Birdie

Context

Birdie appeared in the original Street Fighter brawling video game, in 1987. From there he proceeded to pop again in the never-ending game series, including as a playable character.

He’s a competent criminal henchman with enough ambition and cunning to eventually start and successfully lead his own criminal syndicate. He’d be a good villain for low to mid-level power street campaigns.

Background

Powers and Abilities

Birdie is a gigantic man.

He was successful as both a pro wrestler and a bouncer.

He’s also a career criminal that was good enough to be noticed by Shadaloo.

Birdie is hindered by such traits as being short-tempered and violent. But he’s considerably smarter and more sophisticated than he looks.

His signature wrestling moves involves a lot of head butts. And during many of his throws he wraps his chains around his opponent and slams them around. One of his supers even has him tying his opponent up and doing jump rope with their body. This, as one might expect, does massive damage.

In the video games Birdie is a slow, but powerful defensive character. Obviously he fights best up close, but he can still be a threat at a distance:

History

Birdie was a successful professional wrestler. He occasionally teamed up with his friendly rival Titanic Tim as the 500 Million Trillion Powers (!) duo.

His popularity eventually waned, causing Tim to focus more on his solo career. Birdie turned to crime for income.

He also occasionally worked as a bouncer at disco clubs. These paid cash in hand and didn’t ask questions.

Street Fighter 1

Birdie joined the very first Street Fighter Tournament to, quite simply, make some quick cash.

How well he did was never stated. But he likely performed well as a majority of this game’s fighters never returned, whereas Birdie came back for quite a few sequels.

Oddly, Birdie had a European skin tone during this game. Odder still, this is canon.  He later claimed to have been sick during the tournament – which caused his pale complexion. So perhaps he didn’t do that well after all.

Street Fighter Alpha 2

Birdie’s criminal pursuits made him learn of the Shadaloo crime syndicate. He tracked them down and petitioned them for membership. Master Bison himself seemed impressed by his fighting ability (or more likely his stature) and agreed.

As it turned out, Birdie had actually been hired as a lab rat. His huge body could survive lots of Shadaloo experimental drugs.

Now seeking revenge, the Briton waited for an opportunity.

Street Fighter Alpha 3

Birdie snuck into the Shadaloo control room. His research provided info about the Psycho Drive, which was the source of Bison’s potent psychic powers. He decided to find and exploit the Drive, but Bison was aware of this.

Betrayal was one thing that Bison would not tolerate, so he dispatched Balrog. Birdie realised that even he couldn’t take on one of Shadaloo’s most powerful fighters. So he told Balrog about what he had learned, and persuaded him to work together.

However, Balrog was too daft to be helpful in researching information. And convoluted events set in motion by heroes resulted in the destruction of the Psycho Drive.

Street Fighter V: On the Run: Extreme Hunger

Shadaloo was rebuilt and destroyed twice. Birdie’s whereabouts during these events weren’t chronicled.

When he returned in SF5 he was working for Shadaloo. Which is odd given that Bison rarely forgives betrayal.

Birdie worked under F.A.N.G., recently promoted to being one of the Four Kings of the organization.

The two never got along and after heated arguments Birdie turned his back on Shadaloo.

He went on the run from both the mob and the police. Chun Li almost arrested him, but Birdie escaped.

By complete chance he found himself on the Kanzuki estate grounds. The heiress Karin challenged him to a fight. Birdie lost, but Karin hired him as a bodyguard. Birdie took the job, if only because he’d been starving.

Ever the glutton, Birdie ended up being paid in food and lodging.

Street Fighter V: A Shadow Falls

Birdie had but a minor part in this lengthy and complex story.

After Shadaloo’s Black Moon started knocking out the power all over the world, Karin had Birdie hold Marz captive on her estate. This freed Ms. Kanzuki to scour the globe and seek a way to stop the Black Moon.

However Marz’s colleagues Aprile and Noemblu defeated Birdie to recover Marz.

Birdie later helped raid Shadaloo’s headquarters. He fought Février. When he complained about her using guns, she pointed out that he was using his chains as weapons.

Ryu, Chun Li and others defeated Bison. Birdie made it out of the Shadaloo base before it exploded.

Description

Birdie is a huge, hulking, Black English punk. He has a blond high maintenance mohawk and a black pointy mustache and goatee.

He typically wears biker leathers, biker boots and an open sleeveless leather vest. Plus heavy chains wrapped around both wrists.

His looks haven’t changed that much since his debut. But in SF5 he had a huge beer belly and looked grimier and more disheveled. He also had a tattoo on his stomach that reads “Life Like Dice.”

Personality

Birdie’s a street thug with a nasty temper. But an ambitious and a fairly competent one, with leadership potential.

In more recent appearances he worked for Karin Kanzuki. Which meant that he was more or less on the side of heroes.

Quotes

“What ! This weakling is Shadoloo ? That rumored narcotics syndicate ?! I, being this world’s strongest bouncer, should be getting all money with such weaklings and their huge wallets ! Unforgivable ! If I get serious, I believe money and fame will soon follow. It’s settled, farewell to this life ! From here on, will be the reign of Lord Birdie !”

Thug: “You’re quite insistent !! Come forth or leave !”
Birdie: “Shadoloo ? You mean that rumored narcotics syndicate ? So what of it, I’m in a bad mood today ! What ? You’ll take me on as my opponent you say ? What, with this guy hassling me, I should broaden my reach !!”

Bartender: “What Birdie, are you not in an awfully good mood ?”
Birdie: “Pops, today a party will be held for Lord Birdie’s new start ! Everyone, it’s my treat of course. Rave until the morning !”
Crowd: (cheers)

Birdie (after the party is over): “I’ll leave this to you as the bill to my successful career ! Later, as a farewell gift I’ll be taking the register’s money !”

Birdie (after being short changed on his wages): “Hey hey, don’t be joking ! You’re not even the least bit sorry !? Now, at the beginning contract, did you really write it off ? You spent my wages on booze, didn’cha ?”
Bar owner: “Psh ! Damn it you !”
Thug: “Yo ! Are you, really that punk rascal they call Birdie !? Had you not noticed this place, would you have stopped doing it completely ? Your wrestling, was great for sufficient fame wasn’t it ?” (laughs)
Birdie (grabs the thug): “Get out right now !!” (floors a group of thugs)
Birdie (to the bar owner): “The cost of repairs — pull it out of your retirement allowance. You don’t need my help, good-bye !”

“I am Birdie, the most rotten villain in the world… I hope.”

“Oy ! It ain’t too late to run off to mum now !”

DC Universe Adaptation

(This section proposes ways of using this character in DC Universe stories).

An equivalent would be for Birdie to join the League of Assassins in the hope of working as an Ubu, deserting along with an actual Ubu, then being hired as a bodyguard by the Super-Young Team after they worked with Sonny Sumo.

As such he likely would have helped Batman and Catwoman defeat Lord Death-Man when he tried to kill Shiny Happy Aquazon.

Adνеrtisеmеnt

Steam keys for Street Fighter games

By Tom Eilers.

Source of Character: Street Fighter.

Helper(s): Sébastien Andrivet, Darci.