Word
(Jack Wordman)
Context
The Word is a weird, obscure She-Hulk villain. He first showed up in 1980 and yeah, he wasn’t seen much afterwards.
But he’s a useful villain to have ! It’s just that using him without looking cheesy is difficult.
Background
- Real Name: Jack Wordman.
- Other Aliases: “Wordman Jack” (radio host name).
- Marital Status: Unrevealed.
- Known Relatives: Ultima Wordman (daughter), Apothea Kadbury Wordman (mother, deceased).
- Group Affiliation: None.
- Base Of Operations: Various.
- Height: 5’9” Weight: 210 lbs.
- Eyes: Grey Hair: Grey (previously brown)
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Powers & Abilities
The Word is an amazing orator. He has a great voice, a riveting presence and an impressive command of the English language. People love listening to him. He can convince most persons to agree with him.
Mr. Wordman finds it easy to create a cult of personality. From there he will soon derive superior wealth and numerous helpers.
Though he’s no longer in his prime the Word is a large, broad-shouldered man. He’s also highly intelligent and an excellent planner.
History
The Word was a senior scholar and editor for the world’s largest unabridged dictionary of the American English language. He thus spent years of intense work on words and their meaning. He eventually snapped and had a epiphany. Words held great power, and his formidable mastery over them should give him power.
The former editor became Wordman Jack, a DJ with a down and out radio station. He quickly revitalised it as listeners flocked to his show. All of his demands for raises were granted thanks to his amazing power of conviction… and the station soon went bankrupt from the cost. It was presumably during this era that he had his daughter, Ultima.
(“Wordman Jack” is a reference to radio personality Robert “Wolfman Jack” Smith .)
Now affluent, Jack Wordman became The Word, the leader of a quasi-religious cult in the L.A. area. It was headquartered in a beautiful and isolated compound. The Word gave regular lectures about self-improvement and the power of conviction. These kept the cult members enthralled.
The Word had theories about education that he tested on his daughter from infancy. Using his amazing power of persuasion, he taught her the value of mental discipline. He conditioned her to have such belief in her abilities that she was effectively superhuman. Ultima worked as a demonstration of the power of the Word, and as an enforcer when things went wrong.
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The Savage She-Hulk
In 1980, the parents of a young man living with the Word’s cult contacted lawyer Jennifer Walters to recover their son.
Walters’ attempt ultimately failed. The Word easily subverted the court of law even after Walters obtained a signed statement from the young man. A brawl later erupted between Ultima and Walters’ superhuman alter-ego the She-Hulk. During the fight, Ultima was accidentally rendered comatose by a falling car.
After months of depression and having forswore speech over the health of his daughter, the Word attempted to use the power of his words to have her walk and speak again. After more than a year of work Ultima was fully healed, and more powerful than ever.
S.H.I.E.L.D. wants a word
The Word then built up a new cult, this one dedicated to the suppression of inequality to built a perfect society. He even brainwashed the two S.H.I.E.L.D. agents sent to investigate his activities.
A young woman fled the cult and attempted to warn the Fantastic Four. But Ultima stopped her right before she’d reach the Baxter Building. However the fleeing cultist survived the assault and warned the Thing.
The investigating Torch and Thing were captured thanks to the perimeter defences and Ultima. They were made to join the work gangs toiling for the Word to soften them up for brainwashing. Nevertheless, the two heroes got rid of their power-inhibiting collars and engaged the security.
Things weren’t going too well for the fantastic two. But the overconfident Word got too close. The Thing thus knocked him out with a flick of the finger. Seeing her father so easily defeated eroded Ultima’s confidence in his words. Which shattered her cure and incapacitated her.
The Word and his cult were arrested by S.H.I.E.L.D.. They haven’t been heard of since.
Description
See illustration.
Personality
The Word is a calm gentleman used to being in power. He’s prone to oratorical excess, unabashedly sesquipedalian, and deploys an extensive vocabulary. He’s confident that what he does is utterly justified.
Jack Wordman loves his daughter very much, and indulges her every whim.
Quotes
“I understand your apprehension, madame – believe me, I do ! But to advance and achieve proper mental attitude is all. That’s why it’s so very important to associate only with others of the same outlook !”
“Trouble, Randolph, my boy ? Every adversity conceals opportunity ! What seems to be amiss ?”
“The Thing and Torch may presume to pass into my complex like other potential initiates… but they are wrong ! Like others of their unique ability, the path of their enlightenment has been specially prepared !” (triggers remote defences).
Thing: “Awright, who’s the wise guy ?”
The Word: “The correct term is ‘all right’, Ben Grimm ! Remember, proper English is pursuant to well-adjusted perfection ! You were, referring, of course, to the attire both you and Johnny Storm are wearing ! I shall explain all in due time. But first I shall introduce myself — I am the unexcelled master of metaphor and mentor of the new movement to employ machines for all but the lightest labour ! Thus shall I level the excess of inequity in our society forever — for I am… The Word !”
DC Universe History
He could have been an early Teen Titans villain. Back when their rogue gallery included such highlights as Mister Twister and the Mad Mod. The Word and Ultima would have been cool, comparatively.
One of the characters named the Word in the DCU could be another enhanced child of the Word, like Ultima.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
The Word
| Dex: 03 | Str: 03 | Bod: 03 | Motivation: Power |
| Int: 04 | Wil: 06 | Min: 04 | Occupation: Cult leader |
| Inf: 08 | Aur: 07 | Spi: 05 | Resources {or Wealth}: 010 |
| Init: 015 | HP: 020 |
Skills:
Charisma (Persuasion, Interrogation): 11, Charisma (Intimidation): 06, Detective (Law): 08, Medicine (Brainwashing): 07, Medicine (Medical treatment): 06
Bonuses and Limitations:
- All Skills are Contingent Upon Charisma (Persuasion, Interrogation) and are only usable if the Word can employ his power of persuasion.
- Medical Treatment presumably can also heal MIND and SPI damage.
Advantages:
Gift of Gab, Headquarters (Expansive), Leadership, Scholar (American English language).
Connections:
Ultima (High).
Drawbacks:
None demonstrated.
King of his castle
When the Thing and the Torch came to the Word’s then-current estate, they were met by sophisticated defences:
- The entire estate was apparently under high-quality video surveillance.
- An unrevealed system blew up the gas tank of the FF’s car. Perhaps it was some sort of microwave projector bar hidden under the road.
- A pair remote-controlled .30 machineguns could pop up from the side of the ambush site [AV 03, Projectile weapon (Scattershot): 08, Ammo: 06, R#03].
- Mines with a relatively weak explosive charge [Bomb: 05] whose main goal was actually to release an invisible, odourless knockout gas [Knockout gas: 13, Invisibility (Visual, Olfactory): 04, Bonus: KO gas attacks BODY/BODY].
- Agents could mop up incapacitated opponents by affixing “brain-wave inhibitors” keeping them stunned.
- The Word’s staff also had special collars that would react immediately if the wearer tried to use a super-power. For instance, electric shocks if the Torch tried to flame on, and a tranquiliser and knockout drug if the Thing exerted himself.
- The security staff were humanoid robots with the stats of basic soldiers and carrying laser carbines [BODY 01, Laser beam: 06, R#05].
Game Stats — DC Adventures RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Word — Averaged PL 3
| STR | STA | AGL | DEX | FGT | INT | AWE | PRE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 01 | 00 | 00 | 01 | 04 | 01 | 04 |
Combat Advantages
Close attack 1, Defensive Roll 1.
Other Advantages
Benefit 3 (Millionaire), Fascinate (Persuasion), Inspire, Leadership.
Skills
Athletics 1 (+2), Deception 6 (+10), Expertise (Cult leader) 7 (+10), Expertise (English language) 11 (+15), Insight 6 (+7), Intimidation 2 (+6), Perception 3 (+4), Persuasion 7 (+11), Treatment 6 (+9) (Limited 1 to Provide care, Revive and Treat P&D) (Quirk – the patient must be able to understand the Word’s words).
Offense
| Initiative +0 |
| Unarmed +2, Close, Damage 1 |
Defense
| Dodge | 1 | Fortitude | 2 |
| Parry | 2 | Toughness | 1/1* |
| Will | 5 |
* Without Defensive Roll
Complications
- Relationship Dearly loves his daughter Ultima.
Power levels
- Trade-off areas Attack/Effect PL 2, Dodge/Toughness PL 2, Parry/Toughness PL 2, Fort/Will PL 4.
- Point total 61. Abilities 24, Defences 6, Skills 23, Powers 0, Devices 0, Advantages 8. Equiv. PL 5.
King of his castle
When the Thing and the Torch came to the Word’s then-current estate, they were met by sophisticated defences:
- The entire estate was apparently under high-quality video surveillance.
- An unrevealed system blew up the gas tank of the FF’s car. Perhaps it was some sort of microwave projector bar hidden under the road.
- A pair remote-controlled .30 machineguns could pop up from the side of the ambush side [Offence bonus +1, Ranged Ballistic Multiattack Damage 7].
- Mines with a relatively weak explosive charge [Burst-Area Explosive Damage 4] whose main goal was actually to release an invisible, odourless knockout gas [Affliction: 13, Subtle, Fatigued/Exhausted/Incapacitated resisted by Fortitude].
- Agents could mop up incapacitated opponents by affixing “brain-wave inhibitors” keeping them stunned.
- The Word’s staff also had special collars that would react immediately if the wearer tried to use a super-power. For instance, electric shocks if the Torch tried to flame on, and a tranquiliser and knockout drug if the Thing exerted himself.
- The security staff were humanoid robots with the stats of basic soldiers and carrying laser carbines [Ranged Laser Damage 5, Quirk (Easily disabled by abuse)].
Helper(s): John Colagioia.
Source of Character: Marvel Universe (mostly 1980 Savage She-Hulk v1 issues).