In Islands of No Lore, no other character besides Frank, the protagonist, is as central to the story as Pop. Even after his death, the ghost of Pop continues to haunt Frank for the rest of his life. 

Contrary to his name, Pop is not Frank’s father. At least not in the biological sense. Pop is more of an adopted father, a role model for Frank. Someone that Frank aspires to be like, despite Pop’s violent temper and questionable motives.

Pop is a veteran of several pre- and post-calamity conflicts and is also a Laggar—one of the few left behind after the great migration sparked by the arrival and subsequent edicts of the Electors. 

In the wake of the great migration, Pop found himself without a family and without a purpose. Initially, he takes issue with the lawlessness taking shape on the Birds and decides to help the patchwork of sheriffs and police keeping the peace by giving them superhuman abilities and access to technology. But after the Imperator arrives on the islands to start enforcing the directives of the reformed Imperium, Pop goes rogue and begins selling his services to anyone willing to pay and who claims to want to wreak havoc on the Imperium.

After years of maintaining secrecy, Pop meets a legendary soldier by the name of Attawol and forms an alliance with him to lift the veil and begin operating his Punk Werks out in the open on South Bird. In Attawol’s employ is a young man named Frank who quickly develops his admiration for Pop. Once Pop begins to notice Frank’s loyalty, he begins grooming him to one day join his inner circle.