Flambe
Context
Hell’s Belles debuted in a 1992 X-Factor story arc. They are a convenient, aggressive quartet of low-powered professional enforcers. So having them on hand is good.
Plus, they are from Larry Stroman ’s run on X-Factor art.
This here profile is the one with the data about the team, since Flambé was the first to appear.
(Flambéing is the cooking technique where one pours some well-chosen liquor over prepared food. One then ignites it, briefly and lightly roasting it. But mostly, it infuses the food with the taste of the alcohol).
Advertisement
Background
- Note: Her name is usually given as “Flambe”. That it should have its diacritic is our assumption.
- Real Name: Irma Ladoof.
- Note: When first reading I thought that the name was a sarcastic nickname referencing musical Irma La Douce (adapted in the US as a Shirley McLaine-starring movie). But secondary sources list it as her actual name.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: Hell’s Belles.
- Base Of Operations: Unrevealed.
- Height: 5’7” (1.70m). Weight: 130 lbs. (59 Kg.).
- Eyes: White. Hair: Red.
Powers and Abilities
Flambé can expectorate large quantities of a highly-flammable vapour.
She also carries rods covered in chemicals allowing them to function as all-weather torches. So Flambé just sticks one in front of her mouth, then breathes out.
These gouts of flame are huge and surprisingly hot. She is more devastating than most infantry flamethrowers. Flambé can fill large corridors with rolling flame, or burn people into charcoal within seconds.
She can keep this up for a long while, so she presumably does not store her vapour within her body. Her mouth might act like a very small and specialised transdimensionalSomething that goes across two or more universes. gateway.
Other assets
Flambé cannot be hurt by her own flame. I’ve assumed she had a high degree of imperviousness to flame in general.
At some points she seemed able to keep flaming chemicals within her mouth to breathe fire without her rods.
She seems to be quite strong. Flambé can lift an adult with just one hand for an extended duration.
On the other hand, the Belles were not a shining moment of teamwork. They lacked coordination, did not try to complement each other, and their plans were usually to go in from different angles as pairs.
Presumably they’re used to picking on opponents weaker than themselves, and lack experience taking on quality fighting forces.
2021
In 2021, the Belles still tended to fight with more macho, angry bluster than smart tactics.
Flambé was now using a pair of special flame-throwing pistols, apparently with a small backpack storing their fuel. Her clothes might have been lightly reinforced.
History
During the 1980s, the Hell’s Belles worked as enforcers for undisclosed criminal cartels. They seemed to chiefly deal with the gargantuan US market for narcotics.
Circa 1991, they were placed under the authority of the dreaded mercenary Cyber (Silas Burr). He considered himself to be their mentor due to his his decades of experience.
Defector
By 1992 one of their number, Shrew, wanted out. She negotiated with US authorities to act as a witness.
Her treason may have been motivated by Cyber’s influence making the Hell’s Belles even more crazed and on the edge than they already were.
Part of the negotiation was of course protection. It was obvious the cartel would send her former colleagues — Flambé, Tremolo, Briquette, Vague — to kill her.
X-Factor
The government had the then-current X-Factor team (commanded by Alex Summers) detailed to that witness protection.
The Belles lacked the raw power or skill to pose a real threat to X-Factor, but Cyber was a problem.
Though their first attack was repulsed, the spiteful Cyber and the Belles blew out the hotel in which Shrew and X-Factor had been hiding.
During the fray, Cyber poisoned X-Factor operative Strong Guy (Guido Carosella). He later called to offer the only known antidote in exchange for Shrew.
X-Factor and the government turned that exchange into a trap. As a result the Belles were defeated and arrested. An antidote for Strong Guy had already been devised in government labs.
Refactoring
In 2006 S.H.I.E.L.D. analyses detected the powers of Tremolo, Vague and Flambé within Michael Pointer. This means they were depowered during M-Day.
The status of Briquette and Shrew wasn’t mentioned.
The depowered Belles’s powers can fairly easily be simulated by technology. One simply needs a micro-flamethrower, a stealth suit, a jetpack and vibroshock units.
Thus, like some other ex-mutants, they might soldier on with technological aids.
As for Shrew, she may have been forced back into a life of crime by the cartels. Or she may have become an Initiative “recruit” if she kept her abilities.
Adνеrtisеmеnt
History (addendum)
(As it turned out the Belles returned decades later, along lines similar to those we suggested. Take that, Apollo !).
In 2021 Flambé, Shrew and Vague were working as a gang in New York City. They used advanced weaponry that resembled their old abilities, and were seen robbing a cash transportation truck.
Their goal was to finance a treatment to restore their mutants abilities.
Children of the Atom
The Belles were defeated by the Children of the Atom, a team of low-powered mutant kids.
But their old colleague Briquette, who still had her powers, came to the rescue at the Tombs prison. Presumably, the others were still being processed, and at non-superhuman security levels.
The Children of the Atom intervened again. But with Briquette present they were beaten back.
Storm (Ororo Munroe) and other mutants then teleported in. They offered sanctuary to the Belles, as mutants and ex-mutants. The criminals gladly took this offer, and went to live on Krakoa.
Description
Flambé is a red-headed young woman, with an impressive mane that looks like a gigantic mohawk. She wears a yellow and red costume.
After she lost her mutation, her hair was blonde and of a more common length.
Personality
The Belles seem to be a dysfunctional, edgy, aggressive, cruel, out-of-control bunch. This is presumably in part thanks to Cyber.
It is also possible that they were kept on a leash via narcotics addiction.
Shrew considered that being on the group was insane, and that the Belles were mad dogs.
C’est magnifique
Secondary sources state that Flambé is French. But while she’s Francophone her French and her name came across as being closer to Louisiana than to France. She might be an expatriate living in Louisiana and having adopted local phrases and diction.
Even when she speaks English, she interjects a lot of Cajun French in her sentences.
On later occasions, her French was more reminiscent of the dialect found in the Google Translate region.
Wanna Cyber ?
Whilst Cyber was leading the Belles, Flambé was the teacher’s pet. She wanted to please him by showing off how cruel, unhinged and brutal she could be. Apparently she wanted to become as evil as Cyber is – a tall order.
She might have father issues, as one gets the impression that the Belles were under 20.
Flambé was apparently the field leader of the Belles, and was successful in having Cyber treat her as his favourite.
Mutatis mutandis
All the Belles seemed attached to their status as mutants/ex-mutants.
The main reason seemed to have been that it allowed them to be bullies, and more fearsome killers. But there also was an identity/emotional resonance aspect to it. The Belles were moved to see that the Krakoa mutants still considered them kinfolks.
Mind, even after being allowed in, they still behaved like a gang of street toughs.
Advertisement
Quotes
“Just tell me where Marilyn Maycroft is hiding and *poof* the pain is but a fond memory.”
(The agent she’s torturing give her the hotel and room number ; Flambé incinerates him in one breath).
“You were a good agent, chéri. You held out as long as you could. and I kept my promise, non ? Just memories.”
DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Flambé
| Dex: 04 | Str: 04 | Bod: 04 |
| Int: 04 | Wil: 04 | Min: 04 |
| Inf: 04 | Aur: 03 | Spi: 03 |
| Init: 012 | HP: 020 |
Powers:
Flame immunity: 08, Flame project: 09
Bonuses and Limitations:
- Flame project has to be actually set alight by an outside flame.
- Flame project has the Scattershot Advantage.
- Flame project has a Range capped to 03 APs.
Skills:
Charisma (Interrogation): 05, Weaponry (Firearms): 04
Advantages:
Language (French), Schtick (Trick Shooter (Flame project, Medium – but it is only useable to compensate for Partial Coverage), Paired Pistols).
Connections:
Hell’s Belles (Low), Underworld (Low).
Drawbacks:
Creepy Appearance, Minor Rage.
Motivation:
Mercenary.
Occupation:
Enforcer.
Wealth:
004
Equipment:
Burning sticks [BODY 01, Flame being: 01. Flambé carries a half-dozen thin rods whose ends are covered in flammable substances, in order to always have a source of open flame to put in front of her mouth. She presumably also has one or more lighters to light these rods up].
Equipment (2021):
Flamethrower pistol (x2) [BODY 03, Flame project: 05, Ammo: 06, Rec. STR 02, R#03].
DC Adventures RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Flambé — Averaged PL5.4
| STR | STA | AGL | DEX |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00 (02) | 01 (02) | 01 | 00 |
| FGT | INT | AWE | PRE |
| 01 (02) | 01 | 01 | 01 |
Powers:
Mutant ● 48 points ● Descriptor: Mutant
– Oddly strong — Enhanced Strength 2, Enhanced Stamina 1, Enhanced Fighting 1, Enhanced Fortitude 2.
– Fireproof — Protection 8 and Enhanced Fortitude 6, both Limited 3 to fire and heat.
– Flammable breathe — Area (Line 2) fire Damage 8, Accurate.
– Fire-based torture — Feature (+4 Circumstances Bonus to interrogation when using her fire).
Combat Advantages:
Close attack 2, Defensive Roll 1, Improved Critical 1 (Flammable breathe), Ranged attack 2.
Other Advantages:
Contacts, Language (French).
Skills:
Athletics 2 (+4), Close combat (Unarmed) 1 (+5), Deception 1 (+2), Expertise (Narcotics enforcer) 5 (+6), Insight 2 (+3), Perception 3 (+4), Persuasion 1 (+2), Ranged combat (Flammable breathe) 4 (+6), Ranged combat (Firearms) 3 (+5).
Equipment:
Her 2021 she had lost her Powers, but had Flamethrowing Pistols [Ranged fire Damage 4, Reduced Range 1, Improved Critical 1] and two Ranks of Equipment Advantage to accomodate for those.
Offence:
| Initiative +1 |
| Unarmed +5, Close, Damage 2 |
| Gout of flame +6, Line 2, Damage 8, Crit 19-20. |
Defence:
| Dodge | 06 |
| Fortitude | 06 |
| Parry | 04 |
| Toughness | 02*/03 |
| Will | 03 |
* Without Defensive Roll.
Complications:
- Got a light ? Flambé needs an open flame to light the vapours she expectorates.
- Sicaria La Doof works as a murderous enforcer for ruthless drug cartels.
- Got the look Flambé has distinctive looks that are difficult to conceal.
Powers Levels:
- Trade-off areas. Attack/Effect PL 7, Dodge/Toughness PL 5, Parry/Toughness PL 4, Fort/Will PL 5.
- Points total 88. Abilities 12, Defences 11, Skills 11, Powers 46, Devices 0, Advantages 8. Equiv. PL 6.
Source of Character: Marvel Universe.
Helper(s): Darci.