Lieutenant MIKE TRAVERS
of Earth-7484

Real Name: Mike Travers

Identity/Class: Alternate reality (Earth-7484) human

Occupation: Unrevealed;
    former freedom fighter;
    former prisoner/pawn of Simon Ryker
    former soldier (lieutenant)

Group Membership: Formerly the United States Army;
    it is unrevealed whether he was a member of the Central Intelligence Agency or just an ally (I'd assume the latter)

Affiliations: CIA (Central Intelligence Agency; notably Teresa Devereaux), Nina Ferry
    he was best friends with Luther Manning, and he assisted Deathlok on multiple occasions, but he also supported Deathlok's forced compliance against Simon Ryker, and Deathlok hated him for entering a relationship with his former wife and son, Janice and Richard;
    formerly Simon Ryker (his superior officer in the army, and Mike helped design Ryker's computer systems) and the Omni-Computer

Enemies: Provisional Revolutionary Army (see comments), Simon Ryker and his agents;
    Deathlok the Demolisher (in Deathlok's opinion; see above);
    Hellinger (Harlan Ryker; indirectly)

Known Relatives: Janice Travers (wife; see comments), Richard Manning (step-son; see comments);
    unidentified father (presumed deceased)

Aliases: None;
    Mike was falsely identified as the human source of the cyborg War-Wolf;

Base of Operations: Unrevealed;
    formerly the CIA headquarters;
    formerly Simon Ryker's base within the Pan Am building, Long Island, New York, USA, Earth-7484

First Appearance: Astonishing Tales I#26 (October, 1974)

Powers/Abilities: Travers is experienced and reasonably skilled in armed and unarmed combat, as well as survival and other skills typical to US Army training.

    Travers is an experienced computer programmer (at least with the technology of the time in his reality). Ryker's Omni-Computer noted  him as exhibiting "knowledge equivalent to that of a computer forensic expert."

    At least on one occasion he wore an exoskeleton with which he could easily carry the 400 pound body of Deathlok (probably a little less, as Deathlok was missing his right arm).

Height: Unrevealed (perhaps 6'1"; he looked to be only a little shorter than the 6'4" Deathlok)
Weight: Unrevealed (assuming him to be 6'1", perhaps 195 lbs.)
Eyes: Possibly light green (never clearly shown or colored)
Hair: Reddish-orange (sometimes blond; also varied in terms of style between straight, wavy, and curly between issues and panels; presumably this represents artistic license)

History: 

(Astonishing Tales I#27 (fb) - BTS) - Mike Travers' father described Vietnam to him.

(Astonishing Tales I#27 (fb) - BTS) - Manning considered Travers' to be a lot like Travers' father, always impatient and fascinated by the technical side of things. 

(Astonishing Tales I#26 (fb) - BTS) - Army buddies and best friends Mike Travers and Luther Manning always stuck together during the war games. 

(Astonishing Tales I#27 (fb) - BTS) - Travers felt that the war games were nothing like how his father had described Vietnam.

(Astonishing Tales I#27 (fb) - BTS) - After Manning advised Travers that he should talk less and shoot more straightly, they discussed how the war games sometimes felt like the real thing. Manning countered that the games were somewhat similar to Vietnam in that the enemy was unseen. When Manning argued that only the weapons had changed, Travers noted how he would never get the hang of these "jammers," and that he looked forward to their superiors issuing the new lasers as standard equipment. 

    When Manning wondered if the computers running the war and all of the fancy weapons was just an excuse to keep them busy and the "fat cats" comfortable, Travers warned him that "Big Brother" (namely Captain Simon Ryker) might be listening in, after which Ryker arrived, mocking their casual attitude and ordering them to pick up the pace. Travers stayed back as Manning and Ryker briefly argued.

(Astonishing Tales I#27 (fb)) - Travers subsequently saved Manning's life from a landmine.

(Astonishing Tales I#26 (fb) - BTS) - 10 minutes later, Travers watched helplessly as Manning was blasted by a concussion bomb.

(Astonishing Tales I#26 (fb) - BTS) - Mike witnessed that Manning never revived and instead died. 

(Astonishing Tales I#32 (fb) - BTS) - Travers helped build Ryker's Omni-Computer surveilance system.

(Astonishing Tales I#32 (fb) - BTS) - Travers helped design the Mindlock system and its destruct pattern. 

(Astonishing Tales I#31 (fb) - BTS) <Six months before Manning's revival as Deathlok> - With Luther having been dead for five years, Mike Travers and Janice Manning got together romantically.

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Master Edition#35: Deathlok entry / Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Alternate Universes 2005: Deathlok entry) - Mike and Janice were married.

(Astonishing Tales I#26 (fb)) - After breaking out of an interrogation by Simon Ryker, Deathlok (Luther Manning reanimated and rebuilt as a cyborg) encountered Travers in a room working on computer tapes. Deathlok warned Mike that Ryker and his people would brainwash him, but Mike -- not understanding how Luther had gotten his own mind back -- reminded Deathlok that he was the one who had programmed; as a result, Deathlok removed the computer card they had placed in a slot in his arm and shattered it.

    When Deathlok threatened to and began tearing apart the computer complex, Mike warned him of approaching troops. Although Mike originally argued that the troops were on their side, the troops fired shots at them, making it clear they were happy to consider Travers collateral damage in the process of re-capturing Deathlok.

    Grabbing Travers, Deathlok dove out a window onto a roof by a helicopter he intended to steal and use to escape, and when Travers advised that the soldiers would shoot them down, Deathlok had Travers enter and rev up the helicopter while he confronted the troops. 

(Astonishing Tales I#26 (fb) - BTS) - After Deathlok took out the troops, Travers and Deathlok took off in the helicopter.

(Astonishing Tales I#26 (fb)) - Travers advised Deathlok that he was effectively like a newborn and that he needed to learn what it was to be a cyborg. They landed on another roof so they could cook up some food while Travers educated Deathlok, revealing he had died back during the war games.

    They were then ambushed by a number of cannibals, and while Deathlok fought them off, a group of Ryker's agents grabbed Travers and took him away in another helicopter.

(Astonishing Tales I#28 (fb) - BTS) - Travers was taken back to Ryker's base in the Pan Am building, placed in a small room with a computer bank, and forced to continue his previous work.

(Astonishing Tales I#26 - BTS) - Deathlok broke into the building, took out a number of Ryker's black market assassins, and learned from one of them that Travers was instead being held in the Statue of Liberty.

    Deathlok flew via helicopter to Liberty Island and fought past Ryker's agents. Upon reaching Ryker, however, Ryker unleashed the War-Wolf, informing Deathlok that the War-Wolf was the new cyborg form of Mike Travers.

(Astonishing Tales I#27 - BTS) - When the War-Wolf began to get the better of Deathlok, Ryker revealed that he had lied and that the War-Wolf was not Travers; he further claimed that Travers had died the night before on the operating table. Enraged, Deathlok rallied and slew/destroyed the War-Wolf.

    After Deathlok left, Ryker discussed to himself how he had fooled Deathlok again again, as Travers had not died.

(Astonishing Tales I#27 - BTS) - Deathlok visited Janice, but fled when she was mortified upon seeing him.

(Astonishing Tales I#28) - Within his observation cell in Ryker's base, Travers continued to punch out coding for the computers, but noted aloud that Ryker wasn't going to keep him there for long; he disgustedly spit out the food, which he felt tasted like it came from a machine. As his frustration built, Travers began pounding on the door, asking if Ryker thought it was a cruel joke, locking a computer expert in with a computer.

(Astonishing Tales I#30) - Ryker's Omni-Computer noted Travers' ongoing agitation despite efforts to provide calming solitude; it generated an alert that Travers was extremely likely to attempt escape at all costs in the near future. 

    Speaking aloud in case Ryker could hear him, Travers acknowledged that he knew his computer was spying on him but that he was going to turn the tables on Ryker regardless of this.

    Having created a sophisticated input card, Travers placed it into the receiving index terminal, deactivating the main portal lock, and allowing Travers to escape and run down the hall. The Omni-Computer monitored this, but was unable to stop Travers as the proper keys/codes had been primed and punched; it further reported alerts and warnings to Rryker.

(Astonishing Tales I#30 - BTS) - Caught up in monitoring Deathlok, however, Ryker ignored the Omni-Computer's alerts.

(Astonishing Tales I#30) - Travers traveled to the Columbus Circle barricade, observing the whole blown in it by the tank Deathlok had recently faced as well as the corpse of Linc Shane, who had been killed in the struggle. Travers resolved to keep following the trail of "Luther."

(Astonishing Tales I#31) - Taking Shane's weapon, Travers followed Deathlok's trail, but was detected and grabbed by Deathlok, who had initially mistaken him for another enemy. After Travers shouted who he was, Deathlok released him and shared how he was trying to find a surgeon so he could return to normal and see his wife and son again without making them sick.

    However, Mike then revealed it would take more than changing his face, explaining that six months ago he and Janice had gotten together. As Deathlok tried to shut him up, Mike tried to explain that Luther had been dead for five years, finally leading Deathlok to punch him down. Deathlok ranted how Mike had taken his wife and son after the army had taken half of his body and brain and all of his feeling. Mike tried to explain that Luther's anger proved he still had feelings, but Deathlok then put his boot on Travers' head, accusing himi of ripping off the last shred of his past and killing his hope, leaving him with nothing except an itch to bust his skull like an eggshell.

    Mike reminded Luther how he had saved his life before, and that he had been officially dead for five years, and Deathlok agreed to spare him in turn, but told Mike he was scum and that he wouldn't spare him the next time he saw him.

(Astonishing Tales I#32) - The Terminal Eye monitored as Travers returned to the Pan Am building from which he had escaped, although it could not explain his reasons. As Travers entered the computer area undetected and took out a guard, the Terminal Eye upgraded from delayed read-out transmission to priority one. As he approached the cybernetic section, the Terminal Eye theorized that he was there to rescue Nina Ferry.

(Astonishing Tales I#32 - BTS) - Though the Omni-Computer flashed a critical warning, Ryker ignored it, instead watching footage of Travers and Deathlok's last encounter.

(Astonishing Tales I#32) - Travers had to fire his rifle to take out the last guard, and he appreciated that the sound of shots fired would swiftly draw reinforcements. He found and futilely tried to revive Nina, who was still plugged into the machinery, but was then confronted by at least four armed guards who had been notified by the Omni-Computer as soon as he arrived.

    Unplugging Nina's wires, Travers unwittingly set off a mechanism for a timed destruct mechanism before killing at least three of the four guards. Hearing the ticking, he realized the wiring had been the linkage between Nina and the Omni-Computer, and that by breaking it he had set off the destruct pattern they had built into the Mindlock system, giving him 10 minutes before the whole place blew up. Picking up Nina, he carried her out of there in time for them both to survive the explosion.

    Still monitoring them, the Omni-Computer noted that Nina was still linked to it, although Travers was unaware of this. With Nina remaining unconscious, Travers carried her out, assuring her Ryker would never get to her again.

(Astonishing Tales I#33) - Unaware he was being monitored by Hellinger (Harlan Ryker...also (see comments)), Travers sat with his rifle and the silent but awake Nina on a rooftop near the perimeter of the north wall, noting everything seemed quiet, and wondering why Ryker's goons hadn't come after them yet. Feeling he could not return to Janice and her son, nor could he hook up with Luther, Travers reasoned that he had rescued Nina because there was nothing else he could do.

    When Nina remained silent despite his questions, Travers wondered whether she was mindless, but she then approached him, showing him she could still think, even if she couldn't speak. Travers regretted feeling sorry for himself given Nina's condition, but they were then interrupted by the Provisional Revolutionary Army who told him to drop his rifle or they would kill Nina.

(Astonishing Tales I#33 - BTS) - Meanwhile, Deathlok realized Hellinger was watching and recording Travers, Nina, and others; Hellinger claimed that Nina's having been mindlocked meant she now knew everything that Simon Ryker and his Omni-Computer knew, and that she was the key to Simon's destruction. Hellinger then gave Deathlok a briefcase containing an explosive device and sent him to a park to locate a castle in which Deathlok was told he would find Travers and Nina; the briefcase was attached to Deathlok's wrist with the plan that the cable would release once he reached the castle. However, when Ryker arrived, the cable did not release, and the explosive was set to go off in less than 10 seconds.

(Astonishing Tales I#34 (fb) - BTS) - At some point, Travers joined forces with the CIA under the direction of Teresa Devereaux with the goal of using Deathlok to take down Simon Ryker.

(Astonishing Tales I#34 (fb) - BTS) - Over the next two days, Deathlok's bionic arm was restored and his amnio-biotic life-fluids were replenished. He was further programmed to serve the CIA against Simon Ryker, and not to hurt its agents/allies, including Travers.

(Astonishing Tales I#34) <1/3/1991> - After Travers logged the completion of Deathlok's repairs, one of Devereaux's men noted that she wanted Travers to be present as Deathlok was revived; Travers mockingly noted that it had taken "all of the king's madmen to do it."



    As Deathlok revived, Travers called out to Luther, but Devereaux indicated he should give Deathlok a chance to readjust from his resurrection. Soon after, at Devereaux's instruction, Travers explained to Deathlok that the CIA was fighting Ryker and that - as they thought Deathlok was their best chance of stopping Ryker -- they had rebuilt him and reprogrammed him to serve them. Not believing Travers, Deathlok shoved his laser pistol into his face and threatened to end his lies, but Travers informed Deathlok he had been programmed not to harm him; Deathlok could still  function as an individual, but only while serving the CIA against Ryker. Devereaux then sent Deathlok to confront Ryker.

(Astonishing Tales I#35 - BTS) - Deathlok defeated Simon Ryker.

Comments: Created by Rich Buckler, Doug Moench, and Pablo Marcos.

    At the end of Astonishing Tales I#33, Travers has been confronted at gunpoint by the Provisional Revolutionary Army. At the same time (apparently), Hellinger showed Deathlok a video of this scene. Deathlok then left Hellinger's place (time noted as 8:03 pm) and went to the park (time noted as 8:07 pm), where he got his arm blown off (time noted as 8:30 pm, and then Travers showed up, having already gotten past the Provisional Revolutionary Army, allied with the CIA, received the exoskeleton, and been given Deathlok's location. That's a lot to happen in 30 minutes!

• My best explanation is that while Ryker had filmed Travers' encounter with the Provisional Revolutionary Army, when he allowed Deathlok to see it, it was some period of time after it happened.
• Further, the Provisional Revolutionary Army could be agents of the CIA/Teresa Devereaux, which would have markedly expedited things. 

    As best as I can tell, Travers wasn't seen again after Deathlok left to confront Ryker. What happened to him? Maybe he went back to Janice.

    The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Master Edition#35: Deathlok the Demolisher entry lists Janice Manning Travers under relatives, presumably indicating that she married Mike Travers at some point.
This presumably should say "Janice Travers (formerly Janice Manning)" as it is not standard to keep the original married name and add a second married name after it. The 21st century OHotMUs clarified her name as Janice Travers and confirmed the marriage had occurred while Manning was dead (before he was revived as Deathlok).

    Richard Manning keeping his last name presumably means that Mike Travers did not adopt him, which would make Travers his step-father.

    I believe the Omni-Computer was Simon Ryker's entire computer system while the various units that recorded various events were the Terminal Eyes. There is definitely overlap in their refrerences, and then Hellinger definitely hacked into Ryker's systems and utilized the Terminal Eyes, at least.

    Everyone mentioned in this profile should be considerd to be from Reality-7484 unless otherwise specified.

New images by David A. Zuckerman.

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Mike Travers should be distinguished from:

• TRAVERS, - San Francisco Police Department, shot by Lt. McHeny who saw a monster courtesy of an Angar the Screamer-induced hallucination--Daredevil I#101
• TRAVERS - N-Explorers; possibly a misspelling or perhaps the surname for Travis vs. being a separate agent--Fantastic Four III#39 (referenced only); given the nature of the N-Explorers, I like the idea that this Travers could be the brother or other relation of Matt Travers.
• TRAVERS, BEN of Earth-93060 - cop, ally of Alec Swan--Firearm I#1
• TRAVERS, Lt. KEITH - police detective, assisted Tigra in learning who had infected her father with a disease--Marvel Super-Heroes III#2/5
• TRAVERS, MATT - Warheads Bina Troop, assimilated into Cyber-Drones--Die-Cut vs. G-Force#1
• other "Travers" characters, groups, items, events, races, or places...
  

images: (without ads)
Astonishing Tales I#26, pg. 8, panel 2 (face, held by Deathlok);
        pg. 9, panel 1 (Deathlok leaping out the window holding Travers);
            panel 3 (face, searching);
    #27, pg. 5, panel 5 (wargames with Manning; face);
        pg. 6, panel 1 (wargames with Manning; full);
    #30, pg. 13, panel 2 (Ryker's prison);
    #32, pg. 10, panel 1 (freeing Nina and shooting at guards);
        pg. 16, panel 1 (face);
    #33, (standing, oblique, with rifle)
    #34, pg. 5, panel 3-4 (exoskeleton; carry Deathlok, from behind, and distant/shadowed front oblique);
            panel 5 (exoskeleton; upper body, carry Deathlok);
        pg. 7, panel 4 (full, profile)

Appearances:
Astonishing Tales I#26-27 (October-December, 1974) - Rich Buckler & Doug Moench (writers), Rich Buckler (pencils), Pablo Marcos (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
Astonishing Tales I#28 (February, 1975) - Rich Buckler (writer/artist), Roy Thomas (editor)
Astonishing Tales I#30 (June, 1975) - Rich Buckler & Doug Moench (writers), Rich Buckler, Keith Pollard & Arvell Jones (pencils), Al McWilliams (inks), Len Wein (editor)
Astonishing Tales I#31 (August, 1975) - Doug Moench (writer), Rich Buckler & Keith Pollard (pencils), Klaus Janson (inks), Len Wein (editor)
Astonishing Tales I#32 (November, 1975) - Rich Buckler & Bill Mantlo (writers), Rich Buckler, Keith Pollard & Bob McLeod (artists), Len Wein (editor)
Astonishing Tales I#33-35 (January-May, 1976) - Rich Buckler & Bill Mantlo (writers), Rich Buckler (pencils), Klaus Janson (inks), Marv Wolfman (editor)
Astonishing Tales I#36 (July, 1976) - Rich Buckler (writer/pencils), Keith Pollard (inks), Marv Wolfman (editor)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Master Edition

First posted: 05/08/2018
Last updated: 06/19/2024

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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