Real Life

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e-mail: turkinasbeak@myway.com

The Early Years

Slinger, born James Burgess Jr, is an unassuming man, very thin, five and a half feet tall, with brown shaggy hair, and icy blue eyes. Sometimes he sports a short, scruffy, red beard and mustache. Slinger is most often seen wearing tight fitting jeans and a slim cut band t-shirt. His father, James Burgess Sr, is a wealthy software developer and his mother, Noreen Flynn-Burgess is an anthropologist.

When James was a young boy, his parents were both often extremely busy with their careers, often leaving the young boy to stay with his grandfather, John Flynn. He loved his grandpa very much and would often sit in wonder as he would tell him stories about crusading knights back in the middle ages, especially the Knights Templar. James quickly took great interest in the knighthood, he would play at being a knight all the time, practicing chivalry, righting small wrongs around the neighborhood, and constantly studying different knightly orders.

One day while his parents were out of town on business, and his grandpa was taking a nap, young James, 13 years old at the time, went on a treasure hunting mission in his grandfathers basement. Hanging on the wall in the basement was a placard that had a picture of his families coat of arms, that James had never noticed before. He studied it carefully, memorizing the design, a large dog under three moons. He reached up to pull it down and heard a loud bang and a click, then the sound of stone grinding against stone, as the wall started to shift revealing a passage. The idea of a secret passage in his grandfather's basement was just too much excitement for James to pass up, and he decided to explore. He made his way through the dark twisting stone corridor, and finally came into a large chamber deep underground. Ensconced torches lined the room, and there was one small oil lamp, still lit sitting at the center of a large, round, stone table. Surrounding the table were eight small chairs, and another more extravagant looking one. Also around the circular room he saw that there were eight other passages leading out of the chamber. Just as he was preparing to explore further he was frightened by the sound of a familiar voice, "Well, James, it seems you have stumbled upon my little secret." It was Grandpa Flynn! "Welcome my boy, to the inner sanctum of the order of the Knights Templar."

Super Life

Young James' life was transformed forever the day he had stumbled upon the secret meeting place of the knights. Though it took some persuasion on his part, he managed to convince his grandfather and the rest of the order to induct him into the knighthood. They decided that since he already knew about their secret, it was in their best interest, as well as James' to make him a squire under his grandfather. The next ten years, James spent his life studying the Templar code, underwent intense physical training, and began down the path to spiritual purity. It was very hard work, but James was happy and honored to do it.

Just as he was entering his eleventh year as squire to his grandfather, tragedy struck. The Charter of the knighthood, as well as a sacred artifact was stolen by an unknown assailant, but even worse still, James' grandpa was direly injured during the theft, leaving James' alone for a time, a squire without a knight with whom train. Instead of appointing a new knight for James to train under, the aging council decided that he had learned what he could from the knights, and instead granted James the title of Knight-Errant and tasked him with the job of seeking out the thief and retrieving the charter and the artifact that was stolen, and when the time comes that he return triumphant, he will take his grandpa's place among the Order.

Eager to become a full fledged knight, Slinger came to the Comic Vine, but when he got there he was quickly intimidated by the powerful others already inhabiting it. Nonetheless Slinger has a heart of gold, he is quick to defend those who are in need, and tries his best to right wrongs when he can. His journey will not end until he can find the thief who stole from the Templars, and then, bring it to justice.

The Code

• Before all else a Templar knight is faithful.

• A Templar's valor is a measure of his faith.

• Humility in all things.

• Patience outlasts all.

• Loyalty to true friends, vengeance to betrayers and foes.

• Benevolence is a balm to all souls.

• Integrity is the foundation on which all things of value are built.

• Mercy for those that deserve mercy.

• Generosity is the left hand of God.

• Weapons expert
• Peak human physicality
• Strong force of will
• Armored suit
• Holy sword

• Must adhere to strict code of conduct
• Damsels in distress
• Punkrock girls
• Girls who wear glasses
• Green gyes
• Red Hair