Jaguar
(Ramon de Rico)
Context
El Jaguar is a very minor Marvel super-villain. The bulk of his appearances took place in that one Daredevil storyline, in 1975.
He’s obscure, but IMO he’s a convenient and simple baddie.
Background
- Real Name: Ramon de Rico.
- Marital Status: Unrevealed.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: Silvermane’s HYDRA splinter.
- Base Of Operations: New York area.
- Height: 6’1” Weight: 195 lbs.
- Eyes: Green, catlike Hair: Brown (w/evil goatee !)
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Powers and Abilities
El Jaguar had catlike eyes that could see in the dark. He also seemed to have borderline superhuman strength, durability and speed. Lastly, he’s equipped with clawed climbing/fighting gloves.
Daredevil (Matthew Murdock) punched him a lot and threw him into practically everything across the room. Yet the only clear result was slowing El Jaguar down for a bit. He fared less well after a full-power Widow’s bite point blank to the face — but survived even this.
El Jaguar was leading an elite cadre of Hydra agents, called the Bravo Commando. They had jetpacks and submachineguns , and some had a knockout gas rifle.
History
Ramon de Rico was apparently Spanish. He was genetically enhanced by HYDRA to have the proportionate strength and agility of a feline.
After Nick Fury destroyed HYDRA and Baron Strucker with their own Spore Bomb, the dreaded terrorist organization laid shattered for years. Various players tried to revive it, including surviving HYDRA agents. Several of these proclaimed themselves Supreme Hydra, but some simply headed factions and cliques.
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Some such factions degenerated and fell under the control of insane criminals or organised crime. In particular, a faction on the U.S. East Coast made Maggia don Silvio “Silvermane” Manfredi its new Supreme Hydra. It then concentrated its operations on New York City.
Knowing that he would soon oppose powerful interests and superhumans, Silvermane recruited costumed criminals as chiefs for his reorganized HYDRA splinter arm. Those were :
- The Fox.
- The Fixer.
- Jackhammer.
- El Jaguar.
- Man-Killer.
- Mentallo.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
However, Silvermane was overconfident. He tried to kill the candidates for the board of directors of S.H.I.E.L.D.. His HYDRA splinter was swiftly taken out by S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury, Daredevil and the Black Widow.
El Jaguar managed to blindside and knock out the Widow, then battle Daredevil to a standstill. But the had to flee when S.H.I.E.L.D. arrived.
When Daredevil and the Widow attacked the base of Silvermane’s HYDRA, the Widow engaged him solo. He nearly killed her, but she took him out with a blast in the face.
He recovered, but was in no shape to put up a fight. El Jaguar, Blackwing and Man-Killer where captured by S.H.I.E.L.D. troops led by Dum-Dum Dugan.It is possible that de Rico then spent years in S.H.I.E.L.D. custody.
In a bar with no name
In 1986 El Jaguar was at the Bar With No Name, discussing with Commander Kraken how HYDRA had become too conservative for a man like him. But the Scourge of the Underworld opened fire with two special .50 machineguns, killing everyone in the bar.
Given the endurance he displayed previously, his hazy superhuman abilities, and the propensity of feral characters in the Marvel Universe to have healing factors , it is *possible* that el Jaguar could come back. À la Norman Osborn.
Description
See illustrations.
Personality
A bit of an embarrassing ethnic cliché, I’m afraid. He’s a bombastic, verbose, brash, misogynistic, macho thug. His speech is laden with — not always correctly used — Spanish terms.
He seems very proud to be the leader of a crack unit, and quite protective — paternalistic, in fact — toward his soldados. El Jaguar doesn’t quite lead his men. He stealthily tags along with them and let them do their thing. But he’ll spring in when they encounter potentially dangerous resistance.
El Jaguar prefers to make indirect and dramatic entrances. A typical example is climbing outside a building and barging in through the window. But he becomes very straightforward once in combat. He just kept pouncing at Daredevil, slashing him and refusing to stay down.
Quotes
“¡ Bruja ! You would use your hellish device on these compañeros of… El Jaguar ! Little fool ! As leader of HYDRA’s Bravos Commandos, I am like the faithful shepherd that watches over his own flock !”
“¡ Caramba ! Daredevil ! You dare to threaten… me ? I’ll slice you open from end to end !”
“Daredevil was my afortunado, o Supreme One. He shall not escape el Jaguar a second time !”
“El Jaguar does not fear death ! He deals it !”
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
El Jaguar
| Dex: 07 | Str: 05 | Bod: 06 | Motivation: Mercenary |
| Int: 05 | Wil: 04 | Min: 04 | Occupation: Section leader |
| Inf: 04 | Aur: 03 | Spi: 04 | Resources {or Wealth}: 004 |
| Init: 016 | HP: 025 |
Powers:
Damage Capacity (Physical): 02, Ultra-vision: 04
Bonuses and Limitations:
Ultra-vision only to see in the dark (-1).
Skills:
Acrobatics (athletics, climbing)*: 07, Martial artist (RV): 08, Military science (camouflage, tracking, field command): 03, Thief (stealth): 06, Vehicles (land): 04, Weaponry (firearms): 04
Advantages:
Conditional Soaking (fists and blunt weapons), Iron Nerves, Language (Spanish).
Connections:
Silvermane’s HYDRA (Low), Bravos Commandos (high).
Drawbacks:
MIA toward injecting basic Spanish words in his dialogue, Minor Rage.
Equipment:
CLAWED GAUNTLETS [BODY 06, Claws: 06, Bonus: Diminishes the OV/RV of most Climbing checks by one CS].
Design Notes
He keeps his HPs for LDD (not a bad tactic given his Conditional Soaking Advantage), further enhancing his remarkable resilience.
His military skills and the Iron Nerves in the game stats are speculative. But then this guy only appeared once.
HYDRA Bravos Commandos
These are HYDRA agents wearing jetpacks and carrying special weapons. In some respects, this unit seems to be a predecessor of Horst Eisele’s commando, though they are certainly not as well-trained and equipped.
| Dex: 03 | Str: 03 | Bod: 03 | Motivation: Mercenary |
| Int: 03 | Wil: 02 | Min: 03 | Occupation: HYDRA Commando |
| Inf: 03 | Aur: 02 | Spi: 03 | Resources {or Wealth}: 004 |
| Init: 009 | HP: 010 |
Skills:
Military science (camouflage, cartography, demolition): 03, Vehicles (land): 03, Weaponry (infantry weapons): 03
Advantages:
Familiarity (HYDRA equipment and protocols), Rank (HYDRA agent).
Equipment:
- JETPACK [BODY 04, Flight: 05].
- Submachinegun [BODY 04, EV 02 (04 w/STR), Projectile weapon: 05, Ammo: 06, R#03, Advantage: Autofire, Note: EV by using it as a club].
- Two commando members have a Gas Rifle instead of a Submachinegun — Gas Rifle [BODY 03, Knockout gas: 05, Ammo: 06, R#04, Advantage: Autofire].
Game Stats — DC Adventures RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
El Jaguar — Averaged PL 8
| STR | STA | AGL | DEX | FGT | INT | AWE | PRE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02 (04) | 02 (04) | 03 (05) | 02 | 03 (06) | 01 | 01 | 01 |
Powers
Bestial prowess ● 29 points ● Descriptor: Super-strength, genetic enhancement
– Boosted strength, agility, speed, etc. — Enhanced Strength 2, Enhanced Stamina 2, Enhanced Agility 2, Enhanced Fighting 3, Enhanced Skill (4 Ranks in both Athletics and Acrobatics), Close Attack 3.
– Night Vision — Senses 1 (Low-light vision).
– Muy macho — Protection 3 (Limited 1 to Blunt Damage), Second Chance (Fear/Intimidation).
Devices
Clawed, furry gloves ● 2 points
– Slashing Strength-Based Damage 1.
– Feature 1 (+4 Circumstance Bonus to climbing rolls).
Combat Advantages
All-out Attack, Close Attack 3, Evasion 1, Move-by Action.
Other Advantages
Benefit 1 (HYDRA associate), Instant Up, Language (Spanish), Second Chance (Fear/Intimidation).
Skills
Acrobatics 1 (+6) (+10), Athletics 2 (+6) (+10), Close combat (Unarmed) 2 (+11), Deception 1 (+2), Expertise (Military) 6 (+7), Expertise (Outdoorsman) 4 (+5), Insight 2 (+3), Perception 4 (+5), Stealth 4 (+9), Vehicles 4 (+6) (Limited 2 to common land vehicles).
Offense
| Initiative +5 |
| Unarmed +11, Close, Damage 4 |
| Clawed gauntlets +11, Close, Damage 5 |
Defense
| Dodge | 11 | Fortitude | 9 |
| Parry | 11 | Toughness | 10**/7/4* |
| Will | 4 |
* Without Defensive Roll.
** Vs. blunt.
Complications
- Temper Violent, likes killing, macho, brash.
Power levels
- Trade-off areas Attack/Effect PL 8, Dodge/Toughness PL 9, Parry/Toughness PL 9, Fort/Will PL 7.
- Point total 100. Abilities 30, Defences 19, Skills 14, Powers 29, Devices 2, Advantages 6. Equiv. PL 7.
Notes
Against opponents who only have blunt attacks, the Jaguar’s Average PL rises to 8.6 due to his Protection.
The Bravo Commando working alongside him are ordinary soldiers with submachineguns and jetpacks (Flight 4). Some have gas rifles with about 7 Ranks of Affliction (Cumulative, Dazed/Exhausted/Asleep).
Source of Character: Old Marvel comics.
Helper(s): Peter Piispanen, Roy Cowan.