Jab’s Builds! (Miss Piggy! The Swedish Chef! Sweetums! Gonzo!)

Where in all of your character write ups will go.
Jabroniville
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Re: Jab’s Builds! (Death’s Head II! Die-Cut! Death Wreck! Death Metal!)

Post by Jabroniville »

greycrusader wrote: Sun Sep 11, 2022 3:15 am Straight up? These characters and the stories they were in don't even read as the work of people who were inexperienced, or just not talented enough...they appear to be done by people who just didn't care about the work. Same with the art.

Either Marvel UK's rate were really low, and writers/artists couldn't afford to put in more than minimum time and effort, or the creators realized early on that the line was going to go nowhere and were just doing the work to build a resume for better projects. Everything reads as sloppy and half-thought out.

Just plain bad.
This is what I pick up on checking out any bios. And just in case it was a case of a sloppy Marvunapp writer summing things up and doing a poor job of it, I HAVE read some of these issues and can confirm that Dan Abnett at this point had ZERO capability when it came to A) clarity, B) constructing a narrative, and C) paying off the story's build. Both Death's Head II and Battletide are chock-FULL of these kinds of weird characters and half-formed villains that go nowhere.
Jabroniville
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The Light Brigade

Post by Jabroniville »

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Marvunapp link: http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/lbrigade.htm

THE LIGHT BRIGADE
Created By:
Dan Abnett & Simon Coleby
First Appearance: Death's Head II #9 (Aug. 1993)
'90s Ratio: 4/10 (inexplicable backstory)
Role: Time Police

-The Light Brigade are a random one-off band of cyber-centaurs who faced Death's Head II & Tuck. They hail from a future where ungoverned time-travel has rendered time asunder, and attempt to stop DHII from going to his own origin and mucking with it. They nearly kill him in the process, but he returns and threatens their lives- in return, they give him what he wants. The group otherwise perfectly encapsulate that kind of "Early '90s" editing & storytelling where an entire team debuts all at once, only half of them seem to be distinct, and confusion reigns as to who is whom. Like, one appears only in silhouette when names are given, and another has the spelling of their name possibly change!

The Roster:
BETTE NOIR: The bikini-clad female leader, using guns and a large double-bladed weapon that could be thrown. She creates a time-portal for Death's Head II to return to his origin and face Dr. Necker.
LYRA/LIRA: A female whose name is either Lyra or Lira (she appears and is named "Lira" when attacked). Uses a high-tech crossbow.
LOTUN: A big, muscular guy who is either green or blue depending on the panel. Has a crossbow mounted on his right arm, plus a sword.
LYRA(?): A black woman carrying some kind of large weapon. Just a backgrounder.
TRIGGER: A heavily armed male whose howitzer is comandeered by Death's Head II.
ZHAN: A long-haired male with a gun.
Jabroniville
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The Time Guardian

Post by Jabroniville »

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THE TIME GUARDIAN (Real Name Unknown)
Created By:
Graham Marks & John Freeman
First Appearance: Motormouth & Killpower #9 (Feb. 1993)
Role: Mysterious Quest-Giver
Group Affiliations: The Time Guardian(s?)

-The Time Guardian is one of those random nonsense characters- a guy who occasionally needs the heroes' help, or sends them on a quest for something. He always appears alone, but with a different appearance every time, despite recalling past instances. He uses a Chronifact which was built by Gene-Sys scientist Sidney Fishburne and sought by the evil techno-wizards at Mys-Tech, teaming with Fishburne to escape them but draining the Chronifact of its energies and exiling Fishburne in the ancient past. Later, he assists the characters in G-Force and leads Death's Head, Dark Angel and others to form the "Dark Guard" and move against Mys-Tech. All his appearances take place in 1993, and he never shows anything but vague powers (eg: are his time portals the result of technology or inborn power?) and sends people on quests to either fight enemies of his or to get him something. It's not even clear if there's more than one Time Guardian- the Marvunapp writer suggests he might have been a Time Lord stand-in for all the unused Doctor Who stuff, but no cheeky connection was ever made. The line died too quickly, possibly... or he's just unrelated.
Arcae
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Re: Jab’s Builds! (Death’s Head II! Die-Cut! Death Wreck! Death Metal!)

Post by Arcae »

Those guys must have been slacking off with all the Kang shenanigans happening around the timestream. Also, there's so much "Death" cyborgs around that you can have a garage sale, jeesh.
Jabroniville
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Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2016 8:05 pm

The Requiem Sharks

Post by Jabroniville »

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THE REQUIEM SHARKS:
-This is a band of Powersuit-wearing characters who appeared in Death's Head II's book. Only showing up for three issues, the only matter of their importance was that two of them would eventually be the parents of Dr. Necker, the woman who helped create Death's Head in the future. The other guy, Switchblade, got killed. All of them are pretty wussy, losing a fight in their debut to Death's Head II & Tusk (though admittedly, DHII is a bad-ass fighter).
Jabroniville
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Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2016 8:05 pm

Smart

Post by Jabroniville »

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The green one.

SMART (Real Name Unknown)
Created By:
Dan Abnett & Dougie Braithwaite
First Appearance: Death's Head II #10 (Sept. 1993)
Role: Powersuit Guy
Group Affiliations: The Requiem Sharks, A.I.M.
PL 8 (128)
STRENGTH
2/8 STAMINA 3 AGILITY 2
FIGHTING 6 DEXTERITY 2
INTELLIGENCE 5 AWARENESS 2 PRESENCE 2

Skills:
Deception 2 (+4)
Expertise (Mercenary) 1 (+6)
Insight 2 (+4)
Investigation 3 (+5)
Perception 2 (+4)
Technology 5 (+10)
Vehicles 1 (+3)

Advantages:
Ranged Attack 4

Powers:
"Requiem Shark Armor" (Flaws: Removable) [59]
Enhanced Strength 6 (12)
Protection 5 (5)
Flight 7 (250 mph) (14)
"Scanning Systems" Senses 4 (Radar- Radius Ranged Radio Sense) (4)
Concealment 1 (Radar Detection) (2)

"Tactical Sensors" Senses 10 (Detect Energy- Ranged & Analytical, Detect Matter- Ranged & Analytical, Microvision 2) (10)
"Double-Barrelled Guns" Blast 8 (Feats: Variable Descriptor- Frag or Thermal Rounds, Accurate) (Extras: Multiattack) (26)
-- (37 + 36 points)

Offense:
Unarmed +6 (+2 Damage, DC 17)
Suit Strength +6 (+8 Damage, DC 23)
Guns +8 (+8 Ranged Damage, DC 23)
Initiative +2

Defenses:
Dodge +8 (DC 18), Parry +6 (DC 16), Toughness +3 (+8 Armor), Fortitude +4, Will +4

Complications:
Motivation (Greed)- The Requiem Sharks are Mercenaries.

Total: Abilities: 48 / Skills: 16--8 / Advantages: 4 / Powers: 59 / Defenses: 9 (128)

-Smart had some advanced tracking technology, and was the team's smart guy (duh) and computer specialist. He was in a relationship with Stealth.
Shock
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Re: Jab’s Builds! (Death’s Head II! Die-Cut! Death Wreck! Death Metal!)

Post by Shock »

Requiem Sharks sounds like a Warhammer 40k Marine Unit. I gotta give them credit for a good name there
Jabroniville
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Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2016 8:05 pm

Re: Jab’s Builds! (Death’s Head II! Die-Cut! Death Wreck! Death Metal!)

Post by Jabroniville »

Shock wrote: Sun Sep 11, 2022 9:15 pm Requiem Sharks sounds like a Warhammer 40k Marine Unit. I gotta give them credit for a good name there
It’s also the legit name for the order that includes Bull, Tiger & Blue Sharks :).
Jabroniville
Posts: 24695
Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2016 8:05 pm

Stealth

Post by Jabroniville »

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Who built abs AND BOOBS onto a suit of armor that big?

STEALTH (Eliza Clare Necker)
Created By:
Dan Abnett & Dougie Braithwaite
First Appearance: Death's Head II #10 (Sept. 1993)
Role: Powersuit Girl
Group Affiliations: The Requiem Sharks, A.I.M.
PL 8 (124)
STRENGTH
2/8 STAMINA 3 AGILITY 2
FIGHTING 6 DEXTERITY 2
INTELLIGENCE 5 AWARENESS 2 PRESENCE 2

Skills:
Deception 2 (+4)
Expertise (Mercenary) 1 (+6)
Insight 2 (+4)
Investigation 3 (+5)
Perception 2 (+4)
Technology 7 (+12)
Vehicles 1 (+3)

Advantages:
Ranged Attack 4

Powers:
"Requiem Shark Armor" (Flaws: Removable) [54]
Enhanced Strength 6 (12)
Protection 5 (5)
Flight 7 (250 mph) (14)
"Scanning Systems" Senses 4 (Radar- Radius Ranged Radio Sense) (4)
Concealment 1 (Radar Detection) (2)

"Particle-Accelerator Rifle" Blast 10 (Extras: Penetrating) (30)
-- (37 + 30 points)

Offense:
Unarmed +6 (+2 Damage, DC 17)
Suit Strength +6 (+8 Damage, DC 23)
Guns +8 (+8 Ranged Damage, DC 23)
Initiative +2

Defenses:
Dodge +8 (DC 18), Parry +6 (DC 16), Toughness +3 (+8 Armor), Fortitude +4, Will +4

Complications:
Motivation (Greed)- The Requiem Sharks are Mercenaries.

Total: Abilities: 48 / Skills: 18--9 / Advantages: 4 / Powers: 54 / Defenses: 9 (124)

-Stealth was a young mercenary who, during the course of their mission, realized that Dr. Evelyn Necker was her daughter with Smart from the future. Learning that Death's Head II (Necker's creation) could be the death of A.I.M., she immediately switched to his side. As the mission ended, she kissed Smart and figured they could still wait a bit to have children.
Jabroniville
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Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2016 8:05 pm

Switchblade

Post by Jabroniville »

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SWITCHBLADE
Created By:
Dan Abnett & Dougie Braithwaite
First Appearance: Death's Head II #10 (Sept. 1993)
Role: Powersuit Guy
Group Affiliations: The Requiem Sharks, A.I.M.
PL 8 (96)
STRENGTH
2/8 STAMINA 3 AGILITY 3
FIGHTING 6 DEXTERITY 2
INTELLIGENCE 0 AWARENESS 0 PRESENCE 0

Skills:
Deception 4 (+4)
Expertise (Mercenary) 5 (+5)
Insight 2 (+2)
Investigation 3 (+3)
Perception 4 (+4)
Technology 2 (+2)
Vehicles 2 (+4)

Advantages:
Ranged Attack 4

Powers:
"Requiem Shark Armor" (Flaws: Removable) [38]
Enhanced Strength 6 (12)
Protection 5 (5)
Flight 7 (250 mph) (14)
"Scanning Systems" Senses 4 (Radar- Radius Ranged Radio Sense) (4)
Concealment 1 (Radar Detection) (2)

"Arm-Mounted Blades" Strength-Damage +2 (Feats: Improved Critical, Split) (Extras: Penetrating 6) (10)
-- (37 + 10 points)

Offense:
Unarmed +6 (+2 Damage, DC 17)
Suit Strength +6 (+8 Damage, DC 23)
Blades +6 (+10 Damage, DC 25)
Initiative +3

Defenses:
Dodge +8 (DC 18), Parry +8 (DC 18), Toughness +3 (+8 Armor), Fortitude +4, Will +3

Complications:
Motivation (Greed)- The Requiem Sharks are Mercenaries.

Total: Abilities: 32 / Skills: 22--11 / Advantages: 4 / Powers: 38 / Defenses: 11 (96)

-Switchblade was the team's melee expert. During the battle, some necromantic energy was flowing around him, blocking his line of sight. He made the BRILLIANT tactical decision of taking off his helmet for a better view... at which point the energy scorched him alive. Not as smart or skilled as the other two, nor as brilliantly-armed, he is MUCH cheaper than they are, but packs a dangerous pair of blades and higher Parry Defense.
Libra X
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Re: Jab’s Builds! (Death Metal! Charnel! Requiem Sharks!)

Post by Libra X »

Jab, I’ve just noted that you have THREE threads - and that they’re not skinny threads either.

I can’t quite decide if you auto-stat in your sleep or just don’t bother with mere slumber, but you certainly aren’t going easy on yourself during your downtime!
Libra X
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Joined: Fri Aug 26, 2022 5:21 pm

Re: Jab’s Builds! (Death Metal! Charnel! Requiem Sharks!)

Post by Libra X »

“The real James Madison is the country's fourth President, and a pretty successful one, carrying on Jefferson's acts”

Give or take starting a war with the British Empire that wasn’t really necessary and (while more a draw resulting in Status Quo ante bellum on a strategic level) was undoubtedly a personal humiliation for Mr Madison - at one point he had to depart D.C. so hastily British officers actually ate his dinner before proceeding to burn down the Executive Mansion.

Not exactly a sterling demonstration of Mr Madison’s success as a war leader, it must be said.
Jabroniville
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Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2016 8:05 pm

Motormouth

Post by Jabroniville »

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MOTORMOUTH (Harley Davis)
Created By:
Gary Frank & Graham Mark
First Appearance: Motormouth #1 (June 1992)
Role: Potty-Mouthed Teleporting Brat, Tank Girl Knock-Off
'90s Ratio: 7/10 (foul-mouthed; wears normal clothes; random powers)
Country of Origin: England
Group Affiliations: None
PL 9 (120)
STRENGTH
0 STAMINA 2 AGILITY 4
FIGHTING 8 DEXTERITY 0
INTELLIGENCE 0 AWARENESS 1 PRESENCE 1

Skills:
Acrobatics 4 (+8)
Athletics 4 (+4)
Deception 5 (+6)
Expertise (Street Rat) 7 (+7)
Insight 4 (+5)
Perception 6 (+7)
Stealth 4 (+8)
Vehicles 4 (+4)

Advantages:
Equipment 4 (Mys-Tech Weapons, Bulletproof Vest), Ranged Attack 8

Powers:
"Loud Scream- Burst" Dazzle Hearing 9 (Extras: Area- 30ft. Burst) (Flaws: Touch Range) (18) -- [21]
  • AE: "Loud Scream- Cone" Dazzle 9 (Extras: Area- 60ft. Cone) (Flaws: Touch Range) (18)
  • AE: "Concussive Scream" Blast 8 (16)
  • AE: "Ultrasound" Senses 4 (Vision Penetrates Concealment) (4)
"MOPED Technology Built-In"
Movement 6 (Dimensional Travel 3, Space Travel 3) (Feats: Increased Mass 3- 400 lbs.) [15]
Senses 4 (Detect Energy- Ranged & Acute, Danger Sense) [4]

Equipment:
"Bulletproof Vest" Protection 2 (Feats: Subtle) (3)
Immunity 5 (Ballistics) (5)

Offense:
Unarmed +8 (+0 Damage, DC 15)
Loud Scream +9 Area (+9 Affliction, DC 19)
Concussive Scream +8 (+8 Ranged Damage, DC 23)
Initiative +4

Defenses:
Dodge +11 (DC 21), Parry +10 (DC 20), Toughness +2 (+4 Vest), Fortitude +6, Will +5

Complications:
Motivation (Stopping Mys-Tech)- Motormouth is on the run from Mys-Tech.

Total: Abilities: 32 / Skills: 38--19 / Advantages: 12 / Powers: 40 / Defenses: 17 (120)

-My first introduction to Marvel UK was of course Battletide, which featured Motormouth as a foul-mouthed, argumentative street rat alongside the childlike Killpower- she doesn't do much in the comic aside from wear a bikini and fight Death's Head II's ally Tuck, promising to teleport her to someplace "Suitably bloody *#%@ing 'orrible" in what I now recognize is a Cockney accent (the lowest of London's accents, class-wise). And she's probably intended to be a knock-off of Britain's popular Tank Girl character.

-It turns out that East Londoner street rat Harley "Motormouth" Davidson was the main character in her own book, using a pair of teleporting shoes created by MyS-TECH agents to go on the run- the agents were attempting to prove themselves by showing that the unstable tech had found a good "brainwave" match, teleporting Motormouth to other parallel Earths. This being a weird UK series, Motormouth then gains the power to tune into any radio station she wants via a futuristic world covered in shopping malls, which also gives her a sonic scream. She is brought to MyS-TECH, but quickly escapes- chased by their agent Killpower, she instead teams up with him and they form a partnership, renaming the book to Motormouth & Killpower with its fourth issue.

-After she is badly hurt, Motormouth gains her powers permanently after technology is used to save her life by Killpower. She & Killpower appear in the ridiculous Death's Head II & Killpower: Battletide Limited Series (though Harley's only role is to go on a shopping spree with Tuck off-panel), and end up being a minor part of the MyS-TECH Wars series that caps off the UK line's biggest ongoing story- Harley was one of six people who stopped MyS-TECH's use of "Un-Earth" and turned back time to bring Nick Fury & Spider-Man, among others back to life. Most of her book seems to consist of her & Killpower on the run from MyS-TECH, ending up in any number of times and places.

-Despite all the hype, Motormouth & Killpower only lasts a single year before it is cancelled- they inexplicably pop up in The Incredible Hulk later that year, where he ends up knocked into their lunch table and gets an earful from Motormouth after knocking out Killpower, and ends up mimicking her own filthy language back at her in response. Despite that, they help the Hulk out against the villain Madman, even saving Prince Charles after he's tossed out of a window. The character never reappears in any kind of speaking role until a cameo in Captain Britain & MI-13 in 2009, where she is injured by vampires who kidnap Killpower. She then saved Killpower from being turned into a leader of Hell... and he allowed Earth's heroes to kill him.

-Motormouth is a PL 8 except for some Area Dazzles- Motormouth was largely a backdrop in fights compared to Killpower, though had some ability with the "Teleport Away From Field of Battle" stuff via the MOPED unit.
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M4C8
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Location: South-East England

Re: Jab’s Builds! (Charnel! Requiem Sharks! Motormouth!)

Post by M4C8 »

Motormouth now has two kids (who have psychic abilities of some sort) called Bert and Vicky (Albert and Victoria) who she apparently named after pubs :)
'A shared universe, like any fictional construct, hinges on suspension of disbelief. When continuity is tossed away, it tatters the construct. Undermines it'
Libra X
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Joined: Fri Aug 26, 2022 5:21 pm

Re: King George III

Post by Libra X »

Jabroniville wrote: Mon Sep 05, 2022 12:04 am Modern thoughts towards mental illness have also changed some things as well- George has a bit more sympathy than the "OMG we had a CRAZY PERSON for a King!" take (though that does indeed bring up how dangerous an absolute monarchy can truly be).
For the record, one would like to point out that His Late Majesty King George III was never an Absolute Monarch but was, in fact, one of the very few Constitutional Monarchs in Europe at that time (and I’m not sure there were ANY at all outside of Europe): he reigned, but Parliament governed.

His Most Christian Majesty King Louis XVI of France & Navarre, on the other hand, very much WAS an Absolute Monarch - at least until the French Revolution (directly inspired by the American, as one of the great moments of poetic justice in History) first limited his powers to those of a constitutional monarch and then cut him out of the business of state entirely.

That the United States of America, neither the first Republic nor the first Democracy, but the first Modern Democracy was established with considerable assistance from a Kingdom even less democratic than that of the Liege Lord whom they had dispensed with remains one of the many complexities of Human History (if not an outright perversity).
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