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10

MAR 2018

1 Marvel-Phile: Über-Grim-and-Gritty EXTREME Edition!

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It 90s, but you’d be wrong. Then we have , a was a dark time for the Republic. In short, it was...the bald-faced ripoff of Todd MacFarlane’s more ‘90s. The 1990s were an odd time for comic books. A successful . Next, we have Necromancer… the group of comic book artists, including the likes of Jim Dr. of Counter-Earth. And best for last, Lee and hate-favorite Rob Liefield, splintered off from there’s Adam X the X-TREME! Oh dear Lord -- is there to start their own little company called anything more 90s than this guy? With his backwards Image. True to its name, featured comic baseball cap, combustible blood, a costume seemingly books light on story, heavy on big, flashy art (often made of blades, and a title that features not one but either badly drawn or heavily stylized, depending on TWO “X”s, this guy that was teased as the (thankfully who you ask), and a grim and gritty aesthetic that retconned) “third brother” is literally seemed to take all the wrong lessons from renowned everything about the 90s in comics, all rolled into one. works such as Frank Miller’s Dark Knight Returns. Don’t get me wrong, there were a few gems in the It wasn’t long until the Big Two and other publishers 1990s. Some of my favorite indie books were made hopped on the bandwagon, which was fueled by during that time. But for every Daredevil Fall From marketing gimmicks such as foil-embossed covers Grace or Age of , there were a hundred issued in a dozen different collectible variants. Not a swimsuit issues, holographic covers, and shoulder single one of your favorite heroes was exempt from padded, useless-belts-and-straps-wearing, enormous the 1990s darker and edgier treatment. gun-toting clones at the ready. went even more than usual, and inexplicably lost Who are your picks for the worst of the 90s? Teenage his nose. wore a black latex half-shirt. Even - Tony Stark? as an agent of Heaven? , Man bulked up and donned an armored suit as a femme with fashion inspired by Paul Stanley? Myrmidon. And so it is in the spirit of fun that I Insectoid Janet Van Dyne? Let us know your give you my picks for the WORST of the 90s, Marvel- “unfavorites”, or better yet, send in your own write-ups style. for a future Marvel-Phile at themarvelphile@ First up we have Vengeance. You’d think that Ghost gmail.com! Rider, a guy with a flaming skull for a head and a demonic motorcycle, would be badass enough for the

Written by Andrew Goldstein and Brock Siems (Necromancer write-up) Layout by Steve Jolly Necromancer image by Ronnie Thunderbolt. All other illustrations by the Marvel bullpen.

The MARVEL-Phile’s Marvel characters and the distinctive names and likenesses thereof are trademarks of Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. and are used without permission. Copyright ©2018 Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

1 VENGEANCE

F RM (30) A RM (30) S AM (50) E IN (40) R TY (6) I EX (20) P GD (10)

Health: 150 : 36 Resources: TY (6) Popularity: -5

BACKGROUND Real Name: Michael Badilino Occupation: NYPD Detective, Legal Status: US Citizen, with no record, deceased Identity: Known Other Known Aliases: None Place of Birth: Unknown Marital Status: Divorced Known Relatives: Officer Badilino (father, deceased) Base of Operations: None Past Group Affiliations: Midnight Sons, Agent Uno’s Task Force Present Group Affiliation: None

KNOWN POWERS Demonic Transformation: Michael Badilino possessed the supernatural ability to transform into Vengeance at will.

Superhuman Durability: Excellent rank Resistance to physical and energy attacks. While transformed into Vengeance, Badilino body is highly resistant to physical injury. He is capable of withstanding great impact forces, temperature and pressure extremes, powerful energy blasts, high caliber bullets, and falls from great heights without sustaining injury.

Invulnerability: Vengeance has Class 1000 resistance to Fire, Heat and Toxins

Regenerative Healing Factor: Regeneration at Excellent rank. The rank. Hellfire is an empyreal and Mystical Bone Chain Projection: mystical energies of the Vengeance supernatural flame that burns the soul Incredible damage. As Vengeance, enable him to rapidly heal physical of a person and can be used to burn Badilino wielded a mystical bone chain damage much faster and more their physical body. He could utilize this that was capable of growing in length, extensively than an ordinary person fire in various ways, including cutting through almost anything, and being is capable of. projecting it from his eyes, hands, transforming into other weapons. He mouth, or even channel it from his body could also spew and project chains Hellfire Manipulation: As Vengeance, into his weapons like his shotgun, form from his mouth or chest at will. He also Badilino possessed the ability to walls of hellfire, and even create a could throw large spikes that emerged generate, control, and project mystical motorcycle completely out of hellfire. from his shoulders and on occasion on fire, or "hellfire", at will, at Amazing his knuckles. Treat chain maneuvers as

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a Grappling attack; knuckle and Enforcement talents. He also Caretaker stopped them. He explained shoulder spikes do Edged damage as displayed the following as Vengeance: that Badilino's family was also thrown weapons. The spikes regrow at Weapon Specialist (Chain), Motorcycle connected to the Medallion of Power, the rate of one per round. Motorcycles (+1CS to Agility), Occult which was why had Lore, and Mystic Background. manipulated them as well. In reality, he Penance Stare: If Vengeance success- and had given up his soul for power fully grapples someone for one round CONTACTS: Johnny Blaze, Daniel that was his birthright in the first place. and forces the other to look into his Ketch, Agent Uno, Midnight Sons. (As He joined the Midnight Sons. While eyes, it forces the victim to experience Badilino only) NYPD. Ketch was missing, Vengeance filled in the pain he has inflicted on other. The for him, patrolling the area around victim must make a Psyche Feat roll or ADDITIONAL NOTES Cypress Hills Cemetery. permanently lose 1 rank in Psyche. Badilino's old enemy Anton Additionally the victim must then make Hellgate learned of the powers another Psyche Feat versus Amazing Vengeance and intensity or pass out for 1-100 rounds. possessed. He captured Badilino and murdered Blaze's wife Roxanne. While WEAKNESSES imprisoned, Vengeance was Vulnerability to Mystic Attacks: Certain experimented on as Hellgate sought to Mystical Attacks (like Hellfire), negate duplicate the power of a Spirit of Vengeance's Body Resistance. Vengeance and add it to his own. He was eventually freed by Ghost Rider, EQUIPMENT but seemed to be unstable, and no Hellfire-Powered Motorcycle: The longer able to transform into motorcycle is made out of the blood of Vengeance. innocents. Statistics for Vengeance’s Badilino joined a task force, motorcycle are: recommended by Agent Uno. On one mission he suddenly turned back into Control IN Speed AM Vengeance and massacred both his Body IN Protection Sh0 unit and the criminals they were after. He sought out Hellgate again and In its earthly form, the vehicle murdered any criminals he came resembles a normal motorcycle: ROLEPLAYING NOTES across rather than simply punishing Vengeance’s dealings with them. Control TY Speed EX Mephisto have made him obsessive When confronted by Ghost Rider Body PR Protection Sh0 and violent. As his name implies, he and Blaze, he used a penance stare will ruthlessly seek retaliation against that was the first step in learning the In addition, the mystic motorcycle has any villains that cross him. Under the truth about the Riders' past. Feeling the following attributes: right conditions, Badilino’s pre- that he had already gone too far,  Mental Control: Vengeance can Vengeance personality may show Vengeance caused a massive mentally control the bike from at most through, inevitably bringing him explosion that destroyed both himself 10 areas distance. remorse for his activities as and Hellgate. He was later seen in Hell  Self-Revival: The bike possesses a Vengeance. being mocked by . form of Immortality. It will begin to reform in two rounds after being SOURCES: destroyed. Classic Marvel Forever:  Self-Sustenance: The bike has HISTORY http://classicmarvelforever.com/cast/ve Sustenance and does not need Michael Badilino was a detective, ngeance.htm gasoline to run. often assigned to special cases. Marvel FANDOM Wiki:  Wall-crawling/Water-walking: The Mephisto manipulated Ghost Rider http://marvel.wikia.com/wiki/Michael_B motorcycle may travel in any (Johnny Blaze) to blast Michael's father adilino_(Earth-616) direction so long as a surface is with hellfire. The trauma drove the man available. insane. He murdered his daughters, wife and then committed suicide while Weapons: In addition to his mystic Michael was away on an assignment. weapons as Vengeance (see above), Michael blamed the Ghost Rider and Badilino himself often carried a pistol. took Mephisto's offer to become a similar being called 'Vengeance' to TALENTS: As a NYPD Detective, battle them. Michael has Guns and Law After both Ghost Rider (Dan Ketch) and Blaze battled Vengeance, the

3

NECROMANCER

F GD (10) A EX (20) S TY (6) E RM (30) R GD (10) I MN (75) P UN (100)

Health: 66 Karma: 185 Resources: GD (10) Popularity: 0

BACKGROUND Real Name: Stephen Strange Occupation: Would-be conqueror, former surgeon Legal Status: Extraterrestrial being (creation of the ) Identity: Secret Other Known Aliases: , Master of the Mystic Arts Place of Birth: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania of Counter-Earth Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: Presumably Counter-Earth versions of Eugene Strange (father, deceased), Beverly Strange (mother, deceased), Donna Strange (sister, deceased) and Victor Strange (brother, deceased) Base of Operations: Mobile (formerly the New York City of Counter-Earth) Past Group Affiliations: Former ally of the Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS The Necromancer is a Master of the Chaos School of magic and, as a of the Earth Dimension’s Sorcerer (Doctor Strange), it is assumed that he has the access to most of the magical powers and spells as that of his counterpart.

The following spells are those always All other Personal spells Necromancer All other Universal spells Necromancer available to him. may use are of a Monstrous (75) power may use are of an Amazing (50) power rank. rank. Personal  Alteration – Appearance: Amazing Universal Dimensional (50). Necromancer can change his  Conjure: Amazing (50) (Monstrous The Necromancer doesn’t have any own appearance at will as well as the (75) rank while possessing a fraction Dimensional spells in his magical appearance of those in the same of ’s power.) arsenal, as he was never taught them area.  Eldritch Beams/Bolts: Amazing (50) by the of Counter-Earth.  : Unearthly (100) (Monstrous (75) rank while He can cast Dimensional spells from  Levitation: Incredible (40) possessing a fraction of Eternity’s scrolls and spellbooks, however.  Shield – Individual: Monstrous (75) power.) (While possessing a fraction of  Telepathy: Unearthly (100)  Mesmerism: Amazing (50)  Teleportation: Unearthly (100) Eternity’s power, the Necromancer had Dimensional Aperture at Monstrous (75) rank.) 4

EQUIPMENT ROLEPLAYING NOTES Where their paths of the two Cloak of Levitation: Necromancer’s As a “mirror universe” image of the true Doctors diverge is with the Mordo of cloak is a powerful item. Like the name Doctor Strange, the Necromancer Counter-Earth killing the Ancient One suggests it has the ability to levitate. embraces all of the worst qualities of early in Strange’s training. Nearly indestructible (equivalent to the Sorcerer Supreme. He is a ruthless Nonetheless, the inexperienced Unearthly material Strength), it allows and very powerful sorcerer who Strange managed to defeat and slay the wearer to fly magically without believes himself superior to Doctor Mordo, making himself the undisputed taxing his own personal mystical Strange, and thus to any human master of sorcery on Counter-Earth. powers. It is operated by mental in the Earth dimension. He Unfortunately, The Ancient One, commands, and even responds when continuously boasts of his great powers who had sensed a streak of separated from him by vast physical while conveniently forgetting the fact ruthlessness in Strange, didn’t tutor distances. The maximum rate of speed that he is a less experienced and Strange about other dimensions, nor at which the cloak can carry its’ wearer knowledgeable sorcerer than Strange. did he train his disciple in the use of is Shift-X (150). The maximum weight It seems important to him to best his dimensional magic. It would prove to be the cloak can levitate is equivalent to counterpart to show him who is the real a fateful decision; Strange continued Incredible (40) strength, and deal. In fact, he intends to take the his studies on his own by reading his presumably Necromancer can place of the real Doctor Strange after late ’s scrolls and spellbooks, command it to perform discrete actions disposing of him, followed by global which included a copy of the Book of or even entangle an opponent. conquest soon after. Vishanti. Through his self-teachings, he discovered the existence of the real TALENTS: Martial Arts A & E, Earth. Medicine Mythological Lore, Occult The Counter-Earth Strange Lore HISTORY adopted the alias of “the Necromancer” The story of the Necromancer begins and began a highly public career as a CONTACTS: It’s uncertain what on the planet known as Counter-Earth, ruthless . The Necromancer contacts the Necromancer currently which was the crowning achievement had less maturity than his true Earth has; he doesn’t possess any of the of the geneticist-turned-god known as counterpart, and bereft of the Ancient usual mystical contacts a sorcerer of the High Evolutionary. The Evolutionary One’s wise counsel, he grew mad for his status normally would, due both to used a combination of his advanced more power. He resolved to conquer his incomplete training and his years of technology and a number of not only Counter-Earth, but also the exile within Eternity’s Realm. Gems to create Counter-Earth in a real Earth. number of mere hours, placed it into Delving again into the writings of ADDITIONAL NOTES orbit around the sun 180 degrees from the Book of Vishanti, the Necromancer Earth, and cloaked his creation’s discovered the existence of Eternity, existence from outside observers. the literal embodiment of all life, and Counter-Earth was an almost exact vowed to take the entity’s power for replica of the real Earth in terms of himself. The Necromancer journeyed geography, civilization and life. into Eternity’s realm to confront the As they were unaware of the existence entity directly, but discovered that he of the Earth, the natives of Counter- was entirely outclassed and instead Earth believed themselves and their became trapped within Eternity itself. world to be the real deal. There was The Necromancer spent years one key difference, however; while trapped within Eternity, witnessing Counter-Earth had counterparts to all of many things, including the destruction Earth’s famous superhumans, most of of Counter-Earth by . It is mere these doppelgangers did not have speculation to suggest that neither superpowers. event had a positive effect on the One of the exceptions to this rule Necromancer’s sanity. was Counter-Earth’s version of During the Infinity War, Eternity Stephen Strange, who had a history was rendered catatonic by the actions similar to his true-Earth counterpart; of the entity known as the Magus, Strange was a brilliant and arrogant which necessitated the intervention of surgeon who survived a career- the world devouring to cure shattering car accident that nearly led Eternity with the help of Infinity Watch him to hit rock bottom and, upon member . Gamora entered hearing of a great sorcerer called the Eternity’s realm and the Necromancer, Ancient One, left for Tibet in hopes that seeing her, affixed his essence to hers. the mage would heal his injuries. When Gamora left Eternity’s “body”, the Instead, he ultimately became one of Necromancer, enhanced by prolong the mage’s disciples, alongside the evil contact with Eternity, was able to slip Baron Mordo. away, freeing himself from his confinement. He then left Eternity’s 5

realm unseen, but his exertions demons defeated the rest of Strange’s on into fiercer battle until the accidentally launched him into the allies. Necromancer overexerted himself. dimension of the sorceress Shazana, In true villainous fashion, the Unable to control the onrush of power an old foe of Doctor Strange. The Necromancer explained his origins to he had unleashed, the Necromancer Necromancer defeated Shazana, his captives and proceeded to slay appeared to have perished in an conquered her realm and enslaved its’ Doctor Strange and his allies with the explosion. demonic residents. Vapors of Valtoor. However, the true Or had he? Recently, the Eye of The Necromancer returned to his Strange, muttering an incantation under Agamotto searched for a replacement home dimension in command of an his breath, turned the Necromancer’s for Doctor Strange as Sorcerer army of demons, and arrived on the spell around. A bright flash resulted, Supreme of the Earth dimension. One real Earth –specifically the Sanctum with Strange and his allies gone. The of the many candidates it appeared Sanctorum of the real Doctor Strange- Necromancer presumed he had before was the Necromancer, and was surprised to discover that the destroyed them all and, elated at his seemingly alive and well. The Sanctum’s protective spells had been apparent victory, treated his demons by Necromancer’s current whereabouts disabled. Entering, he saw what he allowing them to do whatever they are unknown. took to be the real Doctor Strange, but wanted to nearby humans. was in fact an evil double of the Doctor In fact, Strange’s spell had created by the Magus. The Magus- teleported them all to an asteroid with a created double, which had an aura that pocket of oxygen. However, as part of a duplicated the aura of the true Doctor prearranged plan, Agatha Harkness’ Strange, had disabled many of the soul remained on Earth in the body of protective spells (as well as captured her cat, Ebony, to serve as a psychic Strange’s servants and Imei.) anchor to aid the other adepts in The Magus-created double then teleporting to Earth. The demons attacked the Necromancer, who pursued Ebony, which caused promptly destroyed it. Harkness to become too frightened and With both the Magus-created confused to help her compatriots. double and the real Sorcerer Supreme When a demon caught Ebony by the absent, the Necromancer decided to neck and started throttling the cat, occupy the mansion and usurp its’ Doctor Strange teleported the group possessions. However, since the High back to Earth, saving Ebony. While his Evolutionary hadn’t bothered to allies battled the demons, the Doctor perfectly duplicate the auras of once again went to confront the Counter-Earth natives, the Necromancer. Necromancer could not overcome the Strange returned to the Sanctum to Sanctum’s protective spells around the find his apprentice Rintah tied up by Book of Vishanti, as his aura did not energy bonds. He freed Rintah, who that of the real Doctor Strange. attacked him. In fact, it was the Magus’ Changing his plans, the Necromancer Doctor Strange double, resurrected by telepathically contacted the Magus and the Necromancer and transformed into offered his services, who accepted. a Rintah doppelganger. The Soon after, the real Doctor Strange Necromancer joined the battle, which returned to the saw both mages using the Magus from one of the battles in the Infinity double as a weapon. (The War with fellow sorcerers the Scarlet Necromancer transformed it back into a Witch, Agatha Harkness, Dr. Druid and double of Doctor Strange, while the real the in tow, whereupon the Strange transformed it into a crust of assembled group was promptly energy and hurled it back at the attacked by the Necromancer’s Necromancer.) demons. The heroes assumed that the The Necromancer flew into the sky Necromancer was the Magus created to carry the battle elsewhere (not double, and while they made some wanting to destroy the Sanctum, since headway against the demons, the he planned to live there after he battle came to an end when the defeated the true Doctor Strange.) Necromancer threatened Wong and Necromancer taunted the true Strange Imei with one of the Sanctum’s items, about the power he had absorbed from the “Sword of Ultimate Shadows.” Eternity. The Sorcerer Supreme Doctor Strange cast a Serphimic Shield realized that no adept, certainly not an to protect his allies, but the psychic inexperienced one such as the backlash left the Sorcerer Supreme Necromancer, could handle using even unconscious, and the Necromancer’s a fraction of Eternity’s power, and thus prodded his Counter-Earth counterpart 6

NIGHTWATCH

F EX (20) A RM (30) S EX (20) E RM (30) R RM (30) I GD (10) P TY (6)

Health: 100 Karma: 46 Resources: EX (20) Popularity: 2 (as Nightwatch); -5 (as Nighteater)

BACKGROUND Real Name: Dr. Kevin Barry Trench Occupation: Physician, vigilante Legal Status: US Citizen, with no criminal record Identity: Secret Other Known Aliases: Nighteater, Warbringer Place of Birth: Unknown Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: Edward and Katherine (parents, deceased), Drake Trench (uncle) Base of Operations: New York City Past Group Affiliations: None Present Group Affiliation:

KNOWN POWERS Nanite Costume: Nightwatch's costume was comprised of self-replicated nanites. It boosted his strength, durability and speed by triggering his adrenal glands. The costume granted Trench the following abilities:

Self-repair: The costume’s nano- technology allows it to self-repair upon being damaged.

Body Armor: At Good (10) rank. from its target and adding it to Trench’s thoughts, the upgraded version of own at the rate of 10 Health per round, Nightwatch’s suit granted him one extra Telepathic control: The costume not to exceed the extra health granted attack per round. responds to his subconscious thoughts by his opponent’s technology. to move on its own, allowing Night- TALENTS: Martial Arts A, Medicine watch to generate tentacles. The Gliding/Flight: The costume’s cape (Surgery, First Aid) tentacles have Excellent strength, and allowed him to glide on air. (Gliding are capable of Grappling attacks. rank: Excellent). After he was boosted CONTACTS: , Black by the later-generation Morelle Cat, , , She-, Blades: Nightwatch’s later upgrade technology, the durability of the Spider-Man, Doctor Druid, allowed him to produce cutting blades costume increased, the cape became capable of Excellent (30) edged more metallic, and he had something ADDITIONAL NOTES weapon damage. closer to true flight (True Flight at Good rank, but will not work in a vacuum or Technological absorption: When altitudes greater than 40,000 feet). coming into contact with similar nano- technology, Nightwatch’s costume can Subconscious action: As a result of absorb the nanotech, siphoning health reacting to Trench’s subconscious 7

ROLEPLAYING NOTES HISTORY stole one of the costume gloves after Nightwatch operates on his own Nightwatch was originally Doctor Kevin washing up on the island and being personal code of justice, believing that Trench, who witnessed a costumed nursed to health by Trench. After the ends justify the means. While man die battling some terrorists armed Alfredo had been dealt with, Trench Nightwatch puts on the front of with invisibility-generating 'cloaking" decided that he couldn't avoid his motivation by justice and charity, he is devices, and unmasked the corpse to , and decided to investigate the secretly motivated primarily by self- learn that it was an older version of costume's origins. At some point during interest, notably the desire for respect himself. this period, Trench adopted the identity and a comfortable retirement. Night- Freaking out, Trench stripped the of a known as Nighteater, watch appears to have repented for his costume from "his" body and fled to a but eventually switched to a heroic previous selfish ways, after his deserted island, reasoning that if he persona known as Nightwatch. incarceration. just never wore the suit or went home, As Nightwatch, he battled he wouldn't die. Events conspired to menaces like the "Maximum " bring him back, as the criminal Alberto gang, who were wreaking havoc across New York and slaughtering dozens of innocent civilians. He had many allies in the fight, including, but not limited to, Captain America, Black Cat, Deathlok and Firestar. He also fought the mutated Deathmask. Nightwatch later encountered similar "cloaked" villains, and was shocked when their technology merged with and enhanced his costume. In between battling menaces like Flashpoint, Cardiac (whose technology had been stolen to create the more vicious Cardiaxe), and , Nightwatch discovered that an old ex-girlfriend was working for the shady Morelle Pharmaceuticals on a nanotech project. Ultimately, project head Phillip Morelle proved to be recklessly conducting nanotech experiments to make a replacement for his dying son Justin. Nightwatch fought his way onto Phillip Morelle's space station to confront him but not before Phillip sends two assassins into the past to kill Nightwatch using his nanotechnology to open a time portal. Much to both Nightwatch and Phillips surprise that same time technology allows a future version of Justin Morelle to travel into the present. Future Justin, armed with a more advanced version of Nightwatch's own suit, kills his father and reveals that the nanotechnology his father was developing produced a dangerously unstable energy matrix that in his time line devastated North America killing billions. Justin upgraded Nightwatch's armor to its final evolution and the two of them worked together to destroy the space station before the disaster could happen. Present-day Justin was later revealed to have received the nanotech skin from the project as his father had dreamed. Seeing his ex- wife happy with her healed son, 8

Nightwatch chose to travel into the past bringing an influx of new potential SOURCES: and complete the time loop with clients to Walters' office. Marvel FANDOM Wiki: Cardiac's help, ensuring his own However, it was later discovered http://marvel.wikia.com/wiki/Kevin_Tren but also ensuring the cataclysm that Trench himself was behind the ch_(Earth-616) timeline would never come to pass attempts to keep Walters from further Wikipedia: ensuring this happy ending would be investigating the "blue file": legal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightwatch the true timeline. The series ends with papers regarding a lawsuit filed in a (comics) Kevin's trip into the past while future North Dakota county court which Justin's fate remains unclear. named She-Hulk and a small group of Nightwatch was an innocent victim heroes and villains as defendants. The of the Great Game, a competition suit was a mystery to all involved, as between wealthy rivals to manipulate none had any recollection of the plaintiff super-powered individuals. While trying or having participated in any event in to protect Justin, he was slain by the North Dakota. Furthermore, there were mercenaries Polestar and El no records of any kind or any memories Negro. Polestar used the magnetic of anyone in the superhero or local powers of his costume to peel away community, nor any record of the town just enough of Trench's nanite costume in which the actionable event was for El Toro Negro to shoot him point supposed to have taken place having blank in the chest. El Toro Negro then ever existed. immediately turned on Polestar, In truth, it was revealed that the shooting him between the eyes. man now known and respected as the Nightwatch survived but knew he had retired D-list superhero and wealthy been fatally wounded, and used the last philanthropist "Nightwatch" spent most of his costume's power to go back in of his career as a supervillain named time and try to warn his past self of "Nighteater." Wishing to become a what would happen, to keep him from superhero for selfish reasons, he hired meeting this ignoble end, and try to Doctor Druid, The , and Vibro prevent his girlfriend's death in the to aid him in casting a powerful spell process. Ultimately, he got sucked into that effectively "retconned" all a fight with terrorists and ended up memories and all existing documented fulfilling the time loop, dying before he history into believing that "Nightwatch" could warn himself. had worked for years in the superhero Sometime after his reported death, community. The spell consumed the Kevin Trench reappeared in street lives of the hundreds of residents of the clothes at the newly established law North Dakota town in which it was cast. practice of Jennifer Walters, a.k.a. the It was so successful, however, that She-Hulk, regarding a legal case when it was complete the four heroes referred to only as "the blue file", (She-Hulk, , , involving several costumed and ) who had been superhumans, including Walters and trying to save the town immediately Trench, which an unrevealed agency joined "Nightwatch" in bringing Druid, seemed determined to keep Shocker, and Vibro to justice. unresolved. No explanation was given The spell was effective for many regarding Trench's previously years. It was finally undermined when established "deaths"; instead, he was the lone survivor of the town, who had stated as "keeping....an extremely low failed to convince the law enforcement profile", using the Nightwatch nanotech or hero communities that anything had sparingly while maintaining a medical happened whatsoever, filed the civil practice and doing charity work. He suit, and left behind a single document aided Walters in beating back a sudden that She-Hulk's paralegal was able to assault from grotesque creatures, locate. She was able to use this donning the Nightwatch helmet and document (and her own unexplained manifesting tentacles from the inner mystic powers) to break She-Hulk and surface of his trench coat. A few days her team of their convictions in later, he called Walters and informed Nighteater's false history. "Nightwatch"/ her that he had spread word of her "Nighteater" was brought to justice. His fledgling law practice to other "guys present whereabouts are unknown from back in the day--people like me who took what they could from the [superhero] game and moved on",

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ADAM X, THE X-TREME

F IN (40) A AM (50) S EX (20) E RM (30) R GD (10) I GD (10 P GD (10)

Health: 140 Karma: 30 Resources: GD (10) Popularity: -5

BACKGROUND Real Name: Unknown Occupation: Adventurer, wanderer Legal Status: Citizen of the Shi’ar EMpire Identity: Secret Other Known Aliases: Disciple of the Claw, Forsaken One, Ascendant One, Adam Neramani Place of Birth: Ch’ylaritha, Shi’ar Empire Marital Status: Single Known Relatives: Emperor Neramani (paternal grandfather, deceased); unnamed paternal grandmother (deceased); Ka'ardum (paternal great- uncle); unnamed paternal aunt (deceased); Lilandra Neramani (paternal aunt, deceased); Cal'syee Neramani (paternal aunt); D'Ken Neramani (father, deceased); Jonath (adoptive father); Gabriel Summers the opponent and cause bleeding, thus in a -1CS Endurance loss for one (uncle-by-marriage, deceased); Charles oxygenated their blood. round. A white result, or losing Xavier (ex-uncle-by-marriage); Sharra Also sometime he uses the trigger Endurance down to Shift 0, results in Neramani (cousin or paternal half- word "Burn" to activate his power. incapacitation until he recovers. His sister); Heather Cameron (possibly When employing his power, his eyes recovery rate is one column per round. cousin); Davis Cameron (possibly glow with a reddish light. The intensity cousin); White Noise (cousin); Black of the burn is variable: he is capable of Enhanced Speed: He can cover a few Light (cousin); unborn cousin producing merely a warming sensation, miles for a couple of minutes. Treat as Base of Operations: Los Angeles, to incinerating a person within a matter Incredible rank Hyper-Running (40 California; formerly Aerie (ship); of seconds. X-Treme can affect multiple areas/round maximum) for up to two Alaska; Ch'Reesharaa, Ch'ylaritha, targets with his power, the average turns. He must rest for twice the Shi'ar Empire intensity of which is enough to stun. number of turns that he was running Past Group Affiliations: Strong Doing so, however, takes a tremendous before he can use this power again. Industries, Shi'ar Empire, Claws effort, usually leaving Adam in a Present Group Affiliation: weakened state. For this reason, his Enhanced Eyesight: He can see abilities are not often used against objects at least a mile away with KNOWN POWERS multiple targets. precise clarity. Treat as Telescopic Electrokinetic Haemopyrokinesis/ This ability can cause up to , rank Feeble. Sanguine Combustion: Adam can send Amazing (50) damage, but only after an electric through oxygenated his opponent’s blood has been Enhanced Regeneration: Regeneration blood, which leads to ignition of the oxygenated (in game terms, after the at Excellent rank. electrolytes present in blood, causing a opponent has incurred damage from a person to burn from the inside out. To bladed weapon). Adam-X can create a EQUIPMENT use his power, Adam must first saturate lower-intensity burn at will. Adam can Blades: Adam wields cybernetic, opponent's blood with oxygen. He affect multiple targets with this ability, retractable blocking blades named usually uses various blades to injure but must roll a green Endurance FEAT Thet’je that are forged of an unknown for each additional target; failure results Shi'ar metal of Monstrous material

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strength. The blades do Excellent(20) problem, could not have been the temper and abilities. They made a deal, damage and are an Edged attack. brother mentioned by Sinister. Also Strong vowed to use his contacts to Sinister never says how many brothers find out information about Adam's past, Throwing knives: Adam’s throwing Scott and Alex have, so they may have and in return Adam became his knives do Good (10) damage and are more than one other brother. Adam, bloodhound and hunted for other of Excellent strength material (Throwing being a brother to the Summers, could mutants. At the same time, he met Edged attack). explain Sinister's interest in him earlier Michelle Balters; they both felt a mutual on. attraction towards each other and soon TALENTS: Martial Arts D; Martial Arts fell in love. However, when she ran E; Acrobatics; Bladed Weapons; away from Strong, Adam was ordered Thrown Weapons; Pilot - Starship; to return her. When he found Michelle Tracking. the X-Force intervened, but Adam easily neutralized them and retreated. CONTACTS: X-Men, Genis-Vell, Shi’ar Later he agreed to help the X-Force to Royal Family take down Strong and used his powers to defeat him. ADDITIONAL NOTES Desiring to learn the truth about his Adam was intended to be the parents, Adam ended up in Alaska. additional brother to once There he encountered Philip Summers mentioned cryptically by , who, while piloting an airplane, crashed but the plans for this were dropped. He as a result of a sudden loss of vision. was supposed to be the son of D'Ken After happening upon Phillip, Adam and Katherine Anne Summers, the cared for him until help arrived. Just mother of mutants , Cyclops, before leaving, arrived and , who had been captured by the sensed that there was a connection Shi'ar. While this was never between Adam and the Summers confirmed in the comics themselves, family. Adam allowed Jean to transfer Adam is half-human, and Katherine memories of his days as a Shi'ar was the only known human woman in ROLEPLAYING NOTES combat pilot to Phillip. Afterward, Adam Shi'ar space at the time. One story Adam characterizes himself as an disappeared. about Adam featured him discovering outcast; as a loner, he wanders the Adam continued his search and Philip Summers (father of Christopher earth looking to fill in the missing came across the Shi’ar agent Eric the Summers and grandfather of Cyclops pieces of his unknown past. He has a Red, facing him in battle he lost and and Havok) in the Alaskan wilderness grim outlook on life, and a short temper. was brainwashed. Eric sent him to kill and feeling an unusual connection to Despite this, he is quick to defend his Genis-Vell, but in the battle they were the old man. allies when they are in trouble. dispatched to the that Adam-X is presumed to be the son freed Adam from Shikari’s mind control. of Katherine Anne Summers by Teamed, Adam-X and Genis went to Emperor D'Ken based upon a number HISTORY Shakari's base -- the Aerie -- where of suggestions: Adam's blonde hair, the The man known as Adam-X was they had to fight with the Sidri hunters remark made to Cyclops by Sinister raised by a farmer named Jonath in a and in the end with Eric himself. (there is uncertainty about whether or village on the Ch'Reesharaa planet in In his encounter with Eric the Red, not Sinister would have had any the Shi'ar Empire. He himself described Adam-X learned that he was the son of knowledge of Gabriel Summers), the the life on the planet as very harsh and the former Shi'ar emperor D'Ken and connection felt by Adam towards hard to survive. At some point the an unknown woman (apparently from Phillip, Jean Grey's psionic sensation, villagers captured wounded Imperial Earth), who had been bred to introduce and the fact that D'Ken kept Katherine Praetor Guards. They helped them a hybrid with specific genetic potential as a concubine in his harem prior to recover and then released them. into the Shi'ar Monarchy and to rule the ordering her execution. However, the Guards returned and Shi'ar Empire. While it was always intended that destroyed the village, with Adam as the When Simon Trask led the Adam X is in fact the "third Summers sole survivor. He escaped from the Humanity Now! coalition in a march on brother", the idea has been retconned planet, and for years wandered from San Francisco, the then current home in favor of a new character introduced place to place. Never staying for long, of the X-Men and many other mutants, by in the mini-series X- he became a fierce warrior and an in an effort to get the government to Men: Deadly : Vulcan. Yet, like experienced pilot. Under mysterious pass breeding restrictions on mutants, Adam X, Vulcan does have a circumstances he found himself on Adam-X, alongside fellow mutants mysterious connection to the Shi'ar. Earth remembering almost nothing Lorelei Travis, Erg, Litterbug and Meld Adam could still be a half-brother about his life, including his name. led a counter-protest that quickly turned to Cyclops and Havok, as Sinister He was found by Martin Strong, violent before being interrupted by mentioned only "your brothers." In who gave him the name Adam-X and . addition, Vulcan, in-stasis and believed also nicknamed him X-Treme for his After this initial scuffle, Adam-X, dead while the Legacy Virus was a Meld, Lorelei, , Match and 11

Hellion met at 's bar, and SOURCES: discussed what actions they should Marvel FANDOM Wiki: take. Deciding to hold a protest in a http://marvel.wikia.com/wiki/Adam_Ner public place, the group gathered, amani_(Earth-616) openly defying a curfew instituted by in his capacity as director of H.A..M.E.R.. Viewing this protest as a good moment to launch his new team, Osborn ordered to lead her X-Men against the group. Seemingly, he wasn't freed by X- Force and sent to the newly built mutant as he was taken in custody for a time by the S.W.O.R.D., in a plan to proceed with the deportation of any alien element of Earth. He returned at some time to San Francisco, unbeknownst to Steven Rogers' intel. When Kuurth attacked San Francisco, Adam helped the X-Men to stop him, but his powers were ineffective and the results made things worse.

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BONUS! NINETIES SUPERHERO NAME GENERATOR

It’s not hard to come up with a superhero name to fit in with the 90s aesthetic, but now it’s even easier! Just choose one from Column A and one from Column B, and there you have it. Don’t worry if the name makes no sense or it doesn’t fit with your powers -- the real ones didn’t either.

Column A Column B Blood Kill Flame Night Sword

Hell Ripper

Dark Killer

Black Wind

Vengeance Spike Dread Claw Grim Tech Fist Soul Martyr Fire Demon Death Slayer Hyper Knife Razor Wolf War Wind Star Toxic Fire X- Hawk Rage Devil Power Slasher Razor Striker Metal Thorn Cold Stone

Bonus points if you “MicroSoft” it (e.g., RageSpike, GrimHawk, etc.) or incorporate a “kewl” spelling (e.g., Blüd Fist, Nytestorm, etc.). Enjoy!

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