Jab’s Builds! (Nightmare Creatures/Circus! Lawnmower Man! Metroid!)
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The Ultra-Humanite
THE ULTRA-HUMANITE
Created By: Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster
First Apperance: Action Comics #13 (June 1939)
Role: Powerhouse Scientist, Another DC Ape-Themed Villain
Voice Actor: Ian Buchanan
Finest Moment: Willingly went back to jail so that he could reconfigure a vulgar Christmas toy into something that could bring "culture to the uncorrupted" orphans.
PL 11 (158)
STRENGTH 10 STAMINA 10 AGILITY 3
FIGHTING 11 DEXTERITY 0
INTELLIGENCE 8 AWARENESS 3 PRESENCE 2
Skills:
Acrobatics 4 (+7)
Athletics 2 (+12)
Deception 6 (+8)
Expertise (Science) 9 (+17)
Expertise (High Culture) 4 (+12)
Insight 2 (+5)
Intimidation 2 (+4)
Perception 2 (+5)
Stealth 3 (+6)
Technology 9 (+17)
Vehicles 5 (+5)
Advantages:
Beginner's Luck, Chokehold, Diehard, Equipment 5 (Sci-Fi Gear), Fast Grab, Great Endurance, Improved Grab, Improved Initiative, Improved Hold, Inventor, Languages (Various), Ranged Attack 10
Powers:
"Animal Senses" Senses 3 (Acute & Extended Scent, Low-Light Vision) [3]
"Ape Strength & Long Arms" Strength-Damage +0 (Feats: Reach) [1]
Features 1: May Use Hands as Feet [1]
Offense:
Unarmed +10 (+10 Damage, DC 25)
Initiative +7
Defenses:
Dodge +10 (DC 20), Parry +11 (DC 21), Toughness +10, Fortitude +10, Will +6
Complications:
Motivation (Greed)
Motivation (High Culture)- The Ultra-Humanite is a devotee of the higher arts, and will even willingly go back to prison to further them.
Total: Abilities: 94 / Skills: 48--24 / Advantages: 25 / Powers: 5 / Defenses: 10 (158)
-The Ultra-Humanite is a guy created VERY soon after Superman's debut, meant to be Yet Another Mad Scientist going against the Man of Steel (curiously, HE was the bald mad scientist, and Luthor had red hair. An artist's error drew admiration from Siegel & Shuster, who dropped Humanite and made Luthor the main, bald villain). Of course, this would be LONG before comics fully nailed that one into the ground (Marvel was full of 9 billion of them in the '60s, that's for sure), and the Humanite had an extra to him- he started putting his BRAIN into the bodies of APES, making him the FIRST ape-based villain at DC! Now, why there are so many damn albino apes in the DC Universe I have NO idea, but when there's an entire city of TALKING ONES, I guess I can lower my disbelief a few notches. Unfortunately, he kind of lost appeal over the years, as "Earth-One" Superman's stories took over, and he was mostly left on "Earth-Two", fighting the Justice Society of America. The only comics I've read featuring him was the pretty-cool "Villain-Controlled World" story of JSA where he took over the world by putting his brain in Johnny Thunder's Alzheimer's-ridden body to command THE THUNDERBOLT, and a rag-tag band of misfts (Hourman II, Jakeem Thunder, Crimson Avenger II, Power Girl, Captain Marvel & Icicle II) had to save all reality. That series did GREAT "Epic" events.
-In the TV series, Humey was a typical study in contrasts, mixing the brutish exterior with the Opera-loving Frasier Craniness of an aristocrat. He teamed up with Lex Luthor's band of anti-Leaguers, but ended up betraying them because Batman offered him double what Luthor was paying. He ended up back in jail, but got to donate his money to keep the opera going. In a later episode, he and the Flash encounter each other while Flash is working with some orphaned children, and the hero's disappointment over their gift being ruined actually causes the Humanite to willingly fix AND improve their toy.
-The Ultra-Humanite's Power Level makes him a decent threat (PL 10.5 is enough to challenge the first seasons' heroes at least), though he's no major-leaguer.
About the Performer: Ian Buchanan is a Scottish actor who went into soap operas (he was on "General Hospital" for years as Duke Lavery and "The Bold and the Beautiful" as James Warwick)- something he basically kept up for his entire career, appearing on basically ALL the daytime soaps at one point or another, usually in ongoing roles.
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Re: Jab’s Builds! (Orion! Darkseid! V. Savage! The Shade! Wonder Woman!)
squirrelly-sama wrote: ↑Fri Jun 28, 2019 5:09 am I sort of like the Sword and Shield direction. The Bracelets always seemed weird to me and the Sword and Shield help her stand out from other powerhouses like Sups as well as serve as a visual reminder to reinforce the who "Warrior of Old" vibe she has. Because otherwise she's just sort of "Power Girl, but a milf with a bondage fetish".
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Re: Jab’s Builds! (Orion! Darkseid! V. Savage! The Shade! Wonder Woman!)
They were gonna have him say "Don't breathe too heavily" but figured they could never get away with it .JDRook wrote: ↑Fri Jun 28, 2019 5:27 amHe did also see the most advanced nanotech of his career and was able to keep it from destroying the world through a combination of brilliance and carefully applied violence. But yeah, Wonder-Cleavage.
I really dig how the lead up is WW says to Atom "I'm going to need both hands" and just pops him in there, and Atom says . . . nothing because even if it weren't a kid show there's no possible response that can make that scene better.
Re: Jab’s Builds! (Orion! Darkseid! V. Savage! The Shade! Wonder Woman!)
JLU made getting crap past the radar a spectator sport!Jabroniville wrote: ↑Fri Jun 28, 2019 11:34 amThey were gonna have him say "Don't breathe too heavily" but figured they could never get away with it .JDRook wrote: ↑Fri Jun 28, 2019 5:27 amHe did also see the most advanced nanotech of his career and was able to keep it from destroying the world through a combination of brilliance and carefully applied violence. But yeah, Wonder-Cleavage.
I really dig how the lead up is WW says to Atom "I'm going to need both hands" and just pops him in there, and Atom says . . . nothing because even if it weren't a kid show there's no possible response that can make that scene better.
Re: Jab’s Builds! (Orion! Darkseid! V. Savage! The Shade! Wonder Woman!)
On the other hand, Diana is suppose to be a "Warrior for Peace" and a superhero, and her classic gear better fit that role. Her bracelets were excellent defensive weapons that let her showcase her incredible speed, reflexes and combat ability (she was deflecting bullets with them in her very first appearance) and the lasso not only serves as a way to gain information, but can be used as an effective non-lethal weapon with some, pardon the pun, flexibility to it. In a sense, the golden lasso functions much like Spider-Man's webbing.squirrelly-sama wrote: ↑Fri Jun 28, 2019 5:09 am I sort of like the Sword and Shield direction. The Bracelets always seemed weird to me and the Sword and Shield help her stand out from other powerhouses like Sups as well as serve as a visual reminder to reinforce the who "Warrior of Old" vibe she has. Because otherwise she's just sort of "Power Girl, but a milf with a bondage fetish".
Giving her a sword and shield then are mistakes in my book, for a number of reasons. For one thing, there's nothing special about those weapons. Her bracers and lasso were forged by Hephaestus from Zeus' Aegis and Hesita's Girdle, empowered to be essentially indestructible and with unique abilities. Her sword and shield are just typical Amazonian gear. They aren't really special, and if they're going to be her standard gear, they need to have something going for them. Otherwise all that'll happen is the shield will get broken to demonstrate how powerful an attack is and the sword will get broken to demonstrate how durable an opponent is. Unless her weapons get some origin on par with Pre-Aaron Mjolnir, they'll primarily be jobbers for her established gear.
Even beyond that, a bladed weapon is actually a problem for a superstrong heroes because of the issue of escalation. Swords are lethal weapons, so heroic characters generally need to be more careful with them, especially in a mainstream superhero setting where "no kill" rules are the norm. There's a reason He-Man tended to just use his sword to block attacks or to cut non-living material.
There's also the issue of how useful a sword is to Diana. One reason I tend to have Diana more in the Thing strength class than the "just under Superman" strength class is that if she's too strong, then they can't really play up her warrior skills. Because someone with the hand-to-hand skills she's suppose to have being just a little weaker than Superman should result in Superman getting his butt kicked consistently. Increasing the strength/toughness gap but focusing on her skills makes for a more unique and interesting dynamic. Superman fighting Captain Marvel is two equal powerhouses trading blows with each other, while Diana fighting Clark or Billy would be more like watching Captain America fight USAgent, with Diana leaping and dodging and using skill to compensate for the strength advantage Walker has.
If Diana pulls a sword on Superman or Cap, one of two things will happen. The sword will prove able to cut them, in which case they are in lethal danger now as they're now facing a more skilled opponent with something that could run them through or decapitate them. Or the sword will bounce off/break on their skin, in which case the sword is useless and Diana will go back to punching them. But if her punches can hurt them when the sword doesn't, it creates this weird issue of having the sword at all.
Basically, I just think Diana having a sword and shield creates too many issues. It makes presents her as the wrong kind of warrior in my mind, and it creates logical issues with how she fights and compares to other heroes. Better to just ditch them and keep her with her classic gear.
"My heart is as light as a child's, a feeling I'd nearly forgotten. And by helping those in need, I will be able to keep that feeling alive."
- Captain Marvel SHAZAM! : Power of Hope (2000)
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- Captain Marvel SHAZAM! : Power of Hope (2000)
Want to support me and Echoes of the Multiverse? Follow this link to subscribe or donate.
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Re: Jab’s Builds! (Orion! Darkseid! V. Savage! The Shade! Wonder Woman!)
Obligatory Wonder Woman comic (from Super Antics) on my Diana deflects bullets despite being as tough as Superman these days.
Re: Jab’s Builds! (Orion! Darkseid! V. Savage! The Shade! Wonder Woman!)
Yes, I like WW without shield and sword.
Maybe once every ten years, do a story with the sword and shield.
Other than that, Lasso and Bracelets more than handle any threat!
Maybe once every ten years, do a story with the sword and shield.
Other than that, Lasso and Bracelets more than handle any threat!
- kreuzritter
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Re: Jab’s Builds! (Orion! Darkseid! V. Savage! The Shade! Wonder Woman!)
A shield without a weapon is just... weird.
- Tattooedman
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Re: Jab’s Builds! (Orion! Darkseid! V. Savage! The Shade! Wonder Woman!)
You tell that to Steve Rogers.Shock wrote: ↑Fri Jun 28, 2019 8:57 pmA shield without a weapon is just... weird.
Jabroniville wrote: ↑Tue Jul 13, 2021 11:45 pm
LOl- "The Tattooed Man"? What kind of ABSOLUTE DILDO would refer to himself as "The Tattooed Man" !?!
Re: Jab’s Builds! (Orion! Darkseid! V. Savage! The Shade! Wonder Woman!)
His shield is his weapon. That doesn't follow for DianaTattooedman wrote: ↑Fri Jun 28, 2019 9:17 pmYou tell that to Steve Rogers.
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Dr. Light
DOCTOR LIGHT II (Kimiyo Hoshi)
Created By: Marv Wolfman & George Perez
First Appearance: Crisis on Infinite Earths #4 (July 1985)
Role: Blaster, Dazzler, Bitchy Character
Voice Actor: None
Finest Moment: None.
PL 10 (140)
STRENGTH 1 STAMINA 2 AGILITY 3
FIGHTING 6 DEXTERITY 2
INTELLIGENCE 5 AWARENESS 3 PRESENCE 1
Skills:
Close Combat (Unarmed) 1 (+7)
Deception 4 (+5)
Expertise (Science) 7 (+12)
Insight 3 (+6)
Intimidation 2 (+3)
Perception 3 (+6)
Ranged Combat (Light) 3 (+10)
Technology 7 (+12)
Vehicles 2 (+4)
Advantages:
Benefit (League Member), Evasion, Improved Aim, Improved Critical (Light), Power Attack, Ranged Attack 5
Powers:
"Laser" Blast 10 (Feats: Split, Variable- Types of Light, Penetrating 6) (28) -- [35]
- AE: Environment 5 (500 feet) (Light) (5)
- AE: Dazzle Visuals 10 (20)
- AE: Dazze Visuals 10 (Extras: Area- Visual Perception) (Flaws: Touch Range) (20)
- AE: "Holographic Images" Illusion 5 (Visuals) (10)
- AE: "Hard Light" Create 8 (16)
- AE: "Light Control" Concealment 4 (Visual Senses) (8)
- AE: Move Object 8 (16)
Offense:
Unarmed +7 (+1 Damage, DC 16)
Laser Blast +10 (+10 Ranged Damage, DC 25)
Dazzle Visuals +10 (+10 Ranged Affliction, DC 20)
Dazzle Visuals +10 Area (+10 Affliction, DC 20)
Initiative +3
Defenses:
Dodge +11 (DC 21), Parry +10 (DC 20), Toughness +2, Fortitude +5, Will +7
Complications:
Motivation (Justice)
Power Loss (Light Source)- Kimiyo requires some sort of light source for her powers to work. She will lose powers if left without light from the Sun or the Moon.
Total: Abilities: 46 / Skills: 32--16 / Advantages: 9 / Powers: 49 / Defenses: 19 (140)
-The female Doctor Light was one of Wolfman/Perez' creations for the Crisis, probably staving off the pain of wiping out so much of the DC Universe in one fell swoop. A bitchy, haggard scientist, she defied a lot of comic book tropes and/or ethnic stereotypes- her skin was explicitly laid out as "NOT standard Comic Book Oriental" in Perez' design notes, she was a lordly bitch instead of a submissive figure, had no martial arts supremacy, and she wasn't even designed to be that attractive at first! OK, so she was Asian and good at math- ya can't defy them ALL. She ended up in Comic Book Limbo over the years, getting a lot skinnier and hotter, and writers just plumb stopped using her, but I like the design, at least. In JLU, she was a really minor background character, being scene in the middle of scenes, but she only had a couple lines (spoken by Lauren "I play every Asian person in cartoons" Tom).
-Dr. Light's just a standard PL 10 Blaster, though she's a bit cheap on points.
Re: Jab’s Builds! (Orion! Darkseid! V. Savage! The Shade! Wonder Woman!)
The bracelets are a part of the bondage fetish. William Mouton Marston was a freak. The bracelets used to have this whole "amazons lose their power if their bracelets are chained by a man" weakness. They were called "Bracelets of Submission". Yeah, no hints at bondage there.squirrelly-sama wrote: ↑Fri Jun 28, 2019 5:09 amI sort of like the Sword and Shield direction. The Bracelets always seemed weird to me and the Sword and Shield help her stand out from other powerhouses like Sups as well as serve as a visual reminder to reinforce the who "Warrior of Old" vibe she has. Because otherwise she's just sort of "Power Girl, but a milf with a bondage fetish".
The thing is both Mrs. Marston and Olive Byrne (their live in assistant/au pair/maid/bed partner) wore metal bracelets regularly.
My Amazing Woman: a super-hero romantic comedy podcast.
When the most powerful super hero on Earth marries an ordinary man, hilarity ensues.
When the most powerful super hero on Earth marries an ordinary man, hilarity ensues.
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The Atom
”He’s bigger than my car now, Katie. Personally, I blame you.”
“How can this possibly be MY fault?!?”
“Because then otherwise it’s be MY fault, and that doesn’t seem right- I’m a Professor.”
-Why you hire Dr. Cox to play your character.
THE ATOM (Ray Palmer)
Created By: Gardner Fox & Gil Kane
First Appearance: Showcase #34 (Sept. 1961)
Role: Adventuring Scientist, Shrinking Hero
Voice Actor: John C. McGinley
Finest Moment: Managed to hitch a ride in Wonder Woman's cleavage without making a comment about it. Also saved the universe from The Dark Heart by himself.
PL 10 (135)
STRENGTH 1 STAMINA 3 AGILITY 4
FIGHTING 7 DEXTERITY 2
INTELLIGENCE 7 AWARENESS 3 PRESENCE 2
Skills:
Athletics 6 (+7)
Deception 2 (+4)
Expertise (Science) 11 (+18)
Insight 3 (+6)
Perception 7 (+10)
Persuasion 3 (+5)
Technology 11 (+18)
Treatment 1 (+8)
Vehicles 2 (+4)
Advantages:
Beginner's Luck, Benefit (League Member), Close Attack 2, Fast Grab, Equipment (Scientist Stuff), Inventor, Ranged Attack 4, Ultimate Science Skill, Uncanny Dodge
Powers:
"Tiny Size"
Shrinking 20 (-6 Strength, +10 Dodge/Parry, +20 Stealth, -10 Intimidation) (Feats: Atomic) [41]
"Tiny Sized Fighting" Enhanced Advantages 2: Close Attack 2 (Flaws: Limited to Smaller Sizes) [1]
Offense:
Unarmed +9 (+1 Damage, DC 16)
Shrunken Fighting +11 (-5 Damage, DC 10)
Initiative +4
Defenses:
Dodge +7 (+17 Size, DC 27), Parry +7 (+17 Size, DC 27), Toughness +3, Fortitude +6, Will +9
Complications:
Motivation (Science)- Ray occasionally gets distracted when he sees spiffy high-tech stuff.
Total: Abilities: 58 / Skills: 46--23 / Advantages: 13 / Powers: 42 / Defenses: 12 (135)
-The Atom hasn't appeared regularly on a book for several decades now, because DC just never seems to know what to do with a Shrinking Hero. Being the JLA's "Science Guy" would be fine, but they just never stick with it. In the end, he's best used for "Journey into the _____" stories- good one-offs, but rarely good enough for a significant run. Which is why I was so happy to see him done in a rather funny, dry-humor sort of way by Dr. Cox from Scrubs on his JLU focus-episode. His sarcastic remarks to his assistant ("personally Katie, I blame YOU" ... "It can't be MY fault- I'm a professor!"), his nerdy descriptions of the inside of that killer Alien Replicating Spore thingie, etc., it was all good. He was even decent in that episode where he helped Lex Luthor fight Amazo. Altogether those were some of the only times we saw him do anything, but it appears he had at least one fan on the JLU writing staff.
-You'll notice this version of Ray drops a TON of stuff that the comics & official DCU build use. That's because within JLU, he didn't do any "Atomic Punch", and Lex Luthor flat-out calls him the "LEAST powerful member" of the League. He's built-up more as a Science Guy and Team Guy than any sort of elite combatant instead, though he's still PL 10 because he's nigh-impossible to hit.
About the Performer: The Atom was portrayed by John C. McGinley, most famous for playing Dr. Cox on "Scrubs". One of the ultimate "Jerkass With a Heart of Gold" characters on TV, Dr. Cox was known for being an impatient, temperamental, argumentative ass... but was pretty much driven by his desire to ACTUALLY help and cure people. It was a very good, nuanced character, opposed by skinflint doctors like Dr. Kelso on the same show. There was actual work done to show the negatives of his personality type- a former mentor chided him for his attitude ("If you were willing to play the game, even a LITTLE, you'd be in a position to make a REAL difference around here!"), while Kelso would point out the necessary decisions as to WHY you suck up to rich patients (a poor man didn't get on the list for test subjects for a new drug; a rich man did and donated to the hospital), and the obvious thing that you can't run a hospital without MONEY.
-Outside of "Scrubs", McGinley is a character actor, appearing in "Platoon", "Wall Street", "Office Space" (as a goofy upper-management type) and other movies. Unlike the acerbic Dr. Cox, he gave Ray Palmer a dry, sarcastic wit, full of sass.
- HalloweenJack
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