Xenohulk

Enjoy this xenomorph art by berzerkartwerk for Alien Day.

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.

Code Name: Count Vertigo

Real Name: Werner Vertigo

Team Affiliations: Task Force X, Long Bow Hunters, Secret Society of Super-Villains, Checkmate

Medium Humanoid, Lawful Evil 

Armor Class: 13 (Costume, Dex)

Hit Points: 65 (8d8+16)

Speed: 30 ft.

Challenge: 3 (700 XP)

Str 14 (+2) Dex 14 (+2) Con 14 (+2) Int 13 (+1) Wis 13 (+1) Cha 16 (+3)

Saving Throws: Cha +5, Wis +3

Skills: Deception +5, Perception +3, Persuasion +5

Senses: passive Perception 13

Languages: English, Vlatavan

Trait

Vertigo Effect: Count Vertigo has several meta abilities that function similarly to innate magic. His ability for this is Charisma (save DC 13) He can using the following spell, requiring no material components:

At will: Hold Person (1 target)

2/day: Crown of Madness, Fear, Hold Person (3 targets)

3/day: Dissonant Whispers, Hold Person  (2 targets)

Magnetic Boots: Count Vertigo wears magnetic boots that allow him to walk on walls and ceilings. 

Actions

Multiattack: Count Vertigo can make two attacks. 

Rapier: Melee Weapon Attack. +4  to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8+2) piercing damage.

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

Bonus Action

Disrupt Attack: When being attacked Count Vertigo can disrupt his attacker's balance causing them to have disadvantage on the attack. He must be aware of the attack.

The Spider (2024)

About a month ago I shared the trailer for a Spider-Man horror fan film starring The Walking Dead's Chandler Riggs. I really enjoyed this short and I'm glad to see they went the direction I was hoping. While the film features Peter, is the first on screen depiction of the Mark of Kaine. The I'm going to include stats with this one, but I'm going to put them after the flick's posters, to help avoid spoilers until you've finished watching. 

“The Spider”

Real Name: Peter Parker

Medium Humanoid (Spider-Person), Neutral Evil 

Armor Class: 16 (Dex)

Hit Points: 38 (8d8+32)

Speed: 30 ft., Climbing 30 ft/ Fly (web-swinging) 60 ft

Challenge: 3 (450 XP)

Str 18 (+4) Dex 22 (+6) Con 18 (+4) Int 16 (+3) Wis 10 (+0) Cha 8 (-1)

Saving Throws: Int +9, Wis +6

Skills: Acrobatics +8, Perception +2, Stealth +8, Survival +2

Senses: passive Perception 12

Languages: English

Trait

Evasion: The Spider can dodge out of the way of area of effect spells and attacks. When subjected to one that allows him to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, he takes no damage  instead if he succeeds and only half if he fails.

Organic Webbing: The Spider can shoot webbing from his wrists that he can use to do a variety of things, such as swinging and using Web. 

Spider-Climb: The Spider can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings without having to make an ability check.

Spider-Sense: The Spider adds +4 to his Initiative checks and can't be surprised while he is conscious. Creatures that gain Advantage to attacks against him because of invisibility or stealth lose Advantage on those attacks.

Web Sense. While in contact with a web, the Spider knows the exact location of any other creature in contact with the same web.

Web Walker. The Spider ignores movement restrictions caused by webbing.

Actions

Mutliattack: The Spider can make two attacks: one with his bite and one with his claws.

Bite: Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 4) piercing damage plus 4 (1d8) poison damage. The target must succeed on a DC 11 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 minute. The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Claws: Melee Weapon Attack +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., (one target), Hit: 9 (2d4+4) slashing damage.

Mark of Kaine (Recharge 5-6): Melee Weapon Attack +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., (one target), Hit: 9 (2d4+4) slashing damage. The target must make a Constitution saving throw (DC 14). On a failed save they are incapacitated for 6 (1d6+4) rounds.

Web (Recharge 6): This is treated as a non-magical version the Web spell. This ability's save DC is 14.

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.

Code Name: Unknown Soldier

Real Name: Unknown

Team Affiliations: Task Force X, US Army

Medium Humanoid, Lawful Neutral

Armor Class: 16 (Natural Armor)

Hit Points:  85 (10d8+40)

Speed: 30 ft.

Challenge: 5 (1,800 XP)

Str 18 (+4) Dex 20 (+5) Con 18 (+4) Int 12 (+1) Wis 14 (+2) Cha 18 (+4)

Saving Throws: Con +7, Str +7

Skills:  Athletics +7, Deception +7, Intimidation +7, Perception +5, Persuasion +7, Stealth +8, Survival +5

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

Damage Resistance: Bludgeoning, Slashing, Piercing from Non-Magical Sources

Senses: darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15

Languages: English, Persian (Dari Dialect), Arabic, German, Russian, French, Italian, Spanish

Traits

Cunning Action: On each of his turns, Unknown Soldier can use a bonus action to take the Dash, Engage, or Hide action.

Past Incarnation Memory: Unknown Soldier can call on the memories and skills of his previous incarnations. This is reflected in his proficiencies and languages.

Regeneration: Unknown Soldier regains 5 hit points at the start of his turn. This trait doesn't function when King Shark reaches 0 hit points, though he automatically stabilizes.

Actions

Multiattack: Unknown Soldier can make two attacks.

Combat Knife: Melee Weapon Attack. +7  to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6+4) piercing damage.

Combat Knife: Ranged Weapon Attack. +8  to hit, range 20/60 ft, one target. Hit: 8 (1d6+5) piercing damage.

Semiautomatic Rifle: Ranged Weapon Attack. +8 to hit, range 90/270 ft., one target, Hit: 18 (3d8+5) piercing damage. (30 shots before reload)

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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Code Name: The Thinker 
Real Name: Gaius Grieves

Team Affiliations: American Government, Corto Maltese Government

Medium Humanoid, Neutral Evil 

Armor Class: 11 (Dex)

Hit Points: 52 (8d8)

Speed: 30 ft.

Challenge: 2 (450 XP)

Str 10 (+1) Dex 12 (+1) Con 12 (+1) Int 24 (+7) Wis 18 (+4) Cha 14 (+2)

Saving Throws: Int +9, Wis +6

Skills: Advanced Tech +9, History +9,  Medicine +9, Insight +6, Nature +9, Parapsychology +9

Senses: passive Perception 14

Languages: English, Spanish

Trait

Absolute Degenerate: Gaius is a true pervert and cannot be shocked or disgusted by any form of sexual deviancy. 

Brain Enhancers: The electrical diodes and antennas in his head are connected to his brain and enhance his intelligent. If they are suppressed or turned off (such as when affected by an EMP), his intelligence decreases to 18. 

Cunning Action: On each of his turns, Thinker can use a bonus action to take the Dash, Engage, or Hide 

Actions

Unarmed: Melee Weapon Attack. +3  to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 3 (1d4+1) bludgeoning damage.

The following item uses the advanced tech/magic item rules from Carbide City #2.

Thinker's Cap

Wondrous Item, legendary 

The Thinker's Cap increases the intelligence of anyone wearing it to 24. It grants the wielder the ability to cast several charm and telekinetic spells (though these abilities are not considered magical in nature). The Thinker's cap has 8 charges. It regains 1d6+1 charges daily at dawn. If the last charge is expended the Cap automatically gains temporary control over the wearer.  While 

Spells: You can use an action to expend 1 or more of the Cap's charges to cast one of the following spells/abilities from it, using a spell DC save of 17: charm person (1 charge), comprehend languages (1 charge), dominate person (5 charges), fear (3 charges),  hold monster (5 charges), hold person (2 charges), magic missile (1-5 charges), mind blast [see below] (4 charges),  or telekinesis (5 charges)

Mind Blast: The Thinker's Cap emits psychic energy in a 60 foot cone. Each creature in the area must succeed a DC 17 Intelligence saving throw or take 25 (4d8+7) psychic damage and be stunned for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. 

The Cap is sentient. It has the following stats: Int 24, Wis 18, and Cha 14. It is Lawful Evil and communicates telepathically with is wearer. It has the same senses of the creature wearing it. It seeks to continue the aims of the Thinker and will do anything to accomplish these goals.

S is for Support Staff

Today I thought I'd talk about some of the Squad's support staff. There are spoilers from the Max Peacemaker series. I try to mention both comic and DCEU versions if possible. Going to do this one a little different. Below you'll find generic support staff stats. These will be followed by a pic and background on the characters. I will also give suggestions on changes you can make to the generic stats.

Generic Suicide Squad Support Staff 

Medium Humanoid, Any (normally Lawful Good, Lawful Neutral, or Neutral Good)

Armor Class: 12 (Bullet Proof Vest, Dex)

Hit Points: 16 (3d8+3)

Speed: 30 ft.

Challenge: 1 (200 XP)

Str 13 (+1) Dex 12 (+1) Con 12 (+1) Int 16 (+3) Wis 13 (+1) Cha 12 (+1)

Saving Throws: Wis +3

Skills: Perception +3, Insight +3

Senses: passive Perception 13

Languages: English

Actions

Multiattack: Support Staff can make two melee or ranged attacks.

Unarmed: Melee Weapon Attack. +3  to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 3 (1d4+1) bludgeoning damage.

Pistol: Ranged Weapon Attack. +3 to hit, range 50/150 ft., one target, Hit: 8 (2d6+1) piercing damage. (15 round clip)

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In the comics, John Economos is the warden of Belle Reve. He can be clumsy and is sometimes used for humor in the stories, but ultimately he's a good guy. It's noted a few times that despite their situation, the villains on the Squad tend to like John because he's a good and fair man. The DCEU version of a snarky, but well-meaning, aid to Waller. He's a tech guy and medic (when needed). 

Stat Adjustments: increase Int to 16, increase Wis and Cha to 14, add Medicine and Persuasion skill proficiencies, add Computer tool proficiency

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.

Stat Adjustments: add 2d8 hit dice, increase Str and Dex to 16 and Cha to 14, add Deception, Intimidation, Stealth, and Sleight of Hand skill proficiencies

Briscoe is the pilot and main mechanic for Task Force X. He's a man with demons, having lost his daughter Sheba. He transported the Squad to their missions and saved the day a few times. He was killed while on a mission on Apokolips. 

Stat Adjustments: add Advanced Tech skill proficiency, add Mechanic tool proficiency, add air vehicle proficiency 

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). 

Stat Adjustments: increase Int to 18, add Advanced Tech skill proficiency, add Computer tool proficiency

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.

Stat Adjustments: increase Cha to 18, add Deception and Persuasion skill proficiencies

Another character created for the Peacemaker series, Clemson Murn was a mercenary and bad, bad man (gaining a reputation that was even known by someone like Peacemaker). Hailing from the the country of Nyasir. This reputation eventually garnered the attention of Amanda Waller who used Murn to do some missions. At some point he was possessed by a Butterfly named Ik Nobe Llok who killed him and took over his body. The Butterfly felt great remorse at this because it stole Murn's chance of redemption. He was eventually killed by the Butterfly queen, Eek Stack Ik Ik.

Stat Adjustments: Murn is a special case, for now I'd say just use the same adjustments I gave for Harcourt. I will stat out the Butterflies soon and give him a proper individual  write-up.

Father Richard Craemer was the chaplain at Belle Reve Penitentiary. He offered guidance (spiritual and psychological) to the team and was respected by everyone. After leaving this position he eventually became the friend and spiritual leader of the Spectre's mortal host, Jim Corrigan. 

Stat Adjustments: increase Wis to 18 and Cha to 16, add Persuasion and Religion skill proficiencies,  he also gains the following action:

Spiritual Guidance: Father Craemer's rhetoric allows any friendly character within 30 feet that can hear him to immediately make a saving throw to end the effect of being controlled, charmed, or frightened. He may not use this ability again until he takes a short or long rest.

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. 

Happy Earth Day

Have a happy Earth Day with this art from Marcelo Ventura…

Music Monday - Gangsta

Ayer's Suicide Squad soundtrack included the song Gangsta by Kehlani.

While I like the original version (despite hating the Harley/Joker pairing), I'm a big fan of New Years Day's cover and video of the track. I have a major crush on Ash Costello and thought she looked like New 52 Harley Quinn even before watching this video. I also dig the rest of the band dressed as other Batman rogues. 

The Power Puff Girls All Grown Up

Not going to lie, I really love Marcelo Ventura’s grown up Power Puff Girls and more adult version of HIM. Definitely a lot edgier than the one in X-Factor.