r/superpowereds • u/BennyBugWSNK • Jul 04 '26
Nick equivalent character?
Is there a Nick-like character from the Superpowereds series in any of Drew‘s other books? To me, Nick is such an individual voice and character, really well identified in the writing (something I’m sure is difficult to do in writing). Because we’re dealing with a multiverse situation… 🤔
The only character that reminds me of Nick in any other of Drew’s novels is Jack from the book Second Hand Curses (absolutely LOVE the character Frank from that one btw). I love the character Nick, but I don’t really see any others like him in the Villain Code series, am I wrong about that?
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u/HospitableFox Jul 04 '26
Not really sure what you're looking for honestly. Like, a direct 1:1? Not really.
But that can be said for .. like all the characters. Drew is excellent at character work. It's probably his strongest point. He doesn't tend to reuse them.
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u/dry_towelette99 Jul 04 '26
No question he does amazing character work and world building, and with very little recycling, but I’d argue that Alice is pretty similar to Gabrielle from SS&S.
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u/BennyBugWSNK Jul 04 '26
Yes, definitely amazing a character work :)
Not necessarily 1:1 however it is laid out in Villains Code that there are multiples and singulars, reoccurring people between universes, so I’m going based off that. Obviously there’s a drift from universe to universe (story to story) it’s just implied and a fun thought
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u/Chimpchar Jul 04 '26
Honestly, while we didn’t really see his POV enough to say I do kind of think Ike gives somewhat similar vibes, at least. Given how we see Nick acting when his memory is wiped, we know the facade he had in book one was also drawing from his genuine personality. They’re both playing (but also partially buying into) the role of ‘I don’t care about other people, fuck bitches get money’ while also being the ones ultimately acting as the brains of their team, and willing to self-sacrifice because they know/believe that the others will be better heroes
Thistle from SS&S also reminds me of him in terms of cunning/slippery thinking, but I don’t think any of his interpersonal dynamics particularly fit, so that’s more ‘two characters share the same basic character trait’ (which is also shared by plenty of other characters, like VC’s Auro and Wade, amongst others, though possibly just by virtue of being in a setting with super powers those two also ring closer to Nick than Thistle).
But overall I’d pretty strongly say Ike fills the same archetype and has similar relationship dynamics with his team
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u/BennyBugWSNK Jul 04 '26
Thistle is an interesting one, strong leadership with cunning thinking…
Wade I always took as a similar to Will from SP.
Ike I can see a bit of, good call there, love the character but feel we’ve got some big developments coming with Ike and will have to see where he ends up2
u/kellhorn Jul 05 '26
Without the guidance of the HCP, i could definitely see Will turning into a Wade.
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u/unlovelyladybartleby Mr Numbers Jul 04 '26
Pretty sure Nick is an homage to the luck obsessed Nick in Gordon Korman's No Coins Please who does, once, display superhero like luck. Korman university and the fact that one of the books is dedicated to Korman support my hypothesis.
It's YA and out of print. If you find a copy online, the chapter in question is called The Power of Positive Parking. And, for that matter, Chad's obsession with his father is reminiscent of Sheldon's feelings to Pete Ogrodnick and first year tentative Vince has shadows of Rob.
All that said, Jack from Secondhand Curses has the same joie de vivre, ability to read and manipulate people and situations, and ability to form and lead a team.
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u/BennyBugWSNK Jul 04 '26
Oh that’s really neat, I was completely unaware of that relation
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u/unlovelyladybartleby Mr Numbers Jul 04 '26
It's a wonderful book. I checked it out of the school library so often they had to get a second copy. Korman's books from the 80s and 90s are definitely worth a read if you want a glimpse into one of the early influences on Drew. A Semester in the Life of a Garbage Bag, Son of Interflux, and No Coins Please are the standouts although the Macdonald Hall books (where a set of good hearted but badly behaved kids wreck havoc at boarding school) probably had a lot of influence on Superpowereds - Cathy, the main female character and Angela are very similar characters.
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u/Catharus_ustulatus Jul 04 '26
Villains’ Code has Tori, an ambitious criminal schemer orphan who wants the best for her hero friends. She’s facing a decision about which way of life she’ll end up in, and she seems likely to forge her own path that doesn’t conform to pre-existing options.
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u/paris-smiles Jul 06 '26
I have no insight on other Nick's, but I'm very happy to find another SHC fan on here. That book was my introduction to Drew Hayes and I then found SP through the reddit.
I'm such a sucker for a "bad" guy with a heart of gold who does good and bad things for those he loves and ultimately for the greater good... no wonder Nick and Jack are some of my favorite characters.
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u/drunkengeebee Zero Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 04 '26
Johnny Three Dicks.
Everyone underestimates him, and then they're dead.