Jack is the unequivocal hero of the story. An orphan who typically moves from different schools, cities, and families, he has become resourceful over the years. He uses alternative methods to survive (for instance, he obtains a glasses-cleaning kit for the mini-screwdriver to fix his broken walkie talkie). Generally, Jack has a comical and fearless attitude—he stands up to bullies and lives recklessly by bashing monsters in the head. He is bold and confident, but has certain beliefs that guide him. For one, he doesn’t kill zombies because they used to be people at one point. Most importantly, Jack is determined to save June, and he will stop at nothing to find her, which drives most of the action and plot in the story’s overall arc.

Quint is Jack’s best (and only) friend. He is an aspiring scientist and so-called “brainiac” who loves to build and thoughtfully consider the pragmatic realities of their situation. Unlike Jack, Quint is careful, precise, and averse to physical confrontation. Known as a “dork” in school, he is more interested in the knowledge of the world and catalogues his findings in his makeshift laboratory, where he can often be found concocting a new weapon or tool.