THE LIBERATOR

Classification: Terrestrial energy-draining device

Creator: Baron (Helmut) Zemo, Fixer, Moonstone 

User/Possessors: Thunderbolts (Atlas, Baron Zemo, Blackheath, Fixer, Moonstone, Songbird, Vantage)

First Appearance: Avengers/Thunderbolts#1 (May 2004)

Powers/Abilities/Functions: The Liberator could absorb and contain transnormal energy (nuclear, gamma, ionic, cosmic energy etc.). It was advanced enough to absorb all transnormal energy on the planet Earth.

History: (Avengers/Thunderbolts#1 (fb)) - Moonstone devised a plan to help the Thunderbolts save the world. She called it Project: Liberator. In this project, the Thunderbolts would construct an incredibly advanced machine called the Liberator which could steal all transnormal energy from around the world. They soon began work on the Liberator.

(Avengers/Thunderbolts#4 (fb)) - As a fail safe, in case Zemo betrayed the Thunderbolts, Moonstone introduced a hidden string of code called "protocol X" into the Liberator. In the event of Zemo's betrayal, Moonstone would be able to divert all of the energy from the Liberator into herself.

(Avengers/Thunderbolts#1) - Fixer continued to work on the Liberator, and obtained from Blackheath the Ammonium Nitrate that he needed for the machine to function properly. However, the Liberator started overheating. Fixer explained to Zemo that this was a very advanced piece of technology and it might take a while for them to complete it. The main problem that needed to be dealt with was fixing its cooling system.

(Avengers/Thunderbolts#2) - In order to test the Liberator, the Fixer focused it on Vantage since she had ionic energy in her body. The Liberator drained her transnormal energy, causing her great discomfort, but the experiment was ruled as successful. However, the Liberator still had several little quirks in it, and in order to perfect it, the Thunderbolts needed a nuclear engineer. They soon found one in the form of The Cobalt Man (actually Iron Man disguised in order to spy on the Thunderbolts)

(Avengers/Thunderbolts#3) - In order to work, the Liberator needed to be connected to a satellite array to pinpoint any transnormal energy and tell the Liberator to absorb it. In order to connect the Liberator to such satellites, the Thunderbolts took some advanced technology from the Wizard. They used the technology to take over the satellites once used in the Magneto protocols. They then connected the satellites to the Liberator. 

Later, the Thunderbolts prepared to test the Liberator on a large scale for the first time. However, before they could initiate the test, Iron Man, still disguised as Cobalt Man, stopped them. He explained that there was a glitch in the software and it would not work with anything earlier than Stark 6.0, whereas the Sallies they were using were built with 5.0. If they had gone on with the tests, the Liberator would have been fried and they would have had to start from scratch. The Fixer quickly fixed the Liberator and the Thunderbolts went on with the procedure. They turned on the Liberator and it began to absorb all transnormal energy from around the world. 

(Avengers/Thunderbolts#4) - The Liberator continued to absorb massive amounts of transnormal energy, affecting everywhere from the missile silos in Nebraska, to the Baxter Building of the Fantastic Four. However, before it could progress much further, the Avengers showed up and Captain America threw his shield into the Liberator, damaging it, and accidentally initiating the failsafe that Moonstone had programmed, causing all the energy that the Liberator had stolen to flow into Moonstone.  When the Vision pointed out that there was no longer any energy stored within the Liberator, the Fixer and Iron Man hooked themselves up to the Liberator and discovered that Moonstone had stolen the energy. 

(Avengers/Thunderbolts#5) - The Fixer tried to find a way to fix the Liberator and reabsorb the stolen energy from Moonstone. He was soon joined by Yellow Jacket and Iron Man. Before long, the three had managed to repair the Liberator, but still needed more power to make it work. Iron Man channeled lots of power from his armor into the Liberator, but it still wasn't enough. Eventually, Jolt arrived and sent millions of volts of electricity into the Liberator, successfully fixing it and reversing the flow of energy. The Liberator began to reabsorb the stolen energy from Moonstone. Iron Man then programmed the Liberator to continue to drain Moonstone until it drained her natural powers as well.

(Avengers/Thunderbolts#6) - Before the Liberator could finish draining Moonstone, Hawkeye fired an explosive arrow at it, damaging the Liberator severely. 

Eventually, Moonstone had her power sources removed and the conflict was resolved. Afterward, the Liberator was presumably dismantled.

Comments: Created by Kurt Busiek, Fabian Nicieza, Barry Kitson, and Gary Erskine

This profile is full to the brim with technical mumbo jumbo and advanced scientific stuff. So were the comics. None of it is really important though. If something here confuses you, just replace the scientific term with "something the Liberator needed to work."

Profile by Stunner

Clarifications: No known connection to


images: Avengers/Thunderbolts#1, page 14 panel 2



Avengers/Thunderbolts#1-6 (May-September 2004) - Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza (writers), Barry Kitson (#1-2) & Tom Grummett (#3-6) (pencils), Gary Erskine (inks), Tom Brevoort & Andy Schmidt (editors)


Last updated: 01/26/05

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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