Mastermind Villain
Real Name: Jason Wyngarde.
Occupation: Professional criminal, former stage illusionist.
Identity: Known to the authorities.
Legal Status: Citizen of the United States with a criminal record.
Other Aliases: None.
Place of Birth: Unrevealed.
Marital Status: Divorced.
Known Relatives: Regan, Martinique (daughters); ex-wife (name unrevealed).
Group Affiliation: Former member of the Brotherhood of Mutants.
Base of Operations: Mobile, formerly Las Vegas, Nevada.
First Post-Reboot Appearance: UNCANNY X-MEN #4.
History: Jason Wyngarde enjoyed some limited success as a stage illusionist with his own performance in an off-the-Strip show in Las Vegas until several of the casino's executives saw bootlegged footage. Because none of his illusions could be captured on film or digitally, he was ultimately fired, even after some of the executives sat through his shows. (As his successor at the casino has had several shows televised live, he suspects this as the reason for his firing.) Not long after this, his wife divorced him, taking their daughters with her. Despondent, Wyngardge accepted an offer to join Magneto's Brotherhood of Mutants.
Taking the name Mastermind, Wyngardge attempted a few times to establish himself as Magneto's right-hand man. He successfully led the Brotherhood in busting Magneto out of the Ryker's Island prison, which succeeded despite the interference of the X-Men, but later attempts to lead have proven less successful. As part of the Brotherhood, he has faced off against the X-Men several times.
When Magneto was captured by a Shi'ar scouting expedition, Mastermind lost to his teammate Scarlet Witch in a bid for the Brotherhood's leadership. After Magneto returned from space, Mastermind decided to leave the group in protest over Magneto confirming the non-mutant Lorelei's membership in the Brotherhood; where he will show up next is anyone's guess.
Age: 42.
Height: 5' 10".
Weight: 145 lbs.
Eyes: Black.
Hair: Grey-black.
Uniform: None, dresses in suits.
Strength Level: Mastermind possesses the normal human strength of a man his age, height, and build who engages in moderate exercise.
Known Superhuman Powers: Mastermind is a mutant with the ability to psionically create extremely detailed and realistic illusions directly into the minds of everyone around him. His illusions attack all five senses; an illusory brick wall with roses growing out of it will not only look like a brick wall, but feel like one, too, while the roses will smell like real roses. These illusions appear so real that most people, even if they are aware that they're illusions, subconsciously react to them as if they were real; even if someone consciously knows the above wall is an illusion, he will be unable to pass through it. An illusory thorn-bush may even draw blood should someone prick their finger; any such damage would be purely psychosomatic.
Because Mastermind broadcasts his illusions directly into the brains of those around him, they are unable to be recorded on camera. If there are people viewing a live feed inside his area of influence, however, they will think they see the illusions on the feed.
Limitations: Since breaking his leg during the Brotherhood's sojourn into the Savage Land, Mastermind has walked with a cane; the leg was not set properly prior to being put in a splint.
255 points
| ST: 10 [0] | HP: 10 [0] | Speed: 5.50 [0] |
| DX: 11 [20] | Will: 14 [5] | Move: 2 [-15] |
| IQ: 13 [60] | Per: 13 [0] | |
| HT: 11 [10] | FP: 11 [0] | SM: 0 |
| Dmg: 1d-2/1d | BL: 20 lbs. | |
| Dodge: 8 | Parry: 8 | DR: 12/4* (concealed vest) |
Languages: English (Native) (Native Language) [0].
Cultural Familiarities: Western (Native) [0].
Advantages: Charisma 1 [5]; Eidetic Memory [5]; Illusion (Area Effect: 128 yds, +300%; Extended: Taste/Smell, +20%; Extended: Touch, +20%; Mental, +100%; Stigmata, +100%; Mutant Psionic, -10%) [158]; Social Chameleon [5]; Versatile [5]; Wealth (Comfortable) [10].
Perks: Accent (Oxford British) [1].
Disadvantages: Addiction (Tobacco) [-5]; Callous [-5]; Fanaticism (Mutant Supremacy) [-15]; Lame (Crippled Legs) [-10]; Pacifism (Reluctant Killer) [-5]; Selfish (12) [-5]; Skinny [-5].
Quirks: Allergies (Hay Fever) [-1]; Argues For The Sake Of Arguing [-1]; Atheist [-1]; Careful [-1]; Male Chauvinist [-1].
Skills: Artist (Illusion) (H) IQ+3 [16] – 16; Computer Operation/TL8 (E) IQ+0 [1] – 13; Current Affairs/TL8 (High Culture) (E) IQ+0 [1] – 13; Current Affairs/TL8 (Politics) (E) IQ+0 [1] – 13; Detect Lies (H) Per-1 [2] – 12; Guns/TL8 (Pistol) (E) DX+0 [1] – 11; Lip Reading (A) Per-1 [1] – 12; Literature (H) IQ-1 [2] – 12; Performance (A) IQ+1 [4] – 14; Savoir-Faire (High Society) (E) IQ+0 [1] – 13; Savoir-Faire (Mafia) (E) IQ+0 [1] – 13; Sleight of Hand (H) DX+1 [8] – 12.
Starting Spending Money: $8,000 (20% of Starting Wealth).
Role-Playing Notes:
Mastermind is a bitter man who has lost everything he cared about. He was fired because his illusions could not be televised, his ex-wife insists that he have no contact with their daughters, and the one leader he thought he could believe in recently reversed his apparent position on an issue he thinks is key (mutant supremacy over even other superhumans). Some might think he's due for a mid-life crisis.
Design Notes:
1. The image kinda reminds me of David Thewlis, who played Remus Lupin in the Harry Potter movies. This is ironic as the image was first printed in '86, long before the Harry Potter novels were written (and if I read the novels correctly, that was the year Lupin and the others graduated Hogwarts).