BLACK CROW (Jesse Black Crow)
Created By: J.M. DeMatteis & Paul Neary
First Appearance: Captain America #292 (April 1984)
Role: Liberal Guilt Inspirer, Ethnic Stereotype
PL 10 (182)
STRENGTH 7
STAMINA 7
AGILITY 5
FIGHTING 12
DEXTERITY 4
INTELLIGENCE 2
AWARENESS 3
PRESENCE 1
Skills:
Athletics 4 (+11)
Expertise (Magic) 8 (+10)
Expertise (Native American Stereotype) 9 (+11)
Intimidation 5 (+6)
Perception 7 (+10)
Stealth 3 (+8)
Advantages:
All-Out Attack, Equipment 2 (Spear, Bow & Arrow, Knife), Improved Critical (Unarmed), Ranged Attack 4, Ritualist
Powers:
"Shapeshifting" Shapeshift 4 (32) -- [37]
- AE: "Paralyzing Mist" Affliction 6 (Fort; Dazed & Vulnerable/Stunned & Compelled/Paralyzed & Transformed Mind) (Extras: Ranged, Extra Condition) (18)
- AE: "Summon Fog" Environment 2 (Impaired Vision) (2)
- AE: "Mystical Transportation" Movement 1 (Dimensional Travel- Anasazi Mythical Land) (2)
- AE: Communication 2 (Mental) (8)
- AE: "Mental Illusion" Illusion (All Senses) 8 (Flaws: Will Save Allowed) (32)
Senses 2 (Mystic Awareness, Native American Awareness) [2]
"Detect The Past of Natives" Senses 4 (Postcognition) (Flaws: Limited to Native Americans Present) [2]
Morph 4 (Any Form) [20]
Equipment:
"Bow & Arrow" Blast 4 (8) -- (10)
AE: "Spear" Strength-Damage +0 (Feats: Reach) (1)
AE: "Knife" Strength-Damage +0 (Feats: Improved Critical) (1)
Offense:
Unarmed/Weapons +12 (+7 Damage, DC 22)
Bow & Arrow +8 (+4 Ranged Damage, DC 19)
Initiative +5
Defenses:
Dodge +12 (DC 22), Parry +12 (DC 22), Toughness +7, Fortitude +8, Will +7
Complications:
Normal Identity (Jesse Black Crow)- Jesse is normally paralyzed from the waist down, and has to empower himself via the "Earth Mother" spirit.
Total: Abilities: 82 / Skills: 36--18 / Advantages: 9 / Powers: 61 / Defenses: 12 (182)
-Black Crow appeared in a Captain America issue of my friend's that I remember reading years back- he, like American Eagle, is a Navajo, but was paralyzed while doing construction work in New York City, and got powers via some Native Spirit who appeared to him while he lay comatose, and turned him into a defender of their people. Inspired by rage over the Native American plight, he sought out Captain America for a trial by combat- since Cap represented the American Spirit, he must die. Black Crow actually had Cap on the ropes the entire time, using flight to his advantage, and Cap had to use The Power Of Liberal Guilt to save himself- apologizing to Black Crow on behalf of all America.
-Black Crow became a Cap Ally as a result of this (once curing Cap of a lethal poison inflicted by the Red Skull), being used off-and-on by Mark Gruenwald (who also brought him to Quasar at least once), but like most Ethnic Heroes, he's a forgotten eyeblink to comic history. He became a kind of Journeyman Hero, appearing in team-ups with Daredevil, Spider-Man, Hawkeye, Dr. Strange & Red Wolf, usually in an advisory/back-up role (such as freeing the God who empowered Red Wolf from some other Navajo Gods). He once broke up a fight between Spider-Man and The Puma, sending them on a Spirit Journey to resolve their differences, then removing Puma's knowledge of Spider-Man's secret identity. Later, Jesse was one of thousands of super-heroes to individually defeat either Nightmare and/or D'Spayre, using the guidance of the "Black Crow" part of him to fend off the latter.
-Black Crow disappeared after the mid-90s, not showing up again until
Civil War, being arrested by S.H.I.E.L.D., but alas, his time in the sun never came. I mean, Pissed-Off Native American and Mystic Native American are both pretty big cliches, and he occupied the same general role American Eagle did, while also having the problematic power-set involving "anything the writers decide".
-He's got kind of a grab-bag of powers, and despite being a supporting character extraordinaire, was one of those guys who was able to bring Cap to the brink of death. Even with New Character Stink, that's a pretty big feat. Since he's already super-strong, he'd break the Spear & Knife if using them normally, but since I figure they don't really add much of a strength-bonus to somebody who's already immensely strong (to use them, they'd need to be Devices instead of Equipment), it's legal since they only change the type of damage being done (Piercing with Reach, Slashing). Iffy given the actual rules (high strength wrecks melee weapons of low Toughness), but whatever- that's how they work in the comics.