Atlas
(Jack Kirby's)
Context
DC’s First Issue Special, starting in 1975, was a way to throw characters at a wall and see what stuck.
The first issue featured a Jack Kirby creation, Atlas. As it happened, Atlas didn’t stick.
This profile was done years before his 2008 return, and thus only covers the First Issue Special appearance.
Build your own
Given the low amount of material, a lot of this profile is speculative. This entry is chiefly intended for gamemasters who’d like a base to build upon to introduce a Kirbyesque character in their campaign.
Or to turn him into a Player CharacterRPG characters played by a player, rather than the gamemaster or the computer..
And obviously, you could have fun plugging him into other Kirby bits. Stuff you could make up includes :
- A very early Inhuman (Tuk’s father ?).
- An early (and thus pre-Kronos) Eternal of Earth.
- One of the gods of the Third World.
- A Negative Zone wanderer.
- An Asgardian with distant ties to Thor.
- An enemy of Kang.
- An homo superior mutant predating even Apocalypse – or the Great Cataclysm.
- A strange parallel Earth version of Kamandi, whose tribe were the only post-apocalypse Human survivors.
- A man Jimmy Olsen once met during a strange extradimensional adventure after finding a dangerous artefact that was once neutralised by the Challengers of the Unknown.
- Etc.
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Background
- Real Name: Unrevealed.
- Other Aliases: Atlas the Untamed, Atlas the Great.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: None.
- Base Of Operations: Mobile.
- Height: About 7’ (2.13m). Weight: About 400 lbs. (182 Kg.).
- Eyes: Blue. Hair: Brown.
Powers and Abilities
Atlas is superhumanly strong. He can crush solid rock within his hands.
Furthermore, he is a formidable hand-to-hand fighter. He displayed fantastic speed and coordination.
Even as a child, he was as strong as a full-grown athlete. And a competent wrestler.
History
Atlas hails from a distant heroic fantasy land, belonging to the past.
It might be the past of another fantasy dimensionOther realms of existence that are not our universe. Such as Myrra or Skartaris.
As a child, Atlas lived in a village of the Crystal Mountain people. These folks are presumably superhuman, given Atlas’ abilities.
The attack
However, the village was overrun by an army of slavers.
Atlas’s father hid his kid in a cave. He then fought powerfully against many men, but was eventually killed.
The naïve child rushed to his father’s help. But he was grabbed by the leader of the slavers, a lizardman named Hyssa. Lizardmen are largely human persons with vaguely amphibian/reptilian facial features, and possibly some other lizard-like traits.
To Hyssa’s surprise, the superstrong child broke free from his grasp – and fled.
The gem
Sprinting to cover in a nearby marsh, the boy met a wanderer named Chagra.
After the slavers left, the duo entered the burning ruins of the village. The boy recovered a huge gemstone hidden therein. This gem, a fragment of the Crystal Mountain, is the traditional treasure of the chief in Atlas’s culture.
With his dad gone, Atlas was now the leader of his stolen people.
Boy adventurer
Apparently knowing of the Crystal Mountain, Chagra swore allegiance to Atlas. He became his travelling companion. Chagra’s experience as a traveller supplemented his young chief’s heroism and power.
(Essentially, a permutation over Herakles and Iolaus.)
The two wanderers had many adventures. Atlas vanquished great beasts, performed heroic acts, saved lives, toppled tyrants, smashed demonic cults, etc..
He also was crowned as the Champion among gladiators at least once. During this fight he wielded a weapon looking like the mast of a small ship.
Return to Crystal Mountain
Years later, Chagra asked Atlas to take him to Crystal Mountain. Apparently, only natives could safely navigate this land.
Atlas agreed, on the condition that Chagra first take him to the Lizard Kingdom. To get there, Chagra first had them cross the Forbidden Region of Fire, with which he was familiar.
They reached Hyssa, a city of the Lizard Kingdom. To gather funds, Chagra became a street barker. Atlas performed feats of strength and wrestling that amazed onlookers.
Soon enough they ran into trouble with a local noble claiming right of way. This swiftly escalated into a confrontation with the city guard – and from there with the ruler of the city, Hyssa.
Atlas immediately recognised the slaver from his childhood.
What happened next is unrevealed, and will likely remain so… forever !!
Adνеrtisеmеnt
Description
Atlas is a huge, muscular fellow with striking blue eyes and a very Kirby-esque outfit.
Everything about him screams “hero”.
Although his story is a barbarian heroic fantasy one, he does not look barbaric in the least.
Personality
A straightforward, noble adventurer with something of a superheroic code of honour mixed with Hercules-like trials and travels.
Atlas has a tremendous, and justified, confidence in his moral superiority and his might. He does not think twice before calmly challenging the guard of an entire city to fight in the name of fairness.
There is a strong “noble in exile” cast to his character. His entire attitude demands that he be treated with a respect he does not have to ask for. Of course, he always acts nobly, without any compromise.
Atlas isn’t verbose. Although he speaks eloquently when needed, he prefers to keep it brief – and chiefly talks when it is necessary.
Quotes
“I am Atlas !… and I care little for pompous worms who travel on the back of slaves !!”
DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Atlas
| Dex: 08 | Str: 10 | Bod: 06 |
| Int: 07 | Wil: 06 | Min: 06 |
| Inf: 07 | Aur: 06 | Spi: 06 |
| Init: 026 | HP: 050 |
Powers:
Growth: 01
Bonuses and Limitations:
Growth is Always On and Already Factored In.
Skills:
Animal handling (Horses): 05, Charisma: 08, Martial Artist*: 08
Advantages:
Buddy (Chagra), Lightning Reflexes, Iron Nerves.
Connections:
Underworld (Low), Mercenary scene (Low), Street (Low).
Drawbacks:
Creepy Appearance (Great size and charisma).
Motivation:
Seeking Justice.
Occupation:
Hero.
Wealth:
003
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DC Adventures RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Atlas (Kirby’s) — Averaged PL 10
| STR | STA | AGL | DEX |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 06 | 04 | 02 |
| FGT | INT | AWE | PRE |
| 08 | 02 | 02 | 03 |
Powers:
Giants walked the earth ● 2 points ● Descriptor: Crystal Mountain ancestry
– Feature — Atlas seems to be at least 7′, which comes in handy more often than not.
– Protection 1.
Combat Advantages:
Close Attack 5, Defensive Attack, Defensive Roll 3, Improved Initiative, Improved Smash, Interpose, Seize Initiative, Takedown.
Other Advantages:
Connected, Extraordinary Effort (Strength), Fearless, Great Endurance, Inspire, Leadership.
Skills:
Athletics 1 (+11), Deception 3 (+6), Expertise (Heroic fantasy wanderer and rider) 5 (+7), Expertise (Interrogation) 4 (+7), Insight 5 (+7), Intimidation 5 (+8), Perception 6 (+8), Persuasion 3 (+6).
Offence:
| Initiative +8 |
| Unarmed +13, Close, Damage 10. |
Defence:
| Dodge | 12 |
| Fortitude | 09 |
| Parry | 12 |
| Toughness | 05*/08 |
| Will | 09 |
* Against energy attacks.
Complications:
- Watch out I’m huge Atlas’ size and presence sure make him stand out.
- I stand for justice Atlas will always stand for justice, no matter what the odds.
Powers Levels:
- Trade-off areas. Attack/Effect PL 12, Dodge/Toughness PL 10, Parry/Toughness PL 10, Fort/Will PL 09.
- Points total 134. Abilities 74, Defences 22, Skills 16, Powers 2, Devices 00, Advantages 20. Equiv. PL 09.
Notes
Here I’ll consider that Chagra is a fellow Player Character.
The selection of Advantages is largely arbitrary for lack of material. I went with a general “epic, benign hero of destiny” theme.
Source of Character: First Issue Special #1 (1975).