DESTRUCTOID
Classification: Terrestrial technology
Creator: Unrevealed (see comments)
User/Possessors: Diamondhead (Arch Dyker)
First Appearance: Nova I#3 (November, 1976)
Powers/Abilities/Functions: Built in humanoid form and standing about 10 feet tall, the Destructoid was a robotic training device with great strength. It was programmed to seize and restrain an opponent, then it would activate a 10-second self-destruct timer and detonate itself.
History:
(Nova I#3) - The criminal Diamondhead was engaged in a work-out session in his automated Attack Room. He easily smashed four approaching "Hero-bots"; then three machine guns popped into firing position and shot a hail of titanium bullets at Diamondhead, which he deflected with the palms of his open hands. After punching through a two-foot thick reinforced wall, Diamondhead next faced a trio of rocket missiles that were launched at him, but the projectiles merely shattered when they struck his nearly indestructible body. As Diamondhead began to grow careless and lost in thoughts of the "Dreaded One" (later revealed to be the crime-lord Sphinx), the multifaceted malefactor was taken by surprise when the Destructoid came up from behind, seized him by the shoulders, and put him in a choke-hold. Diamondhead realized he only had 10 seconds before the automaton blew itself up, but it proved to be no trouble for his steal-smashing strength when he demolished the Destructoid and punched it to pieces before it could explode.
Comments: Created by Marv Wolfman (writer), Sal Buscema (artist) and Tom Palmer (inks).
Boy, that Destructoid must sure be an expensive piece of exercise equipment, considering that you only get one use out of it! Diamondhead was basically just a stupid thug, so I'd say it's a safe bet that he didn't have the expertise to build the Destructoid or any of the other weaponry in the Attack Room by himself. He may have hired one of the various robot/gadget-builders who populate the Marvel Universe--Fixer, Machinesmith, Mad Thinker, or even Fabian Stankowicz; but I'm gonna guess the Destructoid (and the Attack Room) was the work of the Tinkerer (Phineas Mason), because at the time this story was published, he was known for supplying equipment to several other criminals (including Bruno Caper, Goldbug, Stinger).
"Attack Room"?! Can't give Diamondhead many points for originality--first he uses the name of a previous villain, then he comes up with an Attack Room (I hope Charles Xavier doesn't find out, or else Diamondhead's in DANGER of being sued for copyright infringement).
In regards to the "Hero-bots": They were never actually called that in the story, and Diamondhead only referred to them as "robot duplicates". The"Hero-bots" were only seen in action on the first page, but they seemed to be little more than animated practice dummies, and none of them appeared to simulate the strength, skills or abilities of the heroes they were patterned after (e.g. "Spiderobot" didn't spin webs or climb walls, "Thorobot" wasn't as powerful as the thunder god, etc.).
And a BIG Thank You to Nathan Elliot for the scans!
Profile by John Kaminski.
CLARIFICATIONS:
The Destructoid has no known connections to:
Crude mechanical replicas of the heroes Nova, Thor, Iron Man and Spider-Man, the "Hero-bots" were some of the training devices used in Diamondhead's Attack Room.
--Nova I#3
images:
(without ads)
Nova I#3, p3, pan1 (main image)
Other Appearances: None
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Last Updated: 04/20/10
Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™
and
© 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If
you
like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com
Special Thanks to www.g-mart.com for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!