Proteus
This character profile is contributed by an anonymous Patron of SH.
General
Villain name: Proteus
Real name: Gerald Ryder
Birthday: 14 May W971 (Taurus)
Orientation: Gay
Age: 74 (Appears to be early 40s)
Height: 5 ft 9 / 175 cm
Weight: 210 lb / 95 kg
P. Size: Unknown
Body Build: Stocky
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Dark Brown
Race:
Super-powered Human (Artificial)
Stats
Class: Berserker
Tier: A-Tier
Occupation:
Carpenter
Ryder Woodshop
Base of Operation:
Blue Fields Outskirts
Republic of Cindra
Abilities (Level)
Beast Shapeshifter (A)
Proteus has the ability to shape-shifting the whole or part of himself. He can change his hands into deadly wolf claws, jaws into those of a fearsome shark, and even his ears into a bat’s with supersonic hearing. Even though he can take on another human’s appearance, he hardly does so.
His favorite form is a 7-feet-tall werewolf-bear hybrid in which he gains monstrous strength with long fangs and pointed ears.
Super Strength and Stamina (B)
Proteus possesses super strength from his shape-shifting abilities. He also has high stamina, allowing him to sustain long battles in his transformed form.
High-speed Regeneration (B)
- Although not instantaneous, Proteus’s healing factor allows him to recover faster than a regular human. Enhanced healing takes up a lot of energy from Proteus. He needs to concentrate on focusing his energy to speed up his healing. This ability is also passive, allowing Proteus to recover around 10% to 20% of the usual rate should he be rendered unconscious.
Weaknesses
Scale of Shapeshifting
- Transforming himself takes a lot of energy from Proteus. To conserve energy, Proteus prefers to transform slowly and partially. Rapid transformation or full-body transformation takes a toll on him.
Cold Iron (a type of iron mined deep underground)
- Shackles and restraints made from Cold Iron prevent him from shape-shifting, trapping in in whichever form he was in. It also strips him of his other powers. Wounds from this mineral could be fatal
Photos
Appearance
Gerald Ryder is a stocky strongman of average height with dark brown eyes, short black hair, and a full beard. The manly bear has abundant body hair all over his form – arms, back, shoulders, and torso. Some might wonder if his hairy form is part of his shape-shifting abilities, as the man’s favorite form is a werewolf-bear hybrid. In this form, Gerald has sharp pointy ears, a bulky and hairy body, and powerful sets of limbs.
As Proteus, he prefers to keep his outfits simple and casual. Proteus is often seen wearing a pair of ripped jeans and a sleeveless denim jacket. His jacket is kept open to facilitate his transformations. At times, he will adopt a leather bear look, dressed in a black leather jacket and harness.
Personality
As Proteus, the villain is a cruel and ruthless man. He hates super-powered beings as he sees them almost like children playing with forces they can’t comprehend. Seeing superhero flexing their powers without a thought, Proteus could not help but feel a need to stop them. This villain does not hesitate to hunt down and completely break superheroes who use their powers recklessly.
While he hates super-powered villains too, he accepts that they are a means to stop the heroes. Nevertheless, Proteus always keeps an eye on them. Should a villain become too powerful and influential, Proteus will make his move to keep them in line too.
As a person, Gerald appears distant and grumpy. Most people stay away from him because of his overall aggressive deposition. But Gerald thinks that what he is doing is right for the world, keeping these super-powered beings from running amok.
His personality and mood also change based on what form he takes on. As a bear, he becomes dangerously protective of friends and family if they are threatened. As a lone wolf, his personality becomes more solitary and observant but not hesitant to engage in violent combat. Transforming into a feline, Proteus takes on a more arrogant stance, proud and fierce but flirtatious should it benefits him.
Origins
Raymond Neil.
The name alone stirred up a cocktail of emotions for Gerald.
A best friend, a passionate lover, and a caring husband. Raymond Neil was the love of his life.
They met decades ago when they were lone souls navigating society’s unforgiving discrimination against homosexuals.
At that time, Raymond was not the brightest tool in the shed. When Gerald heard that his lover started participating in a new community in town, he didn’t think much about it. He thought it was good that his husband was meeting new friends and learning new things. But as Raymond got more involved in the community, his attitudes and beliefs got stranger.
Until one night, Gerald found himself strapped down in his bedroom, naked and surrounded by a ring of cultists. Needless to say, Raymond was part of the ritual.
Gerald had to watch his husband dance and sing in a foreign tongue to “invoke and summon” the spirits. As the ritual went on, Gerald could sense that something was wrong. The air felt oddly heavy and menacing.
It was then Raymond let out a scream. His body started to flake off. Piece by Piece. The other cultists began to panic. It was clear that something had gone wrong. Suddenly, a powerful dark red light burst from Gerald’s chest, blinding everyone and concluding the ritual.
When Gerald woke up the next day, he felt something different about himself. His body seemed to be hairier. He saw remaining traces of the cultists around his bed. It wasn’t a nightmare.
Little did he know, the ritual went awry, and many lives were lost. The spirit that was summoned had been bound to Gerald, granting him his shapeshifting powers.
Swallowing hard, Gerald picked up the broken photo frame by the nightstand. His lover had toyed with the unknown. Tinkering with powers that he did not understand fully.
Feeling betrayed and abandoned by his late lover, he sighed, “Raymond… What have you done?”
Gallery
Stories with Proteus
Oh, maybe Avian will get rescued soon from the unchecked Sugarloaf
Hahas. Perhaps he will? Let’s see what Proteus is up to!
Live-action (adaptation) of Proteus
Live-action (adaptation) of Proteus 2
Live-action (adaptation) of Proteus 3
Live-action (adaptation) of Proteus 4