Atlas
(Sean Welch)
Context
Though I’ve been reading comics since the 70s, the early 90s is when I started buying a lot more of those. Though those were the years of Doom Patrol, Sandman and other landmark series, we also got treated to material such as much of the Image launch, which was, err, different from the two series mentioned above.
Still, I have a poorly-justified nostalgia about this stuff, and decided to write a few characters up. While the books were usually terrible, the characters have a simple, obvious quality to them – they’re largely clichés, which means they can be useful and easy to use in many campaigns.
The various Image books started in the same, generic universe before splintering off due to creative differences and office politics. Thus, early events in the Awesome/Extreme universe involve characters, organisations, etc. which later become part of the Wildstorm Universe, of the Larsenverse, etc. (in fact they did so as much as possible as a simple form of cross-promotion).
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Background
- Real Name: Sean Welch.
- Marital Status: Single.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: Brigade.
- Base Of Operations: Brigade HQ in Malibu, CA.
- Height: Variable Weight: Variable.
- Eyes: Brown Hair: Brown
Powers and Abilities
Atlas can increase his size and physical strength at will.
Secondary sources mention that growing to the largest sizes diminish his agility and speed. But no such effect was actually evident – it was textbook DC Heroes RPG Growth.
As often with Growth character, Atlas’s size was difficult to determine. But he could make his hands much larger than a person. He also could grow tall enough to reach the mid- to upper floors of a high-rise building.
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History
Atlas was recruited by Battlestone and Kayo some time after they recruited Seahawk and Coldsnap. They were building a group of costumed superhumans to rival Youngblood. This team was called Brigade, and started establishing a bit of a reputation.
Their second documented case saw them pitted against a powerful extraterrestrial warrior called Genocide. He wanted to see if Brigade’s power challenged his. Brigade ended up on Genocide’s home planet, called D’vor. There they struggled against his troops and the local powers that be. They also allied with local superhumans.
Eventually, Brigade clashed with Genocide again in a fight to the finish. But a blast from the villain, intended to kill the invulnerable Battlestone, blew through Atlas’ chest.
Battlestone wanted Brigade’s achievements to honour the early, needless death of Atlas. But that never worked out. Brigade’s career was mired in failure and mistakes. Though they won most of their battles, the group never amounted to much.
Description
See illustration.
Personality
He may have been British (or Irish, or Australian…). He generally seemed to be a reasonable and level-headed fellow.
Quotes
“What’s the story up here, people ?”
“This thing’s coming apart in my bleedin’ hands !”
“I hear ya talkin’, Stone ! I’ve done enough beatin’ on these imperial stooges to last me a lifetime !”
DC Universe History
He can be used in any campaign without much of a problem. Battlestone should probably be linked with the Titans somehow. Perhaps he used to be the Ravager (Deathstroke the Terminator’s son), who was killed in action but resurrected by a shadowy government initiative.
The creation of the superhuman Brigade might thus be an attempt to create an anti-team opposing the Titans. The aim would be to demonstrate that they are better and more powerful than them. Battlestone would attempt to demonstrate that his ideas about how the Titans should be run are superior to Nightwing’s.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Atlas
| Dex: 05 | Str: 03 | Bod: 04 | Motivation: Justice |
| Int: 04 | Wil: 03 | Min: 04 | Occupation: Adventurer |
| Inf: 04 | Aur: 03 | Spi: 04 | Resources {or Wealth}: 004 |
| Init: 013 | HP: 015 |
Powers:
Growth: 12
Skills:
None demonstrated.
Advantages:
None demonstrated.
Connections:
Brigade (Low).
Drawbacks:
None demonstrated.
Source of Character: Awesome/Extreme universe (Image).