Reaper
(Pantu Hurageb)
Context
Reaper debuted in February of 1990 as a member of Stryfe’s mutant super-villain agents, the Mutant Liberation Front. That was in the The New Mutants series.
Typically they only attacked military installations at first. These are Rob Liefeld creations, after all. But they eventually fought the New Mutants, and later X-Force.
Reaper acted as a melee threat, but was typically just used as a jobberWrestling slang for a wrestler who almost always loses. to make X-Force’s Shatterstar look good.
This profile only covers his early appearances. 1990s, more or less.
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Background
- Real Name: Pantu Hurageb.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: Mutant Liberation Front.
- Base of Operations: Mobile.
- Height: 5’11” (1.80m). Weight: 170 lbs. (77 Kg.).
- Eyes: White. Hair: Black.
- Other Distinguishing Features: Has a pair of “Rob Liefeld eyepatches” (just like Domino), but one over each eye. Chalk-white skin.
Powers & Abilities
Reaper possesses the ability to stun people through some manner of physical contact. He disables them with some kind of paralytic agent.
His power may be channelled through melee weapons. He usually wields a distinctive metallic scythe with a long handle.
He is a reasonably decent fighter, and quite sneaky, but has terrible defenses.
His power, like a lot of “sharp weapon user” guys’, brought some unfortunate issues. He was unable to even HIT most namedA character with more narrative immunity than nameless extras. characters.
With cybernetic arm.
History
Reaper debuted along with Stryfe’s Mutant Liberation Front.
When X-Force invades an MLF base, Reaper leads a counterattack. But they are handily beaten.
Shatterstar chops Reaper’s hand off with his unusually fat knife. Bleeding and going into shock, Reaper suggests that Shatterstar won’t kill him (“it’s not your way…”). But the Mojoworld gladiator suggests he’s a bit different.
Reaper is then teleported away by the MLF’s transporter, Zero.
Returns
Hurageb reappears fighting X-Factor, having been given a bionic hand. But he loses a foot to a teleporter accident while escaping.
During the X-Cutioner’s Song, he delivers what we later learn is the Legacy Virus’s active agent to Mr. Sinister.
He fights in the battle where the X-Men & X-Factor invade the MLF’s key hideout. Reaper slices Quicksilver’s Achilles tendon with his scythe in a sneak attack.
He nearly chops off the heads of Gambit & Quicksilver simultaneously, but Psylocke stops him.
Reignfire
Later, Reaper is recruited into Reignfire’s incarnation of the MLF. But he’s unfortunate enough to come across Shatterstar. He now loses his OTHER hand.
Wildside comes in and holds Siryn hostage to stay Shatterstar’s hand. But he inadvertently points the hero’s sword at Reaper. Shatterstar activates his rarely-seen mutant power, firing an energy bolt through his blade.
Reaper is seemingly killed. This shocks Wildside, who is swiftly defeated.
Ultra
Reaper nonetheless reappears in a later story with no explanation. He is tossed into the Ultraverse along with Siena Blaze (a member of the Upstarts) and the Juggernaut. This trio crossed over with that universe’s heroes.
(Like seriously, they wanted to cross over the two universes, and used SIENA BLAZE AND REAPER as their immigrants?)
Hurageb is later brain-wiped and de-powered along with Wildside. But he later turns up begging on the streets.
Quicksilver gave him his powers back. And Weapon X gave Reaper a scythe arm, replacing one of his bionic limbs.
He rejoins the MLF, but is beaten by the X-Men.
Adνеrtisеmеnt
Description
Good ol’ Reaper here is as iconic as it gets… for this team. He’s been in every incarnation thanks to his stand-out-ish appearance (the Liefeld Eye Circles, white skin, big scythe) and goofy dumb-assed attitude.
I swear this guy used the term “feeb” as an insult in half a dozen issues. Which I’m pretty sure is the only time in pop culture history someone did so.
Personality
Reaper is a snarky, sarcastic sort, and the chattiest of the MLF apart from Wildside.
He’s prone to talking to himself, boasting in battle, and wasting time before delivering the killing blow. All of which results in him being injured in battle.
With cybernetic scythe protheses.
DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Reaper
| Dex: 05 | Str: 03 | Bod: 03 |
| Int: 03 | Wil: 02 | Min: 04 |
| Inf: 03 | Aur: 02 | Spi: 03 |
| Init: 011 | HP: 005 |
Powers:
Numb: 05
Bonuses and Limitations:
- Numb has a Range of Touch.
- Numb can be resisted by Systemic Antidote.
- Numb can be Combined With any melee attack, armed or unarmed.
Skills:
Acrobatics: 04, Thief (Stealth): 04, Weaponry (Scythe): 06
Advantages:
None demonstrated.
Connections:
MLF (Low).
Drawbacks:
Attack Vulnerability (-1CS RV vs. electric and magnetic due to cybernetic prosthetics), Creepy Appearance, Uncertainty (talking instead of acting), Unluck (talking instead of acting).
Motivation:
Uphold Mutants.
Occupation:
Terrorist.
Wealth:
004
Equipment:
Scythe [BODY 04, Enhance (EV): 03 (cap is 06), Descriptor: Piercing, Slashing]. The cybernetic version has the same stats but cannot be Taken Away.
DC Adventures RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Reaper (Pantu Hurageb).
PL 8 (89)
Created By: Louise Simonson & Rob Liefeld.
First Appearance: The New Mutants #86 (Feb. 1990).
Role: Weapon Guy, The Snarky One.
Group Affiliations: The Mutant Liberation Front.
| STR | STA | AGL | DEX |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 02 | 04 | 00 |
| FGT | INT | AWE | PRE |
| 06 | 00 | 00 | 00 |
Powers:
Paralytic Secretions ● 21 points ● Descriptor: Mutant
Affliction 7 (Fort; Dazed & Impaired/Stunned & Exhausted/Paralyzed) (Extras: Extra Condition, Cumulative).
Devices:
Reaper’s Scythe ● 10 points (Easily Removable) ● Descriptor: Matters agricultural
– Strength-Damage +3 (Feats: Reach) (Extras: Penetrating 5).
– Adds Reach to Affliction Power.
Combat Advantages:
All-Out Attack, Defensive Roll, Improved Critical (Scythe), Improved Disarm, Improved Smash, Power Attack, Set-Up.
Other Advantages:
None demonstrated.
Skills:
Acrobatics 2 (+6), Close Combat (Unarmed) 2 (+8), Close Combat (Scythe) 3 (+9), Deception 2 (+2), Investigation 2 (+2), Intimidation 4 (+4), Expertise (Terrorist) 4 (+4), Perception 3 (+3), Stealth 2 (+6).
Offence:
| Initiative +4 |
| Unarmed +8, Close, Damage 1 (DC 16). |
| Scythe +9, Close (Reach 1), Damage 4 (DC 19). |
| Paralytic Secretions +9, Close (Reach 1 w/scythe) (+6 Affliction, DC 16) |
Defence:
| Dodge | +10 (DC 20) |
| Fortitude | +5 |
| Parry | Parry +9 (DC 19) |
| Toughness | +2/+3* |
| Will | +3 |
*: with Defensive Roll.
Complications:
- Motivation Mutant Pride.
- Prejudice (Obvious Mutant) With chalk-white skin and black Liefeld Patches over each eye, Pantu cannot pass for a normal human being.
- Bad Luck (Hand Loss) Reaper just CAN NOT seem to stop losing limbs. Shatterstar in particular has it out for him.
- Weakness (Magnetic, Electrical Attacks) With cybernetic limbs, Reaper is vulnerable to magnetic attacks, and may take further effects from electrical damage.
Design Notes
Reaper is a bit unfortunate compared to his buddies.
He’s a decent fighter and decently defensive. But he’s limited to Dodging & Parrying almost all the time, or his defense just falls completely apart (witness two separate hand-losses to Shatterstar). He’s only PL 6.5 defensively, and PL 6 at dodging, and even THEN only if he’s not flat-footed.
He’s mainly a Weapon Guy, though he gets modified a bit.
I decided to Link the Scythe and the Paralytic nature of his touch (I only ever saw him use it with the Scythe, though) together. This means he gets a double-whammy in every round, but since it’s fairly low-level (he’s more accurate than damaging) it’s not a game-breaker or overly cheap.
Plus he’s one of the cheapest members of his team in terms of points.
Source of Character: Marvel Comics (mostly X-Force).
Helper(s): What Sébastien Andrivet is cooking.
Writeup completed on the 4th of August, 2020.