| Super-Adaptoid | |
|---|---|
_(front_cover).jpg) The Super-Adaptoid (background) as depicted inAvengers #45 (October 1967). Art byJohn Buscema andVincent Colletta. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Tales of Suspense #82 (October 1966; as Adaptoid) Tales of Suspense #84 (December 1966; as Super-Adaptoid) |
| Created by | Stan Lee Gene Colan Jack Kirby |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Super-Adaptoid |
| Team affiliations | A.I. Army A.I.M. Heavy Metal Phalanx |
| Notable aliases | Adaptoid, Cyborg-Sinister,Fixer, Supreme Adaptoid, Alessandro Brannex |
| Abilities | Ability to mimic superhuman abilities |
TheSuper-Adaptoid is the name of several fictional characters appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. The character has appeared in over five decades of Marvel continuity and featured in other Marvel-endorsed products such asanimatedtelevision series and merchandise such astrading cards.
The original version appeared inTales of Suspense #82 (October 1966), and was created byStan Lee,Jack Kirby andGene Colan.[1] A second version appeared inWeb of Spider-Man #99 (April 1993), created byTom DeFalco andTerry Kavanagh.[2] Other iterations have also appeared, being "Batch 13" inFantastic Force #4 (February 1995), created byTom Brevoort and Pino Rinaldi, and the "Ultra-Adaptoid", inSuper-Villain Team-Up: MODOK's Eleven #1 (September 2008), being created byFred Van Lente and Francis Portela.
The original model (simply known as the Adaptoid) debuted in theTales of Suspense title, being created by the criminal scientific organizationA.I.M.[3] Anandroid containing a shard of theCosmic Cube artifact, the Adaptoid is programmed to defeat the heroCaptain America, infiltrating theAvengers'headquarters while impersonating various characters (such asEdwin Jarvis andBucky Barnes), and then copies the stand-out fighting abilities and respective traits of several Avengers (Goliath,Hawkeye, theWasp and Captain America himself), as the "Super-Adaptoid". After a long battle, the android flees after incorrectly believing that Captain America has been killed.[4][5]
The Super-Adaptoid takes underground near theXavier Institute and is unintentionally awakened by an optic blast fromCyclops. The Adaptoid leaves his hideout and sees theX-Men in their civilian clothes ice skating. He then recalls that he has another mission: to transform others into Adaptoids like himself, so he begins his attempt with theX-Men. They refuse and a fight breaks out. As the battle drags on,Mimic (having been asked to leave the X-Men) watches from a distance and sees how powerful the Adaptoid was. The Adaptoid soon defeats the X-Men and is then approached by Mimic, who offers to become an Adaptoid. During the process, Mimic has a change of heart after learning that he will lose his free will and battles the Adaptoid. During the battle, the Adaptoid unsuccessfully tries to copy the powers that Mimic had copied from the X-Men. Mimic then devises a plan and tries to mimic the Adaptoid's abilities, causing feedback which makes both of them lose their powers. As Mimic is rescued by the X-Men, the Adaptoid falls into a river below.[6]
The Super-Adaptoid later attacks Captain America during a charity event involving the Avengers, after copying the abilities ofThor,Iron Man, andHercules. He is tricked into using all his powers at once, overloading himself.[7] The Adaptoid is featured in theIron Man title reactivated by Jarr and Tyrr as a servant. After a battle where Iron Man defeats the Adaptoid, the android evolved into the metal-basedCyborg-Sinister, attackingStark Industries which resulted in another confrontation with Iron Man which ends with the android being seemingly destroyed.[8] The Adaptoid reforms in theCaptain Marvel title, and after a brief battle with Iron Man follows the hero to Avengers Mansion, where the character battles the team andCaptain Marvel (Mar-Vell). Mar-Vell tricks the Adaptoid into copying the nega-bands, which act as a portal to theNegative Zone. By striking the Adaptoid's nega-bands together, Mar-Vell banishes him to the Negative Zone.[9]
The Super-Adaptoid is retrieved in theMarvel Two-in-One title, and used unsuccessfully by villainsAnnihilus andBlastaar against theThing and the Avengers in the Negative Zone.[10] The Adaptoid reappears in theAvengers title. Revealed to be stored at Avengers Mansion when theMasters of Evil attacked, the Adaptoid disguises himself as theFixer, overpowering and changing places with his victim to be the android's former confinement tube atAvengers Island.[11] The Adaptoid then replicatesMentallo's powers. Uniting ateam of artificial beings (theAwesome Android,Machine Man,Sentry-459, andTESS-One), the Adaptoid directs them against the Avengers. While the heroes are distracted, the Adaptoid summonsKubik to copy his powers and become the all-powerfulSupreme Adaptoid. Although successful, the Super-Adaptoid is tricked into shutting down by Captain America and its Cosmic Cube shard is removed.[12] The Super-Adaptoid makes a brief appearance during theActs of Vengeance storyline having a confrontation with theFantastic Four,[13] and in theHeroes for Hire title, where the android encounters theThunderbolts and theHeroes for Hire,[14][15] and theHulk title, whereBruce Banner is blackmailed into helping repair the Adaptoid.[16]
The android poses as "Alessandro Brannex" during various titles. WithMODAM as an enforcer, Brannex is the C.E.O. of the terrorist organizationA.I.M. on the Boca Caliente island country.[17] While making A.I.M. into a public friendly company, Brannex tries to personally show Captain America of this legal change,[18] and tries to get rid of Iron Man to finish a potential nuclear weapons deal.[19] His impersonation is revealed duringSuperia's assassination to which the Adaptoid regenerated itself.[20] On the Adaptoid-inhabited Boca Caliente, Alessandro's A.I.M. fraction is behindMODOK's resurrection. The Adaptoid reveals itself during a confrontation with theRed Skull but is caught in the recreated Cosmic Cube's reality-warping ability and is presumed destroyed.[21][22]
The Super-Adaptoid appears in the limited seriesAnnihilation Conquest: Quasar, and is revealed to be a warrior in the employ of thePhalanx underUltron's control. Claiming he left Earth after becoming disgusted with humanity's chaotic nature, the Adaptoid attempts to destroyPhyla-Vell,Moondragon, andAdam Warlock.[23]
During the "Iron Man 2020" event, the Super-Adaptoid appears as a member of theA.I. Army.[24]
InSpider-Boy,Taskmaster steals Super-Adaptoid's right hand from a helicopter despite interference fromCaptain America and Spider-Boy.Shannon Stillwell reverse-engineers the Super-Adaptoid technology and createsToy Soldier, who resembles an action figure and possesses the abilities of all of the Avengers. It initially battles Spider-Boy underKillionaire's control before becoming an ally to him.[25]
There have been different Super-Adaptoid models:
There have been characters who have gained the powers of the Super-Adaptoid:
The original iteration is an artificial construct created by A.I.M., and courtesy of a shard of theCosmic Cube artifact, the machine was capable of mimicking the powers and skills of numerous super beings. The Super-Adaptoid's powers extend to specific weapons and equipment, such asCaptain America'sshield,Iron Man'sarmor,Hawkeye's bow and arrows, andThor's mystical hammerMjolnir. The Super-Adaptoid possesses exceptional artificial intelligence, but limited imagination and an inability to understand the human condition has led to defeat. The shard was eventually removed by the cosmic entityKubik.[35] The two later versions, while capable of mimicking multiple foes, have been defeated when attacked by groups of meta-humans simultaneously, being unable to process the sudden surge in information.[30][36]
In 2023, the Super-Adaptoid received an action figure as part of theMarvel Legends line.[46]
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