Imogene

Another new character to add to the list: Avery’s younger sister, Imogene. She works at the drug store and has a minor degree in pharmacology. Her dry, boring demeanor is meant to contrast Avery’s eccentric and neurotic personality, which is interesting since they both grew up the same way. Their parents ran a scrapyard during the 1910s-1940s, which Avery now owns, and they were dirt poor, living in a two-room shotgun house and barely getting by. So while Avery still continues to live the same way, Imogene has basically taken the opposite path and taken up a white collar career. They are also meant to contrast each other visually: Avery’s ears are constantly down, as if he’s always anxious, while Imogene’s ears are always up. Avery’s eyes are always wide open, but Imogene’s eyes are narrow. Avery dresses like a commando, but Imogene dresses in a contemporary and civilized fashion. Finally, while Avery’s wings are always visible since he wears short sleeves, Imogene’s wings are always covered up. This sort of signifies how, even though Imogene is better off and lives a more comfortable and secure life, it’s as if she’s covering up who she truly is naturally: an animal. Avery may have a piece of junk car, live in a bunker below a scrapyard, and only eats 20 year old canned food, but he’s in touch with the experience of surviving, and that’s how he likes it.