovely Singing Voice| work = 8-Bit Theater] Like the Light Warriors, he was looking for the Air Orb that the Other Warriors seemingly stole from himcite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=071009| title = Episode 904: The Doors Had No Bass| work = 8-Bit Theater] and which he means to use to rebuild the Order of Dragon Knights.cite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=070922| title = Episode 897: So This Is What It's Like When Doves Cry| work = 8-Bit Theater] cite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=080327| title = Episode 971: Just Talkin' 'Bout Sarda| work = 8-Bit Theater] He has since been seen with White Mage and Onion Kid.cite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=080701| title = Episode 976: He Has One For Every Occasion| work = 8-Bit Theater] cite web |date=2008-06-14 |url=http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=080614 |title=Episode 1005: Of Hardships |work=8-Bit Theater]

Dragoon had a pet dragon named Muffin (who was actually the Fiend of Air) whom, like all dragons, he believed to be a parrot.

Warmech

First Appearance: Episode 986: 1/64cite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=080501| title = Episode 986: 1/64| work = 8-Bit Theater]
Sprite: Warmech/Death Machine ("Final Fantasy", NES)

Warmech is a robot and was the Sky Castle's guardian until it was blown up.cite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=080503| title = Episode 987: Compensation| work = 8-Bit Theater] He wants revenge on the Light Warriors for ridding him of his job, but his own incompetence prevents him from doing so.cite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=080508| title = Episode 989: Like Riding A Bike| work = 8-Bit Theater] cite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=080605| title = Episode 1001: I can't believe someone was asshole enough to make more than 1,000 sprite comics.| work = 8-Bit Theater]

In "Final Fantasy", the Warmech/Death Machine was the strongest regular enemy and a precursor of later games' superbosses. The title of the episode in which he first appears refers to the chance of encountering one in a certain area of the Sky Castle/Flying Fortress dungeon.

Running gag characters

These are characters that appear as running gags in the comic.

*Onion Kidcite web| url = http://forum.nuklearpower.com/showthread.php?p=760484#post760484| title = Confirmation of the name "Rex Crockett" not being "real."| work = 8-Bit Theater] First Appearance: Episode 041: It Just Got Weird in Survivor 8-bit Style Part 6cite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=010611| title = Episode 041: It Just Got Weird in Survivor 8-bit Style Part 6| work = 8-Bit Theater]
Sprite: ("Final Fantasy III", Famicom)

A child who has been traumatized multiple times during the course of the comic.cite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=010611| title = Episode 041: It Just Got Weird in Survivor 8-bit Style Part 6| work = 8-Bit Theater] cite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=010618| title = Episode 044: What the Hell Just Happened in Survivor 8-bit Style Part 9?!| work = 8-Bit Theater] cite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=010828| title = Episode 072: Why Does it Always End in Murder?| work = 8-Bit Theater] His original family,cite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=030614| title = Episode 483: Clue, Wayne's World, and Rashomon| work = 8-Bit Theater] as well as three foster/adoptive families,cite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=041118| title = Episode 295: Why Would He Write That| work = 8-Bit Theater] cite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=051206| title = Episode 631: What Goes Around, Comes Around.| work = 8-Bit Theater] cite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=080408| title = Episode 976: He Has One For Every Occasion| work = 8-Bit Theater] have been killed and he has been kicked out of an orphanage, all as unintended side effects of other characters' (usually Black Mage's) actions. He himself has been placed on trial for the murder of his foster relatives, although he later moved to Onrac the same week it was destroyed twice.cite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=080701| title = Episode 976: He Has One For Every Occasion| work = 8-Bit Theater]

*The Real Light WarriorsFirst Appearance: Episode 087: A Day Late and a Buck Shortcite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=011016| title = Episode 087: A Day Late and a Buck Short| work = 8-Bit Theater]

A party made up of a Knight, a Ninja, a Red Wizard and a White Wizard, upgraded character classes from "Final Fantasy". These four warriors were supposed to be the real Light Warriors of Destiny, but the Light Warriors beat them to it when the real Light Warriors decided to postpone their visit to King Steve in order to improve their levels. Since then, they've always been several steps behind the heroes and often suffer great pain as a result of their actions.

The sprites that are used to portray the real Light Warriors are the ones used during battles for the Knight, Ninja, Red Wizard, and White Wizard character classes from "Final Fantasy" for the NES.

*AkbarFirst Appearance: Episode 144: Premature Upgrade?cite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=020501| title = Episode 144: Premature Upgrade?| work = 8-Bit Theater]
Sprite: Thief ("Final Fantasy", NES), modified

A shopkeeper and skillful scam artist, Akbar usually offers extremely badly disguised shoddy services. For example, a typical Akbar store would be named "Akbar's Discount Amnesia Dust Outlet (not talcum powder)". The name Akbar was taken from the character of the same name from the comic strip Life in Hell by Matt Groening, as was the name Jeff (see below).cite web| url = http://forum.nuklearpower.com/showthread.php?p=239510#post239510| title = Brian Clevinger about Akbar| work = 8-Bit Theater]

*Messengercite web| url = http://forum.nuklearpower.com/showpost.php?p=343051&postcount=156| title = Confirmation of the Messenger's name| work = 8-Bit Theater] and Elite Royal Guard HankFirst Appearance: Episode 157: Back in Corneria...cite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=020605| title = Episode 157: Back in Corneria...| work = 8-Bit Theater]
Sprite: Ranger ("Final Fantasy III", Famicom; Messenger), Dragoon ("Final Fantasy III", Famicom; Hank)

Elite Royal Guard Hank was ordered by King Steve to kill Messenger for bearing bad news, however, the king forgot to tell Hank he'd meant the order as a joke. Hank has been hunting the messenger, who occasionally can be seen delivering messages for King Steve, ever since.

The sprite that is used to portray the messenger is the one used during battles for the Hunter character class from "Final Fantasy III" for the Famicom while the sprite used to portray Elite Royal Guard Hank is the battle sprite for the Dragoon character class from "Final Fantasy III".

*LawninjaFirst Appearance: Episode 260: More Dreadful than Marsh Cave?cite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=030313| title = Episode 260: More Dreadful than Marsh Cave?| work = 8-Bit Theater]
Sprite: Ninja ("Final Fantasy III", NES; heads), Scholar ("Final Fantasy III", NES; bodies)

The Lawninja are Thief's team of lawyers who deploy at his will. Whenever they are summoned, a moon usually appears behind Thief. They eventually died after Thief did not feed them properly.cite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=070512| title = Episode 845: Miscalculation| work = 8-Bit Theater] cite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=070515| title = Episode 846: Ninja Chow| work = 8-Bit Theater] However, they did manage to help in the battle with Lich,cite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=040313| title = Episode 394: Give a Hoot!| work = 8-Bit Theater] and Thief used their corpses as ammunition against Mob Boss.cite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=070517| title = Episode 847: Throw Away Gag| work = 8-Bit Theater]

*JeffFirst Appearance: Episode 315: The Lesser of Two Conscite web| url = http://www.nuklearpower.com/daily.php?date=030805| title = Episode 315: The Lesser of Two Cons| work = 8-Bit Theater]
Sprite: Underhill ("Final Fantasy", NES)

A merchant similar to Akbar. However, Jeff is usually honest about his services, which, while being just as shoddy as Akbar's, are, in some manner, useful. Jeff sold the Light Warriors a deathtrap, an airship that is unusually honest about its nature. He has a tendency to kick Black Mage whenever he talks, something that earns him Thief and Red Mage's liking. Like Akbar, Jeff is named in reference to Matt Groening's "Life in Hell".

References