Brain Globes of Rambat
Context
The brain globes — a popular motif in older science-fiction, comics and pulpsCheap, often lurid novels in the US during the 1920s and 1930s — clashed with DC Comics’ Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes but once.
That was during the Silver AgeSuper-hero comics from the late 1950s to the early 1970s., early in the Legion’s career. The story is very very 1962.
The Legion of Super-Heroes were goody two-shoes super-youths operating in a shiny, ideal 1950s view of a science-fiction future. Over its many decades of publication, the team evolved to better match more modern times.
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Background
- Known Relatives: The four surviving Brain Globes are not known to be related, but are as close as it gets.
- Group Affiliation: Brain Globes of Rambat.
- Base Of Operations: Mobile.
- Height: 4’ (1.22m) diameter. Weight: 275 lbs. (125 Kg.).
Powers and Abilities
The Brain Globes of Rambat possess a wide range of telepathic and telekinetic powers. They can:
- Communicate telepathically.
- Move objects.
- Attack with mind blasts that can exert physical or mental force.
Their greatest powers are their ability to control minds and manipulate emotions. Yet they are unable to control animals, even animals with near-human intellect.
They also possess technology far beyond 20th century Earth’s.
History
Eons ago, the natives of Rambat, a planet in a purple star system, acquired potent psychic abilities and developed advanced technology.
They chose to pursue their mental development, even abandoning their humanoid bodies. They now lived in artificial “brain-globes” which channeled their mental energies more efficiently.
At some point thousands of years ago, they learned their planet Rambat was doomed to explode due to an internal cataclysm. So they decided to send an advance scout out to find a planet with a similar atmosphere.
Rambat attacks
In the mid-to-late 20th century, this scout chose Earth as their target. They intended to move it — via gravitic technology — to their home solar system.
But Rambat exploded before this could be done. Only four Brain-Globes escaped the destruction, but they chose to proceed with the plan to steal Earth.
They launched a preemptive strike on Superboy (Clark Kent), Earth’s defender. The globes used their mental powers from a distance so Superboy didn’t know what was happening.
They were unable to mind-control him fully. But they did manipulate his emotions so he almost crashed a plane and briefly attacked his pet, Krypto the Super-Dog. In both cases, though, he quickly snapped out of it.
The Brain Globes decided to get “help” and got the LSH from the future. Presumably they Mind Probed Superboy to find out about the Legion.
We need a bigger boat
The Rambat aliens were able to control the three Legionnaires who defeated Superboy with Kryptonite rays. Then the Brain Globes revealed themselves, and mentally knocked the weakened Superboy unconscious.
But while they were concentrating on him, they failed to maintain control of the Legionnaires.
At the same time Krypto attacked.
The Brain Globes couldn’t control Krypto. So they threatened that if he took out one of them, the other three would mentally activate a device in their hidden “meteor pit” (which they blasted with Mental Blast, and built their engine in) that would destroy Earth.
Applied zoology
Saturn Girl, Lightning Lad and Cosmic Boy decided that with Krypto outnumbered, they needed more super-powered animals to stop the Brain Globes.
They hopped in their time sphere and fetched Beppo the Kryptonian Super-Monkey, Streaky the artificially-powered Super-Cat, and Comet, the magically powered Super-Horse.
The four Brain Globes were repelled by the four Super-Pets. They fled Earth, vowing not to come back.
Description
They are brains in giant semi-transparent globes.
Quotes
“The Superboy of Earth is dying !”
“No longer need we conceal from him that we, the Brain-Globes of Rambat, masterminded his downfall ! In his weakened state, he cannot oppose us !”
“Eons ago, our race had bodies. But upon acquiring the power to work mental miracles, we discarded the clumsy bodies and assumed this infinitely more efficient Brain-Globe form.”
“We plan to steal Earth !”
“No, no ! Don’t come near me, accursed mongrel ! Keep away… keep away !!”
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DC Universe Adaptation
(This section proposes ways of using this character in DC Universe stories).
The Brain Globes may have some connection to the Gil’dishpan, also known as the Gil’dan.
In the current-as-of-this-writing DCU there is a Krypto who could fight them, perhaps alongside the Detective Chimp, Rex the Wonder Dog, etc.
DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
The Brain Globes of Rambat
| Dex: 06 | Str: 03 | Bod: 08 |
| Int: 09 | Wil: 07 | Min: 09 |
| Inf: 04 | Aur: 05 | Spi: 05 |
| Init: 019 | HP: 040 |
Powers:
Broadcast Empathy: 16, Control: 14, Mental Blast: 10, Mind Blast: 09, Mind Probe: 08, Self-Link (Gadgetry): 14, Telekinesis: 10, Telepathy: 09
Bonuses and Limitations:
Broadcast Empath and Control are useless against animals (-1 FC each).
Skills:
Gadgetry*: 10, Scientist*: 10, Vehicles (Space): 05
Advantages:
Genius.
Connections:
Brain Globes of Rambat (High).
Drawbacks:
Forced Exile (Rambat), Catastrophic Physical Restriction (The Brain Globes are brains inside globes, possessing no limbs and unable to survive outside the globe).
Motivation:
Power Lust.
Occupation:
Interstellar conquerors.
Wealth:
014
DC Adventures RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Brain Globes of Rambat — Averaged PL10.4
| STR | STA | AGL | DEX |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 06 | 02 | 00 |
| FGT | INT | AWE | PRE |
| 04 | 07 | 04 | 02 |
Powers:
Brainiac on the floor ● 51 points ● Descriptor: Psionics
– Mind shield — Enhanced Will 4, Impervious Enhanced Will 2 (both Limited to psionic and similar descriptors).
– Globe — Protection 2, Impervious Protection 2.
– Globe — Flight 6.
– Telepathic — Communication 3 (Mental).
– Array :
- Emotion control — Affliction 15, resisted by Will, Limited Degree (Entranced/Compelled), Subtle, Limited 1 (inspires specific emotions rather than order specific actions).
- Mind control — Affliction 12, resisted by Will, Entranced/Compelled/Controlled.
- Mental force blast — Ranged forced Damage 10.
- Telepathic blast — Mental Blast 9.
- Mental probe — Mind Reading 7.
- Telekinesis — Move object 10.
Combat Advantages:
None demonstrated.
Other Advantages:
Benefit 2 (Technologically advanced alien culture).
Skills:
Deception 1 (+3), Expertise (Super-science) 9 (+16), Insight 6 (+8), Perception 7 (+9), Persuasion 1 (+3), Technology 11 (+18), Vehicles 6 (+6) (Limited 1 to space vehicles).
Offence:
| Initiative +2 |
| Unarmed +4, Close, Damage 1 |
| Mental blast +10, Ranged, Damage 10 |
Defence:
| Dodge | 10 |
| Fortitude | 11 |
| Parry | 08 |
| Toughness | 10 |
| Will | 07/13** |
* Without Defensive Roll.
** Only vs. psionics and the like.
Complications:
- Cosmically homeless The Brain Globes no longer have a homeworld.
- They’re a brain in a globe, Avi The Brain Globes have no physical limbs, and cannot survive outside their globe.
- Full conversion cyborg The globe and its systems may be affected by anti-tech attacks.
- Lesser minds Both Affliction Powers are useless against animals, even if they have abnormal intelligence.
Powers Levels:
- Trade-off areas. Attack/Effect PL 12, Dodge/Toughness PL 10, Parry/Toughness PL 9, Fort/Will PL 11.
- Points total 143. Abilities 52, Defences 20, Skills 19, Powers 51, Devices 0, Advantages 2. Equiv. PL 10.
Notes
I picked their mind control as the Attack/effect PL.
It’s not characters I personally statted, so the stats are done in broader strokes than usual.
Helper(s): Chaim Keller’s Legion Help File. M&M stats adaptation by Sébastien Andrivet.
Source of Character: DCU (Adventure Comics #293).