Jab’s Builds! (Lawnmower Man! Samus Aran! Metroids!)

[Jabroniville]

THE BLACK HOOD III (Mateo Burland)
Created By: xxxxxx
First Appearance: The Web #3 (Jan. 2010)
Role: Two-Fisted Superhero, Ex-Criminal
Group Affiliations: The Shadow Crusaders

-The DC 2000s version of the Black Hood was Mateo Burland, appearing in The Web. He was a young Detroit criminal whose sister was murdered by the same crooks he worked with when he tried to quit the gang- swearing vengeance, Mateo finds a bunch of gear in the abandoned HQ of Justice League Detroit and defeats the bad guys. It's left unclear whether or not he allowed any to survive. This character is short-lived, but joins a spin-off of the Mighty Crusaders called the "Shadow Crusaders" with the Hangman & Jaguar.

[Jabroniville]

THE BLACK HOOD IV (Gregory Hettinger)
Created By: xxxxxx
First Appearance: xxxx (??)
Role: Two-Fisted Superhero
Group Affiliations: N/A

-A guy in all-black showed up in the 2014 Archie "Dark Circle" imprint, but that's all I know of this guy.

[Shock]

THE BLACK HOOD IV (Gregory Hettinger)
Created By: xxxxxx
First Appearance: xxxx (??)
Role: Two-Fisted Superhero
Group Affiliations: N/A

-A guy in all-black showed up in the 2014 Archie "Dark Circle" imprint, but that's all I know of this guy.

Have we ever seen this guy and Cobra Commander together?

[Jabroniville]

LOLOLOLOLOLOL that last one!

THE FOX (Paul Patton)
Created By: Joe Blair & Irwin Hasen
First Appearance: Blue Ribbon Comics #4 (June 1940)
Role: Two-Fisted Hero
Incarnations: Golden Age, Silver Age, Impact, 90s (Legacy), Archie Digests, DC (Legacy), Dark Circle (Legacy)
Group Affiliations: The Mighty Crusaders, The Ultra-Men (w/ Captain Flag & The Web)
PL 8 (118)
STRENGTH 3 STAMINA 4 AGILITY 5
FIGHTING 10 DEXTERITY 4
INTELLIGENCE 2 AWARENESS 3 PRESENCE 3

Skills:
Acrobatics 3 (+8)
Athletics 7 (+10)
Close Combat (Unarmed) 3 (+13)
Deception 4 (+7)
Expertise (News Photographer) 6 (+8)
Insight 2 (+5)
Intimidation 3 (+6)
Investigation 5 (+8)
Perception 4 (+7)
Stealth 2 (+7)

Advantages:
Agile Feint, Chokehold, Diehard, Equipment 5 (Fox Car- Standard Car with higher Toughness), Fast Grab, Great Endurance, Improved Critical (Unarmed), Improved Initiative, Improved Hold, Move-By Action, Takedown 2, Ranged Attack 2

Offense:
Unarmed +13 (+3 Damage, DC 18)
Initiative +9

Defenses:
Dodge +11 (DC 21), Parry +11 (DC 21), Toughness +4, Fortitude +6, Will +6

Complications:
Motivation (Getting The Scoop)- The Fox became a superhero so he'd always be first on the scene when crimes happen.
Relationship (Ruth Ransom)- A standard Girl Reporter love interest.
Relationship (Delilah Monaco)- In the '60s, The Fox switched his interests for a go-go dancer. She eventually became the She-Fox in the '80s books.

Total: Abilities: 68 / Skills: 40--20 / Advantages: 18 / Powers: 0 / Defenses: 12 (118)

-The Fox was immediately my favourite Mighty Crusader, owing to the fact that he had the sweetest overall look... it actually pre-dates the Black Panther's by a long ways (even Wildcat, who had a similar look, came later), but at the time was more of a weird all-black bodysuit with a giant yellow chest symbol (sorta like Batman in some ways). As a kid, I even wrote a short story for school called "The Fox and Billy", about this dude plus some self-insert kid (who was Toad from Mario Bros. for some reason- I mentioned this on my build for Toad) who had to go on an adventure to save The Fox. I thought he was THAT COOL. And that was only from a one-page Archie story where he picked up some littering punkass and threw him into one of those mesh trash cans!

-Anyways, The Fox was pretty minor for the day, but is arguably the most recurring of the characters since then, being prominent in many different incarnations of the "Mighty Crusaders" line! He started off as a photographer who was a superhero so he could report on crimes more easily, lasting about two years and 18 issues of Blue Ribbon Comics. In the 1960s "Mighty Crusaders" revamp, he pops up in a 1965 issue called Too Many Super Heroes! and joins the Ultra-Men in the next issue, allying with Captain Flag & The Web. He's in the 1980s Impact Comics revamp as well, getting a wicked cover or two, but is soon replaced by his son, Paul Jr., who is also the Fox of the DC & Dark Circle incarnations. Meanwhile, the '90s briefly gave us a "Travis Fox" who is the only version with authentic super-powers.

-The Fox is your standard PL 8 Brawler hero, who had some kind of martial arts training after his first forays into super-heroics left him getting beaten up. He had a Fox-Car and a Fox Den that was super-awesome apparently, but dropped it after a while, since it was probably too Batman-esque.

[Jabroniville]

THE FOX II (Paul Patten, Jr.)
Created By: Richard Buckler, Stan Timmons & Tony DeZuniga
First Appearance: Blue Ribbon Comics #6 (March 1984)
Role: Two-Fisted Hero, Legacy Hero

-The Fox's son soon replaces him in the Impact Comics line- his girlfriend is Delilah Monaco, who is secretly the She-Fox- each is unaware of the other's secret identity. Here, the original Fox had died when Paul Jr. was a teenager- the kid was then recruited by the "Kitsune" ninjas who wanted to create a balance between right & wrong. He underwent four years of training and faced his father's killer... but realized that he no longer craved revenge, as his heart had found inner peace. However, when he informed his masters of this, he discovered Delilah murdered on the floor. No idea what happens after that. It is this Fox who shows up in the 2012 DC Comics revamp- he appears as a back-up feature in The Shield as a film director from Seattle who also acts as a super-hero.

-He is also a prominent part of the Dark Circle imprint, with big, cartoonish ears and eyes giving him a more distinctive silhouette. His wife, Mae, is the She-Fox, while his son, Shinji , follows in his father's footsteps as the Ghost Fox. This version was written by Mark Waid.

[Ian Turner]

Relationship (Delilah Monaco)- In the '60s, The Fox switched his interests for a go-go dancer. She eventually became the She-Fox in the '80s books.

But, but, but, a 'she-fox' is called a Vixen! The perfect name was right there! She-Fox? Bah.

[Sidney369]

He also showed up during the 1990s Impact Comics revamp- the "original" was killed in the first issue of The Black Hood and was replaced by a reluctant high-schooler- the book lasted twelve issues. A third Black Hood- the mobster who'd killed the original, in fact, was I guess also a thing.

Yeah, the Impact version was a legacy character, being empowered and driven to fight evil by the mystically cursed hood. As it was said in the final issue of the series "There is no hero, only the Hood."

[Jabroniville]

THE FOX III (Travis Fox)
Created By: Mark Wheatley & Tim Sale
First Appearance: Who's Who in the Impact Universe #3 (1990s)
Role: Environmental Super-Hero, Legacy Hero

-A third Fox, with big red goggles for eyes, appeared in the 1990s comics as a political activist and environmental defender. He could fly, levitate objects, manipulate gravity and magnetic fields, as well as heal plants & animals.

[Davies]

THE FOX III (Travis Fox)
Created By: ???
First Appearance: ??? (1990s)
Role: Environmental Super-Hero, Legacy Hero

His first appearance was in Who's Who in the Impact Universe #3 (whence that illo), which came out around half a year before the character showed up in The Black Hood #11; his creators appear to have been Mark Wheatley and Neil Vokes, and he ended up looking quite a bit different from that.

[Jabroniville]

Secret identities: YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG.

FIREBALL (Ted Tyler)
Created By: Paul Reinman
First Appearance: Pep Comics #12 (Feb. 1941)
Role: Forgotten Hero
Incarnations: Golden Age, Silver Age, Archie Digests, New Crusaders (Legacy)
Group Affiliations: The Mighty Crusaders
PL 7 (120)
STRENGTH 3 STAMINA 4 AGILITY 3
FIGHTING 8 DEXTERITY 4
INTELLIGENCE 2 AWARENESS 3 PRESENCE 2

Skills:
Acrobatics 2 (+5)
Athletics 4 (+7)
Deception 3 (+5)
Expertise (Fireman) 7 (+9)
Insight 1 (+4)
Intimidation 2 (+4)
Perception 3 (+6)

Advantages:
Diehard, Fast Grab, Great Endurance, Ranged Attack 2

Powers:
"Absorbs & Controls Flame"
Fire Blast 8 (Flaws: Requires Flame) (8) -- [11]

• AE: Damage 7 (Extras: Area- 30ft. Shapeable) (Flaws: Requires Flame) (7)
• AE: "Fire Spout" Damage 7 (Extras: Area- 30ft. Line) (Flaws: Requires Flame) (7)
• AE: "Fire Wave" Damage 7 (Extras: Area- 60ft. Cone) (Flaws: Requires Flame) (7)

Immunity 11 (Heat, Fire Damage, Ballistics Damage) [11]

Offense:
Unarmed +8 (+3 Damage, DC 18)
Fire Blast +6 (+8 Ranged Damage, DC 23)
Fire Area Effects +7 (+7 Damage, DC 22)
Initiative +3

Defenses:
Dodge +10 (DC 20), Parry +10 (DC 20), Toughness +4, Fortitude +6, Will +5

Complications:
Motivation (Stopping Arsonists)- Ted Tyler was left for dead by one arsonist, and is devoted to stopping others.

Total: Abilities: 58 / Skills: 22--11 / Advantages: 5 / Powers: 22 / Defenses: 24 (120)

-Fireball is a pretty terrible character, packing perhaps THE most generic and dumb costume in comic books. I mean, what IS that? Also devoting yourself to fighting arsonists is hilariously one-note for a superhero, too, though that was kind of an issue in New York especially until comparatively recently ("The Bronx is Burning" is a quote often prescribed to that era). His power is somewhat unique for the era (a Fire-Absorber, basically), but also pretty limited, and he only lasted a mere 8 issues- disappearing after ten months. He only briefly appeared in the 1960s stuff (in the "Too Many Superheroes" story). He's most-notable for his terrible costume, his "who IS that guy?" nature in the background of Mighty Crusader pics, and that Archie one-pager where a tiny brush fire caused by some kids burning ants or leaves somehow draws the attentions of THREE SUPER-HEROES, all of whom arrive separately.

-Fireball is a tolerable PL 7 hero, being bulletproof (a big deal for a 1940s mystery man).

[Jabroniville]

FIREBALL II (Alex Tyler)
Created By: Ian Flynn & Ben Bates
First Appearance: ??? (May 2012)
Role: Team Bad Boy

-Alex Tyler was the Fireball legacy in the "New Crusaders" books- he was the nephew of the original, and had spent a chunk of his childhood in juvenile hall for regularly lashing out. Ted "Fireball" Taylor had offered to help straighten him out when the Brain Emperor attacked, killing several heroes. He is apparently killed by the Eraser at the end of the book's first arc. Fireball II could also control fire.

[Jabroniville]

INFERNO (Frank Verrano)
Created By: Joe Blair & Charles Biro
First Appearance: Zip Comics #10 (Jan. 1941)
Role: Blaster
Incarnations: Golden Age, Impact, Archie Digests, DC
Group Affiliations: The Mighty Crusaders
PL 8 (103)
STRENGTH 2 STAMINA 4 AGILITY 4
FIGHTING 8 DEXTERITY 5
INTELLIGENCE 1 AWARENESS 2 PRESENCE 3

Skills:
Acrobatics 6 (+10)
Athletics 6 (+8)
Close Combat (Unarmed) 2 (+10)
Deception 4 (+7)
Expertise (Circus Performer) 6 (+9)
Insight 2 (+4)
Intimidation 3 (+6)
Stealth 1 (+5)

Advantages:
Improved Critical (Fire Blast), Ranged Attack 3

Powers:
Fire Blast 8 (Diminished Range -1) (15) -- [17]

• AE: "Fire Breath" Damage 8 (Extras: Area- 30ft. Cone +1/2) (12)
• AE: "Breathe In Flames" Nullify 8 (Flame Effects) (Extras: Broad, Area- 30ft. Cone +1/2) (Flaws: Touch Range) (12)

Offense:
Unarmed +10 (+2 Damage, DC 17)
Fire Blast +8 (+8 Ranged Damage, DC 23)
Fire Breath +8 Area (+8 Damage, DC 23)
Initiative +4

Defenses:
Dodge +11 (DC 21), Parry +10 (DC 20), Toughness +4, Fortitude +7, Will +6

Complications:
Motivation (Justice)- Turning straight, Inferno has now joined the fight against crime.
Relationship (Steel Sterling)- Initially a villain fighting Sterling, Inferno's life was saved by the hero, and the two became close friends.

Total: Abilities: 58 / Skills: 30--15 / Advantages: 4 / Powers: 17 / Defenses: 9 (103)

-Inferno is one of the first heroes to start out as a villain, being an evil circus performer who committed crimes before being stopped by Steel Sterling. When Sterling saved his life while on the trail of another crook, Inferno came to befriend the hero, and turned straight after a short stay in prison. He was still branded an outlaw because he opposed a corrupt judge, but he still fought on the side of good. He was one of the heroes DC attempted to bring back in their 2000s "Red Circle" run (an Impact Comics run featured him as Private Lance Stern, a government agent wearing power armour and cybernetics). He has the power to breathe in flames, and also shoot them out, and it doesn't look like he needs to do one to do the other.

-Inferno pretty much just seems to be able to breathe fire in most incarnations.

[KorokoMystia]

Funny, Inferno's backstory basically makes him the Mighty Crusaders's Hawkeye.

[Skavenger]

For some reason, that last version of the Black Hood just smacks of being lazy to me, and I don't know why. It's not a bad look, but I just have this feeling that having just the hood be slightly tattered gives it a feeling of "added at the last moment to my costume" and "a real struggle to keep on, it keeps sliding around."

[Jabroniville]

INFERNO II (Private Lance Stern)
Created By: Mark Waid & Tom Lyle
First Appearance: Comet #4 (Oct. 1991)
Role: Blaster

-The Impact Comics Inferno was an All-American boy growing up in the mid-west. Extremely patriotic, he manages to get into the army despite only barely meeting the entrance requirements thanks to his recruiting officer being impressed by him. He was soon told he had a neurological disease that would slowly render him immobile but alert- in order to serve his country Lance Captain America'd into a secret project called "Inferno", having much of his body replaced by cybernetics. He was also given a power-suit. For some reason he was the enemy of the Comet.