|
Roster
Hero Corps currently has over one hundred franchises around the world and employs
dozens upon dozens of "homegrown" heroes. Below are those individuals who have been identified as members of the
organization.
Current HQ: Hero Corps has over 100 franchises, each with its own headquarters.
However, they have no franchise in Paragon
City at this time. The official HC Training Campus is located in Provence.
Turf: Each Hero Corps franchise protects a distinct area, such as a
city or small country. Hero Corps franchises are responsible for defending Mexico City,
Rio, Jakarta, and Johannesburg,
among other regions.
Benefits/Rewards
·Unknown. It's still unclear whether Paragon
City heroes will have the opportunity to join a Hero Corps franchise. If so, Hero
Corps may provide training and missions.
History
Hero Corps is the brainchild of Rebecca Foss, a wealthy London
born executive. In 1993, "Foss happened to be in Moscow on business when the Valiant
Defenders had their public grand opening. She immediately saw not only the potential for good the group could accomplish in
a chaotic country like Russia, but also the tremendous profits that could be made along the way. Already street vendors were
selling Valiant Defenders T-shirts. Valiant Defenders memorabilia (as well as home videos of their first public battle) ended
up selling to news organizations around the world for hundreds of thousands of dollars each. Foss saw huge potential for franchising
such hero organizations around the world, especially in developing markets where the local government did not have the resources
or know-how to establish effective super-powered organizations on their own.
Foss returned home, drafted a business plan, and hired the superhero known as Luminary
to become the fledgling company's worldwide spokesperson. "In 1995, Foss and Luminary joined
hands and cut the ribbon on the world’s very first Hero Corps (HC) franchise, located in Mexico
City. This first Corps team consisted entirely of home grown, Mexican heroes, although they received
most of their training at the Hero Corps Training Campus in Provence under Luminary’s
watchful eye. The HC Mexico City proved a resounding success, and later that year three more franchises opened up in Rio,
Jakarta, and Johannesburg. In each
case, the HC always employed local heroes who operated under the guidance of corporate executives.
"In every area
where Hero Corps set up shop, crime decreased dramatically. Most cities paid for this wonderful service through bond measures
and special taxes -- a fact the drew the ire of many who took a dim view of public money paying what they considered outrageous
fees to a private multinational corporation. One puzzling side effect that Hero Corps public relations has tried to downplay
is that, while crime rates drop in most cases, each city has actually seen an increase in super-powered crime. It’s
almost as if opening a Hero Corps franchise attracts costumed villains. Conspiracy theorists claim that the Hero Corps itself
creates these super powered crises in order to justify their high fees. While there is no proof for such accusations, many
cannot help but wonder if there might be some truth to them.
"With over thirty franchises spanning the globe by 1998,
Hero Corps tried to open its first U.S. based franchise in
Paragon City. This seemed a strange choice, and many stockholders and financial
analysts questioned the wisdom of the move. Luminary made a three-week publicity tour through the city, touting all the benefits
Hero Corps had to offer. His efforts were politely but firmly rebuffed by the existing hero organizations, particularly the
Freedom Phalanx and the Dawn Patrol. They both assured the city that all of its needs would be seen to, and that they need
not pay high costs. Hero Corps rejoined that, should the city sign up with their services, they might pay a premium price,
but in return, rather than relying on the whims of independent vigilantes, the city would have a super-powered organization
that was answerable directly to the city government.
"The debate grew quite acrimonious, and much was made of the
Freedom Phalanx’s decision to declare itself outside the politics and laws of any one nation. Many wondered just how
committed to the local problems such groups could be. Advocates for the city’s existing heroes countered with accusations
that Hero Corps seemed to cause more trouble than it solved and that the city’s safety should not be sold to the lowest
bidder. Luminary replied that Hero Corps was actually the highest bidder and that surely the existing heroes wouldn’t
mind if they had a little more help around the city while they were off saving the entire world.
"In 1999, Hero Corps
bought property and began building a facility in Paragon City,
despite public resistance. The construction process suffered delay after delay due to protests, sabotage, and periodic attacks
by previously unknown super-powered criminals. When the building was mere days from completion, a mysterious gang of power
armor-clad soldiers descended on the construction site, overwhelmed the security and literally leveled the structure to the
ground. This disastrous attack polarized the city, with many seeing Hero Corps as a magnet for danger and controversy and
others saying that the city’s existing heroes were afraid of competition. Hero Corps was prepared to pull out of the
city after this, having spent five times their budget already.
"Then Crey Industries
made an offer to subsidize the new Hero Corps facility. The Countess Crey made several public appearances lauding the corporation’s
work over seas and stating that she had high expectations for HC Paragon City. Everything seemed set for another attempt at
building the facility when the city zoning board revoked Hero Corps construction permits. A series of legal maneuverings proved
costly but ineffective for Hero Corps, as every political door suddenly seemed closed. The Countess Crey told anyone who would
listen that the Freedom Phalanx, and Statesman in particular, were using their influence to block Hero Corps’ efforts.
Ultimately, Hero Corps had to withdraw from the city after all, but the whole process left a bad taste in the mouths of many
Paragon City residents."
Despite the organization's experience in Paragon
City, Hero Corps has been an extremely successful venture. So successful, in fact,
that it has spawned many imitators. Known as "super mercs," such outfits often engage in illegal activity in the service of
high-paying corporations. In 2000, the United Nations formed the Special Council on Super Human Activities, which is tasked
with monitoring super human threats around the globe. "Ironically, the biggest beneficiary of the Special Council’s
efforts has been Hero Corps, who lobbied hard for the council’s creation. With over 100 franchises world wide in 2001,
Hero Corps is the group most often called upon to act on the Special Council’s recommendations."
The current state of Hero Corps is unknown. It has been documented that Hero
Corps members investigated the initial Rikti incursions, and it can be assumed that many of these same heroes rushed to defend
their home countries during the subsequent invasion. Sadly, like the Freedom Phalanx and other organizations, Hero Corps was
reduced to a handful of its most resilient members. Whether Foss and Luminary have been able to recruit new members to replenish
their depleted ranks has not been disclosed.
|
