Big Bertha
Context
Big Bertha (a reference to a 43-ton howitzer ) is part of the comedy Marvel Comics super-hero team the Great Lakes Avengers.
Though she appeared in 1989, she later gained greater fame by appearing in Deadpool books.
Background
- Real Name: Ashley Crawford.
- Marital Status: Single.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: Great Lakes Champions, formerly Great Lakes Avengers, Lightning Rods, Great Lakes X-Men, and Great Lakes Defenders.
- Base Of Operations: Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
- Height: (as Ashley) 6’1”; (as Bertha) 7’4” Weight: (as Ashley) 120lbs.; (as Bertha) 750 lbs.
- Eyes: Blue Hair: Strawberry-blonde.
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Powers and Abilities
Bertha has complete control over her body, being able to increase her mass to huge proportions, gaining superhuman strength and resistance in the process, or to maintain the figure required by her modelling career without having to work at it.
While massive, she can jump large distances and height, and can rebound physical objects projected at her, such as bullets, back at her attackers. One of her favourite tricks is to sit on enemies, holding them immobile.
History
(See the Great Lakes Avengers entry for a complete history of the team.)
Supermodel Ashley Crawford secretly used her mutant powers as Big Bertha to fight crime in Milwaukee. Reading a personal ad for a super-group forming in Milwaukee, she attended and became a member of the Great Lakes Avengers. She the fortune gained from her modelling career to fund the group.
Following Dinah Soar’s death Ashley began to reconsider her role on the team. This was exacerbated by her agent pushing her to work harder at her career. She decided her place was alongside her friends, and has remained there since.
She went on a date with Deadpool at one point, but that was mainly to try and talk him out of being an unwelcome house guest. She was dismayed to learn he was a chubby-chaser who preferred her as Bertha, and threw up on seeing his face.
Personality
Friendly and loyal, Bertha loves being a super-hero. She sees her team mates as her family. She knows that she could have a much better modelling career if she were to travel internationally, but is unwilling to leave her friends.
Quotes
[Landing on Moonstone] “Oh, look. Big Bertha faw down go boom. I’d better just sit here for a while — rest up, until Moonstone returns from wherever she went !”
DC Universe History
She has worked with Vixen, both as a superhero and a model, and the two share a Low Level Connection.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Big Bertha
| Dex: 04 | Str: 12 (02) | Bod: 10 (03) | Motivation: Resp. of Power |
| Int: 04 | Wil: 04 | Min: 04 | Occupation: Model |
| Inf: 05 | Aur: 04 | Spi: 05 | Resources {or Wealth}: 09 |
| Init: 013 | HP: 030 |
Powers:
Growth: 03, Jumping: 05, Reflection/Deflection: 06, Self-Link (Snare): 18
Bonuses and Limitations:
- Growth is already factored into her increased stats (-0).
- Reflection/Deflection is only usable on solid objects (-1).
Skills:
Vehicles (Air, Land): 04
Advantages:
Attractive (as Ashley).
Connections:
GLA (High), Modelling Industry (Low).
Drawbacks:
Mistrust (Mutant), Secret ID.
Source of Character: Marvel Comics .
Helper(s): marvel.com , marveldatabase.com , Ethan Roe.