A bit of an enigma, Jusaburo Kuruma seems to be the kind of guy who's always just spoiling for a fight. As such, he's usually cast in the role of the violent antagonist. He usually shows up as a high school thug or a soldier of some kind.
When Yakeno Yahachi, better known to his friends as “Yakeppachi” (i.e. “desperate”), has ectoplasm seep out of his nose, he does what any normal teenage boy would do - he puts it in a life-like doll suit, names her Maria, and has her attend high school alongside him.
Rokkaku is the consummate traditional Japanese student. A little absent-minded and slow on the uptake, likely because of all the hours he spends hunched over a desk, he's usually given the role of someone's "friend from school" or some other kind of nondescript man-in-the-crowd.
Although a minor Star, Odawara Jochin is a specialist at playing the somewhat innocuous "buddy" role. His ability to lend an ear and/or doll out some sound advice has had a long successful career being cast in roles such as teachers, doctors, researchers, and classmates. However he's also had success in roles on both sides of the law - able to play both a villain's henchman and a cop's partner with the same even keel.
Another of Tezuka's fill-in cast, Dime Baldspot is a specialist at playing two-bit crooks and other ne'er-do-wells. Self-serving and lazy rather than actually evil, he usually finds himself in a supporting role, as a member of a band of crooks or a nameless henchman under the control of the primary villain - often Hamegg.
Ongoing Serial: a series of episodes, published over a span of weeks/months/years where the story plot is connected from chapter to chapter and must be read in chronological order for it to be understood properly.
Chapter Serial: a series of episodes, published over a span of weeks/months/years where the story plot is self-contained to a single chapter. There may be an overarching plot, but the stories can generally be read in any order and be understood
Book: an all-in-one self contained story published as a one-off.
Supplement: an an all-in-one self contained story published as a stand-alone supplement to a regular weekly/monthly periodical.
Short Story: an all-in-one, self contained story that was published in a regular weekly/monthly periodical
Anthology: a collection of all-in-one, self contained stories that were published in a regular weekly/monthly periodical but are generally grouped together.
