Bombshell
(Phyllis Tanner)
Context
Bombshell is one of the main characters in the Spyboy comics. If you’re not familiar with these, we suggest first reading the Spyboy character profile for context.
Background
- Real Name: Phyllis Tanner.
- Other Aliases: Marta Hari.
- Marital Status: Single.
- Known Relatives: Unnamed parents.
- Group Affiliation: Agent of S.H.I.R.T.S..
- Base Of Operations: New Jersey.
- Height: 5’7” Weight: 130 lbs.
- Eyes: Brown Hair: Blonde
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Powers and Abilities
Bombshell is highly trained combatant.
She is particularly competent with explosives, both building and delivering. She’s skilled using them as missiles, once tossing a cigarette bomb down the exhaust pipe of a car from the back of a moving vehicle.
History
Unhappy with her life, and having been thrown out by her parents, teenager Phyllis Tanner tried to take her own life by jumping off one of the World Trade Center towers in New York. She was stopped short when she landed on the invisible headquarters of S.H.I.R.T.S. (Secret Headquarters, International Reconnaissance, Tactics and Spies), which was based between the top of the two towers.
Recruited into, and trained by, S.H.I.R.T.S., her first mission saw her teaming up with Spygirl, an agent of M.A.N.G.A. (Middle Asian Network of Global Activities). But it ended with Spygirl abandoning Bombshell when it became necessary for the successful completion of the mission. Bombshell escaped on her own, but developed an enmity for Spygirl.
Later, S.H.I.R.T.S. learned the location of the fugitive Moore family. These were former spies who’d fled to protect young Alex, who’d been imprinted with the Spyboy persona. Bombshell was sent to carry out surveillance, and to protect him when agents of S.K.I.N.S. (Supreme Killing INStitute) located him.
My name is Boy… Spyboy
The Spyboy persona was activated, and Alex was recruited into S.H.I.R.T.S.. Bombshell was assigned by Prime Number, head of S.H.I.R.T.S., to be his partner. Which meant that she was forced to attend his high school under the name Marta Hari.
Despite her irritation at Alex’s amateurishness, and Spyboy’s unwillingness to work with others, she began to develop feelings for Alex.
While tangling with the Palindrome assassin organization, Bombshell was captured. She was handed over to Hindasti slavers, ending up in an auction run by Slackjaw. Alex rescued her, and they fled, landing in Japan. There she again came into contact with Spygirl, to her dismay.
Bombshell’s irritation continued when Spygirl was also sent to join the crew in high school.
Revenge of Palindrome
Falling into the hands of Madam Imadam’s Palindrome again, Bombshell was brainwashed by Dreamboat. She now believed that over a decade had passed, and that Spyboy had gone rogue.
Dispatched to kill him, she failed. Phyllis was eventually broken free from the delusion when Alex kissed her. She was shortly thereafter reunited with her parents, whom Prime Number had been in contact with since her recruitment.
Bombshell continues to work with Spyboy for S.H.I.R.T.S..
Personality
Aggressive and assertive, Bombshell is short with those who don’t seem to know what they’re doing. And with those who don’t take her seriously.
Devoted to her job, she doesn’t understand why she has to be a part of Spyboy’s double life, wasting time that could be used for missions.
Her confidence at her job doesn’t extend to social situations. During such she usually gets defensive, having trouble trusting people. And while she seems to be attracted to Alex, her low self-esteem means she doesn’t see why he would be interested in her.
She prefers to be self-reliant, and is very slow to make friends.
Quotes
Chinn: “Get her you fools ! She’s only a girl ! If she were a man she might be a problem !”
Bombshell: “If you were a man, you might be too !”
“As soon as I get my hands on something that’s breakable, lemme tell you, it’s going to be so broken !”
“Every time I’ve trusted someone implicitly, I got screwed. The last time nearly killed me. So for my own sanity, I just… keep people at arm’s length. It’s a lot simpler that way.”
Bombshell: “I blasted him out the window ! What else did I have to do, gift-wrap him for you ?!”
Spygirl: “How about simply doing your job competently ?”
Bombshell: “My job ?! My job is, I blow stuff up ! And I’m doing it more than competently, thanks ! Now if my job were to be generally useless, well, you’ve got that covered.”
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Bombshell
| Dex: 06 | Str: 04 | Bod: 04 | Motivation: Responsibility of Power |
| Int: 05 | Wil: 05 | Min: 05 | Occupation: Spy |
| Inf: 05 | Aur: 05 | Spi: 06 | Resources {or Wealth}: 005 |
| Init: 018 | HP: 040 |
Skills:
Acrobatics: 05, Gadgetry (Explosives): 06, Martial Artist*: 06, Military Science (Demolitions): 07, Vehicles (Land)*: 06, Weaponry (Firearms, Missiles): 07
Advantages:
Expertise (Explosives).
Connections:
Spyboy (High), SHIRTS (High).
Drawbacks:
Secret ID.
Equipment:
- Bombshell is usually armed with an array of bombs, either regular explosives (Bomb 02-08 APs) or smoke bombs (Fog 02-04 APs), which may be set on timers. She also keeps a blasting cap as a false tooth.
- She has used a Hypnoball, which can mesmerize anyone watching it bounce [BODY 02, Hypnosis: 04].
- She also wears sunglasses which allow her to communicate with S.H.I.R.T.S. HQ, a visual link displaying on the lenses of the glasses [BODY 03, Radio Communications (Scrambled): 12].
Source of Character: Spyboy comics (Dark Horse & DC).
Writeup completed on the 1st of December, 2009.