Sam

Protagonist

Samuel Collins
Black Bear

Male

Late teens/early 20s

Straight

B

Right-leaning ambidextrous

Fluctuates between 175-180lbs

6’1

Brown
An unusual side-effect of Gamma is the silvery streaks of grey and white in the roots of his hair.

Sam has thick, unkempt hair that he keeps short. His layered bangs fringe over his forehead, and he often has a cowlick. His hair's back has many layers and gets shorter as it goes down, and the sides are shaved, almost like a mullet. Still, it usually needs to be reshaped because he waits several months between haircuts.

None

Dark brown with a light hazel ring around the center of the iris.

Sam has an oval-shaped face with a strong, angular jaw and high cheekbones. He has sunken eyes and a button nose. His lips are full-bodied but parched and downturned.

Human
Caucasian

A claw-shaped scar covers his left eye, starting from his forehead and extending past his cheekbone.

Pale white

Due to his active lifestyle, Sam has a muscular build and low body fat. He has a thick neck with broad, capped shoulders. His muscular chest causes loose-fitting shirts to tent slightly. Climbing and parkour have caused his stubby hands to become rough and calloused. Vascular.

Sam is ignorant, naive, and doesn't like listening to others.

ISTJ

Chaotic Good
He doesn’t mind breaking the law or going behind authority’s back to do what he believes is right. Some would describe him as an “overachiever” or a “go getter” but also as a “rebel” or “punk”.

A magic metal and a super steroid were accidentally mixed, altering Sam's biology. Sam can now perform superhuman feats with a radioactive energy known as "Gamma," which inhabits his body.

Gamma has two states: active and passive. When it lays dormant (passive), it acts as a healing factor, allowing Sam to regenerate from physical damage significantly faster than usual. If Gamma doesn't release for extended periods, Sam can store the excess energy in his body for later use. When the power is released (active), Sam's physical and mental prowess is enhanced. Gamma's active state leads to super strength, abnormal speed, and heightened cognition/senses. He has a great sense of smell and can see exceptionally well in the dark.

There are few, if any, downsides to Gamma’s passive state. However, excessive use of Gamma’s active state can significantly strain Sam’s body. Furthermore, if Sam attempts to push past this limit, prolonged Gamma usage can cause his brain and nervous system to malfunction. Side effects may include nausea, vomiting, headaches, muscle cramps, shock, or, in the most dire cases, death.

Red

English

9/21

GED

Sam’s childhood was shaped by the death of his father, who passed away when Sam was really young. He doesn’t remember much about his dad's death, but he holds onto a few strong memories, like always feeling safe in his arms. After his father’s death, Sam’s mother, once a warm presence, began to slowly withdraw emotionally. By the time Sam and Sophie hit middle school, she was hardly home, only showing up at dawn and sleeping through most of the day. Sam felt isolated because of this.

Sam found solace in the collection of comic books his father had left behind. As his mother grew more detached, Sam became even more immersed in these stories, finding comfort in the heroes and their adventures. They offered him a temporary escape from his troubled home life, giving him something to hold onto, especially when things with his mother felt like they were slipping out of his control.

Sam’s bond with his sister, Sophie, was strong, and he often took on the caretaker role in their home. Over time, the weight of responsibility wore on him, and the emotional distance between him and his mother left a lasting mark. Losing his father so young and watching his mother fade away taught him that people can go and that reality stuck with him. Sam’s world became one of quiet isolation, relying on his love for comics and his inner strength to cope.

Sam’s life changed when a powerful incident unlocked immense abilities within him. This ultimately led to Sam drawing the attention of real-life supervillain, Kitty, who takes the life of his sister, Sophie. Grieving and seeking revenge against the one responsible, Sam became Black Bear—a superhero consumed by his desire for revenge. His obsession with defeating Kitty took over, blinding him to the bigger picture.

Sam was soon recruited into a superhero team with a mission to stop those involved with Kitty. As part of the team, he faced challenges in learning to work with others while still grappling with his grief and need for revenge. His journey as a hero is just beginning, and Sam knows he has a long way to go in understanding what it truly means to protect people.

Amy Collins

Chad Collins

Sophie Collins

Sam’s emotional journey is one of growth, where he starts to shift from an obsession with revenge and personal guilt to an understanding of what it means to protect others. As he processes his grief, he slowly starts to repair his relationships and find a healthier balance between his Black Bear persona and his humanity.