History:
Real Name: Ampzilla
Identity/Class: Extradimensional (Microverse) human cyborg mutate
Occupation: Assassin
Group Membership: Death Squad
Affiliations: Baron Karza, Antron, Battleaxe, Centauria, Galactic Destroyer, Lobros, Repto, Whirldemons
Enemies: Micronauts (Acroyear, Bug, Devil, Fireflyte, Huntarr Marionette, Microtron, Nanotron, Arcturus Rann)
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Homeworld, Microverse;
briefly Earth
First Appearance: Micronauts I#35 (November, 1981)
Powers/Abilities: Ampzilla was originally a normal human who had been mutated in Karza's Body Banks into a reptilian cyborg armed with a twin-barreled gun that fired destructive heat rays mounted on his head plus other cybernetic enhancements. He stood about 8' tall and had an aggressive disposition. His eyes glowed red and he and displayed enhanced strength and durability. He had sharp teeth and claws for hands. Ampzilla, among several other mutates, had been genetically engineered by Karza solely for the purpose of killing the Micronauts.
History:
(Micronauts I#35) - In his quest for the Enigma Force, and standing above the Micronauts, Argon (secretly hosting the mind of Baron Karza) sent the Death Squad to retrieve the three keys of the Enigma Force they held. The Micronauts refused to submit and engaged Argon's minions in combat. However, the Whirldemons attacked, destroying all those in their path, forcing Rann to leave and unlock the Tomb of Wayfinder to access the Enigma Force to counter their destruction. Ampzilla and Devil fought each other directly while Acroyear tackled Battleaxe. Ampzilla's gunfire kept Devil at bay, who was shielding himself with a slab of rock, until Acroyear threw his foe on Ampzilla. Devil then threw the slab on top of the two fallen Death Squadders.
(Micronauts I#36) - The Micronauts fled to Earth onboard the Endeavor, landing in a school, hotly pursued by the now recovered Death Squad. Ampzilla ran alongside his fellow Squad members. Again, the Death Squad attacked and again, Ampzilla selected Devil as his prey, this time accompanied by Lobros, who was telepathically controlling a Lobstros. With Devil in trouble with Lobros, Ampzilla turned his attention to slaying Bug. Devil aided Bug by throwing a globe at the assassin, which smashed against his reptilian hide, knocking him out.
(Micronauts I#46) - Having just freed Prince Pharoid from being tortured by Argon's Dog Soldiers, Acroyear and Bug were suddenly confronted by the Death Squad, revealing the trap that had been laid for the two Micronauts.
(Micronauts I#47) - Ampzilla and Battleaxe both attacked Acroyear, but the Micronaut eventually yielded with the arrival of armed Dog Soldiers and with Bug close to being killed.
(Micronauts I#48) - The Death Squad accompanied Acroyear and Bug, now prisoners. However, Acroyear broke free and tackled Ampzilla first, causing his head guns to shoot at Battleaxe before throwing the reptilian mutate at Centauria. Again with Bug threatened, Acroyear surrendered.
(Micronauts I#49) - The Death Squad, including Ampzilla, were allocated sentry duty to ensure that Acroyear, Bug and Pharoid did not escape the Arena. However, Huntarr and Marionette, initially hidden in the viewing stands, attacked the Death Squad from behind, with Ampzilla felled by a ram generated by Huntarr. Fighting broke out across the Arena with civilians against Dog Soldiers, until the dark form of Karza ripped out of Argon's body, grabbing everyone's attention momentarily.
(Micronauts I#50) - Marionette rallied the Micronauts in the Arena to fight past the Death Squad to meet the newly resurrected threat of Karza. Ampzilla fired at Huntarr before attacking Acroyear, keen to demonstrate his loyalty to the evil Baron. However, Acroyear, having recovered his signature weapon, skewered Ampzilla's chest with his energy sword, killing the Death Squadder.
Comments: Created by Bill Mantlo (writer), Val Mayerick (pencils) and Danny Bulanadi (inks).
At the back of Micronauts I#40, there is a solo picture of Ampzilla with pics of the other Death Squad members.
In the Mego Micronauts toy line, Ampzilla was originally seen as a "Steed" for Repto and looked much more mechanical in design. Being a licensed character no longer held by Marvel, Ampzilla is extremely unlikely to be resurrected.
Profile by Grendel Prime.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Ampzilla has no known connections
to:
images:
Micronauts I#35, p24, pan4 (main)
Micronauts I#47, back cover (head)
Appearances:
Micronauts I#35 (November, 1981) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Val Mayerick
(pencils), Danny Bulanadi (inks), Tom DeFalco (editor)
Micronauts I#36 (December, 1981) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Keith Giffen
(pencils), Danny Bulanadi (inks), Tom DeFalco (editor)
Micronauts I#46 (October, 1982) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Luke McDonnell
(pencils), Danny Bulanadi (inks), Al Milgrom (editor)
Micronauts I#47 (November, 1982) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Mike Vosburg
(pencils), Danny Bulanadi (inks), Al Milgrom (editor)
Micronauts I#48-50 (December, 1982-February, 1983) - Bill Mantlo
(writer), Butch Guice (pencils), Danny Bulanadi (inks), Al Milgrom
(editor)
First Posted: 12/30/2007
Last updated: 12/30/2007
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel
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