Stock characters were an important part of early theater, popularized particularly in the Italian Commedia dell'Arte . They stood as archetypes for different personality traits easily mimicked and often easily recognizable in simple plots, as well as in daily life. Punch himself is derived from the Commedia character Pulcinella, a cranky and miserly old man with a hunched back and a big nose. His swazzle -- one of the crowning characteristics -- is also directly derived from the Commedia routines. His distinctive voice defines him and separates him the other characters.

Many of the puppets Riddley inherits from Goodparley were actual characters from Punch's gang . His wife Judy, called "Pooty" in the text, was the long-suffering foil for many of Punch's dastardly deeds. Where does the name Pooty come from? It could be a bastardization of "Judy," the name coupled with "Pretty Polly," Punch's girlfriend. Also, she isn't portrayed as the most virtuous of ladies... and "Pooty" is reminiscent of the French & Spanish words for "prostitute."

Other featured players are the baby, the "black man," and the crocodile . The crocodile may have been brought on board to replace the devil puppet. The devil puppet, or "Drop John," had a "red face, little black beard, horns, [and] red clothes" (pg. 206). In Riddley's world, the same puppet was used to portray Mr. Clevver in the Eusa show. This crossing over of roles sheds insight on the character of Mr. Clevver. Could the devil have been the one to send Eusa out to find the numbers of the "master chaynjis" as well as the person who stole all of his knowledge? Another derivation of the Punch story takes the characters from their original religious setting to the version we know today.