Frog-Man
(Ani-Men)
Sequence
This profile is meant to be read after our Ani-Men team profile, which explains most of the context and history.
Background
- Real Name: Francois “Frog” Leblanc.
- Other Aliases: “Croaker”.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: The Organisation, then the Ani-Men.
- Base of Operations: New York City area.
- Height: 5’11” (1.80m). Weight: 180 lbs. (82 Kg.).
- Eyes: Grey-green. Hair: Bald.
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Powers & Abilities
Leblanc is a US Navy-trained combat diver, and underwater demolition expert.
He also has years of experience as a thug-for-hire.
Secondary sources also mention talents (high level of strength in the legs, mastery of savate, “Class 10” strength once enhanced (below)…) that are nowhere to be seen in primary sources.
Gear
The Frog-Man suit had the following capabilities :
- It’s a full diving suit. It can be equipped with air tanks and flippers at any point.
- It has waterproof pockets for small equipment (such as grenades). It can equip waterproof bags for larger gear (such as demolition charges).
- It can be greased, which also makes it easy to escape from some holds.
Frog-Man was once issued a speargun. It seemed markedly more powerful than the short-range weapons used to fish underwater. So I’d imagine it was a custom-built crossbow. Or perhaps a modified Greener light harpoon gun.
Supergreen
Frog-Man was then turned into a superhuman by Count Nefaria. He thus became a mutateA person mutated after birth, as opposed to a born-this-way mutant with an amphibian appearance.
He could make superhuman jumps, covering at least a dozen metres from a standing start. These allowed for powerful jumping kicks.
Still, a young Nightcrawler (Kurt Wagner) took him out without difficulty.
History
Frog-Man formerly was a French citizen, and enlisted with the US Navy.
He then ran from the Navy, after the discovery of his unspecified crimes.
Quick hypotheses
Since he appeared in 1965, we can imagine :
- That François Leblanc served with the French military in Indochina until 1955.
- That the MAAG Vietnam advisers made him an enlistment offer (including a fast naturalisation track) as they came to replace French soldiers in South Việt Nam.
- That he was caught doing something criminal and went AWOL whilst stateside circa 1962.
Traditionally in genre fiction, said crimes would involve smuggling heroin. Especially since the “French Connection” networks were at their height back then.
We can further imagine that he first served as a multilingual advisor, then transferred to the US Navy just in time to return to Việt Nam in 1958.
This corresponds to the in-between years when the Underwater Demolition Teams had clearly pivoted toward special operations, but had yet to become the Navy SEALs.
L’Organisation
During the early 1960s, François Leblanc was a thug in New York City. But he had to be discreet, since the Navy was still after him.
He knew some other skilled legbreakers, including Gordon “Monk” Keefer.
Leblanc was specifically recruited by the Organiser (Abner Jonas) to become Frog-Man.
See our Ani-Men team profile for more.
Description
Originally, Leblanc is drawn with almost animal-like features and posture. This is presumably artistic exaggeration
His speech bubbles do not feature an accent. He also still has some military turns of phrase.
When not in costume he usually wears a green suit.
We’ve kept his official vitals, but he’s never drawn that big. Let’s just blame his bad posture.
Adνеrtisеmеnt
Personality
Frog-Man comes across as nervous and sweaty – a hunted man. But when working he’s collected and professional.
He’s loyal toward his employers and follows orders well.
He’s prejudiced toward mutants.
Altered beast
Once mutated, he had difficulties dealing with his new state. He insisted that he was still human, and insulted mutants to feel superior and “more normal” than them.
He also seemed less focused and professional.
DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Frog-Man (1965)
| Dex: 03 | Str: 02 | Bod: 03 |
| Int: 03 | Wil: 03 | Min: 03 |
| Inf: 03 | Aur: 03 | Spi: 03 |
| Init: 011 | HP: 015 |
Skills:
Acrobatics: 04, Martial artist: 04, Military science (Cammo, carto, demo): 04, Thief (Stealth): 03, Vehicles (Land, Sea): 03, Weaponry (Infantry weapons): 04
Advantages:
Familiarity (Military equipment & protocols, SCUBA operations), Language (French).
Connections:
Underworld (Low).
Drawbacks:
Misc.: Leblanc was wanted by the US Navy back during the 1960s.
Motivation:
Mercenary.
Occupation:
Mercenary.
Wealth:
004
Equipment:
- The speargun (more of a spear launcher, really) he once used likely had BODY 02 EV 05 Range: 03 R#02 or somesuch.
- When in costume he often carries a hand grenade [BODY 01, EV 07 (Area of Effect 1 AP), R#03, Grenade drawback].
- FROG-MAN SUIT [BODY 02, Cold immunity: 01, Grappling immunity: 02, Radio communication (includes video): 12, Sealed systems: 07].
Design Notes
I’d lob in Language (Vietnamese) to help explain why the US Navy recruited him. But that’s way too speculative.
The first Wrestling attempt by Daredevil against Frog-Man completely failed. But not long after that a Throwing Manoeuvre works fine. So I assumed murky, intermediary Grappling Immunity APs.
No Swimming APs for the FROG-MAN SUIT. Daredevil had no issues catching up with him whilst underwater, weird as it seems.
Acrobatics and Martial Artist are a half-hearted gesture at representing material from secondary sources. He doesn’t use them in the actual material, but having these Skills doesn’t contradict the evidence either. So you can keep or ditch them.
Frog-Man (mutated)
| Dex: 05 | Str: 04 | Bod: 04 |
| Int: 03 | Wil: 02 | Min: 02 |
| Inf: 03 | Aur: 02 | Spi: 03 |
| Init: 011 | HP: 015 |
Powers:
Jumping: 02
Skills:
Acrobatics: 05, Evasion (Ranged): 06, Martial artist (AV, EV): 06, Thief (Stealth): 03, Vehicles (Land, Sea): 03
Bonuses and Limitations:
Acrobatics, Evasion and Martial Artist are all Powered Skills, and Contingent Upon Jumping.
Advantages:
Familiarity (Military equipment & protocols, SCUBA operations), Language (French).
Connections:
Ani-Men (Low).
Drawbacks:
Strange Appearance.
Motivation:
Mercenary.
Occupation:
Mercenary.
Wealth:
004
Equipment:
RADIO HEADSET [BODY 01, Radio communications: 10].
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DC Adventures RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Frog-Man (Leblanc, 1965) — Averaged PL 3.8
| STR | STA | AGL | DEX |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00 | 01 | 03 | 02 |
| FGT | INT | AWE | PRE |
| 04 | 01 | 00 | 01 |
Powers:
La savate ● 1 point ● Descriptor: Skill
Strength-based close unarmed Damage 1.
Devices:
Frog-Man costume ● 4 points (Removable) ● Descriptor: Technology
– Enhanced Advantage (Second chance (Grabs and holds)).
– Immunity 2 (Enviro cold, Underwater breathing),
– Protection 2 (Limited 3 to cold).
– Feature (Transmits video and audio back to base in real time).
Combat Advantages:
Close Attack 1, Defensive Roll 1, Power Attack, Ranged Attack 2.
Other Advantages:
Equipment 5, Language (French).
Skills:
Acrobatics 2 (+5), Athletics 5 (+5), Close combat (Infantry weapons) 1 (+6), Expertise (Combat frogman) 5 (+6), Insight 1 (+1), Perception 2 (+2), Ranged combat (Infantry weapons) 2 (+6), Stealth 1 (+4), Vehicles 2 (+4) (Limited 1 to land and sea vehicles).
Equipment:
Spear launcher Ranged piercing Damage 3, Improved Critical 1 ● 7 point
Grenades Burst-Area explosive Damage 5 ● 15 points
Offence:
| Initiative +3 |
| Unarmed +5, Close, Damage 1. |
| Spear launcher +6, Ranged, Damage 3, Crit 19-20. |
| Grenade +6, Burst Area, Damage 5. |
Defence:
| Dodge | 04 |
| Fortitude | 04 |
| Parry | 04 |
| Toughness | 01*/02 |
| Will | 02 |
* Without Defensive Roll.
Complications:
- Touche pas au grisbi Frog-Man is a mercenary hitman/operative.
- For a crime he prolly did commit Leblanc is on the run from the US Navy.
Powers Levels:
- Trade-off areas. Attack/Effect PL 6, Dodge/Toughness PL 3, Parry/Toughness PL 3, Fort/Will PL 3.
- Points total 56. Abilities 24, Defences 6, Skills 10, Powers 01, Devices 04, Advantages 11. Equiv. PL 4.
Notes
See the DCH ones.
Frog-Man (mutated) — Averaged PL 5.6
| STR | STA | AGL | DEX |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03 | 02 | 04 | 02 |
| FGT | INT | AWE | PRE |
| 05 | 01 | 00 | 01 |
Powers:
Mutated legs ● 3 point ● Descriptor: Artificial mutation
– Leaping 2.
– Strength-based close unarmed Damage 1.
Combat Advantages:
Close Attack 2, Defensive Roll 2, Power Attack, Ranged Attack 1.
Other Advantages:
Equipment 1, Language (French).
Skills:
Acrobatics 4 (+8), Athletics 5 (+8), Expertise (Combat frogman) 5 (+6), Perception 2 (+2), Ranged combat (Infantry weapons) 2 (+6), Stealth 1 (+5), Vehicles 2 (+4) (Limited 1 to land and sea vehicles).
Equipment:
Radio headset Feature 1 ● 1 point
Offence:
| Initiative +3 |
| Unarmed +7, Close, Damage 4. |
Defence:
| Dodge | 10 |
| Fortitude | 06 |
| Parry | 08 |
| Toughness | 02*/04 |
| Will | 01 |
* Without Defensive Roll.
Complications:
- Touche pas au grisbi Frog-Man is a mercenary hitman/operative.
- Mutated Leblanc’s appearance is now manifestly inhuman.
Powers Levels:
- Trade-off areas. Attack/Effect PL 6, Dodge/Toughness PL 7, Parry/Toughness PL 6, Fort/Will PL 4.
- Points total 71. Abilities 36, Defences 14, Skills 10, Powers 03, Devices 00, Advantages 08. Equiv. PL 5.
Source of Character: Older Marvel comics.
Writeup completed on the 9th of January, 2020.