Superwoman

Background

Powers & Abilities

Superwoman possesses tremendous superhuman strength and durability.

Her overall might seems to be in the “Class 90” bracket. She certainly seemed stronger than Blockbuster (Mark Desmond).

Her legs are particularly mighty, allowing for immense leaps. She apparently could launch herself into low Earth orbit.

Superwoman once used her powerful legs to launch Wonder Woman into space. In DC Heroes RPG terms this is a straight application of her Strength. Her brawn is sufficient to throw a person about 125 miles (200 km), which is sufficient to achieve a low Earth orbit.

On the other hand, she seems less durable than most persons in that strength range. This likely explains why soft techniques that use her strength against her, such jiu-jitsu throws and holds, work well against Superwoman.

Superwoman seems to have minor super-speed abilities when it comes to throwing, or intercepting, projectiles. This comes across as an echo of Wonder Woman’s ability to deflect projectiles with her bracers.

Rope-a-dope

Superwoman wields a glowing rope, like Wonder Woman (Diana of Themyscira) does. It too can be used as a lasso or even as a whip. And like Wonder Woman’s, it can hold even super-strong persons (including Superwoman herself).

It doesn’t share other properties of the Amazing Amazon’s lasso. But on the other hand, the flaxen-caped female felon’s lasso can turn into attack animals and giant monsters. These creatures do her bidding.

Superwoman only turns her lasso into a monster when she can’t otherwise act. She much prefers a straightforward attack to manifesting creatures.

Furthermore, the monsters do not seem to be *that* powerful, though they can look impressive.

History

The Justice League files stated that Superwoman was “a rogue Amazon”, without further detail.

She later described herself as an Amazon like Wonder Woman, but noted that she wasn’t an “adopted American” like the pre-Crisis Wonder Woman.

She once exclaims “murdering Minerva !” – the opposite of Wonder Woman’s traditional “merciful Minerva !”.

Just to be clear, Superwoman is *not* the Earth-3 Lois Lane. Earth-3 Lois Lane (a reporter for the Daily Star, like her Earth-2 counterpart) is an entirely different person.

Description

Superwoman is a statuesque White woman with a thick mane of black hair. During her first appearance she wore her hair in a loose coif. But afterward she wore her hair down. There occasionally was a white stripe running down the front.

She wears a one-piece black swimsuit, black boots, and a thigh-length yellow cape. Her lasso’s golden links shimmer with reflected light.

Personality

Obsessed with demonstrating her physical superiority, the Amazonian Superwoman revels in challenging superbeings.

She’ll often claim that nobody is stronger than she is, that her attacks cannot be stopped, that nobody could possibly hear her when she’s sneaking around, etc.. Even when that makes little sense. She’ll even claim to be stronger than Superman. She’d make a killing on YouTube.

On the other hand, she starts to lose her confidence when facing a tough foe or unexpected danger. It’s easy for her to come close to panic, or freeze for a spell.

Quotes

“I want a fight, and what Superwoman wants — she gets !”

“Free [for] mere hours, and we’re challenged ! Excellent !”

“That Comet bum, he’s gotten past Johnny Quick… And now he’s comin’ inside ! What’re we gonna do, Power Ring ?”

DC Heroes RPG

Tell me more about the game stats

Superwoman (pre-Crisis Earth-3)

Dex: 08	Str: 18	Bod: 10
Int: 05	Wil: 06	Min: 05
Inf: 06	Aur: 06	Spi: 04
Init: 021		HP: 040

Powers:

Gliding: 05, Jumping*: 18, Projectile weapons: 05

Bonuses and Limitations:

• Projectile weapons requires a metallic object of opportunity. She shreds shrapnel from it using her fingers.
• Projectile weapons is considered thrown objects in game terms.

Skills:

Thief (Stealth): 04, Weaponry (Lasso): 08

Advantages:

Expansive HQ (Eyrie of Evil), Language (Russian), Lightning Reflexes, Schtick (Precise Blocker (Punching projectiles), Speed Shooting (thrown objects)).

Connections:

Crime Syndicate of America (High).

Drawbacks:

MIA (Proving herself the strongest in battle), Attack Vulnerability (- 1CS OV/RV against attacks using a Martial Artist substitution).

Motivation:

Power Lust.

Occupation:

Supervillainess.

Wealth:

008

Equipment:

Magic Lasso [BODY 35, Shape Change: 02, Stretching: 01, Bonuses & Limitations :

• Shape Change also allows the lasso to assume the shape of mythological creatures (+2FC).
• Shape Change gives the lasso the Mental and Mystical Attributes of the mimicked animal while active (+1FC).
• Mimicked animals must follow Superwoman’s orders.
• Stretching does not allow for fine manipulation (-2FC)].

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Design Notes

These stats are closer to the Mayfair statting approach than the writeups.org one. So they assume heroic values, rather than the numbers demonstrated in the story.

This is in part to keep Roy’s old estimates whilst rewriting the entry many years later. And in part since, as a Silver AgeSuper-hero comics from the late 1950s to the early 1970s. character, Superwoman and her ilk work fine with cookie-cutter, highballed stats. These do not interfere with the four-colourSomething goofy from over-the-top early comic books. stories they appear in.

By Earth-2’s Roy Cowan and Earth-Prime’s Sébastien Andrivet.

Source of Character: Pre-Crisis DC Comics (and scattered post-Crisis stuff).

Helper(s): John Colagioia, Chris Cottingham, Jay Myers.

Writeup completed on the 22^nd of September, 2019.