Banzai Institute for Biomedical Research and Strategic Information

Also known as Blue Blazers

Followers of the teachings of the great pulp hero Buckaroo Banzai, as set down by Earl Mac Rauch in The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai: Across the Eighth Dimension and by W.D. Richter in the movie of the same name, the Blue Blazers exist to help their fellow man. Most of the Institute’s work actually takes place on Earth, where they’re active in disaster relief and researching the use of handwavium for the betterment of humanity.

All Blazers are trained in basic rescue and first aid.

The term “Blue Blazer” refers both to the dark blue jackets that members of this faction wear when in public and “on duty,” and to the Banzai Institute “blue blaze” that associated members wear somewhere on their other faction’s colors.

The Banzai Institute and the Blue Blazers are not particularly factional in their factional status; they can, will, and do take all volunteers as prospective members. While Blue Blazers do not necessarily cross-pollinate into other factions, it is not uncommon to see Browncoats, Supers, Trekkers, and others wearing a “blue blaze.” Even when not wearing the jackets, Blue Blazer Irregulars (“Blue Blazers” or “BBIs” for short) wear either a patch or cloisonne pin depicting the back-to-back Bs of the Banzai Institute for Biomedical Research and Strategic Information. Blue Blazers are known for their discipline and diversity of talent and knowledge, as well as their loyalty to Buckaroo Banzai. The Blue Blazer Irregulars are closely affiliated with the Pulpers and Supers, but on the whole, are congenial with all factions.

The Banzai Institute for Biomedical Research and Strategic Information is a non-profit organization that handles business concerns for the Blue Blazer Irregulars in the ’Danelaw. The Institute concerns itself with altruistic pursuits as simple as literacy and as complex as disaster rescue and relief.

The Institute is also developing a global network similar to what is in the DC comic book Global Frequency. The Institute coordinates local agents and global experts to solve problems using a massive and widespread thinktank – if something is going on, the Institute will be drawing upon the expertise of Blazers and consultants across the planet and in Fenspace, via satellite and Interwave communications. Blazers report situations in their area or are called upon to investigate, based on their abilities. If something crosses the Institute’s radar, there’s a possibility that anyone (Blue Blazer or not), anywhere, can get a phone call that starts, “Good afternoon, (person’s name here), this is Buckaroo Banzai, and you’re on the Global Frequency...”

The Banzai Institute is registered in both the United States and the European Union. Its mailing address is listed as a P.O. Box located in Dallas, Texas. Both the P.O. Box and the email domain, banzai-institute.org, are registered under a shell corporation, managed by a woman known only as Mrs. Johnson.

Rugsuckers

A subfaction of the Blue Blazers, the Rugsuckers are gun geeks and military aficionados that work with the Institute. The Rugsuckers are usually divided among the other teams of Blue Blazers, diffusing their inherent love for all things bang and boom among the more civic-minded Blazers. Rugsuckers serve as sergeants-at-arms and drill instructors, keeping order and teaching firearm and weapon skills and safety to their teammates. The Rugsuckers take their name from the novelization of The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai: Across the Eighth Dimension, where the team is described as Buckaroo's elite unit of troubleshooters.

The Rugsuckers maintain the Armory, a research and development station in an undisclosed location.

Known BBIs

Real names are given where known; code-names are given in quotation marks.

Core BBIs

• BBI #8, "Chaos"
• BBI #14, "Blackstone" - Samurai Magician Deejay, captain of the World Watch One, and de facto leader of the BBI
• BBI #39, "J." - Ninja Rockstar Firefighter
• BBI #42, "Nezumi" - Card-Carrying Genius, Markswoman, and All-Around Femme Fatale

Other Named BBIs

• BBI #(unknown), "Mrs. Johnson" - Coordinator of the Banzai Institute's main North American headquarters.
• BBI #75, "Tico" (short for "Ticonderoga") - Rugsucker leader
• BBI #255, Frederic "Full Byte" Ferdinand
• BBI #293, PC Patel - London Metropolitan Police officer
• BBI #313, "Joe Friday" - Kandor City Police Department officer
• BBI #772, Wanda Green - On detached service with the Senshi
• BBI #(unknown), Jonathon Helscher - captain of the Inelegant Truth
• BBI #(unknown), Johnathan Mulder ("Hound") - BBI Human Resources Coordinator At Large (Detached)
• BBI #(unknown), "John Steed" - retired MI5 agent
• BBI #(unknown), "Mrs. Peel" - retired MI5 agent
• BBI #(unknown), "Bob" - On detached service with the Senshi
• BBI #(unknown), "Booster" - On detached service with the Senshi
• BBI #(unknown), "Frank" - On detached service with the Senshi
• BBI #(unknown), "Holly Golightly" (a.k.a. "Holly G.") - On detached service with the Senshi. Holly G. bears an uncanny resemblance to Audrey Hepburn.
• BBI #(unknown), "JJ" - On detached service with the Senshi
• BBI #(unknown), "Max" - On detached service with the Senshi
• BBI #(unknown), "Screech" - On detached service with the Senshi
• BBI #(unknown), "Tonka" - Rugsucker, on detached service with the Senshi
• BBI #(unknown), "Fenris" - Rugsucker, Armory staff
• BBI #(unknown), "Madcap" - Rugsucker, Armory staff
• BBI #(unknown), "Tommy Eight-Fingers"