Firebrand
(Danette Reilly)
Context
DC Comics’ second Firebrand is and isn’t a Golden Age character. Through her core adventures take place during the 1940s, she was actually created in 1981 as part of Roy Thomas’ tremendous effort to revisit the Golden Age heritage of the DC Universe. Her brother Rod, who created the Firebrand identity, is an actual Golden Ager (created in 1941).
These notes are very old and were a collection of official stats and biography with tweaks and additions. But heh, that’s useful to have.
Background
- Real Name: Danette Reilly.
- Marital Status: Single.
- Known Relatives: “Emerald Ed” Reilly (father, deceased), Rod Reily (brother, now deceased), Terri Curtis Rothstein (goddaughter).
- Base Of Operations: New York City.
- Group Affiliation: All-Star Squadron.
- Height: 5’5” Weight: 118lbs.
- Eyes: Blue Hair: Red
Advertisement
Powers & Abilities
Firebrand can create fires, which she can shoot from her hands and with which she can surround herself. Neither she nor what she is wearing is harmed by the flames.
Firebrand has also complete mental control over flames in her immediate vicinity and can absorb fire into her body harmlessly.
Firebrand further has the ability to fly and surrounds herself with a flaming aura when in flight.
History
Danette Reilly was the daughter of steel tycoon “Emerald Ed” Reilly. She also was the sister of Rod Reilly, who was secretly the costumed crimefighter known as Firebrand. She was also once the lover of the brilliant atomic physicist Terrence Curtis.
Danette became a vulcanologist. In December of 1941 she went to study a volcanic island that had just appeared north of the Hawaiian islands.
There, she was captured by the villainous Per Degaton and his allies, who were using the island as their base. While fleeing through a cavern on the island, Danette was struck by a mystical bolt hurled by Degaton’s ally Wotan, which surrounded her with a strange green aura. As a result she fell into a vat of artificial lava Degaton has placed there.
She mysteriously survived. Degaton was then defeated by the Justice Society of America and other heroes, all of whom became the first members of the All-Star Squadron.
Advertisement
A spark to a flame
Danette learned that her brother had been seriously wounded in the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor. In New York City, Danette used a key that Rod had left to his friend Slugger Dun to open a secret closet in his penthouse. There she found Rod’s Firebrand costumes and a letter to her revealing his double identity.
Intrigued, Danette made a costume for herself out of one of her swimming suits and one of her brother’s Firebrand costumes. Then she discovered by accident that she could create fire by gesturing, apparently as a result of what happened on Per Degaton’s island. Danette became the new Firebrand and joined the All-Star Squadron.
In early 1942, the new Firebrand was captured by Terrence Curtis, who had become the superpowered criminal Cyclotron. Learning that Firebrand was Danette, Curtis confessed to her that he was being forced to serve the evil Ultra-Humanite, in order to save his infant daughter’s life.
After Curtis’ heroic death, Firebrand II and the Atom (Al Pratt) took it upon themselves to make sure that Curtis’ daughter, Terri, was raised properly.
It would appear that Ms. Reilly lived with Sir Justin (the Shining Knight) for a time after the war. It would also seem that the Dragon King had her murdered later on.
Description
See illustrations.
Personality
Danette is a woman accustomed to going where she wishes, and is not quick to back down when told otherwise. This opinion extends to her friends and family, which lead to an overwhelming hatred of the Japanese when her brother Rod was injured at Pearl Harbor.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Firebrand II
| Dex: 06 | Str: 03 | Bod: 04 | Motivation: Upholds Good |
| Int: 07 | Wil: 07 | Min: 05 | Occupation: Debutante |
| Inf: 06 | Aur: 05 | Spi: 05 | Resources {or Wealth}: 007 |
| Init: 021 | HP: 050 |
Powers:
Energy absorption: 09, Flame being: 04, Flame control: 09, Flame project: 09, Flight: 08
Bonuses and Limitations:
Energy absorption only against fire.
Skills:
Charisma: 06, Martial artist: 04, Scientist: 05
Advantages:
Rich Family, Scholar (Vulcanology).
Connections:
Freedom Fighters (Low), All-star Squadron (High).
Drawbacks:
Secret ID, MIH of the Japanese.
Game Stats — DC Adventures RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Firebrand (Danette Reilly) — Averaged PL 8.2
| STR | STA | AGL | DEX | FGT | INT | AWE | PRE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 02 | 02 | 01 | 04 | 03 | 03 | 02 |
Powers
Flame Control Array ● 27 points ● Descriptor: Fire, mutation
- Intensify Flames — Ranged Damage 9, Area (Shapeable) ● 27 points
- Extinguish Fire — Ranged Nullify Fire 9, Area (Shapeable) ● 1 point
- Move Flame — Move Object 8, Limited 2 (Fire) ● 1 point ● Note: The effective “weight” of flames is their rank of Damage. They can be moved, thrown, and so forth.
- Flame Project — Ranged Damage 8 ● 1 point
Flame Aura ● 23 points (Sustained) ● Descriptors: Fire, mutation
– Fire aura — Fire Damage 3 (Reaction)
– Flight 6, Quirk (only to a maximum speed proportionate to the number of ranks of Damage she has active in the aura)
– Quirk (Fortitude and Toughness are impaired against ice and cold while flame aura is active)
Absorb flame ● 6 points ● Descriptors: Fire, mutation
– Protection 12 (Limited 3 to Fire)
– Second chance (Fire damage)
– Immunity 1 (environmental heat)
Combat Advantages
Defensive Roll 2, Power Attack.
Other Advantages
Benefit (Rich Family).
Skills
Athletics 4 (+6), Close Combat (Unarmed) 5 (+9), Deception 5 (+7), Expertise (Science) 7 (+10), Expertise (Science) 4 (+14) (Limited to Vulcanology), Insight 5 (+8), Intimidation 4 (+6), Perception 6 (+9), Persuasion 4 (+6), Ranged Combat (Flame Control) 13 (+14), Technology 7 (+10)
Offense
| Initiative +1 |
| Unarmed +9, Close, Damage 1 |
| Flame Project +14, Ranged, Damage 8 |
| Intensify Flames, Ranged, Damage 9, Area (Shapeable) |
Defense
| Dodge | 10 | Fortitude | 6 |
| Parry | 10 | Toughness | 4/2* |
| Will | 6 |
* Without Defensive Roll
Complications
- Upholds Good Firebrand is a champion of justice.
- Secret Identity No one knows that red-headed freedom fighter Firebrand, with power over flames, a vast knowledge of vulcanology, and a cool mask, is in reality Danette Reilly, red-headed world renowned expert on vulcanology who does not wear a mask.
- Hatred Danette hates the Japanese.
Power levels
- Trade-off areas Attack/Effect PL 11, Dodge/Toughness PL 7, Parry/Toughness PL 7, Fort/Will PL 6.
- Point total 150. Abilities 36, Defences 19, Skills 32, Powers 59, Devices 0, Advantages 4. Equiv. PL 10.
Helper(s): John Colagioia, Dan.
Source of Character: All-Star comics (DCU).