[img]https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/skullgirls/images/2/22/Big_band_action_portrait_by_oh8-d6l2186.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20140526040525[/img]

[quote][/quote]Big Band don't "wadataaah" to the "shamaca", 'cause that's a "comacomalipachah", dig?"[quote][/quote]

[b]Name[/b]: Big Band (Ben Birdland)

[b]Age[/b]: 49

[b]Gender[/b]: Male

[b]Canon[/b]: Skullgirls (video game)

[b]Main Thread or Sandbox[/b]: Main Thread

[b]Personality[/b]: Once a man who was serving the law, Big Band possesses an observant eye for any notable details, and is heavily committed to using his abilities to mainly stop Skullgirls from causing havoc, or basically other crime in general.  Due to his past working as a police cop, the influence had turned him into a fine gentleman who regularly followed the rules and regulations, even if others around him tended to resort to other vile tactics for justice. 

While Big Band usually maintains himself to be a calm and smooth-talking person who prefers to talk things out in a well-mannered fashion, if forced into a situation of combat, he will not hesitate to fight back if needed to do so. He also tends to act fatherly (and admittedly a bit overprotective) towards younger individuals, most notably to the members of the Anti-Skullgirl Labs, and shows consideration to others in desperate need of support, such as Painwheel. Big Band also has a dislike towards murder, though if pushed to his limit, he may consider it as a valid act of self-defense. Despite being a former police officer, he still sees the law as a flawed system of balance, which in his own words, 'works, but causes many fatal accidents'.

[b]Biography[/b]: Ben Birdland has seen a lot in his time, including the worst of the Grand War. But nothing was worse than what he saw as a beat cop in New Meridian. When he ran afoul of his crooked unit, he was given a violent early retirement, and his broken body was left to spend the rest of its days in an iron lung. His good friend, Irvin does not betray him however.

That would have been the end of Ben’s story if it hadn't drawn the ears of the Anti-Skullgirl Labs. With little left to lose, he agreed to be rebuilt with their experimental procedures. Melded with the machinery that allows him to breathe a powerful array of pneumatic weaponry, he was reborn as “Big Band.”

Now a senior member of Lab 8, he’s become a father figure of sort to the younger ASG soldiers. A firm believer in their cause, he has stayed with the project through its controversies and still sees his place on the front lines against the Skullgirl. His technology may be dated, but he more than makes up for it with experience and fortissimo.

He fought the previous two Skullgirls, Selene Contiello and Nancy Renoir, alongside Ileum.

Based on some of his dialogue, it can be assumed that he knew Squigly before she died. Even enough to refer to her by her real name.

He also knew about Valentine's group, The Last Hope, based off his victory dialogue against her, including their fate since he will start singing the "The Last Hope Blues.

[b]Powers/Abilities[/b]:  Though he may look stubby and big, Big Band's prowess is never to be underestimated. Due to the technological build he was given by Dr. Avian, this new upgrade allowed him access to superhuman levels of striking strength, capable of overpowering contenders like Cerebrella, Peacock, Ms. Fortune, Painwheel, and Double. In short, his attacks hit like a truck. He is also quite agile on his own, capable of performing multiple combos into various finishers without much help. Big Band is also very durable, capable of taking strong physical hits and getting back up afterwards. His superhuman attributes are what many would call him a 'one-band army', hence the name 'Big Band'.

How he attacks is simple. Via the use of limited shapeshifting, Big Band can utilize his body parts (which are basically just large instruments) to form various sorts of weapons, which his moveset primarily consist of:

Normals:
Honky Tonk: Big Band pulls out a small horn and honks it twice.
Ring-a-Ding: Pulls out a triangle and rings it five times.
Tenor Blast: Unleashes a weak midair sound blast.
Free Form: Big Band pulls out a trumpet and plays. Can be played after damage is dealt to perform the Satchmo Solo.
Glissando: Big Band attacks with a pair of trombones twice.
Baritone Blast: A stronger version of Tenor Blast.
Air Mail Special: Big Band uses a saxophone to perform a powerful standing uppercut.
Overblow: The lower half of Big Band's body transforms into a French horn and crushes the opponent.
Bass Blast: A stronger version of Baritone Blast.
Hot Socks: Big Band's foot transforms into a kick pedal.
Sharp Note: Big Band's shin becomes a clarinet.
Jelly Roll: Big Band's legs transform into a tambourine.
Pneumatic Slide: Big Band's knee transforms into a trombone slide.
Bass Drop: A combination of Tenor, Baritone, and Bass Blast simultaneously.
Sweet Clarinet: Big Band's legs transform into a clarinet. Chains twice. Can be used to hover.
Kick Stand: Big Band performs a powerful double side kick.
Low Rank: Attacks with a set of organ pipes.
5000lb Slam: Big Band performs a powerful mid-air drop kick.

Throws:
Heavy Toll: Traps the opponent in a large brass bell, stunning them afterwards.
High Toll: Catches the opponent midair in a large brass bell before ringing it powerfully.

Specials:

Beat Extend: Big Band's arms become two halves of a tambourine, trapping the enemy in the middle. Can be extended for extra damage.
Giant Step: Big Band's foot becomes a giant kick pedal, shaking the ground and staggering the opponent.
Brass Knuckles: After a brief charge period, Big Band unleashes an extremely powerful sliding punch.
Emergency Break: A quick stop mechanism for Brass Knuckles.
Take the 'A' Train: Big Band reaches forward and grabs the opponent, trapping them within a chamber in his arm and crushing them up to three times.
Emergency Break: A quick stop mechanism for Take the 'A' Train.
Cymbal Clash: While in the air, Big Band crushes the opponent between a giant pair of cymbals.
Bagpipe Blues: Big Band's taunt. Unlocks extra attacks for Blockbusters.
Backstep: Big Band summons a giant, Extremely durable cymbal shield that blocks incoming damage.

Blockbusters:


“TUBATUBATUBATUBATUBATUBATUBATUBA!!!”

Super-Sonic Jazz: Big Band's entire body transforms into a French horn and he flies forward.
TUBA TUBA!: If used after Bagpipe Blues, at the end of the initial attack Big Band unleashes a flurry of powerful punches.
Tympany Drive: The bottom half of Big Band's body transforms into a set of drums, firing several sound blasts toward the ground and allowing him to hover for a short time.
Death Toll: If used after Bagpipe Blues, at the end of the initial attack Big Band performs a more powerful version of High Toll.
Strike Up the Band: Big Band stomps on the ground, summoning several trumpet sound cannons which fire multiple times.
Satchmo Solo: Activated using Free Form, Big Band plays the first five notes of the Skullgirls opening theme, stopping time for a few seconds, but loses energy extremely quickly.
Satchmo Death Blow: Activated after Satchmo Solo, Big Band unleashes a flurry of powerful punches, ending with a more powerful Brass Knuckle.

Other abilities:

-Jet mode: He can fly! :D