X is for XXX Franchise

The only Suicide Squad member with a name that starts with X I could find is Xavi, a convict give the Blaze Treatment that appeared in two issues of the three part Black Label Suicide Squad: Blaze miniseries. He's introduced in the first issue and killed in the second. I honestly don't even really understand his powers. That's why I had to go a different route.

It's not a great film, but I love XXX. I remember watching it in theaters with a group of friends. I decided to check it out again the other day and came to a realization. What Samuel L. Jackson's character, Augustus Gibbons, does in that movie is essentially what Amanda Waller does with Task Force X. He takes bad people (at least in the traditional sense) and uses them to fight the bad guys on behalf of the United States government. That sounds really familiar doesn't it? Seriously check out this dialogue from the flick.

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Gibbons: Sir, I think its time we tried something new.

NSA Agent: The guys aren't ours. Who are they? CIA?

Gibbons: No, civilians. Convicts, mercs, contract killers. The best and the brightest of the bottom of the barrel. 

NSA Agent: They are the scum of the earth.

Gibbons: They're programable, expendable, and they work. I think it's our best shot. Do we want to drop another mouse in the snake pit? Or do we went to send out own snake and let him crawl in?

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There are three movies in the franchise. In the US the first two are streaming (as of the time of this post) on MAX and the third is on Paramount+.

In the original XXX, extreme sports fanatic Xander Cage is forcibly recruited by NSA higher up, August Gibbons to infiltrate a terrorist group called Anarchy 99 in Eastern Europe. He works with NSA techno-genius Toby Lee Shavers and falls in love with Anarchy 99 member (and secret agent), Yelena. This is the original and my favorite. It's targeted towards the early 00's male teen demographic, but I was a male teen in the early 00's so I was cool with that. I thought Yelena (played by Dario Argento's daughter Asia) was super hot and Xander was just cool. Danny Trejo has a very minor role as a Colombian Cartel torturer. Of course he gets killed, because Trejo will only play a villain if they get killed for their actions. Thinking back on it now, Jackson's Gibbons is an early version of what his MCU Nick Fury would be. I also want to point out that the song that plays during the credits, Adrenaline by Bush's Gavan Rossdale is a fantastic song.

In the sequel, XXX: State of the Union, the xXx command center is attacked and most of the personal are killed (with the exception of Shavers and Gibbons). It's also reported that Xander Cage has been killed. Gibbons and Shavers go rogue (because they realize it's an inside job) and break Darius Stone, played by Ice Cube), a former Navy Seal who served with Gibbons and is doing 20 years in Leavenworth for disobeying orders and breaking the jaw of a four-star general. Who plays the four-star general? Why that would be iconic actor, Willem Dafoe. Dafoe's General Deckert is planning a coup and Stone, the new xXx has to take him down. He is aided by some friends from his past, played by Xzibit and Marvin Gaye's daughter Nona. as well as NSA Agent Kyle Steele, played by Scott Speedman.

In the most recent film, XXX: Return of Xander Cage, it's revealed that (surprise) Xander is still alive. He's recruited by CIA agent Jane Marke, played by the outstanding Toni Collette) to find a device called Pandora's Box that is a threat to the entire world. Xander recruits a team of friends to retrieve the device from Xiang, played by Donnie Yen, and his team. This movie is even more over the top than the original, but it was fun as Hell. The cast is also a who's who of awesome actors (and one who was later tried and convicted of serial rape...). My favorite of thse folks are Ruby Rose, Tony Jaa, and Rory McCann. Oh and I adored the ditzy, pervy tech expert Becky, played by Nina Dobrev. 

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If I were to include XXX and Task Force X in the same setting I'd say that Gibbons got the idea for xXx from Amanda Waller and that the two teams have a friendly rivalry. To be honest, I think an undercover Deadshot would be a great addition to XXX.

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Code Name: xXx

Real Name: Xander Cage

Team Affiliations: XXX program

Medium Humanoid, Chaotic Good

Armor Class: 14 (Dex)

Hit Points:  60 (8d8+24)

Speed: 30 ft.

Challenge:  (1,100 XP)

Str 18 (+4) Dex 18 (+4) Con 16 (+3) Int 12 (+1) Wis 10 (+2) Cha 14 (+2)

Saving Throws: Dex +7, Con +6

Skills:  Acrobatics +7, Athletics +7, Deception +5, Intimidation +5, Persuasion +5, Stealth +7

Proficiencies: Explosives, Land Vehicles, Air Vehicles, Water Vehicles

Senses: passive Perception 15

Languages: English, Russian, Spanish

Traits

Evasion: When subjected to an effect that allows him to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, Xander instead takes no damage if he succeeds on a saving throw, and only half if he fails.

I Live For This Shit!: Xander has advantage on all Strength (Athletics) and Dexterity (Acrobatics) skill checks. He also has advantage on all Vehicle related skill checks. He has resistance to bludgeoning damage caused by falls or vehicle accidents. 

Actions

Multiattack: Xander can make three unarmed attacks or two .

Unarmed : Melee Weapon Attack. +7  to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d4+4) bludgeoning damage.

XXX Field Revolver: Ranged Weapon Attack. +7 to hit, range 90/270 ft., one target, Hit: 14 (3d6+4) piercing damage. (6 shots before reload, alternate ammo)

• Datura Knockout Darts - Hit: 1 piercing damage and target must make a Constitution Saving Throw (DC 14) or fall unconscious for 8 hour or until forcefully woken up.
• Tranquilizer and Blood Splatter Darts - Hit: 1 piercing damage and target must make a Constitution Saving Throw (DC 14) or fall unconscious for 1 hour and appears to have been shot with a kill shot. 
• Radio Surveillance Darts - These darts do no damage but have a microphone that transmits radio sounds up to three miles away
• Exploding Darts - Hit: 25 (6d6+4) bludgeoning damage.

Equipment: XXX Field Revolver, 4 Datura Knockout Darts, 4 Tranquilizer and Blood Splatter Darts, 4 Radio Surveillance Darts, 4 Exploding Darts, 24 44. Caliber Rounds, Eagle Eyes (tech goggles with nine visions modes, including night vision [darkvsion 60'] and penetrator mode [acts as Ring of X-Ray Vision]).