Spoiler Warning This article contains major plot details from the Renegades series. |
| “ | Doesn't anyone want to play with me? | ” |
Winston Pratt was an eccentric Anarchist, and the first character to be neutralized.
Recent Events[]
Pre-Series[]
Winston's dad was a toy-maker, and made him a doll he named Hettie. As a child, he had been molested by a neighbor and later developed powers. His powers were first revealed to him when he forced another kid to hit himself on the head after taking the last slice of pizza. He used to work at Cosmopolis Park.
Renegades[]
=== Winston first appears during the assassination attempt on Captain Chromium at the Renegade Parade. He enters the area in his hot air balloon and rapidly escalates the mission into a full-out attack by using his ability to turn civilian toddlers and children against bystanders.
He allows Nightmare to escape with him on his hot air balloon, but her duffel bag of inventions weighs down the balloon too greatly for them to clear the city buildings. She throws him out to lighten the balloon and he is captured and taken into the Renegades' custody.
Winston is later shown when Sketch and his team are interrogating him about Nightmare. He notices that Nightmare is among the team, and though he is confused, he realizes they are not aware of her identity and he avoids selling her out. He lies tells and the Renegades that Nightmare used to frequent the fun house at Cosmopolis Park.
Archenemies[]
Winston is brought out for a live, private demonstration of Agent N. He takes the opportunity to manipulate two children in the crowd and almost has Magpie kill Tsunami, a council member. He is neutralized and heavily traumatized.
Winston is assigned a therapist and brought back into custody. Sketch meets with him again, alone this time, for information about the death of his mother—specifically, how Nightmare knew the phrase, "One cannot be brave who has no fear." Winston says that if Sketch brings him Hettie, Winston's childhood doll, he will tell him "something you want to hear."
Sketch acquires the doll and brings it to Winston, who tells him that "our little Nightmare is very much alive", even though Nightmare was believed to have died at the end of Renegades.
Supernova[]
At the beginning of the official reveal of Agent N to the press, Winston reveals his backstory to the Renegades. He says he has grown greatly after being neutralized, and is extremely remorseful for his actions in the past. He the finale, he destroys Hettie. When Ace Anarchy is given a chance for last words, he shames Winston for abandoning the Anarchists.
Right before Ace is executed, the Anarchists and a newer group called the Rejects interrupt the event, and a battle ensues. Winston is lost in the chaos for a little while, then sees a Renegade named Frostbite about to shoot Nightmare with an icicle. Winston shoves her out of the way, but is impaled and killed instead.
During Supernova's epilogue, there is a statue of Winston on one of the parade floats.
Characteristics[]
Physical Attributes[]
Winston had wild orange hair and a squeaky voice. He was somewhat tall.
As the Puppeteer, Winston had painted red cheeks, a pale white face, thick eyeliner and deep lines drawn from the corners of his mouth down to his chin in mimicry of a wooden marionette. Though it was generally assumed he wore makeup as part of his attire, this was disproven after he was taken into custody and had no clearance to any cosmetics. After being injected with Agent N, Nova describes his transformation:
| “ | It was makeup, or at least it appeared so now, its inky blackness dripping down his face in thick, gloppy tears. It mingled with the rosy splotches on his cheeks and soon all his features were melting black and red. | ” |
His skin is described to be sallow and tinted faintly blue immediately after being neutralized, though he regained a healthy, mostly average appearance by the Agent N reveal in Supernova.
Personality[]
Winston acted rather strange and hyperactive. He enjoyed children's toys, ate sugary cereal, and lived in a modified children's circus tent. Nova Artino noted that he had bad hygiene habits. He was quite unhinged, impulsive, and very destructive, though these behaviors were likely caused by his ability; after neutralization, Winston comments on his strong feelings of peace and remorse and lack of derangement.
Description via Marissa Meyer[]
"The Puppeteer can shoot strings from his fingers and turn anyone into his very own puppets to control. His victims of choice? Children, of course. Once they are under his spell, they must do his destructive bidding. Winston is a bit . . . unhinged, which can make him a liability. No one is much of a fan of him, not even the other Anarchists."[2]
Power & Abilities[]
- Puppetry: Winston had the ability to control children's actions and force them to do whatever he wanted, by means of golden strings he deployed from his fingertips. The strings would wrap around the children's arms and throats and send them into a trance. Winston was only seen controlling 4 or 5 children at most. Additionally, it is uncertain whether Winston's ability only applied to children, or if he specifically targeted them.
Possessions[]
Vehicles[]
- Hot Air Balloon: Winston has a hot air balloon which he used to attack the Renegade Parade. Lady Indomitable once stole Winston's balloon and hid it in a pasture.
Other Belongings[]
- Hettie: Hettie was Winston's first puppet. He was made by Winston's father. He is completely powerless, as confirmed by Snapshot. Winston had a major emotional attachment to Hettie, taking care of him and abusing him depending on his mood. During his final speech, Winston destroyed Hettie to symbolize moving on from his trauma.
Relationships[]
Nova Artino[]
Winston and Nova were good companions when Nova was little. He played with her after the Day of Triumph. They grew apart as Nova got older. She later stated that she never really liked Winston; he was too flaky and cold for her.
Trivia[]
- Winston's favorite cereal was Fruity Rings.
- The golden strings Winston uses to manipulate could also work as ordinary ropes.