Dull Bookworm,[1] better known by his DreadZone stage name Reactor, is an antagonist in Deadlocked. He was a former high school math teacher, who had a relationship with Courtney Gears. He later had a nuclear reactor built into his body when becoming a DreadZone contestant, and joined the Exterminators. He was ultimately defeated by Ratchet and Team Darkstar in the Crusader Tournament.
History[]
Prior to Deadlocked[]
Dull Bookworm was a math teacher at the Kronos School for the Inept, who worked there while Courtney Gears frequented the school while doing market research for her upcoming album. Their equal love of cafeteria food brought them together, and they started dating. Around this time, she starred with him in a film titled Reactor: Rise of the Sociopathic Bloodlust. After a month, their relationship began to fade, as Courtney could not slow down to the speed of Dull's life and left him.[1][2]
Reactor while he was a teacher.
As Dull lacked emotion, he reacted by seeking fame to please her, and raced to the nearest personal enhancement center, and had a live nuclear explosive surgically enhanced into his chest, joining the DreadZone circuit. His success, fame, money, and newfound explosive personality caused her to return to him.[1][2]
Reactor joined the Exterminators, and befriended Shellshock. The two designed a DreadZone challenge together named "Air Drop", in which a fleet of DreadZone Dreadnoughts piloted by the DreadZone Volunteer Air Force would practice bombing runs on The Tower of Power in the Battledome.[3] Among Reactor's fans was a child named Vernon, who appeared in many DreadZone commercials.[4][5]
Deadlocked[]
Reactor before facing off against Ratchet.
When Ratchet and Team Darkstar joined DreadZone, they faced Reactor in the Crusader Tournament. Ratchet fought him one-on-one in the Battledome and defeated him, causing his popularity to soar further. Vernon became a fan of Ratchet after he "smoked Reactor".[6]
Characteristics[]
Reactor was a large robot with a yellow and brown color scheme, and a very bulky upper body design. He had green eyes, and in his center a large green nuclear reactor. He primarily fought in melee combat, using his brute strength from his robotic body to his advantage. He could also fire energy from his arms from a distance, and was capable of short range flight.
Reactor in combat.
Dull Bookworm, prior to becoming Reactor, had no emotions, and was easily driven by his love of Courtney Gears to have a dangerous surgical implant. After a nuclear reactor was planted in his body, he then developed an explosive personality.[1][2] When fighting Ratchet, he appeared to be arrogant and egotistical, wanting the fight to make him look as good for the cameras as possible, and barely regarding Ratchet as a threat.[7]
Behind the scenes[]
Concept art.
Reactor is voiced by Phil Morris, who also voiced Merc.
Citations[]
References[]
- Insomniac Games (2005). Ratchet: Deadlocked [Game]. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation 2.
- Greg Off (2005). Ratchet Deadlocked Prima Official Game Guide [Book]. Prima Games. ISBN 0761552049.
- Insomniac Games (2005, October 24). "Entertainment News - News Update". From Insomniac Games. Archived from the original on November 8, 2019.