Paul the Samurai
Context
Paul the Samurai appeared in The Tick comics from 1989 on. He even had his own comic book during the early 1990s. As can be surmised, he’s a parody of the interest of some 1980s super-hero comics writers in Japanese martial and feudal traditions.
These here notes are very old, and very short – it’s not a full writeup. More like stats jotted down on the back of an envelope.
History
Paul was trained in the ways of the samurai by his blind, one-legged, eight-fingered grandfather. He was a tiny, wizened figure who delighted in calling young Paul “boll weevil” and assigning him apparently menial and pointless tasks. These later proved to be really menial and pointless.
Paul came to the United States to fight his sworn enemy Sagin, the master ninja. With the help of the Tick and Arthur, Paul defeated Sagin and destroyed his ninja organization.
Lacking plane fare to return to his native Japan, Paul decided to remain in the United States. He nows works as a security guard.
Description
Paul is a Japanese man, probably in his late 20s. He stands around 6’2” and is a little chunky for a samurai (this may be due in part to his all-junk-food diet since being in the US).
When not in his security guard’s uniform, he almost always wears his traditional samurai armor.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Paul the Samurai
| Dex: 07 | Str: 03 | Bod: 05 | Motivation: Seeking Justice |
| Int: 04 | Wil: 08 | Min: 08 | Occupation: Security Guard |
| Inf: 06 | Aur: 07 | Spi: 08 | Resources: 03 |
| Init: 021 | HP: 050 |
Skills:
Acrobatics*: 07, Charisma*: 06, Detective (Clue Analysis)*: 04, Martial Artist*: 07, Military Science (Camouflage, Danger Recognition)*: 04, Weaponry (Melee Weapons)*: 07
Advantages:
Intensive Training, Iron Nerves, Lightning Reflexes, Scholar (Cooking, samurai tradition, ninjas).
Connections:
The Tick (Low).
Drawbacks:
CIA: Obeying Samurai code of honor, MIA: Dramatically drawing his katana when soliloquizing, CIH: Ninjas, Public Identity, Catastrophic Rage, MPI: Paul has “Irrelevant Flashbacks” involving his grandfather, Unluck.
Equipment:
- Katana [BODY 09, Enhance (EV): 02 (cap is 09), Descriptor: Slashing, Piercing, Recommended STR 02]. Paul is a comic-book samurai and thus fights armed only with a katana.
Part of Paul’s Samurai Code of Honor dictates that once he has drawn the katana he may not resheathe it until it has tasted blood. This, coupled with his habit of drawing the sword dramatically during his soliloquies means that he has to nick himself with the blade quite often, so Paul often appears with numerous Band-Aids on his fingers]. - SAMURAI ARMOR [BODY 03, Blunting: 02, Damage capacity: 03, Enhance (Bludgeoning, Piercing, Slashing RV): 01 (cap is 07), Enhance (Slashing, Piercing RV): 01 (cap is 08), Enhance (Laser, heat/flame, Acid RV): 01 (cap is 06), Stealth penalty 3/3, Limitations:
- Damage Capacity only vs. Piercing and Slashing RAPs.
- Damage Capacity has the Full Recovery with Infrastructure Bonus.]
Helper(s): Sébastien Andrivet.
Source of Character: The Tick #4-5 ; Paul the Samurai (New England Comics).