Irena Dubaya
Context
Charlton Comics was a B-list publisher that appeared during the 1940s. But most of their super-hero output came during the 1960s, during the Silver AgeSuper-hero comics from the late 1950s to the early 1970s. of comics.
They were eventually absorbed by DC Comics.
Ms. Dubaya an archetypal Cold War spy. Therefore, having a profile for her may be useful for retro espionage stories.
She’s also the equivalent of the early Black Widow. Many Charlton characters resembled early Silver Age Marvel characters.
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Background
- Real Name: Irena Dubaya.
- Other Aliases: “Miss Dura” and presumably many others.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: KGB.
- Base Of Operations: Presumably Moscow, as was the style of the day.
- Height: 5’8” (1.72m). Weight: 130 lbs. (59 kg.).
- Eyes: Blue. Hair: Brown.
Powers and Abilities
Ms. Dubaya is a highly accomplished spy.
Though her attractiveness means that she’s often deployed to recruit espionage assets (the time-honoured “honey trap”), she’s also a competent surveillance and action agent.
While she’s not quite at Sarge Steel’s level, she’s credible as a cinematic operative.
- She has what seems to be black belts in judo and ju-jitsu (preferring “soft” techniques such as throws).
- She also can competently pilot, drive, sail, ride, etc. a wide variety of vehicles. Including high-performance jet airplanes.
She quite probably has other broad Skills. In DC Heroes RPG terms Medicine (First aid), Military science (Demolition) and Thief at 05 APs are probable. But her appearance was too short for her to demonstrate more Skills.
They came from the cold
Dubaya is a senior spy and usually operates with a cadre of two to four agents under her orders. These often are infiltration specialists, but she can also get heavies, technicians, pilots, etc. depending on the mission.
These agents are immediately replaced when lost. Another infiltrated agent steps in.
In game terms this is an equivalent of the Sidekick Advantage. These agents are not as competent as a Sidekick, but they can pop up whenever needed and will have the requisite cover and skills.
History
In 1966, Irena Dubaya was apparently coordinating the efforts of the KGB to spy on and sabotage the American aerospace efforts.
Her key agents in the field were men surgically altered to pass for specific American officers. They had been impersonating those men as deep cover operatives.
Most notably, she managed to have agent Ivor Guvchenko replace Lt. CmDr. Langley at the last minute. That took place just before Langley was to pilot a Gemini capsule launched by a Titan rocket.
However, American operative Sarge Steel had detected Dubaya’s activities. He rushed in to arrest Guvchenko right before he would board.
After some confusion caused by Steel and “Lt. CmDr. Langley” shooting at each other in front of television cameras, Guvchenko was stopped and identified.
However, he committed suicide – using a poison capsule in a fake tooth.
As bold as steel
Having determined that Steel’s work as a PI was but a cover, Dubaya replaced Steel’s secretary. The goal was to keep him under surveillance and find a way to neutralise him.
Having recognised her, Steel decided to fake it. He pretended that he was unsatisfied with how much the US government was paying him.
As he hoped, this spurred Dubaya into dropping cover. She made him a financial offer to become a double agent. Steel pretended to play along, and feigned interest in what the Soviets could pay.
But Dubaya knew that he was trying to trick her. She actually intended to use the trap Steel was laying for her to acquire critical intelligence.
She knew that he knew that she knew
Dubaya had Steel take her to the Strategic Air Command to inspect the new Mach 6 Intercontinental Bomber program. She took numerous photos and contacted another Soviet agent.
Steel then made his move, thinking he was about to trap both Dubaya and the unknown agent.
As it turned out the Soviet agent was Steel’s contact, Colonel Trask. Steel tried to punch the fake Trask out, but he underestimated Dubaya’s skills in the martial arts. She forced Steel to surrender.
She, the false Trask, Steel and another of her agents (a pilot having infiltrated the SAC) boarded the prototype bomber and flew out.
From the jaws of defeat
While the caper was about to turn into a major victory for the KGB, Steel used the secret weapons built into his steel fist. He killed the Trask impostor and knocked Dubaya out.
After punching out the Soviet pilot he brought the bomber back to the US. A drowsy Dubaya was handed over to counter-intelligence.
Irena Dubaya did not appear again.
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Personality
Generic master spy, with an extra helping of canniness and confidence.
Quotes
“[Your secretary] contracted a virus ! She’ll return as soon as she recovers ! I’m Miss Dura, her replacement !”
“Colonel Trask, induce our friend to crawl into his coffin. I’m going forward to instruct Polenkov in what course to fly.”
Irena appeared in Judo Master issues, which often featured judo techniques – in the stories, and in educational features.
DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Agent Dubaya
| Dex: 05 | Str: 03 | Bod: 04 |
| Int: 05 | Wil: 05 | Min: 05 |
| Inf: 05 | Aur: 05 | Spi: 04 |
| Init: 015 | HP: 025 |
Skills:
Actor (Actress)*: 05, Martial Artist (incl. Techniques): 06, Vehicles (Air, Land, Water)*: 05, Weaponry (Firearms)*: 05
Advantages:
Attractive, Credentials (KGB, Low), Language (Russian, quite possibly others), Sidekick (see the P&A section).
Connections:
Soviet intelligence (Low).
Drawbacks:
None demonstrated.
Motivation:
Uphold the Soviet Union.
Occupation:
Spy.
Wealth:
005
Equipment:
- Model 36 2” barrel .38 Special S&W revolver [BODY 03, Projectile weapon: 04, Range: 03, Ammo: 06, R#02, Limitation: Projectile weapon has No Range, use the listed Range instead]. A common snub-nosed revolver with a combat-capable ammunition, kept in her purse.
- Dubaya uses lots of surveillance equipment. However, it’s quasi-commercial stuff supplied by the KGB rather than full Gadgets.
Typical equipment includes :- Miniature audio bugs hidden in common items (such as pencils).
- Audio receivers built into her glass to listen to what her bugs are picking up.
- A microfilm camera built into her belt buckle.
- A lipstick tube in which microfilms can be hidden.
Source of Character: Charlton comics (Judomaster #91-92).
Writeup completed on the 11th of February, 2010.