Fantastic Four Compendium - Angelfire

105 Pages·2002·2.58 MB·English

by  Charles Christensen

MA4 6889
Advanced Game Official Accessory
The FANTASTIC FOUR™ Compendium
by David E. Martin
All Marvel characters and the distinctive likenesses thereof The names of characters used herein are fictitious and do
are trademarks of the Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. not refer to any person living or dead. Any descriptions
MARVELSUPERHEROES and MARVEL SUPER VILLAINS including similarities to persons living or dead are merely co-
are trademarks of the Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. incidental. PRODUCTSOFYOURIMAGINATION and the
©Copyright 1987 Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. All TSRlogo are trademarks owned by TSR, Inc. Game Design
Rights Reserved. Printed in USA. PDF version 1.0, 2000. ©1987 TSR, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Table of Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
A Brief History of the FANTASTIC FOUR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
The Fantastic Four . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Friends of the FF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Races and Organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Fiends and Foes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Travel Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
“From The Beginning Comes the End!” — A Fantastic Four Adventure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
This book is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or other unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the
express written consent of TSR, Inc., and Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. Distributed to the book trade in the United States by Random House, Inc., and in Canada by Random House of Canada, Ltd.
Distributed to the toy and hobby trade by regional distributors.
All characters appearing in this gamebook and the distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks of the Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. MARVEL SUPER HEROES and MARVEL SUPER VILLAINS
are trademarks of the Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. ©Copyright 1987 Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. Game Design ©1987 TSR, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.
Credits:
Author: David E. Martin Typographer: Marilyn Favaro, Kim N. Lindau
Editor: Christopher Mortika, Scott Haring Keyliner: Stephanie Tabat
Cover Artist: Butler and Machlan Interior Artists: The Marvel Bullpen
This book is dedicated to Jack Kirby in A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE the starship on a secret, unauthorized
appreciation of his unique contribution to FANTASTIC FOUR test flight. Reed would ride as co-pilot.
the field of comic books. Sue and Johnny Storm forced Reed to
The Fantastic Four has its origins at let them come along as observers.
INTRODUCTION Empire State University in New York The flight began smoothly; the four
Welcome to the world of the Fantastic state. There, two young geniuses and a snuck into the launch site and blasted off
Four. The FF are a unique group unlike rough-hewn athlete came together. Reed before anyone noticed. The trouble came
any other in the modern Marvel Uni- Richards, son of the billionaire inventor when the ship was in orbit. Reed had
verse. They were the first members of Nathaniel Richards, was roommates with been forced to cut back on the radiation
the class of modern superhumans. They football player Ben Grimm. Although they shielding of his prototype. It was safe
were the first superheroic team to form came from opposite backgrounds, Reed enough for the normal hazards of space,
since the disappearance of such groups and Ben became close friends. They but it was unprepared for the freak com-
in the early 1950s. The FF were the first confessed their dreams to each other. bination of sunspot activity and cosmic
superheroic team to be financially self- Reed wanted to build a starship. Jok- radiation that affected the ship and the
supporting. Most importantly, two and a ingly, Ben agreed to pilot the ship when foursome. The ship dove back to Earth.
half decades of printed adventures make it was built. The ship crashed near Ithaca, New
the FF the stablest team in the history of Reed also met the strange genius, York. Miraculously, the four had survived,
the Marvel Universe. Victor von Doom, from the eastern Euro- but they had been changed. The weird
The FF represent a curious blend of pean country of Latveria. Reed recog- energy had mutated their genes and
traditional superheroes and scientific nized a genius equal to his own. He did given them super powers. In the middle
adventurers. The FF have never been not realize that Von Doom’s ego far sur- of the crash site, they realized they now
primarily a crime-fighting organization. passed his intellect. Reed discovered had a responsibility to use their powers
Their primary efforts have instead in- von Doom was carrying on dangerous tohelp humanity. Henceforth they would
volved discovery, investigation, and ex- experiments and using flawed calcula- be known as the Fantastic Four.
ploration of unknown or abnormal tions to guide his efforts. When Reed Fortunately, Reed still had enough of
scientific phenomena. Through Reed attempted to correct von Doom’s calcula- his fortune left to bankroll what was to be
Richards’ leadership, the FF have intro- tions, the latter saw it as interference and the first new super-hero team since
duced such things as Earth’s first star- sabotage. Von Doom’s experiments liter- World War II. They left California to set
ship, the Negative Zone, the Microverse, ally blew up in his face. He left the U.S. up operations in New York City. In the
alien races, new worlds, and a nearly to pursue other studies that would even- years that followed, the Fantastic Four
infinite array of inventions including the tually transform him into the dreaded Dr. fulfilled Reed’s dream of benefitting and
superheroes’ tailor’s friend, Unstable Doom. protecting humanity. Reed’s inventions
Molecules. As Reed progressed in college, he met made giant strides in technology. More
Like any benevolent superheroic team, a young girt, Sue Storm, who would importantly, the group fought the emerg-
the FF possess a Rogues’ Gallery of someday become his wife, and her pre- ing string of self-proclaimed super-
adversaries. The FF’s annals have cocious brother, Johnny. villains and the early wave of alien
brought us such memorable villains as Eventually Reed began to apply his invasions. The FFs greatest feat was
Dr. Doom, Galactus, the Skrulls, and the skills to increase mankind’s knowledge. defending the Earth against Galactus,
ne’er-do-wells of the Frightful Four. His father had disappeared and left him Devourer of Worlds, not once but three
This book is designed to serve as a two billion dollars. Reed decided to use times.
guide to the world of the FF. It may be the money to build his starship. He gath- Time changed the team. Reed and
read as a comics reference book or as a ered additional funding from the U.S. Sue married and had a son. Ben fell in
sourcebook for gamers seeking to play government, which supplied him with a love with with Alicia Masters, a famous
out the FF’s history. The first chapter base of operations near Central City, sculptor, then lost her to Johnny. Reed
covers the team itself in all its various California. Sue joined Reed there. While and Sue separated over Reed’s drastic
incarnations. The second chapter deals Reed’s ship was still in the planning method of dampening their son’s powers.
with family and friends of the FF. The stage, the four met and defeated their Other members came and went. Their
third section is an overview of various first alien invader, Gormuu. This spurred headquarters, the Baxter Building, was
races and organizations closely tied to Reed to double his efforts because he wrecked several times, then sliced from
the FF, whether as allies or adversaries. saw his inventions as a way of defending its foundation, and finally destroyed. Now
Important individuals in each group are humanity from alien threats. Reed was they have a new headquarters and a new
detailed as well their homelands and soon to know how correct he was. team roster. Reed, Sue, and Franklin
equipment. Fourth comes the Fiends and The government began to have sec- have left the team for a life in the sub-
Foes, the listing of various of the FF’s ond thoughts about their financial role in urbs. Ben now leads the team. Life goes
adversaries. In fifth place is the Travel Reed’s project. Reed feared they would on, things change, and so it goes with
Guide, a guide to places and buildings soon withdraw their support. Since Reed the Fantastic Four.
had exhausted much of his own fortune,
featured in the FF’s history, including the
the project would come to a halt unless
Baxter Building and Four Freedoms
he took a drastic step. He reminded his
Plaza. The book concludes with a sec-
old friend Ben, now an Air Force test
tion detailing the vehicles that have
pilot, of an old promise. Ben was to fly
served the FF through its long history.
2
THE FANTASTIC FOUR
The Fantastic Four Inc. is one of the best hold the rest of Fantastic Four).
known super-heroic organizations in the • Imitation—Reed can alter his basic
world. It makes its services available features to resemble any other man
without charge anyplace in the world with his hair and skin tone.
there is athreat beyond the capabilities • Phasing—Reed can lower his body’s
of conventional forces. The group also cohesion to such an extend he can
does applied scientific research; rev- actuallyflow through minute openings.
enues from patent leases makes the FF • Shapeshifting—Reed can transform
one of the most profitable groups himself into any solid mass he can
around. Like most superheroic teams, imagine. Normally he takes such forms
the FF remain an independent organiza- as spheres, rectangular solids, pyra-
tion free of government control. mids, and so on, rather than complex
However, the FF do have a close working shapes such as those of other life-
relationship with many national govern- forms.
ments and organizations. • Two-Dimensionality—Reed can flatten
himself to the thickness of a sheet of
TEAM ROSTERS paper or narrow his body’s width to
pass through the eye of a needle.
The term “Fantastic Four” has been used Body Armor:Reed’s malleable form
to refer to a variety of teams operating gives him Remarkable protection against
under the aegis of Fantastic Four, Inc. physical attacks and Good protection
While the public perception of the team against energy attacks. By enveloping a
is of its founding members, the active bomb and then expanding along with the
membership has varied through the explosion, Reed can reduce the force of
years, as new members are brought in to the blast by his Power rank number.
temporarily replace founding members. Feats such as this physically exhaust
Unlike such teams as the Avengers and Reed, though. He cannot do it often. In
the X-Men, however, at least two of the game terms, Reed must make a FEAT
MISTER FANTASTIC
founders havebeen members in each roll at his Power rank against the intensi-
team calling itself the Fantastic Four. In Reed Richards ty of the explosion every time he tries to
order, the past teamsrosters have been: envelop explosions once he has
F GD (10) Health: 42
1. Mr. Fantastic, Thing, Human Torch, absorbed 20 points of damage.
A TY (6)
Invisible Girl (founders) Hyper-Intelligence:Reed’s Amazing Rea-
S TY (6) Karma: 100
2. Mr. Fantastic, Thing, Human Torch, son is one of the highest in the galaxy,
E EX (20)
Crystal insofar as engineering and laboratory
R AM (50) Resources: RM(30)
3. Founders work are concerned.
1 EX (20)
4. Mr. Fantastic, Thing, Human Torch, Hyper-Invention:Reed’s Amazing rank
P RM (30) Popularity: 50
Medusa makes him one of the leading inventors
5. Founders in the world today. He is not only able to
KNOWN POWERS:
6. Mr. Fantastic, Human Torch, Invisible formulate his theories but actually create
Girl, Power Man Elongation:Reed can stretch or deform practical devices utilizing them, often
7. Founders any part of his body with Monstrous while the rest of the Fantastic Four stand
8. Thing, Human Torch, Invisible Girl, rank. This enables him to elongate any around watching. He can operate or alter
Reed Richards of Earth-A (in dis- part of his body any distance up to 1500 previously unknown alien devices within
guise) feet. He most often uses this to increase minutes of first encountering them.
9. Founders his reach and travel speed.
10. Founders and Frankie Raye Plasticity:Reed can consciously distort TALENTS:Reed is one of the world’s
11. Founders any part of his body with Amazing rank. leading experts in Electronics, Physics,
12. Mr. Fantastic, Human Torch, Invisible This enables him to perform a variety of and Engineering. He is also one of the
Woman, She-Hulk Stunts that simulate other powers. few people on Earth to be expert on
13. Founders • Bouncing Ball—Reed can travel at other dimensions and the ways to travel
14. Thing, Human Torch, Crystal, Ms. Amazing speed by transforming him- to and through them. Reed’s patents are
Marvel II self into any of a number of resilient so valuable that he is able to bankroll the
Fantastic Four, Inc., without any undue
shapes, such as balls or springs.
financial stress.
• Gliding—Reed can transform himself
into aerodynamic shapes such as
CONTACTS:Reed is a founding member
parachutes or hang-gliders. In normal
of the Fantastic Four and has all the
air, he only drops 15 ft for each turn he
group’s affiliations. Due to his reputation
stays aloft. In this form he can support
and accomplishments in the scientific
an additional 1000 pounds (enough to
field, he can call upon the Physics or
3
Engineering departments of any univer- accessory, the unstable molecules. Only everyday act of wearing her invisible cos-
sity in the country. Tony Stark and Forge have had an equal tume under her street clothes. Sue has
impact on society in this regard. With a also developed the ability to use her power
BACKGROUND:Reed was born to Na- successful Reason FEAT, Reed is able to to negate another’s use of physics-type
thaniel and Evelyn Richards. His mother use any alien technology he encounters, Invisibility; this interference renders the
died when he was 7. Nathaniel was a often incorporating the new discoveries target visible.
brilliant scientist who fueled the young into his own work.
Reed’s interest to uncover new knowl- Force Field:Sue can generate a psionic
edge. The two men’s drives took them in RUNNING MR. FANTASTIC: energy field of Monstrous rank. This
different directions and Reed rarely saw Reed is an intellectual who prefers to gives her rank protection against physi-
his father in the decade before Nathaniel examine foes and if possible negotiate cal and energy attacks and extremes in
left Earth for a new dimension. with them before actually fighting them. her environment. The Force Field can be
Reed was a brilliant scholar who at- He is often intrigued by the scientific modified instantaneously to allow or
tended several universities. While at implications of a problem, so much so blockthe passage of air. The Force Field
Empire State University he met many of that he almost forgets there is a problem can protect a single area at full strength.
the people who would later affect his in the first place. As Ben once put it, if an For each doubling of the area Sue pro-
life— especially Ben Grimm and Victor alien stubbed his toe, Reed would want tects with her field, the rank drops by
von Doom. Later he attended The Cali- to spend ten years studying it. Reed is -1CS. Thus Sue can cover up to 256
fornia Institute of Technology, Harvard, an extremely likeable fellow who keeps a areas with only Feeble protection. The
and Columbia University. While at Co- pleasant smile on his face. However, he power is a function of Sue’s conscious
lumbia he became friends with his land- does occasionally lapse into depression mind; as such, it cannot function if Sue
lady’s niece, the 12-year-old Sue Storm. over long-standing unsolved problems, is unconscious or if her higher reasoning
After graduation, Reed came into a two most notably Ben’s inability to return to is somehow controlled by another.
billion dollar inheritance from his now human form and Franklin’s mysterious Sue has developed her power into a
vanished father. He invested most of the potential. Reed is a humanitarian who variety of stunts, any of which can be
money in the building of the ship that led will try to prevent any intelligent being used without cost.
to the creation of the Fantastic Four. from suffering. This can lead him to do • Kinetic Bolt—Sue can channel her
Although his decision has frequently controversial things that fly in the face of power into a surge that does Power
brought Reed near bankruptcy, he is the all apparent logic, such as when he once rank damage. She can alter the
holder of so many profitable patents that revived Galactus. k-bolt’s shape at will to create wide,
he has always been able to regain his blunt cylinders, sharp needles, or a
fortune. His financial wealth is so great flurry of invisible spheres.
that he was able to buy the Baxter Build- INVISIBLE WOMAN • Landing cushion—Sue can project her
ing outright, cover the losses of its ten- Susan Storm Richards a.k.a. power to form a cushion that can
ants when, the building was later “Invisible Girl” absorb the inertia of falling targets and
destroyed, and build the new Four Free- absorb up to Monstrous damage.
doms Plaza, the team’s new headquar- F GD (10) Health: 46 • Flight—Sue can lift herself up six sto-
ters. A GD (10) ries onto her force field, then rapidly
Reed and Sue were married a few S TY (6) Karma: 40 change its shape to carry her swiftly
years after the FF’s formation. The mar- E EX (20) through the air. She can travel at 2
riage has its rocky spots-Sue even left R GD (10) Resources: RM(30) areas per round for a maximum of four
him Once-but is now stable. They have I EX (20) hours before she needs rest. (To an
one child, Franklin; a second child was P GD (10) Popularity: 50 onlooker, it appears that Sue has a low
stillborn. Although Reed is a devoted altitude form of True Flight.)
father, he occasionally lapses into nearly KNOWN POWERS: • Power Negation—By forming her field
neglecting Sue and Franklin’s existence. around a super-powered target, Sue
Invisibility (Physics type):Sue possesses
The almost perpetual crises that involve can block the release of that target’s
Excellent rank Invisibility. She can make
the FF have had a detrimental effect on powers. This in turn frees her victim’s
herself transparent to visible light, but not
the Richards family. To counter this, own targets from any continuing
infrared, ultra-violet, radiowaves, nor hard
Reed and Sue have moved away from attacks they were suffering. This Stunt
radiation. She can be harmed by attacks
the FF to gain a semblance of normalcy. only works against physical, or energy
and detected by senses that use these
At this time, they are retired and are powers whose ranks are less than
forms of energy. She can project this
concentrating on rearing Franklin. Sue’s Monstrous rank.
power into an invisibility field that covers a
The cosmic radiation increased Reed’s • Suffocation—The Invisible Woman can
single target site of up to 40,000 cubic feet
already formidable intellect. This has attempt an Amazing rank FEAT roll
in volume at a maximum range of six ar-
enabled Reed to create leading edge against a target’s Agility to project her
eas. She can use her power to make a
developments that surpass Most terres- force field around his head (or whatev-
target invisible while remaining visible
trial and some alien technologies. The er bodily part an alien might use to
herself. She has perfected this Stunt in
fruits of Reed’s unceasing genius perme- breathe), isolating the target from
ways such as “peeling away” visual barri-
ate Earth’s culture: the results vary from breathable air. Treat such victims as
ers to reveal their hidden contents or the
pure theory to the most basic superhero suffering the effects of suffocation.
4
TALENTS:Sue has Performer abilities, a A NOTE ON THE SECOND CHILD:
reflection of her early career choice to be Because Sue’s second child didn’t sur-
an actress. Although her fledgling acting vive birth, there is little known about it.
career was derailed by her transforma- Some things can be surmised by Judges
tion into the Invisible Girl, Sue retains her wanting to explore a parallel-Earth where
thespian skills. She mostly uses them in the child survived. The child was exhibit-
the adoption of secret identities or When ing powers even while it was still in the
doing public relations work for the womb (these uncontrolled experiments
Fantastic Four. Sue also possesses led to its death). Among the powers it
Martial Arts E when using her powers. exhibited were Radiation Emission and
or Plasma Generation (with Radiation as
CONTACTS:Sue is a founding member a side effect). By using Franklin as an
of the Fantastic Four and has all the example, it can be extrapolated that this
group’s contacts, such as the Avengers, child might have possessed even greater
the Inhumans, and the various mutant powers and achieved them almost imme-
teams under Professor Xavier’s guid- diately upon birth. If the unborn Richards
ance. In addition, she has much closer child possessed certain powers such as
ties to Namor than any of the rest of the Free Spirit or Serial Immortality, it may
group. even still be somewhere on Earth-Marvel.
BACKGROUND:Sue Storm was born in
Glenville, New York to Dr. Franklin and THE THING
mary storm where she lived a normal Benjamin Jacob Grimm
suburban childhood. The only dark spot
was when her father was imprisoned for F IN (40) Health: 200
performing undisclosed, illegal medical A GD (10)
procedures. At age 12 she met and S MN (75) Karma: 50
befriended the 23-year-old Reed E MN (75)
Richards when he lived in her aunt’s R GD (10) Resources: RM
NYC boarding house. As an adult, she I GD (10)
became an actress and had a few small ence the same normal childhood she P RM (30) Popularity: 80
parts on television. Upon learning that had. She has twice tried to create a sub-
Reed had moved to California, Sue fol- urban existence for her family, complete Ben (human form)
lowed, perhaps with the idea of conquer- with secret identities. Unfortunately nei- F EX (20) Health: 50
ing Holly, wood. Instead she conquered ther attempt was successful. Stilt game A GD (10)
Reed’s heart. The two quickly became to try, Sue has once more set about to S GD (10) Karma: 50
engaged. Sue was so devoted to Reed raise Franklin like a normal child. E GD (10)
that when she learned of his and Ben’s R GD (10) Resources: RM
plan to take off in a prototype starship RUNNING THE INVISIBLE WOMAN:In I GD (10)
Reed had built, Sue offered herself and her early adventures, Sue was in love P RM (30) Popularity: 10
her brother as passengers to show her with Reed but could be confused by
faith in his plans. attractions to other powerful men such KNOWN POWERS:
As both a striking woman and the first as Namor. Now she is a devoted wife Body Armor:The Thing’s epidermis mu-
heroine in decades, Sue received a great and mother who can switch from being a tated into an organic, rock-like material
deal of attention from would-be suitors. kind, compassionate woman to a she- that gives him Incredible protection
The most notable was the Sub-mariner, tiger if her husband, son, or extended against physical and fire-based attacks.
Namor of Atlantis, who saw Sue as his family are threatened. However, as a It is less effective against energy attacks
ideal mate until persuaded otherwise. mother, she can also identify similar and provides only Excellent protection.
Sue and Namor later became steadfast behavior in others; she has stopped Super-breath: As a Power Stunt using his
friends, so much so that Namor was fights when she realized the FF’s oppo- Monstrous strength, Ben can exhale a
behind the plot to re-unite the separated nents were in fact driven by the same small windstorm of Excellent intensity. The
Sue and Reed. familial drives as she was. She is the range is limited to 20 feet, or 2 areas.
When Sue was transformed into the soul of the Fantastic Four and its extend- Alter Ego:The Thing is the superhuman
Invisible Girl, her reproductive system ed family. As such, if something were to version of Ben Grimm and possesses all
was altered as well. Her first child, separate her from the team for an the powers listed above. If he returns to
Franklin, was born possessing as-yet- extended time, the FF would lose its his normal body, Ben loses all his
undefined powers of great strength. Her drive and stability. powers. During the Secret Wars, Ben
second child was stillborn. It is unknown discovered he had the ability to change
whether Sue can bear other children, back and forth between his two forms.
although her doctor has recommended However, after he “killed” his human self,
against it. Sue wants Franklin to experi- he concluded he’d lost that ability
5
permanently. The validity of this assump- love, the truth is quite the opposite. A
tion is as yet unknown. number of women find Ben attractive,
including She-Hulk, Tigra, and Thundra.
TALENTS:In either form, Ben is a tal- As leader of the latest Fantastic Four,
ented pilot who can operate any aircraft Ben has matured into a capable, even
or spacecraft of terrestrial design. If he is ingenious hero.
required to fly an alien ship, he can fig-
ure out the controls with a Reason FEAT. RUNNING THE THING:In his early ad-
His normal Reason rank increases to ventures, Ben was moody and quick to
Incredible when it is applied to flying any anger. He was morose about his condi-
air-or spacecraft, human or alien. tion and complained at the drop of an
The Thing is also an expert brawler. He adamantium hat. After he and Alicia
is skilled in both Martial Arts B and Wres- became lovers, Ben began to mellow,
tling. although he believed his condition was
keeping him from attaining true happi-
CONTACTS:He has the same group ness. With the birth of Franklin, Ben
contacts as the rest of the group. In even became downright cheerful. Alicia
addition, he is a former member of the and Johnny’s marriage threatened to
Unlimited Class Wrestling Federation. destroy Ben’s newfound tranquility, but
he has since found ways to deal with it.
BACKGROUND:Ben Grimm was born in In battle, the Thing is a relentless
poverty in New York’s Lower East Side. berserker who will face self-destruction if
His alcoholic father, Daniel Grimm, was it means saving everyone else. His most
chronically unemployed. What money the common oaths are “By my sweet Aunt
family did have came from Ben’s older Petunia” and “It’s Clobberin’ Time!”
brother’s criminal activities. Daniel Jr.
was leader of the Yancy Street Gang until
HUMAN TORCH (II)
his death in a gang war when Ben was
Johnny Lowell Storm
eight. Ben decided it was now his turn to
care for the family and joined the gang;
F GD (10) Health: 60
he eventually became its leader. His later pened. Because of this, Reed spent
A EX (20)
rejection of the Yancy Street Gang led to years trying to reverse Ben’s transforma-
S GD (10) Karma: 26
a long-standing grudge against him, but tion. He completely succeeded once,
E EX (20)
the gang’s current members, despite though Ben was soon returned to his
R GD (10) Resources: Rm(30)
many pranks, have come to Ben’s aid Thing-form as punishment by Galactus.
I GD (10)
when he really needs it. After his parents A later attempt returned Ben to an ear-
P TY (6) Popularity: 50
died, Ben was entrusted to his uncle. lier, lumpier Thing appearance. A tempo-
Dr. Jacob Grimm had lifted himself from rarily adult Franklin Richards returned
KNOWN POWERS:
the ghetto to become a successful physi- Ben to his well-known, rocky exterior.
Fire Generation:Johnny’s body can emit
cian. While Ben initially resented his During this procedure, Franklin discov-
a fiery energy field of Unearthly rank that
uncle’s success, he learned love from ered that Ben had a psychological need
completely surrounds his body. He can
him in his first warm family relationship. to maintain his rocky form, knowledge
also create additional blasts of fire from
Ben was a football star and earned an Franklin passed on to his father, who
his hands that can hit a target up to 3
athletic scholarship to Empire State finally felt released from his obligation to
areas away. He has developed the power
University. His freshman roommate was cure” Ben.
into a number of stunts that he can use
a young Reed Richards. That was the While on a trip of self-discovery on the
effortlessly.
start of a long-lasting friendship that battle world of the Secret Wars, Ben
• Skywrite—Johnny can draw any shape
forever altered Ben’s life. Even then unknowingly split into two physically
in flame. The image lasts 4 turns.
Reed had planned on building a starship; distinct beings, a completely human Ben
• Nova Flame—Johnny can release his
Ben jokingly promised to pilot it for him. Grimm and a Ben who could change into
power in a single explosion of Shift-Z
After graduation, Ben joined the U.S. the Thing at will. A long duel followed
intensity. This does 500 points of dam-
Air Force and became a test pilot. When between the two Ben Grimms, in the
age to everything in the immediate
Reed told him he had finally built his conclusion of which the Thing “killed”
area and 150 points worth of damage
starship, Ben upheld his old promise. He his human self. When he returned to
in each area up to five areas away.
even agreed to take along Reed’s Earth, he discovered that he had always
When computing damage, the 150
girlfriend and her brother... After the had the ability to switch between his
figure refers to the sum total damage
crash, Ben was so appalled at his trans- human and Thing selves. Now he
done to all targets within the affected
formation that he chose the degrading believes that since he “killed” his human
area, not to each target. The Nova
name, the “Thing.” As the Thing, Ben self, he no longer has that ability.
Flame lasts a single turn, although the
held a grudge against Reed and continu- Although Ben sees himself as a mis-
subsequent fires may last til they are
ally reminded him of what had hap- shapen freak unworthy of any woman’s
6
extinguished. Once Johnny has ex- tive design, and a race car driver.
pended his flame, all his powers drop
to Feeble rank for 1 -10 turns and, un- CONTACTS: Johnny Storm is a founding
less he makes a red Endurance FEAT, member of the Fantastic Four. He has all
he loses consciousness during that the group’s affiliations. He counts Spider-
time. man as a special friend, and he has
Energy Sheath:Johnny can surround any several Contacts in the automobile rac-
or all parts of his body with a fiery energy ing profession.
field of Unearthly intensity. This provides
BACKGROUND:Johnny Storm is the
him with power rank resistance to physi-
younger brother of Sue Storm and the
cal or energy attacks, except for wind-,
only son of Dr. Franklin and Mary Storm.
cold-or water-based attacks. The fiery
Despite Mary’s death in a car crash when
sheath can be reshaped by his willpower
Johnny was very young, he developed a
to cover only the body areas Johnny
love of automobiles and racing. He spent
wants covered. For example, in order to
most of his free time with mechanics and
carry someone, he would leave his arms
quickly learned to repair and rebuild
fire-free.
cars. When he turned 16, his father gave
Flame Control:Johnny has Unearthly
him his first car. Shortly thereafter, when
control over all forms of flame, whether
Doctor Storm was imprisoned for murder,
natural or power-created. He can ani-
Sue told Johnny that their father had
mate, extinguish, or amplify any fire
died.
within one area of his location. He can
Johnny came out to Central City, Cali-
increase or decrease the Intensity of any
fornia, to visit his sister. When he learned
flame or heat attack by his own Un-
that Sue was planning on being a pas-
earthly rank. He can do this even if he is
senger on Reed’s starship’s maiden
not aflame at the time. He has developed
flight, Johnny insisted on coming along.
his Power into a number of Power
After the creation of the FF, Johnny
Stunts.
and Sue returned to Long Island. There
• Self-Duplication—Johnny can create
he managed to graduate from high
up to 10 duplicates of himself by shap-
school while simultaneously learning to
ing his flames to resemble his Human If he was not aflame beforehand,
be a super hero. After graduation,
Torch appearance. These duplicates resisting more than Monstrous heat
Johnny moved with Sue into the Baxter
last as long as he concentrates on causes him to flame on automatically.
Building. He attended Metro College for
maintaining them.
a year before dropping out.
• Johnny can shape and maintain cages, WEAKNESSES:Most of Johnny’s
He has had a series of romantic flings
barriers, and other restraining shapes powers can be used only if he is aflame.
with various women through the years.
out of his flames. They last for as long Consequently, anything that inhibits
Former girlfriends include Dorrie Evans,
as he concentrates on them, and do combustion can knock out his powers.
Crystal, Lorrie Melton, Frankie Raye,
Amazing damage to anyone who tries Such inhibitors include Cold-based at-
Julie Angel, and Sharon Selleck. Al-
to pass through them. tacks of Shift-X Intensity or removing the
though he has known Alicia for years, it
• Nova absorption—If forced to, Johnny oxygen from his environment by immers-
was only during Ben’s sojourn away from
can absorb up to Shift-X Intensity heat ing him, covering him with an extinguish-
Earth that he and Alicia finally got to
and flame. He can maintain this ex- ing substance, or removing all the air
know each other. The romance flared
treme energy level for up to ten turns; from his vicinity.
quickly. When Ben first discovered what
then he must release it in a Nova Depending on the nature and Intensity
had happened, he almost killed Johnny.
Flame. of the fire-negating attack, Johnny may
Since Johnny and Alicia have married,
• Self-ignition—If Johnny is having trou- suffer additional damage as well.
the Thing has calmed down, although
ble flaming on, he can absorb the heat However, wearing an “atmo-web” of
Johnny suspects that Crystal’s presence
in his immediate vicinity and use it to Reed’s design, Johnny can function in a
in the latest FF team is one of Ben’s
kindle his own flame. This drops the vacuum or Under the water for several
ploys to get revenge.
temperature in each adjacent area by hours at a time.
30 degrees. The flames of the Human Torch can
RUNNING THE HUMAN TORCH:Johnny
True Flight:Johnny can fly with Excellent also be disrupted by other flames at
Storm began as a brash, hot-headed
speed (150 mph). When he does so, he precisely the right temperature. Any
teen. Now he is a brash, hot-headed
leaves a fiery trail that persists for an other character with Fire Generation can
adult. His power reflects his personality
additional five turns. This power only upset the Torch’s flames (doing Remark-
perfectly. He is prone to action without
functions when he is aflame. able Force damage) by making a Power
thought. It is only when he is alone with
Specific Resistance (Flame, Heat): FEAT at Unearthly intensity.
Alicia that the quiet, introspective side of
Johnny has Class 1000 Resistance to
his personality comes out.
heat and fire based attacks. This func- TALENTS:Johnny is an expert automo-
tions no matter which state he assumes. bile mechanic, an authority on automo-
7
CRYSTAL tions and laws of Inhuman society, even
Crystal Amaquelin Maximoff if this is to her detriment. While married
to Quicksilver, she has changed from an
F GD (10) Health: 60 adoring wife to stoic sufferer of his
A EX (20) abuse. With her newly declared indepen-
S GD (10) Karma: 26 dence, her days of willing suffering are
E EX (20) done.
R GD (10) Resources: EX(20)
I GD (10)
P TY (6) Popularity: 15 MEDUSA
(80 among Inhumans) Medusalith Amaquelin
Queen of Attilan
KNOWN POWERS:
Elemental Control:Crystal can control F RM (30) Health: 110
the four classical “elements” of earth, air, A RM (30)
water, and fire with Monstrous rank abil- S EX (20) Karma: 70
ity. She can maintain a specific effect for E RM (30)
up to one hour before fatigue sets in. R GD (10) Resources: EX(20)
She has developed the following stunts I RM (30)
that she can use without cost: P RM (30) Popularity: 15
• Fire Generation of Excellent intensity (90 among Inhumans)
within five areas.
• Negating fires with Remarkable inten- KNOWN POWERS:
sity within five areas. Prehensile Hair:Medusa has the Remark-
• Remarkable Weather Control. able rank ability to use her hair like a
• Water Animation—Crystal has the series of tiny tentacles. Her power is
Monstrous ability to move water., telekinetic in nature; despite its ability to
• Earth Animation—Crystal has the Mon- move, her hair is almost identical to
strous ability to move natural soil and normal human hair. However, it is 12 feet
rock, create tremors of Amazing inten- long and more resilient than normal
sity, and propel rocks as weapons that therefore related to Scarlet Witch and (Incredible material strength). Her power
do Incredible damage up to 5 areas Magneto, her relations with her husband enables her to do the following stunts at
away. and in-laws vary widely with time. no cost:
• Whirlwind—Crystal can make the air • Handle objects with Incredible Strength
transport her and anyone in the same BACKGROUND:Crystal is the younger and Agility.
area with Remarkable speed. sister of Medusa. As a child, her exposure • Perform up to three actions simultane-
to Terrigen Mists brought forth her powers. ously using her hair alone. However,
WEAKNESS:All Inhumans have a Mo- When Maximus drove the Royal Family this requires such concentration that
lecular Allergy to compounds found in air into exile, Crystal first encountered the Medusa is unable to perform any con-
pollution. The result is physical incapaci- outside world. There she met and fell in current non-hair actions.
tation as the Inhuman becomes ex- love with Johnny Storm. Crystal assumed • Attack opponents up to one area away
tremely ill. Normally, Crystal would have Sue’s position in the FF when Sue was at Incredible rank, with Remarkable
to make a red Endurance FEAT each pregnant with Franklin. Later, her increas- damage.
week she is on Earth. However, Mr. ing allergy to New York’s air forced her to • Move along the ground 3 areas per
Fantastic has created an antidote which leave the group. While heading home, she round or Climb at a speed of 2 stories
enables the Inhumans to breathe the air met Quicksilver and brought him to Attilan. per round.
without harm. There they fell in love and eventually mar- • Rotate her hair like a propeller to cre-
ried. ate Excellent intensity winds.
TALENTS:Crystal possesses basic Shortly after the Inhumans moved their
medical skills, primarily First Aid. She city to the moon’s Blue Area, Crystal WEAKNESS:Like the rest of the Inhu-
can also operate the medical equipment gave birth to Luna, a completely human mans, Medusa has a Debilitating Molecu-
in the FF’s headquarters. As a member child. Her marriage to Quicksilver disinte- lar Allergy to the chemical pollutants of
of the Inhumans’ Royal House, she pos- grated as he fell into madness. She has the industrialized world. She must make
sesses Political skills, which give her a now left Attilan to return to the FF, along a green Endurance FEAT each week she
+1CS in FEAT rolls dealing with politics. with her daughter and Luna’s nurse, is in the outside world; failure to do so
Maya. renders her Incredibly ill. Reed has come
CONTACTS:Crystal is a member of the up with a serum that negates this weak-
Royal Family of the Inhumans and a RUNNING CRYSTAL:In her early adven- ness.
member of the Fantastic Four. While she tures, Crystal resembled a naive country
is technically married to Quicksilver and girl just visiting the city for the first time. TALENTS:Medusa has Martial Arts C
Even now, she is bound by the conven- when she uses her hair in combat. She is
8
him. Since that time she has always
served as the royal interpreter. Their con-
stant companionship eventually turned
into love and marriage.
When Maximus forced the Royal Fam-
ily into exile, she lost her memory in an
air crash that separated her from the rest
of the group. She wandered Europe and
used her power to commit petty theft to
survive. In Paris she was found by the
Wizard, who recruited her as “Madame
Medusa” into his new supervillain team,
the Frightful Four. Eventually the rest of
the Royal Family found her and restored
her memory. Since that time, she has
always been at Black Bolt’s side except
for short journeys to the outside and for
two extended periods. The first was
when she replaced Sue in the Fantastic
Four (Sue and Reed were separated at
the time). The second was when she was
kidnapped by the criminal organization,
the Enclave.
RUNNING MEDUSA:Medusa is a
fiercely loyal member of the Royal Fam-
ily. She is a firm friend of the FF and will
do anything to help them so long as it
does not harm Attilan’s interests. When
she was a member of the Frightful Four,
the only person who can read Black her motivations were gratitude to the
Bolt’s body language well enough to Wizard for rescuing her and boredom TALENTS:Having experience on both
understand him; she thus acts as his from a lack of anything better to do. sides of the law gives Cage both Law
interpreter to others. (in game terms, Following her return to the Royal Family, Enforcement and Criminology skills. His
there is a one round delay when Black she now sees that team as an annoying partnership with Iron Fist gave him the
Bolt wants to speak through Medusa to embarrassment from her past. opportunity to learn Martial Arts A and E.
another character.)
CONTACTS:As a temporary member of
CONTACTS:Medusa is a member of the POWER MAN the Fantastic Four, Cage can call on the
Royal Family of the Inhuman race and Luke Cage team anytime. He was partners with Iron
can call upon any of them for assistance. Fist in a “hero-for-hire” agency, and still
Since her marriage to Black Bolt, she F RM (30) Health: 130 works closely with Nightwing Restora-
has become that race’s queen. In her A GD (10) tions, the detective agency run by Misty
earlier adventures, when she was an S IN (40) Karma: 36 Knight and Colleen Wing.
exile and suffering from amnesia, she E AM (50)
became a member of the super-villain R GD (10) Resources: PR(4) BACKGROUND:“Luke Cage” experi-
team, the Frightful Four. When she re- I EX (20) enced a deprived childhood in Harlem
gained her memory and then later joined P TY (6) Popularity: 18 where he often committed petty crimes
the FF, she and the remaining Frightful with his buddy Willy Stryker. As they
Four (er, Three) became foes. KNOWN POWERS: grew up, they grew apart. Cage tried to
True Invulnerability:The density of Cage’s find honest work while Stryker became a
BACKGROUND:Medusalith Amaquelin body tissue has been artificially ampli- professional criminal. Their rivalry for the
is the daughter of nutritionists Quelin and fied. The result is that Cage’s body has woman Reva Connors finally drove them
Amber, the older sister of Crystal, and the natural equivalent of Incredible rank apart. Stryker framed Cage for drug
the second cousin of Black Bolt. She was armor plate, both inside and out. He can dealing. Reva was killed shortly after-
born into the Royal Family of Attilan. Her resist extremes in temperature from -100 ward in a hit intended for Stryker. From
exposure to the Terrigen Mists as an to 2850 degrees Fahrenheit and electric Seagate Prison, Cage vowed revenge on
infant gave her well-developed hair and shocks of 30,000 volts. Stryker. His anger grew; he frequently
the psionic skills to handle it. When she Regeneration: Cage has Poor rank self- got into trouble for fights and escape
was young, she visited the confined healing ability and can heal three times attempts. Even his parole hearings tend-
Black Bolt and learned to understand as fast as a normal person. ed to end in violence.
9