Superball
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
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| Superball | |
| Player: @Acyl | |
| Origin: | Mutant |
|---|---|
| Archetype: | Scrapper |
| Security Level: | 38 |
| Personal Data | |
| Real Name: | Confidential |
| Known Aliases: | Supes, SB, "Idiot!" |
| Species: | Human |
| Age: | Confidential |
| Height: | 6'2" |
| Weight: | 177 lbs |
| Eye Color: | Black |
| Hair Color: | Blue |
| Biographical Data | |
| Nationality: | US Citizen |
| Occupation: | Professional Crimefighter |
| Place of Birth: | Paragon City |
| Base of Operations: | Paragon City |
| Marital Status: | Single |
| Known Relatives: | Confidential |
| Known Powers | |
| Short-range Personal Forcefield | |
| Known Abilities | |
| Intensive Crimefighting Training | |
| Equipment | |
| Comm device, first aid kit, and misc tools concealed in costume. | |
| No additional information available. | |
Superball is the second costumed crimefighter to bear the name.
Contents |
Affiliations
Supergroup: The Legendary (Rank: Epic)
Background and Personality
Superball I
However, there are inconsistencies in the eyewitness accounts. In particular, one of the rescued children claimed Superball was killed at the start of the fight, not the end - meaning that someone else fought off the gang members after the hero's death. To date, the incident remains a mystery. The official report has been sealed by the Federal Bureau of Super-powered Affairs.
His real identity and history are not publicly known, but it is believed he was a baseline human without any special powers. He did have a high level of athletic ability and martial-arts training, but not to the level of top-tier heroes. He compensated for this with an irreverent sense of humour and rapier wit. He was a man always ready with a wisecrack, silly pun, or full-fledged stand-up routine.
The first Superball concentrated his crimefighting efforts against ordinary criminals rather than super-powered villains. Due to this, he was not widely known among the hero community. He was part of the original Legendary supergroup, but functioned mainly as a reserve member and occasional comic relief.
Superball II
When he first turned up in Paragon City, his costume was a carbon copy of the original Superball suit. He has since adopted an alternate costume tailored to his form and powers, but retaining the colours and emblem.
Like the original, Superball II is the very personification of the costumed idiot. The crimefighting profession attracts a lot of would-be comedians and warped personalities...but Superball takes it to an entirely new level. His official hero license specifically notes he is NOT clinically insane - the fact such an advisory was necessary speaks volumes about his character.
But there's a strange deliberateness to Superball's behaviour. Those who have worked with him for extended periods often swear he isn't as stupid as he acts. He is remarkably competent when he needs to be. It may well be that he only behaves like a clown because the original Superball did so. So he acts like a fool because Superball is supposed to be a fool. The schtick is part of the legacy. There are in fact signs that the man behind the Superball mask is a fairly serious individual. He's just so immersed in his role that his real personality is almost completely buried. He refuses to give his name to anyone or remove his mask. He has been a serving member of The Legendary for some time now, but even his closest allies have not seen his real face.
It is often assumed that the current Superball is a protégé or former sidekick of the original. The truth is...rather more complex. He does speak as though he personally knew his predecessor, but he is oddly evasive as to their actual connection. He avoids telepaths and empaths, and has developed various techniques to block their senses. However, those who have actually been able to read Superball claim that he has a great deal of respect and regard for his predecessor - but the overwhelming feeling he has, with regards to the original hero, is not admiration...but guilt.
Superball has a working relationship with freelance reporter Juliana Nehring - insofar as she provides him with information, and he provides her with an increasing addiction to aspirin.
Powers
Martial Arts
The original Superball was a genuine martial artist. The current hero is one as well, to a degree. In truth, though, he is merely imitating his predecessor's moves. He is entirely self-taught, having trained himself by watching video footage of the first Superball. As such, his fighting style is flawed, but he compensates with his natural ability. More importantly, he also enhances his speed and agility with carefully-timed bursts from his energy field. That same energy, wrapped round his limbs, also gives his melee attacks far more power than they would otherwise have.
Invulnerability
Superball's energy aura has various protective qualities - it repulses enemy attacks. This defense is not automatic, however. He must consciously focus on an incoming attack in order to deflect it, meaning that surprise assaults can catch him off-guard. He is thus not truly invulnerable, at least not in the conventional sense.
Flight
The repulsion effect of Superball's field is strong enough to let him hover and fly. This is a large part of his highly acrobatic combat style.
Abilities
Superball has comprehensive knowledge of Paragon's super-powered gangs, their inner workings, politics, strengths and weaknesses. He is also an expert in police procedure and the laws governing costumed heroes. While the Superball persona is a complete goofball, the man inside the costume takes his job very seriously. He knows more about the practical aspects of heroism than most crimefighters - he could tell you, for example, precisely what brand of epinephrine auto-injector you want in your emergency medical kit. Given his manic persona, this often comes as a surprise to people.
Weaknesses and Limitations
Superball hides his real face. He always wears a mask. Both literally and figuratively. The latter is a problem. It isn't healthy for a man to conceal his true self so deeply. He seems happy-go-lucky, cheerful and carefree - but that's just part of the act. Technically speaking, Superball does have a secret identity, insofar as he refuses to reveal his real name. But he doesn't really have a life outside the costume. He is a full-time hero. The closest thing he has to friends are the other members of The Legendary. He trusts them with his life...but not with his secrets.
Battle Cries and Catch Phrases
"In Paragon City, balls kick YOU."
"I have the right to remain violent!"
Trivia
- Superball is a riff on the time-honoured tradition of a wisecracking hero who's more than he appears to be. He acts like a fool because he's supposed to. He actually has humor protocols. He takes the business of being an ass very seriously. He's Batman pretending to be Spider-Man.
- He's also a take on the notion of a legacy hero. That is, he's carrying on a heroic legacy - but the twist is, he's not the dead hero's former sidekick or anything, he's one of his old enemies.
- His original costume was vaguely inspired by Jolt from the original Thunderbolts. Though only very vaguely - really just the colour scheme and the idea of bug-eyed goggles with a ponytail. The second costume is meant to be Silver Age in style. The head flame was inspired by classic Firestorm - presumably a manifestation of Superball's energy field.
