Heroes -- Fire Fox

“I never cared much fer bullets or lasers or anything like that…but I always liked fire.  If I was shootin’ at somebody anyway, I didn’t want to just pump ‘em full of lead or shoot holes in ‘em.  I wanted them ta BURN, cry out in pain, maybe even dance around a little as they try ta put it out…  Y’know, just stuff normal people want.”
-- From “Fire Fox” #12 - “Piece by Piece”


NAME: Fire Fox (Mark E. Pyre)
SPECIES: technologically-enhanced Red Fox
GENDER: Male
AGE: 28 (as of “Fire Fox” setting in 2015)
BIRTHDAY: February 23, 1987
HEIGHT: 5’11” pre-surgery // 3’4” post-surgery
WEIGHT: ~140 lbs. post-surgery (small and lithe build but prosthetics add weight)
FUR/SCALES: Orange, Black/Gray, and White fur
EYES: Brown
NATIONALITY: Planet Furth, North America, southern Ohio


OTHER ALIASES:
- Mark Ember Pyre / Mark E. Pyre (real name, Dumper alias)
- Marcus Reynard Fawkes (fake name, new alias after Dumpers expulsion) [shown above]
- Officer Number 234, Silver sector (IntraNet identification, as is Fire Fox) [shown above]
- “The foxie with moxie” (self-given nickname)
- ??? (Inverted-verse ___ persona)
- ??? (Inverted-verse ___ persona)
- ??? (Inverted-verse ___ persona)
- ??? (Inverted-verse ___ persona)
- ??? (Inverted-verse ___ persona)


FIRST APPEARANCES:
- Mark Pyre the character debuts chronologically in “Fire Fox Zero: Mark the Dumper” #1
- His hero form, Fire Fox, debuts chronologically in “Fire Fox” #12
- By posting date, was first seen in “Fire Fox” #1, posted May 10, 2016
- ???


POWERS / ABILITIES / STRENGTHS:
- Prosthetic limbs and other body modifications that allow him to survive in space, also giving him greater strength, mobility, and durability (obtained in “Fire Fox”)
- Skeleton strengthened with Megalomanium, a near-indestructible metal, meaning his bones aren’t likely to break (obtained in “Fire Fox”)
- Innate ability to withstand higher temperatures (obtained in “Fire Fox”)
- Granted awareness of the 4th wall by ??? (obtained in “Fire Fox Zero: Mark the Dumper”)
- Amateurish but aggressive firearm-based close-quarters combat proficiency, using guns to block/strike rather than limbs, as well as exceptional marksmanship and professional wrestling knowledge (obtained in “Fire Fox Zero: Mark the Dumper”)
- Has an IQ of 187, having vast knowledge of technology and engineering, as well as rhythmic composition and aural skills [music]
- Exceptional piloting ability, despite the fact that his ship “The Flash Plugin” often crashes (obtained in “Fire Fox Zero: Mark the Dumper”)
- Extensive experience in combat, thievery, murder, law-avoiding situations, and prison breaks (obtained in “Fire Fox Zero: Mark the Dumper”)
- ??? (to be revealed)


EQUIPMENT:
- “Mozilla”: a large, heavy fireball/meteor launcher with multiple other uses, made with highly durable metals; Fire’s trademark weapon (obtained in “Fire Fox Zero: Mark the Dumper”)
- “Razzle” [right hand] and “Dazzle” [left hand]: dual flare-guns (obtained in “Fire Fox Zero: Mark the Dumper”)
- ???
- ???


WEAKNESSES:
- Small size and fairly low weight, meaning he can potentially be overpowered or pushed/thrown around by high-powered enemies
- Stubborn and cocky, temper/emotions possibly affecting his actions and decision-making
- Noticeable weakness when exposed to colder temperatures/climates (not including outer space)
- ???


COSTUME / CLOTHING:
- IntraNet uniform (as Fire Fox / Officer Number 234) [shown above and on “Fire Fox” cover]
Deep blue sleeveless zip-up jumpsuit connected to the heels with gray metal clamps, gray padded armor plates built into jumpsuit to complement/protect the pectorals and abs as well as the back of the thighs, flare gun holster attached to left thigh, iPod and/or weapon holster attached to right thigh, sleeveless gray vest with zipper and sealable pockets, deep blue fingerless gloves with gray trim

- Dumper garments (as Mark E. Pyre) [depicted on “Fire Fox” cover]
Brown pants and long-sleeve zip-up jacket with gray and yellow/gold accents, gray and yellow/gold belt for the pants, gray short-sleeved shirt under the jacket, boots with light and dark gray coloring, gold and brown Dumper badge worn on the left sleeve of the jacket, iPod usually kept in one of the jacket pockets, flare gun holsters attached to both thighs

- As ???
[to be revealed]

- As ???
[to be revealed]

- As ???
[to be revealed]

- As ???
[to be revealed]


ORIGIN:
Mark E. Pyre is originally from planet Furth, but in March of 2002, as an angst-filled teen of 15 years, he assembled a ship and departed from his home planet, vowing never to return.
Soon after, Pyre got in with a bad crowd and was progressively assimilated into the Dumpers, a society of scrappers and bottom-feeders that collect and sell materials for profit.  For a dozen years, he was perfectly willing to barely scrape by with the Dumpers’ lifestyle, but then a particular mission suddenly changed him.  He is sent to pick up something from an orphanage, which expects the item to be sold to help raise money for the establishment itself.  When Mark discovers that the Dumpers plan to take all the money for themselves, his repressed morality emerges and he takes a stand against the other Dumpers.  Unfortunately, the resulting fight ends with Mark critically injured and abandoned by the Dumpers.  Luckily, however, someone else was there to retrieve him before it’s too late.
When Mark reawakens, he is within the headquarters of IntraNet, a morally-upright organization of super beings that he used to run from.  He fears for his life, but instead IntraNet’s members say they are there to repair his broken body.  After the extensive procedure and rehabilitation, Mark E. Pyre becomes Fire Fox, a smaller but stronger gunslinger that now fights on the side of good.


PERSONALITY:
While Team S.U.P.E.R. is the more innocent and fun side of the universe, Fire Fox specifically is its polarizing cynicism and raunchiness.  He complains, criticizes, rapes…and yes, he burns things.  His past is full of regrets caused from split-second decisions, and he alone is left to pick up the pieces after every mistake.  Because of this, he is very much a loner, only letting a select few in emotionally.  In order to become a friend of Fire Fox and not just a passing face, someone has to really make an impact on him, such as saving his life or reaching out to him in a time of need.  Strangely and/or ironically, he also associates very quickly with anyone else he finds that is from planet Furth.
In the large span of time that has passed, Fire has found many ways to cope with -- or at least conceal -- his regrets, morals, and other emotions quite effectively.  Drinking and sex are notable examples, sure, but perhaps the most prominent or effective is his music, which immediately relaxes him whenever it plays.  At the same time, though, he deeply appreciates the emotional expression of music, in practically all its forms, although he takes special interest in any songs from Furth.  It means the world to him when he receives more music as a gift; no gesture could be any greater in his eyes.  When he obtains a new CD, he will lock himself into a room and simply experience it all the way through.  From that point, he will find a way to apply even the most out-of-place songs to his own setting and experiences.
Overall, Fire Fox is vulgar, immature, vocal, and very rough around the edges.  As much as he hates to admit it, though, underneath all that rigidity, metal, and flesh lies a heart of gold and a desire for redemption.


SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS / EXPERIENCES (FEATURED IN):
- “Fire Fox Zero: Mark the Dumper”
-- Leaves Furth by building his own spaceship
-- Joins the Dumpers after being rescued on Bunnigula by Lupin Lobowitz and Red Sullivan
-- ???
-- ???
-- ???
-- ???
-- ???
[to be revealed]

- “Fire Fox”
-- Stays with Dumpers for 13 years, perfecting engineering, piloting, and combat
-- Evades being captured by IntraNet Officer Chrome Dome, results in death of Rattison Blu
-- Talks to an orphaned fox boy named Will on planet Infuria
-- Defies orders from Red Sullivan in an attempt to bring money to an orphanage on Infuria
-- Is defeated and critically injured by Red Sullivan, Lupin, and other Dumpers
-- Is retrieved by IntraNet Officer #127: Chrome Dome, undergoes drastic surgery
-- Enrolls into IntraNet, becoming Officer #234: Fire Fox
-- Passes the IntraNet Alignment Exams with flying colors, gets assigned to IntraNet Silver
-- Befriends his tutor Chrome Dome as they share similar interests and origins
-- ???
-- ???
-- ???
-- ???
-- ???
[to be revealed]

- “Mark and the Skids: A Fire Fox Story”
-- ???
-- ???
-- ???
-- ???
[to be revealed]

- “Fire Fox: Unearthing”
-- ???
-- ???
[to be revealed]

- “Drifty Unfinity”
-- ???
-- ???
-- ???
-- ???
-- ???
-- ???
-- ???
-- ???
[to be revealed]

- “IntraNet Adventures”
-- ???
[to be revealed]

- “Inverted-verse”
-- ???
[to be revealed]

- “King of the Jungalaxy”
-- ???
[to be revealed]

- “Drifty Unfinity 2: The Cold Shoulder”
-- ???
[to be revealed]

- “The Red Rings of Death”
-- ???
[to be revealed]

- “Overclocked: Drifty Unfinity 3”
-- ???
[to be revealed]

- “Fire Fox: Homecoming”
-- ???
-- ???
-- ???
-- ???
-- ???
-- ???
-- ???
-- ???
-- ???
-- ???
[to be revealed]

- “Endangered: Civil War”
-- ???
-- ???
-- ???
-- ???
-- ???
-- ???
-- ???
-- ???
[to be revealed]


INSPIRATION:
Fire Fox and the environment around him pay great homage to Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, and Fire Fox himself is an amalgamation of three of its members: Rocket Raccoon, Star-Lord, and Gamora.  His appearance, personality, and choice of weaponry (not to mention his hero name) are largely derived from Rocket, the favorite Marvel character of Fire’s creator, G. Scheaffer.  In common with Star-Lord, Fire Fox has a distant attachment with his home planet, and that connection similarly takes the form of classic music that he listens to in such a polarizing sci-fi setting.  The Gamora influence is a little more subtle, as we consider his body mods to be more similar to hers than Rocket’s.  His eventual strong sense of morality could also be more likened to her, though.  As time goes on, traits of some other popular Marvel superheroes like Iron Man, Deadpool, and Wolverine will also make themselves known.


KNOWN RELATIVES:
- Kindle Pyre - Father
- Ashley Pyre - Mother
- ??? - [Great] Grandfather
- ???
- ???
- ???
- ???


ALLIES / AFFILIATIONS:
- True Friends and/or Friendly Rivals
-- Lupin Lobowitz (as of “Fire Fox” and “Fire Fox Zero: Mark the Dumper”)
-- Jukar Russ-El - former mentor (“Fire Fox Zero: Mark the Dumper”)
-- Samuel Griffin [Chrome Dome] (as of “Fire Fox”)
-- ??? (to be revealed)
-- ??? (to be revealed)
-- ??? (to be revealed)
-- ??? (to be revealed)

- Team/Faction Affiliations
-- Dumpers [former member]
-- IntraNet [current member] (as of “Fire Fox”)
-- ??? (to be revealed)


ENEMIES:
- Griswold “Griz” Ackerson - bullied Mark in school (enemy until “Fire Fox: Homecoming”)
- Red Sullivan - Leader of the Dumpers
- ??? (to be revealed)
- ??? (to be revealed)


TRIVIA / FUN FACTS:
- Fire Fox is currently the second-smallest known member of IntraNet, the smallest being Cookies in his normal cub form.
- Fire Fox is the first character that his creator, G. Scheaffer, has ever assigned a specific birth date to.
- Pyre has an original iPod, which did not yet have iTunes support on PC.  This means that Mark E. Pyre was a Mac user, even though his creator, G. Scheaffer, is not.
- Fire Fox’s name, color scheme, and a few other details were inspired by Mozilla’s web browser of the same name.
- According to current guidelines, with Fire Fox’s new reduced height, he should be using a booster seat when piloting and/or driving.
- Fire Fox also plays six-string electric guitar and has an exceptional scratchy, Rock-style singing voice.  He also claims to be able to just “pick up and play” any other musical instrument he desires.
- Fire’s IQ of 187 puts him just slightly under that of DC’s Batman, who has an estimated IQ of 192.  This is also above the level of famous theoretical physicists, as they apparently range between 160 and 180.



***** Fire Fox was created by G. Scheaffer *****


********** Artwork created by Koopus **********


[Updated 5/4/2020]