American Hero - George R. R. Martin Page 0,2
met each other for the first time and were divided into four teams. Some of the aces seemed clearly starstruck, especially when meeting their host for the event, Peregrine herself. Rustbelt, our metal man from northern Minnesota, and Earth Witch, from the desolate New Mexico desert, seemed out of their element. Others, like rock star Drummer Boy, felt right at home. Some celebrities are born. At the end of these twelve weeks, we’ll see which celebrities get made.
Hearts, Spades, Diamonds, Clubs. Four teams, twenty-eight wild card powers, endless possibilities. This may be the greatest display of aces ever assembled.
But who is the greatest? Only one can be the American Hero.
Meet the Team . . .
THE DIAMONDS ARE OUR WORLD’S BEST FRIENDS.
Meet the Diamonds . . .
MICHELLE is always blowing bubbles, but best not stand too close when they start bursting. She’s
THE AMAZING BUBBLES!
Michelle LaFleur
New York, New York
HOWARD is the man that Jetboy would have been. He’s seen The Jolson Story, but his own tale is just beginning. Make way for
JETMAN!
Howard Hawkwood
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
IVAN is full of surprises. Like Mother Russia, the more you pound on him, the more you have to deal with. He’s
MATRYOSHKA!
Ivan Kazakova
Brighton Beach, New York
MEGAN was dirt-poor growing up, but now she’s learned to shine. A regular diamond in the rough is our
TIFFANI!
Megan McKnee
Boone, West Virginia
JOE be nimble, Joe be quick, Joe can snatch your candlestick. You better bring your best game if you want to go one-on-one with
JOE TWITCH!
Joe Moritz
Baltimore, Maryland
EMILY is the fastest grrl on wheels. Don’t blink, or you’ll miss her whizzing by. There, that’s her, that
BLRR!
Emily Paige
Sunnyvale, California
Don’t you dare call RAJ handicapped. His servants wouldn’t take kindly to it. Step aside and clear a path for
THE MAHARAJAH!
Raj Chaturvedi
Seattle, Washington
Meet the Team . . .
TROUBLE COMES IN SPADES.
Meet the Spades . . .
That girl CLEO gets around. Pop, she’s here, pop, she’s there, pop, she’s just behind you. Watch out for
CLEOPATRA!
Cleonida Simpson
Montgomery, Alabama
RACHEL has the bestest collection of stuffies anywhere. They’re all so soft and cute and cuddly, just like
DRAGON HUNTRESS!
Rachel Weinstein
Bayonne, New Jersey
An iron man from the Iron Range, WALLY has steel in his fists and a furnace for a heart. Rust never sleeps, and neither does
RUSTBELT!
Wally “Rusty” Gunderson
Mountain Iron, Minnesota
THE KING is the mystery man from down along the border. Where is he from? What can he do? Who dares to look beneath the mask of
KING COBALT!
name unknown
Somewhere in California
There’s never a loser when ROSA deals the cards. Diva or demon, snake or lion, even death itself, they’re all in the hands of
ROSA LOTERIA!
Guadelupe Maria del Rosario Garza
East Los Angeles, California
ALI likes to dust things up. The girl has got a little devil in her. From the land of Elvis and the Living Gods comes
SIMOON!
Aliyah Malik
Las Vegas, Nevada
JOHN burns bright by day and night in half a hundred hues. Let those who hide in darkness cower, and beware the light of
THE CANDLE!
John Montano
Durango, Colorado
Meet the Team . . .
EVERYONE WANTS TO BELONG TO THE CLUBS!
Meet the Clubs . . .
BUFORD hails from down the swamp. Some say he’s just a good ol’ boy, but he’s got him one mean tongue. Folks go green when they see
TOAD MAN!
Buford Calhoun
Loxahatchee, Florida
JAMAL takes a licking and keeps on ticking. Shoot him, stab him, burn him, and he’ll be back for more. No one can stop
STUNTMAN!
Jamal Norwood
Inglewood, California
The best-laid plans develop hiccups when PAUL’s around. He makes men cry “Gesundheit,” and women cry, “Oh, yes, oh, yes, oh, yes.”
SPASM!
Paul Blackwell
Denver, Colorado
PEARL knows all the secrets of the sea, and speaks the language of the dolphins and the whales. Go deep with
DIVER!
Pearl Olsen
Honolulu, Hawaii
TOM soars above his ancient lands on proud, strong wings, watching, guarding, remembering. Look, up in the sky, it’s
BRAVE HAWK!
Tom Diedrich
Benson, Arizona
HALEY floats like a butterfly and hits like a pile driver. Light as a feather in the wind, hard as ton of steel, that’s our
JADE BLOSSOM!
Haley Mok
Redondo Beach, California
THADDEUS will knock you down, roll over you, and save your soul. Cry hallelujah, brother, and pray you don’t get in the way of
HOLY ROLLER!
Rev. Thaddeus Wintergreen
Natchez, Mississippi
Meet the Team . . .
HELP IS WHERE THE HEARTS ARE.
Meet the Hearts . . .
ANA delves deep. Stone and soil, clay and sand, they’re all putty in her hands. She’s
EARTH WITCH!
Ana Cortez
Las Vegas, New Mexico
KATE’s the all-American girl with the all-American arm. She’ll zip it past you or throw it through you. Nobody can hit
CURVEBALL!
Kathleen Brandt
Portland, Oregon
MIKE’s large, he’s loud, he’s pierced, he has six arms and attitude to spare. He’ll rock you and he’ll roll you.