TRI-MAN

Classification: Terrestrial android

Creator: Masked Marauder

User/Possessors: Masked Marauder

First Appearance: Spectacular Spider-Man II#25 (December, 1978)

Powers/Abilities/Functions: The Tri-Man had three different forms. It's humanoid form possessed superhuman strength and durability. Its Birdroid form could fly at great speeds and was often used to enter and steal loot from confined places. Its Bombdroid form was identical to that of the Birdroid, and could also fly, but contained fissionable plutonium and could generate a nuclear explosion--just once, though.

History:
(Spectacular Spider-Man#25-26) - The Masked Marauder led a Maggia raid of a New York bank, accompanied by the Birdroid. When Spider-Man stuck his nose in, the Birdroid transformed back into human form, fighting Spider-Man and distracting him sufficiently to allow the Masked Marauder to blind him with his opti-blast. The Marauder and the Tri-Man proceeded to batter the disoriented superhero, but they had to flee when the police approached.

(Spectacular Spider-Man#27-28) - While Spider-Man got some assistance handling his disability from Daredevil, the Masked Marauder implanted a warhead within the Tri-Man, allowing it to assume its third and final form: the Bombdroid. With this, the Masked Marauder planned to blackmail New York with nuclear destruction unless it turned all power over to the Maggia. When Daredevil and Spidey burst in and threatened to capture him, the Masked Marauder activated and launched the Bombdroid. Spidey jumped atop the flying bomb and managed to use his Spider Sense to avoid danger and safely deactivate the nuclear bomb. He then rode the deactivated Bombdroid down to Earth and crashed it into a heavy bridge while he jumped to safety.
Daredevil took out the Masked Marauder and his remaining men.

Comments: Created by Bill Mantlo and Jim Mooney

Clarifications:
This android is the successor/sequel of:

• Tri-Man, aka Tri-Android,, @ Daredevil I#22
• Tri-Man, aka Tri-Animan, @ Werewolf by Night I#42

and is otherwise unconnected to other "Tri" or "Three" characters

images: (without ads)
Spectacular Spider-Man II#26, p3, pan1 (Tri-Man main pic)
Spectacular Spider-Man II#25, p12, pan2 (Birdroid)