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*Power replication
*Wind breath
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The '''Awesome Android''' (also briefly known as '''Awesome Andy''') is a fictional character appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[Marvel Comics]]. The character first appeared in ''[[Fantastic Four (comic book)|Fantastic Four]]'' #15 (June 1963) and was created by writer [[Stan Lee]] and artist and co-plotter [[Jack Kirby]].
==Fictional character biography==
The villainAwesome [[MadAndroid Thinker]]was createscreated an artificial lifeform based onby the research notes of [[FantasticMad FourThinker]] leaderusing [[Mister Fantastic]].'s Aresearch, synthesis ofincorporating [[ape]] [[DNA]] and [[unstable molecules]] incorporated into an almost indestructible body with a [[microcomputer]] and a [[solar-power]] source, the newly christened ''Awesome Android'' is directed against the Fantastic Four, although the [[superhero]] team defeats both the Android and the Thinker.<ref>''Fantastic Four'' #15 (June 1963). Marvel Comics.</ref> The Awesome Android, still as a pawn of the Thinker, returns to battle the combined effortsIt ofbattles the Fantastic Four and the [[mutant (Marvel Comics)|mutant]] team the [[X-Men]] before being deactivated by X-Men leader [[Professor X]].<ref>''Fantastic Four'' #28 (July 1964). Marvel Comics.</ref>
The Thinker directs the Android to [[kidnap]] [[industrialist]] Tony Stark, which eventually leads to a battle with Stark's [[alter ego]] [[Iron Man]].<ref>''Tales of Suspense'' #72 (Dec. 1965)</ref> After an appearance during the "War of the Super Villains" storyline<ref>''Iron Man'' #77 (Aug. 1975)</ref> the Android is absent from Marvel continuity until directed by the Thinker to capture the [[Galador (comics)|Galadorian]] spaceknight ''Rom'' for further study. After a brief battle, Rom successfully deactivates the Android.<ref>''Rom'' #14 (Jan. 1981). Marvel Comics.</ref> The Android battles [[Captain America]], having been repaired by then abandoned by the Thinker.<ref>''Captain America'' #311 (Nov. 1985). Marvel Comics.</ref> Fellow artificial creation the [[Super -Adaptoid]], posing as villain the [[Fixer (comicsMarvel Comics)|Fixer]], reprograms the Android and uses it as part of an assault team of advanced [[robot]]s called Heavy Metal, consisting of the Awesome Android; [[Machine Man]]; the [[Sentry (Kree)|Sentry 459]], and [[TESS-One]]. The group is eventually defeated by the Avengers with [[Namor the Sub-Mariner]] deactivating the Android by ripping off its head while in the water, causing his torso to flood and sink.<ref>''Avengers'' #286-289 (Feb.-May 1988). Marvel Comics.</ref>
The Android reappears during the "[[Acts of Vengeance]]" storyline, being repaired by the robot [[Machinesmith]] and used to distract the Avengers while several villains escape confinement in the prison facility the [[Vault (Marvel Comics)|Vault]]. The Android is neutralized by [[Monica Rambeau|Captain Marvel]].<ref>''Avengers Spotlight'' #27 (Mid-Dec. 1989). Marvel Comics.</ref> After battles with the superhero teams the ''[[Thunderbolts (comics)|Thunderbolts]]'',<ref>''Thunderbolts'' #2 (June 1997). Marvel Comics.</ref> and the ''[[Heroes for Hire]]'',<ref>''Heroes for Hire'' #1 (July 1997). Marvel Comics.</ref> and two more encounters with the Fantastic Four,<ref>''Fantastic Four'' vol. 3, #23 (Nov. 1999); #43-44 (July-Aug. 2001). Marvel Comics.</ref> the Android is reclaimed by the Thinker.
The 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 [[She-Hulk|Jennifer Walters / She-Hulk]]. However, he eventually returns to the Mad Thinker after being rejected by his coworker [[Mallory Book]].<ref>''She Hulk'' #2 (June 2004); #4 (Aug. 2004); #6-9 (Oct. 2004 - Jan. 2005); #11-12 (March - April 2005); #14 (February 2007). Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>''She-Hulk'' #20 (Sept. 2007). Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>''Exiles'' vol. 2, #4 (Sept. 2009). Marvel Comics.</ref> In subsequent appearances, he accompanies the Mad Thinker in his schemes before eventually joining Iron Man's [[A.I. Army]].<ref>''Fall of the Hulks: Alpha'' #1. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>''FF'' #3. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #676. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>''Deadpool'' vol. 2 #55. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>''Captain America: Steve Rogers'' #12. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>''Iron Man 2020'' vol. 2 #1. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>''Iron Man 2020'' vol. 2 #2. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>''Iron Man 2020'' vol. 2 #3. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>''Iron Man 2020'' vol. 2. #4. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>''Iron Man 2020'' vol. 4 #5. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>''Iron Man 2020'' vol. 2 #6. Marvel Comics.</ref>
The Thinker upgrades the Android to absorb additional abilities, such as [[music]]al talent and animal traits. Acquiring [[sentience]], the Android rebels against the Thinker and seeks legal aid from [[law firm]] Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg & Holliway (the firm that employs [[Jennifer Walters]], the [[alter ego]] of heroine She-Hulk). The Android is legally [[emancipate]]d from the Thinker, with a court recognizing the being as a male with a new name, "Awesome Andy." Andy becomes a general office worker for the firm; lacking speech, he communicates via hand-gestures, body language, and a message board around his neck. The board, originally depicted as a chalk board, was [[retcon]]ned into a digital display screen with a [[Wi-Fi]] connection to his [[CPU]].
After a brief fight with a member of the [[Eternal (comics)|Eternals]], [[Starfox (comics)|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 these feelings, the character deactivates his powers, and, after being rejected by her, leaves the law firm.<ref>''She Hulk'' #2 (June 2004); #4 (Aug. 2004); #6-9 (Oct. 2004 - Jan. 2005); #11-12 (March - April 2005); #14 (February 2007). Marvel Comics.</ref> Andy reappears as the Awesome Android in the employ of the Thinker, having reset its system with no trace of the previous personality.<ref>''She-Hulk'' #20 (Sept. 2007). Marvel Comics.</ref>
The Android also encounters the [[Parallel universe (fiction)|parallel universe]] team the ''[[Exiles (comics)|Exiles]]''.<ref>''Exiles'' vol. 2, #4 (Sept. 2009). Marvel Comics.</ref>
Awesome Android was with [[Mad Thinker]] when it was revealed that Mad Thinker was a member of Intelligencia.<ref>''Fall of the Hulks: Alpha'' #1. Marvel Comics.</ref>
Awesome Android was with Mad Thinker when he is invited to join the [[Future Foundation]]'s seminar on how to defeat Reed Richards with the Reed Richards in mind being the Council of Reeds.<ref>''FF'' #3. Marvel Comics.</ref>
Awesome Android was present with Intelligencia when they are attacked by the [[Sinister Six]]. He was shot into space by the Zero Cannon.<ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #676. Marvel Comics.</ref>
MODOK Superior was able to revive Awesome Android and the other [[List of Marvel Comics teams and organizations#Intelligencia|Intelligencia]] members.<ref>''Deadpool'' vol. 2 #55. Marvel Comics.</ref>
Awesome Android later appears attacking the Museum of American History and battles Steve Rogers, the original Captain America.<ref>''Captain America: Steve Rogers'' #12. Marvel Comics.</ref>
During the "[[Iron Man 2020 (event)|Iron Man 2020]]" event, Awesome Android appears as a member of the [[A.I. Army]].<ref>''Iron Man 2020'' vol. 2 #1. Marvel Comics.</ref> He crashes a stability test at Brevoort Dynamics in Cambridge, Massachusetts and makes off with a robot that was being tested. During the raid, Arno Stark sent out a signal to keep the A.I. Army from escaping to the Thirteenth Floor. [[Machinesmith]] is entangled in wires that work to place the submission code in him as he begs for Awesome Android to help him.<ref>''Iron Man 2020'' vol. 2 #2. Marvel Comics.</ref> H.E.R.B.I.E. reports to the rest of the A.I. Army that Quasimodo is deactivated and Mark One is facing off against Iron Man. He runs into Awesome Android who is carrying a tablet that Machinesmith transferred his consciousness into as they flee the Baintronics guards. After the three of them go through a wall, Awesome Android activates his retractable thrusters to slow the descent. When Mark One crashes to the ground, Awesome Android then picks up Mark One's body as the A.I. Army and other robots are left devastated at what happened.<ref>''Iron Man 2020'' vol. 2 #3. Marvel Comics.</ref> As Awesome Android is carrying Mark One's body, H.E.R.B.I.E. states to Machinesmith that they have to flee. The three of them are contacted by Ghost in the Machine who states that they have not yet won the war and to get Mark One's body away from the battle. When Iron Man begins to descend on them, Machinesmith has Awesome Android mimic Iron Man's appearance and provide them with an escape underground. In New Jersey, Machinesmith, H.E.R.B.I.E., and Awesome Android have made use of a temporary lair as Machinesmith places his conscious into another body. Machine Man, Jocasta, and Dr. Bhang contact them stating that they found a way to block the obedience code.<ref>''Iron Man 2020'' vol. 2. #4. Marvel Comics.</ref> H.E.R.B.I.E., Awesome Android, and Machinesmith accompany Rescue in the raid on Baintronics as Awesome Android carry in Mark One's body to one of the remaining bio-tubes that Dr. Andrew Bheng uses to restore Tony. On the Stark Space Station, Awesome Android is among those that confront Arno until the Extinction Entity arrives.<ref>''Iron Man 2020'' vol. 4 #5. Marvel Comics.</ref> As everyone partakes in the fight against the Extinction Entity, Awesome Android flies Machinesmith into battle where they are both taken out by one of the Extinction Entity's tentacles. It turns out that the Extinction Entity was just a simulation and was the result of the disease that Arno thought he cured himself of.<ref>''Iron Man 2020'' vol. 2 #6. Marvel Comics.</ref>
==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 not activeinactive.
The Android has inhuman physical attributes and can mimic an ability (one at a time) after touching an opponent, such as the [[ThingBen (comics)Grimm|Thing]]'s rock-like epidermisskin or [[Iceman (comics)|Iceman]]'s frost coating. It can also emit close-range blasts of [[gale|gale-force wind]] from its mouth. The Android is given one weakness by the Thinker: a collection of [[Nervous system|nerve]] [[Ganglion|ganglia]] underneath theits left armpitarms that if struck will causedeactivate theit Androidif to shut downstruck.<ref>''Avengers'' #286 (May 1988). Marvel Comics.</ref>
== Reception ==
* In 2017, ''[[Screen Rant]]'' ranked the Awesome Android 10th in their "15 Best Thors In Marvel Comics" list.
* In 2018, ''[[CBR.comComic Book Resources]]'' (CBR) ranked the Awesome Android 12th in their "20 Most Powerful Androids Of The Marvel Universe" list.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Gary |date=2018-12-December 25, 2018 |title=Epic Synthetics: The 20 Most Powerful Androids Of The Marvel Universe, Ranked |url=https://www.cbr.com/marvel-androids-powerful-ranked/ |access-date=2022-11-November 17, 2022 |website=CBR |language=en-US}}</ref>
* In 2021, ''[[CBR.com]]'' ranked the Awesome Android 6th in their "10 Strongest Robots In The Marvel Universe" list.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Faraci |first=Derek |date=2021-01-January 26, 2021 |title=Heavy Metal: 10 Strongest Robots In The Marvel Universe, Ranked |url=https://www.cbr.com/strongest-marvel-universe-robots-ranked/ |access-date=2022-11-November 17, 2022 |website=CBR |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Other versions==
===Ultimate Marvel===
InAn the [[Ultimate Marvel]] imprint, aalternate version of the characterAwesome Android named '''Bobby Burchill''' appears in ''[[Ultimate Fantastic Four]]''. The characterHe is the younger brother and slave of Rhona Burchill (the Ultimate Marvel version of [[Mad Thinker#Ultimate Thinker|MadRhona ThinkerBurchill]]).<ref>''Ultimate Fantastic Four'' #19-20 (July-Aug. 2005). Marvel Comics.</ref>
===JLA/Avengers===
InThe theAwesome lastAndroid issueappears ofin ''[[JLA/Avengers]]'', the#4 Awesomeas Androida isbrainwashed amongminion the enthralled villains defendingof [[Krona (comics)|Krona]]'s stronghold, and is defeated by Superman.<ref>''JLA/Avengers'' #4. Marvel Comics.</ref>
==In other media==
===Television===
* The Awesome Android appears in the "[[Namor]]" segment of ''[[The Marvel Super Heroes]]''.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}
* The [[Ultimate Marvel]] incarnation of the Awesome Android appears in ''[[Iron Man: Armored Adventures]]''.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} This version, renamed '''Andy Erwin''', is an android that [[Mad Thinker#Ultimate Marvel|Rhona Burchill]] designed to resemble a [[Goth subculture|goth]] and act as her "brother". Inbefore theirbeing mostkilled notable appearance in the episode "All the Best People are Mad", Burchill and Andy trap [[Tony Stark]]'s friends in various death traps and force him to save them as part of her Deadly Aptitude Tests (D.A.T.s). After Tony succeeds in doing so, Rhona sends Andy to eliminate them, but contends withby Iron Man instead. During their fight, the latter discovers Andy is an android and damages him, causing Andy to shut down in Rhona's arms.
* The Awesome Android "Andy" appears in ''[[Ultimate Spider-Man (TV series)|Ultimate Spider-Man]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://marvel.toonzone.net/news.php?action=fullnews&id=853 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029200300/http://marvel.toonzone.net/news.php?action=fullnews&id=853 |archive-date=2013-10-29 |title=Marvel Animation Age - The Marvel Animation News Resource}}</ref> with vocal effects provided by [[Kevin Michael Richardson]].<ref name="btva">{{cite web |title=Voice Of Awesome Android –Voice Behind- The''Ultimate VoiceSpider-Man'' Actors(TV Show) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Ultimate-Spider-Man/Awesome-Android/ |website=Behind The Voice Actors |postscript=. CheckA marksgreen check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of closinga creditstitle's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.}}</ref> This version is an experimentexperimental robot with a rudimentary, child-like artificial intelligence that can ingest inorganic matter to increase its size and is kept in Dr. [[Lizard (character)|Curt Connors]]' lab on the [[S.H.I.E.L.D.]] [[Helicarrier]] in a brick-like form. Additionally, it is an artificial intelligence that eats inorganic matter, but is vulnerable to cold temperaturesstate.
===Miscellaneous===
The Awesome Android appears in ''[[The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes]]'' tie-in comic#2.<ref>{{VolumeCite web needed|ctitle=yAvengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes #2 - Obsession; Mutual Respect (Issue) |url=https://comicvine.gamespot.com/avengers-earths-mightiest-heroes-2-obsession-mutua/4000-247613/ |access-date=OctoberAugust 202219, 2024 |website=Comic Vine |language=en}}</ref>
==References==
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1963]]
[[Category:Fictional androids]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics characters who are shapeshifters]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics characters with superhuman durability or invulnerability]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics characters with superhuman strength]]
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