Maranatha takes place in the fictional decaying city of Maranatha, Florida, on the equally fictional Blood Bay Peninsula. The story centers around its main characters Owen Zelazny and Q. I. Malloy. Owen, an American wolf, is a self-employed male hustler constantly turning tricks. Malloy, an English doberman, is a petty thief and drug dealer. Owen and Malloy are childhood friends. They are emotionally and sexually intimate, but are Just Friends WithBenefits without any romantic layer. In both stories, Owen and Malloy are thrust into the role of Action Heroes, with much Badassery ensuing.