Hella (Nightwing enemy) (DC Comics)

Hella


Context

Hello is a Nightwing character, who appeared in 2000 in a special issue.

However, though she certainly feels like a classic opposite number for the Bat-squad characters, she appeared in but two storylines and hasn’t been seen since.


Background

  • Real Name: Katherine Lynne Riordan.
  • Marital Status: Presumed single.
  • Known Relatives: Deceased.
  • Group Affiliation: Former member of the BHPD.
  • Base Of Operations: Blüdhaven.
  • Height: 5’6” Weight: 122 lbs.
  • Eyes: Green Hair: Red


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Powers and Abilities

Riordan is a well-trained cop, an excellent athlete and a cinematic gunfighter.

Her shock tactics, brutal resolve and strange appearance give her a lot of momentum in a fight. Common criminals will find her very difficult to stop. She fights as a fanatic.

Her main weapon is a SPAS-12 shotgun, but she also carries a pair of H&K MP5Ks if she needs more staying power or range.

She often fights astride a sports bike, using it to charge in and shoot her SPAS one-handed once at ideal range. If she uses the H&Ks, she will dual-wield  them.


History

Katherine Riordan was from a Blüdhaven Irish-American family where almost every member is a cop.

Her early career as police was promising, with an impressive track record. Her exploits and her looks attracted the attention of the local press. Thus, the publicity-hungry Commissioner Holcomb set up a photo op with all her relatives on the force – three generations of Riordan police.

Angel Marin — back then a mere gang boss, though he would become the top dog of Blüdhaven — had explosives planted to get rid of the Riordans. That was because they represented a significant percentage of all honest cops in town. Kate’s father, brothers and uncles were all killed.


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The death toll was two dozen Riordan family members in total, plus a number of journalists and other officers.

Kate Riordan narrowly survived, but was left horribly burned and disfigured. The blast had thrown her away in the river, leaving her a terribly wounded amnesiac. Thus, the police only found her several days later. She couldn’t be identified and was taken in as a Jane Doe.

Bloody revenge

Riordan spent months in surgery and therapy. Meanwhile the thoroughly corrupt Blüdhaven police covered things up, denying honours to the victims to keep everything quiet.

The pain, trauma and frustration gradually drove Riordan mad. Once the skin grafts were over she embarked on a mission of vengeance against both those responsible for the bombing and those responsible for the cover-up. When the cops finally identified her, she had already left.

Hella points her shotgun

There are various urban legends about how she prepared. A vaguely credible one is that she raided a small biker gang to steal half a million in narcotics money, then went to Santa Prisca to receive experimental surgery to replace otherwise irreparable damage.

Though Nightwing (Dick Grayon) twice attempted to stop her, everyone on her list did die.


Description

The Hella costume actually covers her entirely, except for the eye holes. Even the mouth is actually painted on.

Hella has a strange voice from the throat damage and her closed mask, but one can distinguish a Irish-American accent.


Personality

Rage-crazed, fanatical avenger relying on brutal interrogation and high-impact tactics – such as crashing in on a bike whilst firing a shotgun. Her hits are usually very loud and public.

There’s an urban legend that she swore that nobody would see her unmasked face and live, but that may be fantasy.


Quotes

“You can never understand – he killed my family !”

A photo of Hella (Kate Riordan) before the bombing

“You betrayed my family ! You betrayed your badge !”

Deever : “Who sent you ?”
Hella : “My father, my brothers, my uncle” (shotgun fire)



Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG

Tell me more about the game stats

Hella

Dex: 05 Str: 03 Bod: 04 Motivation: Psycho
Int: 05 Wil: 04 Min: 04 Occupation: Vigilante
Inf: 05 Aur: 05 Spi: 05 Resources {or Wealth}: 004
Init: 017 HP: 030

Skills:
Acrobatics (Athletics, Dodging): 05, Charisma (Intimidation, interrogation): 05, Detective: 04, Evasion (Ranged only): 06, Medicine (First aid): 02, Vehicles (Land): 06, Weaponry (Firearms): 05

Advantages:
Lightning Reflexes, Iron Nerves, Schick (Paired SMGs, Paired pistols).

Connections:
None.

Drawbacks:
Strange Appearance, Minor Rage.

Equipment:

  • SOFT BODY ARMOUR [BODY 05, Blunting: 05, Drawback: Real Armour].
  • SPAS 12 shotgun [BODY 04, Shotgun Blast (Range 03): 06, Ammo: 07, R#03, Recommended STR: 02, Drawback: Very Long Reload].
  • MP5K submachinegun (x2) [BODY 04, Projectile weapons: 05, Ammo: 07, R#02, Advantage : Autofire].
  • MOTORBIKE [STR 03 BODY 05, Flash (Steady illumination only): 04, Running: 06, R#02].

By Sébastien Andrivet.

Source of Character: Nightwing (DCU).

Helper(s): Ethan Roe, Darci.