Dreadnought (comics)

Dreadnoughts are a type of fictional robot appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Frequently employed by villainous organizations, different forms are depicted within said organizations. The robots first appeared in Strange Tales #154 (May 1940).[1]

Dreadnought
Nightstalkers #16 (February 1994): Cover art by Bill Wylie and Frank Turner.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceStrange Tales #154 (March 1967)
Created byRoy Thomas
Jim Steranko
In-story information
SpeciesRobot
Team affiliationsHYDRA
Maggia
New Enforcers
AbilitiesSuperhuman strength and durability
Flame-throwing gauntlets
Projectile spikes on knuckles
Electrifying touch
Ability to cause radiation emission from eyes
Freezing breath

Fictional character biography

The Dreadnought is a non-sentient robotic combat instrument originally created by the subversive HYDRA organization for use in various commando operations.[2] The Dreadnought was first used to breach the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier to attempt to assassinate Nick Fury.

Later, the design and specifications were sold to the Maggia criminal cartel who built the Silver Dreadnought.[3]

Some time later, Advanced Idea Mechanics designed the Dreadnought 2000, stored at Target Technologies in Rutherford, New Jersey.[4]

A rebuilt version was used years later during an attack to destroy London, where the robot had to fight Union Jack.

Zeke Stane later built some new models which were used by the Mandarin to attack the Three Gorges Dam in China.[5]

Powers and abilities

The original model was designed by HYDRA and the Silver Dreadnought was built by the Maggia. Its robotic materials, design and construction from a titanium steel alloy afford the Dreadnought superhuman strength, stamina, durability, and reflexes. It has limited artificial intelligence, and no capacity for self-motivated activity. It's programmed for hand-to-hand combat in the style of an American boxer and for combat uses of its built-in weapons sub-systems.

Both major models' gauntlets have flamethrower nozzles, capable of firing a hydrazine-liquid oxygen mix. Its knuckles are studded with spikes which can be shot like rifle bullets. From the modules mounted like ears, the Dreadnought generates a powerful electrical charge which conducts throughout its body's frame and through conducting material. The Dreadnought has no capability for projecting this electricity, but is capable of electrifying by touch. The Dreadnought's optical imaging sensor eyes are gamma ray particle beam projectors which can irradiate a target. The Dreadnought’s mouth is connected to a tank of refrigerated Freon gas which allows the Dreadnought a single-use attack of freezing breath.

The Dreadnought 2000 designed by A.I.M. has gauntlet projectors firing high pressure jets of either water, liquid oxygen, acid, oil, powerful adhesive, anesthetic gas, and/or napalm, and/or beams capable of liquefying steel or solidifying gases in the air. It also has the eight gunpowder-launched knuckle spikes, body-wide electrical field, gamma ray particle beam projectors in its optical imaging sensors, and refrigerated Freon gas dispenser in the "mouth" cavity of the previous models.

In other media

Television
  • The Dreadnoughts appear in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes. This version is built around Stark Industries' technology by HYDRA and are basically fully robotic versions of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Mandroids. In the episode "Iron Man is Born", they are unleashed after Iron Man defeated HYDRA agents. Iron Man manages to defeat the Dreadnoughts.
  • The Dreadnoughts appear in the Avengers Assemble animated series. With several version built by Hammer Industries, the first is a giant four legged robot, the second is the original depiction, and the third is an experimental battle armor used by Justin Hammer. In the episode "Crack in the System", the Dreadnoughts (under Ultron's control) attack the Avengers; the giant robot at Avengers Tower and the foot soldiers and battle armor at Hammer Industries' facility. Each variant gets destroyed by the Avengers.

Video games
  • Dreadnoughts were enemies in Spider-Man: Web of Fire for the Sega 32X.
  • Dreadnoughts appear in the Iron Man game. This version looks like a big tank with missile-launchers and has the ability to create an explosion of energy that affects Iron Man's suit. Iron Man fights a Dreadnought in Afghanistan.
  • Dreadnoughts appear in Marvel Heroes. They are summoned during the battle against Doctor Doom.

References
  1. DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019). The Marvel Encyclopedia. DK Publishing. p. 118. ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0.
  2. Strange Tales Vol. 1 #154
  3. Iron Man #138
  4. Amazing Spider-Man Annual #26
  5. Invincible Iron Man #513
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