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Detroit Steel

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Nightscream (talk | contribs) at 16:46, 21 July 2020 (→In other media: Sure none of the other mentions of the character's name in this list have quotes around it, but let's throw up some in this one entry for no good reason. And let's leave off the period that goes at the end of the sentence. It must be lying on the ground next to the chicken nuggets. In fact, why not ignore the fact that this video game is already mentioned as the second of the three entries in this list, because checking this before hand would be too hard! ;-)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Detroit Steel
The Detroit Steel armor, piloted by Lt. Doug Johnson III, in its first appearance in
The Invincible Iron Man #25 (June 2010).
Art by Salvador Larocca.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceIron Man (vol 5) #25 (June 2010)
Created byMatt Fraction
Salvador Larocca
In-story information
Alter egoLt. Doug Johnson III
Sasha Hammer
Jayce ("Fear Itself" storyline)
Keaton ("Fear Itself" storyline)
Team affiliationsHammer Industries
AbilitiesPowered suit of armor grants:

Detroit Steel is a fictional suit of powered armor appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, in which it is usually operated by adversaries or rivals of Iron Man. Created by writer Matt Fraction and artist Salvador Larocca, Detroit Steel first appeared in Iron Man (vol 5) #25 (June 2010) as part of the "Stark Resilient" storyline.

Publication history

Detroit Steel first appeared in The Invincible Iron Man (vol 5) #25 (June 2010), the first part of the nine-part "Stark Resilient" storyline, which depicted Tony Stark's struggle to build the new company Stark Resilient.[1] and to begin by building a car powered by clean repulsor technology (the same technology used to power the arc reactor).[2][3]

Writer Matt Fraction created Detroit Steel to embody jingoistic patriotism in the vein of Team America,[3] and describes the character thus:

He is what follows in the hole left behind by Iron Man once Tony Stark leaves the world stage. Tony hasn't been around to protect the regular interests that he might have during his time running Stark Industries or running S.H.I.E.L.D. And now that he's back, he's made it clear he doesn't want to get back into the geo-political side of things necessarily. Detroit Steel is what happens in that absence. He is a sort of Blackwater-meets-NASCAR corporate-sponsored armored enhanced guy available for hire to the highest bidder for whatever cause around the round. Basically, Iron Man's worst nightmare of what he could become. An absolute perversion of everything he is.[3]

Though the Detroit Steel armor exhibits the American flag's colors, Fraction states that the Detroit Steel armor can repainted to reflect the colors of whatever country or corporation purchases them, from the Japanese Rising Sun Flag[3] (which makes an appearance in The Invincible Iron Man #27[4]) to the yellow and red colors of McDonald's. Fraction also contrasts Detroit Steel with Iron Man's Bleeding Edge armor, which debuted in the same issue, by describing the latter as "sleeker, slicker and pared down", whereas the former is "bigger and better and boisterous and loud and noisy and everything else. It's like the difference between a Porsche and a Mack Truck".[3]

Fictional history

Former United States Air Force Lieutenant Doug Johnson III is the first pilot of the Detroit Steel armor, first appearing during the "Stark Resilient" storyline. He underwent surgical modifications in order to operate the weaponized suit, and also trained the other pilots in the Steelcorps army. Hammer Industries, led by Justine Hammer and Sasha Hammer, not only wish revenge for patriarch Justin Hammer's death but see Tony Stark as an obstacle for their product Detroit Steel which they hope to market globally as a new soldier for the world. They also both desire revenge against Stark, whom they blame for the loss of Justin.[2][5]

Justine and Sasha embark on a campaign to discredit Iron Man in the industrial market, conspiring with a corrupt Pentagon General Babbage, and staging civilian attacks in which Detroit Steel is arranged to intervene before Iron Man. When confronted about her operations, Sasha attacks with her own biotech weapons with which Zeke augmented her body before being arrested, revealing her criminal intent to both Iron Man and Rescue.[6] Shortly after, Detroit Steel launches a surprise attack on Stark Resilient by orchestrating a remote-server air-strike unwittingly piloted by young gamers on their mobile devices, who are unaware these actions were actually taking place in the real world. The combined efforts of Iron Man, War Machine, Rescue and Maria Hill are able to stop the strike and shut down Detroit Steel.[6] When the Hammers use their connections to arrange Zeke's secret release, Sasha introduces Zeke to her father's employ.[6]

Detroit Steel next appears in The Invincible Iron Man during the 2011 company-wide crossover storyline "Fear Itself".[7][8] Johnson is deployed in Paris, where he confronts Grey Gargoyle, who has been transformed into the Asgardian demon Mokk: Breaker of Faith. As Mokk turns the city's population into stone, Johnson confronts the villain, resulting in his Detroit Steel armor being ripped open and Johnson turned into stone as well.[9]

However, in the subsequent "Demon" storyline Doug Johnson is revealed to be alive. When asked his name by a relief worker, he gives "Detroit Steel" as a name.[10] The public however, believes Johnson to be dead,[11] and Justine makes Sasha into Detroit Steel's new public face.[10]

The Steelcorps then appears in the subsequent "Long Way Down" storyline,[12] in which Johnson kidnaps Sasha in order to steal a Detroit Steel unit, after which he is confronted by Sasha, who kills him.[13][14][15]

Sasha and her Detroit Steel armor are next seen in Black Panther #171 (May 2018), the twelfth and penultimate part of writer Ta-Nehisi Coates's "Avengers of the New World" storyline. In the story, Sasha and her boyfriend, Ezekiel Stane, who had been previously believed killed in "The Five Nightmares" storyline in The Invincible Iron Man in which both characters first appeared, are in the African nation of Wakanda, where they are allied with the villain Klaw against that nation's king, the superhero Black Panther. Black Panther and his forces dispatch Sasha and Ezekiel before defeating Klaw.[16]

Steelcorps

The Steelcorps (otherwise called the Detroit Steelcorps,[11] Steelmechs,[17] and Hammermechs[18]) is a line of armored soldiers marketed by Hammer Industries.

During the "Stark Resilient" storyline, a fleet of unmanned flying drones aided in Detroit Steel's attack against Iron Man. Anonymous gamers were duped into believing that the missions carrying out on Hammer Industries' behalf were a playable video game via a cell phone application, in which they pretended to be Detroit Steel's "wingman".[19][20]

A team of Steelmechs are subsequently led by Sasha into Paris, ostensibly on behalf of the U.S. and French governments, where they battle Rescue before being confronted by Mokk: Breaker of Faith.[18]

The Steelcorps also appear in the subsequent "Long Way Down" storyline.[12]

Powers and abilities

Detroit Steel attacks Iron Man, from The Invincible Iron Man (Vol 2) #32 (January 2011). Art by Salvador Larocca.

According to Hammer Industries, Detroit Steel represents "the most bleeding-edge research into man/machine spinal hybrid mechanics the world has ever seen", and incorporates technology, such as C.N.S. (Controlled Exo-Enhanciles), that would eventually be used to end paralysis caused by cervical, thoracic or corticospinal injuries. Weighing four and a half tons,[2] the "oversized"[21] Detroit Steel towers over Iron Man,[22] at approximately twice his height.[23] The Detroit Steel suit affords its occupant considerable protection from automatic weapons and explosives,[2] though the magically-powered being Mokk: Breaker of Faith was able to easily rip open the Detroit Steel armor.[9]

The Detroit Steel suit allows its users to fly, and usually is seen with a rotary cannon mounted on its right arm, and a specialized chainsaw on its left,[2] which can penetrate Iron Man's Bleeding Edge Armor.[23] There are rocket-powered munitions on the suit's shoulders.[2] The rotary cannon can be dismounted so that the soldier can carry and fire it as a traditional handheld weapon,[24] and the Detroit Steel armor's users have been seen outfitted with other types of weapons in this manner, including both directed-energy weapons and scaled-up rifles.[18] Sasha Hammer's Detroit Steel armor has also been depicted with a directed-energy weapon in palm of its hands.[24] Those who pilot the Detroit Steel armor are required to undergo considerable surgical modifications, which leave implants visible on the pilot's chest, which Doug Johnson felt "turned him into a monster". According to Justine Hammer, the company designed models for different environments and hot zones, including arctic climates and urban encounters.[2] Suits of different heights and designs have also been depicted.[10][12]

Reception

Alex Evans, reviewing Invincible Iron Man #33 for Weekly Comic Book Review, while praising the "Stark Resilient" storyline (which he gave a B-), found Justine Hammer and Sasha Hammer to be more effective villains than Detroit Steel, which he found to be "bland" and "boring". Evans also disliked the lack of a resolution to Detroit Steel and Iron Man's battle in Invincible Iron Man #33,[25] though he later praised Iron Man #505, which he felt tied up that loose end.[8] Evans was more receptive to the character's use in the subsequent storyline "The Long Way Down", saying of Invincible Iron Man #518, "The manner in which Fraction and Larroca depict the fight between Detroit Steel and Sasha Hammer was brilliant, alternating panels between the fight itself (at night) and the aftermath (the broken apartment in the daylight). It created almost a police procedural, detective feel that also served to make the whole thing a bit haunting and unsettling, which is great given how creepy 'Detroit Steel' already is".[26]

In other media

References

  1. ^ DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019). The Marvel Encyclopedia. DK Publishing. p. 109. ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Fraction, Matt (w), Larocca, Salvador (a). "Stark Resilient Part 1: Hammer Girls" The Invincible Iron Man, vol. 5, no. 25 (June 2010). Marvel Comics.
  3. ^ a b c d e Mahadeo, Kevin. "SNEAK PEEK: Detroit Steel". Marvel Comics. April 1, 2010
  4. ^ Fraction, Matt (w), Larocca, Salvador (a). "Stark Resilient Part 3: This Is What We Do" The Invincible Iron Man, vol. 5, no. 27 (August 2010). Marvel Comics.
  5. ^ Fraction, Matt (w), Larocca, Salvador (a). "Stark Resilient Part 7: Sabot" The Invincible Iron Man, vol. 5, no. 31 (December 2010). Marvel Comics.
  6. ^ a b c Fraction, Matt (w), Larocca, Salvador (a). "Stark Resilient" The Invincible Iron Man, vol. 1, no. 25-32 (June 2010-January 2011). Marvel Comics.
  7. ^ Richards, Dave. "'Invincible Iron Man's' Stark Future". Comic Book Resources. April 20, 2011
  8. ^ a b Evans, Alex. "Invincible Iron Man #505 – Review". Weekly Comic Book Review. June 19, 2001
  9. ^ a b Fraction, Matt (w), Larocca, Salvador (a). "Fear Itself Part 2: Cracked Actor" The Invincible Iron Man, vol. 1, no. 505 (August 2011). Marvel Comics.
  10. ^ a b c Fraction, Matt (w), Larocca, Salvador (a). "Demon Part 2: Exposure" The Invincible Iron Man, vol. 1, no. 511 (February 2012). Marvel Comics.
  11. ^ a b Fraction, Matt (w), Larocca, Salvador (a). "Demon Part 3: Control" The Invincible Iron Man, vol. 1, no. 512 (March 2012). Marvel Comics.
  12. ^ a b c Fraction, Matt (w), Larocca, Salvador (a). "Long Way Down: Part 1: Night of the Long Knives" The Invincible Iron Man, no. 516 (July 2012). Marvel Comics.
  13. ^ Fraction, Matt (w), Larocca, Salvador (a). "Long Way Down: Parts 3-5" The Invincible Iron Man, no. 518-520 (August–September 2012). Marvel Comics.
  14. ^ Zawisza, Doug (May 4, 2012). "Invincible Iron Man #516". Comic Book Resources.
  15. ^ Richards, Dave (June 15, 2012). "Fraction Escalates the Mandarin's War Against 'The Invincible Iron Man'". Comic Book Resources.
  16. ^ Ta-Nehisi Coates (w), Sprouse, Chris (a). "Avengers of the New World Part 12" Black Panther, no. 171 (May 2018). Marvel Comics.
  17. ^ Fraction, Matt (w), Larocca, Salvador (a). "Fear Itself Part 3: The Apostate" The Invincible Iron Man, vol. 1, no. 506 (September 2011). Marvel Comics.
  18. ^ a b c Fraction, Matt (w), Larocca, Salvador (a). "Fear Itself Part 4: Fog of War" The Invincible Iron Man, vol. 1, no. 507 (October 2011). Marvel Comics.
  19. ^ Fraction, Matt (w), Larocca, Salvador (a). "Stark Resilient" The Invincible Iron Man, vol. 5, no. 29-33 (October 2010-February 2011). Marvel Comics.
  20. ^ Tabu, Hannibal. "THE BUY PILE FOR DECEMBER 22ND, 2010". "The Buy Pile". Comic Book Resources. December 23, 2010
  21. ^ Callahan, Timothy. Review of "Invincible Iron Man #28". Comic Book Resources. July 18, 2010
  22. ^ Fraction, Matt (w), Larocca, Salvador (a). "Stark Resilient Part 4: Grand Mal Tokyo Moron Party" The Invincible Iron Man, vol. 5, no. 28 (September 2010). Marvel Comics.
  23. ^ a b Fraction, Matt (w), Larocca, Salvador (a). "Stark Resilient Part 8: Drones Scream Down" The Invincible Iron Man, vol. 5, no. 32 (January 2011). Marvel Comics.
  24. ^ a b Fraction, Matt (w), Larocca, Salvador (a). "Fear Itself Part 5: If I Ever Get Out Of Here" The Invincible Iron Man, vol. 1, no. 508 (November 2011). Marvel Comics.
  25. ^ Evans, Alex. "Invincible Iron Man #33 – Review". Weekly Comic Book Review. December 24, 2010
  26. ^ Evans, Alex. "Invincible Iron Man #518 – Review". Weekly Comic Book Review. June 7, 2012
  27. ^ "Dehulked". Avengers: Ultron Revolution. Season 3. Episode 8. May 1, 2016. Disney XD.
  28. ^ Djordjevic, Pavle (January 30, 2016). "How To Unlock Detroit Steel & Sentry | Lego Marvel's Avengers". Gosu Noob.
  29. ^ James Whitbrook (November 21, 2016). "Ms. Marvel Is Getting Her Own Lego Minifigure". io9.
  30. ^ Hanneke Weitering (February 20, 2017). "New DC & Marvel LEGO Sets Unveiled at Toy Fair 2017". Newsarama.
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