Blankman (1994)

Recently I decided to dig in my collection and watch some superhero flicks and shows that weren't about characters created by the big two.

Plot

Darryl is a socially awkward genius who sees the world the rose colored glasses. He lives his grandma, his brother Kevin, and inventing things. His world is turned upside down when his grandmother is killed. Donning a homemade superhero costume made bulletproof by a formula he accidentally created, he becomes Blankman, a hero seeking to clean up the city.

Review

A goofy superhero parody about family and having hope, this movie was a box office and critical disappointment upon its release. It's gained a cult following on home release and there are a lot of folks like me that grew up loving it. 

The cast is a lot of fun. Damon Wayans is great as the man child lead. Yes he's goofy af, but he's so wholesome that it's hard not to love him. David Alan Grier is fantastic as his realist brother and plays a great straight man to his goofiness. Jon Polito is an iconic scumbag and is the kind of mobster you love to hate. Jason Alexander is another great scumbag antagonist. Robin Givens is a smart and sweet love interest. Though she isn't in the film too long, Lynne Thigpen is great as the boys' loving, but smart mouthed grandma. Honestly, one of the real standout characters to me is politician Marvin Harris who has one of the best (and serious) lines in the movie. 

While the film is hopeful and funny overall (being a parody and homage to the Adam West Batman series), there are two really dark moments. The first is when Kevin and Darryl's grandmother gets gunned down. The second is a scene involving a bomb going off at a bank, resulting in the death of the mayor. The first scene is a classic superhero origin trope, The latter actually does a great job of how absurd superhero stories are when the police let vigilantes handle dangerous situations.

Though it was released 16 years before the movie Kick-Ass, the two films have a quite a bit in common. Both movies show a "normal" person taking up the mantle of costume hero to clean up their city. The leads for both flicks end up inspiring other everyday citizens to take up the mantle. Both also show how dangerous and absurd everything is. The main difference is tone. As I said Blankman is ultimately a movie about hope and family, whereas Kick-Ass is more a critique of comic book vigilantism. 

Though it might be goofy and dated, this movie is still really entertaining. 

In Your Game

I've made some really silly 5e supers content: Eye-Scream, Soft Serve, Colonel Sanders, and Takeo Ischi to name a few. Now you can add Blankman and Other Guy to that list.

Code Name: Blankman

Real Name: Darryl Walker

Team Affiliations: -

Medium Humanoid, Lawful Good

Armor Class: 14 (Costume)

Hit Points: 27 (6d8)

Speed: 30 ft.

Challenge: 1/2 (100 XP)

Str 10 (+0) Dex 10 (+0) Con 10 (+0) Int 20 (+5) Wis 12 (+1) Cha 10 (+0)

Saving Throws: Int +7

Skills: Advanced Tech +7

Damage Resistance: Fire

Senses: passive Perception 11

Languages: English

Traits

Plunger Gun (costs 1 power point): This grappling allows Blankman fires a line line up to 60 feet veristically or horizontally. He moves at half speed (without requiring an Athletics skill roll) when doing so.

Rocket Boots (costs 1 power point): For one round Blankman's speed doubles.

Speculum of Life (costs 1 power point): The device gives advantage on skill checks to pry doors open.

Power Source ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ): Blankman's homemade gadgets have a limited power supply. His power source generates 10 power points before needed to be recharged for eight hours.

Actions

Automatic Nunchucks (costs 1 power point): Melee Attack. +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (2d4) bludgeoning damage.

The Boot (costs 1 power point): Ranged Attack. +2 to hit, range 20 ft., one target. Hit: 3 (1d6) bludgeoning damage.

Stink Bombs (1/day): Blankman chooses a 20-foot-radius without 60 ft. That radius is filled with a  nauseating gas for 1 minute. Creatures that start their turn in the cloud must make a Constitution saving throw (DC 15). On a failed save, the creature spends its action that turn retching and reeling. Creatures that don't need to breathe or are immune to poison automatically succeed on this saving throw. A moderate wind (at least 10 miles per hour) disperses the could after 4 rounds. A strong wind (at least 20 miles per hour) disperses it after 1 round.

Super Slick Blank Goop (1/day): Blankman covers a 10-foot square within 20 feet and turns it into difficult terrain. Creatures trying to move into or through it must make a Dexterity saving throw (DC 15) or fall prone. Additionally a creature ending its turn in the 10-foot square must do the same.

Unarmed: Melee Attack. +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 bludgeoning damage.

Code Name: Other Guy

Real Name: Kevin Walker

Team Affiliation: -

Medium Humanoid, Neutral Good

Armor Class: 12 (Dexterity) 

Hit Points: 39 (6d8+12)

Speed: 30 ft.

Challenge: 1/2 (100 XP)

Str 14 (+2) Dex 14 (+2) Con 14 (+2) Int 10 (+0) Wis 13 (+1) Cha 10 (+0)

Saving Throws: Con +4

Skills: Athletics +4, Stealth +4

Tools: Camera

Senses: passive Perception 11

Languages: English

Actions

Mutliattack: Other Guy makes three martial arts attacks

Martial Arts: Melee Attack. +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4+2) bludgeoning damage.