Armstrong Houston

ARMSTRONG HOUSTON

When Super Metroid came out, Nintendo Power magazine ran a series of issues of Samus working through the game’s story, accompanied in her journey by an admirer and fellow bounty hunter who wants to become her partner.

This is Armstrong Houston, who patterned his suit after her and everything. He mostly acts as an exposition sponge, learning Samus’s backstory and witnessing her abilities for the audience’s sake. As the story goes on, he grows to be a better ally and focuses on helping Samus rather than trying to convince her to take him on.

As a fighter, Armstrong will be a semi-clone based heavily on both Samus and the Federation Marines. His moveset will pull from both pulls, but he’ll be a little less strong stat-wise than both.

Likelihood rating: Non-game.

Character Sheet: Armstrong Houston

ARMSTRONG HOUSTON

And now we have a long list of character who appear exclusively within the Metroid comics, manga, and other non-game media. These will all act as a roster on their own, separate from the standard game roster. They are:

1. Joey Apronika

2. Kreatz

3. Mauk

4. Diesel

5. GFS Tyr Crew

6. Armstrong Houston

7. Zegan Doh

8. Bomad

9. U-Ton

10. Papa Lightning

11. Chozo Elders

12. Greed

13. Bishop

14. Knight

15. Dangelo

16. Pirate Boss

17. Amokmaw

18. Integra

19. Megaroid

Now, to the next end of our conundrum surrounding the fates of Armstrong Houston and Dangelo. Samus still has an echo fighter in SA-X, and I'd rather not break the one-echo-rule just yet. So, I have a different idea. How about we "Roy and Chrom" this MF, make them echoes of each other that are only semi-clones of Samus instead.

Armstrong appeared in the Nintendo Power adaptation of Super Metroid, which is part of the same continuity as Magazine Z (featuring three characters who appear in both). Armstrong appears as a fellow bounty hunter who really wants to become Samus's partner, despite her constant refusal. He mostly acts as a receiver for Samus's backstory when it is told in this comic. He wears a suit similar to hers, but with colors that have since become the basis for the Federation Marines. His moveset will combine aspects of Samus and the Marines with that in mind.

Here's the moveset I came up with:

Standard B: Plasma Cannon

This one will pull from the Federation's playbook, rather than Samus's.

Side B: Missile

This one will pull from Samus's, just a little less powerful.

Up B: Space Jump

Pulling from Samus but just a little different.

Down B: Mine

Sort of combining both Samus's bombs and the mines used by the Marines.

Final Smash: Power Beam

Based on Samus's powerful laser attack.

Entrance: He will drop in from his ship.

Taunts: Up, he will raise his cannon and adjust it. Side, he will take up a stance as if trying to stand back to back with a partner. Down, he will take off his helmet and adjust it.

Kirby Hat: His helmet.

Kart: A kart based on his ship.

Special Move: He will be able to backup and defend a fellow racer.

Spirit Battle: He and Samus on Tourian.

Victory Screen: He will stand tall, saying something about "See, Samus, I told you we'd make a great team."

Losing Screen: He will slump down, with his helmet off, saying something about how Samus is better off without him.

Color Swaps: His standard blue and orange, Samus colors, green colors, full red colors, black colors, white colors, purple colors, and gold colors.

Thanks for reading! Next up, a couple of supporting bounty hunters from Samus & Joey.

Super Metroid (Nintendo Power)

SUPER METROID (NINTENDO POWER)

Now, let's cover a five-issue comic series released by Nintendo Power comics that somewhat followed the plot of Super Metroid and seems to be set in the same universe as the Magazine Z comics that we will cover tomorrow. Samus heads to Zebes, but she is accompanied by a fellow bounty hunter named Armstrong Houston who really, really, really wants to become her partner. He doesn't do much to help fight, except to cut a spike once in her defense, and mostly exists to receive exposition about Samus's backstory. However, there are aspects that might give us something to work with, in that he wears a blue suit similar to Samus's power suit with the same colors as the Federation marines seen in Other M. Many have even theorized that those designs were directly inspired by him. We will see how it goes.

Other supporting characters include Chairman Keaton, the leader of the Federation, and Captain Hardy, Samus's somewhat incompetent dispatcher, who will reappear in Magazine Z. There is also Old Bird, the Chozo who rescued Samus as a child and will play a massively pivotal role in Magazine Z, who Armstrong takes Samus to to be healed after she is severely wounded in battle.

And that's about it! Here's what we've got so far:

Characters:

Samus

Armstrong Houston: possible Samus/Federation Marine echo basis

Commander Nemo

Chairman Keaton

Captain Hardy

Old Bird: float, healing bubble

Big Time Brannigan: arm cannon

Stages:

Federation headquarters

Next up, one of the best Nintendo comics out there, and possibly the most canon comic as well!