Real Name: David Boyd
Rank: 3
Karma: 3
| Health: 90 | Damage Reduction:-1 |
| Focus: 90 | Damage Reduction:-0 |
Initiative: +2E
Speed: 5 (run), 3 (climb), 5 (jump)
Occupation: Military
Origin: Weird Science
Teams: None
Traits: Weird, Battle Ready, Connections – Military, Situational Awareness, Combat Reflexes, Enduring Constitution, Piloting
Tags: Hunted, Heroic
| Ability | Ability Score | Defense Score | Non-Combat Checks | Damage Modifier |
| Melee | 4 | 14 | +5 | X4 |
| Agility | 4 | 14 | +4 | X3 |
| Resilience | 3 | 13 | +3 | X3 |
| Vigilance | 2 | 12 | +2 | X3 |
| Ego | 1 | 11 | +1 | X3 |
| Logic | 1 | 11 | +1 | X3 |
Powers
Basic: Mighty 1, Sturdy 1, Healing Factor, Heightened Senses, Inspiration
Martial Arts: Attack Stance, Fast Strikes, Leg Sweep
Super-Strength: Clobber, Jump 1, Smash
| Iconic Items – Cubit and Automated Laser Defense System Cubit is an artificially-intelligent computer that can offer advice to David, often sarcastically. It can also influence other computers. It is related to but ultimately separate from an Automated Laser Defense System that helps David avoid ranged attacks. Origin: Hi-Tech Powers: Machine Telepathy, Spider-Dodge Restrictions: Obvious Power Value: 1 |
Biography
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 America (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.
Barry Reese - Writer of Badass heroes 