Name: Columbian Woman


Real Name: Janet Goodman


Identity: Known


Appearance:
Today, as Janet Goodman

In the '60s, as Columbian Woman


Age: 64


Height: 5'10


Birthplace: Saint Paul, Minnesota


Powers:
<ul>
<li>Above-average physical abilities</li>
<li>Some telekinetic abilities</li>
</ul>


Origin: Born into an average, All-Columbian middle-class family in St. Paul, Minnesota, Janet Goodman excelled at school in both academics and athletics. Shaped by images of the war while growing up, and heading to New Amsterdam State University on a science scholarship, Goodman sought out a way to use her abilities to help her country.

She quickly impressed her professors, gaining a lab assistant position with Dr. Jonah Jackson, world-renowned physicist. Working together, Goodman and Jackson attempted to make a reality out of Jackson's dream project: renewable energy production, via his Gyroscopic Energy Production System (G-Eps).

Nearing a breakthrough, and spurred on by international events hinting at an impending energy crisis, Goodman and Jackson remained in his lab well into the night on many occasions. On one such night, during a test run, a large power surge corrupted their computer systems, sending G-Eps into overdrive. The resulting explosion left Dr. Jackson with severe injuries, including the loss of his left leg. Goodman, who at the time was much closer to the machine, was nearly killed, left badly beaten and comatose.

Six months later, against all predictions, Goodman awoke from her coma. Further surprising her doctors with her quick and complete physical recovery, Goodman checked out of the hospital, intent on returning to the project that put her in the hospital.

Dr. Jackson tried in vain to convince Janet not to return to the lab, fearing for her safety. As Janet and Jonah continued their quest for renewable energy, Janet's powers began to manifest. At first using her new-found abilities to aid in their lab work, Janet soon became enticed by images of the costumed vigilantes that were filling the nightly news as they popped up in many cities across Columbia.

Frustrated by the lack of breakthroughs with G-Eps, and convinced that Jackson was intentionally holding back out of fears of another accident, Goodman decided to take to the streets, using her strength and telekinesis to help people in need - and in New Amsterdam, there has never been a lack of people in need.

After a particularly brutal fight, Janet showed up at the lab badly bruised and exhausted, and Jackson forced a confession out of her. After much arguing, Jackson realized he would not be changing Janet's mind, and so decided to help her as best he could.

Jackson fashioned Goodman a real costume of her very own, created out of his own military-grade, nearly-impenetrable-yet-extremely-flexible fabric, Pro Cloth, which, today, is the gold standard in costumed hero materials.

Branding herself Columbian Woman, Janet returned to the streets of New Amsterdam with renewed purpose, seeking to set the city right, while providing a role model of truth, justice, and the Columbian way.

As the costumed vigilante population of New Amsterdam grew throughout the 1960's, Columbian Woman joined together with some of the city's (and the world's) premiere heroes, creating the world's first super team, The Force.

As costumed vigilantes increased in numbers, so did costumed criminals, creating an epidemic in New Amsterdam and throughout the USC. Seeking an end to the escalation, President Nixon and his Republican Congress signed into law the Costumed Vigilante Suppression Act of 1970. The act outlawed all costumed vigilantism, especially that of so-called transhumans.

Always one to put the law first, Goodman officially retired as Columbian Woman, revealing her identity and the cause of her powers on national television. She urged her fellow costumed heroes to resign as well, citing a strong believe in the Columbian government and the rule of law.

Because of her actions in aiding the Costumed Vigilante Suppression Act, Goodman was brought into the government as an official spokeswoman for the government's "Unmask" campaign. From there, she moved into a leading position in the federal government's Costumed Vigilante and Transhuman Relations Board, helping the government draft legislation relating to costumed vigilantism and transuman issues. Although Goodman was a strong proponent of both an end to costumed vigilantism and the protection of the privacy and liberty of transumans and other costumed heroes, many others in Washington did not share her latter views.

After repeated attempts from Congress to pass transhuman registration laws, Goodman resigned in disgust. After taking time to pen her autobiography, Columbian Woman: Truth, Justice, and the Columbian Way, and a few speaking tours, Goodman was hired by New Amsterdam mayor, Lance Boer, as the city's official Vigilante/Transhuman Relations Advisor, a position she holds to this day, still extolling her ideals of unmasking and protecting the rights of the unmasked and transhuman.

Personality: Janet is generally a pleasant person, but has no problem getting down to business when the time is right. She has a near-unshakable faith in her country and government, promoting its ideals and laws above all else. Although she still feels a kinship towards them, she has decreasing tolerance for those who choose to wear and mask and engage in vigilantism, believing in part that they cannot be truly working for the benefit of humanity if their very existence is illegal to begin with.


Hero History:
<ul>
<li>One of the world's original superheroes</li>
<li>Founded the first-ever superhero team, The Force</li>
<li>Defeated many of her day's premiere supervillains, such as Tremok the Unstoppable, Professor Madhouse, and The Killjoy Twins</li>
<li>Appointed to the federal government's Costumed Vigilante and Transhuman Relations Board</li>
<li>Now serves as New Amsterdam's official Vigilante/Transhuman Relations Advisor, as she fights for voluntary unmasking and rights-protections for the unmasked and transuman.
</ul>

Name: The Columbian Eagle


Real Name: General Steven Pietersen


Identity: Known


Appearance:
Today, in his role as General of the Army

In the '60's, in his role as The Columbian Eagle


Age: 57


Height: 6'1


Birthplace: New Amsterdam City, NA


Powers:
<ul>
<li>Enhanced strength</li>
<li>Low vulnerability to regular physical attacks</li>
<li>Enhanced intelligence</li>
</ul>


Origin: Growing up shortly after the end of World War II, Steven Pietersen, spurred on by images of nationalism, immediately enrolled in Norwich University on an ROTC scholarship. Graduating with great honors, Pietersen went on to serve in several major overseas conflicts, quickly rising through the ranks.

When the opportunity to enroll in a top secret study came about, Pietersen did not hesitate to volunteer himself, looking to further serve his country in any way he could.

The army conducted extensive experimentation on Piertersen and several other volunteers, seeking to enhance their abilities on and off the battlefield. Although in the end only Pietersen survived, he left the study with increased strength, durability, and mental ability. The program was considered a success, and directly led to the program that would some day create Captain Paragon.

Although officially unsanctioned, Pietersen was given a patriotic costume and sent out into the world as The Columbian Eagle, a symbol of justice.

Working with other costumed heroes to clean up New Amsterdam, the Eagle quickly befriended Columbian Woman, leading to the two of them teaming up on more than a few occasions. After the disappearance of Dr. Jackson, the two began a romance that played out both in private and in the public eye as their masked identities.

A founding member of The Force, The Columbian Eagle was a world-wide star in his day. Among the costumed hero community, rumors persisted that the Eagle was still working for the government, and, in fact, spying on the other members of The Force at the government's request. To this day, there are some who believe that this was the real reason the team dissolved. Some take the conspiracy even farther, reasoning that Columbian Woman's sudden voluntary unmasking and denouncing of costumed vigilantism was caused by her fear for the well-being of her fellow masked heroes, claiming some never-explained plot by the USC government.

The Eagle followed Columbian Woman's lead by publicly unmasking himself, speaking out against costumed vigilantism, and returning to his Army career as an ardent supporter of transhuman registration.


Personality: Pietersen is a gruff, proud General in the USC Army. Although his romance with Goodman ended at the same time as The Force dissolved, he still retains a soft spot for her, and the two still keep in contact, seeing each other with some regularity at state functions.

Pietersen is a strong believer of right-wing philosophy, a military hawk, and has used his status as a decorated general to campaign for several Republican presidential and congressional candidates.


Hero History:
<ul>
<li>Founding member of The Force</li>
<li>One of the world's original superheroes</li>
<li>Brought many costumed villains to justice, including by not limited to the Killyjoy Twins, Doktor Destruktion, and Beam Plastique</li>
<li>General of the Army</li>
</ul>

Real Name: Lance Boer


Appearance:


Age: 46


Height: 5'11


Birthplace: New Amsterdam City, NA


Origin: Graduating with a degree in political science at the University of New Amsterdam, Boer immediately entered the world of politics, working on the New Amsterdam arm of Walter Mondale's unsuccessful bid for the presidency. Spending years moving back and forth between Washington and New Amsterdam, Boer led a successful career as a city councilman before making a bid for mayor in the 2001 mayoral election.

Running on a plan to clean up corruption and slow the rise of costumed villains, Boer campaigned as the Democratic nominee against Republican Michael Bloomburg, ending two straight terms of Republican rule in an overwhelmingly Democratic city in a landslide victory.

Making good on his promises against corruption, and the imprisonment of several prominent masked villains led to an easy re-election against Republican candidate Herman Badillo. Today, Boer continues his fight against corruption and costumed criminals, with the aid of Janet Goodman, the former Columbian Woman.


Personality: Boer is friendly and familiar, a trait which no doubt helped in both his campaigns for office. He understands that he is viewed as something of an unmasked hero, having brought down rates of both crime and corruption in the city, and works hard to uphold this image, not wanting to let down his constituents.

Although publicly calling for the resignation of all costumed vigilantes, there is speculation that Mayor Boer will, from time to time, seek out their assistance.


Mayoral History:
<ul>
<li>Supported and signed into law legislation to protect the rights of transumans</li>
<li>Twice re-elected in large victories</li>
<li>Oversaw the capture and imprisonment of several costumed villains, such as Howl Racer, Professor Mandrake, and The Black Fury</li>
<li>Holds the record for holding The Black Fury in prison for the longest amount of time, 18 months</li>
</ul>

Real Name: Walter Hendricks


Appearance:



Age: 40


Height: 6'


Birthplace: New Amsterdam City, NA


Origin: Although he spent part of childhood as a bully, Hendricks quickly grew out of it, becoming a hero of his high school football team. Although a knee injury kept him from going pro, Hendricks quickly found a new passion at the New Amsterdam Police Academy.

Graduating with top honors, Hendricks put in several years in some of New Amsterdam's toughest boroughs, moving up the ranks. Appointed as Chief of Police by Mayor Guliani, Hendricks was instrumental in rooting out corruption after the election of Lance Boer, who retained him as chief.

Hendricks oversees the day-to-day operations of the NAPD, commanding its nearly 40 thousand officers.


Personality: Hendricks is generally likable, but unwavering in his stance against costumed vigilantism, believing there is no distinction between the so-called heroes and villains.


Hero History:
<ul>
<li>Rooted out corruption in the NAPD and other government offices</li>
<li>Executed Mayor Boer's plans to bring down some of the city's most notorious supervillains</li>
<li>Personal escorted The Black Fury to prison</li>
</ul>

Real Name: Tim Grady


Appearance:



Age:35


Height: 6'


Birthplace: Newark, New Jersey


Origin: Growing up near New Amsterdam City, Grady was subjected to plenty of news reports on the growing masked crime problem in the big city. After high school, he made his way to the New Amsterdam Police Academy, joining the force as soon as he could.

Grady was promoted for his help in ending the corruption of the NAPD, working alongside both Chief Hendricks and Mayor Boer.

Grady and Hendricks sometimes butt heads on the issue of costumed vigilantism, as Grady appreciates their work -- at least as much as an officer of the law can appreciate an inherently illegal group.


Personality: Grady is personable and holds his morals above all else. Although he doesn't always agree with Hendricks, at the end of the day, he follows his orders.

Grady just might be Captain Paragon's biggest fan.


Officer History:
<ul>
<li>Rooted out corruption in the NAPD</li>
<li>Aided in the arrest of notorious masked villains, such as Iron Whale, The Black Fury, and The First Conjurer</li>
<li>Owner of the world largest Captain Paragon paraphernalia collection</li>
</ul>

Real Name: Nick Holman


Appearance:



Age: 32


Height: 6'


Birthplace: New Amsterdam City, NA


Origin: Growing up surrounded by crime in the big city, Holman grew to despise it and the most visible criminals, the masked villains. Holman entered the police academy shortly after Sgt. Grady, graduating shortly after him.

Holman heads up the city's SWAT division.

Like his boss, Chief Hendricks, Holman sees little difference between those who claim to be heroes and those who claim to be villains, as everyone engaging in masked vigilantism is a criminal.


Personality: Holman is a bit of an alpha male type, and a bit of a hothead. He is generally agreeable towards his boss, but there exists some bad blood between he and Grady, who rarely see eye-to-eye.


Officer History:
<ul>
<li>Helped root out corruption in the NAPD</li>
<li>Youngest SWAT leader in NAPD history</li>
<li>Led the SWAT Team in numerous masked villain arrests, bringing down, among others, The Black Fury, Charm Tooth, and The Shell Mage and his gang of Turtle Terrors</li>
</ul>