Crystal Man
(Craig Crandall)
Context
The 1963 books were an amusing revival of the style of comics from that period, with parodic overtones. They were one of Alan Moore’s homages to the Silver Age of comics. Apparently there were meant to be the past of the Image Comics Universe, but Image soon splintered.
They can help solve problems for people who want to create the history of a super-hero world of their own. Coming up with characters to populate your equivalent of the Silver Age can be a chore, and the 1963 ones are ready to use.
Background
- Real Name: Craig Crandall.
- Marital Status: Single.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: Mystery Incorporated.
- Base Of Operations: The Mystery Mile, New York City.
- Height: 6’” Weight: 180 lbs.
- Eyes: Blue Hair: Black
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Powers and Abilities
Craig Crandall is, despite his youth, the top American scientist of his time. He is a genius in dimensional physics, computers and astrophysics.
On the Mystery Asteroid, he gained the ability to turn at will into a mass of animated crystal. He can turn wholly or partially into crystal, and shape himself as he wishes, from blob to humanoid.
Crandall has also devised a mean to interface his crystal brain directly with computers. He can thus harness the power of his special computer banks at the Mystery Mile to raise his intellect to even more stupendous levels. He calls this the “crystal clarity”, because it’s 1963.
History
Mystery Incorporated – four resolute adventurers living thrilling adventures in the strange lands at the edge of today’s science !
- Craig Crandall – the Crystal Man !
- Biff Baker – the Planet !
- Tommy Baker – Kid Dynamo !
- And gorgeous Jeannie Morrow – the Neon Queen !
From their uncanny mile-long high-tech base under Manhattan, these fantastic four challenge the unknown !
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It’s only mystery
More prosaically, Mystery Inc. was born when American astronomers detected an asteroid on a million-years orbit heading for the Earth. Calculations showed that the chances for a catastrophe were low. But the asteroid would graze the Earth, giving humans an exciting chance at exploration for a short time.
A crew was assembled for this one-time mission — a scientist, an astronaut and two whiz-kid students- – and they landed on the mystery asteroid.
There, they discovered among other things an obviously artificial cavern. It led to a great room with four statues of alien gods and four circles drawn on the ground. When they each stepped in a circle, they were granted the ability to turn at will into superhuman forms.
Since then they do what super-groups did back then. Investigate mysteries, battle aliens and supervillains, explore strange dimensions and other planets, quickly cross the country aboard the Mystery Train to solve mysteries and battle aliens or supervillains, etc.
Description
See illustrations.
Personality
Craig is, of course, the serious scientist with the huge vocabulary, perfect grammar and analytical mind.
He considers everything through the filter of science. Excluding, of course, his attraction toward Jeannie.
Quotes
“The Maybe Machine ! That strange window into other possible worlds ! But what could he want here !?”
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
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Crystal Man
| Dex: 07 | Str: 04 | Bod: 07 | Motivation: Upholding the good |
| Int: 10 | Wil: 07 | Min: 05 | Occupation: Scientist, adventurer |
| Inf: 06 | Aur: 05 | Spi: 06 | Resources {or Wealth}: 009 |
| Init: 025 | HP: 075 |
Powers:
Flame immunity: 10, Fluid form: 08, Invulnerability: 14, Interface: 06, Omni-arm: 08, Recall: 06, Skin armour: 10, Stretching: 04
Bonuses and Limitations:
- Flame immunity also works against lasers (+1).
- Interface has No Range.
Skills:
Charisma (Persuasion): 09, Detective: 08, Gadgetry: 11, Medicine: 06, Military Science (ECM, Cartography): 06, Military science (Cryptography)*: 12, Scientist: 12, Thief (Escape Artist, Locks and Safes): 08, Thief (security systems): 10, Vehicles: 05, Weaponry (firearms, heavy weapons, exotic): 05
Advantages:
Expansive Headquarter (Mystery Mile), Genius, Leadership, Popularity, Scholar (Dimensions, Physics, Spacecraft).
Connections:
Scientific community (High).
Drawbacks:
Public Identity, SIA toward Science.
Equipment:
MYSTERY MILE COMPUTERS [Enhance (INT): 02 (cap is 12), Enhance (WIL): 02 (cap is 10), Enhance (Gadgetry): 02 (cap is 14), Enhance (Scientist): 02 (cap is 15). Limitations :
- The Enhance Powers only work on person who can interface their mind directly with computers.
- Those are the networked computer banks in the Mystery Miles, and are thus immobile].
Source of Character: 1963 stories by affable Al Moore and roarin’ Rick Veitch