Deathlok (also referred to as Deathlok the Demolisher) is the name of several fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The first Deathlok, Luther Manning, appeared in Astonishing Tales #25 (Aug. 1974), created by Rich Buckler. At least five subsequent Marvel characters have used the "Deathlok" identity since then: Michael Collins, Jack Truman, Rebecca Ryker, Henry Hayes, and Jemma Simmons. A recurring theme among these characters is that a dead human has been reanimated with cybernetic technology. "Deathlok technology" has also been used thematically by Marvel writers in other stories.
The character has also appeared on television in animation and live action, with J. August Richards and Bill Paxton respectively portraying the original variations Mike Peterson and John Garrett in the television series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Creation Originally conceived as the main character in a novel, Rich Buckler got the opportunity to use the character within the comics medium. Development was put on a hold when Marvel Comics was negotiating for the comic book adaptation rights for the television series The Six Million Dollar Man, until Charlton Comics claimed the rights. Buckler then purchased a copy of the television series' source material Cyborg by Martin Caidin. Buckler stated, "So what I did was rethink part of it, and make sure things were the opposite...so while the Six Million Dollar Man was a good looking guy, I took that all away from Deathlok. I made him a monster and instead of being friends with technology he was enemies with it and then it developed from there. And it actually got deeper as a concept."
Buckler stated the character was an inversion of Captain America.
The original comic run makes numerous references to Mary Shelly's novel Frankenstein, a character whom Deathlok shares many parallels with.
Publication history Although initially announced as the new lead feature for Marvel's Worlds Unknown comic, under the title "Cyborg","Far-Out Fanfare and Infoomation!", FOOM, November 1973, p. 18 the first Deathlok series ran in Astonishing Tales #25–28, 30–36 (cover-dated Aug. 1974–July 1976). This initial version of the character, Luther Manning, later guest-starred with Spider-Man in Marvel Team-Up #46 (June 1976), and the story from the cancelled Astonishing Tales comics was finished in Marvel Spotlight #33 (April 1977). Deathlok subsequently appeared with the Thing in Marvel Two-in-One #27 and 54. The Luther Manning Deathlok then appeared in Captain America #286–288 (Oct.-Dec. 1983).
A new Deathlok, Michael Collins, debuted in the miniseries Deathlok #1–4 (July–Oct. 1990, reprinted as Deathlok Special #1–4 the following year). This second Deathlok went on to a 34-issue series cover-dated July 1991 to April 1994, plus two summer Annuals in 1992 and 1993. The third Deathlok, S.H.I.E.L.D. espionage agent Jack Truman, debuted in an 11-issue miniseries (Sept. 1999–June 2000). Deathlok has also appeared in four issues of the miniseries Beyond!, and Michael Collins, in human form and not as Deathlok, appeared in Fantastic Four #544–545 (May–June 2007). Multiple unnamed Deathlok units appear in Black Panther vol. 4 #1–6. Possessing no human sentience, they were automatons created from corpses of soldiers killed in Iraq.
A new Deathlok named Henry Hayes debuted during the "Original Sin" event from Nathan Edmondson and Mike Perkins. While the character was considered to be an adaptation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) portrayal of Deathlok, Mike Petersen, Edmondson stated that the coincidences were just "happy similarities" and that ultimately they tried to go for a total original concept. This Deathlok had his own ongoing series that began in October 2014.
A new Deathlok named Jemma Simmons, first appeared in S.H.I.E.L.D. vol. 3 #1 by Mark Waid and Carlos Pacheco, adapted from the MCU character of the same name, before becoming Deathlok in the sequel comic series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. #8, turned into one by Hayes to save her life.
Fictional character biography Luther Manning
Colonel Luther Manning is an American soldier from Detroit, Michigan, who, after being fatally injured, is reanimated as a cyborg by Simon Ryker in a post-apocalyptic future. He verbally communicates with his symbiotic computer, to which he refers as the abbreviated "'Puter". After escaping from Ryker's control,Astonishing Tales #25 (Aug. 1974) Manning battles the evil corporate and military regimes that have taken over the US, while simultaneously struggling to retain his humanity. He battles Ryker and the first Warwolf, and he encounters his wife and son for the first time after becoming a cyborg.Astonishing Tales #26–27 (Oct. & Dec. 1974)
Deathlok battles the Devil-Slayer, but then battles demons alongside Devil-Slayer.Marvel Spotlight #33 (April 1977) He later becomes controlled by Mentallo and the Fixer and is sent to assassinate the President, but is stopped by the Thing and Nick Fury.Marvel Two-in-One #26–27 (April–May 1977) After his capture he becomes catatonic, and is taken to England for treatment by the Thing.Marvel Two-in-One #28 (June 1977) He is cured by Louis Kort, and Nick Fury takes him into custody.Marvel Two-in-One #54 (Aug. 1979) Deathlok is rebuilt by Roxxon as a robot and sent to sabotage Project Pegasus. The robot battles the Thing and Quasar, and self-destructs. The real Deathlok, now working for the Brand Corporation, battles Captain America and a time-traveling Luther Manning clone.Captain America #286–288
Deathlok eventually returns to his own time and overthrows the megalomaniac who had taken over the country. Manning remains in his near-future alternate reality, searching for a purpose in life and unable to disconnect himself from the machine bonded to him. Manning later returns to the present day, where he lives in solitude until he is apprehended by S.H.I.E.L.D.
John Kelly
Kelly first appeared as Deathlok in Marvel Comics Presents #62. This version of Deathlok was originally controlled by Kelly until its systems determined that Kelly's brain function was detrimental to its completion of the "First Run" program. The Deathlok unit then completed its mission. Kelly's brain was removed from the cyborg and disposed of. One of Simon Ryker's assistants took the brain presumably for use in the SIEGE unit. This version was made for the United States Army by Harlan Ryker, the CIA's Deathlok-program co-head and Ryker's brother, after studying Luther Manning's cyborg body. The Kelly Deathlok later became known as Siege.Deathlok (vol. 2) #19 (Jan. 1993)
Michael Collins
Professor Michael Collins was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a pacifist working for the Roxxon cybernetics corporation Cybertek. Upon discovery of the Deathlok program, he is shot with a sedative by Harlan Ryker and his brain is transplanted into John Kelly's body. The machine is used against rebels fighting against Roxxon's influence in the fictional South American country of Estrella. Collins regains his consciousness during this mission and stops himself from killing a small child.
Although his brain was intended to serve only as a medium for the robot's programming, Collins is able to assert his will over it, installing a "no-killing parameter" into its programming.Deathlok #1 (July 1990) The computer is fully willing to listen to Collins, though he must take care to present his orders in a way that helps fulfill the mission and keep people from dying.Deathlok #2 (Aug. 1991) Collins learns that his human body is still alive, and encounters Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D.Deathlok #3
In miniseries Beyond!, the cosmic being the Stranger (pretending to be the Beyonder) transports Collins to an alien planet, where he is forced to live for years until being rescued with the aid of several other heroes. However, his rescue requires the sacrifice of Greg Willis, the superhero known as Gravity. As an act of gratitude, Collins arranges Gravity's funeral.Beyond! #2–6 (July–Dec. 2006)
Jack Truman/Larry Young
Jack Truman, also known as Agent 18, is an agent of the international espionage outfit S.H.I.E.L.D. who was transformed into a cyborg to battle the Red Skull. Through telepathic means, he swaps his consciousness with that of Larry Young, his rival and a former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. Young is considered as a "potential recruit" for the Initiative program.Flamini, Anthony & Byrd, Ronald; Civil War: Battle Damage Report; March 2007; page 62
In the Vengeance mini-series, Truman is still trapped in Larry Young's body, while Young is unable to adapt to Truman's cyborg body. He is unable to function without appropriate maintenance, with his body seen rusting in a junk yard.
Project: Deathlok During the "Dark Reign" storyline, a H.A.M.M.E.R. strike force consisting of corpses animated with crude bionics was sent to capture a super-soldier research center known as "The World". These models acted like traditional zombies, craving brains. Their mission was unsuccessful and as a result, the research group which produced them, called "Project: Deathlok", was scrapped.Dark Reign The List: Wolverine #1
Death Locket
In the Avengers Arena series, part of the Marvel NOW! event, a female teenage version of Deathlok dubbed Death Locket is introduced. She is revealed to be Rebecca Ryker, the daughter of Harlan Ryker. After being maimed in an explosion that killed her mother and brother, Rebecca was rebuilt using the Deathlok technology that her father developed.Avengers Arena #2 Arcade later kidnaps her alongside the students of the Avengers Academy and Braddock Academy and forces them to fight other teenage superhumans in his latest version of Murderworld.Avengers Arena #1
Henry Hayes
A new Deathlok debuted during the "Original Sin" storyline. Henry Hayes worked at Doctors Without Borders. During his duty, he lost a leg in a suicide bomber attack in Kandahar (or was brainwashed into thinking he did). Hayes was taken care of by the company Biotek, who provided him with a composite fiber prosthesis. Upon being placed under mind-control, Hayes became Deathlok, where he was used as an assassin, a soldier, a killer, a fighter, and an operative. He had participated in at least one armed conflict alongside organized troops, and assassinated countless people even in populated areas. Hayes was often memory-wiped and did not remember his assignments. While at MTA Metro-North station, he tried to engage discussion with another leg amputee and advised him to contact Biotek, as his own prosthesis forced the man to use crutches. This man left, seemingly displeased with the discussion. Immediately afterward, he met Seth Horne, an off-duty S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who was present when the Eye of the Watcher exploded, releasing a blast of energy which revealed deep secrets to anyone in its radius. To Horne, it revealed Hayes' true story. This level 4 agent wanted to congratulate him, stating that S.H.I.E.L.D. would wish to have him in their ranks. As Hayes really did not know what Horne was talking about, he threatened to call the authorities, forcing the agent to leave after a last congratulations. Immediately, Hayes was ordered to kill him as the announcement board of the station indicated the words "Whiskey David", triggering Hayes' Deathlok persona. After following Seth Horne into the restroom, Deathlok quickly executed him, left, took some medications, and returned to his civilian life.Original Sins #1
Jemma Simmons
In the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. comic book, Jemma Simmons is transformed into a Deathlok by Henry Hayes to save her life after she is infected with an unknown substance and rendered comatose.Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. #10
Deathloks of Lingares