Kraken
Context
The space alien baddie fought Supergirl (Kara Zor-El) a few times during the 1980s.
If you need an obscure but tough aquatic-themed or space-themed antagonist, he’s worth considering.
Background
- Real Name: Unrevealed.
- Marital Status: Unrevealed.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: None.
- Base Of Operations: Mobile through spaaaaaace.
- Height: 6’2″ Weight: 372 lbs.
- Eyes: Yellow Hair: None
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Powers and Abilities
Kraken has highly advanced equipment that allows him to :
- Wield super-strength.
- Shoot weird energy beams.
- Manipulate gigantic quantities of air and water. He can create tsunami and freeze them, unleash torrents of super-hard bubbles in water, raise a waterspout that can lift most boats, take control of a plane, etc.. One stunt is catching his target in a gigantic fist made of nearby water (in DC Heroes RPG terms, Snare).
He seems to be an aquatic being, to be able survive outer space and various other harsh conditions, and to be able to speak alien languages. The latter works even underwater, to Supergirl’s annoyance.
History
Years ago, Kraken went on what is apparently a religious rite for his people – the quest for power. The goal of this quest is to assert dominion on an alien people. Once this is done it is his belief the gods will whisk him up to a higher dimension, what some Humans would call Heaven.
He asserted that he came from another dimension. But there is considerable doubt as to the veracity of this.
Kraken thus attacked Argo City, seeking to subjugate it. However, he sorely misjudged. As soon as he had breached the self-repairing plastic of the dome, he was blasted out of the sky by Argo’s defences.
Badly wounded, he retreated, seeking vengeance. The die was cast and his quest now was to conquer Argo and nothing else.
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Last daughter of a doomed planetoid
He came back years later, only to discover that Argo was gone. A meteorite impact and anti-Kryptonite radiation had killed all inhabitants. But Kraken learned that there was a survivor. He therefore started looking for Kara Zor-El. Defeating her was his sole hope of ever conquering the people of Argo City.
A few years later, he located Kara on Earth, around Lake Michigan. Hijacking radio frequencies, he took several boats and planes hostages. The alien claimed that he wanted a huge ransom as the master of Lake Michigan.
Supergirl swiftly flew in, and Kraken dropped all pretenses of being a mere extortionist. He was, however, defeated when Supergirl used heat vision to melt his bracers and belt into slag.
Description
See illustrations.
Personality
Kraken, for some reason, keeps talking as if he were from a magical dimension and wielding spells.
This gave pause to Supergirl, as she though magic would easily defeat her. But she came to realise there was nothing magical about Kraken. Just super-high technology in his accoutrements.
It seems Kraken comes from a very mystical, ritualised society. It sounds out of touch with reality and lost in its own mythical narrative. Or maybe he’s just a lone nut.
Quotes
“Not something… someone ! Well did I know my actions would bring you forth so that the combat might between… between you and me ! My true name is unpronounceable to human lips, but you might call me… Kraken !”
“You cannot escape me ! I have the might… the magic to destroy… We are in my element now — water ! My powers are all but infinite here — as *this* will attest !”
“My magic is great… your powers are nothing against it !”
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Kraken
| Dex: 05 | Str: 05 | Bod: 06 | Motivation: Power |
| Int: 06 | Wil: 06 | Min: 05 | Occupation: Would-be god |
| Inf: 05 | Aur: 03 | Spi: 05 | Resources {or Wealth}: 006 |
| Init: 016 (021) | HP: 030 |
Powers:
Comprehend languages: 12, Density increase: 01, Sealed systems: 12, Water freedom: 10
Bonuses and Limitations:
- Density increase is always on and already factored in.
- Water freedom allows him to speak and be heard underwater (+5 BC).
Skills:
None demonstrated.
Advantages:
None demonstrated.
Connections:
None demonstrated.
Drawbacks:
Strange Appearance (at least on Earth).
Equipment:
- BELT AND BRACERS [/STR/ 17 /BODY/ 09, Air control: 15, Lightning: 14, Radio communications: 12, Snare: 17, Water control: 15, Limitations : Snare is Contingent Upon Water Control ; Snare can only have 3 APs active per AP of weight of water within 2 APs of the target].
- FLYING PLATFORM [BODY 13, Flight: 35, Sealed systems: 20].
Design Notes
- As usual, he’s written on a post-Crisis scale.
- As with many one-shot villains of this era, there’s a fair bit of speculation in the game stats.
Source of Character: Daring New Adventures of Supergirl comics.
Helper(s): Gareth Lewis, Roy Cowan, John Colagioia, Chris Cottingham.