Arsenal (Marvel Comics)

Superherobox|

caption=Arsenal, as featured on the cover of "Avengers" Annual #9 (1979). Art by Don Newton.
comic_color=background:#ff8080
character_name=Arsenal
real_name=
species=
publisher=Marvel Comics
debut="Iron Man" #114 (Sep. 1978)
creators=Bill Mantlo and Keith Giffen
alliance_color=background:#c0c0ff
alliances=
partners="Mother"
aliases=
powers=Superhuman strength
Durability
Air Jets
Laser Cannon
Advanced Sensors|

Arsenal is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in "Iron Man" #114 (Sep. 1978) and was created by Bill Mantlo and Keith Giffen.

Publication history

The character first appears in "Iron Man" #114 (Sep. 1978) subsequently appears in "Avengers Annual" #9 (1979) and "The Incredible Hulk" #282 (April 1983). The Arsenal beta unit appears in "Iron Man" vol. 2, #84-85 (August 2004).

Fictional character biography

In the final days of World War II, a group of Allied scientists - led by Howard Stark, the father of Tony Stark (alias Iron Man) - developed "Project Tomorrow" - the creation of a robot called Arsenal; a prototype fighting unit to be deployed in the event of an Axis victory. The robot was also guided by an early computer program called "Mother." When the Allies won the war, Arsenal was placed in storage. The robot was activated for a military demonstration during a worsening Cold War, but was never used.

In the present day the superhero team the Avengers are battling the supervillain the Unicorn underneath Avengers Mansion, when Arsenal suddenly appears and attacks them. Iron Man manages to drive Arsenal off, ["Iron Man" #114 (vol. 1, Sep. 1978)] and shortly afterwards the Avengers learn the origin of the robot from their government liaison, Henry Gyrich. Arsenal then reemerges and captures Hawkeye and the Beast and stuns Yellowjacket with an electric shock. Yellowjacket, however, recovers and alerts the other Avengers, advising them that Project Tomorrow is directly beneath the mansion.

Guided by Mistress - who believes the Allies lost World War II - Arsenal defeats several Avengers, until confronted by Thor and the Scarlet Witch. On the verge of defeat, Arsenal apparently self-destructs while Iron Man confronts Mistress, who was programmed with the brain patterns of his deceased mother, Maria. Once Iron Man unmasks and explains that the Allies won the war, and that Mistress is simply modelled on his dead mother, the computer program wipes its own memory. ["Avengers" Annual #9 (1979)]

Several months later She-Hulk and the Hulk are visiting Avengers mansion and are alerted to Arsenal's presence when it attacks Edwin Jarvis, the Avengers' butler. Arsenal then incapacitates She-Hulk, and in a rage the Hulk pummels Arsenal until it is destroyed. ["Hulk" #282 (Apr. 1983)]

Iron Man eventually learns that only a "Beta" unit had been destroyed, and that an "Alpha" unit remained deactivated beneath Avengers Mansion. Homeland Security ask him to shut it down without informing the other Avengers due to the security risk it poses. Iron Man tracks the unit, but is unaware that the Avengers have followed him. The unit is activated when transmission codes are radioed to Iron Man, which results in a battle between the new Arsenal and the Avengers. Iron Man then realises that Arsenal was activated by interference with its signal, which was set to "inert." Iron Man occupies Arsenal while Warbird stops the source of the interference, causing Arsenal to deactivate. The unit is then dismantled. ["Iron Man" vol. 2, #84 - 85 (2004)]

Powers and abilities

Both Arsenal units possess amplified strength and durability. The Beta unit also possesses air jets and inertia darts; can radiate an electro-stun field and project a high-intensity laser beam from its eyes. The Alpha unit possesses a flame-thrower, multiple gun systems and a toxic gas dispenser.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix3/arsenal.htm Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Arsenal]
*http://en.marveldatabase.com/Arsenal_%28Robot%29_%28Earth-616%29
*http://www.marvel.com/universe/Arsenal_%28Robot%29