Ken Tennyson is the son of Ben Tennyson and Kai Green from Earth-83. He appears in Ben 10: Milky Way Race as a primary character.
History[]
Pre-MWR[]
Please see this article for more information.
Milky Way Race[]
Ken first appears at the end of Re:Start alongside Professor Paradox, who tells him that Ben will need his help at some point during the race.
Appearance[]
Ken retains his general appearance from Omniverse, albeit older and with a different outfit. He has a streak of neon green dye running through his hair, and wears a black and white uniform. He wears the Utilitrix on his left wrist.
Personality[]
Ken's personality resembles that of his father to some extent, but he carries himself in a different manner. As opposed to Ben's more rash personality when he was sixteen, Ken displays a level of calm calculation in combat situations, working through danger with his brain as much as his fists. He acts somewhat cheery and cocky in most situations, but carries an edge of blunt cynicism in certain conversations.
Under the surface, his relationship with Ben 10,000 is somewhat strained due to Ben's occasional self-centered actions and general dismissal of Ken as an equal. This has improved somewhat since Ben found out Ken was Spanner, but continues to be a contentious subject Ken prefers to avoid bringing up.
Abilities[]
Ken doesn't have any special powers outside of his equipment, but he does have extensive combat training and displays the ability to think quickly and rationally under pressure.
Equipment[]
Utilitrix[]
The Utilitrix is Ken's custom Omnitrix, built by himself using Grey Matter, some vague advice from Professor Paradox, and parts from a mysterious package with no return address.
The Utilitrix contains ten aliens, being built with DNA Card technology that requires the user to manually switch out the cards under the face plate in order to swap out their transformations. This technology, while not nearly as advanced as a proper Omnitrix, is much more intellectually accessible and less prone to digital errors.
The Utilitrix gets its name from its ability to generate custom utility modules for each of Ken's aliens, each module generally serving to reduce an alien's weaknesses and/or enhance their efficiency in combat.
Spanner System[]
Ken's current Spanner System is an upgraded version of the one seen in Omniverse. It performs the same functions (time travel, physical enhancements, etc.), but with an overall stronger output and a connection to the Utilitrix that allows the Spanner armor to use some of Ken's alien abilities. It was purportedly designed in part by a certain Chronian engineer that Paradox has worked with in the past.
Chrono Bike[]
The Chrono Bike is Ken's signature custom motorcycle. Similarly to the Time Cycles, the Chrono Bike can travel through time and space along with its rider. The Chrono Bike is synced to the Spanner System, allowing Ken to summon the bike to him whenever necessary.
Chrono Spanner[]
Chrono Spanner is Ken's alternate identity he assumes when using the Spanner System's armor. Nobody in the present day is aware of his true identity save for Professor Paradox, whose vague placement in time makes the point moot anyway.
Forms[]
Standard[]
Stats
- Punching Power: 1750 lbs
- Kicking Power: 1.5 tons
- Maximum Jump Height: 3 Meters
- Maximum Running Speed: 50 km/h
The original Spanner suit, obtained from Professor Paradox, is a relatively simple armor primarily designed for time travel and the occasional fight.
Its stats are impressive at first glance, and do give the user a definite upper hand in combat, but the suit remains somewhat weak relative to the physical capabilities of most aliens.
In addition to its time-travel mechanism, the Spanner suit comes equipped with jet boots for short bursts of flight and small blasters located on the suit's arms.
This suit was used throughout all of Ken's appearances in Omniverse, but was eventually replaced with a later model before the start of Milky Way Race.
Stats
- Punching Power: 2.5 tons
- Kicking Power: 3.4 tons
- Maximum Jump Height: 9 Meters
- Maximum Running Speed: 75 km/h
The second Spanner suit was developed by Professor Paradox and given to Ken at some point between the events of Omniverse and Milky Way Race.
This suit has more impressive stats than its predecessor, and while the new stats aren't groundbreaking by any means, they still make Spanner a more formidable opponent.
The suit retains the original's functionality, along with the addition of a long-distance communication system, an interface used to control the Chrono Bike, and a belt capable of interfacing with the Utilitrix.
This suit debuted in Re:Start, and will presumably be Ken's primary suit throughout the series.
Alien[]
Spanner's Accel Charger form is created when the Spanner suit is synced with Kineceleran DNA from the Utilitrix.
This form grants the user incredible speed and agility, allowing them to easily dodge and weave their way through a battle.
While the speed and leg power of this form is impressive, its defense is pitiful and its punching power is unimpressive at best.
This form has yet to appear in-series.
Spanner's Atomic Bomber form is created when the Spanner suit is synced with Atomix's DNA from the Utilitrix.
This form grants the user enhanced strength and defense, along with the ability to generate radioactive energy and general immunity to radiation.
The radiation generated by the suit can easily inflict radiation poisoning on surrounding lifeforms if not managed properly.
This form has yet to appear in-series.
Spanner's Buzz Shocker form is created when the Spanner suit is synced with Nosedeenian DNA from the Utilitrix.
This form grants the user some enhanced speed and agility and the ability to generate electricity, turning the Spanner suit into a walking taser.
This form reduces most of the suit's physical stats aside from speed and agility, putting the user at a disadvantage if their opponent is immune to electricity for whatever reason.
This form has yet to appear in-series.
Spanner's Echo Boomer form is created when the Spanner suit is synced with Sonorosian DNA from the Utilitrix.
This form grants the user the ability to generate strong sound waves that can be used as a means of attack, defense, or simple attention-grabbing.
This form mildly reduces the suit's strength and defense.
This form has yet to appear in-series.
Spanner's Fire Flower form is created when the Spanner suit is synced with Methanosian DNA from the Utilitrix.
This form grants the user the ability to generate and ignite methane gas from the ports on its arms. It also increases the user's resistance to fire and heat in general.
This form reduces the user's defense and speed by a noticeable margin.
Spanner's Gotu Shell form is created when the Spanner suit is synced with Shellhead's DNA from the Utilitrix.
This form grants the user such high defense that they become practically invincible.
This form lowers the suit's speed and agility exponentially, making it somewhat difficult for the user to move.
This form has yet to appear in-series.
Spanner's Grey Master form is created when the Spanner suit is synced with Galvan DNA from the Utilitrix.
This form enhances the user's processing power tenfold, enhancing their intelligence and reaction times significantly.
This form lowers the suit's defense and strength quite a bit.
This form has yet to appear in-series.
Spanner's Pit Stopper form is created when the Spanner suit is synced with Snakepit's DNA from the Utilitrix.
This form grants the user the ability to generate and launch small holes, or "pits".
This form has little impact on the suit's overall stats, only reducing speed and agility by a small margin.
This form has yet to appear in-series.
Spanner's Sand Boxer form is created when the Spanner suit is synced with Sandbox's DNA from the Utilitrix.
This form grants the user the ability to generate and shoot large amounts of black sand, along with enhancing their defense somewhat.
This form reduces the user's speed to a noticeable degree.
This form has yet to appear in-series.
Spanner's Spit Lobber form is created when the Spanner suit is synced with Spheroid DNA from the Utilitrix.
This form grants the user the ability to shoot sticky liquid from the ports on the suit's arms, giving them a means by which to ensnare their opponents. The user themselves are immune to the sticking effect.
This form reduces the user's speed and strength somewhat.
This form has yet to appear in-series.
Trivia[]
- The current design for the Spanner suit takes inspiration from Kamen Rider as opposed to the original's inspiration from Power Rangers.
- Ken's aliens generally have a different appearance than Ben's.
- Ken dyed his hair as part of a fad among teenagers that occurs in his time period on Earth-83. The same type of dye job can be seen in other teenagers from this period such as Theodore Logical.