David is an 18-year-old orphan who works in a weapons factory and lives in the steel catacombs of Newcago. He obsessively studies Epics, categorizing their powers and limitations in extensive notebooks hidden in his room. Driven by a desire to avenge his father's murder, he actively seeks out the legendary rebel group known as the Reckoners to offer his intelligence. He possesses an awkward charm and a tendency to create terribly convoluted metaphors.

Steelheart is a terrifying Epic who rules Newcago with absolute, tyrannical authority. He is functionally invincible, possessing super strength, the ability to fly, and the power to shoot deadly energy blasts from his hands. He transformed the entire city of Chicago into solid steel upon his arrival and enforces his will through a vast network of soldiers. He relies on public displays of cruelty to maintain order and obedience among the population.

Megan is the point person and a highly capable field operative for the Reckoners. She is exceptionally skilled with firearms, strictly professional in her demeanor, and openly skeptical of David's inclusion in their covert cell. Unlike the rest of the team, she believes Steelheart provides necessary stability to Newcago compared to the chaotic, war-torn wastelands outside the city borders.

Prof is the secretive founder and leader of the Reckoners, commanding operations from their underground base in Hole Fourteen. He is a pragmatic, grizzled man who wears a thin black lab coat and focuses entirely on executing missions against high-value Epics. He provides his team with advanced specialized weaponry, such as tensors that dissolve nonliving matter into dust.

Abraham is a muscular French-Canadian man who handles the Reckoners' heavy weaponry and structural engineering. Despite his intimidating physical appearance and the massive machine gun he carries, he speaks with a calm, gentle voice. He identifies as one of the Faithful, maintaining a quiet hope that benevolent Epics exist somewhere in the world.

Tia is the team researcher and operations coordinator for the Reckoners. A middle-aged woman with red hair and glasses, she monitors missions remotely and analyzes intel from the safety of their base. She acts as a voice of reason within the group, providing a steady counterbalance to the tension among the field operatives.

Cody is the Reckoners' designated sniper and a former Nashville police officer. He speaks with a thick Southern accent but claims profound Scottish ancestry, frequently sharing absurd stories about mythical creatures. He consciously adopts the role of the team jester, using humor to cut through the oppressive reality of their rebellion.

Nightwielder is one of Steelheart's top lieutenants and an Epic with prime invincibility. He maintains an incorporeal form and attacks by manipulating shadows into solid, deadly tendrils. He enforces a perpetual state of darkness over the city, allowing him to operate freely while forcing citizens to rely entirely on Steelheart's power grid for light.

Known to the public as Conflux, this Epic ostensibly heads Steelheart's Enforcement operations and generates the city's entire electrical grid. He possesses the rare ability to gift his powers to other people, making him a strategic asset in maintaining Newcago's infrastructure and military superiority.

David's Father is a former soldier and one of the Faithful, a group that believes truly noble heroes exist among the super-powered Epics. His optimistic worldview leads him to ally with Steelheart during a bank crisis, hoping the powerful Epic has arrived to save the day.

Fortuity is an Epic with precognition and super-reflexes, allowing him to anticipate and dodge attacks before they happen. His violent criminal history makes him a prime target for the Reckoners, leading to a high-stakes chase through the city streets.

Deathpoint is a vicious, chaotic Epic who uses his powers for immediate terror and personal amusement. His unprovoked attack on a bank sets off the historic confrontation that draws Steelheart out into the public eye.

Curveball is a minor Epic who works as security detail in Newcago. He possesses the ability to fire an endless supply of bullets from his handgun, though his mediocre aim significantly limits his effectiveness in direct combat.

Diamond is a nervous traveling merchant who deals in rare and powerful black-market weaponry. He caters to a highly secretive clientele, outfitting both underground human rebels and high-ranking Epics out of his heavily fortified shop.