Claw

Claw – Anti-Hero

Jamal Ortega’s story is one of survival. Growing up in poverty, he was the kind of kid who knew more about the inside of a dumpster than a classroom. Stealing became second nature, not out of cruelty, but necessity. He would dart between alleys, climbing buildings to escape angry shopkeepers, always one step ahead of the police. Jamal hated the system that left kids like him to rot — rich kids had futures, poor kids had nothing but scars. He swore he’d never be trapped, never be powerless.

But power has a price. At seventeen, Jamal was kidnapped by a criminal syndicate running illegal experiments. They were trying to turn street kids into living weapons. Most subjects died within hours, but Jamal’s body adapted. The procedure fused retractable metallic claws into his forearms, and when he awoke, the world felt sharper, harsher. His muscles grew stronger, his reflexes quicker. When the scientists tried to cage him, Jamal tore his way free — the first true success of their program, and their greatest mistake.

Now calling himself *Claw*, Jamal lives in the gray space between hero and villain. On one hand, he wages war against the syndicate that made him, hunting down their operations with brutal efficiency. On the other, his violent methods often put him at odds with law enforcement and heroes who see him as reckless. He doesn’t kill innocents, but if someone stands in his way, Jamal doesn’t hesitate to draw blood. He’s a prowler of the night, slipping into shadows, climbing walls with ease, and cutting through steel as though it were paper.

Deep down, Jamal doesn’t see himself as a hero. He’s a survivor. But the world sees something different: a dark figure who punishes the guilty, someone who thrives where the law refuses to act. To some, he’s a monster. To others, a necessary evil. To Jamal, he’s just a man trying to make sure no other kid grows up powerless like he did.