Grindhog

Grindhog (A.K.A. Benjamin Ballast) is a fictional superhero appearing in the Federation Comics Universe, based in the Republic of Megatridimensional Order. The character is an antihero and vigilante who mostly aligns with the Apocalypse Legion and various superheros but will just as often refuse to assist in situations that he does not believe contributes directly to the elimination of criminals, leading to tense relationships with many heroes. He consumes alcohol and drugs to deal with constant pain, as well as whatever medication his friend, Dr. Steele, can provide for more major injuries. As a result of a childhood accident, he has a metal left arm and metal left leg, and a circular saw blade embedded in his skull. He typically wears a brown trench coat and brown boots, has a chainsaw-type attachment on his metal left arm, and carries a quad barrel shotgun he calls 'Lady.'

Origin

Born in 1980 in Tabula Rasa, Ballast was born to unknown parents and found in an alley by a homeless man named Jackson Barrow. Without the capacity to care for the infant, Barrow gave the boy to the Tabula Rasa Orphanage where he was raised by competent but uncaring social workers. Barrow continued to visit the boy at the orphanage and became a father figure to Benjamin. At age 6, Maria Ballast, who was unmarried, began work at the orphanage and became fond of the boy, officially adopting him three years later, though she insisted Barrow stay in touch with the boy. At the age of 13, Maria was accosted by two men on a drunken crime spree as she was returning home from work. She was brutally murdered just outside her house. Ballast was at home and once he saw what was going on, beat both men to death with a baseball bat. Police arrived moments later, and Ballast fled to a nearby steel factory. Ballast fell in a vat containing molten steel, but caught the edge and immediately pulled himself out. His left side caught fire from the intense heat. The movement of the vat, however, caused a walkway above the vat to break, and a 13 inch circular saw blade fell and embedded itself in his skull. When police found him, they thought he was dead, but after putting out the fire, were surprised to find a heartbeat. His left arm and left leg were completely burned and had to be amputated, and doctors could not remove the saw blade for fear of further damaging the boys brain. He also suffered scars on his face, including the loss of his nose. They stabilized the blade while his head was able to heal around it. Unconscious for nearly a month, he was examined by doctors in an effort to determine how he was able to survive in spite of a split brain and severe skull fracture.

A geneticist, Dr. Brad Steele, found that his cells maintained some stem cell-like characteristics, and enabled Ballast's body to "re-form" in order to keep him alive in spite of severe injury. Once Ballast became conscious, the doctors, including Steele, continued to both visit and test Ballast while he recovered. They were able to give Ballast a prosthetic arm and leg as well. While Ballast continued to recover, Dr. Steele exposed and stopped a plot to kidnap Ballast - now a 13 year old with no parent or guardian. A corporate genetics lab run by academic Premia Haze, who later would become Professor Phaze, was behind the attempted kidnapping. She believed Ballast's cellular ultrastructure held the key to regeneration. Steele moved Ballast from the hospital and secretly left him with Barrow. Barrow then raised the boy, with financial help from Dr. Steele, while Steele continued to look for an antidote for the constant pain Ballast experienced.

At 18 years old, Steele developed a replacement arm and leg for Ballast, who was able to improve them to provide him superhuman strength.

A year later, Barrow, in poor health, had a heart attack and died while being mugged by a man named Troy Williamson. Ballast sought out the mugger and, enraged, took the criminal to Steele's house, which was close by, and planned to kill him. Steele convinced Ballast to turn Williamson into the police instead. When Williamson was released on a technicality, Ballast was furious. Once again, Ballast sought out Williamson, and catching him mugging an elderly woman, killed Williamson. Ballast later confessed what had happened to Dr. Steele and that he was dedicating himself to eliminating and executing criminals. Steele did not approve, but having grown to care for the young man, continued to work on a way to both eliminate Ballast's constant pain and allow his body to completely heal, believing a cure would lead him away from his new dedication to executing criminals.

Powers

Grindhog is nearly impervious to damage, as his unique cellular ultrastructure allows him to live through injuries that would otherwise kill him. However, he is not spared the pain of the injuries and constantly experiences some level of pain. His metal arm and leg also makes him incredibly strong, able to lift several tons if necessary, though he generally uses his strength in more direct applications when dealing with criminals or enemies. He is also skilled in survival and petty crimes (lock-picking, avoiding authorities) learned in part from his youth living on the street.