5 min read


Context

Richard Dragon: Kung Fu Fighter was a 1970s comic book from DC. Back then kung fu movies were strictly grindhouse cinema  fare.

The comics therefore emulated the schlocky aspects of the genre. Including faintly embarrassing, scenery-chewing villains.

Hatchett, who appeared in 1976, was firmly one of those. Unsurprisingly, he was never seen again – but perhaps you’ll have a use for him ?

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Background

  • Real Name: Unrevealed.
  • Known Relatives: None.
  • Group Affiliation: A band of dangerous lumberjacks.
  • Base Of Operations: An unspecified small lumber town in the northern US.
  • Height: 6’5” (1.95m). Weight: 238 lbs. (108 Kg.).
  • Eyes: Light brown. Hair: Red.

Powers and Abilities

Hatchett is a big and tough man. Though he lacks dedicated close combat training, he has brawling experience.

He also excels at the fine art of axe-throwing. When he wants to show off, he has somebody throw a playing card in the air. Hatchett then uses his mighty double-headed axe to pin it to the nearest tree trunk in mid-flight.

Being a lumberjack (and thus okay ), he has access to a lot of dangerous equipment.

Hatchett (Richard Dragon enemy) (DC Comics)

History

Charismatic, large and ferocious, Hatchett became the de facto leader of an unspecified small American logging town.

A greedy, ruthless bloke, he didn’t feel like sharing the handsome profits from the timberland. He murdered the land’s owner so he and his accomplices could share the money.

The next three owners also were murdered. While the police suspected foul play, they couldn’t prove anything. The whole town supported Hatchett.

Seizing the means of lumberjackery

The fourth owner was Benjamin Turner’s sister.

After she was murdered her son, also named Benjamin, lived in alleys in the small town for a few days. It is unclear why he wasn’t killed.

But days later Turner, having learned the truth from G.O.O.D. and Barney Ling, landed in the logging town along with his friends Richard Dragon and Lady Shiva.

Predictably, Hatchett’s gang was soon in complete disarray, and Hatchett defeated. Benjamin Turner, now called Junior, left with his uncle.

Hatchett (Richard Dragon enemy) (DC Comics) with a flamethrower

Personality

A ruthless, brutal, greedy ogre.

He’s a bloodthirsty and intimidating leader.

Quotes

“We ain’t gonna share the profits of our work with anybody !”

(Laughing sinisterly after a tree almost crushed our heroes) “I’m sorry, my friends… we nearly had an unfortunate accident !”

DC Heroes RPG

Hatchett

Dex: 04 Str: 04 Bod: 05
Int: 03 Wil: 03 Min: 04
Inf: 05 Aur: 04 Spi: 04
Init: 012 HP: 010

Skills:

Charisma (intimidation)*: 05, Vehicle (land): 03, Weaponry (melee): 05, Weaponry (thrown axe): 07

Advantages:

Area knowledge (Nearby timberland), Credentials (Small lumber town, Medium), Familiarity (Lumberjack work).

Connections:

His lumberjacking community (High).

Drawbacks:

Minor Rage.

Motivation:

Power.

Occupation:

Sleeps all night and works all day.

Wealth:

005

Equipment:

  • Hatchett’s main weapon is a double-headed axe [BODY 03, Enhance (EV): 02 (cap is 06), Descriptor: Slashing, Recommended STR 03, Note: balanced for throwing].
  • He will usually have one or two large hatchets nearby, if he’s looking for spare throwing weapons [BODY 03, Enhance (EV): 02 (cap is 05), Descriptor: Slashing, Recommended STR 02, R#03, Note: balanced for throwing].
  • He can also use a small flamethrower (looking much like a big fire extinguisher), normally intended to clear underbrush [BODY 03, Flame project: 05, Ammo: 04, R#02].

As they float down the mighty rivers of British Columbia !

Hatchett has a band of stout lumberjacks in his thrall. They respect and fear him enough to commit murder when he orders so.

There are close to 20 such men following his orders, and Hatchett personally trained them in his favourite fighting technique – the thrown hatchet.

Dex: 03 Str: 03 Bod: 03
Int: 03 Wil: 02 Min: 03
Inf: 02 Aur: 02 Spi: 03
Init: 008 HP: 005

Skills:

Vehicle (land): 03, Weaponry (melee): 04, Weaponry (thrown axe): 05

Advantages:

Area knowledge (Nearby timberland), Familiarity (Lumberjack work).

Connections:

Their lumberjacking community (Low).

Motivation:

Mercenary.

Occupation:

Cut down trees, skip and jump.

Wealth:

004

Equipment:

  • Most of them will have a had axe [BODY 03, Enhance (EV): 02 (cap is 05), Descriptor: Slashing, Recommended STR 02, R#03, Note: balanced for throwing].
  • Of course, at least one will have a Chainsaw [BODY 04, Claws: 06] and will be crazy.

Hatchett vs. Richard Dragon (DC Comics)

DC Adventures RPG

Hatchett — Averaged PL 5.8

STR STA AGL DEX
03 03 01 02
FGT INT AWE PRE
03 01 00 02

Combat Advantages:

All-Out Attack, Defensive Roll 2, Startle.

Other Advantages:

Equipment 3, Leadership.

Skills:

Athletics 1 (+4), Deception 2 (+4), Expertise (Lumberjack) 4 (+5), Insight 2 (+2), Intimidation 3 (+5), Perception 2 (+2), Persuasion 1 (+3), Vehicles 2 (+4) (Limited 1 to land vehicles).

Equipment:

Double-headed axe ● Strength-based slashing Damage 3 ● 3 points
Throwing axes ● Strength-based slashing Damage 2 ● 2 points

Offence:

Initiative +1
Unarmed +6, Close, Damage 3.
Ax (wielded) +8, Close, Damage 6.
Ax (thrown) +11, thrown, Damage 5.

Defence:

Dodge 05
Fortitude 08
Parry 05
Toughness 03*/05
Will 04

* Without Defensive Roll.

Complications:

  • Greed is wood Hatchett wants all the money, though he’s smart enough to buy the loyalty of those around him.
  • Ils sont d’plus en plus laids Hatchett is a bloodthirsty killer.

Powers Levels:

  • Trade-off areas. Attack/Effect PL 08, Dodge/Toughness PL 05, Parry/Toughness PL 05, Fort/Will PL 06.
  • Points total 61. Abilities 30, Defences 15, Skills 8, Powers 00, Devices 00, Advantages 8. Equiv. PL 5.

Writeups.org writer avatar Sébastien Andrivet

By Sébastien Andrivet.

Source of Character: Richard Dragon Kung Fu Fighter.

Helper(s): Chris Cottingham, Ethan Roe.