Wednesday, December 8, 2010

1990 Mayfair Games DC Heroes The Justice League Sourcebook: Vibe - Deceased

What kind of Mayfairstivus would this be without setting aside a glass of wine for fallen Justice League members and uttering the immortal (est. 1986) phrase, "next year, in Detroit..." No wait, that's an unforgivable bastardization of the Passover seder. Anyhow, Paco Ramone had gone to a better place in 1989 (surely getting on John Lennon's nerves daily,) so he didn't receive a character card in the 1989 Mayfair box set. However, I decided to use a card blank to create one for him, bleaching the color from a tiny Val Semeiks panel where he drew Vibe running so that his right leg was obscured by his body. It seemed an appropriately awkward and inept shot of the world's most sexually satisfying Puerto Rican. The stats are from the same glorious 1990 League sourcebook that brought us Dale Gunn...



Dex: 6
Str: 3
Body: 4
Int: 5
Will: 5
Mind: 5
Infl: 6
Aura: 5
Spirit: 5
Initiative: 19
Hero Points: 35


•Powers:
Vibe: 8

•Skills:
Artist (break dancing): 3, Mar­tial Artist: 5, Thief: 6

•Advantages:
Area Knowledge (Detroit streets); Connections: Justice League of America (High), Street (Low)

•Equipment:
JLA Signal Ring (see page 121)

•Alter Ego: Paco Ramone
•Height: 5'9"
•Weight: 170 lbs.
•Eyes: Blue
•Hair: Black

•Motivation:
Thrill of Adventure

•Wealth: 3
•Occupation: Former Gang Leader
• Quote: "Word's out on the street is chu guys are the Chustice League. I figure, guys like chu and me, we should be on the same crew." (Justice League of Amer­ica Annual #2)

•Background:
Vibe's career as a Justice Leaguer was too short. It began shortly after Aquaman disbanded the original League. When young Paco Ramone heard that a new Justice League was forming in his own backyard of Detroit, he decided to give up his position as the leader of the El Lobos, a local street gang, to join the JLA and become a superhero.1 This would have been impossible if it weren't for the fact that Vibe had been born with the metahuman abil­ity to emit powerful vibratory shockwaves.

Vibe's presence on the team caused Aquaman and the Mar­tian Manhunter to harbor some strong doubts about the new JLA, particularly after he got the League involved in a rumble with a rival gang called the Skulls over the El Lobos' turf.2

However, Vibe soon proved his mettle during the League's battles against Anton Allegro,3 the Cadre,4 and Amazo.5 He stayed with the League during the Crisis adventure, when Commander Steel evicted the League from the Bunker,6 and his powers played a vital role in de­feating Despero.7 During Darkseid's assault on Earth's "legends," Paco left his JLA com­rades to seek the familiar solace of the streets. Vibe was attacked by one of Professor Ivo's androids, and despite a valiant effort, be­came the first Justice League member to be killed in the line of duty. The Martian Manhunter brought Vibe's body back to the League's mountain sanctuary, where Vibe was laid to rest in a cryogenic chamber.8

Vibe's brother recently devel­oped a similar set of vibratory powers and joined Booster Gold's team of heroes, the Conglomer­ate, using the code name Reverb.9

•Personality:
Vibe was stamped out of the care-free, wisecracking mold. He was fun-loving, street smart, and uninhibited.

ENDNOTES
  1. Justice League of America Annual #2
  2. Justice League of America #233
  3. Justice League of America §233-236
  4. Justice League of America #237-239
  5. Justice League of America #241-243
  6. Justice League of America #246
  7. Justice League of America #254
  8. Justice League of America #258
  9. Justice League International Quarterly #1

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