DEATH METAL
Created by: Dan Abnett & Dell Barras
First Appearance: Death³ #1 (Sept. 1993)
Role: Uber-90s Character, Killer Robot, Death-Seeker
'90s Ratio: 9/10 (killer robot; has "Death" in his name; confusing backstory; spinoff nature; guns)
Country of Origin: England
Group Affiliation: None
PL 11 (221)
STRENGTH 12 STAMINA -- AGILITY 3
FIGHTING 8 DEXTERITY 2
INTELLIGENCE 0 AWARENESS 0 PRESENCE -2
Skills:
Intimidation 14 (+12)
Perception 6 (+6)
Stealth 2 (+5)
Technology 4 (+4)
Advantages:
All-Out Attack, Chokehold, Improved Critical 2 (Unarmed), Improved Initiative 2, Power Attack, Ranged Combat 8, Startle
Powers:
"Robotic Body" Immunity 30 (Fortitude Effects) [30]
Protection 12 (Extras: Impervious 7) [19]
Senses 2 (Infravision, Extended Vision) [2]
Regeneration 10 (Feats: Regrowth) [11]
"Weapon Creation" Variable 5 (Any Weapon- Usually Blasts) (35) -- [36]
- AE: "Cranial Disruption System" Mimic 2 (Flaws: Limited to Skills, Touch Range) Linked to Affliction 10 (Will; Dazed/Stunned/Incapacitated) (Extras: Cumulative) (32)
Unarmed +8 (+12 Damage, DC 27)
Weapons +8 (+14 Damage, DC 29)
Blasters +10 (+10 Ranged Damage, DC 25)
Initiative +11
Defenses: Dodge +7 (DC 17), Parry +8 (DC 18), Toughness +12, Fortitude --, Will +4
Complications:
Responsibility (Evil)- Death Metal is usually evil, but has occasionally tried to fight his programming if different personalities take over. He actually wanted to kill himself (due to his own evil) for a period of time, but got over it.
Total: Abilities: 36 / Skills: 26--13 / Advantages: 16 / Powers: 98 / Defenses: 8 (221)
-Almost as '90s as Death's Head II (if such a thing was possible), Death Metal lasted a much shorter period of time than his fellow Death-bots, and eventually just disappeared after a handful of appearances (including a crossover with bottom-tier Alpha Flight). He's just... so over-the-top. Look at him. A T-1000 rip-off AND a Death's Head rip-off, he's got split personalities, sharp teeth, and the ability to form any weapon he wants.
-Death's Head was bad enough, but Death Metal is virtually perverse. The guy made his debut by killing a parallel universe's Dr. Doom, Dr. Octopus AND Kingpin, just to prove how bad-ass and uncontrollable he was. He was the final "Minion" created by Dr. Necker, having used a piece from a Spawn of Charnel (Baron Strucker V/Death's Head I) combined with a Minion cyborg, producing this morphing, regenerating monster. He immediately swatted Necker away, and joined up with said Charnel, nearly killing everyone on an alternate Earth, including his "brothers" Death's Head II & Death Wreck, who had come to stop them. Ultimately, the crazy Death Metal killed the Hulk and nearly his "brothers" before Ghost Rider appeared, using his "Penance Stare" to stun DM, who was then given a conscience. Realizing the evil of Charnel, he turned on him, killing him alongside the bros.
-Naturally, a Death Metal Limited Series was soon released, oddly featuring him meeting Alpha Flight. Given a permanent conscience after assimilating a kind-hearted being named Argon, Death Metal stops his mindless rampage and now seeks his own death, feeling bad about how bad he's been. He was injured by Madison "Box" Jeffries and returned to savagery, but was stunned by Aurora's calming light and disappeared to prevent another such battle. Then, in Death Metal vs. Genetix, he fights another Marvel UK squad in an attempt to force a mutant woman to give birth to a child that can kill him- ultimately, he regains his conscience and is stopped. In his own book again, he tries to get himself killed fighting Techno-Wizards, but when he realizes they will then kill all the innocents on an alien world, he gives up his desire to die and fights them, teleporting away with new allies Brassknuckles & Spirit (who'd also wanted to die).
-Like Death's Head II, Death Metal a PL 11 monstrosity, but packs Variable powers, enhanced Initiative, Regeneration, and more general scariness. I wanted to make him lower-level, but it really doesn't suit what the guy's supposed to be capable of. He's so unkillable that he couldn't even find an opponent to properly kill him, in his more suicidal moments.