The Shield – Impact Version (Icons Writeup)

Posted on by Barry Reese

Shield
aka Joe Higgins

Prowess 5
Coordination 5
Strength 6
Intellect 4
Awareness 4
Willpower 4

Stamina 10

Powers
All of the Shield’s powers come from the suit of armor that he wears. Without it, his strength is reduced to 5 and his stamina drops to 9.
*Damage Resistance 5
*Force Field 7 (Extra: Reflection)
*Flight 4 (Limit: Exhausting, drains the armor’s resources considerably)
*Boost – Raises Strength of the wearer by one
*Interface 4
*Super-Senses: Infrared Vision 1
*Gadgets 2

Specialties
Athletics, Leadership, Martial Arts, Military (Expert +2), Weapons – Guns

Qualities
*Daddy Issues
*Founding Member of the Crusaders
*Patriot

Background

Joe Higgins, was a career officer in the U.S. Army, one of the most highly decorated servicemen of his time. His father, Brigadier General Marion Higgins, the Commanding Officer of America’s Air Reconnaissance and Military Strike installation, had staked his entire Army career on the creation of a unique Suit of armor that could turn its wearer into America’s mightiest secret weapon. General Higgins, inspired by the exploits of the Shield, the long-vanished star-spangled champion active during the ’50s and ’60s, made it his self-appointed mission to recreate this symbol of patriotic liberty around a soldier who would unknowingly serve as his puppet, setting his sights on Joe, he realized that his son was, physically and psychologically, the perfect candidate for Project: Shield, but Joe’s high rank precluded him from involvement, General Higgins took care of that by secretly framing and disgracing Joe, arranging for a court-martial that busted him to Sergeant and allowed Joe to undergo the year long training that culminated in his role as the new Shield. Shortly after helping form the Crusaders, Joe retired from the role of the Shield and passed the armor on to Lt. Michael Steven Barnes.

Jaguar – Impact Comics (Icons Writeup)

Posted on by Barry Reese

Jaguar
aka Maria de Guzman

Prowess 5
Coordination 6
Strength 7
Intellect 4
Awareness 6
Willpower 5

Stamina 12

Powers
All of Maria’s powers are only available to her in her Jaguar form. When she is in her ‘normal’ identity, her physical stats are reduced to: Prowess 3, Coordination 3, Strength 3, and her Stamina drops to 8. In addition, her Awareness is reduced to 3.
*Damage Resistance 4
*Claws – Strike 7 (Extra: Wall-Crawling)
*Super-Senses 3 – Smell, Hearing, Vision
*Super-Speed 3 (Limit: Running Only)

Specialties
Art – Lace Making, Athletics (Expert +2 bonus), Science – Math (Expert +2 bonus)

Qualities
*Split-Personality
*Struggles with bloodlust
*Protector of Nature

Background

During her youth, Maria lived with her aunt Luiza. Luiza secretly was a Brazilian jungle warrior and protector of the land. She once took Maria with her and performed a ritual. It was meant to channel certain mystical powers that passed down intermittently through the family line.

However, seeing Luiza turn into a werejaguar, Maria panicked and fled. Maria was found by her father who, believing that Luiza was badly caring for her, took her home. Maria has since studied maths and science, in order to avoid the merest hint of magic and mysticism.

Meanwhile, Luiza was becoming more and more predatory. She killed many government men in order to protect the rain forest. The Brazilian military finally caught up with her and killed her. But young Maria, who had been sent to study in the US the day before, inherited her powers.

She also received a costume as a last gift from Luiza. From there Maria discovered she could become the super-powerful Jaguar, a fierce, feral avenger of evil.

Maria Concepcion de Guzman is a shy and insecure young Brazilian girl. She has been given by her father the responsibility of someday inheriting and controlling the considerable de Guzman fortune. Consequently, despite her protests, she has been sent to study business and mathematics at Elm Harbor University in America. The poor girl is a stranger in a strange land.

The cool Maria finds herself excited by the fire that the Jaguar lights in her soul. She is enticed by the animalism her new alter ego. Nevertheless, she has yet to find a satisfying balance between time spent as The Jaguar and time spent pursuing her academic studies.

Since acting as the Jaguar is exhausting, she must learn not to let her super-heroics affect her study habits. Later, she ended up forming a close relationship with The Fly, marrying him at the end of the event known as The Crucible.

Writing Updates

Posted on by Barry Reese

So for the past couple of months, I’ve been splitting time between two projects. The first is a horror collection. So far, I’ve completed four stories for it and I’m hoping to do at least two more. This collection is totally unrelated to the Reese Unlimited universe and has no connections or references to the characters that I’m generally known for. I wanted to do something different and it’s worked — I think people will like it. No idea about the collection title right now. The second thing I’ve been working on is the fifth book in the Dark Society series. I know, I know, you guys haven’t even seen the *first* book yet. What can I say? I’m far ahead of Pro Se’s publishing schedule, which seems to be slowing down a bit over the last few years, I’m afraid. Still, hopefully one day these books will be released becaue I think they’re pretty good. The art accompanying this post is by Gilbert Monsanto and will eventually be the cover to DS # 5 — it shows Jupiter, Catalyst, and a surprise figure engaged in battle. Hope you enjoy the peek behind the curtain!

Pariah (Icons Writeup)

Posted on by Barry Reese

Pariah
aka Kell Mossa

Prowess 3
Coordination 3
Strength 3 (8 while empowered by Great Darkness)
Intellect 8
Awareness 4
Willpower 6

Stamina 9 (14 while empowered by Great Darkness)

Powers
*Detection – Universal Disasters 8 (Limit: Uncontrollable)
*Multiversal Travel 8 (Limit: Uncontrollable – is triggered by his Detection power)
*Flight 6
*Immortality – Longevity 1
*Life Support 10
*Damage Resistance 8
*Teleportation 7

During the Dark Crisis, Pariah’s Detection power was no longer functional and he was able to use his Multiversal Travel power without the Limit. His Strength increases to 8 and his Stamina is boosted to 14. He also gained the following powers:
*Force Field 9
*Blast 9
*Reality Manipulation – Pariah is able generate pocket universes based upon his or others’ desires. This power is automatically successful when used and does not require a game roll.

Specialties
Medicine, Science (Expert +2), Technology (Expert +2), Occult – The Great Darkness

Qualities
*Cries a lot. A LOT.
*Blames himself for the loss of his family.
*Desperately seeks atonement.

Background

In his home dimension, Kell Mossa was one of the most gifted scientists to have ever lived. Arrogantly hoping to unlock the mysteries of the universe, and flying in the face of his people’s concerns, he locked himself in an anti-matter chamber. He hoped to witness creation at the Dawn of Time, but instead he witnessed the Anti-Monitor, and helped begin that being’s rampage of destruction. His world destroyed, Kell was saved by the Monitor, and renamed Pariah. He acquired the mostly involuntary ability to travel from one alternate Earth to another, forced to witness untold millions perish, although he could control this ability on occasion. He blamed himself for the destruction of his own world, the release of the Anti-Monitor, and the subsequent destruction of universe after universe, until he eventually learned he was essentially blameless.

During the Crisis on Infinite Earths, Pariah worked with different heroes from different realities, including Alexander Luthor of Earth-Three, in an attempt to defeat the Anti-Monitor. Once the Crisis was abated, Pariah remained on the newly reformed Earth, relieved that his penance seemed to be over, and hoping to find a new life for himself.

After some time living in peace, Pariah attempted to warn Lex Luthor of a threat from outside the universe. However, this Luthor was in actuality Alexander Luthor of Earth-Three in disguise, posing as the New Earth Lex Luthor, and preparing to remake the universe to his liking by restoring the multiverse. Pariah was subsequently murdered by Alexander Luthor.

During the Blackest Night, Pariah returned as a zombie and a member of the Black Lantern Corps with a black ring. He was once more condemned to travel the universe and warn of impending disaster. Pariah reappeared for the first time in Gotham Cemetery right before the Spectre was reanimated, and then in deep space he appeared to John Stewart right before the entire planet Xanshi became a Black Lantern.

When reality was changed again by the Flashpoint, Pariah was restored to life and fell through a crack left in the new Multiverse, landing back in the ruined Multiverse-2. He was held prisoner by the Empty Hand and The Gentry, who forced him to watch as they devoured the infinite Earths one by one. His captors eventually left to invade the new fifty-two Earths.

Alone in an empty Multiverse, he decided there was a way to escape the cycle of destruction and rebirth. While Alexander Luthor had tried to create one perfect world, Pariah would create perfect worlds for everyone. Eventually Barry Allen, the man who created the cracks, crossed through them himself and entered Multiverse-2. Pariah sent Barry into his own pocket dimension, Earth-Flash.1, where he would always be happy “No matter what.”

Empowered by the Great Darkness, Pariah instituted the events known as the Dark Crisis. He was eventually defeated and now resides in a section of the multiverse that appears to be identical to the world that he lost at the beginning of the original Crisis.

The Hangman – DC Red Circle (Icons Writeup)

Posted on by Barry Reese

The Hangman
aka Robert Dickering

Prowess 5
Coordination 4
Strength 7
Intellect 5
Awareness 5
Willpower 5

Stamina 12

Powers
The Hangman’s powers are only available to him at night. During the day, his physical stats are reduced as follows: Prowess 4, Coordination 3, Strength 4, Stamina 9.
*Hangman’s Noose – Binding 6 (Extra: Swinging)
*Immortality 1 (Limit: Longevity Only)
*Detection – Guilt 8
*Damage Resistance 4
*Mystic Steed – The Hangman can magically summon a large horse that has the following stats: Pro 3, Coo 3, Str 6, Int 3, Awa 4, Wil 4, Stamina 10, Running Expert +2 bonus, Regeneration 1.

Specialties
Investigation, Medicine (Expert, +2 bonus), Occult, Weapons – Hangman’s Noose

Qualities
*At night, he rides!
*Saves lives by day, punishes the guilty by night
*Old-fashioned manners

Background

The Civil War claimed many lives…but one of those lives still hasn’t ended! Union doctor Robert Dickering found himself on the wrong side of the battle lines, and despite his heroic treatment of a fallen enemy soldier, he also found himself on the wrong end of a noose! But a shadowy power stepped forth in the twilit moments between life and death and offered him a deal he couldn’t refuse: to forever roam the Earth, saving the lives of innocents condemned like himself – or hastening the deaths of the guilty!

Robert Dickering transforms at night to become the superhuman Hangman, able to summon a supernatural steed and wield a noose that appears to respond to his control. The transformation appears painful and uncontrollable, coinciding with sundown and reverting back at sunrise. He appears to be long-lived or possibly immortal, and has more than human strength. He is also able to survive gunshots, although not without sustaining a degree of injury from such assault.

Punk Mambo (Icons Writeup)

Posted on by Barry Reese

Punk Mambo
aka Victoria Greaves-Trott

Prowess 4
Coordination 4
Strength 4
Intellect 5
Awareness 6
Willpower 8

Stamina 12

Powers
*Voodoo Magic 7 (Punk Mambo has mastered the following spells and may use them without the Performance Limit: Astral Projection, Blast, and Illusion)
*Immortality 1
*Ghost Lantern – Binding 7 (Limit: Only works on spirits and demons)
*Gris-gris – Magic Resistance 6
*Ring of Solomon – Dimensional Travel 10 (Limit: Only allows Punk Mambo to travel to and from a pocket dimension located within the ring. She may use it in conjunction with the Ghost Lantern to bind spirits and then dispatch them into the Ring)
*Various voodoo talismans and trinkets – Gadgets 5
*Punk Mambo can summon, control, and ride the Loa Ayezan, granting her the following powers and abilities while utilizing the Loa:

  • Dimensional Travel 7 (Limit: Deadside Only)
  • Flight 5
  • Force Field 8
  • Servant 6

Specialties
Investigation, Mental Resistance, Occult – Master (+3 bonus)

Qualities
*Rude, Crude, & Socially Unacceptable
*Mystical Mercenary
*Voodoo Priestess

Background

Victoria Greaves-Trott is a Mohawk-sporting, voodoo priestess. Dwelling in the Bayou outside New Orleans, Punk Mambo helps the wayward, troubled, and damned remedy what afflicts them for a price.

As a teenager in 1970s London, young punk rocker Victoria was abducted by Houngan, a lecherous voodoo priest. Much older than his youthful appearance suggested, the houngan- then operative under the name Joe Mayhem- collected Victoria and other young souls like her, forcing them into debauched rites and practices that fueled his immortality. Victoria observed Joe’s rites closely, and on breaking free, used their power for herself. Years later she would return to London to exact her revenge on Joe Mayhem and so-called friends who had placed her in his power. Ever the rebel, Punk Mambo left Mayhem humiliated, but alive.

It was Punk Mambo who Jack Boniface turned to when he was trying to rid himself of the loa that gave him his powers of Shadowman. And when MI-6 needed an occult expert to guide a team into the Deadside, they naturally turned to the most mystically accomplished British national they could find. When this team went missing, Punk Mambo would enter the Deadside side-by-side with Ninjak to retrieve them. There, the two of them faced a Shadowman slaved to the will of the villainous necromancer Master Darque. Ninjak and Punk Mambo subdued Shadowman and returned the lost team and the fallen hero into the hands of MI-6. Since then, she has worked alongside other heroes such as Doctor Mirage, though she hates being drawn into world-saving adventures, preferring to operate on a more personal level.

The Jaguar – New Crusaders (Icons Writeup)

Posted on by Barry Reese

The Jaguar
aka Ivette “Ivy” Velez

Prowess 6
Coordination 6
Strength 6
Intellect 4
Awareness 5
Willpower 4

Stamina 10

Powers
All of Jaguar’s powers stem from the Helmet of Ai Apaec. Without it, her Prowess, Coordination, and Strength are all reduced to 3, and her Stamina is reduced to 7.
*Claws – Strike (Slashing) 6
*Enhanced Senses 2 – Hearing, Smell
*Damage Resistance 4

Specialties
Science – Zoology, Stealth

Qualities
*”Glorious battles” for Ai Apaec!
*Legacy hero
*Split personality

Background

When zoologist Ralph Hardy discovered the Belt of Varigon, which granted him the powers that made him the heroic Jaguar, he initially thought the mystic totem was unique. But in time he learned it was just one piece to a set of armor, one of a number of Jaguar Artifacts, each representing a unique power… a living force allowing the wearer to channel the abilities of what some ancient civilizations dubbed as “gods”. Of these he also recovered the Helmet of Ai Apaec. He kept his work searching for mystic artifacts a secret, known to most as only Dr. Ralph Hardy, zoologist. It was in that role that he came to know young Ivette “Ivy” Velez.

Ivette had a hard childhood, with both her parents dying while she was still an infant. Growing up in an orphanage, Ivette became extremely shy and timid, but also gained a great love for zoology. After earning a job at the zoo in the city of Red Circle, she formed a close bond with her supervisor, Ralph Hardy, who took her under his wing as her mentor. Despite her shy nature, Ivette longed to make new friends, and accompanied Hardy to a reunion of his old friends – actually his old superhero friends. When the Brain Emperor attacked the reunion of the original Mighty Crusaders, Ralph was apparently killed, but Ivette was saved by her mentor’s old teammate The Shield, as were the five other teenagers that had been at the party. From this old hero Ivette learned the truth about her mentor, and learned that Ralph had left the Helmet of Al Apaec to her in his will, entrusting the Jaguar legacy to her.

Upon donning the helmet, however, Ivette’s consciousness was mystically projected into the realm ruled by the fearsome, bloodthirsty, and powerful Jaguar-god Ai Alpaec. As the embodiment of battle and carnage, Al Alpaec had nothing but contempt for Hardy, the god Varigon, and most of all Ivette, who he terrified into fleeing his domain, screaming insults at her so loud his entire firey world shook. Inspired by watching her new friends overcome their own fears, however, Ivette confronted Ai Apaec once more, standing up to his taunts and promising the god that if he empowered her he would have the “glorious battles” he craved. Seeing that she might have some use to him, Ai Apaec bestowed Ivette with his power. Ivette became the new Jaguar, and joined the New Crusaders.

Ai Apaec’s power did not come without a price, however, and Ivette soon realized that he had not just lent her his power, he had filled the normally-meek girl with his dangerous thirst for battle and carnage as well.

The Shield – New Crusaders Era (Icons Writeup)

Posted on by Barry Reese

The Shield
aka Joe Higgins

Prowess 6
Coordination 5
Strength 6
Intellect 5
Awareness 5
Willpower 6

Stamina 12

Powers
*Leaping 2 (Limit: This ability is boosted by his suit, which is specially formulated to work with his altered metabolism. Without the suit, Joe’s Leaping is 1. If anyone else wears the suit, they only have Leaping of 1 since it won’t work with their metabolism as well).
*Damage Resistance 6 (Limit: This ability is boosted by his suit, which is specially formulated to work with his altered metabolism. Without the suit, Joe’s Damage Resistance is 4. If anyone else wears the suit, they only have damage resistance of 2 since it won’t work with their metabolism as well).
*Super Senses – Enhanced Vision 3

Note: During his prime, The Shield had Strength 7 and Stamina 13

Specialties
Athletics (Expert +2 bonus), Investigation (+1 bonus), Leadership (Expert +2 bonus), Martial Arts (Expert +2 bonus), Mental Resistance (+1 bonus), Military (Expert +2 bonus), Science (+1 bonus), Wrestling (+1 bonus)

Qualities
*Get off my lawn!
*America’s First Patriotic Hero
*“Don’t let up!”

Background

Joe was the son of Thomas Higgins, a government biochemist and member of the Burning Hand – a secret society formed to protect America. Thomas was attempting to recreate the powers of the legendary Shield (a hero known throughout the centuries as a defender of America and embodied in the current day by Victoria Adams) when he was killed by Axis-allied spies.

Joe completed his father’s research and applied it to himself, becoming the Shield. After WWII he became an F.B.I. investigator, using his intel and super-powers to combat organized crime.

At one time, the Shield was frozen in suspended animation due to the Eraser’s “Ion Weapon.” His son, Bill Higgins, found a spare uniform and continued his father’s legacy, though without his dad’s full range of abilities. Bill fought alongside the Mighty Crusaders as a hero, but his civilian life was difficult, as he would often shuffle from job to job, and never felt worthy of following in his father’s footsteps.

When Bill finally asked for help to “cure” his father’s condition, the Comet used his “Altroxian Science” to reverse the Ion Weapon’s effects, and the original Shield came back to life. With his father in action again, Bill retired his Shield identity and joined the Armed Forces. Joe joined the Crusaders at this time – many people assume that the Joe Higgins and Bill Higgins Shields were the same person but it was in fact Bill that helped found the Crusaders and his father joined later.

After many years passed, the Brain Emperor reappeared, having gained power over the mysterious Blue Ribbon. With his new powers the Brain Emperor ambushed his old foes (now retired and raising families) at a reunion, using his new powers to apparently kill Fly-Girl, Comet, Fireball, The Web, Pow-Girl, Jaguar, and Steel Sterling. Joe Higgins, however, succeeded in saving the children of Steel Sterling, Fly-Girl, Comet, Pow-Girl, as well as Fireball’s nephew, and Jaguar’s protege. Joe followed his agreement with his old friends, becoming The Shield once more to protect their young. Following protocols set up by the Crusaders earlier to give the teens the abilities they would need to protect themselves, Joe gave Alex Tyler, Greg Dickering, and Johnny Sterling treatments to give them the powers of the original Fireball, Comet, and Steel Sterling. Kelly Brand received weapons and gear replicating the powers her mother had possessed as Fly-Girl, Ivette Velez was given a powerful mystic artifact that had been found by the original Jaguar, while Wyatt Raymond received a super-suit based on The Shield’s own, enabling the young boy to become a new Web. Joe clearly struggled with dealing with his young charges, however, unused to interacting with teenagers. Nonetheless the youngsters decided to allow him to mentor them as they followed in their elders’ footsteps, becoming the New Crusaders and swearing to bring the Brain Emperor to justice.

In the final battle with his long-time nemesis, the elite assassin Eraser, Shield was severely and irrevocably injured. With the return of the Shield (Victoria Adams) that first inspired his father’s work, Joe opted to finally step down from command and lead the M.L.J. He currently operates from behind a desk, offering counsel to Victoria and the rest of the team as needed. This writeup is based upon The Shield as he was when leading the New Crusaders, before his injuries sidelined him for good.

Jaguar – Original (Icons Writeup)

Posted on by Barry Reese

Jaguar
aka Ralph Hardy

Prowess 5
Coordination 6
Strength 8
Intellect 6
Awareness 6
Willpower 5

Stamina 13

Powers
All powers can only be used while wearing the Jaguar belt (aka the Belt of Varigon) and after saying the word, “Jaguar.”
*Aquatic 8 (Limit: While underwater, Coordination is raised to 8 but his Strength is unaffected)
*Burrowing 8
*Flight – Rocket Jets 8 (Extra: Spaceflight)
*Life Support 4 (breathing, cold, pressure, and vacuum)
*Damage Resistance 7 (Limit: Halved against electrical attacks; Limit: A trick shot that targets his eyes can bypass Damage Resistance entirely)
*Telepathy 8 (Limit: animals only)

Note: Without the belt, Ralph’s stats are reduced to: Prowess 3, Coordination 3, Strength 3, Intellect 6, Awareness 4, Willpower 5, Stamina 8

Specialties
Aerial Combat, Scholar – Peru (Expert +2 bonus), Science – Zoology (Expert +2 bonus), Underwater Combat

Qualities
*Servant of the Primal Powers
*Member of the Crusaders and the Terrific Three
*Goody Two Shoes Hero

Background

While fleeing from a giant dinosaur released by an earthquake in Peru, Hardy entered an ancient Quechua temple. There he found a jaguar-skin belt. He would later learn that it was made by one of the great Primal Powers, gods who ruled the animals of Earth before the coming of humankind. In time, he would learn that this was the Belt of Varigon.

An inscription on the reverse side of its flying jaguar buckle read, “To be transformed into a human jaguar with supreme power over animals everywhere in the universe, the wearer need only say ‘The Jaguar’.”

Donning the girdle, Hardy uttered the magic words, became the Jaguar, defeated the dinosaur, and said his own name to turn back into Hardy. Thereafter Jaguar went on to become one of the premiere heroes of his world – in fact, during the Silver Age, he was pretty much the Superman of the Mighty Crusaders’ universe.

While wearing the Jaguar Belt and uttering the word “Jaguar”, not only can Hardy communicate telepathically with animals, but he:

  • Becomes as tough as “a rhinoceros’ hide intensified a thousand times”.
  • Has “the strength of a million elephants”.
  • Has the battering power of “thousands of buffalo”.
  • Can endure cold like “a hundred polar bears in one”.
  • And has “a thousand times the swimming skill of the otter”.

Samuree (Icons Writeup)

Posted on by Barry Reese

Samuree
aka Darryl Sheppard

Prowess 6
Coordination 6
Strength 5/6
Intellect 3
Awareness 5
Willpower 4

Stamina 9/10

Powers
*Sword – Strike 4
*Sai – Strike 4
*Ability Boost – Increases Strength to 6 (Limit: Uncontrollable, berzerker rage)
*Trance State 5 (Extras: Regeneration, Life Support – Heat, Cold, Hunger; Limit: Concentration)
*Ropes – Swinging 3, Binding 3
*Gadgets – 3

Specialties
Athletics (Expert +2), Martial Arts (Expert +2), Sleight of Hand, Stealth, Weapons – Edged (Expert +2), Wrestling

Qualities
*Member of the Revengers
*Mistress of the Martial Arts
*Sense of Honor

Background

Darryl Sheppard was only a young child when the U.S. Air Force transport plane she was on crashed down on a small island to the north of Japan, leaving her the sole survivor. The locals took the youth in, and raised her as a member of their community, complete with their devotion to the martial arts. Samuree was trained in a broad array of Eastern martial arts (her adoptive island was a centuries-old polyglot of martial artists and warrior cultures) and is one of the deadliest martial artists on Earth. Then her adoptive home island was invaded by a corporation with US military ties who proceeded to perform hideous experiments on the islanders they did not immediately execute for fighting back. The experiments conducted on her as a child included super-steroids to induce greatly-enhanced musculature.

Eventually she was found and adopted by a U.S. Air Force Captain, Gideon Pierce. She grew up to be a strong willed woman with a desire to do right, and when terrorists took control of New York’s Museum of Natural History, she teamed up with the Revengers (Megalith, Armor, and SilverStreak) to stop them.