It may be typical to write off old-timers as past their prime, but when everything went to shit, these two old bastards proved that age is just a number when it comes to enduring the horrors of a zombie-infested world. With grit, resourcefulness, and a wealth of experience, they faced down unspeakable terrors, surviving where countless others had fallen, all to protect those they loved. They are Bill Overbeck, the grizzled Vietnam vet from Left 4 Dead, and Joe Baker, the pugilistic swamp-dweller from Resident Evil. But between them, who is DEADLIEST?
Bill Overbeck[]
| “ | I'll see peace back on Earth if I gotta murder every one of these bastards with my bare goddamn hands!
— Bill Overbeck
|
” |
With the Green Berets, William "Bill" Overbeck served two tours in Vietnam. A knee injury saw him honorably discharged. Back home, Bill struggled to adjust to civilian life. Decades later, Bill prepared for surgery. As anesthesia dulled his senses, Bill’s nurse suddenly became a zombie. Fighting off the drugs, Bill escaped and realized the scale of the catastrophe. The Green Flu ravaged the country, turning victims into zombies. Bill was exhilarated - he finally had a new enemy. Bill met three other survivors: Francis, Louis, and Zoey. The group traversed the East Coast seeking a safe haven, but were thwarted at every turn. Captured by the army, the group learned a shocking truth: they were infected. They were immune to the virus's effects, but they were spreading it. The group escaped and sought a remote island. In the port of Rayford, Bill sacrificed his life to ensure his friends survived.
- Fire Axe: A tool used by firefighters, a fire axe is long-handled and made from heat-resistant materials. With a blade on one side of the head and a spike on the other, Bill uses a fire axe to hack off zombie heads and limbs from a safe distance.
- Chainsaw: Chainsaws cut with a set of teeth attached to a rotating chain. Like a hot knife through butter, it easily cuts through any zombie it makes contact with, making it the perfect tool for dealing with hordes of the Infected. The chainsaw is activated with a pullcord and runs on a limited fuel supply.
- M16A2: An updated model of the M16 rifle Bill used in Vietnam, the M16A2 accurately fires 5.56×45mm NATO rounds from up to five hundred fifty meters away. The rifle features a lower receiver from the earlier M16A1 variant, making it capable of semi-automatic or fully automatic fire. Bill uses extended fifty-round magazines with his rifle. A flashlight is affixed to the foregrip.
- Molotov Cocktail: Bill carries a Molotov cocktail: a glass bottle filled with flammable liquid and topped with a rag. When the rag is ignited and the cocktail is thrown to the ground, the bottle shatters and the liquid ignites, causing fire to carpet the area.
- Pipe Bomb: Pipe bombs are improvised explosive devices made up of pipe sections filled with explosive material. The containment of the pipe causes increased pressure, making weak explosives much more powerful. Upon being armed, Bill's pipe bomb produces a loud beeping noise, attracting nearby Infected. It explodes in a spray of shrapnel after six seconds.
- Expert Marksman: Bill’s training and battle-hardened instincts from Vietnam have made him a superb marksman. Even while surrounded by an attacking horde, he can pick off zombies with precise headshots. He once sniped a thrown propane tank, turning it into an airborne bomb with a single bullet before it hit the ground. His aim remains impeccable even as he dual-wields a rifle and pistol.
Joe Baker[]
| “ | Around here, family is a righteous cause! And you ain't gonna kill my family!
— Joe Baker
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” |
In Dulvey, Louisiana, Joe Baker and his brother, Jack, were constantly at odds. Despite their clashes, the pair remained close. After serving in the US Marine Corps, Joe retreated to live in the wilderness of Jack’s property. Things were peaceful until Joe suddenly lost contact with Jack. Unbeknownst to Joe, the Baker home has been terrorized by Eveline, a sapient bioweapon. Eveline infected Jack, his wife, and his children with a psychoactive mold. Years later, monsters created by Eveline wandered into Joe's territory, and he discovered Zoe, Jack’s daughter, unconscious. She was in critical condition, her body ravaged by Eveline's infection. After an incident involving a victim of Eveline, the bioweapon herself had been destroyed. An anti-bioterrorism organization arrived in Dulvey to clean up the mess, but they were waylaid by the Swamp Man: a grotesquely mutated Jack. To protect Zoe, Joe killed Jack, secured an antidote, and cured Zoe.
- Spirit Blade: Somehow, Joe got his hands on a cursed machete possessed by the spirit of its murdered maker. With a broad blade about fifteen centimeters long, the machete absorbs the life force of its victims, slightly healing Joe's wounds with every successful blow.
- AMG-78: The Advanced Multipurpose Gauntlet Mark 78 is a cybernetic gauntlet designed for transporting heavy loads. Worn on the left forearm, the gauntlet enhances Joe's strength. It can be charged to three different power levels; when fully charged, a blow from the gauntlet can blow a steel door off its hinges or instantly destroy a Fat Molded, a monster that can typically only be killed by heavy gunfire.
- M21 Shotgun: The M21 is a break-action double-barreled shotgun with an over/under design. It is incredibly powerful, capable of reducing most Molded to a pile of moldering gore with a single shot, but it only holds two shells at a time, one in each barrel.
- Throwing Spears: Joe hunts with makeshift throwing spears he crafts himself from tree branches and bits of sharpened scrap metal. Despite their crude design, they fly true without fail, and can pierce through the thick hides of mutant alligators.
- Stake Bomb: An improvised explosive of Joe's own design, the stake bomb is a tin filled with volatile chemicals and affixed with sharpened stakes, allowing it to stick into the bodies of the Molded. This bomb can be remotely triggered from a safe distance with a detonator.
- Superhuman Physicality: Thanks to his spartan lifestyle, Joe's body has been pushed beyond human limits. Most of the Molded that stood in his way he destroyed with only brute force and a mastery of boxing and wrestling. He has the strength to smash through wooden doors with a few punches, or crush a Molded's head with a single blow. Four times, he slugged it out with the Swamp Man, a creature strong enough to rip a person in half, emerging victorious more often than not.
X-Factor[]
Experience
With the Green Berets, Bill served two tours in the Vietnam War. He even participated in the chaotic urban combat of the Battle of Huế, one of the longest and bloodiest of the war. After the Green Flu's onset in 2009, Bill escaped an overrun hospital and infested city streets before meeting Francis, Louis, and Zoey. The group fought their way across the Eastern Seaboard, navigating cities, forests, and highways. They slew thousands of zombies, including the dangerous Special Infected, who possessed unique mutant powers. In Rayford, Georgia, Bill met his end facing down three Tanks - enormous muscle-bound zombies - to ensure his friends survived.
In their youth, Joe and Jack Baker regularly brawled. In the 1980s, the brothers served in the US Marine Corps, but it is unknown if they saw combat. Joe became a frontiersman, hunting and fishing in a remote corner of Jack's property. In 2017, Eveline's creations - the zombie-like Molded - invaded Joe's territory. Joe adapted, learning to kill Molded bare-handed. Weeks later, Joe fought to rescue Zoe, slaying dozens of Molded and mutant alligators. He also encountered the Swamp Man: a mutated Jack with super strength, regeneration, and shapeshifting. Joe faced Jack four times in hand-to-hand brawls before destroying him for good with the AMG-78.
Training
With the US Army, Bill completed Basic Combat Training, where he was rigorously drilled in the use of firearms and other military equipment, hand-to-hand combat, survival techniques, and first aid. Following his completion, he passed the selection process for the US Army Special Forces, where he received advanced training in small unit tactics, environmental analysis, and unconventional guerrilla warfare across various terrains. Though decades have passed since Bill’s honorable discharge, the onset of the zombie apocalypse swiftly reignited his military instincts. The skills he once mastered returned to him with ease, becoming crucial in keeping both himself and his fellow survivors alive.
As a recruit in the US Marine Corps, Joe faced an intense training regimen designed to push his limits. The program featured a blend of physical endurance tests and instruction in marksmanship, hand-to-hand combat, survival skills, and mental conditioning. The USMC boasts the longest basic training of all branches of the US Armed Forces, with a distinctive focus on combat readiness. While other branches emphasize specialization, the Marine Corps follow the principle that "every Marine is, first and foremost, a rifleman." Joe continues to sharpen his hand-to-hand skills in his own time, using a makeshift punching bad at his homestead.
Notes[]
- The battle takes place in a shanty town surrounded by swampland, similar to the Gator Village in Left 4 Dead 2, where Bill is holed up. Driven from his home by the Infected, Joe enters the town while bushwhacking his way toward New Orleans. Having witnessed the military executing uninfected civilians, Joe sees Bill's army fatigues and attacks him on sight.