Flambae
Anger issues. Unsurprising history of Arson. Designed his own suit.
Fire
Fighter
#ffb371Flambae, real name Chad, is a supporting character in Dispatch and a minor character in the "Splash" comic. He is a reformed villain employed as a superhero by the Superhero Dispatch Network (SDN) under the Phoenix Program.
Biography
Background
At some point, Flambae moved from Afghanistan to the United States, where he used his powers to become a villain, committing multiple acts of arson. This would eventually earn him the attention of Robert Robertson, better known as Mecha Man Blue. During a fateful battle with the hero, Flambae would lose his right pinky and ring finger.
At some point, he enrolled in the SDN's Phoenix Program, becoming a member of the Z-Team.
Pivot
After Blonde Blazer escorts Robert to Crypto Night, she briefly steps away to clean up after Robert accidentally spits alcohol on her. Flambae, recognising him as Mecha Man, confronts him with Coupé and Punch Up, attempting to intimidate him into leaving the bar. Annoyed by Robert's dismissive attitude, he accuses Robert of acting like he doesn't remember him, and is further insulted by him sarcastically guessing his hero name.
Flambae crowds Robert in at the bar, stating his hero name and boasting about his powers, threatening Robert by igniting his hand, which causes Robert to remember him as the 'shitty villain' he once fought. Angered, Flambae corrects him, and tries to threaten him again into leaving, which is interrupted by Robert dousing him with either water or alcohol.
If doused with water, an infuriated Flambae attempts to charge and throw a punch at Robert, but slips on the spill and smashes his tooth against the bar surface before crashing against the floor, dazed. Coupé checks on him and suggests that they visit a hospital, with Punch Up stating they need to visit a dentist instead, retrieving Flambae's tooth and submerging it in the remaining iced water, saying they can get it reattached. The pair escorts Flambae out, bracing him against them.
If doused with alcohol, Flambae catches fire and panics, frantically attempting to smother the flames with his hands. Punch Up grabs a tray from a waitress to extinguish it, with Coupé saying he's only fanning the flames. Flambae runs off to the bathroom, with Punch Up following suit, trying to advise him to drop and roll to put it out.
Splash
Flambae hits Waterboy with his car on his way to the SDN headquarters and tells him to keep quiet about.
Onboard
Flambae enters the SDN headquarters through the lobby and fails to notice Robert as he is fixing Waterboy's tie.
When Robert introduces himself at the start of his first shift, dispatching the Z-Team, Flambae mocks his name by suggesting he was stuttering. During the shift, Punch Up and Coupé recall Flambae's humiliation at Robert's hands, which Flambae vehemently denies as having happened.
Turnover
Before the start of the shift, Flambae and the Z-Team were informed by Blonde Blazer that the lowest performing hero on the team would be cut from the Phoenix Program. During the shift, the Z-Teamers sabotage each other, with Flambae being tricked into trapping himself in a sensory deprivation chamber. Being at the top of the team, however, Flambae himself does not sabotage anyone. Fed up with the team sabotaging each other, Robert recalls them back to base for an emergency meeting in the conference room.
Although the meeting starts heatedly, Robert gives a speech that convinces the rest of the team to work together, resulting in the second half of the shift running smoothly. Flambae and the rest of the Z-Team overhear Invisigal, and Robert catch Lightningstruck, as Robert accidentally broadcasts it to the entire branch, and celebrate her success as she returns to the office, taking a picture with her, Malevola, and Prism.
Restructure
At the start of the day, Flambae is present to laugh at the prank pulled on Robert by either Punch Up or Malevola, depending on whether Coupé or Sonar was cut. Without their eight member, Flambae and the Z-Team struggle to complete their duties.
During lunch, Flambae scolds Waterboy for throwing his noodles away and scolds him for it in front of Robert. Attempting to salvage the situation, Waterboy apologizes and pulls the noodles from the trash bag, stating they are 'probably still good.' Flambae rebukes him, however, and slaps the noodles into his face. Waterboy attempts to protest, but ultimately lacks the courage to do so and leaves to clean himself off. Robert takes issue with Flambae's conduct and asks how he would like it if he had to walk around with trash over him, though Flambae blows him off. In response, Robert can either throw noodles or a protein shake in his face. Before Flambae can retaliate, Blonde Blazer enters the room and is forced to go along with Robert's lie that he made a mess to keep himself from being scolded by his boss, who asks him to clean up.
The day after, the cut hero is replaced with either Phenomaman or Waterboy, who, respectively, prove difficult to work with due to their depression and hazardous power.
Team Building
Flambae finds Robert struggling to lift his weights in the office gym and lifts them off the dispatcher before he gets crushed by them, chastizing him for lifting without a spotter. Flambae continues belittling Robert, prompting him to ask who caused him to lose his tooth/scorched his brows, to which the hero brags that it was caused in a fight with "an actual real actual hero" and assures Robert he "is regretting his decision to tangle with [him]." Robert responds, saying that he imagines that "he is regretting a lot of his decision right about now," to which Flambae agrees and tells Robert to stop pretending to still be a hero and get off 'his' bench.
After the day is done, the Z-Team decides to go out drinking at the Sardine. There, Flambae does karaoke, singing a "Bitch" by Meredith Brooks with improvised lyrics to make fun of Robert, and joins in the bar fight after members of the Red Ring attack the dispatcher and Invisigal.
With the fight won, the Z-Team decides to go out for Mexican food as the topic of Robert's superhero identity comes up. If Robert decides to keep it hidden, he will give a speech about how their past identity does not matter and that SDN has given them a second chance, though Flambae does not buy it. Suspicious, he once again asks for Robert's hero identity, but is convinced to let it go by his fellow Z-Teamers, being the first to reveal his real name after Robert reintroduces himself. If Robert reveals he is Mecha Man, Flambae reacts with anger and attempts to burn him, but his attack is blocked by Golem. Before he can attack again, his fire is doused by Malevola or Waterboy, if he is accepted onto the team. Humiliated, Flambae cusses the team out and flies off.
Moving Parts
If Robert revealed he was Mecha Man, Flambae does not show up for work, which surprises Robert and Prism, who expected him to beat Robert up in the parking lot. Either way, Flambae learns of Robert's housewarming party and arrives late. If Robert revealed his former identity, he greets Punching him in the face, Flambae states that he "will have to do that at least once a month or so as a release [his] hatred for [him]. But that with enough time, [he] will be less of a bitch to [him]," showing he is ready to let go off his grudge. Otherwise, he simply greets Robbert, blissfully unaware of the events that took place before his arrival.
Retrospective
Following the housewarming party, Invisigal disobeyed Blond Blazer's orders and assaulted the warehouse on her own. Although she was successful in retrieving the Astral Pulse with Robert’s reluctant aid, she was ambushed by Shroud soon after, who seemingly left with the pulse. This forced Chase to use his superhuman speed to rescue her, and he fell into a coma afterward because of his accelerated aging. As punishment, Invisigal was suspended from the Z-Team until further investigation.
This hit the Z-Team hard, who decide to hold a meeting regarding Invisigal’s membership. At the start of the shift, Flambae watches the news in the lounge. During the shift, Flambae expresses worry that Chase may die, though Malevola assures him that if he does, he will be well taken care of, which confuses Prism.
As Robert leaves the office following the end of his shift, he sees Punch Up flying out of the glass door of the boardroom. Investigating as to why it happened, the Z-Team explains to him that they believe Invisigal’s suspension is not enough and voted to cut her, with Golem being the only dissenting vote. If Robert revealed his identity as Mecha Man to the team, Flambae states he is of the same opinion as Golem, as the team gave him a second chance after he tried to kill Robert, and that Invisigal likewise should receive one. Otherwise, he joins the team in voting against Invisigal’s continued membership. If Robert defends Invisigal and refuses to cut her, and Flambae voted to cut her, Flambae he suffers a morale drop if he did not vote to keep her on the team. Regardless, the heroes soon spot the door swinging open and shut, revealing that Invisigal was using her powers to spy on the group as they are holding their meeting. Worried, Robert follows her.
Personality
Flambae is a short-tempered, rude, and egotistical man with anger issues.
When mocked by the team for losing against ‘just a guy’ (Mecha Man), Flambae angrily defends himself and goes rogue to set a park on fire. He also takes pride in driving his last dispatcher to quit in two days. As a serial arsonist, he also comments that a juvenile pickpocket should 'pick up arson instead' when dispatched on the mission for it. He wonders aloud if art is flammable, if dispatched to the museum.
Flambae isn’t bright, mistaking a roast of Mayor Yao as an open invitation for arson, saying ‘[he’ll] bring his finest propane’ for the event before being corrected by Robert. He also believed that ‘teamwork’ was a sex term.
He's confrontational, picking a fight with Robert at Crypto Night and attempts to assault him. In Chapter 5: Team Building, he mocks Robert and says he should accept that he isn't a hero anymore, needing to support 'actual ones' like him at his desk, before telling him to get off of 'his' workout bench, despite a vacant one being available. Flambae displays little patience for avoiding problems, expressing his discontent over Robert potentially hiding his identity as Mecha Man in Chapter 5: Team Buidling, saying he dislikes not knowing things that might make him angry. Similarly, he voices his annoyance over the Z-Team avoiding the topic of Chase's possible death in Chapter 7: Retrospective, choosing to bring up the issue for discussion during their shift.
Similarly, Flambae is direct in expressing his opinion on friendships, defending Invisigal against getting cut from the team, believing she deserves a second chance while acknowledging he was allowed back on the team after trying to kill Robert. He nonetheless concedes the point, saying he understands if Robert chooses to cut her, and won't force him to keep 'someone he wants gone.' Flambae also voices his approval for eating together after the bar fight in Chapter 5: Team Building, saying that '[the Z-Team] should do this every time,' allowing them to decompress and have a good bonding experience (if Robert hid his identity). If Robert reveals himself as Mecha Man, Flambae punches him at his housewarming party, before offering an honest, if backhanded apology for attempting to kill him, admitting he might need to punch him 'once a month or so' to vent his hatred of him before he can fully forgive Robert. Notably, if Waterboy is recruited, Flambae tries to unsuccessfully comfort him for his lacklustre performance Chapter 4: Restructure, following the events of previously lashing out at him for throwing his food away on accident.
Flambae is notably vain, having designed his own hero suit, implies that he admires himself in the mirror, and admits to wanting to set a tree on fire, saying they aren’t better than him, showing a petty side and implied self-esteem issues. When dispatched together with Prism, he asks her how his hair looks, and that others shouldn’t mess with ‘perfection.’ In his Green and Red Flags post, he refuses to take notes on his appearance.
He is cognizant of psychological tactics and tricks, being the only Phoenix to call out Robert's attempt to deflect his identity as Mecha Man, and insisting on his identity before being shut down by Prism and Malevola. If downed in Chapter 8: Synergy, Flambae expresses doubt on being strong enough to handle the Red Ring, which Robert agrees with. Offended, Flambae accuses Robert of 'doing that reverse psychology thing,' before admitting that it's working.
Flambae is implied to suffer from a troubled mental health history. If Robert fails to rescue him in time from sabotage in Chapter 3: Turnover, he confesses that he had wanted to die for the longest time, before realising he wants to live. If Invisigal sabotaged him, she says that the sensory deprivation tank would help with anxiety.
He has a habit of rambling, saying ‘brace yourselves, bitches’ and quickly amends that he ‘doesn’t see gender.’ When trying to give his ETA on a call, he describes pulling up Google maps before giving up, saying ‘he’ll be there.’
Flambae is queer, responding to the Bone Zone's claims of him being a closeted homosexual by claiming '[he] skipped the closet and went straight for the clubs.' During a blackout, he asks the Z-Team for good blackout-related pickup lines to send to a guy. He claims that Robert 'isn't [his] type' after getting teased by him, who jokes that Flambae could get a date with him if he'd just asked.
Appearance
Flambae is a tall, well-built man with broad shoulders and long legs. He has long dark brown hair tied in a ponytail, reaching down to the middle of his shoulder blades, and a strand of hair left free to frame his face. He has a 5 o’clock shadow beard with thicker sideburns and unshaven chest hair. He has orange irises and tan lines from wearing his suit.
He has missing ring and pinky fingers on his right hand as a result of his past altercation with Robert.
Depending on Robert's choices, he can also either have partially singed off eyebrows, or a missing front tooth. The former regrows in Chapter 6: Moving Parts.
As a hero, his suit is primarily black and has a plunging V-neck that reaches down to his navel, with a fire pattern tracing its collar, splaying across his shoulders and arms. His cuffs and boots are orange, and is seen wearing visor sunglasses with a black frame and fiery gradient for its lens.
Powers
Default
On Fire: After a success, Flambae gains +1 Combat and +1 Mobility. This effect stacks. All boosts reset after a failure.
Flight School
Flybae: Flambae flies to call locations, greatly reduces travel time.
Hero Training
- Comet: After a success, Flambae also reduces call completion and travel time. If after two successes Flambae fails a third, he is down.
- Supernova: Succeeding twice will set Flambae's Combat and Mobility to max and removes rest time. After a fail, Flambae's stats drop to 1.
Abilities
- Pyrokinesis: Flambae can shoot streams of fire from his hands and set his body on fire at will.
- Flame invulnerability: Flambae's living cells aren't harmed by fire but aren't immune to being set on fire, allowing him to set his entire body alight without suffering any injuries. He used this to his advantage during the Red Ring assault on the SDN Torrance branch office, where he lit himself on fire and flew around Psychic to set her clothes on fire. Flammable substances do seem capable of burning his hair if ignited, as his eyebrows are partially scorched if Robert throws alcohol on him; presumably his invulnerability similarly does not extend to any other dead cells still attached to his body, which implies that setting himself on fire acts as a natural exfoliant.
- Pyro-propulsion: Flambae is somehow able to fly by setting his lower body on fire.
- Superhuman strength: Flambae is strong enough to throw a large chunk of debris and casually lift 280 pounds.
- Superhuman durability: Flambae is tough enough to take multiple hits from the Mecha Man suit without serious injury, only suffering a busted lip after a hit in the face, though its plasma blade could still cut his fingers off.
Relationships
Coupé
Co-heroes. Coupé doesn't have a particularly high opinion of Flambae, insinuating he's a 'baby' for panicking over catching on fire despite not experiencing any pain, if Robert splashes him with alcohol. Despite this, she has some level of care for him, checking on his wellbeing if he smashed his own tooth, saying he needs to get to a hospital before escorting him out with Punch Up.
By contrast, Flambae isn't particularly offended by her laughing at Robert's insults of him, though is somewhat annoyed at her reaction.
On shift, if paired together, Coupé asks Flambae what fire tastes like. He compares it to pop rocks and is taken aback when she admits she hasn't tried them, saying her life is sad. He respects her abilities: if dispatched to rescue her in Episode 8: Synergy, Flambae says that 'if [she's] dead, we're definitely fucked.'
Robert Robertson
Boss and employee. Antagonistic. Flambae mocks Robert when he introduces himself to the Z-Team, calling him a bitch and insincerely asking if he’s stuttering on his first day.
At the Crypto Night bar, Robert sarcastically responds to a confrontational Flambae’s introduction by calling him a mocking name, such as ‘Mr. Wet Ponytail,’ ‘Dr. Don’t Do Shit,’ or ‘Sunglasses at Night Guy.’ He also fails to remember Flambae until confronted with his powers, and laughs, saying he was the 'shitty villain' he landed in prison during his career, before splashing him in retaliation when Flambae continues to antagonise him.
If Robert spills water on him, Flambae attempts to start a fight, but slips on the spill and smashes his own tooth, leaving Robert unimpressed. If Robert splashes him with alcohol, Flambae catches on fire, panics, and flees the bar.
Following the altercation, Flambae is left angry about his loss against Robert, the topic becoming a sore spot for him, calling Mecha Man a ‘little shit.’ On Robert's first shift, Robert confronts him for burning down a park and tells him he ‘doesn’t have time for his bullshit,’ which Flambae unapologetically dismisses.
In Chapter 5: Team Building, Flambae helps Robert from getting crushed by the heavy dumbbells during training, taunting him about his weakness and reminding him that non-supers need a spotter. Flambae casually adds more weight to his dumbbells while praising his own strength, training right in front of him, before condescendingly patting Robert's head and advising him not to do anymore 'hero stuff' without supervision. If Robert thanks him for the help, Flambae is taken aback, asking if that was sincere. He recognises Robert having no powers, saying that Waterboy can bench more than him.
Annoyed, Robert taunts him over his missing eyebrows/tooth. Flambae, defensive, claims he got it from 'an actual real, actual hero' before telling him he should accept that he's out of his prime, and pretending otherwise is 'bumming people the fuck out.' He tells to get off his workout bench, while a vacant one is right next to him.
Prism
Friends and co-heroes. The two have a supportive and friendly relationship, with Prism fondly calling him ‘hottie’ and referring to the both of them as ‘bad bitches.’ Nonetheless, Prism is unafraid to call out Flambae's actions. In Chapter 5: Team Building, she scolds him for insisting on Robert's identity if he refuses to reveal himself as Mecha Man, laugh at him for making a fool of himself when confronted with the other Phoenixes following the reveal, and can tell him to stop using an unflattering cologne that he's trying out. Similarly, she warns him to 'shut [his] mouth' for bringing up the topic of Chase possibly dying in Episode 6: Moving Parts, which he ignores, determined to discuss it with the rest of the team.
Flambae values her opinion of him, asking how his hair looks when they are dispatched together, with her calling it ‘perfect as always.’ When asked if '[he's] going to match [her] freak,' Flambae readily agrees that he would, 'every fucking day.' At max synergy, she refers to him as her VIP, which he likewise responds that she's his, too.
Waterboy
Acquainted, eventual co-heroes. Flambae shows little tolerance and care for Waterboy, cursing him out for 'hitting his car' after running Waterboy over, before threatening him not to tell anyone about what happened, driving off. Between shifts, Flambae also insults him for throwing out his food, angrily slapping the contaminated spaghetti out of Waterboy's hands, splattering him with it, and telling him to clean it up by 'water pissing' all over himself. Timid and ashamed, Waterboy tries to explain the nature of his powers before giving up, going to rinse himself off. If Waterboy is recruited, Flambae complains that 'Waterbitch' almost took him out of action during the shift with his puddles.
Despite this, Waterboy tries to be supportive during his first shift, saying that their powers are the best combo. Flambae warns him in return to stay at a distance so their powers don't interfere with each other. When Waterboy is faced with his own mounting insecurities and numerous mistakes, Flambae tries to comfort him, saying that '[he] tried, and [he] sucks,' and that it happens; with the important lesson that at least Waterboy now knows '[he] sucks.'
In Episode 5: Team Building, if Robert reveals himself as Mecha Man, Waterboy confronts a murderous Flambae and douses him with water to protect Robert, fearlessly threatening to do it again when Flambae focuses his attention on him.
In Episode 8: Synergy, if dispatched to save Waterboy, Flambae asks if Robert's sure about rescuing him- before clarifying it was a joke, and heads off to save him.
In the ending credits, they are seen playing poker together. Chad is drinking heavily from a bottle, and Herman has a royal flush in hand.
Trivia
- If dispatched to Blaze in the Burbs scenario, his exclusive option fails the mission.
- He calls Danny Diaz a bitch for saying he has chapped lips, resulting in him failing to get a date for a week.
- On Flambae's potential flight license, his date of birth is registered as 08/20/1987. Which incidentally also makes him a Leo, a fire sign on the astrological zodiac.
- His car in "Splash" is registered under '2Hotz', differing from the licence plate seen in-game. They are confirmed to be the same car despite this, with the credits showing an enraged Flambae discovering his car had been wrecked by a depressed Phenomaman.
- He has recently taken up Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Gallery
Key art
Power activation
Power activation (toothless)
Power activation (scorched brow)
Max Synergy with Prism
Mugshot
Injured
Injured (scorched brows)
Injured (missing tooth)
Unique option portrait
