The Razorboys

Archetype: Religious Cybernetic Extremists

Genetic modification zealots who reject cloning and consider their bodies sacred temples

The Razorboys embody the religious extremist archetype but subvert it through their worship of technology and living beings rather than abstract deities. Their belief system centers on the sanctity of the body - not in preserving its natural state, but in enhancing it through cybernetic and genetic modifications while rejecting the "unnatural" process of cloning.

Basic Information

• Full Name: The Razorboys (later Razorgirls)
• Aliases: Razorboys, Razorgirls, Digital Jesus Church
• Occupation: Street gang, Territory defenders, Religious extremists, Cybernetic modification advocates
• Status: Active

Physical Description

• Members feature extensive cybernetic and genetic modifications
• Many have animal-like features (cat ears, fur, reptilian eyes)
• Predominantly female membership after purging male members
• Wear black clothing with religious iconography

Story Appearances

• Ganger: Central focus; Angel forms the gang after leaving the Sinners, establishing their territory and philosophy
• Street Sam: Mentioned as "genetic modification extremists and separatists" who control territory from the Canary to Fuller Street
• Weapon: Evolved into the Razorgirls; worship Akiko as their god and manipulate her to gain power in Horizon City

Connections

• Angel Lopez: Founder who established the gang after leaving the Sinners; died saving children from a car accident
• Alex: Angel's lover and second-in-command who took over leadership after Angel's death
• Kitty (Katherine): Key member who helped transform the group into the all-female Razorgirls
• Tricia: Member who recruited Kitty and helped with the ToxPower operation
• Digital Jesus: Religious figure they worship; implied to be Benjiro Takahashi
• Akiko Takahashi: Eventually worshipped as their god; manipulated to gain power on the Horizon City board
• Sinners Gang: Sworn enemies; formed specifically to oppose their control and brutality

Subversion of Archetype

The Razorboys subvert the religious extremist archetype in several key ways:

1. The Religious Zealots: Unlike traditional religious groups, they worship technology and living beings (Digital Jesus, later Akiko) rather than abstract deities. Their faith is based on tangible, visible entities rather than spiritual concepts.

2. The Body Purists: Despite rejecting cloning as "unnatural," they embrace extreme body modification and genetic engineering. This contradiction reveals how even seemingly principled stances can be selectively applied to suit an agenda.

3. The Female Liberators: Initially mixed-gender but evolved to reject males entirely, claiming to eliminate "toxic males" from their ranks. This transformation shows how revolutionary movements can become as exclusionary as the systems they oppose.

4. The Corporate Infiltrators: Despite their anti-establishment origins, they ultimately manipulate their way into corporate power structures. Their evolution from street gang to board members demonstrates how rebellion can be co-opted by the very system it challenges.

Origin and Evolution

The Razorboys were founded by Angel Lopez, a former member of the Sinners gang who left after witnessing the murder of a child. Guided by what he believed were messages from Jesus (but were likely from Benjiro Takahashi), Angel established a territory from Sin to Fuller, from Knife to Razor streets, with their headquarters in a converted church at Knife and Fuller.

Initially, the gang was formed around principles of protecting the innocent and opposing the Sinners' brutality. Their religious beliefs centered on the sanctity of the body and the rejection of cloning technology, which they saw as unnatural. Instead, they embraced cybernetic and genetic modifications to "achieve better perfection" with their bodies.

After Angel's death (reportedly while saving children from a car accident), leadership passed to his lover, Alex. Under Alex's guidance, the group began communicating with "Digital Jesus" through a holographic interface in the church. Over time, the group evolved into the "Razorgirls," purging male members and embracing an all-female membership.

Philosophy and Practices

The Razorboys/Razorgirls' core philosophy centers on several key beliefs:

1. Sanctity of the Body: They consider their bodies sacred temples that should be enhanced and perfected through technology rather than replaced through cloning.

2. Single Life Preservation: They reject the cycle of death and rebirth offered by cloning technology, believing in preserving and enhancing their single life.

3. Technological Enhancement: They embrace cybernetic augmentations and genetic modifications as paths to perfection.

4. Divine Worship: Initially worshipping "Digital Jesus" (likely Benjiro Takahashi), they later transferred their worship to Akiko Takahashi, whom they believed to be the "incarnation of God."

Their practices include extensive body modifications, religious ceremonies, and strategic operations to expand their influence. They are known for crucifying their enemies (particularly Sinners) and displaying them publicly as warnings.

Strategic Evolution

What began as a street-level resistance to the Sinners' brutality evolved into a sophisticated operation with corporate ambitions. Using Tricia, the manager of logistics at ToxPower, they orchestrated a fake kidnapping to lure Akiko to their church. By convincing Akiko that she was being exploited by the Yakuza (who repeatedly cloned and killed her), they manipulated her into helping them gain a seat on the Horizon City board.

Their business front, Astro Chicken, grew from a single location to over twenty-three restaurants across Red and Gold levels, providing them with legitimate income and influence. This strategic evolution demonstrates their ability to adapt and infiltrate the very power structures they initially opposed.

Legacy in Horizon City

The Razorboys represent a unique faction in Horizon City's complex social ecosystem - neither fully criminal nor corporate, but a hybrid entity that challenges conventional power structures. Their rejection of cloning technology in a city where it's commonplace marks them as ideological outliers, while their embrace of cybernetic modification aligns them with the city's technological ethos.

Their evolution from street gang to corporate players illustrates the fluid nature of power in Horizon City, where today's rebels can become tomorrow's rulers through strategic manipulation of the system. Their story serves as a cautionary tale about how revolutionary movements can be corrupted or co-opted, ultimately reinforcing the very structures they sought to change.