Comments:
Created by Theodore Sturgeon (original story), Gerry Conway (script
adaptation), Dick Ayers (pencils), Ernie Chan (inks)."KILLDOZER"
Real Name: D-7
Identity/Class: Extradimensional terrestrial
machinery-sentient electron hybrid
Occupation: Killer of humans
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: None
Enemies: Humans, notably Al, Chub, Dennis, Tom Jaeger, Kelly, Peebles, Rivera
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: Daisy Etta (nickname)
Base of Operations: Unnamed island
First Appearance: Worlds Unknown I#6 (April,
1973)
Powers/Abilities: D-7 was an average red-colored bulldozer until it was taken over by a sentient, intelligent electron cloudform that used it to zealously kill humans. It was susceptible to electricity.
History:
(Worlds Unknown I#6 (fb)) - A billion years ago on a
similar Earth, a humanoid race developed machines to serve them, but
for unrevealed reasons, the machines were taken over by a murderous sentient
cloudform of intelligent
electrons, each weapon created by the people taken over by the
cloudform and used against them. Eventually a defense against the
machines was found - an insulator, neutronium, which provided a domed
shelter for the survivors. They developed a massive gun-like weapon
that went out of control and decimated practically all life on the planet, causing
global firestorms and deluges; however, a hardy mutant cloudform found
shelter in a neutronium envelope that sank into the Earth, eventually
rising (still contained) as part of a remote island in the midst of a
wide ocean as life evolved anew.
(Worlds Unknown I#6) - In the modern era, a group of
seven engineers and
mechanics were contracted to build an air force landing strip on the
island. Unloaded by ship, they were to be left left there alone with
machinery for three weeks. The foreman, Tom Jaeger, assigned the
mechanic Rivera to clear land using a bulldozer, tagged D-7. Rivera
translated this into his native Spanish as "De-Siete," which Jaeger
misinterpreted as "Daisy Etta" and the nickname briefly stuck. Rivera
found ruins and despite the mechanic's concerns, Jaeger ordered Rivera
to charge through them, but this released the mutant cloudform that
quickly took over the bulldozer. Immediately in full control, the
cloudform jolted the machine, causing Rivera to be thrown off and
killed instantly. Jaeger was incredulous at this, but "Killdozer"
charged him. Jumping on it, Jaeger tried removing the radiator
cap to stop it, then its transmission cables, although this shocked
Jaeger. "Killdozer" sputtered to a stop. The other workers doubted
Jaeger's account. Days later, second mechanic Peebles repaired D-7 but
was electrocuted by the machine manipulating generator cables, killing
him. Racist engineer Dennis fomented distrust in Jaeger, and went to
get D-7 at night, but, hidden from the others, it instead smeared him across the
earth. The surviving men were all shocked at the remains, and believing
Jaeger to be the culprit, two workers knocked out the foreman until
"Killdozer" roared over the hill and charged at them. Chub carried
Jaeger to safety, but Kelly was run down by it. "Killdozer" destroyed
the workers' camp before targeting Al, who instead pleaded with the
machine to let him live, offering to help kill the other two survivors.
Having devised a plan to stop it, Chub and Jaeger grabbed
"Killdozer"'s attention and the machine pursued Jaeger into shallow
seawater. Dodging the raised blade, Jaeger connected a grounding cable
to the sentient bulldozer as Chub switched on the generator's power,
delivering a minor explosion that destroyed the bulldozer and killed
the cloudform. It was left burning in the shallow water as Chub and
Jaeger resolved not to reveal what actually happened for fear of being
dubbed insane; the traitorous Al remained in shock.
Comments:
Created by Theodore Sturgeon (original story), Gerry Conway (script
adaptation), Dick Ayers (pencils), Ernie Chan (inks).
"Killdozer" was actually the title of the story and named as such on the cover, but it's referred to only as D-7 or the nickname Daisy Etta in the text.
It's not explained why the cloudform tried to
exterminate people. Maybe another alien lifeform bent on planetary
conquest?
I like the cover for the issue - not at all what's in
the story (apart from it being [blood] red) and no woman was on the
island. Gil
Kane's original art (which was delightfully modified by John Romita -
see at right) can be found here.
Perhaps that's how the cloudform saw itself?
Profile by Grendel Prime.
CLARIFICATIONS
:
"Killdozer" has no known connections to:
Tom Jaeger was the foreman assigned to lead a team of
engineers and mechanics to construct an air force landing strip on a
remote island. He saw the mounting body count caused by the possessed
bulldozer, eventually deducing a way to stop it using electricity. Left
as one of only three survivors, he resolved never to reveal the
incredible events.
--Worlds Unknown I#6
images:
(with ads)
Worlds Unknown I#6, p30, pan4 (main image)
p32, pan1 (rear)
p15, pan1 (Jaeger)
Appearances:
Worlds Unknown I#6 (April, 1973) - Theodore Sturgeon (original story),
Gerry Conway (script adaptation), Dick Ayers (pencils), Ernie Chan
(inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
Last updated: 10/31/15
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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