Word (Jack Wordman)

The Word (Jack Wordman) v1.1

By Sébastien Andrivet

Helper(s): John Colagioia. The names Jack Wordman and Ultima Wordman were revealed in a 2012 Marvel sourcebook.

Source of Character: Marvel Universe (mostly 1980 Savage She-Hulk v1 issues).

Quotes

The Word

“I understand your apprehension, madame - believe me, I do ! But to advance and achieve proper mental attitude is all. That’s why it’s so very important to associate only with others of the same outlook !”

“Trouble, Randolph, my boy ? Every adversity conceals opportunity ! What seems to be amiss ?”

“The Thing and Torch may presume to pass into my complex like other potential initiates… but they are wrong ! Like others of their unique ability, the path of their enlightenment has been specially prepared !” (triggers remote defences).

Thing: “Awright, who’s the wise guy ?”
The Word: “The correct term is ’all right‘, Ben Grimm ! Remember, proper English is pursuant to well-adjusted perfection ! You were, referring, of course, to the attire both you and Johnny Storm are wearing ! I shall explain all in due time. But first I shall introduce myself — I am the unexcelled master of metaphor and mentor of the new movement to employ machines for all but the lightest labour ! Thus shall I level the excess of inequity in our society forever — for I am… The Word !”

Game Stats — DC Heroes

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The Word

Dex: 03	Str: 03	Bod: 03	Motivation: Power
Int: 04	Wil: 06	Min: 04	Occupation: Cult leader
Inf: 08	Aur: 07	Spi: 05	Resources {or Wealth}: 010
Init: 015		HP: 020

Skills: Charisma (Persuasion, Interrogation): 11, Charisma (Intimidation): 06, Detective (Law): 08, Medicine (Brainwashing): 07, Medicine (Medical treatment): 06

Bonuses and Limitations:

All Skills are Contingent Upon Charisma (Persuasion, Interrogation) and are only usable if the Word can employ his power of persuasion.
Medical Treatment presumably can also heal MIND and SPI damage

Advantages: Gift of Gab, Headquarters (Expansive), Leadership, Scholar (American English language)

Connections: Ultima (High)

Drawbacks: None

King of his castle
When the Thing and the Torch came to the Word’s then-current estate, they were met by sophisticated defences:

The entire estate was apparently under high-quality video surveillance.
An unrevealed system blew up the gas tank of the FF’s car - perhaps some sort of microwave projector bar hidden under the road.
A pair remote-controlled .30 machineguns could pop up from the side of the ambush side [AV 03, Projectile weapon (Scattershot): 08, Ammo: 06, R#03]
Mines with a relatively weak explosive charge [Bomb: 05] whose main goal was actually to release an invisible, odourless knockout gas [Knockout gas: 13, Invisibility (Visual, Olfactory): 04, Bonus: KO gas attacks BODY/BODY]
Agents could mop up incapacitated opponents by affixing “brain-wave inhibitors” keeping them stunned.
The Word’s staff also had special collars that would react immediately if the wearer tried to use a super-power - for instance electric shocks if the Torch tried to flame on, and a tranquiliser and knockout drug if the Thing exerted himself.
The security staff were humanoid robots with the stats of basic soldiers and carrying laser carbines [BODY 01, Laser beam: 06, R#05]

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Game Stats — DC Adventures

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Word — Averaged PL 3

STR	STA	AGL	DEX	FGT	INT	AWE	PRE
01	01	00	00	01	04	01	04

Combat Advantages

Close attack 1, Defensive Roll 1

Other Advantages

Benefit 3 (Millionaire), Fascinate (Persuasion), Inspire, Leadership

Skills

Athletics 1 (+2), Deception 6 (+10), Expertise (Cult leader) 7 (+10), Expertise (English language) 11 (+15), Insight 6 (+7), Intimidation 2 (+6), Perception 3 (+4), Persuasion 7 (+11), Treatment 6 (+9) (Limited 1 to Provide care, Revive and Treat P&D) (Quirk - the patient must be able to understand the Word’s words)

Offense

Initiative +0

Unarmed +2, Close, Damage 1

Defense

Dodge	1	Fortitude	2
Parry	2	Toughness	1/1*
Will	5

* Without Defensive Roll

Complications

Relationship Dearly loves his daughter Ultima

Power levels

Trade-off areas Attack&Effect PL 2, Dodge/Toughness PL 2, Parry/Toughness PL 2, Fort&Will PL 4

Point total 61 Abilities 24, Defences 6, Skills 23, Powers 0, Devices 0, Advantages 8. Equiv. PL 5.

King of his castle
When the Thing and the Torch came to the Word’s then-current estate, they were met by sophisticated defences:

The entire estate was apparently under high-quality video surveillance.
An unrevealed system blew up the gas tank of the FF’s car - perhaps some sort of microwave projector bar hidden under the road.
A pair remote-controlled .30 machineguns could pop up from the side of the ambush side [Offence bonus +1, Ranged Ballistic Multiattack Damage 7]
Mines with a relatively weak explosive charge [Burst-Area Explosive Damage 4] whose main goal was actually to release an invisible, odourless knockout gas [Affliction: 13, Subtle, Fatigued/Exhausted/Incapacitated resisted by Fortitude]
Agents could mop up incapacitated opponents by affixing “brain-wave inhibitors” keeping them stunned.
The Word’s staff also had special collars that would react immediately if the wearer tried to use a super-power - for instance electric shocks if the Torch tried to flame on, and a tranquiliser and knockout drug if the Thing exerted himself.
The security staff were humanoid robots with the stats of basic soldiers and carrying laser carbines [Ranged Laser Damage 5, Quirk (Easily disabled by abuse)]

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Background

Real name: Jack Wordman
Other Aliases: “Wordman Jack” (radio host name)
Marital Status: Unknown
Known Relatives: Ultima Wordman (daughter), Apothea Kadbury Wordman (mother, deceased)
Group affiliation: None
Base Of Operations: Various
Height: 5‘9” Weight: 210 lbs
Eyes: Grey Hair: Grey (previously brown)

Powers & Abilities

The Word is an amazing orator - with a great voice, a riveting presence and an impressive command of the English language. People love listening to him and he can convince most persons to agree with him.

He find it easy to create a cult of personality from which he will soon derive superior wealth and numerous helpers.

Though he’s no longer in his prime the Word is a large, broad-shouldered man. He’s also highly intelligent and an excellent planner.

History

The Word was a senior scholar and editor for the world’s largest unabridged dictionary of the American English language, and spent years of intense work on words and their meaning. He eventually snapped and had a epiphany - words held great power, and his formidable mastery over them should give him power.

The former editor became Wordman Jack, a DJ with a down and out radio station — which he quickly revitalised as listeners flocked to his show. All of his demands for raises were granted thanks to his amazing power of conviction… and the station soon went bankrupt from the cost. It was presumably during this era that he had his daughter, Ultima.

Now quite affluent, Jack Wordman became The Word, the leader of a quasi-religious cult in the L.A. area, headquartered in a beautiful and isolated compound. The Word gave regular lectures about self-improvement and the power of conviction, keeping the cult members enthralled.

The Word had theories about education that he tested on his daughter from infancy. Using his amazing power of persuasion, he taught her the value of mental discipline and conditioned her to have such belief in her abilities that she was effectively superhuman. Ultima worked as a demonstration of the power of the Word, and as an enforcer when things went wrong.

The Savage She-Hulk

In 1980, the parents of a young man living with the Word’s cult contacted lawyer Jennifer Walters to recover their son.

Walter’s attempt ultimately failed, as the Word easily subverted the court of law even after Walters obtained a signed statement from the young man. A brawl later erupted between Ultima and Walters’ superhuman alter-ego the She-Hulk. During the fight, Ultima was accidentally rendered comatose by a falling car.

After months of depression and having forswore speech over the health of his daughter, the Word attempted to use the power of his words to have her walk and speak again. After more than a year of work Ultima was fully healed, and more powerful than ever.

S.H.I.E.L.D. wants a word

The Word then built up a new cult, this one dedicated to the suppression of inequality to built a perfect society. He even brainwashed the two S.H.I.E.L.D. agents sent to investigate his activities. A young woman fled the cult and attempted to warn the Fantastic Four, but Ultima stopped her right before she’d reach the Baxter Building. However the fleeing cultist survived the assault and warned the Thing.

The investigating Torch and Thing were captured thanks to the perimeter defences and Ultima. They were made to join the work gangs toiling for the Word to soften them up for brainwashing. Nevertheless, the two heroes got rid of their power-inhibiting collars and engaged the security.

Things werenrsquo;t going too well for the fantastic two and the overconfident Word got too close. The Thing thus knocked him out with a flick of the finger. Seeing her father so easily defeated eroded Ultima’s confidence in his words, shattering her cure and incapacitating her.

The Word and is cult were arrested by S.H.I.E.L.D. and haven’t been heard of since.

Description

See illustration.

Personality

The Word is a calm gentleman used to being in power. He’s prone to oratorical excess, unabashedly sesquipedalian and deploys an extensive vocabulary. He’s confident that what he does is utterly justified.

Jack Wordman loves his daughter very much, and indulges her every whim.

DC Universe History

He could have been an early Teen Titans villain, back when their rogue gallery included such highlights as Mister Twister and the Mad Mod. The Word and Ultima would have been cool, comparatively.

One of the characters named the Word in the DCU could be another enhanced child of the Word, like Ultima.

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