Sparks
| Strength 5d |
Agility 5d |
Intellect 5c |
Willpower 7d |
| Hand Size: Edge: |
3 (17) 1 |
Powers:
(none)
Equipment:
Communications Gear (i): from cellular telephones to advanced, independent radio rigs, Alex is usually armed with at least one communications device at all times. He can normally use this gear to talk with others within a 100 mile range (intensity 6 range).
Helmet (s): though he wasn't 'in the field' very much, Alex could nonetheless find himself there to deliver a message of extreme import. As such, he carried a helmet that provided him +2 protection from non-face physical attacks that strike him in the head.
Knife (s): similarly, as a Joe, Alex has always had to carry a knife on his person, should he need to cut something - or someone, assuming all else went wrong. This knife is of m.s. 12, and can be used to inflict +2 lethal damage in melee.
Semi-Automatic Pistol (a): Alex always carries a piece on him, even when he's just acting as a liaison between the Joe leadership and the rest of the military. He can fire a single shot from this weapon to inflict his Agility +4 damage, +5 in a semi-auto spread.
Hindrances:
(none)
Skills:
Boxing (s): an essential portion of his Army education, this skill explains Alex's ability to defend himself should he find himself otherwise unarmed. In such melee, he may divide his pre-cardplay action score between two attacks, the last being a contingent action.
Espionage (i): his secondary military specialty, this skill describes Alex's ability to act covertly, particularly in the area of communications; he's able to pass messages in secret over electronic mediums with ease, and does so at a reduced difficulty.
Languages / English, French, German, and Spanish (i): augmenting his role as a communications specialist, Alex can speak in several languages. He can read and write fluently in these four tongues, in addition to several additional, 'Slavic' languages.
Marksmanship (a): another essential portion of his military training, this skill showcases Alex's ability to fire a gun to defend himself or his country. He may fire standard, semi-automatic or fully automatic rifles or pistols at one difficulty lower than is normally necessary.
Military / United States (w): the source of all his other talents, this skill denotes Alex's origins and career all in one. It denotes his inherent understanding of military protocols and procedures, and ability to lead fighting men into battle in a pinch.
Calling:
Soldier: Alex joined the military in order to do right by his country, and has done rather well in this regard. He seems more than happy to do his part and be a team player, to be the grease that helps his unit function more smoothly through thick and thin.
Costume:
While on duty, Alex typically wears a tan colored, long sleeved shirt, brown trousers, brown leather gloves, black leather boots, a tan colored helmet, a green leather belt, and green webbing to hold his 'combat' gear. Outside of field duty, he typically wears standard Army dress.
Personality:
Alex is an eager, patriotic fellow who is more than happy to lend his considerable skills in communications (both electronic and otherwise) to the never-ending fight for freedom. Though not always field-active, he definitely does his part to keep the Joes in operation.
Real Name: Alex Verdi, Grade E-5
Occupation: Gi Joe Telecommunications Operator, Liaison
Legal Status: citizen of the United States with no known criminal record
Marital Status: single
Alias(es), if any: none
Group Affiliation: Gi Joe
Height: 5' 10"
Hair: black
Eyes: brown
Weight: 175 lbs
Other Distinguishing Characteristics: none
Story:
Alex was an up and coming communications expert when he was tapped by General Flagg to be his personal assistant; of course, the General was in the process of assembling a top notch team of highly trained military men and women to found Special Counter-Terrorist Group Delta.
Otherwise known as the Gi Joe team, this group would go on to become the nation's principal defense against Cobra, a ruthless terrorist organization determined to rule the world - and Alex had a considerable role in finding exceptional troops to fill its ranks.
Once the team was up and running, Alex continued to act as a liaison between General Flagg and the rest of the conventional armed forces, performing various comm duties for both the General and the team - at least until General Flagg's death at Major Bludd's hands.
Soon after, Alex sort of drifted out of the military for a time, concentrating on work in the private sector - at least until he was asked to rejoin the Joes by General Colton. Having enjoyed his role in the Joe team, Alex was more than happy to take him up on this offer.
Alex served as the General's assistant for years, particularly after General Hawk himself was paralyzed in battle with Zartan (who was, at the time, posing as Cobra Commander). He even served a pivotal role in the operation of the Joe team's final base, the Rock.
It was here that Alex had his shot at heroism, when shortly after Cobra staged a daring attack on the facility, they instigated none other than World War III - their ultimate gambit to conquer the world in one fell swoop... and they almost managed it.
However, thanks to Alex's incredible comm skills, the Joe team was able to pull itself together and rally itself for a final strike against their long-standing enemies... defeating them at the last minute and saving the world from a nuclear Armageddon.
Of course, with Cobra defeated and its Commander in jail, Alex didn't retire from the Gi Joe team again, oh no. Though victorious, the Joes were now turned to the task of keeping the world in one piece as it tried to rebuild from the vast damage Cobra had inflicted.
And naturally, with a whole lot of Cobra's operatives at large after their ultimate defeat, this could take quite some time...
Extra Goodies:
Gi Joe directories featuring a version of Sparks:
| 1982 |
Note: Sparks was featured a few times in the Joe cartoon, and later in the Joe comic but never received an action figure - not counting the 2007 'convention' figure.