Awesome Android: Difference between revisions
OK, added peripherals with more information. Should be no problem here. |
OK, "cover" only once in SHB caption (which explains which character he is!), and the expanded PH all past tense as requested. |
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|caption=The ''Awesome Android'' on the cover (background) of ''[[Rom (comics)|Rom]]'' #14 (Feb. 1981). Art by [[Dave Cockrum]].<!--both pencils and inks per GCD and The Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators, both of which also give series title as simply "Rom," as on this cover--> |
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|character_name=Awesome Android |
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Debuting in the [[Silver Age of Comic Books]], the character has featured in Marvel titles for over four decades and is perennial opponent for the company's [[superhero]]es. The Awesome Android has also appeared in [[animated]] [[television series]] and merchandise such as [[trading cards]]. |
Debuting in the [[Silver Age of Comic Books]], the character has featured in Marvel titles for over four decades and is perennial opponent for the company's [[superhero]]es. The Awesome Android has also appeared in [[animated]] [[television series]] and merchandise such as [[trading cards]]. |
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==Publication history== |
== Publication history == |
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The "Awesome Android" [[debut]]ed as a pawn of the villain the [[Mad Thinker]] in ''[[Fantastic Four]]'' #15 (June 1963) and returned in ''Fantastic Four'' #28 (July 1964) to battle the Fantastic Four and the mutant [[X-Men]]. The character continued in the role of antagonist, appearing in ''[[Tales of Suspense]]'' #72 (December 1965) as an opponent for ''[[Iron Man]]''; ''[[Rom (comics)|Rom]]'' #14 (January 1981) against the [[Mattel]] owned hero ''Rom'' and in ''[[Captain America]]'' #311 (November 1985) against the self-same hero. The Android reappeared as part of a supervillain team in ''Avengers'' #286-289 (February - May 1988); featured in the ''[[Acts of Vengeance]]'' storyline in ''[[Avengers Spotlight]]'' #27 (Mid-December 1989); battled several Marvel heroes in ''[[Thunderbolts (comics)|Thunderbolts]]'' #2 (Jun. 1997) and ''[[Heroes For Hire]]'' #1 (July 1997) and had two further encounters with the Fantastic Four in ''Fantastic Four'' vol. 3, #23 (Nov. 1999) and #43 - 44 (July - Aug. 2001). The Android was reclaimed and upgraded by the Thinker in a humourous storyline in the 2004-2005 series ''[[She-Hulk]]''; and made a brief appearance in ''[[Exiles]]'' vol. 2, #4 (September 2009). |
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==Fictional character biography== |
==Fictional character biography== |
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Revision as of 06:55, 12 October 2009
| Awesome Android | |
|---|---|
| File:AA-14.jpg The Awesome Android on the cover (background) of Rom #14 (Feb. 1981). Art by Dave Cockrum. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The Fantastic Four #15 (June 1963) |
| Created by | Stan Lee Jack Kirby |
| In-story information | |
| Team affiliations | Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg & Holliway Heavy Metal |
| Notable aliases | Awesome Andy |
| Abilities | Superhuman physical attributes Ability to mimic surfaces and textures |
The Awesome Android, later known as Awesome Andy for a time, is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Fantastic Four #15 (June 1963) and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist and co-plotter Jack Kirby.
Debuting in the Silver Age of Comic Books, the character has featured in Marvel titles for over four decades and is perennial opponent for the company's superheroes. The Awesome Android has also appeared in animated television series and merchandise such as trading cards.
Publication history
The "Awesome Android" debuted as a pawn of the villain the Mad Thinker in Fantastic Four #15 (June 1963) and returned in Fantastic Four #28 (July 1964) to battle the Fantastic Four and the mutant X-Men. The character continued in the role of antagonist, appearing in Tales of Suspense #72 (December 1965) as an opponent for Iron Man; Rom #14 (January 1981) against the Mattel owned hero Rom and in Captain America #311 (November 1985) against the self-same hero. The Android reappeared as part of a supervillain team in Avengers #286-289 (February - May 1988); featured in the Acts of Vengeance storyline in Avengers Spotlight #27 (Mid-December 1989); battled several Marvel heroes in Thunderbolts #2 (Jun. 1997) and Heroes For Hire #1 (July 1997) and had two further encounters with the Fantastic Four in Fantastic Four vol. 3, #23 (Nov. 1999) and #43 - 44 (July - Aug. 2001). The Android was reclaimed and upgraded by the Thinker in a humourous storyline in the 2004-2005 series She-Hulk; and made a brief appearance in Exiles vol. 2, #4 (September 2009).
Fictional character biography
The Awesome Android is a synthesis of ape DNA and unstable molecules incorporated into an almost indestructible android body with a microcomputer and a solar-power source. The Mad Thinker creates the Awesome Android as a combat instrument with no personality, and uses it twice against the superhero team the Fantastic Four. On both occasions, however, the Android is deactivated; first by the Invisible Girl [1] and then by Professor X, leader of the mutant X-Men.[2]
The Android then kidnaps Tony Stark, which leads to a battle with his alter ego Iron Man.[3] The Android has a minor encounter with Rom many years later, when the Thinker sends it to incapacitate Rom for study. The Android suffers a programming breakdown and subdues the Thinker instead. [4] The Mad Thinker repairs the android and abandons it, and it subsequently battles Captain America.[5] The Fixer reprograms it, and sends it against the Avengers, but the heroine She-Hulk deactivates it.[6]
The abandoned Android is found and reprogrammed by the Super-Adaptoid, who leads it and other robotic beings in a group called Heavy Metal. During a battle with the Avengers, the Sub-Mariner removes the Awesome Android's head, leaving the body to sink into the ocean.[7] The Android is eventually repaired by the Machinesmith and used to distract the Avengers while the other robots escape confinement, and is neutralized by Captain Marvel.[8]
The Android later attempts to kidnap Franklin Richards, and fights the superhero team the Thunderbolts.[9] The Android then has a brief encounter with the Fantastic Four,[10] and is next seen employed by Gideon Trust.[11] The Mad Thinker eventually reclaims the Android, and upgrades it to absorb abilities apart from superhuman powers, such as musical talent and animal traits. The Android later turns on the Mad Thinker, and acquiring sentience seeks legal aid from Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg & Holliway, the law firm that employs Jennifer Walters, the superhero She-Hulk.[12]
The firm legally emancipates the Android from the Mad Thinker, with the court recognizing its new name, "Awesome Andy", and officially considering him male. Andy becomes a general office worker for the firm, finding this more fulfilling than doing the Mad Thinker's bidding. As Andy, the Android shows that he cares deeply for his friends and coworkers and was willing to fight to protect them. As the Mad Thinker did not give him the ability to speak, Awesome Andy communicated via hand-gestures, body language, and a message board strung around his neck. Initially, the display board was depicted as a chalk board (which displayed messages much faster than could be written in real time), but was retconned into being a digital display screen with a Wi-Fi connection to his CPU.
After a brief fight with the Eternal Starfox, Andy inadvertently absorbs Starfox's pheromone-like abilities, causing Andy to gain the affections of his coworker Mallory Book. Upon realizing she does not actually reciprocate those feelings, he deactivates his powers, causing her to reject him angrily. Guilty over his inadvertent actions, he leaves the law firm to find himself.
Andy reappears as a blank slate, having reset his system and leaving no trace of his previous personality, and returns to the employ of the Mad Thinker.[13]
Powers and abilities
The Awesome Android is created when the Mad Thinker steals and uses a technique invented by Mister Fantastic, involving splicing unstable molecules into the DNA patterns of an ape. The character has limited artifical intelligence and no capacity for self-motivated activity, and is totally dependent on its programming or on the spoken commands of its programmer, and usually deactivates itself when not active.
The Android has superstrength and durability, and can also mimic an ability (one at a time) after touching an opponent, such as the strength and epidermis of the Thing or the frost coating of Iceman. The character can also emit close-range blasts of gale-force wind from its mouth. The Android is given one weakness by the Thinker: a collection of nerve ganglia underneath the left armpit that if struck will cause the Android to shut down.[14]
Other versions
Ultimate Awesome Android
Published under the Ultimate Marvel imprint, the parallel universe title Ultimate Fantastic Four features a version of the character called Bobby Burchill. The character is the younger brother and slave of Rhona Burchill, the Mad Thinker.[15]
In other media
The Awesome Android features in a Namor the Sub-Mariner segment of the animated series The Marvel Superheroes (1966).
Footnotes
- ^ The Fantastic Four #15 (June 1963)
- ^ The Fantastic Four #28 (Jul. 1964)
- ^ Tales of Suspense #72 (Dec. 1965)
- ^ Rom #14 (Feb. 1981)
- ^ Captain America #311 (Nov. 1985)
- ^ Avengers #286 (Feb. 1988)
- ^ Avengers #289 (May. 1998)
- ^ Avengers Spotlight #27 (Mid-Dec. 1998)
- ^ Thunderbolts #2 (Jun. 1997)
- ^ Fantastic Four #23 (1999)
- ^ Fantastic Four #43-44 (2001)
- ^ She-Hulk #14 (Feb. 2007)
- ^ She-Hulk #20 (Sept. 2007)
- ^ Avengers #286 (May 1988)
- ^ Ultimate Fantastic Four #19 - 20 (July - Aug. 2005)