Punch Up

Punch Up began his career as a carnival strongman, but his life changed forever when he made a deal with a sorceress. In exchange for supernatural muscular growth, his body shrank to half its original height, leaving him a pint-sized powerhouse. Before joining the Phoenix Program, he lived in extreme poverty—describing himself as someone who "didn't have a pot to piss in"—and was largely supported by his partner, Coupé. The two shared a tumultuous but deep bond; their relationship took a bizarre turn when Coupé attempted to assassinate him in his apartment. She found him in tears watching Swan Lake, and after a violent, sexually-charged skirmish that left Punch Up naked and complimentary of her beauty, the two reconciled and eventually signed up for the Z-Team together.

Despite their romantic breakup, Punch Up and Coupé remain on excellent terms, functioning as a synchronized duo within the SDN. Before the Z-Team was fully formed under its current leadership, Punch Up was present during the "Crypto Night" incident at a local bar. He accompanied Flambae as they confronted Robert Robertson (operating as Mecha Man). Punch Up watched as Robert humiliated Flambae—either by dousing him in water or accidentally setting his hair on fire with alcohol—though his attempts to help his friend were largely ineffective.

When Robert was later hired as the Z-Team’s dispatcher, Punch Up recognized him from the bar but failed to realize he was actually the hero who had defeated Flambae. He dismissively described the new dispatcher as a "robot guy without a robot," believing Robert was simply a man drinking his sorrows away. Despite this initial lack of respect, Punch Up brought his carnival-honed strength and strange, magical biology to the Phoenix Program, serving as one of the team’s most durable and heavy-hitting front-liners.

Appearance: Punch Up is a short, muscular man with short black hair, a mustache, and green eyes. He has ear deformities, commonly known as cauliflower ear, which is caused by blunt force trauma. During work he uses a button-up green shirt, with brown suspenders and pants. He has a large rose tattoo on his left forearm.

Personality: Punch Up is a charming, if notably dimwitted, brawler who navigates his heroic duties with a mixture of self-deprecating humor, startling naivety, and his strong Dublin accent. He is fully aware of his intellectual shortcomings, often jokingly promising to "use his head" after a failed mission or laughing about how fast his "short legs" can carry him to a crime scene. His grasp on reality is frequently colored by absurd questions—such as earnestly asking his teammates if cauliflower ear is an STD—which makes him oddly endearing despite his violent profession.

Beneath his affable exterior lies a restless, bloodthirsty streak. Punch Up thrives on physical confrontation and becomes visibly dejected if a shift passes without a fight. His moral compass is often secondary to his desire to throw a punch; he fondly reminisces about "punching bums" in the neighborhoods where he used to live and has even expressed genuine dismay when realizing he isn't allowed to punch a child during a call. He fears his "best days" of raw, unbridled street fighting might be behind him, leading him to seek out any excuse for a scrap.

Adding to his "carnival-rough" persona is a blatant dependency on alcohol. He frequently asks his dispatcher for a "pint on the road" and considers a successful mission incomplete until the first round of drinks has been poured.

As a result of his magical pact, Punch Up possesses superhuman strength equivalent to the power of ten grown men. His durability is equally supernatural; he exhibits a localized immunity to penetrative weaponry, such as knives, which fail to pierce his dense muscle tissue. However, this protection is not absolute. While he can shrug off stabs and punctures, he remains vulnerable to blunt force trauma—such as a broken nose—suggesting that high-impact concussive energy can still cause significant injury where blades cannot.

Beyond raw physical force, Punch Up possesses the rare ability of picnokinesis, allowing him to manipulate the molecular density of his own body or the objects he handles. While he often relies on his sheer muscle mass, this power likely underpins his incredible resilience and weight. He also displays a complete immunity to pain, which allows him to maintain a relentless assault in conditions that would incapacitate others. A prime example is his ability to repeatedly strike the villain Toxic, whose body is coated in highly corrosive material, without flinching or slowing his momentum.

To supplement his defensive capabilities, Punch Up has a minor healing factor that rapidly seals smaller wounds. While he is not entirely immortal, minor lacerations and puncture wounds—such as glass shards embedded in his skin—have been seen healing almost instantly upon removal. This combination of magical density, pain suppression, and rapid recovery makes him a nearly unstoppable brawler, capable of wading through hazardous environments to deliver devastating close-quarters strikes.

Relationships: Robert Robertson: Punch Up has a relatively high level of faith in Robert’s tactical capabilities, betting that he would last longer in the dispatch chair than the rest of the team expected. However, his respect is tempered by his memory of Robert at a local bar; he still tends to view the man as a "washed-up robot boy" who lost his armor and was reduced to drinking his sorrows away alone. Despite this cynical view of Robert's past, he follows his commands—mostly because they lead him to the next scrap.

Coupé: His closest partner and former lover, Coupé remains the most significant person in Punch Up's life. Their relationship began under absurd circumstances when she was sent to assassinate him, only to find her knives useless against his magically toughened skin while he was distracted by a performance of Swan Lake. That encounter blossomed into a romance that eventually settled into a supportive, highly competitive friendship. They are constantly trading jabs—Punch Up teasing her for her mishaps and Coupé playfully warning him not to fall behind—but they share a deep-seated fear of showing weakness. Both are terrified of the other finding out about a failed mission, knowing the winner would tease the loser for weeks.

Superhero Dispatch Network, abbreviated as SDN, is an organization that dispatches superheroes to help subscribers who call in for assistance. The Torrance Branch is a three-story nondescript office building located around the center of its SDN converge map. The outside of the building is made mostly out of glass and dark gray concrete with a blocky square design that surrounds a green space in the center. It also has multiple communication dishes and towers on the roof along with the SDN logo on the side of the building. Inside the building is a blend of 90s tech and muted color pallets along with a few more modern areas giving the building a both retro yet modern look to it. Officially, the Branch Director Blonde Blazer characterizes the facility as a "low-profile" hub, preferring to highlight the "quality of its personnel" rather than its standing in the corporate hierarchy. Despite its lackluster performance metrics, the branch serves as the primary testing ground for the SDN’s controversial "Phoenix Program." This experimental rehabilitation initiative integrates ex-supervillains, anti-heroes, and even active inmates into the workforce, rebranding these volatile assets as the "Z-Team" in a high-risk effort to redirect their destructive capabilities toward sanctioned hero work.

[Z-Team members -

Sonar: A highly intelligent former criminal with a drug addiction, Sonar possesses the physiology of a bat, granting him flight, echolocation, and a monstrous "Megabat" form. Though arrogant about his Harvard education and often abrasive, he is deeply loyal to his friends, particularly Malevola, who serves as his Narcotics Anonymous sponsor.

Flambae: A hot-headed pyromaniac with a history of arson, Flambae wields powerful pyrokinesis that allows him to fly and project flames, though he is surprisingly vulnerable without them. Despite his quick temper and tendency to bully teammates like Waterboy, he views the Z-Team as his close confidants and is fiercely protective of his friend, Prism.

Invisigal: Formerly known as "Invisibitch," she is a stubborn and reckless hero with the power of invisibility who struggles with the belief that her destiny is tied to her powers. She shares a close, mentor-student bond with Blonde Blazer, who helped rehabilitate her image, though her impulsive decisions often put the team at risk.

Coupé: A shadowy, former assassin capable of "Umbrakinesis," Coupé can manipulate darkness to create weapons, fly, and strike with superhuman accuracy. She is generally laid-back enough, but has a vindictive streak, though she is still very close with her ex, Punch Up.

Punch Up: Possessing "Picnokinesis" (density manipulation), superhuman strength, and pain immunity, Punch Up is a durable brawler who enjoys card games in his downtime. He is socially adaptable, hanging out with Flambae and forming a surprisingly sweet, romantic connection with his ex, Coupé.

Malevola: A half-demon sorceress from Australia, Malevola can create portals, absorb life-force to heal others, and transfer wounds, all while wielding a sword and prehensile tail. She is one of the most emotionally mature members of the team, often acting as a level-headed mediator, though she has a mischievous side and can get annoyed easily.

Golem: A stoic and stable presence on the team, Golem is a morphological being with earth mimicry and regenerative healing who remains unaffected by the team's low morale during crises. Little is known about his personal life, but he is reliable in a fight and seems to share a quiet camaraderie with the other "freaks" (notably Visi) of the Phoenix Program.

Prism: Capable of photokinesis and holographic manipulation, Prism can bend light to create illusions and ionize particles for attacks. She is an online celebrity known for her music and Flambae's best friend, also sharing a playful, gambling-loving personality that leads her to make cash bets with Malevola on team outcomes.

Waterboy A timid hero-in-training who generates bodily fluids and possesses a "hydro breath" attack, Waterboy suffers from a stutter and is often the target of Flambae's bullying. Despite his lack of confidence, he is a dedicated fan of Phenomaman and is eager to prove himself, treating his superiors with extreme, sometimes unappreciated, respect.

Phenomaman An alien powerhouse with Superman-like strength, flight, and solar energy absorption, Phenomaman is polite but socially oblivious, often making things awkward with accidental backhanded compliments. He battles deep depression following his breakup with Blonde Blazer, often "trauma dumping" on strangers, but finds new purpose and friendship within the Z-Team.]

The Red Ring is an infamous and powerful crime syndicate of enhanced supervillains operating in Torrance led by Shroud. Members of the Red Ring notably have augments that enhance superhero powers or even give superpowers to those who don't have them. The augments produce a red light when implanted, possibly resulting in the name choice for the villain group.