 Fellow IGN editor Patrick Kolan described Nook as the "Animal Crossing" equivalent of Al Swearengen, a pimp from the 1800s, due to his business sense, as well as both the character's position and disposition.Tom Nook has also been personified as a devious character, as well as a gangster, including an issue of the web comic VG Cats, which depicts him roughing up the player's character for his rent money.He has also appeared in the web comic PvP, in which Tom and Rowan threaten to destroy the player's home for owing 500,000 bells.