Awesome Android
Fictional character by Marvel Comics From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Awesome Android (also briefly known as Awesome Andy) is a fictional character appearing in American 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.
| Awesome Android | |
|---|---|
.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 (writer) Jack Kirby (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Species | Robot |
| Team affiliations | A.I. Army Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg, & Holliway Heavy Metal Intelligencia |
| Partnerships | Mad Thinker |
| Notable aliases | Awesome Andy |
| Abilities |
|
Debuting in the Silver Age of Comic Books, the character has made appearances in Marvel titles for over four decades, and also appeared in Marvel-related products including animated television series and trading cards.
Publication history
The Awesome Android debuted in Fantastic Four #15 (June 1963) as the creation of the Mad Thinker.[1] "Since then, [the Mad Thinker] and his 15-foot-tall (4.6 m) artificial being ... have had run-ins with most of Marvel's major superheroes.[2]
The pair reappeared in Fantastic Four #28 (July 1964) to battle both the titular superhero team and the mutant superheroes the X-Men. The Android continued in the role of antagonist, appearing in Tales of Suspense #72 (Dec. 1965) as an opponent for Iron Man; Rom #14 (January 1981) against the Parker Brothers-licensed hero Rom; and in Captain America #311 (Nov. 1985). The Android reappeared as part of a supervillain team in The Avengers #286-289 (Feb.-May 1988); featured in the Acts of Vengeance storyline in Avengers Spotlight #27 (Mid-Dec. 1989); battled several Marvel heroes in Thunderbolts #2 (June 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 humorous storyline in the 2004–2005 series She-Hulk; and made a brief appearance in Exiles vol. 2 #4 (Sept. 2009).
Fictional character biography
The Awesome Android was created by the Mad Thinker using Mister Fantastic's research, incorporating ape DNA and unstable molecules into an almost indestructible body with a microcomputer and a solar-power source.[3] It battles the Fantastic Four and the mutant team the X-Men before being deactivated by X-Men leader Professor X.[4]
The Awesome Android's subsequent appearances see it battle Iron Man, Rom the Space Knight, and Captain America, and join an assault team of advanced robots called Heavy Metal alongside the Super-Adaptoid, Machine Man, Sentry-459, and TESS-One.[5][6][7] It is seemingly destroyed by Namor in the "Acts of Vengeance" storyline, but is repaired by the Machinesmith.[8][9]
The Mad Thinker upgrades the Android to absorb additional abilities, which inadvertently gives him sentience. Subsequently, he rebels against the Thinker and joins Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg & Holliway, the law firm that employs Jennifer Walters / She-Hulk. However, he returns to the Mad Thinker after being rejected by his coworker Mallory Book.[10][11] In Iron Man 2020, the Awesome Android joins Iron Man's A.I. Army.[12][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. It has limited artificial intelligence and no capacity for self-motivated activity, and is totally dependent on its programming or the programmer's spoken commands, and usually deactivates itself when inactive.
The Android has inhuman physical attributes and can mimic an ability (one at a time) after touching an opponent. It 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 nerves underneath its arms that will deactivate it if struck.[8]
Reception
Accolades
- In 2017, Screen Rant ranked the Awesome Android 10th in their "15 Best Thors In Marvel Comics" list.
- In 2018, Comic Book Resources (CBR) ranked the Awesome Android 12th in their "20 Most Powerful Androids Of The Marvel Universe" list.[14]
- In 2021, CBR ranked the Awesome Android 6th in their "10 Strongest Robots In The Marvel Universe" list.[15]
Other versions
Ultimate Marvel
An alternate version of the Awesome Android named Bobby Burchill appears in Ultimate Fantastic Four. He is the younger brother and slave of Rhona Burchill.[16]
JLA/Avengers
The Awesome Android appears in JLA/Avengers #4 as a brainwashed minion of Krona.[17]
In other media
Television
- The Awesome Android appears in the "Namor" segment of The Marvel Super Heroes.[citation needed]
- The Ultimate Marvel incarnation of the Awesome Android appears in Iron Man: Armored Adventures.[citation needed] This version, renamed Andy Erwin, is an android that Rhona Burchill designed to resemble a goth and act as her "brother" before being killed by Iron Man.
- The Awesome Android appears in Ultimate Spider-Man, with vocal effects provided by Kevin Michael Richardson.[18][19] This version is an experimental robot with a rudimentary, child-like artificial intelligence that can ingest inorganic matter to increase its size.
Miscellaneous
The Awesome Android appears in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes #2.[20]
References
External links
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