Blue Eagle (Squadron Supreme)

Blue Eagle


Context

The Blue Eagle is a minor, obscure Marvel character. His main job was to be an Hawkman expy , though a few more older super-hero archetypes also were used as he returned.

He’s something of a “plug-in” character you can just pilfer and use in any campaign in any context. That’s the advantage of being generic-ish and mostly unknown.


Background

  • Real Name: James ‘Jim’ Dore Jr..
  • Other Aliases: American Eagle II, Cap’n Hawk, Condor.
  • Marital Status: Single.
  • Known Relatives: James Dore Sr. (American Eagle I, father, deceased).
  • Group Affiliation: Squadron Supreme.
  • Base Of Operations: Mobile, Squadron City, Earth-S.
  • Height: 6’2” Weight: 195 lbs.
  • Eyes: Blue Hair: Brown


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Powers and Abilities

A strong, fit man, James Dore is trained as a special operative for the government, a hero and a aircraft mechanic. He’s a highly skilled fighter, specializing in aerial combat.

He wears a specially designed flying suit. Although the suit is not armored to a significant degree, it includes artificial wings enabling flight and a helmet with several aerial navigation features. The Eagle also wields an American eagle-shaped shield.

Though it’s not part of his standard equipment, the Eagle sometimes arms himself with a stout medieval weapon. He usually uses a mace.


Crisis on several Earths

The winged member of the Squadron Supreme went through several rounds of important changes before the landmark Squadron Supreme Gruenwald series. Yet, he is generally assumed to be James Dore, Jr. in all appearances.

Since Earth-712 is a sort of loose parallel of the DC Universe, one possible explanation is that it regularly goes through editorially-mandated, reality-redefining crises. In this No-Prize Hypothesis , Dore was retconned  into a different character each time. For those GMs wanting to use the older versions, here are our notes :


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American Eagle (1971)

The American Eagle is rabidly, obsessively anti-Communist. Anything that even vaguely opposes him will be denounced as a Commie, a radical and a traitor, with the likely exceptions of inanimate objects and the weather. He seems paranoid and impulsive.

He wears the red costume with the star-studded briefs and the eagle head hat. It is fairly close to the one that Steve Trevor wore as the Patriot.

American Eagle (James Dore of the Squadron Supreme)

This version of Dore is a large, powerful man. He seemed to be about 6’4” and 235 lbs. In DC Heroes terms it isn’t impossible that his STR was a 05 during this era.

His wings are not capable of flight per se but he can glide. He often uses them for lunging or dive-bombing attacks with his mighty all-American fists — in DC Heroes terms they’re WINGS [BODY 05, Jumping (Winged): 02, Gliding (Winged): 04]. He probably had 30-ish Hero Points at this stage.

Quote: (upon first seeing the Avengers) “I think they’re Reds — or at least Commie-symps !” or “Now it’s time for the Eagle to do his bit for Uncle Sam !”

It is possible that this character was actually James Dore, Sr. the original American Eagle and a member of the Golden Agency along with Power Princess. The dialogue in the actual books is ambiguous, but gives a faint impression that American Eagle and Cap’n Hawk were the elder and younger Dore, respectively.

Cap’n Hawk (1976)

As Cap’n Hawk, Dore wears a completely different costume. His personality and abilities are also markedly different.

He’s much closer to being an alternate version of Hawkman now. He seems aggressive, assertive and ruthless, but he’s not drawn as tall and big as he previously was. The anti-Leftist fixation is gone. Cap’n Hawk wears the winged yellow and orange costume, with a blue eagle logo and blue side wings on the mask.

He still seems to be extremely strong, though, and STR 05 is still a possibility. His wings are now fully functional and allow him to fly quickly and silently – WINGS [BODY 05, Flight (Winged): 06, Gliding (Winged): 03, Thief (Stealth – only whilst Gliding): 06]. The Beast (Hank McCoy) was clearly faster than Dore, though.

Cap‘n Hawk probably has 30-ish Hero Points at this stage.

His usual weapon is a polearm – with an improbably huge mace head on one hand and a sort of double-bladed pick (or scythe, depending on the panel) on the other [BODY 06, EV 05, Recommended STR 04]. Though he’s disarmed he quickly comes back with a large sword that might be some sort of falx or tachi, and boasts about his “inexhaustible supply of special weapons”.

Since he wasn’t visible carrying extra weaponry before he produced this sword, it is possible that he has some sort of ability to summon ancient melee weapons (in DC Heroes Omni-Arm: 05 would likely suffice, limited to ancient weapons shapes and taking a Dice Action to get a new weapon).

Quote: “A bird in the hand is worth ransom ! Trust Cap’n Hawk to know that, Spectrum !”


History

Unless you’ve already read the Squadron Supreme trade paperback (collecting the 12 part maxiseries) I strongly recommend you to read this unusual story about superheroes. For a more detailed history about the place called Marvel’s Earth-S, see the other Squadron Supreme write-ups.

For most of his career, James Dore, Jr. was known as Cap’n Hawk, a patriotic, shield-wielding, high-flying hero. He was one of the earliest known members of the Squadron Supreme (as he was their third recruit) and the hero of Mayflower, Freedonia.

Cap’n Hawk met the Avengers and Defenders on a number of occasion as a hero from a parallel Earths. These adventures strongly reminiscent of the pre-Crisis DCU. The Squadron Supreme were obvious versions of the JLA, although Cap’n Hawk himself was a cross between Hawkman and either the Guardian or Captain America.

World domination

The Squadron took control of their Earth’s USA after a crisis involving the being known as Null. Cap‘n Hawk became the Blue Eagle, an homage to his father (aka American Eagle I ; James was known as American Eagle II at the very beginning of his career).

A steadfast member of the Squadron, he was the one who called for the Golden Archer to be expelled from the Squadron after he used a brainwashing device on Lady Lark.

As one of the biggest supporters of the Squadron’s stance, he was caught by the Redeemers. They used the brainwashing device to make him fight along them.

This proved fatal to the Blue Eagle. During the battle between the Squadron and the Redeemers his wings were drained by Lamprey, and he died of a broken neck after his fall – also killing Pinball, on whom her tried to fall in order to save himself.


Description

The grey-winged costume is the Blue Eagle costume (without the shield). The costume with the blue wings and funky winged helmet is the one he wore as the Condor.


Personality

Blue Eagle has a the personality that fits a positive hero who represents authority – including an ability to make good cop speeches. In the Squadron, he’s a good friend of Dr. Spectrum and likes Lady Lark. He also has a rivalry with Archer for the dashing, skill-based hero spot.


Quotes

“Drop the stolen goods… go back to your homes, and there’ll be no trouble.”


DC Universe History

Since the Squadron Supreme basically are carbon copies of the JLA there are two options. Either use the JLA in your adventure or use the entire Squadron Supreme instead. The Blue Eagle would clearly be a counter-part to Hawkman.

It could, of course, also be interesting to put the old JLA against the Squadron in a dimension-crossing adventure. In such a scenario Blue Eagle would probably lose against any incarnation of the Hawkman, but might fare better against other low-powered members of the JLA.



Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG

Tell me more about the game stats

Blue Eagle

Dex: 06 Str: 04 Bod: 04 Motivation: Seeking Justice
Int: 05 Wil: 05 Min: 05 Occupation: Squadron Member
Inf: 06 Aur: 06 Spi: 05 Resources {or Wealth}: 007/025 (in Squadron)
Init: 019 HP: 070

Skills:
Charisma*: 06, Evasion (Aerial only): 08, Gadgetry*: 05, Martial Arts*: 06, Vehicles (Air): 05, Weaponry (Melee, Shields): 07

Advantages:
Expansive Headquarters (Squadron City), Free Access(Squadron Card), Security Clearance (High), Sharp Eye.

Connections:
Squadron Supreme (High), US Government (Low).

Drawbacks:
Secret Identity (earlier only).

Equipment:

  • WINGS [BODY 05 STR 05, Flight (Winged): 07, Gliding: 02, R#2].
  • EAGLE SHIELD [BODY (Hardened Defenses) 11, EV 03 (05w/STR), 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].
  • Eagle Helmet [BODY 08, Shade (sonics): 04, Telescopic Vision: 02].
  • The Eagle occasionally armed himself with a Mace [BODY 06, EV 04 (05 w/STR, 07 w/Martial Artist)].


Game Stats — DC Adventures RPG

Tell me more about the game stats

Blue Eagle — Averaged PL 8.2

STR STA AGL DEX FGT INT AWE PRE
02 02 02 01 06 02 02 02

Powers

Winged combat ● 2 points (Removable – must wear his wings) ● Descriptor: Skill
– Enhanced Advantage (Favored Environment [in the air])
– Enhanced Skill (Acrobatics 9), Limited 2 (aerial maneuvers)

Devices

Wings ● 2 points (Removable) ● Descriptor: Anti-gravity
Winged Flight 5

Eagle shield ● 6 points (Easily Removable)
– Enhanced Defenses (Dodge 2, Parry 2).
– Mobile Cover — Protection 1, Impervious Toughness 5, Activation (standard), Sustained.
– Shield Charge — Immunity 2 (own slam attacks).

Eagle helm ● 2 points (Removable)
– Senses 1 (Extended Vision)
– Immunity 2 (visual dazzle effects)

Combat Advantages

Accurate Attack, Close Attack 3, Defensive Attack, Defensive Roll 2, Favored Environment (in the air), Improved Disarm, Improved Trip, Move-by Action, Power Attack.

Other Advantages

Benefit (vast resources, as Squadron member), Connected, Equipment 1, Inventor.

Skills

Athletics 4 (+6), Close Combat (Maces) 2 (+11), Close Combat (Shields) 2 (+11), Deception 2 (+4), Expertise (Medieval Weapons) 4 (+6), Expertise (Science) 8 (+10), Insight 4 (+6), Intimidation 4 (+6), Perception 5 (+7), Persuasion 4 (+6), Technology 8 (+10), Vehicles 6 (+8) (Limited 2 to air vehicles)

Equipment

Mace — Strength-based Damage 3

Offense

Initiative +2
Unarmed +9, Close, Damage 2
Mace +11, Close, Damage 5
Shield +11, Close, Damage 2

Defense

Dodge 12 Fortitude 6
Parry 12 Toughness 5/3*/2**
Will 7

* Without Defensive Roll
** Without Defensive Roll or shield

Complications

  • Seeking Justice The Blue Eagle’s sense of justice pits him against evildoers, and occasionally, against friends and loved ones.
  • Secret Identity Earlier in his career.

Power levels

  • Trade-off areas Attack & Effect PL 8, Dodge/Toughness PL 9, Parry/Toughness PL 9, Fort & Will PL 7.
  • Point total 113 Abilities 38, Defences 21, Skills 25, Powers 2, Devices 12, Advantages 15. Equiv. PL 8.


By Peter S Piispanen (aka The Angel) and Sébastien Andrivet.

Source of Character: Squadron Supreme comics, Marvel Universe.

Helper(s): Jackson, Pawsplay, Interrobang75. DCA stats by Pawsplay.