Beetle
(Abner Jenkins)
Context
The Beetle (Abner Jenkins) is a relatively early Marvel Comics villain, who appeared in 1964 to fight the Human Torch and the Thing. He has fought many, many super-heroes over the decades, but the bulk of his character development occurred more recently, in his Thunderbolts appearances.
The following notes are very old, and a stopgap measure at best. They will eventually be replaced by a much better series of chronconned profiles. When feasible.
Background
- Real Name: Abner Jenkins.
- Marital Status: Single.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: Sinister Syndicate, Masters of Evil III.
- Base Of Operations: NYC.
- Height: 5’11” Weight: 175lbs.
- Eyes: Brown Hair: Brown
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Powers and Abilities
The original Beetle armor was just armored cloth and heavy metallic wings (which could be used to glide silently). It had a strange weapon system : gloves with super-long, tentacle-like fingers, each ending with a powerful suction cup. These gloves were impossibly strong, able to rend steel and rip flesh by just affixing themselves on the surface and then tearing.
Jenkins and the Tinkerer joined forces to design and build the second generation Beetle armor. It was an interesting but relatively low-powered combat suit. It includes strength enhancement, micro-suction cups, mylar beetle-like wings, electrical weaponry and a computer allowing him to anticipate the moves of those opponents whose combat forms he has studied.
History
See Mach One character profile.
Description
The original Beetle armor was made of green armored cloth, with a strange-looking purple helmet, boots and metallic wings. Its gloves, as described above, were quite specific. This is the one pictured below in the illustration.
The second Beetle armor was a metallic dark green, with dark purple gloves, briefs and boots. It had a dark purple “shell” on the back, which housed the wings, and an odd-looking insectoid faceplate. This is the one pictured above in the illustration.
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Personality
At this point of his life, Jenkins is just after rep, money and thrills, in that order. He’s not particularly competent, and makes a good foe for beginning characters. He tries to study his opponents before fighting them (to enter relevant data in his battle computer). A good tactic for this is to make his opponent fight against several low-powered mercenaries while monitoring the fight.
He is a reasonable team player.
Quotes
“Gather ’round gentlemen. Spider-Man wasn’t in our plans – but as long as we’ve got him – let’s finish him off !”
DC Universe History
Now that I think about it… the Thunderbolts could be a band of villain that reformed in prison, during Suicide Squad missions, due to the Bronze Tiger’s influence (since the Tiger regained his formidable inner strength at the very end of the Suicide Squad series).
The charade might have been the exact opposite. They tried to pass as villains in order to infiltrate the underworld, but were accidentally exposed as heroes during some crisis and are now hunted by every single villain in the DCU.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
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Beetle
| Dex: 04 | Str: 03 | Bod: 03 | Motivation: Mercenary |
| Int: 06 | Wil: 04 | Min: 04 | Occupation: Professional criminal |
| Inf: 03 | Aur: 04 | Spi: 03 | Resources : 08 |
| Init: 013 | HP: 035 |
Skills:
Gadgetry: 06, Military science (ECM): 04, Thief (security systems): 06, Vehicles (land, air): 05, Vehicles (Beetle armor): 07, Weaponry (armor): 06
Advantages:
Confined Headquarters.
Connections:
Masters of Evil III (High), Sinister Syndicate (Low).
Drawbacks:
MIA to theft, Secret ID.
Equipment:
There were two main generations of Beetle armor :
- First generation BEETLE ARMOR [/STR/ 10, /BODY/ 08, Cling: 10, Flight: 04, Gliding: 03, Limitations : Flight is Winged (-1)].
- Second generation BEETLE ARMOR [/DEX/ 07, /STR/ 08, /BODY/ 09, Cling: 05, Flight: 05, Lightning: 07, Limitations : /DEX/ can only be used in combat (-1), /DEX/ can only be used against a foe who has been extensively studied (-2), Flight drops to 4 unless the armor is used solely for Flight (-1), Flight is Winged (-1), and the mylar wings only have a BODY of 5 (-1), R#2).
Helper(s): TalonMail, Z, Wouter Vlemmings’s site, Phil Dixon, William Anders Peterson, Angel, Mathew R. Ignash’s web site.
Source of Character: Marvel Universe.