Bulldog
U.S. Citizen
Michael's desire to fight for justice and help others around him convinced former super-hero José Hortega to pass his mantle to a new generation.
EARLY DAYS
Son of Michael Ortiz Sr., 'Junior' Ortiz, as everybody in the neighborhood used to call him, he grew up in Millennium City's Downtown. His mother, Yolanda, left him and his father when he was little, and it has been just the two of them ever since. Junior's father worked as cornerman at Old Mutt Hortega's Gym, and with no money to pay a babysitter, he always spent the evenings watching the boxers train. Because of that, eventually he started training along with his father's friends at the gym. His commitment and hard work even caught the attention of the gym's owner, José 'Old Mutt' Hortega.
The daily routine of training in his early teens made Michael's body develop above the average of his school colleagues, making the neighborhood troublemakers think twice before messing with him. Thanks to that and a strong sense of righteousness, Michael always defended his friends from bullies at school, often getting into fights. Despite his father constantly lecturing him about avoiding trouble and risking his stay in school, Michael just couldn't stand the fact to simply do nothing when he had the means to step up and help.
TURNING POINT
Years have passed, and Michael eventually finished school. Valuing his family above all and with a desire to help his father, Michael refused a scholarship deal, deciding to stay and work alongside his old man at the gym. On a night hotter than usual, after an exhausting day of work, Michael decided to take the longer route back home passing by the docks, hoping to enjoy the sea breeze a bit.
Once there, he witnessed a robbery attempt of one of the dock's night shipments. Acting purely on instinct, Michael tried to stall the thieves while the docks personnel called the cops. At some point, one of the bandits pulled a gun and opened fire, accidentally hitting one of the shipment's crates, causing a sudden explosion. Turns out the crate contained Radium-X, a radioactive material extremely volatile. Luckily for Michael, he wasn't caught in the blast radius, and the exposure to the chemicals was minimal. But it was enough to affect his physiology in astonishing ways during the following days.
A few weeks after that night at the docks, Michael's hair started to bleach a little. He also noticed his body became way sturdier than before, he barely felt the blows of his fellow boxers at sparring sessions. And during one of his workouts, he managed to bench press around 1,500lbs, shocking everybody at the gym. Michael then explained about that fateful night and his suspicions about the chemicals exposure he suffered. At the back of the academy, a person witnessed and listened to everything with extreme attention and interest: José Hortega.
THE UNVEIL OF A LEGACY
The next day, when the gym was about to be closed, José called Michael to his office. They went to a storage room, filled with old equipment and a dusty case. The elderly boxer opened the wooden box, revealing a very old but conservated super-hero suit. He then explained to Michael he was the Silver Age hero known as Bulldog. José said he always wanted to find a successor, but he gave up along the years, because he never found a candidate that he judged possess all the right attributes for the job. Until he listened to Michael's story last night.
The dedication and desire to help everybody that Michael showed every day at the gym throughout the years made José believe that maybe he was the right person to take up his mantle. His resolve to jump into action regardless of the consequences was the final push the old man needed to be convinced.
Michael then accepted to train under José's tutelage, to fight crime as the irremediable mutt of justice, Bulldog!
Enhanced Durability: After the Radium-X exposure, Michael's body durability increased by a great extent. That doesn't mean he can't be hurt. High impact blows will injure him, forcing a recovery period.
Enhanced Strength: Michael's strength also increased, but on a lower degree than his durability. He managed to bench press up to 1,500lbs.
Enhanced Metabolism: The changes on Michael's physiology also made him recover from injuries slightly faster than an average person.
Bulldog Suit: Made of resistant fabric, woven with leather. Pockets contain first aid kits and miscellaneous equipment, like ropes and a radio.
