Bad Tymes: Fleshing out the 90s

[winterhawk]

My campaign timeline follows traditional comic ages i.e. heroes came about and had a heyday during WWII (The Golden Age), had a resurgence in the early 1960s (The Silver Age) and so on.  In rereading some old stuff, I came across a couple of throwaway lines:

 

"Bought the farm back in the Nineties sometime.  Ran up against those clowns with all the ammo pouches and y's in their names."

 

"Like I said, it was those guys with the bad haircuts and all the guns.  I don't think they lasted past '96."

 

It struck me that I never fleshed out the aforementioned 90s Iron Age anti-heroes.  It has been a good long while since I've posted here, so I figured I'd open the build to the learned panel for suggestions.  I was thinking of patterning them based off of the Image/Marvel formula of oversized strong guy, leader with a bunch of guns, claw guy, etc. but I'm open.  What are the character types that are a must for the gritty period of 90s comics?  How about some hero names with good 90s stink on them?  What tropes from the era are good for a character background?  Anything else I'm missing?

 

I thank the learned panel in advance for any and all ideas.

[Anaximander]

Wasn't a big fan of the Iron Age.  I do remember a lot mutant animal martial artists, a few mohawked punk guys, and such, but as far as power and skill sets, I think you pretty much nailed it.

[Cassandra]

The 90s were an era of superheroes in street clothes.  Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charmed were both superhero shows, just with a supernatural bent.  You had The Villain of the Weak, the Big Bad of the Season (Campaign), the DNPC (Buffy's Mom), the Watchers (literal Giles), and Followers (The Scobie Gang).  

 

Mutant X was another good example of superheroes in street clothes.  Secret groups of teams who are fighting a hidden evil that threatens an unsuspecting humanity.

[Christopher R Taylor]

big swords, big guns, tiny feet, gritted teeth, military style jackets with pouches everywhere

[wcw43921]

If you have Enemies of San Angelo, the characters Salvo (mercenary with an energy rifle, pg. 82) and Eradicator (cyborg with a sonic energy weapon built into his arm, pg. 45) would make good Nineties-esque anti-heroes.  I would bump up Salvo to SPD 5 and give him an energy pistol or two for backup weapons. 

 

Of Course, if you're looking for a walking arsenal, there's the CU's version of the Punisher, Thunderbird (CKC, pg. 207).  You would need to play with his Psych Lims so he isn't a danger to any superpowered teammates, but as far as powers and skills, he's good to go.  Except for the name--I'd call him Commando X.

 

Then there's Lazer (CKC, pg. 166) who is perhaps the closest the CU has to Boba Fett.  Change his name to Hunter-Killer ("Wait--he's one of the heroes?")  change his Psych Lims so he's not so greedy, and you're all set. 

 

You'll need a strongman--start with Ogre (CKC, pg. 187) bump his INT to 15 ("Ya think 'cause I'm big I gotta be dumb?") then describe him as being twelve feet tall and goes around with a big, satisfied smirk all the time.  Call him--Crush.

 

You'll also need a super-archer.  Start with Warpath (CKC, pg 47) change gender from female to male, change the Psych Lims so he's a super-patriot, and call him Straight Arrow.  Or Volley Fire.  Whichever you prefer.

 

There is a female member of the team--Electrica, who can transform into a human-shaped lightning bolt.  She can fly, shoot electric blasts, and is intangible--but mostly she's an excuse for the artist to draw a nude female figure without getting in trouble.

 

Then there's the obligatory government liaison--some man or woman in a trenchcoat and dark glasses whose job is to stand in the background and snarl at them whenever they go too far. 

 

Which they always do.

 

I hope that's what you're looking for.

[death tribble]

Cable came about in the 90s

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cable_%28comics%29

 

Anything that Rob Liefeld came up with like Youngblood

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youngblood_%28comics%29

 

Spawn came out in the 90s

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spawn_%28comics%29

 

Savage Dragon as well. His series appeared in the 90s under the Image imprint.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savage_Dragon

 

Then there is the X-Men rip off, Cyber Force

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyberforce

I was so absorbed by this that I missed the links to the X-Men. Guess who collects the X-Men ?

[BoloOfEarth]

Years ago, someone contributed a supervillain team to an issue of Haymaker! that I though was hilarious and very 90s-esque.  (Props to Mike Sims, creator of Deathforce 7)

 

 

Background/History: The mercenary group known as Deathforce 7 has its roots in the darkest corners of the multiverse.

 

Picture a place where all the men are incredibly well muscled and grimacing.

Picture a place where all the women are incredibly beautiful, impossibly long legged and grimacing.

 

Picture a place where a person’s status and ‘kewlness’ is determined by the length of their ponytail, the size of their gun, and the number of pouches they have.

 

Picture a place where super powered individuals appear as little more than loose concepts based around a look – as if a creator somewhere had an idea, drew a picture based on that idea, and then let it loose on the world without really considering the consequences.

This, dear readers, is the Extreme Awesomeverse (or the Awesome Extremiverse depending on who you ask) and it is this universe that spawned Deathforce 7.

 

With no real background or history they simply appeared one day in an already overcrowded universe full of forgotten characters with pouches a plenty. And guns. And swords. And more pouches. And more guns. And maybe one more pouch.

[Hermit]

Names with Shadow, Blood, Death, Storm in them work well, often with bad spelling.

Example of iron age cheese "I'm a killer from a long line of killers, but I sate my dark urges by hunting down the scum that would prey on others. Killing is in my blood, shadows stain my soul... but Shadowblud will be a force for... "*cocks huge gun* ".... extreme justice!"

 

Oh, and Extreme is a great word for team names

[Christopher R Taylor]

Pretty much anything that was put out with the Hero reboot attempt Fuzion, really.

 

I would say that Savage Dragon was in the era but he wasn't really part of the genre.

[winterhawk]

Years ago, someone contributed a supervillain team to an issue of Haymaker! that I though was hilarious and very 90s-esque.  (Props to Mike Sims, creator of Deathforce 7)

 

This is exactly what I was going for and that's a great name.

 

Names with Shadow, Blood, Death, Storm in them work well, often with bad spelling.

Example of iron age cheese "I'm a killer from a long line of killers, but I sate my dark urges by hunting down the scum that would prey on others. Killing is in my blood, shadows stain my soul... but Shadowblud will be a force for... "*cocks huge gun* ".... extreme justice!"

 

Oh, and Extreme is a great word for team names

 

Again, good suggestions.  I always thought Bloodstrike, a Liefeld creation, was one of the worst team names ever.  I know I'll hit on the team name if/when I hear it and hate it.  Extreme Justice, Extreme Measures...there's something there.

 

Okay this has gotten my creative juices flowing.  Here's what I've got so far... 

 

Khord: Gun toting cyborg leader.  Intimates that he's from the future on some mission of great import.  "Why did you kill the Deputy Mayor?!?!"  *grimacing* "It's complicated."

 

Bludgeon or perhaps better Bludjun: Obligatory small-head, huge-body brick.  I don't seem to recall any of these guys having a character hook other than being big and strong.

 

I know I need an claw/blade guy with a compound name like Ripclaw/Warblade and the required scantily clad female with porn star proportions but nothing's jumping out at me yet.  How about a fifth member?  Isn't the 90s when Marvel had the run with the dark magic guys like Ghost Rider and the vampires and stuff...Midnight Sons or something? 

 

Thanks for the suggestions, keep them coming!

[Vondy]

Don't forget disturbingly pronounced scoliosis in women's spines.

[Hermit]

Oh... this thread reminded me of an older one in the archives...

Deth Sturm

[wcw43921]

I know I need an claw/blade guy with a compound name like Ripclaw/Warblade and the required scantily clad female with porn star proportions but nothing's jumping out at me yet.  How about a fifth member?  Isn't the 90s when Marvel had the run with the dark magic guys like Ghost Rider and the vampires and stuff...Midnight Sons or something? 

 

Here's an idea for your claw/blade guy--Swordfight.  Start with El Muerto Obscuro then change his ninja costume to a skintight ninja costume with bare arms.  He has two swords which he dual-wields; both with Armor Piercing, and he has--at the very least--a dozen skill levels so he can do things like slice off women's clothes without drawing a drop of blood   He should also have Leaping so he jump right into the midst of the enemy mooks and slice through them like fruit in a blender set to "Liquefy."

 

For the scantily clad female with porn star proportions, let me suggest Glory  Start with Mind Slayer (CKC, pg. 97), give her some Martial Arts manuevers, at least three levels in Striking Appearance, and increase her Seduction roll.  Change her Complications so that she's constantly flirting with every man she meets, especially her teammates--this is because she was part of a superhuman genetics program that intended that its subjects would mate with each other and produce an entire generation of superbeings.  The program was broken up by the authorities--at least as far as everyone knows.

 

Hope that helps.

[pinecone]

For Porn star killa! I suggest Bloodshadow, or ShadoBlade...wears a weapons belt/g string....two pistols, funky bladed weapon, boatloads of Martiall arts and some levels. Her signature "move" is to shoot, or slice her targets eyes out.

[Christopher R Taylor]

Remember, a sword isn't enough.  It has to have two blades or be gigantic, preferably some kind of katana type.  Add some axe heads and chains to it to make it more radical, dude.

[DShomshak]

Huge metallic pauldrons, greaves and bracers that extend into long fins/spikes, or high metallic collars that also end in, yes, fins or spikes. The costume should be blatantly lethal to the wearer, should he actually try to fight while wearing it.

 

Really, anything that could look kewl for a character, exaggerated to fetishistic absurdidty.

 

Dean Shomshak

[winterhawk]

 

Here's an idea for your claw/blade guy--Swordfight.

 

Wow, yeah, I really like that name.  Except I think I'll use it for an actual sword guy ala Shatterstar or Deadpool...with no less than six swords strapped across his back, as impossible as that is.

 

And I think I actually hit on a team name...

 

 

In the wake of the Battle of Detroit and with the number of heroes in Chicago at an all time low, a new team  emerges seemingly out of nowhere.  Given to brutal tactics, Bloodforce 13 seems less interested in typical heroics,  rather pursuing a mysterious agenda that puts them on both sides of the law.

 

Bloodforce is pretty much the worst name I could come up with and the 13 is for...reasons, as the kids like to say.

[Anaximander]

How about Bludklaw for your claw fighter?

[steriaca]

I kinda like Deadface in my makes no sense but sounds kool 90's name.

[Burrito Boy]

I'm reminded of the videogame Bart shoplifted on an old episode of The Simpsons: Bonestorm.

[freakboy6117]

How about BLAYDLAWD

[assault]

How about BLAYDLAWD

 

The great Welsh hero!

 

Although that should probably be Bllayyddllwd, not to be confused with Bllyyddllwd, a completely different person.

[steriaca]

A few names to consider...

 

Hackjob

 

Dedneck (Dead Neck in 90's kewl)

 

Gunzs'enrose

 

Fortavive (45 in 90's kewl)

 

Pockets

 

Kalabur

 

Karkar

 

Goreface

 

Bug Squisher

 

X-Mighty

 

X-Terminator

 

X-Kool

 

Papa Bladezenbud

[steriaca]

How to name a 90's comic book guy.

 

1) Use words like blood, guts, bone, mussel, and other things normal people can not see normally.

 

2) Liberal use of the letters x, using z instead of s, and k instead of c.

 

3) Spell words photonicly. For example spell Bud and not Blood.

 

4) The more the name makes no sense, the better.

[DShomshak]

Don't forget sinister government conspiracies. If a hero team is sponsored by the US government, it is either a villainous fraud or being manipulated by its own sponsoring agency. An independent team's government liaison is not just a bad-tempered hardass, but actively working against the team or trying to take control of it for evil ends.

 

Ditto for big corporations involved with super-teams, though these might be outright villain teams with no pretense.

 

Super-powered factions (especially of mutants) that are nominally hostile, and one is nominally heroic and the others villainous -- but characters move between teams/factions with ease, or make common cause against some other foe. As in, sure, Magneto's killed lots of people and tried to conquer the world lots of times, but what the hell, now he's an X-Man and even running the school.  Or the team includes members of the Hellfire Club. And so on. And if a "hero" goes nuts or has an emotional breakdown and becomes a villain for a while, no worries, all can be forgiven.

 

All that's necessary for someone to be a hero is to have an enemy worse than they are.

 

Dean Shomshak