DEATH T.H.R.O.W.S.

Classification: Terrestrial weapons

Creator: (Original design) Unidentified contractors working for the US Government; (new design) Unrevealed (possibly Cross Technological Enterprises)

User/Possessors: Crossfire (William Cross)

Aliases: Death Techno Hybrid Remotely Operated Weapons Systems, Magnum Zs

First Appearance: (BTS) Nick Fury: Agent of SHIELD II#40 (October, 1992); (Magnum Zs seen) Nick Fury: Agent of SHIELD II#41 (November, 1992); (Death T.H.R.O.W.S.) Hawkeye & Mockingbird#2 (September, 2010)

Powers/Abilities/Functions: The Death T.H.R.O.W.S. formerly known as Magnum Zs were remote-controlled robots running on a single frequency. The US Governemnt-sanctioned design was highly durable against conventional weapons, superhuman strength (to an unknown degree) and was immune against cybernetic overrides and vibrational-based powers. They were programmed to respond with deadly force against any kind of hostility and are armed with sonic blasters and, at least the latter versions, small machine guns. The redesigned versions later used by Crossfire were far less durable and could be taken out by bullets, arrows, physical attacks and an EMP! It is unknown if the original Magnum Zs also possessed the ability to transform into a more upright shape like the Death T.H.R.O.W.S., though it is very likely because the Death T.H.R.O.W.S. design was an upgrade (or in some cases a downgrade) based on the Magnum Zs.

History:

(Nick Fury: Agent of SHIELD II#41 (fb) - BTS) - Funded by the US Government the Magnum Zs were technologically advanced, robotic war machines. The US Senate stopped the funding after they realized the Magnum Zs were in conflict with the Geneva Convention. (see comments)

   After they were deemed illegal Crossfire acquired a large amount of the Magnum Zs to use them in a plot to conquer the Isle of el Guapo as a first babystep to gain world domination.

(Nick Fury: Agent of SHIELD II#41 (fb) ) - When the US sent ships with supplies to the Isle of el Guapo Crossfire had the humanitarian cargo replaced with Magnum Zs and with a few computer commands had automated soldiers take the place of US soldiers. He planned to conquer the island, ravaged by a virus created by Japanese World War II war criminal Colonel Ishii, and knew the rest of the world would blame the US for the slaughter because they had originally sent the ships.

(Nick Fury: Agent of SHIELD II#40 - BTS) - The Magnum Zs were stored in boxes in an underground facility on a South American island. Fury and SHIELD's Super Agents (Ivory, Knockabout, Psi-Borg, Violence) were surprised when they found the boxes, which were, according to stickers, US government property. Crossfire tossed the slain Colonel Ishii in front of Fury and the Super Agents and revealed that he was responsible for this operation.

(Nick Fury: Agent of SHIELD II#41) - Crossfire released the Magnum Zs at the warehouse to fight Nick Fury and SHIELD's Super Agents. The Magnum Zs were made immune to the Super Agents' abilities and after one of the Magnum Zs reacted to Fury's threatening gestures by disintegrating his cigar, Crossfire boasted how he would use the Magnum Zs to subjugate the Isle of el Guapo. Ivory and Psi-Borg tried to influence the Magnum Zs until Crossfire remindd them that the robots where tamper-proof because they ran on a single frequency command. When Ivory used her powers to open an escape route through the ground Crossfire sent the Magnum Zs after the fleeing SHIELD agents, but the Super Agents returned and captured Crossfire shortly after the Magnum Zs had taken off. Meanwhile Fury, followed by the Magnum Zs, found the central control unit for the Magnum Zs hidden in the ocean next to the underground facility. Fury activated the self-destruct mechanism of the control unit and blew it up.

(Nick Fury: Agent of SHIEDL II#41 - BTS) - Before the Magnum Zs could arrive on the Isle of el Guapo the Magnum Zs on the ships and on the island Crossfire had stored the rest apparently self-destructed, causing massive explosions across the island and ships. The Super Agents, who had taken Crossfire into custody, still managed to save Fury and bring him to safety.

(Hawkeye & Mockingbird#2) - Crossfire kept redesigned Magnum Zs (rechristened Death T.H.R.O.W.S.) at a Brooklyn-based Cross Technological Enterprises warehouse. When he and Phantom Rider (Jaime Slade, possessed by Lincoln Slade) formed an alliance, Phantom Rider destroyed one of the Death T.H.R.O.W.S. with one of her supernatural bullets to prove that nothing could stand between her and her target. Crossfire wasn't pleased that she had destroyed a very expensive robot, who was part of their army to destroy Hawkeye and Mockingbird.

(Hawkeye & Mockingbird#3) - At a Cross Technological Enterprises warehouse in the Bronx Crossfire sent the Death T.H.R.O.W.S. into battle with the attacking Hawkeye, Mockingbird and Dominic Fortune. Fortune shot one down from the wall, but more soon followed. The Death T.H.R.O.W.S. became even more dangerous when they transformed into their alternate shape. Though the three agents destroyed some of them they were ultimately led to Crossfire and Phantom Rider by the robots. It was all a trap! Phantom Rider forced Fortune and Hawkeye to shoot each other while she paralyzed Mockingbird. Crossfire then blew up the building after he, Phantom Rider and the still active Death T.H.R.O.W.S. had left the building.

(Hawkeye & Mockingbird#4) - Some of the destroyed units were buried beneath the debris of the destroyed Cross Technological Enterprises warehouse.

   When Hawkeye and Mockingbird lured Phantom Rider to the New York Museum of Natural History for a showdown Crossfire and some Death T.H.R.O.W.S. tagged along. Once again some of the robots were destroyed or caught in nets by Hawkeye and Mockingbird. The remaining Death T.H.R.O.W.S. were disabled through an EMP arrow by Hawkeye.

(Heroic Age: Villains#1) - Captain America recommended to just dismantle the Death T.H.R.O.W.S. as they were a step back and in the wrong direction in his opinion.

Comments: Created by Scott Lobdell (writer), Paul Abrams (pencils) & Chuck Barnette III (inks).

The Geneva Conventions are a collection of international law to protect people not participating in hostilities during war, including prisoners of war and civilians. It is not the same as the Geneva Protocols forbidding the use of biological or chemical weapons in armed conflicts.

Crossfire redesigned them pretty well! No, he didn't! Whoever built the Death T.H.R.O.W.S. for Crossfire (most likely CTE) lacked the resources the original contractor had that was hired by the US Government. The government knows how much money they have to to throw at people to build good weapons! Or maybe CTE were the creators of both design, but they just didn't have the resources anymore to build the nigh indestructible versions. Maybe the little critters will return some day and we will learn their full origin.

Profile by Markus Raymond.

CLARIFICATIONS:
The Death T.H.R.O.W.S. should not be confused with: