Firebug
(Joey Rigger)
Context
This is a very minor Batman character. In this specific version — the pre-Crisis Earth-1 Joseph Rigger — he had but one appearance, in 1979.
But heh, he had a 1980s Who’s Who entry, and I like his costume.
Background
- Real Name: Sergeant Joseph “Joey” Rigger.
- Marital Status: Single.
- Known Relatives: Unnamed mother, father and sister (all deceased).
- Group Affiliation: None.
- Base Of Operations: Gotham City.
- Height: 5’11” Weight: 172 lbs.
- Eyes: Brown Hair: Black
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Powers and Abilities
Rigger was :
- An excellent athlete.
- A highly trained hand to hand combatant.
- An excellent soldier with superlative demolition skills.
His costume had hidden tanks with a highly concentrated napalm derivative. It was- projected via hidden openings in his hands.
History
Rigger was a career soldier and demolition expert. He came back to Gotham when all of his relatives where killed in a freak series of building-related accidents over but a few weeks :
- His baby sister of lead poisoning from nibbling paint.
- His father from breaking his neck when a stair gave under him.
- His mother from a heart attack in a stalled elevator.
His sanity damaged by the tragedy, Rigger became Firebug. He swore to destroy the three responsible buildings before they could kill again.
Batman (Bruce Wayne) managed to catch him. But during the fight the Firebug put himself on fire, madly attempting to complete his mission by detonating himself. He accidentally fell from the Gotham State Building, and his tanks exploded before he could hit the ground.
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Post-Crisis
The post-Crisis Firebug is a different person using the same name and same costume. Whereas the pre-Crisis ’bug was a Black military expert, the post-Crisis Firebug is a a middle-aged White arsonist.
Description
See illustration.
Personality
Rigger had been driven insane by his tragedy, and put his skills to use to “punish” buildings. He didn’t want to hurt anyone while doing so, but the buildings had to “die” to cleansing flame.
He would often explain how he didn’t mean any harm but was on a mission of justice.
Quotes
“That damned building has already done enough killing – and now it has been killed in return !”
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Firebug
| Dex: 06 | Str: 04 | Bod: 05 | Motivation: Psychopath |
| Int: 04 | Wil: 04 | Min: 03 | Occupation: Arsonist |
| Inf: 04 | Aur: 03 | Spi: 03 | Resources {or Wealth}: 003 |
| Init: 016 | HP: 020 |
Skills:
Martial artist: 05, Military science: 05, Vehicles (land): 04, Weaponry (firearms): 04
Advantages:
None demonstrated.
Connections:
None demonstrated.
Drawbacks:
SIH of dangerous buildings.
Equipment:
FIREBUG COSTUME [BODY 05, Flame immunity: 02, Flame project: 07, R#03].
Source of Character: Pre-Crisis DCU.