Challenge
(Timothy Kafka)
Context
Challenge appeared during the mid-1990s in the “Comics’ Greatest World”. This was a new super-hero world created by Dark Horse. The bulk of the books soon disappeared in the 1990s comics market crash, but it endured on a smaller scale under the new “Dark Horse Heroes” label. Challenge mostly interacted with fanatical vigilante X.
Challenge is a sort of mix of Captain America (Steve Rogers) and Nightwing (Richard Grayson). Kind of.
Background
- Real Name: Timothy Kafka.
- Marital status: Unrevealed.
- Known relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: Department of Justice.
- Base of operations: Washington, D.C.
- Height: 6’4” Weight: 240 lbs.
- Eyes: Brown Hair: Black
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Powers and Abilities
Challenge may not have powers, but he’s nigh-unstoppable. His physical and martial prowess are unmatched. Kafka can do things like jumping on a sport bike and accelerating it to the max, then send it into a moving car while he jumps off the bike and lands on the car after the impact. Before jumping off while the car crashes.
His drive is second to none, and he’s without fear.
He’s also an experienced and competent super-cop.
History
Challenge’s origin is unrevealed. But he has worked for the Justice Department for years, under the direct authority of a man named Vargas.
The first time Challenge intervened in Arcadia against X, he failed and was told off by the vigilante. But that didn’t bother him much. When X started attacking Congressmen to obtain funding for Arcadia, Challenge tricked X and narrowly beat him in physical combat.
Challenge later freed X when he discovered a General had the vigilante kidnapped from the Department of Justice. Vargas cut a deal with X, as it seemed to be the least bad solution.
Nevertheless, Challenge was disgusted at seeing a killer go away. He chose to take a long vacation.
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Personality
The most Lawful Good cop you’re likely to ever meet. Challenge is an idealist, and strives with all his soul to enforce the law within strict moral confines, in order to serve justice.
He doesn’t cut deals, he doesn’t take the easy way out, he doesn’t compromise with his own extremely high standards, and he never kills. He’s more than ready to fight and die for his values, and he can put up a hell of a fight.
Challenge was meant to be a radical contrast to the prevalent wave of dark anti-heroes and gun-toting executioners that hit the comics back in the mid-90s (including X himself). In that respect he was a success, although that caused him many problems with most of the intelligence community. He’s not exactly popular with the NSA and CIA, for instance.
Quotes
“What I do, I do without powers. And I do it till it’s done, or I’m done.”
“Department of Justice ! Drop your weapon and stay down !”
Description
See illustration.
DC Universe History
Challenge has that Captain America charm that’s hard to pass up. He’s also very similar to Nightwing, albeit with more official sanction.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
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Challenge
| Dex: 10 | Str: 05 | Bod: 06 | Motivation: Uphold Good |
| Int: 08 | Wil: 08 | Min: 07 | Occupation: Government special agent |
| Inf: 07 | Aur: 05 | Spi: 12 | Resources {or Wealth}: 006 |
| Init: 027 | HP: 060 |
Skills:
Acrobatics*: 10, Charisma: 08, Martial Artist*: 10, Thief: 08, Vehicles (Air, Land, Water): 08, Weaponry: 09
Advantages:
Credentials (Justice Department, Medium), Iron Nerves, Sharp Eye.
Connections:
Justice Department (High).
Drawbacks:
SIA toward Upholding the Good.
Equipment:
- COSTUME [BODY 06, Invisibility: 08, Laser Beam: 05, Telescopic Vision: 04, one ABC 5 APs omni-gadget, Limitation : Invisibility only against artificial sensors (+1)].
- Several pairs of handcuffs [BODY 10].
Source of Character: Dark Horse’s CGW.