Copycat
(Gem Antonelli)
Context
DV8 (pronounced “deviants”) was a 1995 Image Comics series about edgy super-powered kids. Self-centred and self-indulgent, their lives are controlled by a murderous intelligence conspiracy managed by one Ivana Baiul.
Though the book’s sales made returns of the characters difficult to obtain, the existing fan base seems to have been quite dedicated.
Background
- Real Name: Gem Antonelli.
- Marital Status: Single.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: DV8.
- Base Of Operations: I.O. facilities.
- Height: 5’4” Weight: 105 lbs.
- Eyes: Red Hair: Red
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Powers and Abilities
Copycat is a Gen-Active 2nd generation. She was given the synthetic Gen-Factor compound that Ivana designed to give powers to her guinea pigs.
What she can do his control people’s mind to do her bidding. She has to mimic the actions she wants her victim to perform. For instance, she has to shoot an imaginary gun if her victim is supposed to shoot with a gun. At first, she was only able to control one person at a time, but she overcome this limitation later in her career.
History
She was the first of the DV8 to be recruited. Apparently, her powers manifested early as she was usually sedated. Then I.O.’s medics put her in a cryogenic tube so Ivana could later activate her to be a member of her own personal hit team, namely DV8.
In the early days in Caballito Island’s hideout, she was out of the compound and was attacked by a saurian Kindred. She managed to control his mind but in the fight, his body died. His mind stayed trapped in Gem’s mind.
Though it never became in charge of her and never spoke aloud to her other personalities, he escaped into Bliss’ mind when Copycat controlled her to obey Ivana. This is how Bliss later turned against Ivana. Somehow, this episode settled Gem split personalities into one.
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Fugues
Meanwhile, each time she was confronted to violent psychological trauma, she completely withdrew from the outside world. Were it not for Powerhaus’ care, Ivana may have disposed of her sooner or later.
Somehow, at some point during one of these periods, she managed to escape her guards’ attention. Gem made her way to I-Core, I.O.’s central computer. She (her Spy and Detective personalities, at least) knew the computer held the key to many of DV8’s troubles.
She was convinced to back off by Colby. He said that uncovering these secret would only get her killed for knowing too much.
Description
She is a cute girl in her early teens. She has a red diamond tattooed on her left cheek. She always wears red tight outfits.
Her right shoulder is tattooed with her experiment number (77).
Personality
Copycat has a serious multiple personalities problem. She has four alternate identities. Though they always know what the other do, there is one that is more or less in charge at any given time. They also talk to each other aloud.
She can’t control who is in charge, but it looks like it’s always the most efficient to handle any troublesome situation.
- Gem : this is her primary personality. She’s shy and caring about what other people think of her. She wants people to like her.
- Soldier : she is confident, authoritarian, following orders to the letter.
- Spy : she is cunning, scheming and observant.
- Detective : she is analytic.
- Little Gemma : she is a 7 year old little girl, shy and seeking biggies’ protection.
- Saurian : this late personality arrived when she was possessed by a saurian Kindred, on Caballito Island, whose body died while she was controlling him. It laid dormant until Ivana ordered Gem to control Bliss, at which time it transferred to Nicole’s mind.
DC Universe History
Well basically they’re a bunch of freaks, thugs and psychopaths (sorry, anti-heroes). So I suppose they’d be dandy as the new group from Mento, after he lost control of the Hybrid.
That would make them foes of the Titans, which is quite fitting IMHO.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Copycat
| Dex: 05 | Str: 02 | Bod: 03 | Motivation: Unwanted Power |
| Int: 04 | Wil: 03 | Min: 06 | Occupation: I.O. Officer |
| Inf: 03 | Aur: 02 | Spi: 03 | Resources {or Wealth}: 04 |
| Init: 012 | HP: 025 |
Powers:
Control: 10
Bonuses and Limitations:
- She must physically mimic all the actions she wants her target to do (-2).
- Control can be used on only one target at a time (-1).
Connections:
DV8 (High).
Drawbacks:
Age (Young), Alter Egos (see below), CPI (Catatonic Withdrawal).
Gem’s Alter Egos
These share the same stats except for Skills, Advantages and Drawbacks.
- Soldier : Charisma (Intimidation): 04, Military Sciences: 04, Weaponry: 05, Iron Nerves.
- Detective : Detective (Clue Analysis, Legwork): 06.
- Spy : Thief: 07, Weaponry: 05.
- Little Gemma : Charisma (Persuasion)*: 07, Innocent.
- Gem : Innocent.
Design notes
For the Alter Egos problem, it would be better to use the DCH 2nd Edition’s way of calculating the HP value (the best has a x5 multiplier, all the other a x1 and divide the total buy number of personalities plus 1).
Source of Character: Images Comics (Wildstorm Universe).