Vital Stats
- CodeName: None
- Place of Origin: Emerald City, Oregon, USA (birthplace unknown)
- Real/Birth Name: Julie Amanda Talbot (adoptive name)
- Real Identity Status: Public
- Age/Apparent Age: Late 50s (Appears mid-40s)
- Height: 5'4"
- Gender: Female
- Category/Occupation: Mundane/Mayor of Emerald City
- Superhero Affiliations: None
- Real Identity Affiliations: Emerald City Mayor's Office
- Base of Operations: Emerald City, Oregon, USA
- Power Set: Political Influence (City Government)
- Power Origin: None
- Player: NPC
Appearance
Amanda Talbot is a statuesque woman who is in excellent shape and appears considerably younger than her actual late-50s. She prefers wearing sharp business jackets with matching pencil skirts which she accompanies with a light blouse to lend a feminine touch to what she feels may be too austere an image, although this often changes based on the recommendations of her PR and style advisors. Her red shoulder-length hair is always smartly styled, and she has a bright, friendly manner and her hazel eyes seem to radiate confidence and trust.
Background
Amanda never knew her real parents, as she was adopted at a young age by the industrialist Gerald Talbot and his wife Stephanie. Her early childhood was unremarkable and she achieved average grades in school. She was unaware that she wasn’t the Talbot’s natural daughter until she was 18 when her father was injured in an accident. After that close call, Gerald decided to tell her in case something happened to him or his wife. The news shocked Amanda, and despite her adopted parents’ wishes, she left home and entered the Police Academy. Performing exceptionally well in her studies, Amanda graduated and began work as a police officer while studying law part-time. Though the demands on her time were grueling, Amanda not only excelled in her law studies, but rapidly climbed the ranks in the Police Department and made detective at the remarkably early age of 26.
Though she enjoyed her career, Amanda couldn’t help but feel that she could do more good for the city than she was in her current role. She returned to school and enrolled in a political science program with the intention of eventually running for the office of police commissioner.
Obtaining her degree after five years, Amanda turned her eye to the Police Commissioner’s office and began to outline her campaign with her adopted father, with whom she’d reconciled, providing the initial funds. A successful advertising strategy, loyal campaigners, and her visible presence won Amanda the Police Commissioner’s office at the young age of 31. With her idealistic attitudes, bright personality, and fresh ideas, Amanda brought new life and dedication to the police force and instigated a number of programs that saw police officers enter elementary schools to provide education regarding the danger of strangers, drug and alcohol abuse, and superhuman encounter safety protocols.
With seven years of experience as Police Commissioner, Amanda felt she had done all she could in that position, and looked to climb further up the political ladder; she decided she could do her best work for the city as mayor. Her excellent results as Police Commissioner placed her in good stead, and in late 1996 (aged 38) Amanda won the position of mayor by a landslide.
Amanda's guidance has helped Emerald City prosper and she has been re-elected consecutively 5 terms in a row. With the sudden problems caused by the Silver Storm and the aftermath results of increasing supervillain and criminal activity in Emerald City, Amanda's detractors claim that she is ill-suited to leading what appears to be a destabilizing city, and that her official support of The Sentinels shows her weakness - although others would argue that it is a canny move.
With re-election coming up in a few months, time will certainly tell whether it was a good move or not.
Personality
Amanda is a strong-willed, ambitious woman who seems to genually care for the well-being of Emerald City, and works hard to this aim. She is amiable and friendly, usually quite bright and happy which helps to encourage others. Her cheerfully smiling face and exuberant personality is a regular feature on many morning television programs as she happily answers questions regarding her designs and aims for the city and her administration. She lives in a modest home with her hair-stylist partner of 7 years, Beth, two pet Dalmations (Tristan & Yvaine) and a white Persian cat (Leo). She is an avid animal lover and a frequent visitor to both local and interstate dog and cat shows, where she is well known for her sponsorship of a number of animal charities.
Motivation: Doing Good
A conscientious politician, Amanda has nothing but the good of the city in mind. She is a campaigner for city improvement, and has put the media to good use in bringing her ideas to the public’s attention. She is willing to make tough calls for the greater good but has yet to be truly tested in fire as to this regard and is likely to be conflicted on the issue of the end (for the greater good) justifying the means.
Secret Identity
Everyone knows who Amanda Talbot is - most voted for her. There is little about her that cannot be ascertained with a quick search on the Internet.
Combat Style
As Mayor, Amanda is rarely seen anywhere without a number of plain-clothed police officers for protection. If a violent situation occurs, they ordinarily take positions to protect and extract her from the situation. Thus she is rarely a combatant. Due to this reliance on security, her advancing age and her long career as a politician, it is easy to forget that Amanda began her career as a police officer and has received police defensive and firearms training. Amanda is a realist, and typically carries a police-model Glock 17 light pistol in her handbag. Therefore she has been known to surprise ill-informed assailants by being more competent at self-defence than expected, and a pretty decent shot. If pressed to have to fight, in melee she is trained to fight to suppress and in ranged combat to seek cover and shoot for effect.
Social Style
Amanda prefers dealing with people who are like-minded and care about the well-being of Emerald City, and will try to aid them within the limits of her capabilities. She is receptive to honest-dealing people, being someone who hates "beating around the bush" or sly manipulation. She has little tolerance for selfish and manipulative people, but will bite her tongue and be cordial if she needs to in order to meet her objectives (which is usually in Emerald City's favour). If she has little to gain from a situation, then people should treat her with respect and honesty (at least if they intend on continuing relations with her). She has on occasion been accused of being biased towards animal lovers although this has worked harshly against people who have falsely claimed to be animal lovers to curry favour, and Amanda's keen insight made her realise otherwise.
Relations
Partner: Elizabeth "Beth" Hunt
Beth is a professional hair stylist and fashion consultant. Originally from Basingstoke, United Kingdom, Beth built a career in the London West End where she built up a reputation for her hair and styling for various actresses and events. This naturally developed to being employed by a Hollywood studio filming in London, which got her foot in the door into the US film industry. Years later Beth owns her own stylist company and has made a successful career out of giving fashion advice to celebrities, politicians and others in the public spotlight. She is renown for her tasteful and glamorous styles and (her speciality) creative hair-styling.
Between Beth's "posh" British accent and her penchant for expensive, fashion clothing, most assume Beth to be a social butterfly with an ego to match. Those who get to know her discover she is a talkative, friendly person with a passion for animals and pop culture, especially fantasy and science-fiction.
Beth first met Amanda a little over 7 years ago when she was employed as a stylist for the Mayor for a benefit dinner to raise funds for a local animal welfare charity. As Beth prepared Amanda for the dinner the two women conversed and discovered a mutual love for animals and, as a result, Amanda invited Beth to the charity event - which effectively became their first date. The couple have now been together for 7 years. The fact that both have occupations that have unpredictable and often long hours is something they claim helps, as they understand the occupational pressure on each other. Now that same-sex marriage is legal in the state of California, many wonder if the sound of wedding bells may be in Beth and Amanda's future.
Tristan, Yvaine and Leo
Amanda and Beth live together with their three pets. Amanda's white Persian cat, Leo, is 12 years old and Amanda jokes that he makes the Grumpy Cat seem amiable.
Their Dalmatians, Tristan & Yvaine are 6 years old and were brought into their household shortly after Amanda and Beth decided to move in together. They were named after the main characters in the movie Stardust which is one of Beth's favourite movies (though she claims the original book is better). The two dalmations are from the same litter and are both "rescues" as both Amanda and Beth have strong beliefs about helping rescue pets and animal shelters.
Assistant: Jennifer "Jenny" Keating
Jennifer Keating is Amanda's Executive Assistant. Graduating from Emerald City University with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science (major) and Public Administration (minor), Jenny gained employment as an administrative assistant with the public works agency and slowly built up experience and increasing administrative responsibility over the next few years. After Amanda's succesful re-election, Jenny applied for the post of executive assistant to Mayor Talbot and was accepted because Amanda was impressed by Jenny's references who commended her work ethic and commitment, although Amanda commented "the fact you're a dog-lover may have influenced my decision."
Jenny is a cordial and pleasant person, though highly organised and has been accused of being somewhat dry at times. She enjoys reading (primarily drama and romance novels) and politics. She is well-versed in bureaucratic and political systems and current affairs, but has no political ambition as she is somewhat of an introvert and prefers to support candidates she feels strongly for, rather than attempt to enter the political arena herself. She has a pug named Bruno.
Commissioner Hackman
Commissioner Alexander Hackman and Amanda met as cadets in the police academy, and have been life-long friends. He supported her when she was police commissioner, and even moreso as Mayor, and it was she who convinced him to run for Commissioner. As such they are close friends and have a good working relationship, seeing eye-to-eye on most issues.
Signature Equipment & Gear
- Cell Phone (Smartphone)
- Glock 17 Pistol
- Ford Explorer (Mayoral SUV)
Signature Quotes
- “Reports that say something hasn’t happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don’t know we don’t know.”
- "At least Grumpy Cat just LOOKS grumpy because of feline dwarfism... Leo's actually the most antisocial creature I've ever met."
Gallery
Mayor Amanda Talbot
Mayor Amanda Talbot
Mayor Amanda Talbot during TV Interview