Kamikaze
Context
Kamikaze debuted in September of 1990. He was a later member of Stryfe’s mutant super-villain agents, The Mutant Liberation Front, in The New Mutants series.
He was soon killed off, during the “The Executioner’s Song” crossover event.
He could fly and generate explosions. But didn’t get up to much, and rarely spoke.
Kamikaze is named for the “Divine Wind”- a great storm that destroyed a Korean/Mongol invasion fleet headed for Japan.
The name was colloquially given to suicide-bomber fighter pilots during the waning days of World War II, who would load their plane with dynamite and fly them into American vessels in order to commit the most damage.
This has made the name “Kamikaze” synonymous with “suicidal, reckless behaviour” in the West. And unlikely to be used in Japan.
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Background
- Real Name: (After Jab did this profile, Marvel gave this guy’s name as Tsuburaya Haruo — ed.).
- Known Relatives: Tsuburaya Ishiro (aka Samurai, twin brother).
- Group Affiliation: Mutant Liberation Front.
- Base of Operations: Mobile.
- Height: Average-sized and quite slender for a super-villain.
- Eyes: Unrevealed. Hair: Black.
- Other Distinguishing Features: A pretty plain outfit (Rob was half-assing it).
Powers & Abilities
Kamikaze possesses the ability to fly at great speeds, around as fast as Cannonball (Sam Guthrie) could back in the ’90s.
He also generates small-scale explosions of some power, which erupt upon contact with whatever he’s charged.
So he basically flies at people and sets off an explosion on contact. That’s it.
He has decidedly human-like durability.
History
Kamikaze debuted in the first year of Stryfe’s Mutant Liberation Front, but never made a name for himself.
He appears in the background of a few fights. Then when two X-teams invade the MLF’s base of operations, he prepares a lethal attack on an unsuspecting Archangel (Warren Worthington III).
However, Warren turns at the precise moment of contact. The bladed edge of his wing severs Kamikaze’s head, sending it tumbling into Boom-Boom (Tabitha Smith)’s legs.
The heroine responds with disgust. Both Archangel and Iceman (Robert Drake) are shocked at the turn of events. Archangel realizes that this was an accident, but is mortified.
Though Iceman suggests they will definitely be talking about this later, Kamikaze is never referred to again.
Description
His costume was as generic as he was:
- A visor mask (just like Dragoness, his teammate! Because there’s NO design Liefeld won’t copy, even if it’s his own!).
- A white unitard with a Rising Sun on it.
Personality
Kamikaze is a quiet sort (he gets very little dialogue).
He appears overconfident and reckless- perhaps fitting, given his name.
DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Kamikaze
| Dex: 04 | Str: 03 | Bod: 04 |
| Int: 03 | Wil: 02 | Min: 03 |
| Inf: 02 | Aur: 02 | Spi: 03 |
| Init: 009 | HP: 010 |
Powers:
Flight: 07, Mental blast: 08
Bonuses and Limitations:
Mental Blast has a Range of Touch, and a 1 AP Area of Effect.
Skills:
Evasion: 06, Martial Artist: 05
Bonuses and Limitations:
Both Skills are only usable when Kamikaze is in flight.
Advantages:
Possibly Language (Japanese), but that seems iffy.
Connections:
Mutant Liberation Front (Low).
Drawbacks:
None demonstrated.
Motivation:
Uphold Mutants.
Occupation:
Militant.
Wealth:
004
Editor’s design notes
This series of MLF profiles is done with the M&M stats first, and the DCH stats derived from these. Whereas our dual-statted profiles are usually done the other way.
That leads to small curiosities I’ve decided to keep. Such as the Martial Artist that only works in the air.
Like, we’ve definitely done this sort of thing numerous times before, as we strive to represent what the characters do in the stories. But the odds we’d have bothered with this for such a negligible and embarrassing character aren’t great. Whereas in M&M, going for a favoured environment advantage and the like is an obvious move.
The DCH stats are slightly lowballed compared to the M&M stats. Since WORG has always been willing to reach for the low scores, in any TTRPG system, for characters who never achieve anything notable.
Likewise the M&M stats afford Kamikaze more tactical options and trade-off whereas the DCH stats, mostly due to a different systemic logic, go “no, he just sucks” 😺.
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DC Adventures RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Kamikaze
PL 9 (84)
Created By: Louise Simonson & Rob Liefeld.
First Appearance: The New Mutants #93 (Sept. 1990).
Role: Powerhouse, Expendable Mort.
Group Affiliations: The Mutant Liberation Front.
| STR | STA | AGL | DEX |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 03 | 04 | 00 |
| FGT | INT | AWE | PRE |
| 06 | 00 | 00 | 00 |
Powers:
Flight & Explosive Blast ● 27.5 points ● Descriptor: Mutant
– Flight 7 (250 mph).
– “Explosion” Damage 9 (Extras: Area- 15ft. Burst +1/2).
Combat Advantages:
All-Out Attack, Favoured Environment (Airborne), Move-By Action, Power Attack.
Other Advantages:
None demonstrated.
Skills:
Aerobatics 6 (+10), Close Combat (Unarmed) 1 (+7), Intimidation 2 (+2), Expertise (Terrorist) 4 (+4), Perception 2 (+2), Stealth 4 (+8).
Offence:
| Initiative +1 |
| Unarmed +7, Close, Damage 1 (DC 16). |
| Explosion +9, Close Area, Damage 9 (DC 24). |
Defence:
| Dodge | +11 (DC 21) |
| Fortitude | +4 |
| Parry | Parry +10 (DC 20) |
| Toughness | +3 |
| Will | +3 |
Complications:
- Motivation Mutant Pride.
Design Notes
Kamikaze is the cheapest of his entire team in points. Since he has the least showings and is one of the only ones to have died.
He needs to be Airborne to be even half-decent. He can be tough to hit, but he tends to use All-Out Attack, negating that a bit). He can set off a powerful Burst Damage effect (but at short range).
But he is otherwise pretty low-end across the board.
Source of Character: Marvel Comics.
Helper(s): The people’s Sébastien Andrivet, Adam Fuqua, Darci, Tom Eilers.
Writeup completed on the 20th of June, 2022.