ADAP-TOR

Classification: Technological weapon, programmed robot

Creator: Justin Hammer and/or his scientists

User/Possessors: Justin Hammer, James Rhodes (unwillingly)

Aliases: Adap-Tor is short for Adaptive Helicopter

Appearances: Iron Man I#217 (April, 1987)

Powers/Abilities/Functions: The Adap-Tor was equipped with multiple modes of transport, and it could switch modes in mid-transit in a matter of seconds. It could fly via either it helicopter-type propeller or its jet engines. It possessed long legs on which it could walk. It had magnetic clamps on its "feet" which allowed it to scale the side of a building. It possessed a powerful drilling mechanism enabling it to travel through solid rock. Its top speeds are undefined.

The Adap-Tor was extremely durable capable of crashing through a building or enduring Iron Man's repulsor rays without significant damage. It could fire destructive blasts from its twin mounted energy cannons. A single blast could demolish a bulldozer. Its long legs possessed sufficient strength to crush an entire mid-size car. Lastly, it was packed with explosives and appeared capable of leveling an entire building if it self-destructed.

It is not certain if all of the Adap-Tors actions were preprogrammed, or if there was any remote control.

History
(Iron Man I#217) - What appeared to be a high-tech helicopter arrived in place of an order for the newly formed Stark Enterprises. A note from the manufacturer was included, explaining that they had sent a newer model at no extra cost. James Rhodes, then a helicopter pilot for Stark was excited at the advanced piece of machinery, but upon activating it, he found himself trapped inside, helpless as the helicopter sprouted guns and legs. The Adap-Tor then went on a rampage across Stark Enterprises. Rhodes contacted Tony Stark, and Iron Man attempted to stop it, but was limited in his attack capabilities due to the concern of injuring Rhodes. The Adap-Tor activated a one minute self destruct count-down and made its way to the power plant of the facility, adapting new methods of transportation as Iron Man would disable each previous one. Realizing that an explosion would kill the tens to hundreds of people in the administration building which held the power plant, Iron Man prepared to destroy the Adap-Tor, and Rhodes with it. Fortunately, at the last second, Rhodes managed to deactivate the power source to the Adap-Tor, eliminating the need for Iron to destroy it. Soon after, Stark received a phone call from Justin Hammer, indicating that the Adap-Tor was a gift to welcome him back into the world of commerce and to warn him against crossing him in the future.

Clarifications:
Adap-Tor should not be confused with:

• Adaptoids, the ability duplicating robots invented by AIM @ Tales of Suspense I#82
• any other adapting character

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