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

[Jabroniville]

ISIS II (Adrianna Tomaz, aka Andrea Thomas)
Created By: Lou Scheimer, Norm Prescott, Richard Rosenbloom & Marc Richards (Thomas), Geoff Johns, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid & Grant Morrison (Tomaz)
First Appearance: The Power of Isis (Episode #1- Sept. 1975- TV Isis), Shazam! #25 (Oct. 1976- Comic Isis), 52 #3 (May 2006- Tomaz)
Role: Miss Fanservice, Flower Girl
Group Affiliations: The Black Marvel Family
PL 13 (302)
STRENGTH 15 STAMINA 15 AGILITY 4
FIGHTING 10 DEXTERITY 2
INTELLIGENCE 3 AWARENESS 5 PRESENCE 5

Skills:
Expertise (History) 3 (+6)
Expertise (Environmental Sciences) 8 (+11)
Expertise (Arcane Lore) 4 (+7)
Insight 3 (+8)
Perception 5 (+10)
Persuasion 9 (+14, +16 Attractive)
Ranged Combat (Elemental Powers) 4 (+12)

Advantages:
Attractive, Daze (Persuasion), Fast Grab, Inspire, Power Attack, Ranged Attack 6, Set-Up

Powers:
Power-Lifting 4 (12,000 tons) [4]
Impervious Toughness 13 [13]
Immunity 16 (Life Support, Fatigue Effects, Aging) [16]
Comprehend 3 (Languages) [6]
Features 1: All Attacks Count as Magical [1]

Fire Blast 14 (Feats: Variable 2- Fire, Lava, Telekinetic Force, Dynamic) (Extras: Penetrating 8) (38) -- [50]

• Dynamic AE: Telekinesis 16 (Feats: Dynamic) (32)
• Dynamic AE: "TK Shield" Force Field 10 (Feats: Dynamic) (Extras: Affects Others Only +0, Ranged) (20)
• Dynamic AE: Environment 10 (Cold 2) (Feats: Dynamic) (20)
• Dynamic AE: Environment 10 (Visibility) (Feats: Dynamic) (10)
• Dynamic AE: Environment 10 (Heat 2) (Feats: Dynamic) (20)
• AE: Healing 12 (24)
• AE: "Ground Pound" Affliction 12 (Strength/Athletics; Hindered & Vulnerable/Stunned & Defenseless) (Extras: Area- 60ft. Burst +2, Extra Condition) (Flaws: Limited Degree, Both Must Be Grounded, Instant Recovery) (12)

Flight 15 (60,000 mph) (Feats: Dynamic) (31) -- [35]

• Dynamic AE: Quickness 8 (Feats: Dynamic) (9)
• Dynamic AE: Speed 12 (8,000 mph) (Feats: Dynamic) (13)

"Second Amulet" (Flaws: Easily Removable) [18]
Remote Sensing 10 (Vision & Hearing) (30 points)

Offense:
Unarmed +10 (+15 Damage, DC 30)
Shazam Bolt +11 Area (+11 Damage, DC 26)
Elemental Blasts +12 (+14 Ranged Damage, DC 29)
Initiative +4

Defenses:
Dodge +11 (DC 21), Parry +11 (DC 21), Toughness +15 (+7 Impervious), Fortitude +15, Will +8

Complications:
Motivation (Helping the World)
Involuntary Transformation ("I am Isis!/Oh Mighty Isis")- Adrianna Tomaz must say the magic phrase to transform into Isis. Similarly, she will transform back if she says it again. Isis is less-powerful (ST 0, STA 0, AGI 1, FIGHTING 2, AWA 2).
Power Loss (Lightning Bolt)- Isis must speak to call down the Lightning. If struck by the Lightning for any reason, she will revert to non-powered form.
Relationship (Black Adam & Osiris)- Isis loves her partners deeply.

Total: Abilities: 118 / Skills: 36--18 / Advantages: 12 / Powers: 143 / Defenses: 11 (302)

Isis- Odd Canon Immigrant:
-Isis is a peculiar one- she was created for a Live-Action show The Secrets of Isis, which was the second half of The Shazam!/Isis Hour, and then popped up in a few 1970s DC publications. It wasn't terribly successful (22 episodes were produced over a couple of years), but actually got to be part of a Tarzan-themed cartoon series in 1980. This was it for the character... until 2006, when the popularity and push of Black Adam resulted in Isis being brought into the modern, Post-Crisis DCU.

-Isis (the second; the Egyptian Goddess is worshipped by the Amazons of Bana-Migdahl) in modern times is Adrianna Tomaz, an enslaved woman presented to Black Adam as a peace offering from Intergang. An enraged Adam frees the girl and murders the representatives, soon growing to love her. Isis changes Adam into a kinder, gentler soul, and is even empowered when Adam pleads for Shazam to transfer the power of an ancient amulet into her. She even finds her crippled brother and the boy becomes Osiris. But alas, both are Refridgerated in order to drive Adam mad- poisoned to death by Pestilence of the Four Horsemen of Apokolips. She begs Adam to exact vengeance for her death and that of her brother, stating that she was wrong to try and change him.

-Isis is returned to life by Adam's long quest, but comes back altered and evil. She begins demolishing Kahndaq, castrates Felix Faust (it's implied that he raped her comatose body), and is finally stopped when the JSA brings back Shazam, who freezes her & Adam into stone statues. Later, Osiris (now not dead) manages to cure her, but she comes back evil AGAIN (God, these people). In a moment of lucidity, she tries to commit suicide by lightning, but Osiris takes the hit for her, cleansing her body (but corrupting his). She invades and takes over Kahndaq, banning all superheroes, including her brother (because of his newfound bloodlust). And that's where we leave Isis before the NuDCU.

Oh, Mighty Isis!:
-The TV show's Isis had Supes-level Super-Strength, Flight, Speed, Telekinesis, Earth & Water Control, Insubstantial 4 (Extras: Affects Objects Only +0), Remote Sensing, the ability to act as a human lightning rod (??), and once even stopped and then reversed time. This was usually done via rhythmic chanting and rhymes. She needed a medallion to transform into Isis, but could telepathically communicate with her pet crow Tut, and use Mind Control in her human form.

-In the comics, however, Isis is a PL 13 Powerhouse, packing Shazam-ish stats alongside Nature Control powers, making her a more powerful version of Storm.

[Ken]

Oh, Mighty Isis!:
-The TV show's Isis had Supes-level Super-Strength, Flight, Speed, Telekinesis, Earth & Water Control, Insubstantial 4 (Extras: Affects Objects Only +0), Remote Sensing, the ability to act as a human lightning rod (??), and once even stopped and then reversed time.

What??
First of all, Captain Marvel didn't have Captain Marvel level strength. Super strong? Sure. But we're talking 7 or 8 rank strength best.
Secondly, Isis was not super humanly strong, or if she was she never used it.

Maybe she got stronger in animated form in the "Freedom Force" segment of "Tarzan and the Super 7", but I doubt it.

[Jabroniville]

Oh, Mighty Isis!:
-The TV show's Isis had Supes-level Super-Strength, Flight, Speed, Telekinesis, Earth & Water Control, Insubstantial 4 (Extras: Affects Objects Only +0), Remote Sensing, the ability to act as a human lightning rod (??), and once even stopped and then reversed time.

What??
First of all, Captain Marvel didn't have Captain Marvel level strength. Super strong? Sure. But we're talking 7 or 8 rank strength best.
Secondly, Isis was not super humanly strong, or if she was she never used it.

Maybe she got stronger in animated form in the "Freedom Force" segment of "Tarzan and the Super 7", but I doubt it.

Weird- Wikipedia says:

Isis displays a vast array of superpowers, usually invoked through incantation of a rhyming couplet. For example, Isis can take flight by reciting "O zephyr winds which blow on high / Lift me now so I can fly." Among her many powers, she exhibits superhuman strength, command of the elements (earth, air, fire, and water), and control of the weather. She can control the molecular density of her body and other matter, passing herself through walls, and in one instance, causing a car to pass unharmed through a road grader. She can divine the recent past,[5] which is manifested for the viewer in the jewel of her diadem. Isis can cause living things, including trees and animals, to appear and disappear at will. She can increase local gravity, and stop and reverse the flow of time.

Isis' superhuman abilities are limited when in her Andrea Thomas form. She is still able to communicate telepathically with her pet crow, Tut,[6] and in one instance, the reflection of light off her amulet restored a forgotten memory to a person.[7]

[Jabroniville]

OSIRIS III (Amon Tomaz)
Created By: Geoff Johns, Greg Rucka, Grant Morrison, Mark Waid & Keith Giffen
First Appearance: Teen Titans #38 (2006)
Role: Flying Brick, Kid Sidekick, Disposable Sidekick
Group Affiliations: The Black Marvel Family, The Titans
PL 11 (233)
STRENGTH 14 STAMINA 14 AGILITY 4
FIGHTING 8 DEXTERITY 2
INTELLIGENCE 0 AWARENESS 4 PRESENCE 1

Skills:
Persuasion 4 (+5)

Advantages:
Ranged Attack

Powers:
"The Wisdom of Zehuti"
Enhanced Advantages 3: Beginner's Luck, Jack-Of-All-Trades, Well-Informed [3]
Enhanced Skills 2: Arcane Lore 2 (+2) [1]
Comprehend 3 (Languages) [6]

"The Strength of Amon"
Power-Lifting 4 (6,000 tons) [4]
Enhanced Advantages 2: Fast Grab, Power Attack [2]

"The Stamina of Shu"
Impervious Toughness 13 [13]
Enhanced Advantages 3: Diehard, Ultimate Toughness Check, Withstand Damage (Trade Off Defenses For Toughness) [3]
Immunity 16 (Life Support, Fatigue Effects, Aging) [16]

"The Power of Aton"
Features 1: All Attacks Count as Magical [1]
"Shazam Bolt" Damage 11 (Extras: Area- 60ft. Cylinder +2) (Flaws: Distracting) (22) -- [23]

• AE: "Ground Pound" Affliction 12 (Strength/Athletics; Hindered & Vulnerable/Stunned & Defenseless) (Extras: Area- 60ft. Burst +2, Extra Condition) (Flaws: Limited Degree, Both Must Be Grounded, Instant Recovery) (12)

"The Courage of Mehen"
Immunity 2 (Fear Effects) [2]
Enhanced Advantages 1: Ultimate Will Save [1]
Enhanced Will Check 2 [2]
Impervious Will 5 [5]

"The Swiftness of Heru"
Enhanced Advantages 1: Improved Initiative [1]
Flight 15 (60,000 mph) (Feats: Dynamic) (31) -- [35]

• Dynamic AE: Quickness 8 (Feats: Dynamic) (9)
• Dynamic AE: Speed 12 (8,000 mph) (Feats: Dynamic) (13)

Movement 1 (Space Travel 1) [2]

Offense:
Unarmed +8 (+14 Damage, DC 29)
Shazam Bolt +11 Area (+11 Damage, DC 26)
Initiative +4

Defenses:
Dodge +8 (DC 18), Parry +8 (DC 18), Toughness +14 (+7 Impervious), Fortitude +14, Will +7

Complications:
Motivation (Bringing Back His Family)- Amon will do ANYTHING in order to bring back Adam & Isis. ANYTHING.
Involuntary Transformation ("Black Adam!")- Amon Tomaz must say the magic phrase to transform into Osiris. Similarly, he will transform back if he says it again. This is not always a good thing, considering that the words are PART OF HIS CODENAME. Osiris is a crippled boy with unimpressive stats (ST -1, STA 0, AGI -2, FIGHTING 2, AWA 0).
Power Loss (Lightning Bolt)- Osiris must speak to call down the Lightning. If struck by the Lightning for any reason, he will revert to non-powered form.
Relationship (Black Adam & Isis)- Osiris worships his older partners.

Total: Abilities: 94 / Skills: 4--2 / Advantages: 1 / Powers: 120 / Defenses: 4 (233)

-Osiris (actually the third DC character by that name) is the little brother of Isis, and suffered crippling injuries before being infused with Black Adam's power- a reflection of the origin of Freddy "Captain Marvel Jr." Freeman. The three of them form the Black Marvel Family, complete with an animal sidekick in Sobek the talking crocodile. However, tragedy ensues, as Osiris accidentally tears The Persuader in half during a televised fight with The Suicide Squad (Amanda Waller reveals this was basically part of the plan- guarantee a fatality on television in order to discredit Adam's side), tries to give up his powers after attacking Adam, and powers down... leading to Sobek revealing his evil nature as Famine, Horseman of Apokolips, assaulting Osiris, and then devouring him alive.

-This leads to Adam's breakdown, and renders Osiris kind of a weird footnote in an increasingly violent, nasty DCU. But Osiris gets a heroic demise in Blackest Night, assuming control of his zombie form and saving the day in his last moments. He is resurrected during Brightest Day, but immediately joins Deathstroke's evil Titans (who promise to help him bring back Adam & Isis, who are frozen in stone) and helps murder Ryan Choi (The Atom). He sticks around on the team, resurrecting Isis, but the deaths he's caused result in her coming back evil. He is able to purify her with his lightning, and he is last seen carrying off Dr. Sivana in order to force him to resurrect Adam. Weird, weird history for such a new character.

-Osiris is basically Captain Marvel Jr. but dumber and more naive. He has a REALLY high amount of power, but lacks the experience to use it properly.

[Sidney369]

First Appearance: Whiz Comics #1 (Feb. 1940)

Interestingly enough, it was numbered as Whiz Comics #2, due to issue 1 books selling more poorly at the time, since the readers didn't know if it would have more than an issue or not and felt more comfortable spending their money on already established books.

Actually, it's because #1 was an ashcan edition, created to secure the copyright for the title. Fawcett had previously tried to claim the copyright for Flash Comics, but was beaten by National/All-American. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashcan_comic
https://comics.ha.com/itm/golden-age-19 ... 819-3563.s

[Jabroniville]

SOBEK (Yurrd the Unknown, aka Famine)
Created By: Geoff Johns, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid & Grant Morrison
First Appearance: 52 #26 (2006)
Role: The Mole
Group Affiliations: The Black Marvel Family, Intergang, The Four Horsemen of Apokolips
PL 10 (102)
STRENGTH 9 STAMINA 10 AGILITY 2
FIGHTING 10 DEXTERITY 0
INTELLIGENCE 0 AWARENESS 2 PRESENCE 2

Skills:
Deception 10 (+12)
Intimidation 8 (+10)

Advantages:
All-Out Attack, Fast Grab, Improved Critical (Unarmed), Startle

Powers:
"Animal Senses" Senses 2 (Acute & Extended Scent) [2]
"Sensory Pits" Senses 3 (Accurate Ranged Touch) (Flaws: Limited to Underwater) [1.5]
"Natural Weapons (Bite)" Strength-Damage +1 (Feats: Reach) [2]

"Water-Based Creature"
Swimming 4 (8mph) [4]
Immunity 1 (Drowning) (Flaws: Limited to Half-Effect) [0.5]
Movement 1 (Environmental Adaptation- Underwater) [2]
Enhanced Skills 8: Stealth 8 (+9) (Flaws: Limited to Water) [2]

Offense:
Unarmed +10 (+9 Damage, DC 24)
Bite +10 (+10 Damage, DC 25)
Initiative +2

Defenses:
Dodge +8 (DC 18), Parry +10 (DC 20), Toughness +15 (+7 Impervious), Fortitude +10, Will +4

Complications:
Motivation (Destroying the World)
Quirk (Always Hungry)- Due to his powers as Famine, Sobek is constantly hungry no matter how much he eats.

Total: Abilities: 66 / Skills: 18--9 / Advantages: 4 / Powers: 15 / Defenses: 8 (102)

-The original Sobek was one of several Crocodile Men, evil aliens from the planet Punkus (... I hate Punkus), who teamed up with Mr. Mind's Monster Society of Evil. The modern version was found in Dr. Sivana's lab, and became the simpering, whiny ally to Osiris in The Black Marvel Family, but turned out to be a mole- one of The Four Horsemen of Apokolips (designed to break Adam's new family). He tricked Osiris into powering down, then assaulted his teammate, and devoured him alive on-panel. In revenge, Black Adam tears his jaws apart- turns out the guy is no match for a pissed-off Black Adam. He is resurrected against Batman & Superman post-52, this time in Hyena form, but he is defeated once more.

-Sobek's powers are pretty vague. He also has the power, as a Horseman, to make millions of people hungry- a country-wide Area Effect that I guess is "Transform"- he can make people go to the point of Cannibalism.

[Jabroniville]

WHALE MASTER
Created By: Otto Binder & C.C. Beck
First Appearance: Marvel Family #46 (April 1950)
Role: Evil Market-Cornerer
Group Affiliations: None

-A one-off character, Whale Master appears in a story where it appears that whales have gone extinct- none have been sighted in over a week. Freddy Freeman hears about this, and meets his friend Cap'n Gregg, who just happens to be a whaler! Freddy investigates as Captain Marvel Jr., more concerned about the livelihoods of the whalers than the, you know, EXTINCTION OF ALL WHALES. He finds a solitary whale in his travels, and offers it to a whaling ship, but then a submarine shows up and the Whale Master declares it's HIS! He is clocked by Junior, but recovers and tries to "kill" the whale- Junior thinks he's succeeded, but follows a wake and finds ALL THE WHALES ON EARTH in this little atoll.

-The hero transforms back to Freddy to hopefully lure the Whale Master out, but of course gets knocked out and gagged (the Wiki points out that there's literally nobody else around to hear Freddy, so this is hilariously pointless except as a plot convenience to prevent him from transforming). The Whale Master is thus all "LOL NOW I HAVE CORNERED THE MARKET ON WHALES!", and that whale oil is now super-expensive and he'll corner the market on ambergris (which, as Futurama fans know, is the main component in perfume and a highly-valuable whale byproduct). The villain throws Freddy into a whale's mouth, but the clever boy hooks his gag on a tooth, says "Shazam!", and knocks out the Whale Master from behind. CM Junior releases the whales, confident that whalers can continue killing them for years.

[Davies]

and that whale oil is now super-expensive and he'll corner the market on ambergris (which, as Futurama fans know, is the main component in perfume and a highly-valuable whale byproduct).

I actually learned this from Encyclopedia Brown, but never mind that now. Aside from the "Freddy helps out the whalers" bit, this story would actually be quite easily remade -- just have him pointed in the direction of the problem by a whale watching organization, or the World Wildlife Foundation.

[Jabroniville]

IBAC (Stanley "Stinky" Printwhistle)
Created By: Otto Binder & C.C. Beck
First Appearance: Captain Marvel Adventures #8 (1942)
Role: Demonic Mirror Image Villain
Group Affiliations: The Monster Society of Evil
PL 11 (153)
STRENGTH 14 STAMINA 14 AGILITY 2
FIGHTING 8 DEXTERITY 2
INTELLIGENCE 0 AWARENESS 2 PRESENCE 2

Skills:
Deception 4 (+6)
Expertise (Criminal) 4 (+4)
Intimidation 2 (+4)
Perception 2 (+4)

Advantages:
All-Out Attack, Fast Grab, Ranged Attack 4

Powers:
"The Terror of Ivan the Terrible"
Enhanced Skills 8: Intimidation 8 (+12) [4]
Enhanced Advantages 2: Diehard, Ultimate Toughness Check [2]
Immunity 16 (Life Support, Fatigue Effects, Aging) [16]

"The Cunning of Caesar Borgia"
Impervious Toughness 11 [11]

"The Ferocity of Atilla the Hun"
Power-Lifting 4 (6,000 tons) [4]
Enhanced Advantages 4: Extraordinary Effort, Improved Critical (Unarmed), Power Attack, Ultimate Strength Check [4]

"The Cruelty of Caligula"
Enhanced Will Save 4 [4]

Offense:
Unarmed +8 (+14 Damage, DC 29)
Initiative +2

Defenses:
Dodge +8 (DC 18), Parry +8 (DC 18), Toughness +14 (+6 Impervious), Fortitude +14, Will +4 (+8 Caligula's Cruelty)

Complications:
Enemy (Captain Marvel)
Responsibility (Evil Powers)- Stinky often attempts to reform, but he is weak-willed and easily cowed by other villains, including the four that turn him into Ibac.
Involuntary Transformation (Stinky Printwhistle)- Ibac will lose all his powers if he says his name. Stinky is ST 0, STA 1, AGI 0, FIGHTING 4, DEX 2, INT 1, AWA 1, PRE 1 and Will +1.

Total: Abilities: 88 / Skills: 12--6 / Advantages: 6 / Powers: 45 / Defenses: 8 (153)

-Probably the top-tier "Forgotten" foe of Captain Marvel is Ibac, one of a few bad guys to ALSO take his name from various things- Ivan the Terrible's Terror, Cesare Borgia's Cunning, Atilla the Hun's Ferocity, and Caligula's Cruelty. He is a humble crook named "Stinky" Printwhistle, attempting to blow up a bridge but tossed away by Captain Marvel- Lucifer saves him, and offers him a chance to become a "Champion of Evil" in exchange for his mortal soul. Stinky agrees and becomes Ibac, taking on Marvel until Billy hits him so hard it literally knocks the evil powers off of him. Marvel defeats him on many other occasions, such as spinning him around to de-power him, and the villain eventually reforms. However, a recurring element sees other villains bully the weak-willed Stinky into transforming into Ibac again.

-Ibac first appears again in 1973, with the four evil villains that empower him speaking to him again- a reformed street sweeper, he is nonetheless turned into Ibac again. He actually ties up and gags Billy, leaving him to die in a building, but apparently a RECORDING of himself saying "Shazam!" is enough, and Billy turns into Capt. Marvel and beats the villain. Later, the non-powered Spy Smasher fights Ibac, and is about to lose when he remembers Ibac's limitations. He demands the villain "back down!", and of course the idiot boasts "I back down for no one!", immediately transforming back to human. This is the last time he really means anything, judging from bios- they don't mention anything else until Crisis on Infinite Earths, then go right to Infinite Crisis. In Secret Six, he's a mere high-powered jobber, apparently losing to RAGDOLL in a bit I forget. In the "New 52", he's changed to being an evil king who killed Black Adam's family and sent him on the path to evil- a modern descendant takes the role.

-Ibac is functionally a big, stupid, mean powerhouse, usually routinely beaten by Captain Marvel in solo combat (PL 11 vs. PL 14), and somewhat easy to trick.

[Spectrum]

Well they certainly picked an interesting list of the wickedest of the worlds mortals.

Curious how many of them were world leaders of diffetent political persuasion then the US.

It would be odd if this guy was the inspiration behind Serpentor.

[Ian Turner]

I had this whacky notion that Sivana had created Sobek to steal the power of the gods from one of the Shazam peeps (like Osiris) by having this crocodile-thing eat one of them and form a link to its namesake, the Egyptian god Sobek, whom Sivana would then (attempt to) bind / steal the power of. So 'Sobek' would, at least briefly, actually be Sobek. (And Sivana would, at least briefly, have the sort of power to actually physically challenge one or more members of the Marvel family in a throw-down.)

But they didn't go there, and, honestly, I didn't really understand what the actual point was, other than to gratuitiously eat Osiris.

[Ken]

I didn't really understand what the actual point was, other than to gratuitously eat Osiris.

To do a "modern" take on Herkimer and the other 'Crocodile Men' from Punkus.

[Davies]

At the time, I thought he was intended to be a sort of funhouse reflection of Tawky Tawny. And, with how it worked out, an artistic protest about how supposedly dumb the idea of a dangerous animal as a friend to the cast is.

Or maybe someone involved had a vore fetish, who knows.

[Sidney369]

SAPPER (Osinga Riplss)
Created By: Chris Claremont & Jim Mooney
First Appearance: Ms. Marvel #13 (Jan. 1978)

There's an interesting story behind Sapper's real name. It was first revealed in the Iron Manual Mark 3 Handbook. Mark O'English, the writer behind the Sapper and Goldenblade profile among others, was leaving the Handbook team as it has become too much work to be a hobby, yet didn't pay enough to be a career. As a way to thank the fans of the Handbooks, he used the names of people active on the forum devoted to the Handbooks to fill in information that the creators hadn't provided. And so, Sapper's first name was based off the last name of Sidney Osinga, yours truly. Rplss (that's the correct spelling) was another poster on the forum. Source: https://whowatchesthewatchers.boardhost ... php?id=262

Anyways, because of this, Sapper has a special place in my heart, so I want to say thank you for using him.

[Jabroniville]

haha, nice. I didn't know that- I think I missed it in their Marvunapp write-ups. That site is a big part of why I'm able to do what I do on here, statting up extremely minor characters. Wikipedia will do for major guys, but if you absolutely, positively NEED to have a character from a random issue of Ms. Marvel from the '70s, no other website will do!

It's also a fun look at the "old internet" as Marvunapp still resembles the websites of yore- why change a good thing?