The Confessor (Brian Kinney)

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The Confessor (Brian Kinney) © Juke Box Productions AstroFacts Status: Active Real Name: Brian Kinney Origin: Kurt Busiek's Astro City Vol.2 #4-9 Base of Operations: Astro City First Appearance: Late 2001 Personal Data InfoDump Appearances (in Publication Order): Kurt Busiek's Astro City Vol.2 #9 Astro City #1, 7, 8 Event Timeline 2013/06     Current Broken Man Confides Why He Can't Use Certain People to Unlock the Mystery behind the Doors. The Confessor (Brian Kinney) "I don't have all the advantages my mentor did. So I make my own." -- Brian Kinney, the Confessor History Brian Kinney's Ambition to be a Super Hero Before coming to Astro City, Brian Kinney had been brought up by his single father, a small time doctor. The elder Kinney, always compassionate, treated everyone in the community who needed his help, even those who were too poor to pay their medical expenses. As a result, he developed a reputation as a sucker who could be taken advantage of, and Brian grew up in miserable economic straits. Brian came to greatly resent his father for this, and he vowed to become someone people respected when he grew up. He vowed to become a superhero. He spent years preparing for this goal, learning martial arts at dojos and doing research. When he reached adulthood in 1997, he took a one-way bus to Astro City. Hoping to be taken under one of the city's many heroes' wing, he took a job at the superhero bar Bruiser's. Its owner, KO Carson, sensed Brian's goal and so referred him to Butler's, that suit-and-tie restaurant being where he'd more likely meet the type of heroes he needed, and thus Brian came to the Confessor's attention. During his time as Altar Boy, in large part through the Confessor's mentorship, Brian came to understand that being a superhero was about helping others, not whatever acclaim or respect that might result. He came to understand that his father, regardless of how others viewed him, had been a hero in his own right. The Training of the New Confessor After the Confessor's death, Brian chose to carry on his mentor's identity and name. He spent four years training all over the world before he was ready. When he returned to Astro City, the criminal element soon realized the masked interloper they thought dead was back, every bit as frightening and skilled as his reputation had always suggested. Making New Friends with Old Allies After learning of Winged Victory being accused of masterminding supervillain attacks, Brian stealthily breaks into Samothrace One and searches the computer systems but is detected and grabbed by her "caped boyfriend" Samaritan who presumably kept tabs on the school. Brian astounds the superhumanly swift and nigh invulnerable Samaritan by not only keeping out of reach for several seconds but also effectively striking the hero's pressure points. However Samaritan rallies to strike back at Brian who, explaining that he will hunt down any means of evening the odds, flips a coin-sized item at the hero's chest where it attaches, causing the energy that empowers Samaritan to erupt and immobilize him. Immediately confronted by Winged Victory, Brian assures her he believes she is being framed and that he is there to uncover the truth. He apologizes to Samaritan who assures him to think nothing of it. Brian shows them that he has found false records of email contact between Winged Victory and villains and has started composing a list of suspects. Winged Victory is impressed and she and Samaritan offer to contribute, the latter revealing some of the capabilities of his zyxometer which intrigues Brian. Wondering what is going through Winged Victory's mind, Brian monitors through her own security cameras as she invites E.A.G.L.E. onto the premises and flies off, leaving it in their hands. More...<to be defined> Powers The current Confessor has no vampire related powers, instead using voice modulators and tricks to inspire fear in the hearts of evil-doers. However, Brian Kinney is trained in martial arts, possesses keen detective skills, and maintains a rigorous physical training schedule, including four years of training around the world before assuming the full guise of the Confessor. He also possesses computer hacking skills on a level that would make him among the world's most elite and technical knowledge sufficient to evaluate highly advanced security systems. Equipment Brian has profited well from the wealth of information, the collection of items and the renown (good and bad) assembled by his predecessor during his long life span. A new uniform, possibly organic in nature, able to heal itself when damaged. A runic design (tattoo?) emblazoned on his upper body. It glows in a manner reminiscent of the original Confessor's cross emblem, possibly providing certain supernatural powers or protection. Brian's visit to Samothrace reveals enhanced athletic skills or superhuman speed, the ability to cling to surfaces and to negate part of Samaritan's powers of nigh invulnerability. These are most likely bestowed rather than inherent, for example by the new uniform or the runes. High tech devices for masking security devices. Tools and weapons to even the odds against specific superhumans, including the Ifrit's Doom. Observations Samaritan being vulnerable to Brian's blows may have been due to the mere proximity of the Ifrit's Doom, it being perfected to disrupt Empyrean Fire and beings empowered by it. In any case, the device would ironically also affect its initial developer, Samaritan's old foe Infidel. Brian's cape appears to defy gravity while he is clinging to surfaces. Speculations, Theories A number of the items the current Confessor has acquired for subduing superhumans may have been originally intended to be used by villains against heroes. The new uniform may be supernatural in nature and the runes the means of safely utilizing it.

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