Real Name: Jose Guerrero de Vaca

Superhero Name: Balam

Age: 20

Gender: Male

Species: Jaguar

Nationality: Mexican

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 219 lb

Eye color: Green

Hair color: Brown, streaked with blond

Physical appearance: Handsome, athletic, has four bullet scars on his upper left back from being shot before developing his powers

Outfit: Domino mask, feral jaguar hide cloak, stone necklace, utility belt, loincloth, wrist guards, leg guards, sandals

Occupation: History major/BOS Operative

Area of Operation: Mexico, American states on the southern border

Items/Weapons: Enchanted leather shield
-Atlatl with trick darts:
--Stunners: tipped with rubber
--Slimers: Burst on impact to cover target with thick, elastic slime
--Flashbangs
--Smokedarts
--Explosive darts
-One or two melee weapons, including a macuahuitl, a cuauhololli, a macuahuitzoctli, or a huitzauhqui (translations: obsidian club-sword, ball mace, wooden warhammer, club)
Personal Transport: None

Powers/Abilities:
-Enhanced Physiology: Jose can lift 4 tons without risk of injury, run 35 mph, and operate at peak strength for 4 hours. He also has a reaction time good enough to dodge a subsonic bullet
-Thick Skin: Jose doesn't even notice small-caliber bullets, but larger projectiles can leave a nasty welt, and he can be seriously injured by armor-piercing ammunition
-Enhanced Weaponry Skills: Jose has been gifted with an innate mastery of Aztec and Mayan weaponry
-Magic Shield: Balam's hide shield is capable of stopping projectiles as large and hard as a depleted uranium tank shell, and will also stop most forms of energy attack and magic

Strengths:
-Intimidation: Not only is Balam strong and agile, he also carries savage weaponry and is noted for a very loud, fearsome roar
-Cunning: Jose prides himself on unpredictability in combat and skill in outmaneuvering opponents to the point of being able to "herd" large gangs towards fellow operatives or police backup
-Steadfast: Jose doesn't take kindly to threats or bribes, not even from foes as insidious and powerful as the drug cartels

Weaknesses:
-Reckless: Jose doesn't work well in groups, and tends to act before thinking things through
-Libido: He's still a young man, and thus is easily distracted by a nice rack or mile-long legs
-Power Source: On every Mayan New Year, Jose loses his powers until he returns to his temple of origin and willingly sheds about a a quarter of a cup of his own blood

Bio: While on a trip to an archeological study sight, Jose and his fellow students had the misfortune to surprise some cartel footsoldiers. Jose was shot four times, breaking his shoulder blade and two ribs, but he managed to escape into the forest. Wandering for hours, he managed to take shelter in some ruins, when he nearly leaped out of his spots as a mysterious voice hailed him. It said that it was an ancient spirit, who had made the Mayans and the Aztecs powerful nations, until they abandoned their shows of bravery and self-sacrifice in favor of "spilling a river of slave's blood". The spirit could sense great resolve and potential in the young student, and asked him to give him what the fallen natives had forgotten - the blood of a brave man, willingly spilled by his own hand. In return, not only would he heal Jose, but he would make him a warrior with power that would rival any it had raised before him. Already weak, and fearful that without this boon he would succumb to infection, he agreed, staggering to the altar stone and cutting his own wrist with his pocket knife, watching his precious blood spill onto the ancient edifice until he could no longer stay upon his feet. True to its word, the spirit healed him, and filled him with the essence of a warrior. Jose also accepted the hide shield and jaguar-skin cloak the spirit provided, taking the name "Balam" to commemorate the Mayans, along with his own species. The spirit warned him, however, that the blessing would only last for a year, in the Mayan measurement, and that once the year ended, he would have to renew his bond with his blood once more.

Personality: Cocky and gung-ho, Balam is always ready for action, and loves to show off, especially for "las chicas". When under pressure, however, he shows that he is no mere jock - he would rather face pain, humiliation, and death than abandon his duties or betray his fellow heroes.