Next Man (ICONS Writeup)

Next Man
aka David Boyd

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

Stamina 12

Powers
*Automated Laser Defense System – Danger Sense 7 (Next Man may use 7 for Coordination-based defense tests against ranged weapons)
*Cubit – Interface 5
*Regeneration 5

Specialties
Athletics (Expert +2 bonus), Drive (+1 bonus), Leadership (+1 bonus), Martial Arts (Expert +2 bonus), Military (+1 bonus), Stealth (+1 bonus), Wrestling (+1 bonus)

Qualities
A good and moral man
I fight for peace
I’ve lost so much – and I won’t lose any more

Background: As far as anyone else knows, David Boyd is dead, killed in Vietnam. In truth, he was placed in cold storage for years, then used as the subject of a top-secret military experiment called “Stepping Stone”. David is revived as the “Next-Generation Man”, a Next Man. David finds he is now superhumanly gifted. He now has super-human speed, can spontaneously regenerate from damage to his body, and wears a sophisticated battle suit which contains an impressive laser defense system.

Unfortunately for his would-be masters, David has no desire to be a government puppet yet again as the next great weapon of war. He rebelled against his creators and has since made it his business to destroy all traces of Project Stepping Stone. At the same time, the military is more than a little interested in regaining control of their prize subject, even if it means clearing towns and kidnapping the ones David holds close.

Next Man was a series that ran for only five issues but I loved it – it had Jack Kirby-styled artwork and the story, while not perhaps the most original of ideas, was well-executed. I always wanted to see David’s story continue. If I had the money, I’d buy the rights to this guy. He’s a little bit Captain American (man out of time), a little bit Six-Million Dollar Man, and a whole lot of Bronze Age pathos. In addition to enhanced strength and durability, Next Man had an extendable camera-like device that helped him avoid being shot and a floating robotic sidekick named Cubit who had a sarcastic personality and the ability to aid him in various ways.