(Prototype#18
(fb) - BTS) - Realizing the connection between Prototype and Frankie,
nefarious corporation Terrordyne retrieved Frankie's comatose body and
surgically bound him to a technological carapace.
BATTLEWAGON
Real Name: Frank "Frankie" (last name
unrevealed)
Identity/Class: Extradimensional
(Earth-93060/Ultraverse)
human cyborg
Occupation: Assassin;
formerly janitor
Group Membership: Terrordyne;
formerly Hardboys gang
Affiliations: Terrordyne;
formerly Jimmy Ruiz
Enemies: Bombers gang, Gable's department
store (customers,
staff (Mr. Conners, others)), Lacy Lawrence,
Prototype (Jimmy Ruiz)
Known Relatives: Maria (wife), unborn child
(name unrevealed), mother-in-law (name unrevealed)
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: New York, USA
First Appearance: Prototype#18 (February, 1995)
Powers/Abilities: Battlewagon is a human
cyborg with an armored human upper half mounted on an armored chassis
with continuous track (tank/caterpillar treads) to climb over rubble. Battlewagon has a hardened
fireproof carapace tailored to easily withstand blasts from
Prototype's
armored suit and can smash through walls. He has two powerful
short-range plasma-firing cannons mounted either side of the chassis.
Battlewagon can briefly generate a near-impregnable force-field
bubble, but can do this only once in a battle due to the high amount of
energy it consumes.
Chassis control is handled via cabled joysticks held by the pilot. The
suit has a
protective flip-up full-face visor. Battlewagon has an internal finite
power
source that
depletes more rapidly the more weaponry is used. Because the human half
was mounted onto the chassis, it should be able to be removed again and
replaced, especially given there is no neural interface. The human
component of Battlewagon, Frankie, is rash and boastful, including of
his armored
suit's capabilities.
Height:
Unrevealed (formerly 5'10", by approximation)
Weight: Unrevealed
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Bald (formerly brown)
History:
(Prototype#18 (fb)) - As a young man, Frankie took
the 13-year-old Jimmy Ruiz under his wing and brought him into a life
of petty crime and his Hardboys gang against the Bombers gang. Frankie
took Jimmy as his best friend and made him his best man when he married
Maria. Then Jimmy became the armored hero Prototype for UltraTech
corporation and left his past life behind, although Jimmy did seek a
job for Frankie, but the older gang man scored only a janitor's role.
Frankie's resentment grew but he was happy with his wife, who fell
pregnant. But an aerial battle between Prototype and Arena caused
damage and rubble fell on Frankie and Maria that left Frankie severely
injured.
(Prototype#18
(fb) - BTS) - Realizing the connection between Prototype and Frankie,
nefarious corporation Terrordyne retrieved Frankie's comatose body and
surgically bound him to a technological carapace.
(Prototype#18 (fb)) - About six months later,
Terrordyne lowered him into an armored tank-treaded chassis and lied to
him that Maria had been killed, hoping to drive Frankie to seek
murderous revenge of Prototype, whom Terrordyne also wanted to destroy.
(Prototype#18) - Now dubbed Battlewagon and fitted
with armaments, Frankie attacked Prototype during the latter's
publicity stunt at Gable's department store, causing customers and
staff to scatter, although reporter Lacy Lawrence remained calm and
filmed the ensuing chaotic fight. Prototype traded blasts and
Battlewagon savagely knocked the armored hero back with a one-off
force-field bubble, although the arrogant Frankie boasted about his
weaponry then revealed his true identity to Prototype, swearing to kill
him next. Meanwhile, Lawrence's report went live and was seen by Maria,
who rushed to see her husband. The fight continued with Prototype
almost overwhelmed until Maria appeared before Battlewagon, who was
shocked to see his wife still alive and heavily pregnant with their
child. Confused, Battlewagon fled the scene, smashing through another
wall.
Comments: Created by R.A. Jones, Paul Abrams, John Strangeland, Rodney Gates.
This story was the last issue of Prototype but was supposed to be followed by a miniseries that pitted two of Prototype's enemy organizations against each other: Terrordyne vs. Techuza. Perhaps Battlewagon may have rolled back in the miniseries but Black September hit the Ultraverse, rewriting it.
This profile was completed 5/19/2021, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 20th anniversary 's celebratory event.
Profile by Grendel Prime.
CLARIFICATIONS
:
Battlewagon has no known connections to:
Lacy Lawrence was a camera-operating reporter for TZA News. She was
at the publicity stunt featuring Prototype at Gable's department store,
disgruntled that she received only lightweight assignments, when
Battlewagon smashed through the wall, scattering attendees, and
attacked Prototype. TZA immediately broadcast her footage live. She
remained calm despite the destructive fight as she reported live.
--Prototype#18
images:
(without ads)
Prototype#18, p2-3 (main image)
p14, pan3 (headshot as young man)
p17, pan2 (in carapace, being lowered)
p13, pan2 (Lacy Lawrence)
p4, pan1 (smashing & shooting)
Appearances:
Prototype#18 (February, 1995) - R.A. Jones (writer), Paul Abrams
(pencils), John Strangeland & Rodney Gates (inks), Roland Mann
(editor)
First posted: 09/17/2021
Last updated: 09/16/2021
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™
and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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