Computer programmer, neuroscientist, and pacifist Michael Collins unwittingly becomes the cybernetic killing machine Deathlok, but chooses to be a vigilante instead.
Man to Machine
Growing up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the young and gifted Michael Collins gets through graduate school with hard work and scholarships, earning a Ph.D. in prosthetics and neuroscience and a master’s degree in computer science. He and his wife Tracy have one child named Nicholas. Collins goes on to work for Stark Enterprises in Philadelphia, but is then hired away to become department head for the Computer Software Systems unit at Cybertek Systems, Inc. in Paterson, New Jersey. There, he develops cutting edge neurological prosthetics for nearly five years, until the Deathlok project changes his life forever.
Having learned of the dimensionally-displaced cyborg Deathlok, the Demolisher of Earth-7484, Roxxon Oil Company steals it from S.H.I.E.L.D. and turns it over to their Brand research subsidiary. Harlan Ryker works on the team that successfully researches the Deathlok cyborg and reverse engineers a purely robotic Deathlok, which is eventually destroyed by Ben Grimm, AKA the Thing, at Project: PEGASUS.
After Brand closes, the original Deathlok escapes with aid from a time-traveling clone of his human portion, and Ryker gets reassigned as head of another Roxxon subsidiary, Cybertek Systems Inc., where he continues his research into Deathlok and cybernetics. After creating the Warwolf cyborg, the melding of a wolf-brain with a computer, Ryker oversaw the creation of Cybertek’s own Deathlok, controlled by the human brain of Col. John Kelly, a former United States Army Special Forces operative recruited by Roxxon. Deathlok performs admirably until Kelly attempts to override his computer’s wishes. For its own protection, the computer electrocutes Kelly’s brain, apparently killing him.
Following this failure, Cybertek removes the electrocution capability and began retooling. When Collins investigates these changes and uncovers the weapons-based nature of the project, he demands that Ryker shelve the project. Ryker responds by shooting Collins and transferring Collins’ brain into the Deathlok cyborg.
Lean, Mean Fighting Machine
Deathlok is a cyborg, a melding of human and robotic body parts controlled by a human brain linked to a CPU via encephalonic read/write technology. Deathlok has human lungs, head and brains, as well as a modified human stomach, but most of the rest of his makeup is synthetic. He is maintained by nanotech assemblers, which can slowly repair organic damage. He can eat only a nutrient paste. His skeleton is made of Adamantium, and his muscles and cartilage are a steel/Adamantium alloy.
He’s capable of pressing 85 tons, with a theoretical limit of 150 tons, though computer safeguards prevent him from accessing this limit. His CPU rests in his torso, next to the controlled fusion generator that powers him, and his three energy weapons (plasma assault rifle, plasma pistol, and plasma grenade launcher) are powered by this generator. Each weapon is specifically keyed to Deathlok, and will not fire for others. Deathlok possesses a Cybertek Dragonfly plane, a high-speed low-altitude flier.
Deathlok can function without conscious thought via the computer, but the pacifistic Collins has set strict “no-killing” parameters on Deathlok’s actions. The computer is capable of independent action when allowed and is programmed with various techniques for tasks, such as combat and stealth, which it can run under Collins’ loose guidance. In cooperation with the computer, Collins can interact with other computers through what he views as a shared three-dimensional cyberspace; his computer expertise and direct connection to the computer make him one of the world’s foremost internet and computer security experts.
Control Processes
Michael’s boss Harlan Ryker is his most notable enemy, with Ryker betraying his trust, turning him into the killing machine Deathlok, and stripping him of his humanity. As Michael tries to regain himself, he makes attempts on Ryker’s life but comes to realize that he taught him many things about himself: that he was naïve, that death couldn’t have absolved him from his responsibilities, and that he was wronged.
Non-Mechanical Ties
After Collins becomes the cyborg Deathlok, he changes so much that his wife Tracy Collins rejects him, not believing him to be her husband. He spends time trying to get his body back and therefore back to her and their children, Nicholas and Patricia “Tisha”. He also has a brother Bill and sister-in-law Arlene. He eventually reveals his existence as a cyborg to his family.
As Deathlok, Collins joins heroic teams, such as The Defenders, Wild Pack, and S.H.I.E.L.D. to take on criminals as well as enemies at Cybertek and Roxxon.