Son of Hades, Death Boy, the Ghost King. Nico di Angelo has had a lot of nicknames over the years. But what do you expect? Technically, he’s over eighty years old, and there’s no denying he’s had quite a tumultuous history. That’s why we’re taking a deep dive on Camp Half-Blood’s resident tortured goth.
Nico has had a, let’s just say, difficult relationship with Hades.
The Suite Life
Nico was born in the 1930’s and moved with his mother, Maria, and sister, Bianca, from Italy to the United States during World War II. Nico lost his mother at a young age when Zeus killed her in an act of punishment. To make matters worse, Nico lost his sister, who sacrificed herself in battle, when he wasn’t much older. Since these incidents, Nico has had a powerful connection to the dead. This makes a lot of sense, considering . . .
Daddy Issues
Nico’s father is the ruler of the Underworld. For most of his adolescence, Nico has had a, let’s just say, difficult relationship with Hades. Considering they’re both gloomy, sad boys who are known to hold intense grudges, you’d think they’d have lots to talk about. Deep down, we know they love each other, but sometimes it’s easier to let a ghost or zombie say that for you.
Respect the Dead
Our first glimpse of Nico’s powers was when he saved Percy from a rogue gang of skeleton warriors by sending them beneath the earth. And though he totally freaked out at first, his skills have grown considerably since then. Between being able to commune with ghosts, summon the undead, and manipulate shadows and darkness, Nico’s wide array of talents have helped to save Camp Half-Blood time and time again. Above all else, they ensure that no one is going to tease him about his extensive Mythomagic collection.
Finding Solace
Despite all that raw power, there was always something holding Nico back from reaching his true potential. It wasn’t until he revealed to Jason Grace his crush on Percy that Nico was finally able to live life to the fullest. Since then, he’s been in a relatively stable relationship with Will Solace and has generally become a more open and confident person. It’s good to see him spending most of his time among the living these days.
Just don’t make him upset. We all remember what happened to Bryce Lawrence. And what happened to Kronos’s army in the Battle of Manhattan. And what happened to Leo when he returned from the “dead.” And what happened to . . . well, you get the picture.
What’s your favorite Nico moment? Let us know!
