Wednesday, April 2, 2014

B is for Beau Brummell

NUELOW Games is taking part in the A to Z Blogging Challenge by shining a little bit of a spotlight on an obscure Golden Age comic book character that is slated to appear in one of our future products.

B is for Beau Brummell
Beau Brummell was a dapper millionaire and amateur detective who first appeared in the pages of Triple Threat Comics #1. In that story, he stopped a disgruntled department store employee from endangering one of his investments. In his second appearance (in Atomic Bomb Comics #1), he finds himself the only person who can save the careers of several kidnapped singers. Brummell never breaks a sweat while taking on crazed thugs, and he defeats them with an arsenal of novelty items that would make The Prankster jealous. At the end of each of this two appearances, an attractive woman throws herself at him, but Beau Brummell is a gentleman who travels alone, and his closing line in each tale involves him offering to arrange a cab to take her home.

As with so many minor (and a few major) Golden Age comics characters, the identities of Beau Brummell's creators is lost to history. The artist on the second story is generally assumed to be Nina Albright, but the other talents are even unguessed at. We're happy to adopt this orphan, however. We haven't quite decided where we're going to reprint his two appearances, but if he doesn't end up in an issue of Complete Golden Age Oddballs, he'll be the star of this year's Christmas in July ROLF! special.

And speaking of ROLF!, here's Beau Brummel in that game system....

Beau Brummell (Male)
Brawn 16, Body 18 (includes +1 Hat Bonus), Brains 6
   Traits: Coldhearted, Comic Relief, Improv Master
   Combat Maneuvers: Basic Attack, Debate Philosophy, Dodge, Double Strike, Strike Pose, Withering Insult
   Important Stuff Worn/Wielded: Top Hat (+1 to Body when worn), Evening Wear and Cape (Armor/Cloches, absorbs 1 point of damage). Walking Stick (Medium Melee Weapon, deals 2 points of damage). 2 Gag Items (One-shot Small Ranged Weapons that deal 1 point of damage).

Beau Brummell and lady friends. Art by Nina Albright

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