The Nowakverse

Fan art of Widget Hackwrench.

The Nowakverse is probably the most famous Fan Verse in the Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers fandom. It started with John Nowak's Fanfic Under The Bridge which was followed by another two stories by the same author, Icarus and Sovereign. Several other authors at least used elements from the Nowakverse in their stories, be it only the main original character, Gadget's long lost sister Widget Hackwrench, be it Widget's self-made submarine Albacore including the entire crew, her husband, Kapitänleutnant Jürgen Jürgen, and their son, Gimcrack. Widget actually managed to build up so much of a fame of her own that no other original character from Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers Fanfic has ever been subject of more Fan Art.

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The stories in the Nowakverse contain examples of:

• Artificial Limbs: Widget was born without a left arm. Fortunately, she grew into a skilled mechanic and made herself a spring-driven artificial arm.
• BFG: The Darned Nearly Recoilless Rifle is pretty huge if operated by mice. .22 rimfire cartridges might be small for humans, but for rodents they're large enough to require a big weapon which, despite Widget's efforts, isn't entirely recoilless.
• Byronic Hero: Widget turns into one in Under The Bridge.
• Cats Are Mean
• Cool Boat: Albacore is so this.
• Character Development: In particular, Widget in Under The Bridge.
• Crazy Enough to Work: Gadget's raid on the prison in Sovereign.
• Cry for the Devil: Widget's past is a really tragic one.
• Dark and Troubled Past: Widget's Backstory.
• Darker and Edgier: A lot.
• Enemy Mine: Widget when she needs Rescue Rangers help in Under The Bridge.
• Evil Counterpart: That's what Widget starts as.
• Evil Albino/Heroic Albino: Widget has been both.
• Foreign Sounding Gibberish: Appears in Sovereign.

Ich bin Muenster von Kublewagen-Nebelwerfer, der family solicitor.

• Furry Female Mane: Widget has got white fur but long gray hair tied up in a ponytail.
• Gondor Calls for Aid: The massive help mission which the Rangers launch in Under The Bridge after they've received Widget's call for help.
• Heel Face Turn: During the fateful events of Under The Bridge, Widget develops from the Big Bad to a Byronic Hero.
• Long-Lost Relative: Gadget didn't even know she has a sister until Widget showed up. On a similar note, neither did Widget for quite a long time.
• Meaningful Name: Hackwrench, Jürgen, etc.
• MST: Under The Bridge was MSTed. Sort of subverted in that Under The Bridge is considered among the best CDRR Fanfic, and that Nowak himself co-wrote the MSTing.
• Must Have Caffeine: Gadget is pretty much addicted to the stuff.
• Power Fist: Widget's spring-loaded left hand.
• Red Right Hand: Widget's mechanical left arm which she hides under a black cloak and in a black glove.
• Repetitive Name: Kapitänleutnant Jürgen. His family name is Jürgen, his first name is Jürgen, and his middle name happens to be Jürgen, too.
• Rule of Cool: All over the place.
• Shared Universe / Fan Verse: No Rangerverse saw as many guest writers as the Nowakverse.
• Shout-Out: The Exterminator is based on a Dalek toy.
  • Kapitänleutnant Jürgen could be one to Das Boot.
• Speak of the Devil: In Under The Bridge.
• Spy Catsuit: Widget's black wetsuit.
• Stuff Blowing Up: Especially in Sovereign, but also the remarkable scene in Under The Bridge when Widget tries to kill the Rangers for the first time.
• Sub Story: Under The Bridge.
• Tank Goodness: The Exterminator from Under The Bridge.
• Technology Porn: John Nowak managed to describe the contraptions in his stories at such a high level of detail that it's almost possible to rebuild them in Real Life unless the Rule of Cool is involved.
• Thememobile: What'd Widget be without Albacore?
• The Unfavorite: Widget thinks she is one.
• Wrench Wench: Widget, maybe even more so than Gadget.