Jab’s Builds! (Beaker! Sam Eagle! Miss Piggy! The Swedish Chef!)

Where in all of your character write ups will go.
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Batgirl III
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Re: Jab's Builds! (Star-Thieves! Skrull Kill Krew! Skrull X! Spitfire!)

Post by Batgirl III »

It's kind of a shame the Invaders never caught on; I've read a few trades that collected their early stories, they're quite good. The no-holds-barred beatdown that Falsworth gives Baron Blood after he bit Spitfire is absolutely chilling in its brutality (given the period and the books' less than grim n gritty tone generally).
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Re: Jab's Builds! (Star-Thieves! Skrull Kill Krew! Skrull X! Spitfire!)

Post by Jabroniville »

Goldar wrote:Back in the Invaders series, Spitfire also had as a "super-power" the greater impact-related resistance ability. Thus, while running she was more protected than someone without this ability.

She would use this to ram into people like Warrior Woman and Thor without seriously injuring herself.

They also drew Spitfire with a trail of "fire" when she ran. This was not really fire, though. Despite having short hair back then, this was really a blurry image caused by her hair in the wind from running.
Hm, sounds like Immunity to Slam Damage.
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Ken
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Re: Spitfire

Post by Ken »

Jabroniville wrote:-Spitfire's a classic case of "New Character Retcon", being the English daughter of the original Union Jack, bolstered in power by a combo of a vampire's bite and Jim "Human Torch" Hammond's blood, which somehow gave her Super-Speed. I guess the '70s Invaders book needed some more lady-power, since Miss America was kind of dull. She pretty much did all of nothing (despite Roy Thomas' efforts, the Invaders book didn't make much of an impact on comic book history... he would have FAR more luck with DC's All-Star Squadron and a similar concept)
Actually, for much of the Invaders run, Miss America wasn't even there. Neither was the Whizzer. They showed up in the Liberty Legion, which got a two-shot during that same time. Eventually, the two of them started appearing in the Invaders, but not until the end. The Liberty Legion looked even more like the All-Star Squadron than the Invaders did. Particularly:

Miss America == Liberty Belle
Whizzer == Johnny Quick
Red Raven == Hawkman
Thin Man == Plastic Man

Drawing parallels between Jack Frost, Blue Diamond, Patriot, and Bucky to Firebrand, Robotman, Commander Steel, and the Atom can be done, but are less obvious.

I think Miss America and the Whizzer were finally added to Invaders to set-up the two All-Winners Squad stories from '47.
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When the most powerful super hero on Earth marries an ordinary man, hilarity ensues.
Jabroniville
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The SoV!

Post by Jabroniville »

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THE SPIRITS OF VENGEANCE:
-This group of guys are more Ghost Rider foes, this time from 1997, when the well had run dry on the character, and he was much less popular. Taking their name from GR's nickname (and the title of his team-up book with Johnny Blaze), they are allies of Blackheart. This story is apparently the culmination of the Ghost Rider run, as it ends only a few issues after these guys debut.
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Wallow

Post by Jabroniville »

Image

WALLOW (Michael Pressman)
Created By:
Ivan Velez, Jr. & Karl Kerschl & Al Milgrom
First Appearance: Ghost Rider #87 (Aug. 1997)
Role: Forgotten Villain
Group Affiliation: The Spirits of Vengeance
PL 8 (141)
STRENGTH
2 STAMINA -- AGILITY 3
FIGHTING 10 DEXTERITY 3
INTELLIGENCE 0 AWARENESS 0 PRESENCE 0

Skills:
Athletics 2 (+4)
Deception 4 (+4)
Expertise (Demon) 4 (+4)
Intimidation 8 (+8)
Perception 5 (+5)
Ranged Combat (Tenrils) 6 (+9)
Stealth 5 (+8)

Advantages:
Startle

Powers:
"Ghostly Body"
Immunity 30 (Fortitude Effects) [30]
Protection 6 [6]
"Semi-Solid Form" Insubstantial 1 (Feats: Precise) [6]
"Ghostly Tendrils" Snare 7 (Extras: Multiattack) [28]
"Creates Suicidal Thoughts" Affliction 4 (Will; Entranced/Compelled/Controlled) (Extras: Area- Audio Perception, Reaction +3) (Flaws: Limited to Suicidal Thoughts) [16]

Offense:
Unarmed +10 (+2 Damage, DC 17)
Tendrils +9 (+7 Ranged Affliction, DC 17)
Suicidal Thoughts +4 Area (+4 Affliction, DC 14)
Initiative +3

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

Complications:
Motivation (Killing His Children)- Michael has unfinished business- he was prevented by police from killing his children.

Total: Abilities: 26 / Skills: 34--17 / Advantages: 1 / Powers: 86 / Defenses: 11 (141)

-Wallow is a psychotic man who kills his own wife, but is shot by police before he can do the same to his daughters. His spirit is revived by Blackheart for his new team, and he begins trying to slaughter the children once more, even though it's now 15 years after his death. He can also create suicidal thoughts in others, via magic. Can't he just pump out Katy Perry music like a normal person?
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Pao Fu

Post by Jabroniville »

Image

PAO FU (Lian Goh)
Created By:
Ivan Velez, Jr. & Karl Kerschl & Al Milgrom
First Appearance: Ghost Rider #88 (Sept. 1997)
Role: Forgotten Villain
Group Affiliation: The Spirits of Vengeance
PL 8 (118)
STRENGTH
2 STAMINA 4 AGILITY 5
FIGHTING 10 DEXTERITY 4
INTELLIGENCE 1 AWARENESS 2 PRESENCE 2

Skills:
Acrobatics 4 (+9)
Athletics 4 (+6)
Close Combat (Sword) 1 (+11)
Deception 3 (+5)
Expertise (Demon) 4 (+5)
Intimidation 5 (+7)
Perception 4 (+6)
Ranged Combat (Hair) 5 (+9)
Stealth 2 (+7)

Advantages:
Improved Critical (Sword), Startle

Powers:
"Hellfire Sword" (Flaws: Easily Removable) [3]
Strength-Damage +3 (Feats: Improved Critical, Unholy & Slashing Damage) (5 points)

"Prehensile Hair" Snare 7 (21) -- [24]
  • AE: Teleport 8 (16)
  • AE: Extra Limbs 4 (4)
  • AE: Move Object 3 (Feats: Precise) (6)
Offense:
Unarmed +10 (+2 Damage, DC 17)
Sword +11 (+5 Damage, DC 18)
Hair +9 (+7 Ranged Affliction, DC 17)
Initiative +5

Defenses:
Dodge +12 (DC 22), Parry +12 (DC 22), Toughness +4, Fortitude +6, Will +4

Complications:
Relationship (Noble Kale)- The two were apparently wed.

Total: Abilities: 60 / Skills: 32--16 / Advantages: 2 / Powers: 27 / Defenses: 13 (118)

-Pao Fu was a would-be immigrant from China, but the horrible passage to the "Land of Opportunity" caused her brother's death by disease, and she was enslaved to a local crime boss upon her arrival. Dying in Ghost Rider's arms after a fight between him and some of the boss's men, she is resurrected into Blackheart's "Goddess of Vengeance". In the end of the Ghost Rider series, Pao Fu actually becomes Ghost Rider's CONSORT (well, NOBLE KALE's, anyways- he was the spirit that possessed Danny Ketch as Ghost Rider), alongwith Roxanne Simpson, but we never see her again from the looks of things. It seems that Kale released her from her "contract" to marry him, and she disappeared from comics.
Last edited by Jabroniville on Thu Jan 27, 2022 1:42 am, edited 2 times in total.
Jabroniville
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Re: Jab's Builds! (Star-Thieves! Skrull Kill Krew! Skrull X! Spitfire!)

Post by Jabroniville »

Batgirl III wrote:It's kind of a shame the Invaders never caught on; I've read a few trades that collected their early stories, they're quite good. The no-holds-barred beatdown that Falsworth gives Baron Blood after he bit Spitfire is absolutely chilling in its brutality (given the period and the books' less than grim n gritty tone generally).
For some reason, I can never get into "WWII Era" books. I love superhero stuff, but... that era just doesn't interest me in terms of superheroes. Like... I LOVED the Robinson/Goyer/Johns-era JSA book. One of my absolute favorite runs of all time. But every time they went back to WWII (or even the '50s), I was like "ho-hum". I can't even really understand why. Maybe a general lack of super-villains during that timeframe? The knowledge that nothing really "matters" because it's all past stuff and we know the heroes survived? I dunno.
Jabroniville
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Doghead

Post by Jabroniville »

Image

DOGHEAD
Created By:
Ivan Velez, Jr. & Karl Kerschl & Al Milgrom
First Appearance: Ghost Rider #89 (Oct. 1997)
Role: Forgotten Villain
Group Affiliation: The Spirits of Vengeance
PL 7 (82)
STRENGTH
6 STAMINA 6 AGILITY 4
FIGHTING 8 DEXTERITY 3
INTELLIGENCE 0 AWARENESS 1 PRESENCE -1

Skills:
Athletics 1 (+9)
Expertise (Demon) 4 (+4)
Intimidation 9 (+8)
Perception 5 (+6)
Stealth 3 (+8)

Advantages:
Fast Grab, Improved Trip, Startle

Powers:
"Animal Senses" Senses 5 (Acute & Extended Scent, Low-Light Vision, Ultra & Extended Hearing) [5]
Speed 2 (8 mph) [2]

Offense:
Unarmed +8 (+6 Damage, DC 21)
Initiative +4

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

Complications:
Enemy (Ghost Rider)

Total: Abilities: 54 / Skills: 22--11 / Advantages: 3 / Powers: 7 / Defenses: 7 (82)

-Doghead is the least-established member of the team- he was created from the corpses of a dead immigrant and his dog, who were running from the police. He was later shot and killed in the same 2009 story that features Verminus Rex.
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Verminus Rex

Post by Jabroniville »

Image

VERMINUS REX
Created By:
Ivan Velez, Jr. & Karl Kerschl & Al Milgrom
First Appearance: Ghost Rider #89 (Oct. 1997)
Role: Forgotten Villain
Group Affiliation: The Spirits of Vengeance
PL 8 (96)
STRENGTH
8 STAMINA 8 AGILITY 4
FIGHTING 8 DEXTERITY 3
INTELLIGENCE 0 AWARENESS 1 PRESENCE -1

Skills:
Athletics 1 (+9)
Expertise (Demon) 4 (+4)
Intimidation 9 (+8)
Perception 5 (+6)
Stealth 3 (+8)

Advantages:
Evasion, Fast Grab, Startle

Powers:
Immunity 1 (Disease) [1]
"Animal Senses" Senses 3 (Acute & Extended Scent, Low-Light Vision) [3]
Regeneration 8 [8]

Offense:
Unarmed +8 (+8 Damage, DC 23)
Initiative +4

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

Complications:
Enemy (Ghost Rider)

Total: Abilities: 62 / Skills: 22--11 / Advantages: 3 / Powers: 12 / Defenses: 7 (96)

-Verminus Rex is the sole survivor of a race of rat-men, and was killed by the Ghost Rider of World War II after subsisting on a diet of dead soldiers. Blackheart resurrects him for his "Spirits of Vengeance" group. He later shows up in a 2009 Ghost Rider series, killing some of the other Spirits of Vengeance by absorbing their energies, but Danny Ketch is able to drain the powers out of him, killing him once and for all. A lot is unknown about him- Blackheart's all "Only _____ Magical Weapon Can Kill Him!", but then Ghost Rider just incinerates the guy, and he's out of the fight. He later pops up in Hell unharmed, so I'm sticking Regeneration on him.
Last edited by Jabroniville on Thu Jan 27, 2022 1:42 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Batgirl III
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Re: Jab's Builds! (Star-Thieves! Skrull Kill Krew! Skrull X! Spitfire!)

Post by Batgirl III »

Jabroniville wrote:
Batgirl III wrote:It's kind of a shame the Invaders never caught on; I've read a few trades that collected their early stories, they're quite good. The no-holds-barred beatdown that Falsworth gives Baron Blood after he bit Spitfire is absolutely chilling in its brutality (given the period and the books' less than grim n gritty tone generally).
For some reason, I can never get into "WWII Era" books. I love superhero stuff, but... that era just doesn't interest me in terms of superheroes. Like... I LOVED the Robinson/Goyer/Johns-era JSA book. One of my absolute favorite runs of all time. But every time they went back to WWII (or even the '50s), I was like "ho-hum". I can't even really understand why. Maybe a general lack of super-villains during that timeframe? The knowledge that nothing really "matters" because it's all past stuff and we know the heroes survived? I dunno.
In my experience, it's because a lot of World War II period comics that are set during the war kind of forget to talk about, y'know... the war.

They just have the heroes engage in the standard "meet bad guy, loose to bad guy, inspirational chat with ally, rally and beat bad guy in round two" plotline. Only now the bad guy has a swastika on his chest and the inspirating ally is wearing olive drab fatigues.

Worse still is when they do include the war, but treat it as an allegory for some current political controversy that the writer has an axe to grind over. (Yeah, I'm looking at youse Millar and Miller.)

Granted, you do need to come up with some reason why Captain Hero doesn't just use his Phenomenal Powers to smash his way into Poland, instantly liberate all the camps, before heading for Berlin to slap a pair of cuffs on der Führer... But that's a separate issue.
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Re: Jab's Builds! (Skrull Kill Krew! Skrull X! Spitfire! Spirits of Vengeance!)

Post by L-Space »

While I've never read anything with her in it, I do really dig the name Spitfire. I'm surprised there hasn't been anyone else that's taken up the name.
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Re: Jab's Builds! (Star-Thieves! Skrull Kill Krew! Skrull X! Spitfire!)

Post by FuzzyBoots »

Batgirl III wrote:In my experience, it's because a lot of World War II period comics that are set during the war kind of forget to talk about, y'know... the war.

They just have the heroes engage in the standard "meet bad guy, loose to bad guy, inspirational chat with ally, rally and beat bad guy in round two" plotline. Only now the bad guy has a swastika on his chest and the inspirating ally is wearing olive drab fatigues.

Worse still is when they do include the war, but treat it as an allegory for some current political controversy that the writer has an axe to grind over. (Yeah, I'm looking at youse Millar and Miller.)

Granted, you do need to come up with some reason why Captain Hero doesn't just use his Phenomenal Powers to smash his way into Poland, instantly liberate all the camps, before heading for Berlin to slap a pair of cuffs on der Führer... But that's a separate issue.
I'm from the wrong generation to speak authoritatively, but the The Specialists webcomic does pretty well at capturing the actual period including the casual racism and sexism, the fact that one man seldom turns the tide of a battle, shell shock from actually killing people, and the fact that the other side will likely field their own guys.

Note: There's a prologue bit at the beginning which is extremely cheesy. Keep pushing through it. It gets explained.
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Re: Jab's Builds! (Skrull Kill Krew! Skrull X! Spitfire! Spirits of Vengeance!)

Post by Jabroniville »

I did kind of like how Marvel's Golden Age is full of generally weaker characters, so they COULDN'T have just stormed the beaches and wiped out the Axis Powers by themselves. They can turn the tide in individual battles, but the war had to be won with soldiers. With DC, they needed that "Hitler Has the Spear of Destiny" workaround to make sense of it. Especially back when SUPERMAN was still a Golden Age hero.

Me, my OC-verse is actually gonna have the backstory that the Allies had superheroes... but the Axis had MORE POWERFUL characters on their side. I remember an OC on here long ago that was a Japanese guy with vast power, said to have destroyed a US Aircraft Carrier- I took that idea and basically made him up to be nearly Supes-class, giving things an extra level of horror for the allies.

One thing I always found absurd was Garth Ennis's claim that "Superheroes In WWII" was disrespectful to the real soldiers who fought & died there. I was like "... you mean those same soldiers that LOVED reading about Superman flying in and buggering Hitler's army?" What a douche.
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Shard

Post by Jabroniville »

Image

Boob Socks AND a "Boobs & Butt Visible in the Same Frame" pose. Impressive.

SHARD (Shard Bishop)
Created By:
Scott Lobdell & John Romita Jr.
First Appearance: The Uncanny X-Men Annual #17 (Dec. 1993)
Group Affiliations: Xavier's Security Enforcers, X-Factor
Role: Introduced Sibling, Forgotten Character
PL 9 (156)
STRENGTH
1 STAMINA -- AGILITY 3
FIGHTING 8 DEXTERITY 5
INTELLIGENCE 1 AWARENESS 0 PRESENCE 1

Skills:
Acrobatics 4 (+7)
Athletics 4 (+5)
Deception 3 (+4)
Expertise (Computers) 7 (+8)
Expertise (XSE Soldier) 5 (+6)
Expertise (History) 4 (+5)
Investigation 5 (+6)
Perception 4 (+4)
Stealth 4 (+7)
Vehicles 2 (+7)

Advantages:
Improved Initiative, Ranged Attack 4, Set-Up, Teamwork

Powers:
"Living Hologram Construct"
Immunity 30 (Fortitude Effects) [30]
Protection 4 [4]

Laser Blast 9 (Feats: Improved Critical, Split 2) [22]
Insubstantial 4 (Feats: Precise) [21]

Offense:
Unarmed +8 (+1 Damage, DC 16)
Laser Blast +9 (+9 Ranged Damage, DC 24)
Initiative +7

Defenses:
Dodge +10 (DC 20), Parry +9 (DC 19), Toughness +4, Fortitude --, Will +5

Complications:
Relationship (Brother, Bishop)
Relationship (Wild Child)- Shard hooked up with her teammate while on X-Factor.

Total: Abilities: 38 / Skills: 42--21 / Advantages: 7 / Powers: 77 / Defenses: 13 (156)

-Shard's another suck-pile of a character, a totally unnecessary add-on character, brought in as one of those "hey I suddenly have this never-before-mentioned relative with super-powers, didn't ya know?" types of deals (naturally, she was created by SCOTT FREAKING LOBDELL, who did this with Sunfire, too). She's Bishop's younger sister, who of course also got sent from the future to do stuff, and ended up as a D-League member of the D-League team, X-Factor. She was a bit different, however, because she was infected by Emplates and turned into an undead creature, but Bishop had placed her personality into a "Holographic Matrix" that kept a simulacrum of her "alive". The "original" Shard died, much to Bishop's horror. Shard ended up in their past (the 1990s Marvel timeline) alongside her older brother and her ex-lover, Trevor Fitzroy. After X-Factor was cancelled, she was sent to Bishop's solo book (yes he had one), where she was killed saving Bishop from Fitzroy. That's likely the last we'll ever see of her... until of course someone ELSE decides that Bishop is an awesome character and suddenly needs his own book/supporting cast again.

-Shard's a little funny because of her origin (she's a living hologram after she died and got brought back to "life" by Forge), basically being a Construct who can go intangible, in addition to firing laser beams.
Last edited by Jabroniville on Thu Jan 27, 2022 1:43 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Jab's Builds! (Skrull Kill Krew! Skrull X! Spitfire! Spirits of Vengeance!)

Post by Doctor Malsyn »

I'm curious, is the ability to make "Sexy Comicbook Poses" stretching or a feature?
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