Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
April A-Z
April 1st is a week away and I still haven't decided what I want my A-Z theme will be. In recent years I've done 5e supers stats (Suicide Squad and for my setting New Punverse) and Evil Dead Universe stats for the Army of Darkness RPG.
Honestly 5e supers stats tend to come the easiest to me. I could go with that again, choosing another theme (or even doing Suicide Squad members again).
I have access to the 2024 D&D core books, so I could try statting up some npcs and monsters for it. So far the only time I've done that is for my Art the Clown stats.
Another idea I had was to give a brief description of a bar/tavern that can be dropped into campaigns. This route would honestly be easier in some ways. I wouldn't necessarily have to create stats and even if I did, I could do so with multiple systems. I feel like this one could also be the most challenging because it would require me to come up with more original content then I normally do. I mean, creating something new and converting something to a system are definitely two different things.
I'll figure something out I'm sure. If you have thoughts about these ideas or another suggestion, let me know.
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Z is for Zebra-Man
Their have been at least four characters to use the name Zebra-Man. The original has an ability called Diamagnetism, which allows him to repel and attract anything but metal. The original was a Batman villain. While fighting Zebra-Man, Batman was bombarded with the same radiation that gave the villain his power. Later the villainous corporation Kobra creates their own Zebra-Man to gain control of Stagg Enterprises. This one also used Diamagnetism. The New 52 introduced another version who ends up taking the moniker Vortex. This version also had super strength.
I'm going to talk about the latest Zebra-Man, though to be honest there isn't much to say. At one point he was a member of Cheetah's animal-themed team of villains, the Menagerie (which also included Weasel). After that he joined the anti-Task Force X group, the Revolutionaries. This group was seen as terrorists by some and revolutionaries by others. He was later brought in as a member of the Suicide Squad, where he served as the body guard to Amanda Waller's replacement Lok. He was an odd character, but kind of interesting.
Monday, April 29, 2024
Y is for Yo-Yo
Saturday, April 27, 2024
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.----------
Medium Humanoid, Chaotic Good
- 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.
Friday, April 26, 2024
W is for Weasel
The comic version of Weasel is John "Jack" Monroe. He was a student at Stanford and later taught at Vandemeer University. While at Stanford he was a classmate of Martin Stein (one half of Firestorm), though Stein didn't remember him. He wasn't a metahuman, but rather a serial killer in a weasel fursuit. This version was killed by Rick Flag using the Thinker's Cap.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
V is for (Count) Vertigo
There have been a few versions of Count Vertigo. The primary version is Werner Vertigo (later comics name him Werner Zytle). He is a noble from the tiny Eastern European nation of Vlatava. While he appears and an upstanding noble, he is often scheming (being involved in organized crime and in some versions plotting against his niece, the rightful heir to his nation's thrown). Originally a Green Arrow foe, Count Vertigo has been on a few incarnations of the Suicide Squad (and appeared in the animated Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay flick).
Two different versions of Vertigo appeared in Arrow. I didn't watch much of the series, but I guess the characters were supplied a drug called Vertigo.
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
U is for Unknown Soldier
Named after the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery, there have been characters that went by the codename Unknown Soldier in DC Comics. The original was a master of disguise that fought Nazis (and had a tell for those looking for him because he would scratch when wearing his disguises).
The version I'm going to be talking about was first introduced in the New 52, this Unknown Soldier appeared in backup stories in GI Combat. He was an American fighting in Afghanistan. Sometime after that series he was recruited by Amanda Waller into the Suicide Squad. However, this wasn't Waller, but actually Thinker in disguise. He has undergone a special procedure called A.M.M.O. (Advanced Military Medical Operations) that gives him enhanced agility and durability. He is faster than Deadshot and has survived being buried in an explosion and being shot point black in the head. He also has night vision, accelerated healing, and all of the memories and skills of the previous Unknown Soldiers.
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
T is for the Thinker
There are two incarnations of the Thinker that have connections to the Suicide Squad.
In the comics, Cliff Carmichael is the second villain to take the moniker of the Thinker. He was originally a Firestorm villain. Well technically he started as a rival and bully of Ronnie Raymond (one half of Firestorm). He was eventually committed to a mental institution after accidentally paralyzing his cousin. For unknown reasons scientists experimented on him with the original Thinker's cap, turning him into the second Thinker. This cap is a powerful device and even corrupts the noble Rick Flag on one mission. This is the version that has served on the Suicide Squad a few times. He was seemingly killed on a few missions. He eventually returned as a cyborg, before being killed again.
The Thinker of the The Suicide Squad is quite different. He's a degenerate Scottish scientist, played by the amazing Peter Capaldi. He works in Corto Maltese, where he continues the Nazi science experiments at Jötunheim and tries to weaponize Starro the Conqueror.
Going to give stats for the DCEU Thinker and comics' Thinker's Cap.
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Monday, April 22, 2024
S is for Support Staff
Emilia Harcourt is a government agent that worked with Amanda Waller and A.R.G.U.S./Task Force X. She's a no-nonsense, investigator, spy, and mission coordinator. The comic version is more sinister, having betrayed the team while working for the terrorist organization The People.
Florence "Flo" Crawley is a naïve and optimistic mission coordinator and computer tech in the comics. Sadly she is killed while on a mission to Apokolips. In The Suicide Squad she was part of the mission team that rebelled against Waller and helped the Squad save Corto Malteze from Starro the Conqueror. She knocked Waller out during that incident and according to Gunn she's serving prison time for it (which is why she isn't in Peacemaker).
Leota Adebayo (née Waller) is an original Gunn creation for Peacemaker. The daughter of Amanda Waller, before the series Adebayo lived with her wife, Keeya, and worked at a dog shelter in Gotham. After losing her job, he mother offered her a position in Project Butterfly. Despite the secret she hid from her team, she was one of the more kind members. She can be just as manipulative as her mother, but shows remorse when doing so (like when she got Vigilante to try to kill Peacemaker's father). She also used the human torpedo helmet and saved the day.
While not an actual support staff member, it felt like a disservice to not mention the Suicide Squad's ride. Briscoe named the Squad's primary transport after his deceased daughter. In the comics Sheba was heavily armed and Briscoe could active it by voice. It was created by Ferris Aircraft. Not going to go stat the helicopter out, but wanted to mention her.
Saturday, April 20, 2024
R is for Rick Flag
In most iterations of the character, Rick Flag Jr. is the voice of reason and moral compass of the Suicide Squad. He's done some awful things while following orders, like many special forces soldiers, but ultimately he's a good man who does what's right. He genuinely cares for the villains and soldiers under his command and isn't afraid to call Waller out. He's a tragic character that has many physical and mental scars from his time serving his country.
Rick Flag Jr. has appeared in a few tv series, films, and video games. My favorite version is Joel Kinnamen's. Even though he's a dick in Ayer's Suicide Squad, I loved him. The version in Gunn's The Suicide Squad was perfect (and broke my heart).
Medium Humanoid, Neutral Good
Friday, April 19, 2024
Q is for Quartzite
Medium Humanoid, Neutral Evil
Thursday, April 18, 2024
P is for Popper
These panels come from the same Suicide Squad run that featured Larvanaut. The big guy that gets blow up is Big Sir, and this initial Suicide Squad team is the Justice League Antarctica (minus G'nort). Also Big Sir probably has the record for fastest Squad member to die on a mission (at least in the comics).
In the issue it’s never explained whether poppers are robots or genetically engineered bombs. I'm going to go with robots, because it's less disturbing. Honestly, they seem like something Waller would use if she got her hands on them.
Popper
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
O is for Oracle
This might sound controversial, but I really don't like Alan Moore's The Killing Joke. There are several reasons, but the main is because of the treatment of Barbara Gordon. It was fridging, before the coin was termed. Because there was no editorial edict or plans to use Batgirl again, Ostrander and his team decided to give the character second life. They didn't want to magically cure her paralysis, but still knew Babs was a great character and deserved new stories. In their Suicide Squad, Firestorm, and Manhunter stories a hacker named Oracle was introduced. Initially the readers didn't know Oracle was Barbara Gordon. The hacker helped Waller and when Flo, the main computer person for Task Force X, is killed, Waller informed Oracle. Waller saved Babs from an assassination attempt and was recruited to the team. When Waller was shot, Barbara even led Task Force X for a time.
Babs is a great character and I'm glad the folks writing Suicide Squad decided to give her new life. We wouldn't have the fantastic Birds of Prey if it not for the Squad.
I'm going to do something a little different today. While there are options like The Combat Wheelchair, I don't think I could do Oracle justice with the stats I would design. Instead I'm going to give a few alternate rewards like the ones presented in the Dungeon Master's Guide. These work like supernatural gifts or class abilities. Players can gain them if they gain Oracle's trust and respect.
Minor Boon
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
N is for Nemesis
Monday, April 15, 2024
M is for Meow Meow
Meow Meow is a Suicide Squad member that has (to my knowledge) only appeared in the three part DC Black Label title Suicide Squad: Get Joker!. While she only appeared in three issues in her introduction Harley says that she went on a few Squad missions with her and vouched for her to team leader, Red Hood. While I didn't like everything about that story (particularly Rick Flag and the Task Force X kill squad's willingness to kill Jokerized kids), overall I enjoyed the story.
Not much is known about her. She's from Tokyo (Meow Meow is a translation of her name). She has necrotic powers. She can kill cells and rot tissue throw contact. She also makes a comment in the series that she implied she did some super creepy fetish work.
Saturday, April 13, 2024
L is for Larvanaut
Spinning out of the Our Worlds At War event, Sgt. Rock lead a version of the Suicide Squad in the early 2000's. I've never actually read this run, but have read a bit about it. The collected volume is on my wishlist.
Larvanaut was a part of this short lived version of the squad. Not much is known about him or his abilities. He has bluish-purple skin, had large metal gauntlets, had a prehensile tail, and had some sort of device over his mouth. In his first and only mission he and his team were sent to find the queen of a hive of advanced killer ants. Larvanaut was the tracker and after locating the the targets he abandoned the group. However, he was able to kill the queen and complete the mission. However he was considered expendable and was devoured by the rest of the killer ants.
Friday, April 12, 2024
K is for King Shark
If King Shark takes 15 damage or more on a single turn
from a creature inside it, King Shark must succeed on a DC 16 Constitution
saving throw at the end of that turn or regurgitate all swallowed creatures,
which fall prone in
a space within 5 feet of the King Shark. If King Shark dies, a swallowed
creature is no longer restrained by
it and can escape from the corpse by using 30 feet of movement, exiting prone.




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