Thanks for reading the latest in our ongoing series of “insider information” from the world of City of Heroes/City of Villains. Each weekend, Paul Brooks, superhero with a checkered past, updates us with his latest investigative reports from the front lines in the classic battle between good and evil. Missed the first few? Here they are:

• http://gamesareevil.com/2009/10/pc-city-heroes-evil/
• http://gamesareevil.com/2009/11/story-city-heroes-city-villains/
• http://gamesareevil.com/2009/11/evil-city-heroes-city-villains/
• http://gamesareevil.com/2009/12/city-villains-evil/

Subject: Tickle Machine
Real Name: Jurgen Teasdale IV
Other Aliases: Hoppy
Place of Birth: Unknown
Marital status: Single
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 275 lbs.

Known Powers: Tickle Machine has trained himself in the art of fighting. He is a master at both offensive and defensive styles of brawling and street fighting. After his formal induction onto the 7th Egg dynasty, Machine has specialized in shield based combat. Mystic supernatural strength has also been bestowed upon him by The Great Egg. He can press somewhere around 2 tons by my estimation. I have seen his shield withstand a depleted uranium shell from an Abrams equivalent tank. Tickle Machine also uses a serum of unknown origin to transform his gender. He claims this is to ,”keep them on their toes.”

Case Log:Tickle Machine is a work horse for the dealings of the 7th Egg Dynasty. He is commonly deployed with Doctor Heavy Hand for jobs involving collections and general intimidation. When working he is quiet. I do not believe that this is out of choice, but because he wears a gag into combat. The reason for this gag may stem from the source of his powers. It would seem that the Great Egg made a deal with some sort of mischievous demon to get supernatural strength granted to Tickle Machine. This demon wants its subject to be in a state of annoyance or embarrassment or the powers may fade. It is my belief that is why he is willing to inject himself into his alternate identity of “Hoppy”.

As Hoppy he is a lot more friendly, but this tends to make other members of the 7th Egg Dynasty uncomfortable. Tickle Machine seems quite at home as a man or a woman. In this form I learned over some drinks about his past. As near as I could calculate, Tickle was a bouncer for close to twenty years before becoming a super-villain. He was most proud of his time as head bouncer for Club Deutschland. While bouncing there, he became a member of the S&M underground of Independence Port. It was this membership that I think gave him his ideas for the various costumes that I have observed.

Pocket D opened its doors shortly after the closing of Club Deutschland and Tickle Machine was sure with his connections that he would become the head bouncer. Management frowned upon his sadistic personal life and would not have anything beyond a brief interview that ended up with Tickle Machine being escorted out of his meeting. While walking home he met the Bad Egg and was recruited immediately into the 7th Egg Dynasty as a disciplinarian. I do not believe this man to be evil in nature. I think he could be a source in bringing this whole Dynasty to a close.