Portico is an optimistic boy who lives in the Skylight Gardens apartment building. He experiences physical symptoms of anxiety that he calls "the frets" when facing family tension or neighborhood bullies. To protect the people he loves, he creates a secret superhero identity named Stuntboy. He loves television, performing acrobatic stunts, and spending time with his best friend.

Zola is Portico's best friend and next-door neighbor. She wears glasses with star barrettes in her hair and shares Portico's intense love for the cartoon *Super Space Warriors*. Using knowledge gained from her mother's yoga instruction, she teaches Portico deep breathing and meditation to help him calm his body.

Herbert is a boy who hangs out in the boiler room between Portico and Zola's apartments. He recently moved from a house into the apartment building following his mother's remarriage. He frequently bullies the other children, acting out of a misplaced anger regarding his parents' separation.

Portico's parents consist of a hairdresser mother and a waste collector father. They are actively separating and engage in constant, petty arguments over household items like chairs and picture frames. Their intense preoccupation with this marital conflict completely distracts them from noticing their son's escalating anxiety.

Gran Gran is Portico's grandmother, characterized by her short curly hair, glasses, and relaxed attitude. A former nurse, she is responsible for teaching Portico how to give creative names to everyday things. She acts as a quiet observer in the apartment, mostly watching her son and daughter-in-law argue from the couch.

Soup is the custodial superintendent of Skylight Gardens. Universally liked by the residents for his cool and helpful demeanor, he encourages Portico to learn how to cut hair. He helps maintain order in the building and serves as a positive male presence.

Zola's father works hard selling lawn chairs, which he cleverly markets to his neighbors as "yawn chairs" meant for sleeping. His demanding work schedule keeps him busy, occasionally causing him to miss family events like his daughter's birthday party.

Zola's mother is a yoga instructor who passes her mindfulness and breathing techniques down to her daughter. She encourages the neighborhood children to view life like a television show, providing them with a helpful mental framework to process their daily challenges.

Mr. Mister is an adult resident of Skylight Gardens. When Portico retreats to the laundry room to escape his parents' fighting, Mr. Mister attempts to offer him metaphorical life advice about taking care of the things that belong to you.

Portico's black cat acts as his trusty superhero assistant. The cat helps introduce the different episodes of his life to his imaginary audience and safely watches the events unfold from perches around the apartment.

Mater is a fictional superhero on *Super Space Warriors*. Mater and Pater are siblings who are constantly in conflict with one another, frequently causing massive disasters because they completely refuse to stop arguing over minor issues.

Pater is the second half of the sibling superhero duo in *Super Space Warriors*. Pater is always fighting over objects like steering wheels and time portals, directly mirroring the real-life conflicts occurring in Portico's home.