JUSTICE LEAGUE BEYOND

A Campaign Guide to Role-playing in the DC Universe of the Year 2035

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HOW TO USE THIS BIBLE This series bible is intended to serve as a guide for players in Justice League Beyond. It contains basic facts about the game world, both general DC Universe information and data specific to the era of 2035 where the series commences. Players should give this book at least a quick read-through to familiarise themselves with the premise and to allow them to generate characters which will fit the setting. Hopefully, this will allow everyone to enjoy a good game experience.

PREMISE OF THE GAME The game is set in the DC Universe in the year 2035 – the same world where superheroes such as Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman have adventured in published comics since the 1930s. In the mid twenty-first century most of that old guard of superheroes have retired due to old age and a change of public attitudes to them following a metahuman-initiated third world war. However, a new generation of heroes has appeared in the last year or two, and recently they banded together as their predecessors did to pool their resources and fight for a better tomorrow together. The core tone is that “This is a dark future… but the new generation of heroes have the power to change that”. The world of 2035 has a bleaker, harder edge to it with some cyberpunk tropes on top of the traditional comic book ones – international megacorps with enormous power and corrupt executives, genetic engineering and cybernetics as a new form of body modification and hover-cars blasting past steel skyscrapers in urban sprawls. Despite that, though, the Justice League still represents optimism and the hope of the new generation to fix the world of the past. The world is broken now… but in play, maybe it can be fixed.

…AND THE GOTHAM KNIGHTS CRUSHED THE TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS AT THE WAYNE-POWERS STADUM tonight, winning 10-3. WAyne-Powers CEO DEREK POWERS WAS IN THE AUDIENCE AND HE DISMISSED RUMOURS THAT COMPANY PRESIDENT BRUCE WAYNE’s Public support for the new Justice league was causing any friction in the boardroom.

A RECENT Opinion poll suggests that support for the “Justice league International” IS GROWING FOLLOWING THE WHITE MARTIAN INCIDENT, With 34% of PEOPLE NOW SAYING THEY FEEL SAFER WITH The METAHUMAN TEAM BACK IN ACTION. We ASKED President Luthor WHAT SHE MADE OF THIS RESURGANCE AND SHE SAID: “NO-ONE DOUBTS HOW MUCH GOOD SUPERMAN SECUNDUS HAS DONE THIS COUNTRY, but the freedom of powers act was passed in the UN by an overwhelming international mandate for a reason. THIS ACT OF SUPPOSED “heroism” has good intentions but alarms many all over the world”

PRESIDENT LUTHOR’S COMMENTS MAY BE RELATED TO THE NEWS THAT RUSSIA, WITH SUPPORT FROM TECHNOLOGY PROVIDED BY CHINA AND THE GREAT TEN, HAVE REACTIVATED THE EIGHTIES ROCKET RED BRIGADE PROGRAM, POSSIBLY THE START OF A NEW ARMS RACE….

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INSPIRATION & INFLUENCES The following films, TV series and books are worth consulting as inspirations and influences for the DC Universe of the year 2035: Films

• Akira (This was major influence on Batman Beyond’s look & has a plot with themes of rebellious youth and a secret locked up by the previous generation)

• Blade Runner (The famous aesthetic of this film is a good basis for 2035 Gotham) • Watchmen (A faithful adaptation of the 1985 comic book series whose plot plays

with the idea of superhero legacies and what they do to the world) TV

• Batman Beyond (The primary basis for the setting in this booklet and perhaps the darkest and most stylised of the DC Universe cartoon shows ever presented.)

• Batman: The Animated Series (The classic, Emmy award winning 90s Batman cartoon, following from Tim Burton’s movie and not always very kid-friendly.)

• Batman: The Brave & The Bold (Much more 60s and gonzo in style, this recent Batman cartoon shows regular crossovers from across the DC Universe.)

• Justice League / Justice League Unlimited (Both shows feature the same Justice League in action, a great example of the many adventures awaiting a new JLA.)

Comics

• 52 (A 52-issue series collected in four hardbacks in which Superman, Batman & Wonder Woman do not appear, it shows that “B-Listers” can be heroes too.)

• Earth X (A future history of the Marvel Universe, this series gives some clues on how to play inheritors of superhero titles and a broken-down society)

• JLA (In particular the Grant Morrison penned issues, now in hardcover, reunite the Classic Seven of the JLA in world-shattering super-heroic romps)

• Kingdom Come (The DC universe future history comic par excellence, with beautiful painted artwork and a plot where the Big Three aren’t on the same side)

GAME SYSTEM The game will be running using DC Adventures: a game based on the third edition of the Mutants & Masterminds role-playing game. Related to the D20 system, the key differences in play are that all dice rolls in this game are determined through a twenty sided dice (including damage etc) and no hit points or the like are tracked, with all damage being handled through a saving throw mechanic. Starting characters are Power Level 11 with 165 power points to spend. Many pre-generated characters will be provided, but players are welcome to create their own: speak to your GM to make the appropriate arrangements.

…PRESIDENT MARI MCCABE OF ZAMBESI, WHO SERVED WITH THE JUSTICE LEAGUE IN THE EARLY NINETIES AS “VIXEN”, HAS APPEARED AT A CEREMONY TO THANK SOUTH AFRICAN HERO SATURN GIRL. THANKS TO HER TELEPATHIC WARNING, President MCCabe DODGED A SNIPER…

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THE JUSTICE LEAGUE Originally founded in 1988, the Justice League was a union of the seven most high-profile heroes of the era: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman and Martian Manhunter. Following from the example of the 1940s Justice Society the group pledged to unite together against threats too big for them to battle alone. Now reformed and operating out of a new orbiting satellite funded with the aid of companies such as Wayne-Powers and Adani Energies, the new Justice League International aim to follow the same example. Based out of a satellite in Earth orbit, the heroes that make up the League operate individually but pool together when aid is requested. At any given time, at least one or two members of the Justice League can be found on their satellite, monitoring global communications systems and Interpol records in what is known as “Monitor Duty”. A task rotated through the members equally and considered a dull chore by most, the JLI member on Monitor Duty must notify active members when they detect an emergency or situation that would benefit from JLI intervention. The head of the Justice League is the Chairperson, a position voted on by the members. The current acting Chairperson is Superman Secundus but a full vote for the role will be held shortly, and in theory will be held at least annually. The Chairperson’s role is partly a figurehead one, acting as the public face of the league, but in the absence of a better qualified member they are the default field leader for all JLI activity.

THE JUSTICE LEAGUE SATELLITE Following the impersonation by a White Martian of a returned Superman and the framing of Justice League members as criminals, the previous Justice League satellite was destroyed by missile strike on the order of President Luthor. The first order of business for the new JLI, then, was the building of a new base. With the help of their super-powers and money from major backers, including corporate and governmental funding from around the world, a new satellite has been assembled. In low Earth orbit, the satellite features some of the cutting edge technology pioneered by STAR Labs, Professor Quantum and the companies from the “Avenue of Tomorrow”: anti-gravity plating, teleportation to and from any point on Earth visible from orbit, a specially built med-bay to deal with non-human medical emergencies and even an on-board salt-water pool for Atlantean visitors. The satellite includes some basic weaponry which the JLI insist is principally for space-based defence – but the presence of extra-national orbital weaponry is a sore point for many governments, including the United States of America.

…”FETISH” THE NEW FRAGRANCE BY SHINY HAPPY AQUAZON, IS TAKING THE HIGH STREETS OF JAPAN BY STORM. WE ASKED KEYSTONE CITY IF THEY’D BUY AN KID FLASH PEFRUME…

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SUPERMAN SECUNDUS Superman Secundus is an oddity in that he is a hero who has been active constantly for a decade, despite the harsh anti-vigilante laws and international metahuman treaties which forced many of the old guard into retirement. The son of Superman, one of the few heroes to still have a positive reputation after World War III, Superman Secundus is also regarded positively but has mainly focused on helping disaster victims than chasing super-villains. He is a founding member of the new JLI, a great boon to its popularity.

Superman Secundus replaced his father when he left Earth to chase a super-villain who had attacked the Daily Planet offices and killed several major reporters, including Pulitzer Prize winner Lois Lane. Despite the name, he does not mimic his father’s costume or even hugely resemble him. He has darker features and wears a goatee, often with a shaved head or short cut. His outfits, in either blue/white or black/white, have no cape but a stylized “S” diamond in the chest identifies his lineage.

Possessing the level of strength his father had when he first started out, Superman Secundus is a powerful character. However, at the start of the campaign he will principally be a background NPC rather than a PC. For all his many powers, there will always be a need for him to save lives elsewhere and players will be unable to rely on his aid and are unlikely to be eclipsed by him – if anything, he serves as a target for the villain of the week to slap about just to prove how powerful they are.

PRESIDENT LENA LUTHOR Lena Lutessa Luthor is the 49th President of the United States of America and currently in the third year of her first term. A Republican with a strong belief in conservative monetary policy and elected on a mandate which included removing the last vestiges of reliance on fossil fuels, her popularity figures are down on her initial post-election euphoria but remain comparatively high.

Aged forty-two, Lena Luthor is the daughter of the deceased LexCorp founder and super-villain Alexander “Lex” Luthor. Raised by her mother, an Italian contessa who was married to Lex briefly in the nineties, Lena clearly resembles her father with her green eyes and red hair. She gave up her training as a barrister to take over LexCorp following her father’s death, saving it from bankruptcy due to the association with a wanted fugitive. Lena’s eventual move into politics became a major talking point - divisive enough for her to be compared to Ronald Reagan or Hilary Clinton.

The issue of her parentage cannot be avoided in any political discussion, and while most people will admit it is unfair to hold someone accountable for their parent’s sins (especially when they were not even raised by the parent in question) the name “Luthor” cannot be discussed about Superman’s arch-nemesis coming up. The decision to keep her father’s surname and not to rebrand LexCorp is considered by a loud minority as a worrying message – that she is somehow proud of a man who said Genghis Khan, Attila The Hun and Adolf Hitler were his role models. Lena is always clear that she does not condone her father’s criminal acts, but for some that just isn’t enough.

…PROFESSOR QUANTUM HAS ANNOUNCED A SUCCESSFUL TRIP BY A MONKEY IN AND AOUT OF THE SO-CALLED “BIZARRO WORLD”. SPEAKING FROM HIS LABORATORY ON THE MOON….

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THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA The America of the DC Universe is not the same as our real world one - especially with the date advanced to 2035. The following paragraphs outline some facts about the major cities of President Luthor's America, especially those with a connection to a major superhero. (Note that several fictional cities exist in the DC Universe alongside the real-world population centres.) Blüdhaven, NJ: Once a whaling town and Gotham's even seedier neighbour, Blüdhaven was lost when it suffered chemical attack and nuclear disaster during the chaos of World War III. Walled off for three decades, resettlement long since been scrapped and now it serves as a secure dumping ground for America's toxic waste. Blüdhaven survivors remain bitter about their treatment by the government and the refugee camps once erected outside the walls remain an infamous part of recent history. Central City, MO: Across the river (and the state line) from Keystone City, Central City is a fast-paced place where no-one seems to have time to stop. It's also home to one of the few superheroes to have remained active over the past few decades, The Flash - and while he's rarely properly seen or interviewed, an red fog-like blur to Central City's streets marks when he's on patrols. While they may not like other vigilantes, The Flash has been part of Central City for decades and no Washington laws will change that. Coast City, CA: Once a west coast city home to five million people and Earth's Green Lantern, Coast City was destroyed by the alien invasion force of Mongul in 1997. Though a rebuilding project eventually took place the city remains associated with that tragedy and few people have moved into the shining new steel buildings of what has become nicknamed "Ghost City". The recent opening of Blackhawk Air Force Base and the new AeroFerris plant is considered the last chance at saving this city's fortunes. Keystone City, KA: Still the industrial heartland of the country, if you own an American car it probably came off the assembly lines in Keystone City. The twin city of Central City, Keystone is known as an old-fashioned place with conservative values and twee morality. It is home to The Flash Museum, dedicated to the many heroes who protected the two cities under the name - and unlike most of America, Keystone City still has love superheroes and pines for the good ol' days of truth, justice and the American way. Gotham City, NJ: Once America's prime vacation city in the 1930s, when Gotham's bubble burst it left behind a legacy of disused amusement parks and shady slums. The gothic architecture may be mostly replaced by steel and glass skyscrapers following WWIII but the city is no less imposing than it once was and the famous Sentinel of Justice statue still stands watch over a Gotham where gangs, drugs and prostitution run rampant. Wayne-Powers is headquartered here and is one of the world's biggest megacorps, growing from the already admirable Wayne Industries into a global powerhouse following purchase by billionaire Derek Powers. Metropolis, DE: Famous across the globe, Metropolis is one of the most rich, populous and influential cities in the world. The headquarters of LexCorp and many other technology companies are on the "Avenue of Tomorrow" but far and away the city is most famous for Superman, who adopted this city as his home. The crown jewel of the east, Metropolis is seen by many as the place where the American Dream will never die.

…CAROL FERRIS ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT AEROFERRIS IS COMMITED TO STAYING IN COAST CITY IN AN INTERVIEW PRINTED IN THE DAILY PLANET. ORIGINALLY NAMED FERRIS AIRCRAFT AND FOUNDED IN COAST CITY IN THE 1950s, MRS FERRIS SAID “I BELIEVE IN COAST CITY”…

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THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA New York, NY: Sometimes called "the Cinderella City" for being overshadowed by the two ugly sisters of Metropolis and Gotham, New York is a major city in this universe but is not the major one. It is still one of the most populated cities on Earth and the home of the American financial sector. The UN headquarters are located here and from here Checkmate, the UNs international metahuman policing organisation, receive their orders - though the actual operations headquarters are at a top secret location. Washington, DC: The seat of the American government, Washington is the administrative heart of the country. Here the remaining government-sponsored metahuman operatives such as Force of July are headquartered, although President Luthor has cut support for such teams since coming to power. Monuments to heroes both mundane and metahuman can be found here, from the brave soldiers of World War II to the Justice League cemetery plot where heroes such as the 90s Green Lantern and Blue Beetle lie with honour.

THE REST OF THE WORLD While many of the world’s most famous superheroes operated out of America and the Justice League often had “of America” in it’s title, the story of the DC Universe is not just the story of America. Here are details on some of the other countries in the world where heroes and villains may originate from. (Note that, as with the cities, there are several fictional countries in the DC Universe which exist alongside the real-world nations.) Atlantis: A kingdom whose underwater capital Poseidonis claims rule over two thirds of the Earth, Atlantis could be a major power in world politics ( it has a seat on the UN Security Council and is known to exercise it's veto over oceanic policies) but the undersea empire has a somewhat isolationist bent. King Arthur, known to the world as the former superhero Aquaman, seems to want to avoid the surface world as wherever possible and his heir apparent Prince Garth shows no sign of changing that approach. For now, Atlantis is a sleeping giant that the world must remember is mighty if roused. China: One of the most powerful nations on the planet, China's influence only grew when Russia went back to a "Communist-lite" government. China is guarded by the super-functionaries (a more Communist-friendly term than the grandiose 'superhero') of the Great Ten, led by the metal-skinned August-General-In-Irons and including members such as Ghost Fox Killer and Celestial Archer and based out of the Great Wall - though the bureaucracy of the Communist party holds as much sway over them as justice does. India: Once viewed as a developing country, India is now a major economic force – especially in the area of alternative energy, with companies like Adani Energies spending millions on fission and fusion power as well as “quantum tunnelling” which could do away with the need for power lines. India is unpopular with the western, Muslim neighbouring countries because it moved heavily into Pakistan after the government there collapsed in the chaos of World War III. This makes it a regular target for Islamic terrorists, including metahuman ones, but the police and military forces there have allies in the form of heroes like the power-suited protector Steel Shiva.

…THE ORIGINAL FIVE PERMENANT MEMBERS OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL WAS EXPANDED TO NINE IN 2007. THEY ARE HELD BY: ATLANTIS, BRAZIL, CHINA, FRANCE, INDIA, RUSSIA, SOUTH AFRICA, THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THE FRENCH AND UK SEATS HAVE BEEN INCREASINGLY QUESTIONED IN RECENT YEARS…

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THE REST OF THE WORLD Kahndaq: Formerly ruled by the metahuman Black Adam, who had been king once before in the age of the pharaohs and deposed the then-dominant military dictatorship in 2003 to enormous public support, Kahndaq started World War III when Black Adam retaliated to the assassination of his wife and adoptive son by destroying the neighbouring country of Bialya, effectively killing the entire population. As with many countries in the Middle East, limited nuclear war ravaged it in the chaos that followed and the country remains a place of much suffering. The capital city of Shiruta has a monument dedicated to Black Adam's "heroism", a highly controversial landmark.

Japan: A long tradition of Japanese superheroes battling distinctly Japanese super-criminals and monsters has continued unabated and, as with many parts of the local culture, Japan expresses itself in unique ways. Big Science Actions' halo-shaped headquarters remain hovering around Mount Fuji but now the superhero-as-pop-star is firmly entrenched in the minds of the populace, with heroes like the Super Young Team paying for their heroics with corporate sponsorship and one of their most feared villains, Sexy Ruby Joker Girl, was the product of a reality television program gone wrong.

The Moon: Professor Quantum’s laboratory is the largest of the buildings built into the surface of Earth’s natural satellite. Technically under UN jurisdiction, Quantum Lab is working on the most cutting edge of science, beyond even the capabilities of STAR Labs. Professor Quantum is a strange figure, rarely interviewed and allegedly from another dimension: he is also a close friend of Superman Secundus and the two have worked together in the past.

Russia: The current government of Russia has very clear Communist undertones, propelled to power by a nationalistic tendency to return to "the good ol' days" - and the complicity of China. While there's no Cold War style rhetoric just yet, the return of the Justice League has seen Russia reactivate the "Rocket Red Brigade" program of power-suit-wearing communist supermen from the eighties and the doomsday clock has taken a step closer to midnight in what many see as a worrying new kind of arms race.

South Africa: The spectre of the long dead Apartheid still hangs over South Africa and Johannesburg remains a city of worrying crime rates, high numbers of HIV sufferers and racial tension... but the Rainbow Nation is much more wealthy and powerful than it once was and now holds a seat on the UN Security Council representing Africa. Viewed by some as the state which must take care of the less organised African nations and lead the way to a democratic, peaceful continent, South Africa has produced only a few costumed heroes but is still vitally important on the world stage.

Themyscria: An island nation that was once home to the immortal Amazons of Greek myth, the people of "Paradise Island" vanished following World War III, leaving it another uninhabited rock in the Mediterranean. The final message from Queen Hippolyta spoke of displeasure at "Man's world" nearly ending the world and the recall of their ambassador, Princess Diana aka Wonder Woman, to join her sisters in departing… somewhere. What exactly happened to the Amazons remains a matter for speculation.

United Kingdom: While gaudy-coloured superheroes are sometimes viewed as an American phenomenon by the populace, there's still a metahuman population in Britain and there's still a superhero tradition which dates itself not to costumed gangster-fighting vigilantes but all the way to medieval magicians and knights. Something of a middle ground between Europe and America's culture, and still resisting full integration with the United States of Europe, the UK's superheroes have never been "world stage" figures but are returning to action locally and may well cross the path of the Justice League or even ask to join.

… IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE, MARTIAN MANHUNTER ECLIPSED SUPERMAN’S FAME…

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The World beyond – Time & Space The previous eras of superheroes saw Earth opened up to other planets, other times and other dimensions. While the ordinary person on the street mostly carries on their life as normal, the adventures of metahumans have opened the doors of human understanding to the world around them. Alien life is proven to exist: indeed, several old Justice League members (including the world-famous Superman and Martian Manhunter) were open about their xeno-origins. Earth is part of a galaxy teeming with life and just one of at least hundreds of sentient humanoids, not to mention more exotic life on the fringes. Galactic civilization is varied but one constant is the Green Lantern Corp, a police force ran from the planet Oa at the hub of the galaxy who claim authority over the whole Milky Way. Splitting the galaxy into 3600 wedge shaped galaxies and assigning two Green Lanterns per sector, the Guardians who run the Corp seek to maintain order and principally charge their officers to investigate extra-planetary affairs. Earth is in Sector 2814 and one of the two current Green Lanterns for that sector is an Earthman – Kai-Ro, a young boy from Tibet. It’s not just science fiction that has become fact, though: so has fantasy. Several metahumans have claimed a magical origin for their powers and the JSA, JLA and others tangled with creatures that claimed to be demons, gods and sorcerers representing every pantheon under the sun. Theologians continue to debate which are truly magical and which are just misrepresented science, but magic is not a force that can be ignored. Lastly, there is the matter of time travel. Heroes have achieved it before, especially The Flash with his “cosmic treadmill”, but the mechanics of how it works (And details of any futures visited) are out of public knowledge. What can be confirmed is that some heroes and villains have claimed to be from the future and none of the others have ever disproved their claims, so most likely they are either all true or all frauds.

The Technology Of 2035 The work of technological superheroes combined with the great techno-corps has seen great leaps and bounds in technology once seen as purely the stuff as science-fiction. Inventions such as Starman’s gravity rod, Steel’s power suit and the Amazonian purple ray have turned into boons for the modern man: whether it’s the hovering vehicles available at the higher end of the automobile scale, the power loader suits used on construction sites or the gene therapies which allow makes 60 years old the new 40. Despite all this, life for a normal citizen of this world is more or less the same as that of a modern day one. There are several small colonies located on the Moon, including Professor Quantum’s world-famous lab – but almost every human alive still reside on the planet Earth. Urbanization has continued apace and most of the population live in the high-rise megalopolis blocks, but there remain more rural areas for food production.

…ADANI ENERGIES, ONE OF INDIA’S WEALTHIEST COMPANIES, HAS HAD TO SPEND MILLIONS ON THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY RIOTS ATTACK ON THEIR NEW DEHLI POWER PLANT LAST WEEK…

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JUSTICE LEAGUE MEMBERSHIP The following is a list of the membership of the Justice League as per the pilot adventure. These characters are available as pre-generated PCs as well as serving as background NPCs when required. Players should feel free to expand on these characters as required or ignore them if wished. Adding a new member to the Justice League is easily arranged – if you wish to generate your own superhero, don’t let this list put you off!

A Animal Woman

Real Name: Maxine Baker Powers: Duplication of powers of any animal on the planet

Aquagirl Real Name: Marina

Powers: Aquatic Adaptation; telepathic control of marine life; superhuman strength.

Batman Real Name: Terry McGinnis Powers: High-tech battle suit including flight, super-strength and invisibility; skilled martial artist.

Detective Chimp L

Real Name: Bobo T. Chimpanzee Powers: Can speak to all animals; Genius human

level intellect; Chimpanzee-level strength

S Foundry Real Name: Foundry of New Genesis Powers: Genius level intellect with focus on engineering with minimal tools; superhuman resistance to fire; immortality; “Mother Box“ sentient computer/teleportation device; “Giga Rod” weapon; “Aero-Disks” flight tool

Green Lantern g Real Name: Kai-Ro

Powers: Willpower-fuelled power ring; peak human mental conditioning.

e Kid Flash Real Name: Iris West-Park Powers: Super speed augmented by the extra-dimensional Speed Force

…THE NEW ARKHAM ASYLUM MUST BATTLE THE LEGACY OF THE ORIGINAL AND OF THE JOKER’S ESCAPES FROM THERE…

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JUSTICE LEAGUE MEMBERSHIP

Resurrection Man J Real Name: Mitchell "Mitch" Shelley

Powers: Immortality via resurrection; one additional superpower which changes with every resurrection.

g Das Ritter Von Nacht Real Name: Franz Kayßler Powers: High human strength, agility, athleticism and peak conditioning; skilled hand-to-hand combatant including mastery of Muay Thai and Capoeira; excellent stealth & observation Skills; gadgets.

Robotman , Real Name: Clifford “Cliff” Steele

Powers: Human mind downloaded into robot body with superhuman strength and endurance; in-built

ranged weaponry, radio and data transfer systems.

Saturn Girl Real Name: Baleka Hawran Powers: Telepathy; extra-sensory perception; precognition

Steel Shiva E Real Name: Akshay Adani

Powers: Genius-level intellect with focus on computer programming & engineering; eight-

armed power suit granting superhuman strength and endurance as well as inbuilt ranged weaponry.

k Superman Secundus Real Name: Christopher Kent Powers: Superhuman strength, speed, stamina, invulnerability and senses; super breath, heat vision; x-ray vision; flight

Zachary Zatara

Real Name: Zachary Zatara-Constantine Powers: Skilled and powerful user of magic, often

activated by speaking commands backwards.

…THE 10th ANNIVERSARY OF SUPERMAN’S DEPARTURE APPROACHES AND STILL HE’S M.I.A.…

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OTHER RELEVANT GROUPS The Justice League was the most high-profile of metahuman teams and their reforming has been a huge news event. However, just because superheroes have been more controlled in the past thirty years does not been they have been absent. The following are metahumans and related groups that were already active when the JLI reformed. Checkmate: A UN funded espionage agency with a special remit for policing metahuman activity and breaches of the Freedom Of Power Treaty, Checkmate operatives have codenames based on a chess piece motif and are divided between White and Black operatives; overt and covert operatives. They have access to anti-metahuman equipment as well as several metahuman operatives of their own. The Daily Planet: A great metropolitan newspaper which has survived the information age where other papers have collapsed, the Daily Planet is still Metropolis’ most prestigious broadsheet and one of the world’s most respected newspapers. Current editor Jimmy Olsen continues the work of his predecessor Perry White in challenging corruption and questioning authority regardless of commercial influences. The Flash: There have been many super-speedster heroes to go by the name The Flash; a 1940s one who was a member of the Justice Society, a 1980s one who gave his life in the battle against the Anti-Monitor and a 1990s one who continues to operate to this day. His presence in Central City is more ethereal than before – a red blur that disarms muggers, ties up bank robbers and makes drug deliveries vanish. The Justice League member Kid Flash claims to be his daughter. Force of July: The most high profile of the US Government's sponsored metahuman teams, the Force of July contains operatives with an American patriotic theme such as Lady Liberty, American Eagle and the robotic trio of Red, White and Blue. Once a valuable PR tool, such teams have fallen out of favour since the election of President Luthor and have seen heavy cuts in their funding - but Force of July remains on the US Military's payroll. The Great Ten: A team of communist “super-functionaries” under the command of the Chinese communist party, The Great Ten have principally operated within their national borders or alongside Chinese military operations. August-General-In-Irons is known for being a somewhat curt commander, and their connection to the country’s hierarchy makes them unpopular in many parts of the world as the stooges of dictators... but they are considered great heroes by the Chinese populace. Super Young Team: Treated somewhere between a superhero team and a boy band, the Super Young Team are a group of five young Japanese superheroes who are as likely to break up a bank robbery as they are to appear on a Soder-Cola commercial. Their members are well known by the 8-21 Japanese Demographic - Most Excellent Super Bat regularly posts updates on Twitterati, Big Atomic Lantern Boy is the face of an anti-bullying charity and Shy Lolita Canary has a single out. To the rest of the world, though, the Super Young Team is viewed the same way they view Japan’s game shows – a cultural oddity which doesn’t seem to translate well.

…WE ALL KNOW ”SCHWAY” MEANS SOMETHING IS GOOD, BUT THE SLANG OF KIDS TODAY IS CHANGING IN REACTION TO THE RETURN OF THE SUPERHEROES. “P.J.’s” IS THE NEW SLANG PHRASE TO DESCRIBE A COSTUMED HERO, REPLACING THE “CAPES” OF THE EIGHTIES AND THE “MASKS” OF THE FOURTIES. BUTDOES IT HINT THAT THE NEXT GENERATION AREN’T TAKING METAHUMAN ACTIVITY SERIOUSLY ENOUGH? JOINING us TONIGHT ON W.P.N.N. ARE…

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ACTIVE METAHUMAN CRIMINALS The following is a list of just some of the active metahuman criminals in the year 2035. Many more are present, including some who principally operate out of specific cities and countries- and of course many more will be introduced over the course of the campaign.

Amon Sur Real Name: Amon Sur

Powers: Fear-fuelled power ring; peak Ungaran mental conditioning.

Further Information: Son of the former Green Lantern of Space Sector 2814, Amon Sur saw inheriting the ring as his birthright only to be humbled when it was instead given to an Earthman, Hal Jordan. Enraged, Amon Sur instead sided with the Sinestro Corp, the fear-powered enemies of the Green Lantern Corp founded by ex-Lantern Sinestro. He is still seeking vengeance against Earth.

Doc Otaku Real Name: Solo Takashi

Powers: Genius-level intellect with focus on robotics.

Further Information: Having inherited a controlling share in the Takashi megacorp and thusly possessing huge

sums of money and legal protection as one of Japan’s oligarchs, “Doc Otaku” is a criminal driven mostly by boredom and chances to push his mind to the limits,

seeking thrills alongside his ever-attentive Angel Androids in their Japanese schoolgirl outfits.

Inque Real Name: Inque Clay

Powers: Shape-shifting, liquefaction, strength

Further Information: One of Interpol’s most wanted criminals, Inque is a master thief whose unique physiology makes capture & containment difficult. Sighted several times recently in Gotham carrying out industrial sabotage, she has become a thorn in the side of the latest Batman.

Mirror Master Real Name: Evan McCulloch

Powers: Various powers over mirrors, including the ability to travel through them and trap others within them.

Further Information: Once a member of the Rogues, a group of villains who terrorised Central City and The Flash, McCulloch now serves as a much more backroom threat. His

fingers are said to be in many of the criminal enterprises of the Central/Keystone area but without his gaudy suit on, making charges stick has been substantially harder.

…ANOTHER RULING ON SPLICING WAS MADE TODAY, THIS TIME IN NEW JERSEY. JUDGE TIMM OF GOTHAM CITY RULED THAT GENETIC MODIFICATIONS WHICH ADDED TEETH, CLAWS OR OTHER DEADLY WEAPONS WAS NOT PROTECTED FREE SPEECH . LAWYER BARRY DUNN SAID THAT HIS CLIENT WOULD APPEAL AND THAT SPLICING WAS NO DIFFERENT FROM GETTING A TATTOO…

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ACTIVE METAHUMAN CRIMINALS

Rani Rakshasi Real Name: Unknown

Powers: Powerful charisma; army of fanatical followers; mastery of magical powers, including demon summoning.

Further Information: A major thorn in the side of the Indian police and of Steel Shiva, Rani Rakshasi heads a cult of mindless thralls who would do anything to expand her grip and put her and her dark servants in charge of the region and, one day, the world.

Recon Real Name: Unknown

Powers: High human strength, agility, athleticism and peak conditioning; skilled hand-to-hand combatant including mastery of

Krav Maga; excellent stealth & observation Skills

Further Information: A South African mercenary offering her services to the highest bidder with no questions asked, Recon is wanted in connection with several high-profile crimes, including

the attempted assassination of President McCabe of Zambesi. She is considered one of the finest non-meta combatants of the age.

Vandal Savage Real Name: Vandal Savage

Powers: Immortality through regeneration

Further Information: Originally the ruler of a caveman tribe who gained immortality by bathing in the glow of a mysterious comet, Vandal Savage has been present alongside many of Earth’s worst tyrants for millennia. He is a war criminal for his role in World War II and continues to menace mankind to this day in his lust for power.

Die Mauer (The Wall) Real Name: Marco Bartos

Powers: Animated concrete body with proportionate resilience; super-human strength, including leaping; regeneration when in contact with large stone lodes.

Further Information: The product of a freak accident, Marco Bartos was struck by chemical waste and merged with a portion of the Berlin Wall, gaining his unique powers and a mental derangement. His limited intelligence means his violent rages have more

than once been used by other criminals to aid or cover their own plans.

White Knight Real Name: Daniel Forman

Powers: Ability to generate fire blasts

Further Information: Convinced that he has been possessed by “the spirit of America” to “clean the country of the filth of liberalism”, White Knight’s distinctive Ku Klux Klan styled outfit makes his vile beliefs obvious. His attacks are almost always politically motivated, whether it’s burning down mosques or attacking gay politicians.

… ZACHARY ZATARA: GAY OR JUST P.J.? TO DEBATE WE’RE JOINED TODAY BY SUPERHERO PSYCHOLOGIST Dr MARSTON…

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TIMELINE The following timeline gives a rough idea of the timeline of the DC Universe from the first superhero to the present day of 2035. (As dating of events in DC comics is often vague “twelve years ago” references rather than a hard and fast time table, the precise dating is GM conjecture and comics fans should take it with a pinch of salt.)

No player is expected to commit this history to memory, naturally: it is simply to help put the world event shown in comics, TV shows and films into context within the game.

1938: The Crimson Avenger, a masked vigilante, is photographed breaking up a bank robbery in New York. The Golden Age of the superhero is considered to have begun, with several others following in his footsteps. 1940: President Roosevelt forms the Justice Society of America: a collection of the most highly respected superheroes in 40s America, both of the human and "metahuman" variety. Originally assembled to combat espionage and raise morale in the face of the Second World War, the JSA goes on to a decade of bravery and establishes what most people think of when they think of a "super-team". 1942: America joins the Second World War. Metahuman activity in this war is limited because Hitler's regime has possession of a magical artefact known as the Spear of Destiny which can depower anyone. The war must instead be fought by conventional means. 1953: The House Un-American Activities Committee brings in the Justice Society for questioning after some of their members are implicated in communist activity as one of many such witch hunts of the era. Refusing to remove their masks and prove their innocence in court, the JSA instead disband. 1966: A rocket crashes in Smallville, Kansas containing a survivor from the destruction of the far-off planet of Krypton. The occupant is a child and able to pass for human; Jonathan and Martha Kent adopt the child, naming him Clark.

1974: Millionaire Gothamites Dr Thomas Wayne and his wife Martha are shot dead by a mugger in Park Row, an act which marks the degeneration of that previously cosmopolitan area of Gotham into "Crime Alley". Their eight-year old son, Bruce, is present but survives. 1985: Superman is first seen in Metropolis and Batman makes his first appearance in Gotham City, over the course of the year, each quickly becomes national news and they inspire several others to follow suit. The Silver Age of the superhero begins. 1988: Batman, Superman and five other superheroes unite together to defeat an alien invasion. Inspired by history, they take on the title of the Justice League of America and vow to co-operate together more often. The JLA initially operate out of a Rhode Island cave headquarters but eventually move to an orbital satellite. 1992: All of reality is threatened by a cosmic being called the Anti-Monitor, and the JLA unite with all of Earth's superheroes to defeat him in the largest super-battle ever. The Flash gives his life to save the world and his sidekick takes up his mantle. In the aftermath, most of the high-profile members of the JLA leave the Justice League to recuperate and aid in the rebuilding. 1993: The JLA temporarily dissolves after two members are killed in a botched mission. Attitudes to superheroes sour in the aftermath but recover when a new Justice League International forms - this time acting under a U.N. mandate and with high-profile members like Batman and Martian Manhunter once again present. …CALL OF DUTY: BATTLE FOR AFGHANISTAN.

OUT NOW ONLY ON LEXBOX PLATINUM…

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TIMELINE 1996: A monstrous entity known as Doomsday goes on a rampage through New England. The JLI attempt to contain him and fail, and only the intervention of Superman in Metropolis saves the day: but Superman is killed in the exchange. In Gotham City, a mass breakout from Arkham Asylum is arranged by South American criminal Bane who uses the carnage to attack Batman, apparently breaking his back.

1997: Superman and Batman both reappear: Superman having been revived by Kryptonian energies and Batman having somehow regained the ability to walk. Both must deal with imposters who have perverted their roles; in Superman's case, an imposter working with alien invaders who destroy Coast City, killing all its inhabitants.

1998: The JLI is superseded by a new Justice League of America following an attempt by “White Martians” to conquer the Earth. Based out of a tower built on the moon, this incarnation of the JLA once again contains the big guns of the superhero world such Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman.

2004: Two refugees from destroyed universes, Alexander Luthor and Superboy-Prime, endanger all reality with a plan to return their worlds to existence. Their plan sees the metahuman criminals of the world united under a "Secret Society of Super-Villains" who cause worldwide chaos. The JLA defeats the plot and saves the world but several key members leave over internal politics following this event.

2005: World War III breaks out when Black Adam, ruler of the middle-eastern nation of Kahndaq and metahuman, retaliates against aggression by neighbouring Bialya in an attack which sees the entire population of Bialya killed. Chaos spreads across the globe and Black Adam's rampage is only stopped in China when the government permit an alliance of world superheroes to enter and aid them. Even America suffers, with earthquakes seeing New Jersey (and Gotham City) devastated.

2006: Support for superheroes is at an all-time low. The Freedom Of Power Treaty is passed through the UN, limiting superheroes crossing national borders. With the revoking of the JLI's U.N. status, it is one of many law changes which make superhero activity harder in the 21st century. Most of the heroes who survived WWIII retire with the exception of Superman, who sticks principally to providing disaster relief.

2010: Last sighting of the original Batman, witnessed rescuing the kidnapped daughter of a socialite.

2025: A super-villain attack on the Daily Planet office sees the death of many prominent journalists, including editor Perry White and reporter Lois Lane. Superman chases the culprit into space, leaving his son Superman Secundus in his stead while he is gone.

2033: Lena Lutessa Luthor is sworn in as the 49th president of the United States of the America: only the second woman to hold the role. The daughter of deceased super-villian Lex Luthor by an Italian contessa, she is elected on a conservative campaign platform to reverse the breakdown of society, reinvigorate the economy and finally end the US’s reliance on fossil fuels.

2034: A new Batman is spotted in Gotham City. Considered a sign of a changing attitude to superheroes, several other masked vigilantes appear, but anti-vigilante laws remain and the public opinion of superheroes remains mixed.

2035: The Justice League is reformed when a White Martian tries to impersonate a returned Superman and destroy the new heroic generation, all to allow his kin to colonize the world. Based out of a new satellite (as the old one was destroyed by President Luthor) the new Justice League sees a mixed public and political response from a world scared of metahuman vigilantes but yearning for new heroes.

…“ SOMEONE CALL THE JUSTICE LEAGUE”…