Black Bison
Context
Black Bison is an early enemy of Firestorm. He was mostly seen in 1982-84, since the character hasn’t aged terribly well.
This is just a technical update of his official game stats, not a full character profile.
Background
- Real Name: John Ravenhair.
- Marital Status: Single.
- Known Relatives: Thunder Arrow (father, deceased), Red-Desert-And-Night-Wind (grandfather, deceased), Bison-Black-As-Midnight-Sky (great-grandfather, deceased).
- Base Of Operations: New York City.
- Group Affiliation: None.
- Height: 6’3” Weight: 226lbs.
- Eyes: Brown Hair: Black.
Advertisement
Powers and Abilities
The ancient mystical talisman of the Bison Cult, worn as a medallion around John Ravenhair’s neck, allows the spirit of his shaman great-grandfather to gain possession of his body. This medallion also grants Black Bison the power to animate inanimate objects and control the elements of nature. For instance, it allows him to summon great winds and storms at will.
Black Bison apparently directs these powers through the wooden coup stick he carries. It is an Indian symbol of great authority. For a time, Black Bison also wielded a tribal shield.
An excellent physical specimen, Black Bison is also a skilled hand-to-hand combatant. When possessed, he uses ancient Indian forms of the martial arts to great advantage.
History
An American Indian totally assimilated in the White Man’s World, John Ravenhair was given an necklace talisman by his great-grandfather. This man had once been the shaman of the legendary Bison Cult.
When his great-grandfather was slain by muggers, Ravenhair found himself possessed by the old man’s spirit, which granted him super-powers. As a result, he set forth to avenge the white man’s many injustices against his people.
Advertisement
Various acts of deliberate destruction brought Black Bison into conflict with Firestorm. The Nuclear Man tore the mystical talisman from Bison’s neck. This restored Mr. Ravenhair to normal.
Several months later, Ravenhair was once again seduced into becoming Black Bison, this time by the shape-shifting Indian sorceress known as the Silver Deer. It took the combined powers of Firestorm and Firehawk to stop them.
Description
See illustration.
Personality
No data.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Black Bison
| Dex: 06 | Str: 04 | Bod: 06 | Motivation: Psycho |
| Int: 04 | Wil: 03 | Min: 04 | Occupation: Teacher |
| Inf: 08 | Aur: 11 | Spi: 09 | Resources {or Wealth}: 006 |
| Init: 018 | HP: 060 |
Skills:
Vehicles (land): 03
Advantages:
None.
Connections:
Silver Deer (Low).
Drawbacks:
None.
Equipment:
- Bison Cult Talisman [BODY 12, Animal control: 10, Animal summoning: 07, Animate objects: 13, Martial artist: 07, Lightning Reflexes, Weather control: 12, Initiative : 022, SIA to reclaiming his people’s heritage].
- Coup stick [BODY 09, EV 03 (04 w/STR, 08 w/Martial Artist)].
- MEDIUM SHIELD [BODY (Hardened Defenses) 07, Recommended STR 02, Note: OV/RV bonus when using the Block Manoeuvre is 2 APs, Note: the OV bonus for the Shield Cover Manoeuvre is 2 APs].
Source of Character: Firestorm comics (DCU).