akaihyo | Champions of the 60s (Reply)

Champions of the 1960s
Background and Character Creation Notes

A new age of heroes is emerging, the fifties have ended and a new age is beginning. It is a four-color age, heroes are heroes and larger than life. Patriotism is in vogue and America is the greatest nation on the Earth. The House Un-American Activities Commission has wound down, the Red Scare is now receding or is it?

America is changing, the children of the baby boom are maturing into adults. New political and social ideas are emerging, the old consensus in changing.

The Industrial Champions, the American heroes that embodied the 1950s, have disbanded. Challenger has emerged as the protector of the streets of New York. The vigilante Gang Buster strives to keep the criminals of Chicago in line. The Night Cat continues to patrol Boston. Pacific Sun uses his high flying ways to protect San Francisco.

Briefly there were fears in the US of a "hero gap" as the Soviet Union had a super team, the New Future, and America did not. But America now has Heroes Incorporated, based in New York, led by Jack Diamond (aka Playboy) head of Diamond Industries.

State of the World, c. early 1966
The United States:
LBJ is President. President Johnson has deepened US support for the Republic of South Vietnam against the Communist Viet Cong.

Villains: The Queen Bat and the Puzzle Master continue to confound police departments across the nation. CriME is on the rise in America as paranormal criminals join together under its banner.

Europe:
Leonid Brezhnev heads the USSR. Russia's New Future team symbolizes the triumph of world socialism.
Charles de Gaulle is the President of the Fifth Republic in France. The Guardians of France, sponsored by the Fifth Republic, provide high profile protection of French interests.
Harold Wilson, Labour, is the British Prime Minister.
Pope Paul VI leads the Roman Catholic Church.

Villains: The World Emperor seek to claim his Empire.

Asia:
Chairman Mao rules the Peoples' Republic of China. India lost a border war with China in late 1962.

Culture: The Beatles are still a hit.
Among the top grossing film of 1965 are: Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady
and What's New Pussycat?
On television, Star Trek premiers in 1965, featuring the USS Enterprise commanded by Captain Christopher Pike. The Rebel Variety Hour continues in its second season.

Character Creation
Mutants and Masterminds, 2nd edition rules.
Starting PL: 8, 120 Character Points.
Recommended tropes: Code against Killing, Patriot, Secret Identity.
Avoid any character conceptions that would make the character unable to work with a team or with the United States government.

Random suggested character ideas:
● Patriotic Super-soldier
● Suave Super-spy in the James Bond mode
● Newly emerged Paranormal with a responsibility of power
● Child of a World War II Superhero carrying on the family tradition (or, alternately, child of a World War II supervillain seeking to clear their parent's name)
● Former sidekick of a World War II Superhero now on their own
● Genius innovator who wishes to prove his or her invention
● Corporate spokesperson
● Gained superpowers as the result of, or accident at, a Government project