Brainwave Jr./Brainwave II “No ! I must resist catching his thoughts — until and unless it’s absolutely necessary !”
Identity: Henry King Jr.
Side: Good
Affiliation: Infinity Inc.
Base of Operations: Los Angeles, CA
Sex: Male
Age: Late Teens
Level: 5
Training: Endurance
Powers:
1. Willpower (A): PR=1 per turn, or each use as a defense.
2. Mind Control: R= ”, PR=20 per success, see complete rules
p.15.
3. Telepathy: R=210”, Thought scan 1 action, PR=1. Mental
switchboard: max. 21 minds at once, 1 action to establish, PR=1 per
turn. Thought Tracking: PR=1 per hour, 1 action per turn. Mind Probe
maximum strength = 138, PR=5 per attempt, Mind Control attack.
Takes 1d6 turns per attempt, range = 0”. Detailed descriptions p.17.
4. Telekinesis: TK capacity = 600 lbs., R=60”, attacks as
HTH, damage = 1d8 with TK waves, moves objects at a maximum
speed of 70” (+1d4 velocity damage with controlled objects). PR=1.
TK defense requires one action an d one power point to set up, PR=1 for every attack repulsed.
5. Illusions (A): Visual, Auditory. PR=2.
6. Mind Blast: Attacks as Mind Control, victim affected as though they were hit by Paralysis Ray. R=(I+E), PR=5.
7. Unarmed Combat Training: +2 to hit, +4 damage.
8. Phobia/Psychosis: Panic Attacks
STR: 12
END: 14
AGL: 14
INT: 21
CHR: 16
Origin/Background: Little is known of the early life of Henry King, Jr., save that he was the only son of Dr. Henry King, a mental mutant who was also the villainous Brain Wave and Merry Pemberton King, an ex-super heroine. Sometime during his childhood, as a result of his father's criminal activities, Hank's mother died of a broken heart, and the grief-stricken Hank refused to speak to his father for years.
Some months after his graduation from college, Hank donned an altered version of one of his father's sometime costumes in order to prevent the Brain Wave, the Ultra-Humanite and a number of other super-villains from changing the course of World War II, and thus changing history.
While in the past, Hank came into contact with, and ultimately joined, a newly formed group of second-generation heroes that called itself Infinity, Inc.
Later, while attempting to protect Hank, the Brain Wave was slain in a battle with the Ultra-Humanite. As a final gesture of paternal love, the Brain Wave transferred the bulk of his awesome mental powers to his son, the only legacy he could give him. As a result of his father's actions, Hank resigned from Infinity, Inc. and went off to find himself and his place in the world.
Personality/Character Traits: Hank King, while kind and relatively humble, was originally quite verbal. He seemed compelled to always provide witty banter to fill awkward moments and silences. This stopped when Dr. King transferred his powers and memories to Hank. At this point, he became increasingly confident and self-assured, knowing that his father - despite all the man’s flaws - loved him and approved of his life’s course. This was a sharp turn-around, since he had spent most of his previous life wishing that his terrible father was dead and gone.
Like most Infinity, Inc. members he was young, brash, often not thinking long-term and had something to prove. After his father died, he no longer felt the need to prove that he was different from him, and no longer needed to loudly demonstrate his heroism.
Brainwave had problems with picking up thoughts and emotions from others. Although he did his best to prevent himself ’overhearing‘ thoughts, he was fascinated by this ability, and his potential to solve problems through telepathic intervention. Strong emotions are nearly impossible to keep out, and are likely to make him try something with his power since he’s forced by his Empathy to care. Those abilities and his verbal nature tend to make him become the center of any group he’s in and to wield a disproportionate amount of influence.
No matter how much Brainwave tries to be a good guy and wants to do the ethical thing, there is something creepy about how he wields his considerable powers, influences people and wants to be the centre of attention. It doesn’t take much pushing and prodding for him to do something unacceptable, such as altering Lyta’s memories ’for her own good‘.
As his mental issues worsened, Hank King became insanely obsessive over his former love, Jennie-Lynn Hayden, aka Jade.