Jab's Builds: Visionaries, He-Man, Battle Cat, Mekaneck

[Jabroniville]

Just a minor note, Atomic skull was the guy Wildcat was destroying when Black Canary/Green Arrow came to stop him from fighting in the arena (as in Wildcat pwn'd him + was in the process of crushing his skull to dust). I wonder if the Wildcat vs Atomic Skull match using these character builds would go nearly as well for Wildcat (I think not baring some lucky crits/low rolls from skull :wink: ).

I think that Atomic Skull was later powered-up by Luthor during JLU Season 3. If I remember right at the beginning of the Viking Prince episode Luthor commented about how effective those power-up were. I guess that Jab's build is based on the later version of Skull.

Yeah, Atomic Skull at first barely looked like he had powers. When Luthor gave the rest of the Society power-ups, it was pretty much a set of "Wrecking Crew Power-Ups" (my own personal catchphrase for when somebody supposedly gains a power-boost in story, yet is reduced to a Jobber immediately anyways), sorta like Darkseid's was. But Skull was soon laying waste to hordes of Mooks, and seemed pretty damn powerful by the end, so his was apparently an elite push.

Of course, I'm more likely to believe that the writers just used him as interesting looking "Filler" in "The Cat and the Canary", and decided to make him more awesome later when Luthor needed a villain army.

Also, I remember reading something about that "Static" story- I believe it was based off of one from the comics. Sounds like good stuff. Maybe all the episodes I saw were just filler ones.

[saint_matthew]

Still loving the builds mate, keep 'em coming.

[Ares]

Static Shock was pretty hit or miss episode wise. Some of them were really good, like the Justice League episode, or the one where he goes back in time and meets his mom one last time before she dies, the one where he time traveled to the Batman Beyond time . . . you know, I just realized how much time travel and time controlling villains there were in that show. It's like Dakota was some central hub of chronal confusion. Almost like what Ivy Town became due to Cronos in the Ryan Choi Atom series.

[Kreuzritter]

then there were episodes like "Hoop Squad".

[saint_matthew]

then there were episodes like "Hoop Squad".

*shudders*

[Ares]

Yeah, Static Shock had a bad tendency to rely on real real life guest stars like Shaquille O'Neal, NBA players Steve Nash, Yao Ming, Karl Malone and Tracy McGrady as "The Hoop Squad", which was basically Pro Stars with Power Armor (or worse, the Super Globetrotters), A. J. McLean and Lil Romeo to boost episode ratings, which was just beneath the series, really.

[Jabroniville]

PLASTIQUE (Betty Sans Souci)
Created By: Gerry Conway & Pat Broderick
First Appearance: The Fury of Firestorm #7 (Dec. 1982)
Role: Explosives Expert, Slut
Voice Actor: Juliet Landau
Finest Moment: Broke the G-Rating with her dialogue.
PL 9 (98)
STRENGTH 1 STAMINA 3 AGILITY 4
FIGHTING 6 DEXTERITY 4
INTELLIGENCE 3 AWARENESS 2 PRESENCE 3

Skills:
Acrobatics 4 (+8)
Athletics 5 (+6)
Close Combat (Unarmed) 2 (+8)
Deception 4 (+7)
Expertise (Explosives) 10 (+13)
Insight 2 (+4)
Perception 4 (+6)
Persuasion 3 (+6)
Stealth 2 (+6)
Technology 3 (+6)
Vehicles 1 (+5)

Advantages:
Equipment 4 (Bombs), Evasion, Improved Defense, Ranged Attack 4

Equipment:
"Explosives"
Blast 9 (Feats: Triggered- Time) (Extras: Area- 30ft. Burst) (Diminished Range -1) (27)

Offense:
Unarmed +8 (+1 Damage, DC 16)
Explosives +9 Area (+9 Ranged Damage, DC 24)
Initiative +4

Defenses:
Dodge +11 (DC 21), Parry +11 (DC 21), Toughness +3, Fortitude +5, Will +4

Complications:
Motivation (Greed, Action)

Total: Abilities: 52 / Skills: 40--20 / Advantages: 10 / Powers: 0 / Defenses: 16 (98)

-Plastique is a Firestorm villain that later ended up marrying Captain Atom of all people, but she showed up in "JLU" in the Task Force X episode, flirting with eternal sociopath Deadshot the entire time (using some DECIDEDLY un-G-rated dialogue), and threatening to stuff a plastic explosive down an unconscious Atom Smasher's throat to get their team out of the Watchtower. Unfortunately for her, just as the team was about to get caught, Deadshot SHOT HER EXPLOSIVE while she was still holding it, leaving her a smoking wreck while the rest of the squad escaped. Note to super-villains: Don't trust Deadshot. She's basically "Girl With Bombs" and not too well-rounded or expensive.

[Jabroniville]

Seriously- this character design blows hard.

METAMORPHO (Rex Mason)
Created By: Bob Haney & Ramona Fradon
First Appearance: The Brave and the Bold #57 (Jan. 1965)
Role: Shapeshifter, Unsuccessful Silver Age Character
Voice Actor: Tom Sizemore
Finest Moment: Beat up the entire League for a while
PL 10 (154)
STRENGTH 6 STAMINA 8 AGILITY 4
FIGHTING 10 DEXTERITY 4
INTELLIGENCE 3 AWARENESS 3 PRESENCE 3

Skills:
Athletics 4 (+10)
Deception 3 (+6)
Expertise (U.S. Marine Corps) 7 (+10)
Expertise (Business) 4 (+7)
Insight 2 (+5)
Intimidation 4 (+7)
Perception 4 (+7)
Stealth 2 (+6)
Technology 2 (+5)
Treatment 1 (+4)
Vehicles 3 (+7)

Advantages:
Benefit (League Member), Diehard, Extraordinary Effort, Improved Critical (Body Weaponry), Power Attack, Ranged Attack 6, Seize Initiative, Startle, Takedown

Powers:
"Shapeshifting Elements"
Elongation 3 (60 feet) [3]
Regeneration 6 (Feats: Regrow Limbs) [7]

"Burning Mixture 3" Flame Aura 8 (32) -- [40]

AE: "Body Weaponry" Strength-Damage +4 (Feats: Variable Descriptor- Slashing/Bludgeoning) (5)
AE: "Burning Mixture 1" Damage 10 (Extras: Area- 60ft. Cone) (20)
AE: "Burning Mixture 2" Blast 10 (20)
AE: "Clay Trap" Snare 10 (30)
AE: "Multiple Fragments" Blast 8 (Extras: Multiattack) (24)
AE: "Liquid Form" Insubstantial 1 (Feats: Precise) (6)
AE: "Mist Form" Insubstantial 2 (Feats: Precise) (11)
AE: "Knockout Gas" Affliction 10 (Fort; Fatigued/Exhausted/Asleep) (Extras: Area- 30ft. Cloud +2) (30)

Offense:
Unarmed +10 (+6 Damage, DC 21)
Body Weaponry +10 (+10 Damage, DC 25)
Aura +10 (+8 Damage, DC 23)
Burning 1 +10 Area (+10 Damage, DC 25)
Burning 2 +10 (+10 Ranged Damage, DC 25)
Clay Trap +10 (+10 Ranged Affliction, DC 20)
Multiple Fragments +10 (+8 Ranged Damage, DC 23)
Knockout Gas +10 Area (+10 Affliction, DC 20)
Initiative +4

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

Complications:
Prejudice (Obvious Metahuman)- Rex looks like a weird mish-mash of elements.
Relationship (Sapphire Stagg)- Rex loves his boss' daughter, and vice-versa.

Total: Abilities: 62 / Skills: 36--18 / Advantages: 14 / Powers: 50 / Defenses: 10 (154)

-Sorry Metamorpho fans, but I just am not interested, no matter how many times I hear fans of his complain that he needs to come back (Mark Waid is apparently a huge fan, and bothers Gail Simone and others constantly about it, but they don't care for him either). He looks silly (absolutely AWFUL character design), he's dull, and he'll probably never be cool, despite his very unique and interesting power-set (seemingly designed to capitalize on how DC Comics back in the day used a lot of real-life science or fictionalized-science). His "son" Shift, is like Metamorpho, but more confusing, coming about on that crap "Outsiders" run that saw Black Lightning get a suddenly-added daughter and Nightwing start lipping on Arsenal for being an ex-junkie, because Judd Winick is a freaking hack who is trying his damndest to ruin comics sometimes. I mean, I liked his "Exiles", but GOD.

-So Metamorpho will always remain stuck in the Silver Age. He had some luck in "Batman & The Outsiders" in the Bronze Age, but that book is REALLY REALLY dated, even compared to other dated comic book work. That said, his "Justice League" two-parter in the cartoon was decent, if only for the relationship between John Stewart and Rex, and each envied the other (John admired Rex's money, relationship and career, while Rex idolized John's heroics). It was pretty well acted (and hey- it had Winnie Cooper as Sapphire!), but it all gets shot to hell the second this four-coloured idiot shows up with his goofy white face and purple body. And I guess Tom Sizemore was busy, because he never showed up for "JLU", even with it's huge roster, despite Metamorpho showing up in background shots, and once when he jobbed to Parasite.

-For stats, Metamorpho has a really solid mix, making him a dangerous threat in melee or at range. He was tough enough to fend off the entire League for a bit, though like a lot of other guys, he "normalized" to a lower Power Level. He can "Alt-Effect" a new chemical compound if he needs to by spending Hero Points- a science nerd could make him as effective as a Magic character.

[Jabroniville]

"Go forth! EMBLAZEN my will across the COSMOS!!"

DESPERO
Created By: Gardner Fox & Mike Sekowsky
First Appearance: The Justice League of America #1 (Oct. 1960)
Role: Flying Blaster, Cult Leader, Dictator
Voice Actor: Keith David
Finest Moment: Beat the ever-loving crap out of Green Lantern (and ruined his confidence), nearly took over the galaxy.
PL 13 (296)
STRENGTH 5 STAMINA 5 AGILITY 4
FIGHTING 10 DEXTERITY 3
INTELLIGENCE 3 AWARENESS 3 PRESENCE 4

Skills:
Deception 2 (+6)
Expertise (Dictator) 8 (+11)
Insight 3 (+6)
Intimidation 7 (+11)
Perception 4 (+7)
Persuasion 3 (+7)
Ranged Combat (Blasts) 2 (+11)
Technology 3 (+6)
Vehicles 2 (+5)

Advantages:
All-Out Attack, Benefit 6 (Ruler of Kalanor), Daze (Intimidation), Improved Critical (Blasts) 2, Power Attack, Ranged Attack 5, Startle, Withstand Damage

Powers:
"The Flame of Pytar"
Force Field 10 (Extras: Impervious 15) [25]
Flight 8 (500 mph) [16]
Movement 3 (Space Travel 3) [6]

Blast 15 (Feats: Penetrating 8) (38) -- [42]

AE: Damage 13 (Extras: Area- 120ft. Cone +2) (36)
AE: Damage 13 (Extras: Area- 60ft. Line +2) (36)
AE: Damage 13 (Extras: Area- 60ft. Burst +2) (36)
AE: "Power Boost" Strength-Damage +7 (Feats: Penetrating 8) (15)

"Despero Is All!" Affliction 12 (Will; Entranced/Compelled/Controlled) (Extras: Cumulative, Perception Range +2, Continuous +3) [84]

Offense:
Unarmed +10 (+5 Damage, DC 20)
Power Boost +10 (+12 Damage, DC 27)
Blast +11 (+15 Ranged Damage, DC 30)
Area Blasts +13 (+13 Damage, DC 28)
Mind Control -- (+12 Perception Affliction, DC 22)
Initiative +4

Defenses:
Dodge +10 (DC 20), Parry +10 (DC 20), Toughness +5 (+15 Force Field, +8 Impervious), Fortitude +8, Will +8

Complications:
Prejudice (Deformity)- Born with a third eye, Despero was cast out into the deserts of Kalanor.
Motivation (Power)- Despero wishes to control the entire galaxy. Using an army of unstoppable, empowered minions who can take over the minds of others, he just may do it.

Total: Abilities: 74 / Skills: 34--17 / Advantages: 18 / Powers: 173 / Defenses: 14 (296)

-Despero is a semi-forgotten DC villain from the '60s, despite being the JLA's first big opponent. He looks a little silly, his name is one of those goofy Silver Age "Name + o" names, and he shows up only sporadically, but the Geoff Johns "Virtue & Vice" JSA/JLA Trade was an excellent use of the guy. And his cartoon appearance was terrific. Voiced by Keith "Goliath" David, he had the manliest voice EVER, and controlled an ever-expanding army that threatened the entire cosmos (GL said "he'd spread his forces WAY too thin" before realizing the extent of Despero's control). He even managed to screw up John so badly that he couldn't even use his Green Lantern Ring- Katma Tui had to retrain him from scratch! And even in the end, when John did the classic "GL Bad-Ass Moment" by regaining his control (after a short stint as a gun-toting soldier again) and throwing down with the uber-bad-ass, Despero STILL had the advantage! It took J'onn contacting the Flame of Py'tar telepathically and turning Despero and his army into Trees (in one of the more Nightmare Fuel-y "JLU" moments) to turn the tide.

-Despero is a HELL of a fighter, and generally too powerful for any individual Leaguer. John with renewed vigor came closest, and did some considerable damage, but Despero was still ahead of the game. He'd probably lose against the entire League, however. His points cost is CRAZY, thanks to having a super-powerful Mind Control effect over his minions (Continuous, even!), super-powerful Blasts, etc. And he's got an entire ARMY behind him, too! Not a guy to screw with.

[Horsenhero]

Oh yeah!? Well, Metamorpho is the....

Nevermind. I just can't bring myself to do it.

Now...if Metamorpho was a good looking chica is a stripperific costume...sure, but as a design only Animal-Vegetable-Mineral Man (I'm not making it up!) could envy? Nah.

[Murkglow]

I might disagree with you about Barda having a terrible costume (I still think her costume is just fine, heck I'll even say I think hers is well above average for the super hero genre) but we are on the same page with Metamorpho. Seriously, who in gods name thought that was ever a good look? *Shiver* I literally feel ill looking at him. Heck your picture doesn't do the character justice. His lower half is just as sickening as his top half, maybe even more so, along with his classicly terrible underwear/belt "costume".

And seeing his girlfriend kiss him at the end of the JLU episode... *Ugh* I need to go lie down.

[Earth-Two_Kenn]

She's basically "Girl With Bombs" and not too well-rounded or expensive.

She looks pretty well-rounded to me.























Oh come on! You knew you someone was gonna say it.

[Jabroniville]

I was five seconds from making the same gag in brackets after that comment, myself. So great perverts think alike .

[Grayson]

I hate to pile on poor Metamorpho but..."Worst Dressed Nomine."

[saint_matthew]

I hate to pile on poor Metamorpho but..."Worst Dressed Nomine."

An yet "Shift" looks awesome... How the hell does that work? They have essentially the same look yet Metamorpho sucks & Shift is awesome. HOW? WHY? WHEN? Wait, does "when" count as a viable question?