LUTHER
MANNING clone
Real Name: Luther Manning
Identity/Class: Extra-temporal (Earth-Deathlok) human clone
Occupation: Freedom fighter
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: CIA (Teresa Devereaux);
Deathlok the Demolisher (cell donor), Dr. Wilcox (former mind);
Godwulf; Captain America of Earth-616
Enemies: Deathlok the Demolisher, Hellinger, Major Simon Ryker
Known Relatives: Deathlok the Demolisher
Aliases: Dr. Wilcox
Base of Operations: Formerly the CIA HQ, Manhattan, New York; Earth-Deathlok
First Appearance: Astonishing Tales#34 (March, 1976)
Powers: None. The Manning clone had all
of Luther Manning/Deathlok the Demolisher's original memories and
personality traits. It had reasonable combat training and carried
a laser pistol.
In addition, despite having no cyborg parts, the Manning clone
retained communication with a version of the computer within
Deathlok. This granted him similar analytical abilities.
History: Harlan Ryker, aka Hellinger transformed Luther Manning into Deathlok the Demolisher. Apparently, around the same time, Major Simon Ryker had the three surgeons who physically built Deathlok create a clone of Manning's original form. One of these surgeons, Dr. Wilcox, had his mind either copied or transfered into the Manning clone, while Simon Ryker had the other two killed. The Manning clone was forced to serve Simon Ryker in order to survive.
(Astonishing Tales#34) -
The Manning clone was forced to transfer Simon Ryker's mind into
the Omni-Computer, resulting in his existence as the Savior
Machine. The CIA sent Deathlok after Simon Ryker, resulting in
his encounter with his clone. With a little coersion, Deathlok
had the clone transfer his mind into the Omni-Computer as well,
allowing him to confront Ryker.
(Astonishing Tales#35) - After Deathlok defeated Simon Ryker, the CIA offered to transfer Deathlok's mind into the clone of his original form. Wilcox's mind was dying, unable to maintain its existence within the clone. Deathlok agreed, and the process was a success--sort of. While the clone gained the memories and personality of Deathlok, the cyborg retained its mind and personality, resulting in a copy of Manning's mind in both the cyborg and its original form.
(Astonishing Tales#36) - The Alpha-Mech (ironically another
clone of Manning, mutated and controlled by Hellinger) arrived
and attacked the CIA building, Deathlok, and the Manning clone,
but Deathlok blew it apart. The CIA put Manning to work,
deciphering the engrams they had recorded from Deathlok, and
filling in any gaps from his missions.
When Deathlok was seemingly destroyed, Manning considered his
mission at an end.
(Captain America I#286(fb)-BTS) - Manning soon began to suspect that Deathlok was not dead, and found his suspicions confirmed by Godwulf. Deathlok had been sent to the past, to the modern era of Earth-616, where he ended up being captured and reprogrammed by the Roxxon Oil Company.
(Captain America I#286) - In order to defeat the threat of Hellinger, Godwulf sent the Manning clone back to Earth-616 as well. Using a Bio-Rhythmic Scanner, Manning tracked Deathlok to a seemingly closed building of the Brand Corporation in Long Island. As soon as Manning got near the facility, he began to feel extreme weakness. He broke into the warehouse, and he was seen doing so by Earth-616's Captain America, who followed him. Captain America joined forces with Manning and helped him penetrate more deeply into the facility. However, Deathlok, still under Roxxon's control, ambushed them and blew a hole through his clone.
(Captain America I#287) - Manning maintained a tenuous hold on life (while his computer wigged out) long enough to attain direct contact with Deathlok, returning his full memories and allowing him to override his programming. After that, the clone died.
Comments: Created by Bill Mantlo and Rich Buckler.
Hellinger is credited with Project: Alpha-Mech as well as the design of Deathlok the Demolisher. I would ASSume that the surgeons manipulated by Simon Ryker, listed as the creators of Deathlok, were the ones physically involved in the process, whereas Hellinger may have been overseen the whole shebang.
As you can see by checking out the clarifications, there were actually two clones of Luther Manning, introduced in rapid succession. The first clone seen was the one designed by Hellinger, which became one of his first Alpha-Mechs. That clone was introduced in Astonishing Tales#33 and destroyed in #36.
Manning only gained the Deathlok costume (possibly taken from the CIA's Exact Medical Replica of the cyborg) in his mission back to Earth-616. Prior to that, he ran around in a loincloth for some reason.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Harlan Ryker, Hellinger, should be distinguished from:
Characters in this profile refer to the Earth-Deathlok versions unless otherwise stated.
Appearances:
Astonishing Tales#34-35 (March-May, 1976) - Rich Buckler & Bill Mantlo (writers), Rich Buckler (pencils), Klaus Janson (inks), Marv Wolfman (editor)
Astonishing Tales#36 (July, 1976) - Rich Buckler (writer/pencils), Keith Pollard (inks), Marv Wolfman (editor)
Captain America I#286-287 (October-November, 1983) - J.M. DeMatteis (writer), Mike Zeck (pencils), John Beatty (inks), Mark Gruenwald (editor)
Last updated: 08/08/02
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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