The book is a solid addition to the Super Powered line of products, and a nice addition to the M&M line of products. The characters are well thought out and nicely illustrated. They're great stand ins for the various characters inhabiting the Marvel universe, while having their own unique feel to them.

The latest release in Sketchpad Studios line of Acts of Villainy/Acts of Heroism line is the hero Brimstone. It's also the first of "Iconic" releases, which detail some of the more prominent heroes of the Tribute Universe.

As with other entries in the series, it come with a character illustration, information on the character’s background, his motivations, an overview of his powers/abilities, as well as information on his employment, Paraphernalia, his associates, and two other versions of the character as his abilities have changed over the years.

While there are some typos, I really don’t have any major gripes about this one, as this is a fun character that GMs should be able to get a bit of mileage out of in their campaigns. I can easily see him being used as an NPC there to help the PCs out from time to time, or acting as a mentor to younger heroes.

Just a quick review, as I'm strapped for time. This is a fun little adventure, something you can knock out in one session, and can be easily rolled into an ongoing campaign. It's got an old school "feel" to it. I liked it.

Pandemic is another release in the Green Ronin Games line of Rouges Gallery character supplements. As with other releases in the series, this entry contains information on the character’s background and origin; his personality; and overview of his powers; his enemies; and a plot hook for GMs. There’s also a brief side bar with a warning for GMs on potential problems his power set could cause. Due to his rather unique powers, things could become quite ugly for PCs if they’re not careful when dealing with him.

Pandemic has got to be one of the more original characters appearing in the Emerald City campaign setting. He’s a former research scientist, searching for possible cures to various super diseases. Unfortunately for him, expose to alien DNA had some serious side effects, which resulted in him being transformed into a walking plague. He’s dangerous, very dangerous, as his abilities make him highly contagious. PCs would be well advised to take extreme care when dealing with him

I like this guy. He’s got a distinct look and feel to him, that’s rather unique. His powers, if used as written, will provide for some interesting game play, especially if one or more of the PCs, or someone close to them, becomes infected. I’m giving this one 5 out of 5.

The Homeguard is the first of what I hope to be a number of releases detailing the various hero groups inhabiting the Tribute Universe. It provides PDF provides details on the setting's premiere hero team, including full write ups on six members of teh current team; details of their HQ; information on some of the standard equipment the team uses; an overview of the team's history and bits of information on past team members; as well as details how the team gets along with the government and is perceived by the public.

The six character write-ups included detail their origin story (how they gained their powers), as well as other background information, an overview of their powers, personalities, and tactics, as well as other usual pieces of information to make it easier for GMs to integrate them into a game.

What I really like about this one is that it "feels" like I'm reading the history of an actual comic book super team, and one that I'd like to know more about. Namely the former and reserve members of the team. These guys are just flat out fun characters and ones that I could easily see fitting into a game I was running.

My one gripe is that the intro states there are seven current members, but only six are detailed. After speaking with the author, he's stated that this will be corrected in a future update.

Alpamech is the latest release in Word Monkey Studios ALGERNON Files Deluxe Edition line of releases. As with previous entries in the line, we get the standard entries covering his backstory/origin, personality, goals, powers/abilities, and sections with advise on integrating him into an ongoing game. Sidebars on some of the many companies, (namely the ones who had a hand in constructing Alphmech), populating the Algernon Files universe.

Alphmech is a robot housing the consciousness of a former Marine Corps officer, created using reverse engineered alien tech. Due to certain unforeseen circumstances, such as the meddling of a hi-tech criminal organization, he's now trapped in this robotic body, and has a mad on for those he feels responsible for his current situation. He's literally on a warpath to make them pay, destroying any and all who get in his way. Equipped with a wide range of exotic weapons systems and coming in at PL12, he's more than capable of dishing out damage to any heroes who cross his path. His defense ensure he can take a beating just as well as he can dish it out.

I like this guy, he's a tank, but a smart one. He uses his brain as much as his brawn. And if characters do a little digging, they'll find out there's more to him than just some crazed robot out to tear up the countryside.

Abraxas is another release in the updated version of Word Monkey Studios line of Algernon Files releases. Like other entries in the series he includes information on his history and background, personality, powers/abilities, his goals, and resources available to him. We also get sidebars on characters and organizations he's worked or come into contact over the years, as well as several of his many enemies.

To be blunt, Abaxas can best be described as is a con man, a modern day mystical snake oil salesman out to get over on you. He's the type of guy that if he shakes your hand, check to see if you've still got your wrist watch on. He brings a lot of baggage along with him, as he's managed to tick off pretty much every mystic themed character in the Algernon Files universe at some point in time. Namely because he can't be trusted.

Overall I like him, as he'll make for an interesting bit of role playing. If played right, I could easily see him making for some interesting comic relief, as well as bringing a bit of unintended danger to a group of PCs as his enemies come looking for him. I can definitely see him stirring up some trouble and then taking off for parts unknown while leaving the PCs holding the bag.

Blackbone is another of the mystically themed villains appearing in the Algernon Files universe. Like other releases in the Algernon File series, the PDF provides information on the character’s origin, his motivations, personality, a brief quote, a description of the character’s powers/abilities, a set of stats for 3rd edition M&M, as well as a snippet of conversation between the two of the denizens of the setting discussing Blackbone. There are also a sidebar providing information on some of the various characters and organizations discussed in his background, tips on how a GM can integrate him into a game.

As far as Blackbone goes, he’s the “Michael Myers” of the mystic world, as this guy hates magic users, and just can’t seem to die. Burn him, crush him, cut him up into little pieces, banish him to another plane, and he just keeps coming back to cause the heroes problems. He makes a nice recurring foe for mystic/magical heroes (and villains for that matter), as there’s no easy way to get rid of him.

The Eclipse Syndicate is the only group entry, so far, in Green Ronin Games line of Rouges Gallery supplements. Like other entries in the series it consists of several standard subsections dealing with the group’s history, motivations/goals, their tactics, and resources available to the team, before delving into descriptions of individual team members.

As far as content goes, the Eclipse Syndicate consists of four members, all female, each being a clone, but with a distinctly different power set. With the exception of one member, they’re all PL10 characters, who can easily be dropped into any ongoing campaign. The group makes its living acting as super powered muscle for hire, and fill out that role nicely.

My one complaint, and it’s no fault of the writer, is that I feel that this should have been a slightly larger product, with some additional info on the members of the team. Coming in at 5 pages, with only 3 pages devoted to actual content, it feels a bit “cramped”. I’d have gladly paid extra for the additional content. Don’t get me wrong, I like the supplement I just wanted a bit “more” from it.

Overall, I’m giving this one four out of five stars.

I'll start this one off by stating that I have soft spot for super soldier themed characters, but with that said, I love the concept for this guy. Like the other entries in Green Ronin's Rouges Gallery line of releases, Arctic Fox is laid out in standardized format, consisting of the character's backstory, info on his personality, a brief overview of his powers/abilities, as well as a few notes on potential allies and any enemies he may face. All followed up with a few plot hooks to kick start the GMs creative juices. There's also a bit of fiction tossed in, in the form an email from an AEGIS special agent concerning Arctic Fox's run in with military personnel.

As far as Artic Fox goes, he's a grizzled old Cold Warrior. A former Soviet super soldier now in semi-retirement, who mainly takes on contracts to support his family. But don't let his age fool you, this guy is tough. As in Taskmaster or Deathstroke: the Terminator tough. In addition to superhuman levels attributes, he's got a small arsenal of advanced weaponry to call on. I could easily see him being used by a GM for a recurring character in a campaign.

If you haven't figured it out yet, I really like this guy, and highly recommend you check him out.

The Alchemist is the latest addition to the Word Monkey Studios Deluxe Algernon Files line. Like previous releases in the series, it contains some standard elements such as the character’s background, powers, and tactics, as well as a few unique tidbits of info to allow GMs to integrate him into their games.

At Power Level 14, the Alchemist is definitely one of the Algernon Files heavy hitters. He’s got a very nasty array of mystical abilities, which when combined with his experience, and attitude (I’m evil and I like it), make him an extremely dangerous opponent for players to face. Make no mistake about it… this guy is not to be toyed with.

As far as his possible use in a campaign goes, The Alchemist fills the role of the evil master mage. He’s embraced his role in the world, and revels in it, flaunting his power and toying with his victims. I can easily see him as a recurring villain for a group, or powerful mystical/magical themed character.

His background, which is deliberately vague in certain areas, leaves a number of options open for GMs to insert him into their games, as well as giving them a bit of “wiggle room” as to his exact origin.

Over all, I like this one and give it five out of five.

Capt. Archon is the latest release in Vigilance Press' Rouges, Rivals, and Renegades line of products, for use with Green Ronin Games Mutants and Masterminds 3rd Edition. Like most of the previous releases in the series it presents a single character profile, providing GMs with background information, an overview of the characters powers, abilities, and any equipment they may have access to. It also provides information on the character's personality and suggestions on how the character can be integrated into a game.

In the case of Capt. Archon, she's a hard nosed no non-sense Air Force officer, who, if run as suggested, can come across as a bit of a hard ass. She proud to wear the uniform of a military officers, and believes in what she's doing. She takes her role seriously and lets it be known that she thinks others should as well. I like her, as it's a nice change of pace to see a well developed military themed character, who's not some knuckle dragging thug, or a government stooge. She's also got an interested power set, and not one you would think of when seeing a "power armor" character. I think if played correctly, she'd make a great addition to any modern themed superhero campaign.

Like other entries in the Acts of Villainy line, Emperor Penguin contains a brief intro by the author, the full color illustration, info on his origin/background, brief overview of his abilities, a few other misc. bits of information to make it easier for GMs to integrate him into their games, and full stats for and power write-ups for 3rd Edition Mutants and Masterminds.

Content wise, Emperor Penguin has got to be one of the most original villains I've seen for any gaming system, and that alone rates a couple of stars in my book. But that's not the only thing this release has going for it. He's got a very unusual, if not down right strange, strange, but well written backstory; some fun details on his personality; and details on his lair, as what master villain would be caught dead without one. But don't be fooled by his appearance, he's deadly, and heroes who take him lightly could find themselves in a bind very quickly.

Of the various "Mastermind" villains released for this series, he's my personal favorite.

Fright Knight has to be one of the more interesting releases I've seen in quite a while. He's definitely not what I was expecting when I saw the preview artwork, and I don't want to spoil the surprise by giving away to much. I will say he's got a very interesting power set, and should make for some fun gaming when PCs encounter him. Especially when they assume certain things about him based on his looks. I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 stars, as I think both GMs and Players will really enjoy dealing with this guy. If nothing else, he'll keep your PCs guessing.

I'll tell guys this up front. I'm A long time fan of the Algernon Files series of products. I was a playtester for the 2.0 version and a backer of the 3.0 Kickstarter from Blackwyrm. But, with that said, I think I give any product I review a fair shake. On to the review itself.

Carapace is the ingural release from Aaron Sullivan's Wordmonkey Studios. It's also a continuation of his long running Algernon Files setting originally published by Blackwyrm Games, for Green Ronin Games Mutants and Masterminds RPG. The PDF itself consists of 6 pages. The first page is a cover displaying a small image of what appears to be a holographic image, of who I'm assuming to be Algernon, (for those of you unfamiliar with the setting, Algernon is a sentient A.I. computer system used by the settings default hero group, the Sentinels), as well as a partial image of Carapace. The second page consists of information on the publisher, as well as the now standard OGL information required to be included in any OGL product. The third page provides a full sized color image of Carapace, a truly menacing one at that, as well as a snippet of an email conversation between Algernon and Magnus Challenger, of the Challenger Institute, describing a recent encounter between Carapace and the Sentinels. Pages 5 and 6 provide Carapace's background information, info on his personality, his combat tactics, goals, and overview of his powers/abilities, and suggestions on how GMs can employ him in their games. the 6th and final page provides his 3rd edition M&M gaming stats (I'm suspecting this particular layout choice was made to allow the last page contain gaming stats for other systems at some point in the future).

While I do like the layout, I do have one gripe, it's the font size used for the conversation between Algernon and Magnus Challenger. I've got near perfect eye sight and it was hard for me to read, I can't imagine what it's going to be like for someone who wears glasses or whose vision is worse than mine. Don't get me wrong. I like the release, and will pick up more, as their released, I'm just hoping that any future releases will take this into account.

For those of you wondering, Carapace is a PL14 character, and he is to put it simply, a beast. Even powerful teams of characters will be hard pressed to slow him down, much less actually defeat him. He's an almost unstoppable juggernaut, which is exactly the roll he's designed to fill in a game. Aaron's done a good job of capturing the "feel" of this type of character, as well as providing some suggestions on how PCs can deal with him if he's encounters.

Overall, I'm giving this one four out of five stars, as I feel confident that GMs will be able to get some mileage out of this one.