Lionmane
General Lo Chien
Context
Lionmane is an obscure Marvel character. He only appeared in one 1999 story, as the 1997 run of Heroes for Hire reached its end.
There wasn’t much material so parts of this are speculative. But he seemed to be a useful baddie that could be developed further. Especially in international thriller stories, or Chinese-style mob stories.
Background
- Real Name: General Lo Chien.
- Marital Status: Unrevealed.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: PLA and Communist Party (as Lo Chien).
- Base Of Operations: China and nearby seas.
- Height: 5’9” Weight: 170 lbs.
- Eyes: Brown Hair: Bald (black goatee).
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Powers and Abilities
General Lo Chien is a smart, educated man with clear vision and bottomless ambition. Furthermore, he’s a remarkably skilled fighter. He even could engage Wolverine (James Howlett).
His mutant power includes “Class 10” strength and impenetrable skin.
History
General Lo Chien is an influential PLA officer, as well as being secretly a mutant. As the masked Lionmane, not only is he a known superhuman, but he and many of his men also lead double lives as pirates. Yet there is a further level of deception, for the activities of those pirates often advance the interests of the PRC.
For instance, Lionmane and his modern day pirates once captured an important stone statue of the warrior Mulan as it was conveyed by freighter. They had it sold at an auction in Madripoor. Switching to their PLA uniforms, they then stormed the auction to reclaim this piece of Chinese heritage (conveniently killing the organiser, who could have recognized Lionmane).
But again this wasn’t their ultimate goal. Their man inside the Heroes for Hire team observing the auction, Cat, arranged to have the statue explode during the fight. This was the actual goal – giving the PRC a casus belli against the infestation that is Madripoor.
Lionmane later captured the Heroes for Hire and took them to his base. They escaped just as Wolverine, leading a small army of Madripoor rabble, stormed the base. Wolverine fought Lionmane, but did not fare very well. He had, at this point, been drained of his Adamantium bone reinforcements. But Daniel Rand showed up and clobbered Lionmane from behind with the famed iron fist.
Description
See illustration.
Personality
A subtle planner and smart, methodical leader and officer.
Although he appears to be a general who pretends to be a pirate who actually upholds his government, Lo Chien’s actual goal is personal power and wealth. He accumulates money and resources for when the Party will become weak, and opportunities to seize real power as a warlord will arise.
Lionmane is very confident, and is a cold-hearted and pragmatic killer.
Quotes
“Take these four below. Guard them carefully. Do not take your eyes from them. Do not permit them to speak. They are dangerous but, perhaps, necessary to my plans. Kill all the other survivors.”
“The wealth I plunder [in Madripoor] will underwrite my efforts. Besides, this haven of cutthroats and criminals deserves to be destroyed.”
“Yes. Your claws cannot penetrate my skin, Wolverine — while I can grind your bones into paste.”
DC Universe History
Sure. He probably would have been a Birds of Prey opponent, some time before the death of Ted Kord.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Lionmane
| Dex: 07 | Str: 09 | Bod: 09 | Motivation: Power |
| Int: 06 | Wil: 05 | Min: 05 | Occupation: General, pirate lord |
| Inf: 05 | Aur: 04 | Spi: 05 | Resources {or Wealth}: 010 |
| Init: 018 | HP: 025 |
Powers:
Skin armour: 03
Bonuses and Limitations:
Skin armour also compensates for Sharpness. Attacks against which Skin armour applies do not get to apply as many APs of Sharpness as Lionmane has APs of Skin Armour (+1).
Skills:
Martial artist (AV): 08, Vehicles (Land, sea): 04, Weaponry: 06
Advantages:
Expensive HQ (large coastal secret base in China), Language (Mandarin Chinese), Rank (General).
Connections:
PLA (High), Chinese Communist Party (Low), South Sea pirates (Low).
Drawbacks:
Secret ID.
Equipment:
- Chinese sabre [BODY 10, Enhance (EV): 02 (cap is 10), Descriptor: Slashing, piercing].
- As Lo Chien, and possibly as Lionmane, a Norinco QSZ-92 9mm Pistol [BODY 03, Projectile weapons: 04, Ammo: 15, R#02].
Let a thousand caps burst
Lionmane’s men are treated like the shock troops in the Average Soldiers And Military Types writeup. They will be armed with pistols and/or submachineguns.
They have access to night vision gear and prefer to launch boarding actions at night. Their fleet includes an unseen ship, a high-tech and fairly large submarine, and various small outboards.
Source of Character: Heroes for Hire v1 #18-19.
Helper(s): Roy Cowan.