Spark is an aspiring superhero, partway between a sidekick and a solo hero. He wouldn't mind finding a mentor to train him in the art of being a superhero.
Personality
Ricky/Spark is a high energy boy. He's usually perky, sometimes to an obnoxious extent. He's something of a workaholic and agonizes over unfinished projects. As a superhero, he's still very idealistic. He thinks he can save everyone and that someday humanity will live in a world without villains. He's also pretty idealistic about the future of clean, renewable energy and hopes to be part of that frontier.
Background
Childhood
Richard Allen Zaporowski was born in the suburbs of Chicago, the middle of three sons. His father was the consummate outdoorsman: hunting, fishing, camping. Both of his brothers were athletes. Ricky, by contrast, was more interested in comic books and video games. He naturally got along with girls at the age when most boys are disgusted by them, and his father approved of this. However, as he grew into adolescence with lots of girl friends and no girlfriends, his father began to try and "make a man" out of Ricky. It didn't end well. Ricky was a terrible shot, got sick every time he went camping, and couldn't bear the thought of gutting a fish. Ricky studied his ass off in school...he knew the only way out was to get into college.
College
Ricky's hard work paid off, and his college was largely paid for by scholarships, with the remaining tuitions costs grudgingly covered by his father at the insistence of his mother. Ricky double-majored in physics and chemistry, but electricity was the aspect of science that most appealed to him. Ricky also had an interest in the future of green energy. He did some partying, but not much, and he did discover his always-suspected sexuality and ended up in a few intense but brief relationships. After four years, Ricky managed to get into grad school in Metropolis, earning an internship at Stark Enterprises as well.
The Accident
Ricky found himself assisting scientists at Stark on several technologies related to the legendary Arc Reactor. These devices were meant to make wireless power transfer possible. Ricky was excited to be working on the project, but often found he was left out of the interesting parts and sent to retrieve coffee or update a spreadsheet or some equally menial task. One night, Ricky snuck into the lab, using a purloined access card he snuck while doing a "favor" for one of the scientists who fancied him. Unfortunately for Ricky, he happened into the lab when a Power Phase Transmitter was running an overnight test and suffered a malfunction. Waves of electrical power in quantum state phased through Ricky's body. He lost consciousness. Fortunately, he awakened, seemingly unscathed, before anyone could find him. He fled the lab and left the access card in a bathroom stall.
A Shocking Revelation
Shortly after the accident, Ricky started experiencing strange electrical and electromagnetic phenomena. He quickly figured out that he seemed to be the cause of these energy outbursts. Through meditation and experimentation, Ricky learned to control his abilities. He decided that fate must have let him survive and develop these powers for a reason, so he decided to try the superhero thing. How hard could it be, right?
The Spark Ignites
Being a superhero turned out to be pretty damn difficult, especially when you have an internship at Stark and a Master's to finish. Ricky seldom gives up when he sets his mind to something, however, and he took the name Spark. He's stopped some minor crimes, but he has yet to get into a scrap with a full-fledged supervillain. He is presently searching for a way to obtain a superhero mentor to teach him the ropes. He's also looking for a guy to maybe teach him some other ropes entirely.
SKILLS
DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY - Competent: Ricky is skilled at digital photography, both having an eye for a good picture and for digital manipulation and mastery of his images. He does some freelance work (wedding pictures, senior pictures, glamor shots, etc) but only on the side. He's getting pretty good at it and is considering opening a business after he graduates.
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING - Competent: As Ricky, Spark is a graduate student in Electrical Engineering, studying wireless power transfer. He is capable of building and modifying electrical devices, though he is limited to present-day levels of technology. While he is studying wireless power transfer, this is new ground and he is only learning the theoretical aspects of it.
ENDURE WITHOUT SLEEP - Novice: An ability that most undergrads and nearly all grad students develop naturally. Spark might have some kind of hyperstimulated nervous system as a result of his electrical powers, or it could just be that he frequently pulls all-nighters as Ricky.
FIGHTING - Novice: After he started doing the superhero thing, Spark started taking lessons in martial arts and practicing using his electrical arcs on targets. He's much better with his electrical powers, probably being closer to Expert with that specifically, but his overall hand-to-hand skill is at best Novice.
USELESS TRIVIA - Novice: Ricky isn't going to win JEOPARDY! anytime soon, but he can hold his own at bar trivia night.
POWERS
ELECTRICAL ARCS - Enhanced: Spark can generate short range arcs of electricity, probably no more than 15 yards. He can deliver enough of a charge to incapacitate an opponent, but not to inflict lethal damage. The bolt could scramble a machine and probably stun a robot or similar construct for a short period of time. Spark can also deliver this shock via touch.
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS - Enhanced: Though his control of electricity, Spark can generate electromagnetic fields, as well as enhance or dampen existing fields. He can even direct the field into a short range magnetic ray, able to repel or attract metal objects, though this is highly taxing and he isn't capable of fine control yet. He could push a car, but he probably couldn't put a key into a lock and turn it, for instance. The field is also capable of altering the trajectory of incoming metal objects like bullets, allowing him to essentially dodge bullets, shuriken, etc.
FLIGHT - Basic: Spark can fly. He's not sure why. He has theories about some kind of electromagnetic compulsion, but really he has no idea. He isn't a very fast flier, only able to achieve velocity equal to a sprinting human, and he doesn't have a lot of precise control. (No aerial acrobatics for this guy) Electrical sparks trail behind him when he uses this power.
RECHARGE - Supreme: Spark isn't harmed by electricity. In fact, it invigorates him temporarily, refreshing him and giving him a boost to his powers proportional to the charge he receives. His own electricity does not invigorate him, it has to be from an external source.
ADVANTAGES
WEAKNESSES
DAMPENED If Spark is in water of any significant depth (waist high or higher typically), he has absolutely zero control over his electrical powers. Anything he does just results in electricity being randomly discharged through the water around him. While this doesn't harm him, the current doesn't differentiate between friend and foe. Spark also cannot begin flying while in water, he has to get out first. Note that merely being wet does not have this effect on him.
OVERCONFIDENT Spark's got this. Even when he doesn't.
SECRET IDENTITY Spark's secret identity is Ricky Zaporowski, a grad student working toward a Master's in Electrical Engineering. He has to split his time between his grad program and being a superhero, and often the two lives are difficult to lead at the same time.
