|
|
Post by scottenkainen on Oct 8, 2011 19:34:00 GMT -5
Shang-Chi was good, but my favorite non-mine issue of the latest releases was Red Skull #1. I don't get yet what it has to do with Marvel Comics other than two characters being coincidentally called Red Skull and Ameridroid, but it tops my list for what I assume is a brand new character -- Speedgear. Other than Lightning of T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, I can't think of any other hi-tech speedster, and Speedgear's super-speed has ingeniously descriptive physical characteristics. In fact, I hope Red Skull does well enough for Speedgear to get a spin-off series!
|
|
|
|
Post by Derrick on Oct 8, 2011 22:17:05 GMT -5
There's a whole lot more than just two characters. In fact, every name of every character in the story is a Marvel Comics character. I'll wait until the mini-series is finished before I give out with the background of The Red Skull's universe. But I will say that you will see more Marvel characters appear. They just may not be the familiar versions you know.
As for Speedgear, if you want to write a Speedgear spin-off, go right ahead. I've got the character notes for him somewhere on my external hardrive and when I find 'em I'll throw 'em up right here.
|
|
|
|
Post by scottenkainen on Oct 9, 2011 7:32:58 GMT -5
As soon as there's 30 hours in a day, I'll have time to write that Fallout/Speedgear series that's starting to take shape in my head.
And, while I've got your attention, why Red Skull and not Blazing Skull, which seems to me would have been a more appropriate moniker?
|
|
|
|
Post by Derrick on Oct 9, 2011 13:50:35 GMT -5
And, while I've got your attention, why Red Skull and not Blazing Skull, which seems to me would have been a more appropriate moniker? There IS a reason for that and again, I'd rather explain when the mini-series is wrapped up. After that I'll be more than happy to explain the where, why and the who behind THE RED SKULL. |
|
|
|
Post by robert99 on Oct 12, 2011 18:20:34 GMT -5
Derrick I'm big fan of your work. And I recently started listening to your podcast with Thomas Deja.
|
|
|
|
Post by Derrick on Oct 14, 2011 10:25:30 GMT -5
Derrick I'm big fan of your work. And I recently started listening to your podcast with Thomas Deja. Thank you so much! I appreciate you taking the time to let me know I'm doing my job. |
|
|
|
Post by Derrick on Oct 16, 2011 0:33:29 GMT -5
RACE STEELHEART BIO
Real Name: Stanley Sterankovitch
Known Aliases: For a time when he was wandering the world learning various martial arts and military techniques during the 1930’s and 40’s Race used the aliases C. S. Wildman and Edgar Moorcock. He no longer uses these aliases but due to his having founded various corporations and businesses during that period, that name are still listed on legal documents. During the 1970’s and 80’s, he wanted to have a ‘secret identity’ that he could use to take vacations or just to go out in public and he used the name of ‘Andrew Rushman’
Identity: Public. Race Steelheart is an internationally known Marvel and who is the CEO and owner of Steelheart International. He has worked with various international law enforcement agencies and is known and respected for his power and his morals.
Occupation: Professional adventurer, Marvel and benefactor. His company, Steelheart International is a charitable organization that supplies help whenever it is needed on a global scale, funded by the immense wealth Race Steelheart has accumulated through his superheroic work.
Citizenship: Because of the work he has done, Race Steelheart has been granted international citizenship but he was born in The United States in a small town called Kent, Kansas.
Known Relatives: Father (Clark Sterankovitch) Mother (Barbara Lane Sterankovitch) Grandparents Mae and Jack Sterankovitch (deceased)
Group Affiliation: Race Steelheart is a member of The Iron Council, a three-man team comprised of himself, The Red Skull and Speedgear. Due to some unknown oath he has sworn with them, The Iron Council only joins together when there is a threat to the entire planet. The Iron Council’s power together is immense and there is very few that can stand against them. Race Steelheart has been known to work with The Nightwatch on occasion and out of all the members of The Iron Council, he has the best relationship with them.
In World War II, The Korean War and during Gulf War I, Race Steelheart worked with The Sovereigns, an international team of Marvels.
Base Of Operations: Global. But the headquarters of Steelheart International is located in Baltimore, Maryland.
History: Race Steelheart’s story begins on a world 100 light-years from Earth called Iyocoru. His father was the premier scientist of that world inhabited by humanoids and he was considered a crackpot for his theories that they should develop a race of ‘Super Warriors’ to combat a threat called The Dhakrake, a marauding plague of killer aliens that invaded planets and stripped them bare of all resources, including any life on that world.
The day that Race’s father predicted happened and The Dhakrake came to Iyocoru and laid waste to the entire planet. Race’s father left behind his wife and young son, escaping in an experimental starship of his own design to the planet Earth, which he had discovered some years before. The scientist crash-landed and was rescued by Mae and Jack Sterankovitch who took him into his home and nursed him back to health. The crash occurred during the worst snowstorm that had hit Kansas in fifty years and when it was over, they explained to their neighbors that the scientist, who adopted the name Clark Sterankovitch, was a cousin who came to live with them after the death of his family. This all happened in 1905.
Clark lived and worked on the farm and he turned part of their barn into a laboratory where he continued to work on his ‘Super Warrior’ experiments since he told his adopted family that sooner or later The Dhakrake would come to Earth. He married a local woman named Barbara and they had a son they named Stanley. Clark used his son to test his theories on, since the combination of his DNA and hers afforded their son amazing gifts such as enhanced strength, visual acuity and speed. When Stanley was eighteen, Clark implanted in him an artificial egg-shaped heart that would further enhance his abilities. The heart itself was a product of advanced Iyocuran technology and would actually grow and learn with its host.
In 1925, Stanley left the family farm went out into the world, given the mission by his father to learn all he could and to protect his adopted world from the coming alien invasion. He traveled the globe, having adventures and learning martial arts from various masters and military strategy, medicine, physics, anything he thought would help him. He also used his enhanced abilities until cover whenever he could. During this time he used various aliases and he gained the name ‘Race Steelheart’ during his time serving in World War II as an intelligence agent. He was shot in the chest by a Nazi but ran some 50 yards and snatched the gun from the sniper’s hand, causing one soldier to exclaim: “Did you see how he raced over there and took that gun from him after being shot? He must have a steel heart!”
After this incident, The United States Army interrogated Race and he revealed his origins. Not much is known about the next five years but after that, ‘Race Steelheart’ was officially presented to the public in a lavish public ceremony and he was heralded as “America’s Finest Hero”. And since then he has worked as a public Marvel, using his incredible abilities to help and preserve life, fighting evil wherever it may be. In the late 1960’s Race founded Steelheart International, a charitable organization that allows him to access to those parts of the world that best needs his abilities and he can then channel them in those directions. He also uses the organization to co-ordinate his public activities.
His parents still live in Kent, Kansas on the farm, which Race funnels funds to his father who is still working on his ‘Super Warrior’ program with the blessing and backing of The United States government who believes that the Dhakrake Invasion is coming. Race visits them whenever he can and he is extremely close to his father who is still his mentor in how he uses his still growing abilities.
HEIGHT: 6’
WEIGHT: 300 pounds
EYES: Black
HAIR: Black
STRENGTH: Race Steelheart is a product of Iyocuran and Human DNA. His musculature is of a finer quality than normal Human or Iyocuran. Race can easily lift twenty tons and with exceptional exertion can lift forty.
ABILITIES: Race Steelheart has many abilities due to his unique mix of Iyocuran and Human DNA. He can leap a mile, which has lead some to say that he can fly but that is not the case. His visual acuity is amazing which has also led people to believe that he has ‘telescopic’ or ‘microscopic’ vision. Due to the artificial heart his father implanted in him, he does not tire and indeed, there is evidence that his artificial heart can provide him with further abilities he is still discovering. Among those abilities is that it can provide him with a black, metallic skin that protects him from all harm. The skin can be generated by Race Steelheart at will and can be absorbed back into his skin whenever he wishes. The skin can cover Race over his entire body if he wishes, but he usually leaves his head bare unless the situation calls for it.
This metallic skin is completely impervious to outside harm or damage. It renders Race Steelheart indestructible and is probably his greatest weapon outside of his superbly trained mind and extraordinary martial arts and military skills.
|
|
|
|
Post by Derrick on Oct 16, 2011 0:38:25 GMT -5
THE RED SKULL
Real Name: Colonel Felton Hardbottle
Occupation: Commanding Officer of M.O.R.D.O. (Maximum Offensive Response to Dimensional Opposition)
Legal Status: Colonel in The United States Army with all the rights, responsibilities and priviledges of that rank. No criminal record.
Identity: Colonel Hardbottle's dual identity as The Red Skull is known only to his personal aide, Lt. Amy Wong.
Other Aliases: Black Zarathos, Zarathos The Vengeful
Group Affliation: The Red Skull is a member of The Iron Council which consists of only three members: himself , Speedgear and Race Steelheart. The three heroes couldn't be any more different in terms of attitudes, personalities and abilities but their power combined is so immense that there is literally no enemy that can stand against them so they only join as a team in those cases where the destruction of the world is imminent.
First Appearance: Suspenseful Tales Of Astonishment#1
History: Colonel Felton Hardbottle is a career Army officer who was given command of M.O.R.D.O. which a branch of The U.S. Army that has two purposes: one; present a military response to hostile incursions from inter and other dimensional beings and capture The Red Skull, a being of seemingly mystical origins possessing immense power. It is called The Red Skull because it appears to be a towering figure in leather armor whose head is a crimson skull bathed in blood-red flames.
The Red Skull's earliest appearances was in The Old West where reports of it battling werewolves, Indian mummies and even dragons were reported. Occasionally The Red Skull would disappear but whenever a fresh outbreak of magic and demonic activity occured, The Red Skull would always re-appear. The latest Red Skull appeared around 20 years ago and Hardbottle was seriously injured during one such attempt to capture the creature.
In the hospital he was visited by the elderly Clea Sanders, who claimed to have once been a nun. She said that she had been selected 721 years ago to be The Supreme Defender of Earth from The Ancient Ones, elder gods who wished to return to Earth and resume their black rule over mankind. To help her in this task she was the host body for the spirit of Zarathos, one of two Ancient Ones who had split from the others to protect mankind. It was this spirit that transformed Clea and the Supreme Defenders before her into The Red Skull. But she was getting too old and she had to select a new host for Zarathos and she had picked Hardbottle, impressed by his courage. He was reluctant until Clea took his astral body to The Higher Realms and showed him what would happen if The Ancient Ones returned to Earth. Hardbottle agreed to be the new host and now Clea is a normal human woman. She lievs with Hardbottle and acts as his mentor while he continues to battle both the minions of The Ancient Ones as well as conventional superheroes as The Supreme Defender of Earth.
Known Superhuman Powers: The Red Skull has supernatural strength enabling him to lift 10 tons. He is master of a variety of offensive and defensive magical abilities. In addition, The Red Skull carries a powerful weapon: Agamotto, The Blade of Brass And Bone: A huge sword of brass, the hilt and guard of bone, Zarathos forged this sword thousands of years ago from the bones and armor of his brother, Agamotto who stood with him against The Ancient Ones. The sword itself has great powers, including the ability to open dimensional portals and summon demons.
|
|
