Rhodan, master of the Hounds of Helios
Context
This guy appeared just once in 1972, early during the Adam Warlock saga in Marvel comic books. He’s not that remarkable, but the distinctive visuals, ties to the Warlock mythos, and generic usefulness are pluses that led to a profile.
If you’re not familiar with Counter-Earth, the New Men, etc. reading the High Evolutionary character profile first is advisable.
Background
- Real Name: Rhodan.
- Marital Status: Single.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: Man-Beast’s New Men.
- Base Of Operations: Wundagore-3 on Counter-Earth.
- Height: About 5’ Weight: About 150 lbs.
- Eyes: Red Hair: Grey
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Powers and Abilities
Rhodan is, as the name hints, a super-evolved rat-based New Man. This entry assumes that he has the senses and abilities of a rat, though they were not demonstrated in his brief appearance.
He carried a mace (and possibly an energy pistol). He also had two attack animals… from space !
The solar storms of the star-sun Helios !
Rhodan’s improbable hounds apparently lived outside the photosphere of a star (?) as a mated pair. They were captured by the crew of the Wundagore-3 and somehow tamed. The stats below assume that they indeed can survive such an environment.
The captions explain that their “true form” is “random solar impulses” and that’s what Adam Warlock turns them into using his soul gem. Go figure.
History
Rhodan is presumably one of the New Men who were created in 1966, when the Man-Beast commandeered the laboratory of the High Evolutionary. This generation was uplifted using a weakened form of Isotope C.
The Man-Beast and his creatures were exiled to an uninhabited galaxy. Yet they came back just as the High Evolutionary was creating Counter-Earth. They sabotaged this would-be Eden out of spite, then infiltrated Counter-Earth to finish ruining it.
When Adam Warlock came on a messianic mission to save Counter-Earth, the Man-Beast sent his agents after him. The first to engage Warlock was Rhodan.
The Man-Beast had dramatically under-estimated the might of Adam Warlock, though. The would-be saviour easily killed the two Hounds of Helios, then reverted Rhodan into being a normal rat.
Rhodan was apparently killed by a mouser cat minutes later.
Description
See illustrations.
Personality
Rhodan was reputed as a “relentless assassin” among the Man-Beast’s servants.
He seemed quite confident about his ability to murder people, but turned tail in a panic when he saw how easily Warlock killed his beasts.
Quotes
“*Squee* I have been advised of my mission, sire. My hounds stand as ready to slash and rend as the day we first snared them, amid the solar storms of the star-sun Helios.”
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Rhodan, master of the Hounds of Helios
| Dex: 05 | Str: 04 | Bod: 05 | Motivation: Power |
| Int: 05 | Wil: 02 | Min: 02 | Occupation: Lackey, assassin |
| Inf: 03 | Aur: 02 | Spi: 02 | Resources {or Wealth}: 004 |
| Init: 013 | HP: 010 |
Powers:
Analytical Smell/Tracking Scent: 06, Claws: 05, Extended Hearing: 02, Hypersensitive Touch: 05, Super Hearing (Ultrasonic only): 05, Ultra Vision: 02
Bonuses and Limitations:
Super Hearing picks up high frequencies, not low ones.
Skills:
Acrobatics (Climbing, Dodging): 06, Animal handling (Hounds of Helios): 04, Weaponry*: 05
Advantages:
Pets (Hounds).
Connections:
Man-Beast (Low).
Drawbacks:
Strange Appearance (at least among humans).
Equipment:
- Mace [BODY 05, Enhance (EV): 02 (cap is 07), Descriptor: Bludgeon].
- SKY-CHARIOT [BODY 06, Gravity decrease (Self Only): 05]. This is harnessed to the two flying hounds.
- Rhodan is depicted with an energy pistol on the cover of the issue, but doesn’t have one in the story. Still, Energy Pistol [BODY 02, Energy blast: 06] is not unreasonable.
Hound of Helios
| Dex: 05 | Str: 06 | Bod: 05 | Motivation: Animal |
| Int: 03 | Wil: 01 | Min: 01 | Occupation: Animal |
| Inf: 01 | Aur: 00 | Spi: 01 | Resources {or Wealth}: N.A. |
| Init: 009 | HP: 005 |
Powers:
Claws: 07, Flight: 09, Solar sustenance: 05, Space freedom: 06
Bonuses and Limitations:
- Flight is Winged. It might have higher APs in space and in the presence of dense photonic wind.
- Space freedom is like Water freedom, but works for the native environment of the hounds.
Design Notes
Rhodan isn’t really seen in action, so the stats are largely speculative.
Source of Character: Marvel Premiere #2 (Marvel Universe).
Helper(s): Chris Cottingham.
Writeup completed on the 11th of June, 2011.