Geekdom Madness 2017: Lego Genetics/Here Be Dragons

This week: animal-people and witty wyrms.







MATCH 1: Lego Genetics

MAN-BAT

Kirk Langstrom created a serum based on bat DNA hoping to find a cure for deafness through bat sonar. Losing his own hearing, he tested the serum on himself and became a feral half-man half-bat creature. It took Gotham's other "bat-creature" to return Langstrom to normal, and even then the Man-Bat threatens to return.

Pros:
* Capable of powered flight.
* Capable of perfect echolocation.
* Occasionally retains enough of his intelligence to work on the side of good.

Cons:
* When feral, is a danger to anything in his vicinity.
* Has convinced his wife and children to take the serum.
* Has occasionally accidentally framed Batman by being a bat-creature causing trouble in Gotham.

THE LIZARD

Curt Connors created a serum based on lizard DNA hoping to revolutionize medicine through reptiles' ability to regenerate limbs. Having lost his own arm as an army medic, he tested the serum on himself and became a feral half-man half-lizard creature. It took a visiting photographer/Spider-themed superhero to return Connors to normal, and even then the Lizard threatens to return.

Pros:
* Able to scale walls like a Gecko.
* Tough hide and enhanced regeneration make him difficult to hurt.
* Can telepathically communicate with and control nearby reptiles.

Cons:
* Intelligence levels fluctuate, and even intelligent spells have a reptilian coldness.
* Cold-blooded, and thus becomes weak and sluggish in low temperatures.
* Has occasionally accidentally created other lizard-like creatures through failed experiments.



***




MATCH 2: Here Be Dragons

CHRONORMU

Most of the Bronze Dragonflight, as the keepers of the timeways, tend to be mysterious and anti-social. Not Chronormu. For one thing, she likes to be called "Chromie". For another, her preferred mortal disguise is that of a Gnome. She still takes her duties seriously, but will happily enlist the aid and friendship of the nearest wandering adventurer.

Pros:
* Bubbly personality.
* Will never break the rules of time, but will sometimes bend them for the greater good.
* Is a dragon. 'Nuff said.

Cons:
* Seeing multiple points of time at once, will sometimes forget which one she's in.
* Her name has a traditionally male suffix for Bronze Dragons, causing much confusion.
* Is a master Photobomber.

SPYRO THE DRAGON

A young, heroic dragon who has saved his race from a gnome/orc hybrid, saved the entire realm from an ancient evil force, and joined a band of interdimensional guardians. Depending on who you ask.

Pros:
* Courageous and altruistic.
* Strong-willed and friendly.
* Is a dragon. 'Nuff said.

Cons:
* Can be cocky and arrogant.
* Needs a dragonfly to help protect him.
* Fans of his various eras can come to blows.


***


Final Verdict:
Our Match 1 contenders are essentially the same character, differentiated only by the minor details and several decades of divergent character arcs (for the record, Lizard came first, but they both share Jekyll/Hyde archetypes). So it's basically a question of whether you prefer DC or Marvel. As far as Match 2 goes, both combatants are well-known in their respective fanbases but relatively obscure otherwise. Spyro is slightly more recognizable to mainstream audiences through headlining three game series, but not by much as Chromie is getting more to do in Blizzard's various projects.

As always, make sure you're viewing the WEB version of the site and vote in the polls on the right-hand side of the screen. Polls close Friday at 5:00 p.m., and results posted on Saturday. Feel free to discuss your picks in the comments below.