Rick Thunder

Context

This character is an original creation. We often call these “homemades” or “homebrewed” – think home cooking or craft beer.

Many of these characters were created to take part in tabletop role-playing game sessions. Others were invented as a creative writing exercise, often as part of a community event.

Rick Thunder is a home-brewed addition to the Amalgam universe, a merged Marvel/DC continuity. He’s a merger of Rick Jones and Johnny Thunder.

Background

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History

Rick Jones was left in a Midwestern orphanage as an infant, never knowing his parents. He was named by his guardians. Rick grew up a very impulsive and restless child, always ready to take a dare, or break a rule. This attitude led him to run away in his mid-teens, straight into the turning point of his young life.

Losing himself in Louisiana bayou country, he accidentally stumbled onto a secret military base. This is where he became involved in the accident that transformed scientist Bruce Banner into the mystical monstrosity called Skulk.

Since then, he’s lead a life of almost constant danger and excitement, as a sidekick and confidante to some of the world’s greatest heroes.

About two years ago, Rick reached another milestone, as he discovered his true heritage. He was approached by an strange old man who claimed to be the famed heroic Western lawman Johnny Thunder, as well as Rick’s lost father. The aged gunslinger was still alive due to the mystic influence of his companion, the mystic creature called the Impossi-Bolt.

That’s right, the Impossi-Bolt

Johnny had been given charge of the Bolt by the last of the great sorcerers of the now-defunct Himalayan nation of Bahdnesia. This man had come to America as a railroad worker and befriended him in the 1860’s. But in the 1940’s, Johnny and the Bolt had attracted the attention of the Nazi mystic Baron Zatara, who hounded the pair for decades thereafter.

During a brief quiet time 20-odd years ago, Johnny met and married Rick’s mother, and fathered a son. Shortly thereafter, Rick’s mom was killed by Zatara, and Johnny reluctantly left his son in the orphanage to go into hiding.

Johnny decided to reveal himself to Rick upon learning of a terrible new plot of magical conquest by Zatara. He had hope the youth could bring the serious might of his super-hero friends to bear.

Against Zatara

During this battle, several things happened. Johnny was killed in battle with Zatara. With his dying breath passed control of the Bolt to Rick. Rick then used the Bolt’s power to join several heroes, as well as Zatara’s renegade daughter Allison, in defeating the villain.

The heroes present decided (at the suggestion and sponsorship of the mysterious Dark Claw) to remain together as a team. Rick eagerly joined using his late father’s name proudly. He also developed a romantic interest in Allison, resulting in their recent marriage.

Description

Rick is a good-looking, unassuming 20-something young man with longish blonde hair and a ready smile. He favors comfortable blue jeans and flannel shirts.

The Impossi-Bolt is a comical-looking creature of bright green mystic energy, roughly human-shaped, with a long oval-shaped head, huge pointed ears, and a big silly grin.

Personality

Rick’s a very impulsive man, given to quick, decisive, sometimes foolhardy action. He’s a bit of a loner, he doesn’t make friends easily, but he’s immensely loyal to those he has.

In recent years, he’s developed a sardonic sense of humor, and a cheerfully jaded take-nothing-seriouly attitude towards all the strange things that have happened to him over the years.

DC Universe History

Tailored as he is for the Amalgamverse, not much I’m afraid.

And there it is. I’ve always liked Rick Jones, especially the way he’s been written by Peter David in the last decade or so. So I jumped on the chance to play him(or a near duplicate) when the ’Rick Thunder‘ name was thrown out off the top of my GM’s head. Hope you like him too. Later !

By KJM.

Source of Character: Homemade for the Amalgam Universe.