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Players Interview: CougarA candid conversation with one of America's greatest superheros about being a hero, the Protectors, and supervillians. |
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| For the first issue of Players, we
selected a subject for our interview that would capture our readers. The
Cougar is just such a person. From his quiet beginning as a founding
member of the first Superhero group the Protectors to his present position
as tactical leader of the East Coast Protectors, the Cougar has
always been an admired and respected superhero.
During his time with the Protectors, Cougar has undergone many changes, both in name and in outlook. His present identity as Cougar is very much removed from that of his original persona of Silver Cat. Silver Cat, originally his father's code name, was one of the first well-publicized super-powered individuals. As Silver Cat, He was contacted by Dr. Midnight and the Red Fury and asked to become one of the founding members of the Protectors, a new crime-fighting group designed to organize and focus the many super-powered individuals then present in the world. As the Protectors grew and changed, so also did Silver Cat. To reflect this change, Silver Cat became Stray Cat and dropped out of sight for a while. It is as the Cougar that he has come into his own. When the Protectors organization divided into the East and West Coast Protectors, the Cougar was appointed Tactical Director of the East Coast. To interview such an amazing hero, we asked Loyal Sterling, author and producer of "It's Got No Neck!" and currently chief writer for Players. Her report: "Getting in touch with Cougar was not as easy as it might seem. The only contact with the Protectors is through their special police hotline. "Once contact was established, I was screened. blindfolded, driven around the city, placed on a rocket car and taken to the base by Panorama. "Far from the austere leader I was expecting. I found Cougar in the base dining room eating Raisin Bran™, joking and laughing with Psychic, Constrictor, and Nightmare. "After introductions were out of the way, I decided to open the interview with the recent reorganization of the Protectors." Players: Recently, the Protectors underwent a few changes. What really happened? Cougar: Dr. Midnight took command of the West Coast, Night Cat was selected as the Administrative leader of the East Coast, and I was chosen to head the Tactical maneuvers of the East Coast Branch. Players: Do you feel that your acceptance of the Tactical leadership was the correct choice? |
Cougar: No, thinking back and considering
the changes that I have been experiencing lately, someone else might have
been a better choice.
Players: Who do you think would have made a better choice? Cougar: Psychic or Red Fury. Players: Have you ever thought of going off on your own or starting your own group? Cougar: Yes, at times. I don't think the time has been ripe as of yet, but the thought has crossed my mind. Players: Have you ever considered becoming a super-villain? Cougar: No, never. I have always been dedicated to fighting crime, not committing it. Players: Do you have any hobbies? Cougar: I spend a lot of time working out in the Danger Room, but being a superhero doesn't leave much time for hobbies. Players: What about relationships? Is there a love in your life? Cougar: I believe I will decline to answer that question. Players: Is there something that you have always wanted to do but have never had the chance? Cougar: Well, I've always wanted to speak in front of Congress; but actually, I think that being a superhero has made it possible to do just about everything I have really wanted to do. Players: In the past, you have fought many villains, who was the first villain you ever fought? Cougar: I believe that was, mmm, Yes, the first villain I fought would have to be Utility. Players: What were Utility's abilities and powers? Cougar: He was a very resourceful weapons master. Players: Was he difficult to defeat? Cougar: He was beaten very quickly, primarily by Nightcat, not me. Players: Who is (or was) the most difficult villain to beat? Cougar: That would have to be the Demon Prince Aztaur. Players: Would you consider him your arch-nemesis? Cougar: Well, he is one of the Protector's arch-nemesis’, not necessarily mine. Shamrock is closer to being my arch-nemesis, but again, he is more the group's than mine. I really don't have a personal arch-nemesis. Players: Have you ever felt sorry for someone you've fought or wished you didn't have to beat them? Cougar: No, I've never wished to be on the losing side of a battle. Players: Tell me something about the other members of the Protectors. How do you feel about Nightcat as your new leader? Cougar: She tends to spend too much time thinking about what the team should do. |
Players: Then you prefer to jump right
in?
Cougar: No, but decisions need to be made quickly and actions need to be taken. Players: What about Red Fury? Cougar: He is an undisciplined, naïve kid but an extremely effective fighter. Players: Doctor Midnight? Cougar: He's quite pompous but there's this mystique that just surrounds the guy, a born leader I guess. Players: Constrictor? Cougar: Although we disagree often, he never fails to cooperate in team efforts and really is a core member. Players: Panorama? Cougar: Panorama is very quiet and very much a loner, not a very big team player. Players: Terra? Cougar: In the short time that he has been with the Protectors, he has proved himself to be a valuable team player. Even though he nearly made a fatal mistake recently, one that almost cost the life of a fellow Protector, he did not know it was a Protector at the time. Players: And Psychic, I understand that he used to be your best friend. Cougar: Yes, we used to be close friends, but I think the changes that I have gone through have driven us farther apart. Now our relationship is bound by a mutual respect rather than a friendship. Players: Nightmare? Cougar: I think Nightmare is really out of his league. He has received multiple grievous wounds, some of which might have cost him his life if not for the other members of the team. Players: You also have some new members that recently joined the Protectors. Could you tell me more about them? Cougar: Yes, we have three interim members with the East Coast Protectors. From what I have seen so far, Spectra seems to be a good team player. Jacob is young yet; but with the proper supervision, he could be a definite asset to the Protectors. Now Brandain, well, at this time it might not be prudent for me to say for em ... security reasons. Players: Have any Protectors died in the battle against crime? Cougar: Yes. Strobe, one of our interim members, was killed fighting the agents of Vile. Some time ago we lost our resident scientist, Brain. Players: Is there anything that you'd like to pass along to our readers, some words of wisdom or such? Cougar: Stay out of trouble! (I always wanted to say that.) |
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