Hermaphrodite
Context
These 2005 notes were taken after a caffeine-induced dream. An classroom bull-session about gender earlier that day likely is to blame for this unusual vision.
(Of course, as scholarship and activism advance on the subject, this article is increasingly looking like a time capsule — ed.).
Background
- Real Name: Unrevealed.
- Note: The last part of the name is pronounced like the Greek Goddess — Herm-Aphrodite.
- Marital Status: N/A.
- Known Relatives: N/A.
- Group Affiliation: Spirits of Earth.
- Base Of Operations: Mobile.
- Height: 6’2” Weight: 240 lbs.
- Eyes: Blue Hair: Light Brown
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Powers and Abilities
Hermaphrodite is a wo/man with a powerful physique. S/he can alter hir form to make either the masculine or feminine aspects more dominant.
History
There is a precedent for spirits representing various social movements in comicdom.
Uncle Sam in the DCU was the embodiment of America in WWII, Jenny Sparks in the Wildstorm Universe was the embodiment of the Twentieth Century, and now we have Hermaphrodite, the embodiment of square confusion about gender role evolution.
Description
Arnold Schwarzenegger with a flattop haircut and a bust that would rival Dolly Pardon’s.
S/he wears a dark blue spandex jogging shorts and sports bra, bright red lipstick, and large red earrings. S/he usually carries a black leather purse within which her Sky Dancer dolls are stored.
Personality
Hermaphrodite is very upbeat and encouraging. Often annoyingly so, in the manner of a really enthusiastic physical fitness trainer.
S/he’s a gratingly enthusiastic self-help guru from Hell and best described as “endearitating”. It’s as if Susan Powter and Tony Robbins had a lovechild. Or maybe Brigitte Nielsen and Richard Simmons.
Hermaphrodite hopes encourage people not to feel confined to gender roles while respecting those who need strong boundaries to help define their lives. S/he hopes for everyone to become a hermaphrodite eventually, but in more of a vague “If people believe enough in it, they can make it happen for themselves!” way rather than any actual plot to change people.
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Quotes
(In a thick Austrian accent à la Schwarzenegger in his early films) “Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful !”
DC Universe History
She doesn’t have enough angst to join the DooM Patrol, but s/he’d likely be a big fan of Rebis and mention him often in a hopeful tone as the start of a new trend.
Hermaphrodite’s most common activity would be unwanted counseling. S/he would probably gently criticize Wonder Woman for her gender bias : Diana comes from an island that only has women and refers to civilization as Man’s World. “I love what you’re trying to do, but that kind of thinking’s even more stifling than my halter top, dear !”
I have terrible images of her politely suggesting to Batman that he learn to embrace his feminine side and then hugging him for trying so hard to succeed and being such a brave little boy. Confusing ? Yes. Also perfectly in character, I think.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
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Hermaphrodite
| Dex: 05 | Str: 06 | Bod: 06 | Motivation: Thrill of Adventure |
| Int: 04 | Wil: 06 | Min: 05 | Occupation: Booster |
| Inf: 06 | Aur: 05 | Spi: 04 | Resources {or Wealth}: N/A |
| Init: 016 | HP: 050 |
Powers:
Aura of confusion: 03
Bonuses and Limitations:
- Aura of confusion functions like Aura of Fear (+0FC).
- Aura of confusion is always on, but only works the very first time a person sees Hermaphrodite (-2FC).
Skills:
Charisma (Persuasion)*: 06
Drawbacks:
Distinct Appearance.
Equipment:
- Purse [BODY 08. Hermaphrodite sometimes hit people with hir purse.]
- Sky Dancer Flying Dolls (x6) [BODY 01, EV 03, Range: 02, Grenade Drawback, R#3].
Sky Dancers© flying dolls were children’s toys by Gallob that were recalled soon after their release. They were like Barbie dolls with winged arms that could be flung into the air by spinning them like a top from their launcher. Hermaphrodite carries them in her purse.
Here’s an excerpt from the safety report that prompted the recall: “The hard plastic Sky Dancers© flying dolls can fly rapidly in unpredictable directions, and can hit and injure both children and adults. Galoob has received 170 reports of the dolls striking children and adults resulting in 150 reports of injuries. They include eye injuries, including scratched corneas and incidents of temporary blindness, broken teeth, a mild concussion, a broken rib, and facial lacerations that required stitches.”
Alter-ego
Hermaphrodite can shift to a more masculine or to a more feminine form.
In hir more masculine form s/he gets larger and more aggressive, adding Growth: 1, +1 AP of STR (total STR is 08, Physical RV is 07) and Minor Rage to hir stats. In hir more feminine form, s/he slims slightly and becomes more empathetic, gaining +2 APs of DEX, Feminine Intuition (Empathy): 06 and Innocent.
Source of Character: Homemade.
Helper(s): David Johnston, Jay Myers.