Strobe
(Juliana Worthing.)
Context
Strobe is a minor member of Stryfe’s Mutant Liberation Front.
She appeared infrequently in the pages of The New Mutants and X-Force, mostly during the 1990s.
She embodies a lot of traits of Rob Liefeld characters of the era. Such as a single power (Energy Blasts) and a simplistic costume. Many ’90s Liefeld characters wore simple bodystockings or swimsuits of a single color.
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Background
- Real Name: Juliana Worthing.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: Mutant Liberation Front.
- Base of Operations: Mobile.
- Height: 5’6″ (1.67m). Weight: 115 lbs. (52 Kg.).
- Eyes: Unrevealed. Hair: Red (same hue as Jean Grey).
Powers & Abilities
Strobe is a somewhat versatile “blaster”-type character. She uses self-generated light and heat for a variety of purposes.
- A simple blast. It proved powerful enough to melt Cable (Nathan Summers)’s arm back when he was a generic cyborg.
- A powerful light flare. One shot blinded Rogue (Anna-Marie NLN) for several issues.
- An energy aura around her, strong enough to melt incoming bullets and protect her from harm.
Strobe was one of the most outspoken and eager members of the early MLF. She even convinced New Mutants members Rusty Collins & Skids (Sally Blevins) to join the MLF in the name of mutants’ rights.
History
Strobe debuted as one of Stryfe’s Mutant Liberation Front, helping his team invade a military installation.
She nearly incapacitates Cable during his debut. And later convinces Rusty and Skids to join the MLF.
Strobe does not reappear in X-Force until “The X-Cutioner’s Song” when the X-Men and X-Factor invade a big MLF base.
Here, she strikes from the sidelines, knocking out and blinding Rogue. Polaris (Lorna Dane) then swiftly incapacitates Strobe, using the terrorist’s own metallic costume against her and covering her face.
(This particular issue also removed Gambit, Quicksilver and Boom-Boom from the playing field for a time. To simplify the vast X-rosters into a more manageable group, most likely).
Strobe never appears again. She is stated as having lost her powers on M-Day.
Personality
Strobe is capable and convincing, but somewhat arrogant.
Fabian Nicieza writes her as almost a bit of a lout, shortening things to “D’you” instead of “Do you”- unusual for a female character at the time.
Early on there was a sense that she was one of the most important MLF members. But that didn’t go anywhere.
DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Strobe
| Dex: 05 | Str: 03 | Bod: 03 |
| Int: 03 | Wil: 03 | Min: 04 |
| Inf: 04 | Aur: 04 | Spi: 04 |
| Init: 012 | HP: 030 |
Powers:
Flame being: 06, Flash: 09, Force field: 06, Heat vision: 07
Bonuses and Limitations:
- Flame being has a Range (a radius) of 0 APs.
- Flame Being and Force Field can be maintained simultaneously, but maintaining either or both prevents taking a Dice Action during that Phase.
- Force field is Self Only, albeit with the same radius as her Flame Being.
Skills:
Charisma: 04
Advantages:
None demonstrated.
Connections:
MLF (Low).
Drawbacks:
None demonstrated.
Motivation:
Uphold Mutants.
Occupation:
Terrorist.
Wealth:
004
Equipment:
METALLIC COSTUME [BODY 04, Blunting: 02].
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DC Adventures RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Strobe (Juliana Worthing).
PL 9 (103)
Created By: Louise Simonson & Rob Liefeld.
First Appearance: The New Mutants #86 (Feb. 1990).
Role: Blaster.
Group Affiliations: The Mutant Liberation Front.
| STR | STA | AGL | DEX |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 02 | 02 | 00 |
| FGT | INT | AWE | PRE |
| 05 | 00 | 00 | 02 |
Powers:
Super-Heated Light Emission ● 43 points ● Descriptor: Mutant
– Heat Aura 9 (Feats: Selective) Linked to Force Field 6 (Flaws: Distracting) (40).
Array:
- “Heat Blast” Blast 8 (16).
- “Melt Objects” Weaken Toughness 7 (Extras: Ranged) (14).
- “Light Flare” Dazzle Visuals 10 (20).
Combat Advantages:
All-Out Attack, Improved Critical (Aura), Power Attack, Ranged Attack 4.
Other Advantages:
Equipment 1.
Skills:
Acrobatics 2 (+4), Athletics 3 (+4), Close Combat (Unarmed) 2 (+7), Deception 4 (+6), Insight 2 (+2), Intimidation 2 (+4), Expertise (Terrorist) 4 (+4), Perception 2 (+2), Ranged Combat (Blasts) 4 (+8), Stealth 2 (+4).
Equipment:
Metallic suit ● Protection 1.
Offence:
| Initiative +2 |
| Unarmed +7, Close, Damage 1 (DC 16). |
| Heat Blast +8, Ranged, Damage 8 (DC 23). |
| Heat Aura +7, Close, Damage 9 (DC 24). |
| Light Flare +8, Ranged (+10 Affliction, DC 20) |
Defence:
| Dodge | +8 (DC 18) |
| Fortitude | +4 |
| Parry | Parry +8 (DC 18) |
| Toughness | +2/+3* |
| Will | +3 |
*: with Metallic Suit.
Complications:
- Motivation Mutant Pride.
Design Notes
Strobe is a bit of a funny one. I had to edit out Wikipedia a couple years for saying she could fly (She couldn’t), but she’s got a mix of Dazzles, Auras, Blasts, Weaken Toughness, and a Force Field strong enough to ‘melt’ bullets as they hit her.
This makes her rather effective, but mostly PL 8 on offense. Except for that highly-powerful Dazzle she’s got- that makes her a PL 9.
That Dazzle was a one-time use (literally the only time ever) but KOs ROGUE (who wasn’t in her Claremont glory-years but still powerful). It blinded her for a multi-issue arc. Mostly to get her out of the way during the rest of the huge cross-over, but also to create a story where Gambit had to care for her.
Strobe is one of the more variable MLF members because of her various Alt-Effects. But since she can only use one at a time, she often has to turn the Linked Aura/Field off, meaning people can get close to her.
Still, Dazzle is under-rated. It can take out a heavy-hitter in one burst, making the rest of the fight much easier. Especially when you’ve got a ton of guys backing you up.
Source of Character: Marvel Comics (mostly X-Force).
Helper(s): What Sébastien Andrivet is cooking.
Writeup completed on the 4th of August, 2020.