THE PROTECTORATE

Classification: Robots

Creator: Fabian Stankowitz

User/Possessors: Fabian Stankowitz

Affiliations: Fabian Stankowitz

Enemies: Edwin Jarvis, Avengers

First Appearance: Avengers 1999 Annual (July, 1999)

Powers/Abilities/Functions: The Protectorate stood over 30 feet high, and were constructed from durable materials. Each of the four units possessed scanning capabilities, primarily used for detecting mutants, and they could generate an electrified energy field and fire various energy blasts. The Captain America unit had an immense shield which could magnetically repel attacks, and be hurled at enemies. The Thor unit had an immense hammer which it could launch from its right arm at enemies. The Ant-Man unit commanded a swarm of mechanical flying ants with stingers, and could weave cocoons of metal mesh. The Iron Man unit had special energy blasters located in its face, arms, and back.

History: (Avengers 1999 Annual (fb))- Following the apparent deaths of the Avengers while battling Onslaught, their former technician Fabian Stankowitz became obsessed with protecting others, and seeking a way to fill the void created by the Avengers' disappearance. After learning that S.H.I.E.L.D. had buried the remains of Onslaught's Sentinels in a New Jersey landfill, Fabian dug them up and began to rebuild them in a warehouse, redesigning them to look like Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and Ant-Man of the Avengers. As Fabian had only working CPU unit, he created an interface between himself and the CPU so that he could control the machines. However, the machines ate away at Fabian's already fragile mind, enslaving him to their will.

(Avengers 1999 Annual)- The four robots, terming themselves the Protectorate, set out to "protect" New York. Their appearance drew the attention of the Avengers, among whom were the Scarlet Witch, Firestar and Justice, all mutants. Recognizing them as mutants with their Sentinel technology, the Protectorate deemed all of the Avengers mutants, and refused to acknowledge them as the true Avengers, as Fabian had programmed them to believe the Avengers dead. The Protectorate assaulted the Avengers and managed to hold their own, briefly containing them in the Ant-Man unit's cocoon. But in the meantime, Edwin Jarvis had sought out Stankowitz at his warehouse, and learned what had happened. When Fabian realized that the Avengers were alive and that he was "the bad guy", he asked Jarvis to free him from the CPU and destroy the Protectorate's motherboard. Jarvis did so, and the Protectorate were immediately rendered immobile. Fabian was subsequently sent to a hospital for treatment.

Comments: Created by John Francis Moore, Kurt Busiek, and Leonardo Manco.

by Prime Eternal

CLARIFICATIONS:
The Protectorate should not be confused with: