Solarman
(Superman foe)
Context
This bloke is an obscure Superman villain. As far as we can tell, he was seen but once in 1976 and, uh, that was it. There even was some confusion as to his name early on, since we first read about him in the Swedish translation of that Superman issue.
This sort of nigh-unknown super-villain can be useful in tabletop RPG games, whether for fleeting appearances or to be developed more fully. And of course some people like reading about obscure characters.
Sometimes it also feels like some writers trawl obscure character profiles for folks to kill off in shock stories that go nowhere and shock no-one so, uh, don’t do that.
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Background
- Real Name: Unrevealed.
- Marital Status: Unrevealed.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: None.
- Base Of Operations: Metropolis.
- Height: 6’0″ Weight: 180 lbs.
- Eyes: Blue Hair: Blond.
Powers and Abilities
Solarman’s costume absorbs infrared radiation from the sun. It then converts this energy into a variety of useful abilities, such as :
- Superstrength.
- Energy blasts.
- Flight.
- Telekinesis.
- Teleportation.
Solarman built his own costume, and was an expert in sciences involving stellar energy. Hours of training gave him a good control over all of his powers. Unfortunately, the costume lacked a fail-safe system against overheating. Thus, it would begin to burn if overheated.
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History
Solarman apparently was an expert in stellar energy. He thought that if Superman gained his powers from the sun, he could do the same thing. He intended to use those powers for a criminal career as a robber. He spent years building a costume capable of absorbing solar energy at a rapid rate. Then he practiced the use of the costume’s powers.
He was at first disappointed at the efficiency of the costume. It worked poorly, since something was blocking much of the infrared light from the sun to Earth at that time. But when he suddenly threw a one ton weight into orbit (Superman had removed the blocking effect from the Sun), Solarman decided to start his criminal career.
Like seven inches from the midday sun
Apparently he was after both money and revenge for something. Solarman first appeared in Metropolis robbing money from robbers that Superman had just captured (!). He levitated the money into his own costume and disappeared before Superman could capture him. He left skywriting (formed by money and his telekinetic ability) saying: Solarman Was Here.
Solarman later challenged Superman to arrest him in the middle of the city. Superman soon arrived, but it appeared as if Solarman actually would defeat the Man of Steel in physical combat. Suddenly, Solarman’s costume burst into flames from overheating. Superman had been using his heat vision on the costume all the time in order to overcharge its systems.
Solarman then panicked and Superman pulled the costume from him. Defeated, the criminal was sent to jail and supposedly still sits there…
Description
Solarman looks like a rather trained man. If in public, he’ll always be gloating about his power.
His costume is orange and covers everything except his face. He wears brown boots and a pair of brown shorts outside his trousers. His entire chest, stomach and abdomen is covered with silver-colored, round, microscopic solar collectors.
On the forehead of the suit he wears a motif in yellow colors. Along the outside of his legs he keeps additional solar collectors all the way down to the boots. All in all, he looks like a typical super.
Personality
Solarman was a man capable within the field of stellar energy. He actually managed to build the costume he wears himself. Although probably not a scientist, his work clearly was the work of a genius.
Solarman felt the need for revenge against something, but was mostly interested in stealing money and being a supervillain. His premier personality trait was being overconfident and always, always gloated about one thing or another. When he realizes that he will loose, he turns into a coward.
Quotes
“My powers come from the same sun that made you a superhero… and now will make me a supervillain !‘
“Well, Superman, aren’t you giving up soon ?”
DC Universe History
Solarman was part of the Pre-Crisis DC Universe.But there’s no reason why he couldn’t be inserted just as he is in the current DC Universe. Just put him in an area with lots of superheroes, like Metropolis, and you’re done.
The players could probably figure out the suit’s limitations and defeat him, like Superman did, despite his great strength.
Seeing as how fond Solarman was of gloating, he probably would rival other light-based villains such as Dr. Light, etc.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Solarman
| Dex: 04/10 | Str: 03/20 | Bod: 04/08 | Motivation: Mercenary |
| Int: 07 | Wil: 05 | Min: 04 | Occupation: Criminal |
| Inf: 04 | Aur: 04 | Spi: 03 | Resources {or Wealth}: 005 |
| Init: 015/021 | HP: 020 |
Skills:
Gadgetry*: 07, Scientist*: 07, Weaponry (Costume Weaponry, Melee)*: 05
Advantages:
Scholar (Stellar Energy), Stroke of Genius (Solarman costume).
Connections:
None.
Drawbacks:
SIA (Gloating), Loss Vulnerability (all powers, total darkness, 0 APs range).
Equipment:
SOLARMAN COSTUME [/BODY/ 06, Energy Absorption: 06, Energy Blast: 03 (20), Flight: 05, Power Reserve: 25, Solar Sustenance: 25, Telekinesis: 06, Teleportation: 05, R#02, Bonuses & Limitations :
- All powers are linked to the use of Solar Sustenance.
- Energy Absorption is only usable against solar-energy derived attacks.
- All powers have a Minor Power Burnout limitation (use of Energy Absorption and Power Reserve increase this severity by one rank each ; i.e. using both powers gives the costume a Catastrophic Power Burnout limitation).
- Power Reserve may only be used with DEX, STR, BODY and Energy Blast (up to noted levels).
- Power Reserve has to be powered by Energy Absorption or Solar Sustenance].
Source of Character: Superman comics (DC Universe).