Main characters •
Buddy Bradley, the sardonic, perpetually disillusioned every-man at the heart of
Hate. A grunge-era Gen X slacker whose cynical, self-serving humor and aimless dating, jobs, and friendships make him both obnoxious and oddly relatable as he drifts from Seattle's underground to reluctant adulthood in New Jersey. •
Lisa Leavenworth, emotionally unstable, unconfident and sloppy, Lisa had a
one-night stand with Buddy before the storyline of
Hate begins. After Buddy's breakup with Valerie, Lisa becomes his long-term girlfriend and moves back to Jersey with him. She bears his child and is currently his spouse.
Supporting characters •
Leonard "Stinky" Brown, an old friend of Buddy's from New Jersey who was his roommate in Seattle. Probably the most irresponsible, selfish and hopeless of all the characters. Adopts an alternative lifestyle as a means to furthering his sexual conquests. •
George Cecil Hamilton III, Buddy's other roommate and über
geek. Socially awkward, George hardly leaves his bedroom and immerses himself in science fiction and
conspiracy theories. •
Valerie Russo, Buddy's first serious girlfriend, an
upper middle class, apparently self-confident
feminist with
nymphomaniacal and
manic depressive tendencies. •
Jay Spano, an old friend of Buddy's whom he met at a record store. He is a decade older than Buddy and uses heroin from time to time but claims not to be an addict. Buddy goes into business with Jay in
collectables and later as
scrap metal dealers. •
Jimmy Foley, Buddy's next door neighbor in New Jersey, a small-time criminal serving out his
probation for selling
cocaine. • '''The Bradleys — Buddy's family''': •
Brad (Pops) – Buddy’s gruff, beer-drinking father whose old-school, working-class attitude and constant grumbling embody patriarchal frustration and low expectations. •
Betty (Mom) – His ardent, occasionally sharp-tongued mother, often trying to keep peace (or assert control) in the chaotic Bradley household with a mix of religion, patience, and eye-rolling tolerance. •
Babs – Buddy’s younger sister, typically self-absorbed and frazzled, who juggles motherhood with domestic strife and brings additional chaos to the family dynamic. •
Butch – Buddy’s younger brother, a mess of hot-headed energy with fascist or ignorant attitudes and a knack for trouble, from Navy washout chaos to ill-advised schemes. ==Cultural impact==