Karl Honig the street preacher
Context
Johnny Mnemonic is a 1995 cyberpunk movie, and a loose-ish adaptation of a William Gibson story.
It wasn’t very successful and received poor reviews, but gained a minor cult classic status among those who think it wasn’t that bad. Maybe it just came too early.
Karl Honig was played by a scenery-chewing Dolph Lundgren, and this character gets some of the best bits and best lines for Lundgren to steal scenes with.
Background
- Real Name: Karl Honig.
- Marital Status: Unrevealed, presumably single.
- Known Relatives: Unrevealed.
- Group Affiliation: Church of the New Transfiguration.
- Base Of Operations: Newark, New Jersey.
- Height: 6’6″ Weight: 250 lbs.
- Eyes: 2, Blue Hair: Blond
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Powers and Abilities
Karl aka the Street Preacher has had extensive cybernetic enhancements done to his body. Thus his strength, speed and endurance are all superhuman. It is stated that most of his body has been replaced with cybernetic prosthesis including (but not limited to) arms, legs and much of his torso and cranium.
Since Karl only appeared in a few scenes, no detailed account of his full capabilities can be written up. The game stats are based the abilities he displayed in the film.
Description
Karl appears a hulking blond warrior dressed in ceremonial robes. He has shoulder length blond hair, a beard, and a slight psychopathic look in his eye.
He conceals on his person a stylized combat knife in the shape of a crucifix, and also employs a walking stick as a fighting staff. It is unknown if he carried other special weapons on his person.
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Video
A sub-1-minute sequence of the movie with the preacher in his church.
Personality
Karl is a professional bounty hunter who will track down any target for the right price. Like the Terminator (James Cameron version) Karl is a cybernetic being who will stop at nothing to either locate his prey and bring him back, or to simply eliminate him.
Karl likes to quote scripture and uses various religious symbols, such as the crucifix, in customizing his weapons.
Quotes
Takahashi (placing a late night phone call to Karl): “Karl ? I need your services.”
Street Preacher: “We hold services nightly.”
“Do you want someone brought to Jesus ?” (holds dagger by blade showing the hilt and handle to resemble a cross) “… or to you ?” (turns dagger over to grab handle revealing mean looking blade)
(Hooky’s in the bar mopping up after a long night when the Preacher enters, quoting the Bible)
Preacher: “They err in vision, they stumble in judgment, for all the tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.”
Hooky (considers this then grins): “You should have seen it before.”
(The preacher leaps out in front of Spider’s van before they can get away) “HALT SINNERS !”
Street Preacher (grabs Spider): “Jesus time.” (stabs Spider with blade)
DC Universe History
Although Johnny Mnemonic and all subsequent characters works better in their own self contained universe, they could be placed in the Batman Beyond setting since the tech noir aspect suits the two worlds very well.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
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The Street Preacher
| Dex: 07 | Str: 08 | Bod: 07 | Motivation: Psychopathic Mercenary |
| Int: 06 | Wil: 08 | Min: 08 | Occupation: bounty hunter/assassin |
| Inf: 06 | Aur: 05 | Spi: 07 | Resources {or Wealth}: 010 |
| Init: 021 | HP: ?? |
Powers:
Density Increase: 01, Skin Armor: 03
Skills:
Charisma (Intimidation, Interrogation): 07, Detective*: 06, Martial Artist*: 07, Weaponry (firearms, melee)*: 07
Advantages:
Hardened Defenses, Intensive Training, Iron Nerves, Leadership, Lightning Reflexes, Scholar (religious scripture), Sharp Eye, Stabilization, Streetwise.
Connections:
Takahashi (Low), Church of the New Transfiguration (unknown since it is only very briefly mentioned, but probably High).
Drawbacks:
Public Identity.
Equipment:
- Knife [BODY 07, EV 03 (09 w/STR)] – a customized combat knife that resembles a crucifix.
- Preacher robes’ appears to possess higher than normal durability.
- Walking Staff [BODY 07, EV 03 (09 w/STR)] – customized fighting staff.
Church of the New Transfiguration
Karl also seems to be a member of The Church of New Transfiguration. Not much is known about this organization since it is only mentioned very briefly in film.
It is possible that Karl belongs to a cult of religious fanatics that believe themselves to be on a higher level for converting to cybernetic enhancements. The William Gibson novel goes into greater detail about the organization.
Source of Character: Johnny Mnemonic film, 1995, played by Dolph Lundgren.
Helper(s): IMDB, wikipedia