Lance Carlos McClain (born July, the 28th 1994) is a former pilot cadet in the Galaxy Garrison, beginning as a cargo cadet before being promoted to fighter class after Keith was expelled, Linda Gómez and Sally Gómez's cousin and a recurring character in the Chargeshock Thompson & the Justice Avengers series created by Man of Action.
Appearance
Lance has the appearance of a lean older teenager with light brown skin, short brown hair, thin eyebrows, and blue eyes that are notably drawn with small irises and pupils. Lance's bangs are very short and flare outwardly away from the center of his forehead before they curve inward with longer strands to frame his face at his cheekbones. The rest of his hair barely reaches his neck. He has two strands of hair that sprout from the top of his head. Of the Paladins, Lance has been suggested to be the third-tallest.
In his Paladin armor, Lance's uniform mirrors his fellow Paladins but with blue accents to match his Lion.
When he is not in his Paladin armor, Lance wears a light gray shirt with blue sleeves underneath a gray-brown jacket. The jacket is accented with black and orange and has a white hood. He wears blue jeans and white sneakers accented with black and light blue.
Personality
Lance is all about having fun, even a million miles away from Earth’s comforts and distractions. Full of confidence and even more full of himself, Lance thinks he’s everyone’s best friend, especially if they’re cute and female. Additionally, he thinks he's Sally's favorite cousin, even if the two of them didn't always get along when they were younger. While his cockiness often gets the better of him, it comes in handy during firefights against bigger and better opponents. Like Michael, he is also shown to be girl crazy, which sometimes causes him to flirt with multiple women, whether they're older of younger than him.
His humor is rather vulgar, noted by him ripping a fart for the punchline of a joke, and he immediately dons a painfully transparent "smooth and suave" persona whenever in the vicinity of beautiful women to flirt with them and compete with Michael for their attention. His tendency to get caught up in his ego and personal image has led to lowering his guard and trusting too easily to show off, making Lance an easily manipulated target that nearly cost the team the Blue Lion on one occasion. He is also the butt of Jake's jokes, just so Jake could watch him squirm for fun.
Lance's jovial nature and inflated ego distance his mind from the bleak situation of the universe and the need to perform his role as a Paladin seriously when not in a harrowing fight. He often bickers with Sally, picks petty arguments with Keith, who he believes is his rival , or instigates comical situations with other Paladins such as his rendition of laser guns and a "space police" siren. However, despite his reputation, Lance has shown that he becomes noticeably more nervous and awkward when someone shows genuine interest in him, often struggling to maintain his usual “smooth” persona. He was also shown to get jealous when an amnesiac Keith flirted with Allura, implying that his feelings are deeper than just casual flirting.
Beneath his exaggerated confidence and constant need for attention, Lance harbors a deep-seated insecurity regarding his place within the team. Surrounded by highly capable individuals such as Jake, Michael, and Keith, Lance often feels overshadowed, particularly by Keith’s natural talent and quiet confidence. Rather than confronting these feelings directly, Lance masks them through humor, flirtation, and bravado. Despite his immaturity, Lance demonstrates a strong emotional intelligence, often showing an ability to read others’ moods and intentions more effectively than his teammates. While he rarely acts serious in casual situations, he is capable of offering unexpected support, particularly to those he grows close to. This is most evident in his interactions with Keith, where—despite their ongoing one-sided rivalry—Lance occasionally recognizes and responds to Keith’s internal struggles in ways others cannot.
In high-pressure situations, Lance exhibits what the team informally refers to as his “clutch mode,” in which his usual carelessness is replaced by sharp instincts, quick thinking, and remarkable precision. During these moments, he is able to perform at a level comparable to the team’s strongest members, improvising effective strategies on the fly and demonstrating why he was selected as a Paladin. These instances, though rare, earn him genuine respect from his teammates, even if it is seldom openly acknowledged. Over time, Lance’s dynamic with Keith evolves from a one-sided rivalry into a reluctant mutual respect. While Lance continues to view Keith as his primary competitor, Keith gradually comes to recognize Lance’s potential and reliability in critical moments.
Abilities and Equipment
Equipment
Bayard: Lance’s Bayard typically manifests as a long-range energy rifle, emphasizing precision and accuracy. The weapon can be reconfigured into alternate forms depending on combat needs, though Lance shows a clear preference for ranged combat.
Paladin Armor: Like the other Paladins, Lance’s armor is equipped with advanced life-support systems, a communication interface, a built-in HUD, a grappling hook, and a personal energy shield. It also features a jetpack for short bursts of flight and limited space traversal.
Abilities / Skill Set
Expert Marksman: Lance’s greatest strength lies in his exceptional accuracy. He is capable of landing precise shots under pressure, often targeting weak points or providing cover fire for his teammates.
Enhanced Agility: Lance possesses above-average agility and reflexes, allowing him to evade attacks and reposition quickly during combat. His movements are often fluid and acrobatic, though sometimes unnecessarily flashy.
Improvisational Combatant: Unlike more disciplined fighters such as Keith and Jake, Lance relies heavily on improvisation. While this can make him unpredictable and difficult to counter, it can also lead to reckless decisions.
Piloting Skills: Though initially underestimated due to his background as a cargo cadet, Lance proves himself to be a capable and adaptable pilot. His ability to think on his feet allows him to navigate complex situations, particularly in fast-paced aerial or space combat.
Social Manipulation / Charisma: Though not as charismatic as Jake, Lance’s outgoing personality allows him to function as an effective distraction or infiltrator. He is capable of talking his way into—or out of—situations, though his success rate varies depending on how seriously he takes the situation.
Fighting style
Lance’s combat style is characterized by speed, mobility, and flair. He favors long-range engagements, using his marksmanship to control the battlefield while avoiding direct confrontation. His movements often incorporate acrobatics and dramatic positioning, reflecting his desire to impress both allies and opponents.
While his style may appear unrefined compared to more disciplined fighters, it becomes highly effective when combined with his instincts. In coordinated scenarios, particularly alongside Keith, Lance’s ranged support complements close-combat tactics, resulting in unexpectedly strong synergy despite their clashing personalities.
Trivia
While he was at the Galaxy Garrison, Lance was trained as a cargo pilot until he was promoted to fighter class after Keith, the top of the fighter class, was expelled. This suggests Lance had notable piloting skill earning him that placement over other cargo pilot cadets, but still below that of other fighter pilot cadets.
Lance's favorite food is garlic knots.
Lance approves of Jake dating his cousin, even if he doesn't want to admit it because Jake is Keith's brother.
While Lance mentioned growing up on Varadero Beach, his antics with Linda and Sally and the fact that he understood spanish when he spoke with Dennis, Jeremy Shada did not know that Lance was Cuban until a later episode recording session.
He holds the unofficial record within the Justice Avengers for the highest number of romantic rejections, often due to his overly confident and transparent flirting style.
Lance has, on multiple occasions, attempted to impress others by exaggerating his achievements, only to be immediately contradicted by other team members—most notably Jake.
This version of Lance is similar to the Voltron: Legendary Defender version of Lance, who is based on the character Lance of the previous Voltron franchises, which was based on Isamu Kurogane of Beast King GoLion.
