Backblast

F Gd 10

A Gd 10

S Gd 10

E Ex 20

R Gd 10

I Gd 10

P Ex 20

Res Gd 10

Pop Sh 0

Health: Karma:

50 40

Origin:

As are most of the Joes, Backblast is naught but a normal human, lacking special powers of any kind. However, he does have access to a wide variety of government-issue hardware, some of which is rather advanced, so he could be considered a high tech kind of hero.

Known Powers:

(none)

Equipment:

Anti-aircraft Launcher: Backblast's primary combat implement is a large launcher which he can use to target and destroy aircraft. This shoulder-mounted system is loaded with three projectiles in total, each of which perform as is listed here:

C Ex 20

S Un 100

B Ex 20

Damage Incredible (40) Edged Attack (fragmentary)

Arctic Gear: while on the Winter Operations team, Backblast wears an insulated, fur-lined winter coat, face protection (goggles and/or a frost-free face mask), his helmet (of course), insulated boots (with crampons), insulated trousers, and if without a vehicle, skis and ski poles.

Helmet: working with high explosives for a living, Backblast naturally wears this head gear whenever he's in the field. Made from Good (10) m.s. materials, the helmet provides him like protection against physical attacks that strike him in the head (save for in the face).

Knife: handy should he need to chop something up in the field, Backblast always carries this blade in an arm holster. Made from Incredible (40) m.s. materials, he can use it to cut through like materials (given enough time), and to also inflict Edged Attack damage in melee.

Semi-automatic Pistol: in the event that he has to deal with troops instead of heavily armed gunships or fighter jets, Backblast keeps this weapon handy, on a boot holster. He can fire it to inflict Typical (6) Shooting damage in a single shot, +1 CS in a semi-auto burst.

Submachine Gun: while he prefers his mega-blast anti-aircraft weapon against larger targets, this isn't always practical (if, say, he runs out of ammunition). In such instances Backblast fires this weapon to inflict Good (10) Shooting damage in a short burst, +1 CS fully automatic.

Quirks:

(none)

Talents:

Electronics: though he doesn't get to use it often, Backblast's second military specialty involves the operation and upkeep of communications gear. As such, Backblast has been trained to understand military-spec electronics, and may work on them at his Rsn score +1 CS.

Guns: a vital skill everyone picks up in this man's modern military, Backblast is well versed in the art of gunplay. Whether he carries a standard, semi-automatic or fully automatic rifle or pistol, Backblast may wield it as if his Agy was +1 CS higher than is listed above.

Martial Arts type B: though he'd prefer to fight with his hardware, Backblast has the ability to do without when the situation arises. Whenever he finds himself without weapons, Backblast may punch, kick, or engage in any other unarmed melee attack at his Ftg rank +1 CS.

Marksman: his primary military specialty, Backblast is well versed in the use of most heavy ordnance. Whether wielding a mortar or his anti-aircraft missile system, Backblast may ignore range penalties, and wields such weapons as if his Agy was +1 CS higher in rank.

Military / United States: the source of all his marketable skills, this talent serves as an origin of sorts for Backblast. It reflects his knowledge of the Standard Operating Procedure, as well as his inherent ability to fight in almost any combat unit if necessary.

Contacts:

As a member of the Gi Joe team, Backblast can readily rely upon his allies in the never-ending war against Cobra's terrorism for aid should he but ask. Of course, he has several additional military style contacts above and beyond the Gi Joe team as well.

Costume:

Backblast's fourth Gi Joe uniform is designed with cold weather in mind. It includes a black and orange padded jacket, white trousers, black and orange leather gloves, black leather boots, a black leather belt and leg holster, a silver bandoiler, and a black, high tech helmet.

Personality:

Edward has nerves of steel and a bone to pick with most anything airborne. He's smart and aggressive, and is more than happy to do his job under the most adverse of conditions - after all, his job involves blowing up aircraft, and he enjoys smacking them down hard...

Real Name: Edward J. Menninger, Grade E-5
Occupation: air defense artillery, signal corpsman
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: 6'
Hair: brown
Eyes: brown
Weight: 200 lbs
Other Distinguishing Characteristics: Backblast wears a thick moustache most of the time.

Story:

The man who would grow up to become Backblast, Edward J. Menninger, grew up near the largest airport in the world. A New York City boy, you'd think he'd be used to a lot of racket throughout his daily life, but being under the landing path of jumbo jets can be rattling.

Their intense lights blaring through his window, the vibrations caused by their passage literally rattling things off of his furniture. It had an affect on Backblast - a bad one. When he enlisted in the Army, the first thing he asked was where he could go to shoot airplanes down.

Sure enough, his recruiter pointed him in the direction of air defense, and Edward has excelled with a level of ability that borders on the gleeful. He likes nothing more than grounding some obnoxious metal thing streaking through the air above him, or as it turns out, shooting at him.

Backblast proved good enough at his job that the Gi Joe team, which has an eye out for such single-minded military men and women, scooped him up. Once he'd made it through the horrific Gi Joe entrance exam, Backblast was an official member of the team, and put to work right away.

His very first mission saw Backblast in Sierra Gordo on a mission to rescue several Joes and members of the Oktober Guard who'd been captured there. In the field he proved his skills by downing a Cobra Condor, a powerful new bomber jet, that was dogging him and his teammates.

After this, Backblast was seen in several additional, major Gi Joe operations, such as the battle of Benzheen, where he was seen working with Rampart to provide cover to a covert mission launched by the Joes once hostilities had stopped, and Cobra supposedly pulled out.

Backblast continued on as a Joe until the group was disbanded for a time in '94. What he did after this time is unknown, but when the Gi Joe team was called in to intervene in the second Cobra Island Civil War, Backblast was ready and able to come to the aid of his former teammates.

He's been with the team on and off ever since, helping them out on major operations, up to and including World War III itself, which Cobra instigated to take over the entire planet once and for all! With the failure of this scheme, it falls upon the Joes to bring Cobra to justice.

And Backblast is there along with his fellows to finish the deed - after all, their aircraft are so pretty when he reduces them to burning hulks on the ground...

Extra Goodies:

Gi Joe directories featuring a version of Backblast:

1989

1993

2004

2005