Spotlight on Comrade Hero I

Create a Superhero for the Stan Lee Foundation: Comrade Hero
January 2011

Daily posts that provide information, insights and other interesting facts about Comrade Hero.


January 12, 2011

Interesting Facts about Comrade Hero: Costume

The details and colors of Comrade Hero's uniform have pretty much stayed the same since 2004.

The major change has been the adoption of a military style tactical belt and the addition of a Soviet-era Belt Buckle with Hammer and Sickle Emblem.

In 2010 I updated the uniform along the lines of  modern soft body armor concepts currently being developed and utilized by military and law enforcement personnel. The boots and gloves were based on Soviet-era designs.

The Domino Mask that Comrade Hero wears is a deliberate throwback to the early costumed crime-fighters of the 1930's and 1940's.

Initially I wanted Comrade Hero's uniform to reflect the colors of the Russian Federation - Red, White, and Blue. But they kind of clashed rather horribly. Red and Yellow/Gold was chosen instead - another nod to Soviet-era colors. Red and Black is a nod to the Tino Rangatiranga Flag in Aoteaora/New Zealand.

The addition of green was a personal choice. Green is my favorite color, and I find that looking at fauna and flora when I'm suffering form a migraine is a great way to deal with the pain.

Black was the obvious choice for gloves, boots, mask and tactical belt.

The glowing red eyes reflect the 'energy' that courses through Comrade Hero, and is also a nod to James Cameron's Terminator.


January 13, 2011

Interesting Facts about Comrade Hero: Costume Detail

The metal belt buckle emblazoned with the Communist Hammer and Sickle and centered inside the Soviet Star: bit.ly/gxjowM

A reminder of Communist-era Russia, and a link to Comrade Hero's past. While the yellow five point star on a crimson background is symbolic of the old regime, the belt buckle that Comrade Hero wears represents a close familial connection.

Comrade Hero was raised by his paternal grandparents in the former Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. Both his grandparents were veterans and heroes of the Great Patriotic War against the German Fascists. His grandmother had served as an aviator in the Soviet Air Force, while his grandfather had been a sergeant in the Red Army.

Comrade Hero would listen enthralled as his grandmother recounted her exhilarating - and terrifying - combat experiences during the War years. Comrade Hero's grandmother became the driving influence behind the young boy's own desire to become a pilot.

In later years, after his grandfather passed away, Comrade Hero personally administered to the care of his grandmother. On her passing, Comrade Hero came into possession of a number of his grandmother's personal belongings - amongst them a battered belt buckle bearing the faded symbols of Russia's yesterday. The warped and cracked leather belt the buckle was attached to was too worn to be wearable, but all the dulled metal of the buckle needed was a little polish and care to restore its former shine.

Comrade Hero has worn this belt buckle and others of similar design for nearly a decade. The original belt buckle that belonged to Comrade Hero's grandmother is now rarely seen in public, and is only worn to mark special occasions. But whether it is his grandmother's original belt buckle, or a more sturdier buckle of the same design, Comrade Hero wears the Hammer and Sickle in the Soviet Star to honor the woman who inspired him to reach for the skies, and ultimately the stars...


January 14, 2011

Interesting Facts about Comrade Hero: That Face, that Body!

Haven't I seen you somewhere before?

In Comrade Hero's case he's an amalgam of two people who I thought would make a great Comrade Hero in real life.

In terms of physique Comrade Hero is modeled on the bodybuilding competition era Arnold Schwarzenegger. Artist Luc Bégin did some amazing ZBrush model work of Arnold Schwarzenegger. The thread may be 23 pages long, but the evolution is truly inspiring: bit.ly/h61QoP.

Why Arnold? When I was growing up in the 1980's there were only two men who dominated the action films of that era - Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. Commando, Predator, Running Man, Total Recall, and Red Heat - Arnold chewed up the scenery as much as he did the opposition with his acerbic sense of humor and that wry smile. Whether toting a small arsenal of weapons, or slugging it out hand-to-hand, Arnold was the action man.

When it came to giving Comrade Hero a physique that was large, muscular and intimidating - Arnold was the natural choice for me.

But while Arnold had a winning body, I looked elsewhere for the face of Comrade Hero. A  face with a smile that was more disconcerting than reassuring. The original inspiration came in form of Sean Bean. I was already a fan of Bernard Cornwell's books about Richard Sharpe, and seeing Sean Bean in that pivotal role was fantastic. For the longest time I had my Comrade Hero composite for reference images that I supplied to artists.

And then came a movie that cemented in my mind the face of Comrade Hero. In Eastern Promises, Viggo Mortensen portrayed the lethal Russian mob enforcer Nikolai Luzhin. Viggo looked like his face had been carved from marble - hard, cold, and unforgiving. Yet Nikolai Luzhin was as enigmatic as he was brutal, capable of great violence, but also genuine compassion. A deservedly amazing piece of acting from Viggo Mortenssen.

I had the body, and I had settled on the face. Because Comrade Hero is not a young hero. He's in his late 30's - early 40's, and had a successful career long before he became a hero. He has the scars and the telltale signs of aging.

In the world of Comrade Hero, heroes are expected to be young, glamorous, and ready to take advantage of a photo opportunity, or to snap off a pithy sound-byte for the evening news. Comrade Hero isn't any of these things.


January 15, 2011

Interesting Facts about Comrade Hero: Fictional Inspiration Part I

Previously I discussed my ideal 'real world' Comrade Hero amalgam - the physique of body-building competition Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the carved from marble face of actor Viggo Mortensen in the film Eastern Promises. But what fictional characters have influenced the development of Comrade Hero?

The first influence is Colonel Steve Austin, from the quintessential seventies action show The Six Million Dollar Man. Steve Austin is suffers a terrible accident that leaves him barely alive. But although Steve Austin is rebuilt with bionic limbs and implants and powered by a miniaturized nuclear power source, he shares a career path similar to Comrade Hero. Both men are pilots - fighter and test - and are both space explorers. Steve Austin is an American Astronaut, Comrade Hero is a Russian Cosmonaut. And both men are Colonel's in the respective Air Force's of their country.

The cause of that accident that changed the life of Comrade Hero is straight out of the pages of the Fantastic Four's origin. Exposure to Cosmic Rays/Radiation triggers the latent potential hidden within, enabling Comrade Hero to overcome the lethal environment of space, and a terrifying descent from Low Earth Orbit that sees Comrade Hero survive re-entry into Earth's atmosphere and crashing into the frozen ice and snow of Antarctica!

You can add Police Officer Alex Murphy aka RoboCop and MegaCity One's toughest lawman Judge Dredd to the list of fictional character that have influenced the personality of Comrade Hero. Comrade Hero may not enforce the law as strictly as Judge Dredd, or wield an over-sized hand-cannon with the lethal precision of RoboCop - but Comrade Hero believes in the rule of law, in protecting the People, and bringing to justice those with the intent to harm and destroy either.

I wanted Comrade Hero to partially emulate the physical movement of RoboCop as portrayed by Peter Weller in the original movie by Paul Verhoeven. Every step measured and exact, the head leading the body as he turns with methodical precision. It's an affectation Comrade Hero uses to intimidate his opponents, and fuel speculation that he is more machine than man.

Like Judge Joseph Dredd, Comrade Hero will quote the letter of the law as he apprehends criminals and brings them to justice. Comrade Hero doesn't preach, he doesn't gloat, and he doesn't threaten. He calls it as he sees it. A wise criminal will take that as a warning to immediately from whatever criminal activity they are engaged in. Unfortunately, most criminals aren't that enlightened.


January 16, 2011

Interesting Facts about Comrade Hero: Fictional Inspiration Part II

Let's recap. From the small screen we have The Six Million Dollar Man, Steve Austin, and from the large screen Police Officer Alex Murphy aka RoboCop.

From those four-color pages I mentioned the incomparable Fantastic Four, and that bastion of unflinching law, Judge Joseph Dredd.

Some clever reader has already pointed out that none of the Fantastic Four plummeted to Earth after being exposed to Cosmic Rays/Radiation – so what gives?

Another savvy reader asked is Comrade Hero a mutant or mutated?

Comrade Hero was exposed to Cosmic Rays/Radiation during a routine maintenance EVA (extra-vehicular activity) outside the International Space Station (ISS). Whether by accident or malicious intent (that's a secret… shhh!) our Russian Cosmonaut found himself floating helplessly in a decaying orbit – falling gradually towards planet Earth!

At some point between having his connection to the International Space Station 'cut' and falling towards the little blue-green planet we call home from Low Earth Orbit, Comrade Hero was caught in a massive bombardment of Cosmic Rays/Radiation.

It was this exposure to Cosmic Rays/Radiation and the searing temperatures of atmospheric re-entry that unlocked the latent mutant potential that had been dormant in Comrade Hero. By the time Comrade Hero had crashed into Antarctica with enough force to create a sizable impact crater, our Russian Cosmonaut had become more than (and some may argue less than) human. The Man Who Fell To Earth had survived! A near indestructible body infused at a cellular and genetic level with unknown Cosmic Energies that coursed through every fiber of his being.

We have a classic chicken and egg scenario here, so let's just say – it's a miracle!

A Russian Cosmonaut falling to Earth and surviving - that's another direct nod to the origin of the Six Million Dollar Man, Steve Austin. While Steve Austin didn't 'fall' to Earth from the International Space Station (The International Space Station is in a Low Earth Orbit that varies from 319.6 to 346.9 kilometers or 199 to 346.9 miles above the Earth's surface), he did survive a horrific accident during a high altitude test flight that goes horribly wrong. But never fear, but in the 1970's it only cost Six Million Dollars to rebuild Steve Austin from top to bottom!

Comrade Hero, like Steve Austin, survives and is upgraded into a better, faster, stronger version.

But what other heroic characters have influenced the development and characterization of Comrade Hero?

The big two influences in terms of super-heroic stature: Captain Marvel created by C. C. Beck and Bill Parker for Fawcett Comics; and Ms. Marvel Created by Roy Thomas and Gene Colan for Marvel Comics.

Of all the heavy hitters in the comic-verse, Captain Marvel (and I will not refer to Billy Batson as the wizard SHAZAM) always stood out as the ultimate wish fulfillment. While the only magic words I knew were please and thank you, they tended to work – although not quite so spectacularly. With one word orphan Billy Batson was transformed into the World Mightiest Mortal with a chin that would make Bruce Campbell proud!

Every time Billy transformed into the adult Captain Marvel he gained the Wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the stamina of Atlas, the power of Zeus, the courage and near-invincibility of Achilles, and the speed of Mercury. And yet it was the mind of young Billy Batson who controlled this embodiment of superpower. Billy made mistakes, and villains played on his innocence and naiveté, but Billy was the true hero – the persona of Captain Marvel gave him the ability to affect true change for the good of the people.

Of all the powerhouses from across the ages, Captain Marvel is my ideal of the classic superhero.

You can mirror most of Captain Marvel's powers in Comrade Hero. Yet unlike Billy Batson, Comrade Hero comes into his superpowers relative late in life. Comrade Hero is a man who has lived, loved, and lost. He has known great happiness, and tragic loss. And it is as an adult that Comrade Hero has true greatness thrust unexpectedly thrust upon him.

This also happened to US Air Force Major Carol Danvers. Carol Danvers would achieve fame as the one of the premier heroines of Earth 616 in the Marvel-verse as Ms. Marvel.  Ms. Marvel's first appearance was in 1968 and since then the character has attracted its fair share of admirers and detractors.

Through it all though, Ms. Marvel has emerged as a great heroine of the modern age. Ms. Marvel's powers initially came from energy bombardment and a merging of her own genetic material with that of the alien Kree, Mar-vell. Carol Danvers became a human-Kree hybrid with amazing powers and abilities. Again these powers are almost mirrored completed in Comrade Hero.

But like Comrade Hero, Ms. Marvel had a led a full life before she became a hero, and has continued to use the experience, knowledge and skills she had in her pre-hero life to assist in her in the good fight. Ms. Marvel, like Comrade Hero is fallible and makes mistakes. Even when Ms. Marvel tries to do the right thing, or follow what she believes is the best course of action. No matter how hard Ms. Marvel gets beaten back, or beaten down, she finds a way back. Sometimes she does it alone, but she also has friends ready to lend her a hand.

There's one more hero I'll add to this list who has had a fundamental impact on Comrade Hero. And I'll duck now before you start hurling virtual tomato's at me.

Roger Ramjet – that quintessential American Hero from the 1960's television show of the same name directed by Fred Crippen and written by Gene Moss and Jim Thurman. Roger Ramjet – patriot and moral stalwart – was another aviator who fought freedom on the small screen on syndication in 1965. Roger Ramjet wasn't the brightest hero – but he had no qualms about popping a Proton Energy Pill and gaining the strength and power of twenty atom bombs for twenty seconds, and soundly thrashing all manner of villains who threatened America.

Why Roger Ramjet? Well, out of my childhood hero viewing lineup consisting of Danger Mouse, Atom Ant, and Hong Kong Phooey, Roger Ramjet always struck a chord with me and I remembered that name, and the television theme song right up to this present day.

So there you have it some of the figures that that have influence the development and characterization of Comrade Hero.


January 17, 2011

Interesting Facts about Comrade Hero: Origins

Comrade Hero was born on paper back in the early 1990's when I got hold of the Marvel Superheroes RPG by TSR Inc. This role-playing system enabled you to create your own heroes, villains, or vigilantes in the Marvel-verse from a variety of backgrounds and origins, and with familiar powers and abilities, and custom designed ones as well.

Marvel Superheroes RPG wasn't the only role-playing game that caught my interest back in High School and College. I dabbled in  Middle Earth Role Playing, Twilight and Merc 2000, Paranoia, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the Fuzion system, and Vampire the Masquerade.

But of all the role-playing systems I invested in, the one I kept coming back to over the years was the Marvel Superheroes RPG. It was this great role-playing game that got me interested in creating my own heroes to fight the good fight..

In 2002, I picked up a copy of a computer game called Freedom Force. What set this apart from all the other computer strategy and role-playing games was that you stepped into the shoes of Golden Age heroes from the 1950's complete with hokey dialog, flamboyant costumes, and evil Cold War shenanigans! But Freedom Force worked, and as a bonus you could create your very own avatar of justice, complete with custom physique, costume, and powers. Freedom Force was fantastic!

Only two years later, City of Heroes burst onto the MMORPG scene in 2004. City of Heroes was clearly different from the proliferation of fantasy and war based online games at the time. Until City of Heroes came along my experience with MMORPG's had been limited to Meridian 59, Asheron's Call, and Medal of Honor.

Just like Freedom Force, City of Heroes gave you the ability to craft your own heroic avatar from a wealth of character customization options. The level of customization and the options available to players has increased over the past six years, as has the wealth of game content in the form of nineteen free Issues (to date), and two expansions, City of Villains, City of Heroes: Going Rogue.

While newer MMORPG's boast improved graphics, updated combat systems, and superior features, I've always found myself coming back to City of Heroes over the years. There have been other MMORPG games that I have tried, but none have kept my interest for longer than six months or held the appeal of City of Heroes. That simple premise – be your own hero (or villain) – is one that City of Heroes has managed to do well.

With City of Heroes I found myself going full circle. Pulling out the character sheets, notes and scribbling I had made years before for the Marvel Superheroes RPG, and recreating heroes in City of Heroes. Some were successful adaptations, others were not. But by recreating a virtual avatar in City of Heroes my own creative imagination started to fire once again.

Comrade Hero was not the first hero I recreated in City of Heroes, and in fact Comrade Hero wasn't even the first choice of name. (I'll keep that tidbit for another future reveal!)

My first character was actually Graviton Girl, a Controller with the ability to control Gravity and generate Force Fields - a combination of powers similar to the villain Graviton, and the Fantastic Four's Invisible Woman, Susan Storm.

Comrade Hero was my second character in City of Heroes and a radical departure from the support and defensive role that Graviton Girl played.

Comrade Hero was an Invulnerability and Energy Melee Tanker. He could wade through a crowd of no-goodniks, ignore the blows raining down upon him, and methodically dispense justice one opponent at a time. Comrade Hero was up close and personal, fighting toe to toe with Arch Villains and gangs of criminals alike.

I originally wanted Comrade Hero to be a Super Strength Tanker, similar to the power-set I had envisioned in the Marvel Superheroes RPG. But, while Super Strength looked great on paper, it was ponderous, slow, and frankly painful to watch.

Energy Melee, with the requisite glowing pom-poms of doom around the hero's fists, was heavy hitting, fast, and fluid. Exactly how Comrade Hero should be. This change in power-sets for purely aesthetic purposes would later come to influence my creative development about the origin and nature of Comrade Hero's powers, details of his physical appearance, and the impact on how Comrade Hero interacts with others.


January 18, 2011

Interesting Facts about Comrade Hero: From Pen and Paper to Virtual Avatar

Last time I mentioned that the genesis of Comrade Hero came from the Marvel Superheroes RPG by TSR Inc.

All you needed was a pencil, an eraser, pieces of paper and 2d10 to go through the basics of making your Marvel inspired hero, villain, or vigilante.

Or you could throw the guidelines out the window and pick and choose the statistics and powers of the heroes and villains that you wanted your own custom built powerhouse to have.

And you know what... I did a little of both. Fudged a few dice rolls here and there, pretended to see numbers that weren't actually rolled, and generally kept tweaking the character until I was happy with what I had designed.

In the Marvel Superheroes RPG, Statistics were represented by Fighting, Agility, Strength, Endurance, Reason, Intuition, and Psyche – or more commonly referred to as the abbreviated FASERIP.

Characters like Captain America and Shang-Chi were superior in; Spider-Man and Daredevil scored high on Agility and Intuition; Thor, Hercules and the Hulk possessed phenomenal Strength and Endurance; Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four and Tony Stark aka Iron Man possessed amazing Reason, and Professor Xavier and Dr. Stephen Strange, the Sorcerer Supreme had formidable Psyches.

Comrade Hero was a mish-mash of different Statistics based on heroes and villains that I believed Comrade Hero could at least match, if not overcome. These Statistic though would that gradually creep upwards over the years, primarily because of the influence that Freedom Force and then City of Heroes had on how Comrade Hero developed.

As he stands now Comrade Hero has Statistics that makes him a potential candidate to go toe to toe with the heavy-weights of the Marvel-verse. That's why in my own Comrade Hero Project I've deconstructed my man of Russian Steel and taken him back to his basics.

Comrade Hero has the power, but not the training. He has the potential, but not the experience. Comrade Hero is effectively back at Level 1 again. And from a creative writing point of view, that's actually quite good for my Project.

In terms of his Powers, Comrade Hero's have remained fairly consistent over the years and like his Statistics, they were influenced by Freedom Force and City of Heroes.

Flight, Speed, Durability, Strength and Endurance translated across rather easily from Marvel Superheroes RPG to the computer gaming environment.

City of Heroes added the powers of Invulnerability and Energy Melee, Speed and Flight, Fighting and Fitness, and eventually Energy Mastery and Concealment. The last additions were thanks to Fitness being made an inherent power that all heroes and villains had, freeing up my choices to make Comrade Hero a character that could play the stealth card if need.

I had envisioned Comrade Hero soaring through the skies with the lethal precision of a modern jet fighter, and hitting the ground with the relentless momentum of a main battle tank. That combination didn't quite work so well in City of Heroes as you couldn't create a character with the capability to carry out devastating aerial assaults against air and ground based opponents.

However, you could make a character that crushed all ground based opposition like a main battle tank – and so Comrade Hero the Tanker eventually rumbled into action.


January 19, 2011

Interesting Facts about Comrade Hero: Breaking down the Powers I


I was asked to list Comrade Hero's Powers. So I will diverge from my original train of thought for the next few Fact Posts.

As you have asked, so shall it be…

Keep in mind that this is Comrade Hero based on my original character conceptions using the Marvel Superheroes RPG, rewritten material for my script work in the Diploma in Creative Writing, and the influence on Comrade Hero's development based on six years of playing City of Heroes.

In the second part, I will cover the powers that are derived from exposure to cosmic rays/radiation.

In the third part I will go discuss both sets of powers and how they have changed over the years. Along with the further changes to come in line with my Comrade Hero Project vision.


Comrade Hero has been 'recreated' using the following books:

Marvel Superheroes Advanced Set - Players Book PDF Version 1.1
Marvel Superheroes Advanced Set - Judge's Book PDF Version 1.1
Marvel Superheroes Ultimate Powers Book PDF Version 1.1
Marvel Superheroes Ultimate Powers List authored by Marvelmaster
Marvel Superheroes Ultimate Talents List Version 2.0 by Michael T. Dismuke
Marvel Superheroes 'Who Was That Masked Android?' - How to Keep a Super Hero's Identity a Real Secret! by Marcus L. Rowland

The following is a breakdown of Comrade Hero's powers that are derived from his unique physiology.

The format is written along the lines of the hero and villain profiles found in Marvel Superheroes RPG.


KNOWN POWERS

Aleksandr Alexandrovich Biryukov was born with latent metahuman potential but this did not manifest until he was in his mid-thirties.

Aside from being slightly healthier and fitter than most men his age, there was no indication that Aleksandr was anything other than a normal human.

It took massive exposure to lethal cosmic rays and radiation, exposure to the extreme environment of space, re-entry into Earth's atmosphere from Low Earth Orbit, and crash landing in Antarctica, to activate Aleksandr's metahuman potential.

As Comrade Hero, Aleksandr's Powers are derived from his unique metahuman physiology and the unknown cosmic energies surging within him.

Metahuman Physiology:
Comrade Hero's metahuman physiology provides him with extraordinary levels of agility, strength, endurance, speed, and reaction time. In addition, his metahuman physiology provides him with the following Powers:

Hyper Speed:
Comrade Hero is fast. He possesses Hyper Speed at Amazing rank.
He may:
Substitute for Fighting for multiple attacks and evading. May make up to 3 combat actions per round.
Substitute for Agility for dodging and catching projectiles.
Substitute for Intuition for initiative.
Reach maximum flight, swimming, or ground speed in one round and has no penalties making high speed maneuvers or starting or stopping suddenly.

Regeneration:
Comrade Hero has Amazing regenerative and recuperative capabilities, enabling him to rapidly recover from any form of harm at a rate fifty times faster than normal. With time, Comrade Hero can regenerate large areas of lost tissue, organs and limbs.

Comrade Hero's regenerative and recuperative capabilities are strong enough to repair fatal damage and eventually return him to life if he is ever killed. Comrade Hero is immune to disease, illness, and the effects of aging.

Self Sustenance:
Comrade Hero does not require air, food or water; and his body eliminates the excessive build-up of fatigue-producing poisons in his muscles, granting him phenomenal endurance. Bodily wastes are internally recycled back into usable materials. Comrade Hero can go for weeks without sleep; however he will eventually tire and require rest.

True Invulnerability:
Comrade Hero is capable of operating freely in the vacuum of space, in the crushing depths of the oceans, and surviving extremes of temperature and other hostile environments.

Comrade Hero has Class 1000 Resistance to Fire, Cold, Radiation, Toxins and Corrosives. His body's cells protect him internally as well, so even his insides wouldn't be melted by drinking a vial of acid.

Comrade Hero's skin, muscles, bones and cellular structure are far denser and durable than those of a normal human providing him with Unearthly protection from Physical and Energy attacks. Comrade Hero is considered a CL1000 obstacle when it comes to trying to block, lift, knock down, slow or stop his movement. Comrade Hero cannot be stunned or slammed, regardless of what Martial Arts or Attack Column is used.

Comrade Hero has an Amazing degree of protection against all other forms of harm.

To be continued in Part II...


January 20, 2011

Interesting Facts about Comrade Hero: Breaking down the Powers II

In the real world prolonged exposure to Cosmic Rays and Radiation tends to cause all sorts of unpleasant side-effects on most living things, you and me included.

But in those four color pages, there's a chance that you can not only survival normally lethal doses, but may actually come off better for it.

Of course I don't recommend that you go out and start brushing your teeth with Doramad Radioactive Toothpaste after eating Burk & Braum Radium Chocolate. (Think this is far fetched, check out 10 Radioactive Products That People Actually Used bit.ly/9KVIJx)

In my second part of an examination of Comrade Hero's powers, I'll discuss the benefits that being bombarded with Cosmic Rays and massive exposure to Cosmic Radiation had on Comrade Hero.

Keep in mind that this is Comrade Hero based on my original character conceptions using the Marvel Superheroes RPG, rewritten material for my script work in the Diploma in Creative Writing, and the influence on Comrade Hero's development based on six years of playing City of Heroes.

Comrade Hero has been 'recreated' using the following books:

Marvel Superheroes Advanced Set - Players Book PDF Version 1.1
Marvel Superheroes Advanced Set - Judge's Book PDF Version 1.1
Marvel Superheroes Ultimate Powers Book PDF Version 1.1
Marvel Superheroes Ultimate Powers List authored by Marvelmaster
Marvel Superheroes Ultimate Talents List Version 2.0 by Michael T. Dismuke
Marvel Superheroes 'Who Was That Masked Android?' - How to Keep a Super Hero's Identity a Real Secret! by Marcus L. Rowland

The following is a breakdown of Comrade Hero's powers that are derived from Cosmic Energy.

The format is written along the lines of the hero and villain profiles found in Marvel Superheroes RPG.

Cosmic Energy:
Massive exposure to cosmic radiation permanently affected Comrade Hero at a cellular and genetic level. He is constantly absorbing and storing energy and radiation that is used to support a variety of Powers:  

Cosmic Energy Emission:
Comrade Hero can harness his cosmic energy to attack opponents in the following ways:  

Energy Melee:
Comrade Hero can direct up to Unearthly intensity cosmic energy attacks through his hands in unarmed contact. Range is limited to touch.

Energy Beams:
Comrade Hero can fire concentrated beams of up to Monstrous intensity cosmic energy through his eyes up to a maximum distance of 1 mile.

Enhanced Vision:
While the normal human eye can see within a very narrow spectrum of visible light, Comrade Hero has the Amazing ability to see right across the Electromagnetic Spectrum. So far Comrade Hero has demonstrated the ability to see in Thermal, Infrared, Ultraviolet and X-Ray vision.

Comrade Hero operates without penalty in complete darkness or in extreme light conditions. He also has the ability to detect and see through visual based illusions and holographic projections.  

Enhanced Awareness:
Comrade Hero has the Amazing ability to detect and identify various types of energy and radiation related phenomena within a range of 1,000 miles.

Comrade Hero has the Unearthly ability to detect and identify cosmic radiation and related phenomena within a range of 16,000 miles. Both types of Energy Detection are always active.

By concentrating, Comrade Hero can detect the presence of life and identify the nature of that life within a range of 3 miles. This is a practiced Power Stunt and has to be activated.  

Invisibility:
Comrade Hero has the Amazing ability to become completely invisible. Comrade Hero is effectively rendered undetectable in the light and energy spectrum, and is exceedingly difficult to track once invisible. He can remain invisible and undetectable for extended periods of time.  

Power Boosting:
Comrade Hero can direct his bodies energies into his Fighting Agility, Strength, and Psyche raising them as high as +2CS. It is an instantaneous boost and will be used when the challenge calls for it. He would normally raise +1CS, then +2CS if the initial boost is ineffective. To activate an increase he must make a Psyche FEAT.  

Resistances:
Comrade Hero has Unearthly resistance to Power and Energy Manipulation and Vampirism attacks.  

True Flight:
Comrade Hero can defy gravity, hover freely in space, and fly at Shift-Z airspeeds in atmosphere and Class 3000 speeds in space. Comrade Hero is a superior pilot and aerial combatant, and his Agility and Fighting automatically increase +2CS whilst in flight.

To be continued in Part III...


Reposted from City of Heroes Forums
January 21, 2011

Trying to make a Flying Brick (bit.ly/d1hXzo) interesting is a tough challenge.

If you're familiar with the Transformers, there's a Decepticon Triple Changer called Blitzwing (bit.ly/i5YMVa).

Blitzwing can transform from his default Decepticon robot appearance into a jet fighter and main battle tank.

I envision Comrade Hero as the same. In the air he's as graceful and lethal as a jet fighter (go the Rocketeer!), and on the ground he's and relentless and powerful as a main battle tank (Go Captain Marvel! And blerg to calling him SHAZAM!).

Of course the problem with Comrade Hero is that he can't actually feel anything. He's as likely to be as oblivious to crushing an empty soda can underfoot as he is in stepping on and setting off a anti-personnel mine.

It gets worse when Comrade Hero moves through the environment, and that environment contains people. If he doesn't maintain a constant vigilance, Comrade Hero could easily injure an innocent bystander without even realizing it.

The scenario is similar to people who suffer from Leprosy or Hansen's disease. Visual Surveillance of Extremities (VSE) is a constant state of vigilance that people with Leprosy learn. Everything and anything in the environment is a potential threat and the body has to be protected against any accidental contact that could result in injury (no matter how minor or apparently insignificant).

However in Comrade Hero's case it isn't potential harm to himself that he has to constantly be aware of, but potential injury to others.


January 21, 2011

Interesting Facts about Comrade Hero: Breaking down the Powers III

In the first part, I covered Comrade Hero's unique Metahuman Physiology, and the Powers this has granted him.

In the second part, I covered the Powers that Comrade Hero gained as a result of exposure to Cosmic Rays/Radiation.

In the third part I will go discuss both sets of powers and how they have changed over the years. Along with the further changes to come in line with my Comrade Hero Project vision.

I received a question from a reader with some knowledge of Marvel-verse lore and a self-professed X-Men fan.

The question asked was this.

Is Comrade Hero a Mutant or a Mutate?

I'm pretty familiar with Mutants in Marvel Comics but I'm not terribly familiar with the term Mutate.

Google being my friend (and apologies to any Marvel experts in advance if I get something wrong) I will use the definitions described here: bit.ly/ueOcv

Mutant (Homo sapiens superior): an individual born with a genetic trait called an X-gene that allows them to develop superhuman powers and abilities, usually manifesting in around puberty.

Mutate: an individual who develops powers only after exposure to outside stimuli or energies.
So what is Comrade Hero and what came first - the Mutant or the Mutate?

Comrade Hero was born a Mutant, but the powers associated the X-gene potential were not activated until he was an adult. Comrade Hero's unique Metahuman Physiology is his mutation.

The Cosmic Energy powers of Comrade Hero were caused by exposure to Cosmic Rays/Radiation. These powers mark Comrade Hero as a Mutate.

I know there's Primary and Secondary Mutations in the Marvelverse, but with Comrade Hero his powers are split between the Physical and the Cosmic – and originally his powers were mainly Physical.

The influence of City of Heroes led me to add the Cosmic powers (derived from the in-game power sets of Energy Melee, Energy Mastery, Concealment and Fitness) to Comrade Hero.

But which came first you ask?

Comrade Hero gets exposed to Cosmic Rays/Cosmic Radiation and his Mutant X-gene starts to kick in, activating his latent Physiological powers.

All the while Comrade Hero is being exposed to massive doses of Cosmic Rays/Cosmic Radiation.

During the Mutant 'transformation' process something goes slightly astray at the genetic and cellular level. Comrade Hero not only begins to absorb the Cosmic Rays/Cosmic Radiation, but he becomes a living reservoir and conduit for Cosmic Energies.

Although he was nearly killed after plummeting to Earth, Comrade Hero miraculously survives. A near Indestructible man infused with Cosmic Energies!

Sounds peachy but there are a few drawbacks.

Comrade Hero is legally blind. His lovely gray-blue eyes are no more. Instead there are empty eye sockets filled with crimson energy that mimic the appearance of circular orbs. Comrade Hero 'sees' perfectly well, but he doesn't see the world quite like the rest of us does.

Comrade Hero suffers from extreme Tactile Anesthesia – he does not have the ability to feel pain or any touch sensations. While this would seem like a great ability to have, losing the sense of touch causes quite a few problems. If you can't distinguish between a kiss on the cheek and a right hook to jaw then you're going to get hurt sooner or later, or in Comrade Hero's case most likely wind up unintentionally hurting other people and probably not even realize it.

The third and most significant drawback is that Comrade Hero doesn't have many of the 'normal' markers that define a person as being human. No detectable scent or body odor, no discernible heartbeat or pulse, and most puzzling of all is that Comrade Hero apparently has no mass, heat, or radiation signature. For all intensive purposes Comrade Hero doesn't exist – but yet he does...

Curiouser and curiouser...


January 22, 2011

Interesting Facts about Comrade Hero: Fire In the Sky?

Before I discuss Comrade Heroes Attributes and Talents, Dave from deviantART posed a question to me regarding possible origins for Comrade Hero's powers. Now that I have the 'Breaking down the Powers' posts out of the way, I thought I would revisit Dave's questions that were sent to me five days ago.

Dave raised the possibility of the Tunguska Explosion (or event) of June 30, 1908 having a lasting impact on Comrade Hero. Perhaps one of Comrade Hero's grandparents was a member on one of the expeditions that were sent into the remote Siberian wilderness to try and discover what really happened at Tunguska...

There are many theories as to what happened at Tunguska. Asteroid, meteoroid, or comet explosion tend to be forwarded as the most likely scenario. More exotic theories include an alien spacecraft explosion, an Antimatter event and a micro-singularity (black hole). No one can say for sure as to what caused the mass explosion in 1908.

What we do know is that the Tunguska explosion devastated approximately 2,150 square kilometers (830 square miles) of forest. The explosion was 1,000 times as powerful as the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945. It is theorized that the explosion at Tunguska took place in the skies, as no impact crater has ever been found.

The shock wave generated from the Tunguska Explosion was heard and felt hundreds of kilometers away from Tunguska, and was registered on seismic stations right across Europe. Over the next few nights the skies in Europe and Asia were aglow.

Dave suggested that one of Comrade Hero's grandparents found an interesting small stone at Tunguska and decided to keep it as a souvenir. This later came into the possession of Comrade Hero who decided to have the stone incorporated into a ring or amulet. And of course if Comrade Hero believed the stone might have come from space, then he would be more inclined to take it with him on missions, as a sort of good luck token.

But this good luck doesn't hold. For whatever reason, once free of Earth's atmosphere and out in space, this little stone takes on properties that – by accident or design – are responsible for the accident that exposures Comrade Hero to Cosmic Rays/Radiation and sends the poor Cosmonaut plummeting back to Earth!

That's actually a great train of thought that Dave outlined, and I don't mind sharing this with you as I like to receive this sort of creative input and feedback from interested readers and supporters.

So what is the likelihood that the Tunguska Explosion has impacted on Comrade Hero?

In the real world no traces of unusual radiation or exotic material has ever been located at Tunguska. The area itself is a swampland with dense forests and is inaccessible for most the year due to the Siberian winter. So the chances of finding any concrete evidence in the form of rock or stone fragments are very slim. However... this isn't the real world we're dealing with, but that splendid four color world of superheroes – where the mundane and the mysterious collide on a regular basis.

It's certainly possible that one of Comrade Hero's grandparents or great-grandparents (the Tunguska explosion took place over a century ago) took part in the early expeditions to the region.

And they could have been exposed to something otherworldly, or come across a seemingly benign piece of small stone that looked interesting, but was apparently worthless.

This is an interesting What If?

If no-one in Comrade Hero's family has the Mutant X-gene then where did it come from? Is Comrade Hero the first in his family to develop the Mutant X-gene, or has something else caused the Mutant X-gene to develop - something that was tied to the Tunguska Explosion of 1908?

To be honest, I haven't gotten to that sort of character background detail. But it does beg the question...

So if you have any ideas or suggestions as to how Comrade Hero could have become this little Mutant in waiting, I'm all ears (and eyes).


January 23, 2011

Interesting Facts about Comrade Hero: The Renaissance Man I

In the Marvel Superheroes RPG by TSR, Inc. characters not only had amazing superpowers but they also had Attributes (Physical and Mental) and Talents (education, training, skills etc.)

In this first part I will look at the Attributes that make Comrade Hero the hero he is today.

Comrade Hero has been 'recreated' using the following books:

Marvel Superheroes Advanced Set - Players Book PDF Version 1.1
Marvel Superheroes Advanced Set - Judge's Book PDF Version 1.1
Marvel Superheroes Ultimate Powers Book PDF Version 1.1
Marvel Superheroes Ultimate Powers List authored by Marvelmaster
Marvel Superheroes Ultimate Talents List Version 2.0 by Michael T. Dismuke
Marvel Superheroes 'Who Was That Masked Android?' - How to Keep a Super Hero's Identity a Real Secret! by Marcus L. Rowland

In the Marvel Superheroes RPG Attributes are categorized as follows:

Fighting - a measure of the character's skill and expertise in combat. Fighting is used to determine effectiveness in unarmed combat.

Agility – a measure of the character's ability to move freely through the environment and to defend themselves in combat. Agility is also used to determine effectiveness in ranged combat.

Strength – a measure of the physical lifting ability of the character. It is also determines the damage that a character inflicts in unarmed combat, and success in tasks like lifting, breaking, and bending.

Endurance – a measure of the characters resistance to physical damage, and a measure of their stamina in prolonged actions like fights, flying and running.

Reason – a measure of the character's intellect and knowledge, used to measure success with tasks involving such things as understanding, operating, and modifying technology, and even creating new items.

Intuition – a measure of the character's situational awareness, perception and instincts.

Psyche – a measure of a characters mental fortitude, willpower and endurance. Essential for both psionics and magic wielders.

The first four are Physical Attributes and are added together to determine a characters Health.

The last three are Mental Attributes and are added together to determine a characters Karma.

Health is used in combat. When you are attacked any damage you sustain tends to be subtracted from your health. Certain Powers, items and equipment lessen or even negate the damage that would be subtracted from your health.

While Karma is can be used to affect the outcomes of dice rolls and attempting Power Stunts. Karma is also earned like experience points and with enough Karma you can advance your character's existing Attributes, Powers, or Talents or even purchase new ones.

This is Comrade Hero as of January, 2011. Keep in mind that this is Comrade Hero based on my original character conceptions using the Marvel Superheroes RPG, rewritten material for my script work in the Diploma in Creative Writing, and the influence on Comrade Hero's development based on six years of playing City of Heroes.

ATTRIBUTES

Fighting: Amazing
Agility: Amazing
Strength: Unearthly
Endurance: Shift-Y
Reason: Incredible
Intuition: Amazing
Psyche: Amazing

So how do these Attributes apply to Comrade Hero? Using the Attributes listed above let's comrade Comrade Hero to some familiar examples from the Marvel-verse.

Fighting: Amazing-rank Fighting is the maximum human potential e.g. Captain America and Red Skull.

Agility: Amazing-rank Agility is a super-human sense of dexterity e.g. Spider-Man and Black Cat.

Strength: Unearthly-rank Strength enables a character to press up to 100+ tons e.g. Hulk and Abomination.

Endurance: Shift-Y-rank Endurance grants formidable reserves of stamina and endurance to draw upon e.g. Silver Surfer and Apocalypse.

Reason: Incredible-rank Reason enables a character to understand advanced technology, including technology of non-terrestrial origin e.g. Beast and Mad Thinker.

Intuition: Amazing-rank Intuition enables a character to have extraordinary situational. The character is in touch his with surroundings, is difficult to surprise, and is highly perceptive e.g. Captain Mar-vell and Sabretooth.

Psyche: Amazing-rank Psyche indicates a character with indomitable willpower and mental resolve e.g. Cable and Doctor Doom.

Take note that the Attribute ranks and example heroes/villains are subjective as the Marvel Superheroes RPG was published back in 1984 and updates to the game system has primarily been driven by fans over the past twenty years, from updating character sheets of heroes and villains to producing new supplements.


January 24, 2011

Interesting Facts about Comrade Hero: The Renaissance Man II

So with these fantastic Physical and Mental Attributes of Comrade Hero, what exactly can he do?

Derived Abilities are based on a combination of Attributes and any relevant Power. These are some of Comrade Hero's Derived Abilities as per the Marvel Superheroes RPG by TSR, Inc.

Comrade Hero has been 'recreated' using the following books:

Marvel Superheroes Advanced Set - Players Book PDF Version 1.1
Marvel Superheroes Advanced Set - Judge's Book PDF Version 1.1
Marvel Superheroes Ultimate Powers Book PDF Version 1.1
Marvel Superheroes Ultimate Powers List authored by Marvelmaster
Marvel Superheroes Ultimate Talents List Version 2.0 by Michael T. Dismuke
Marvel Superheroes 'Who Was That Masked Android?' - How to Keep a Super Hero's Identity a Real Secret! by Marcus L. Rowland


DERIVED ABILITIES

Strength Abilities:
Able to lift/press up to 91 Metric Tons or 100 Net Tons (can be power boosted to lift/press 227 Metric Tons or 250 Net Tons).

Throw items up to a maximum distance of 322m or 352yds (can be power boosted to throw a maximum distance of 603.5m or 660yds).  

Able to leap a maximum of 30.5m or 100ft up, 30.5m or 100ft across and 46m or 150ft down (can be power boosted to leap a maximum of 61m or 200ft up, 61m or 200ft across and 91m or 300ft down).

Running Speed:
Comrade Hero's standard ground speed is 193kmh or 120mph. He can achieve a top ground speed of 338kmh or 210mph and cover long distances without needing to make an Endurance FEAT check for Exhaustion.

Flying Speed:
Comrade Hero can surpass supersonic speeds in atmosphere, although he generally restricts himself to flight speeds of up to Mach 6 – 7,350kmh or 4,567mph. He can accelerate to near light speeds in space.  

Swimming Speed:
Comrade Hero can swim through water at a maximum speed of 391 knots - 724kmph or 450mph. He can cover long distances without needing to make an Endurance FEAT check for Exhaustion.  


January 25, 2011

Interesting Facts about Comrade Hero: The Renaissance Man III

In Part I we looked at the Physical and Mental Attributes of Comrade Hero.

In Part II we looked at the Abilities derived from these Attributes.

In Part III we will take a look at more 'mundane' aspects of Comrade Hero – his skills, knowledge and expertise, or described in the Marvel Superheroes RPG by TSR, Inc. - Comrade Hero's Talents.

I'll also look at the Contacts that Comrade Hero has and his Secret Identity. (or lack thereof!)

This is Comrade Hero as of January, 2011. Keep in mind that this is Comrade Hero based on my original character conceptions using the Marvel Superheroes RPG, rewritten material for my script work in the Diploma in Creative Writing, and the influence on Comrade Hero's development based on six years of playing City of Heroes.

Comrade Hero has been 'recreated' using the following books:

Marvel Superheroes Advanced Set - Players Book PDF Version 1.1
Marvel Superheroes Advanced Set - Judge's Book PDF Version 1.1
Marvel Superheroes Ultimate Powers Book PDF Version 1.1
Marvel Superheroes Ultimate Powers List authored by Marvelmaster
Marvel Superheroes Ultimate Talents List Version 2.0 by Michael T. Dismuke
Marvel Superheroes 'Who Was That Masked Android?' - How to Keep a Super Hero's Identity a Real Secret! by Marcus L. Rowland


TALENTS

Comrade Hero is a retired Colonel of the Russian Air Force and Russian Federal Space Agency. He is a highly trained and experienced fighter and test pilot, cosmonaut and aviation, aeronautical, and astronautical engineer. He receives a +1CS bonus in these fields and related construction projects cost -1CS.
   
Comrade Hero's Reason is considered Amazing in the fields of astronautics, stellar cartography, physics, computers and electronics.  

Comrade Hero is familiar with Russian, Ukrainian, U.S and International Law (primarily as it pertains to super hero actions). He gains a +1CS to all FEAT rolls involving the law, including correct legal procedure.

Comrade Hero is trained and experienced in military and civilian small arms. He is intimately familiar with fighter aircraft weaponry, equipment, tactics, and operation. He can fire such weapons and operate aircraft at +1CS.

Comrade Hero is a skilled hand-to-hand combatant. Comrade Hero incorporates techniques and elements from a variety of martial fighting styles including Boxing, Pankration Wrestling, Judo, Sambo, Systema, and Krav Maga.

Comrade Hero can Stun or Slam an opponent regardless of their comparative Strengths and Endurances.

Comrade Hero receives +1CS to Fighting ability when engaged in unarmed combat, +2CS to his Strength for Grappling attacks (including damage) and +3CS to hit in a Grappling attacks, a + 1CS to Strength for Escaping and a +1CS to Agility for purposes of Dodging and Evading.

Comrade Hero is fluent in Russian, Ukrainian, English, and Mandarin Chinese.  

Comrade Hero also has the First Aid Skill.

CONTACTS

Comrade Hero maintains excellent relations with the Russian Air Force and Russian Federal Space Agency.
  
Comrade Hero has contacts in the Russian Federal Security Service, the Russian Interior Ministry, and Russian Main Intelligence Directorate.  

Comrade Hero also has contacts amongst local law enforcement agencies in Russia and the United States.

SECRET IDENTITY

Disguise:
Comrade Hero's wears a distinctive green and red layered soft armor uniform with a bright five pointed yellow star emblazoned across his chest. The uniform is completed by black boots, gloves, a small face mask, and a tactical belt around his waist with a distinctive metal Soviet belt buckle. The most notable feature is Comrade Hero's glowing red eyes. His eyes never blink or waver in their gaze.

Precautions:
Comrade Hero's superhero and public identity is widely known in Russia, the Ukraine, and to a lesser extent in the United States.

Confidants:
The exact nature and strength of Comrade Hero's abilities and powers is known to a handful of individuals.

Profile:
Comrade Hero is a celebrated national figure in Russia and the Ukraine. His fame and recognition is somewhat diminished in the United States where superheroes are more prolific.
  
Concealment:
Comrade Hero makes little attempt to hide his normal and superhero identities.

Effects of Secrecy:
The police, intelligence agencies, and other law enforcement organizations know both of Comrade Hero's identities. This information can also be uncovered by any competent researcher.


January 26, 2011

Interesting Facts about Comrade Hero: Interview with a Hero

That's enough facts and figures now from the Marvel Superheroes RPG by TSR, Inc.

No more number crunching, die counting, and stat checking.

I've had a few notes and emails asking some character related questions about Comrade Hero that I'll answer tonight (apologies to those I kept waiting).

The three questions I am most frequently asked are:


Why a Russian Superhero?

Why not? Although I'm both Tangata Whenua and a New Zealander, I don't feel the need to create a superhero based on my ethnic identity or my citizenship. There are elements of both that are introduced into my Comrade Hero Project storylines, both geographically and in terms of characters.

But I wanted Aotearoa/New Zealand to be seen through the eyes of an immigrant – and Comrade Hero isn't an atypical immigrant to our distant shores, and he happened to fit within my creative vision as it unfolded during the time I spent working on my Diploma of Creative Writing at Waiariki Polytechnic from 2008 to 2010.


Is Comrade Hero a Communist?

The basic answer is yes. Soviet-style Communism was a political and social system that Comrade Hero grew up under, and while he witnessed the collapse of the Soviet Union and the emergence of the Russian Federation, the impact of this transition didn't really affect Comrade Hero. The uniforms mainly stayed the same, the old anthem was given a new makeover, and the Russian people still preferred a strong, authoritarian leader to be in charge. At heart Comrade Hero isn't a staunch Marxist-Leninist, or a Stalinist – but a socialist who believes in the people having a vocal democratic stake in how state and industry are run, from the local to the national level.


Is Comrade Hero an Atheist?

No. Comrade Hero identifies himself as a member of the Russian Orthodox Church under the Moscow Patriarchate. That said, Comrade Hero is more a lapsed member of the Church, and his attendance at services is irregular due to the nature of his duties.


January 27, 2011

Interesting Facts about Comrade Hero: Comrade Hero in Prose

Here's a question that had me scratching my head and wondering exactly what I should post. Some inquisitive person wanted to see – well read – some of the prose that I wrote about Comrade Hero before I made the shift to writing a manuscript.

I'll warn you now. It's not particularly fancy, or pretty. But here are a few excerpts from when I was working through my Certificate and Diploma in Creative Writing at Waiariki Polytechnic. This is circa June 2009.

The character speaking and narrating is like a kind of makeover specialist for costumed heroes. He's recalling his first encounters with Comrade Hero:


"You're a freaking man mountain, but you're still a man. Nobody is going to believe you're a hero with a capital H. You have the physique, but you're positively ancient. So what? It's not the end of the world. Nobody really expects to see hero over the age of twenty, so we'll give them something else.

"I can work with the accent. If that Austrian can go from bodybuilder slash actor to politicking governor without learning how to pronounce his p's and q's then I don't see a problem with you sounding like a clichéd Red Ivan.

"The Austrian got his big break playing a machine. Didn't have to say much, just look mean and move like a robot. Flex a muscle here and there, shoot off a couple of dozen or two hundred rounds at anyone who gets in his way, and deliver a sweet one-liner or two. That could work for you.

I think we got something there, Comrade. What do you think? A Russian man of steel - a Comrade Hero. Has a nice ring to it. You like guns? I'm just saying we got to get you some kind of hand cannon, and a couple of sweet one-liners. Okay, okay. Ditch the guns. I got it. The one-liners we can work on. Yeah, I can see it now. You got a great future ahead of you, Comrade Hero."


Heroes are made. It's all about image and style. It's about making the citizens believe they've got a powerful friend looking out for them, and making criminals and villains think twice about trying to put a bullet in your head - if only for a moment.

It's also about substance. Nobody is going to take a hero seriously if he looks like, talks like, and acts like a jackass. The costume only goes so far. It's all about respect and fear. You know who the real dangerous heroes are? The costumed guys and gals that get the job done discretely, with the minimum amount of exposure and the right amount of controlled violence. They leave the media questions to the PR representatives, and exit the scene quietly, allowing local law enforcement personnel and city maintenance teams to clean up.

The loudmouths and braggarts that chase the limelight only end up making themselves a more appealing target for any gangbanger with a grudge against the supers, and a stepping stone for any world conqueror looking to establish a reputation.  

I used to work with a lot of heroes. All of them looking like they stepped out of Victoria's Secret catalog and with bodies that might as well have been sculpted from marble. Cookie cutter Ken and Barbie types, all of them. Check that. Not all of them are cut from the same mold. I got to work with this one guy who was the exception to the rule. I hate that saying, but yeah he was the exception.

He wasn't young, or particularly handsome, and his body looked like it had been carved from weathered granite than marble, complete with signs of aging and a lifetime's worth of faded scars. Oh and he was tall, at least a good half-meter over most of the other heroes and villains out there plying their trade-craft.

And his name? Well, I thought it was pretty cool - at first. Didn't realize that it would eventually be used in a less than complimentary light. But hey, I knew the first one - before everyone from the East got stuck with the label. The original Comrade Hero...