Dirk Strider is Dave Strider's ectobiological father and adoptive older brother. He shared a fierce sibling rivalry with his younger brother and raised him harshly, to the point of his behavior being considered abuse by Andrew Hussie. Though Dave imitated him and never questioned his methods, this idolship is broken as Dave matures and realizes Dirk's faults, especially in raising him. In this respect his relationship with Dave is inversion of those of John, Rose