MEKANO

Real Name: Tom Regal

Identity/Class: Human technology user

Occupation: currently unknown; former student

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: X-Men (Angel, Beast, Cyclops, Iceman, Marvel Girl)
-kept him from breakin' his fool neck

Enemies: X-Men (Angel, Beast, Cyclops, Iceman, Marvel Girl)-opposed his rampage

Known Relatives: Mr. Regal (father)

Aliases: none

Base of Operations: currently unknown; formerly an unnamed university in Greenwich Village, New York

First Appearance: X-Men I#36 (September, 1967)

Powers: Mekano wore a crude exoskeleton which acted as braces around his limbs and torso, increasing his stength (enhanced human) and speed. It also enabled him to leap great heights, although it did little to enhance his resistance to injury.

Height: 6' 4"
Weight: 183 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown

History: (XM I#36(fb)-BTS) - Tom Regal was the son of a wealthy philanthropist, who was so busy that Tom felt left out. To get his father's attention, he stole an experimental exoskeleton from the University Research Center.

(XM36) - Tom headed to the Village to demolish the a memorial library his father had funded. On the way (with the stolen exoskeleton in the back seat of his car) he gave a ride to three of the X-Men in their civilian identities. He maintained a low profile by flipping out when one of them touched the box containing the exoskeleton: "KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF IT!...it contains a valuable science project I'm working on. When it's finished, I'll show them what I can do! I'll show EVERYBODY!"

Anyway, he dropped the X-Men off and later saw that several of them were putting on a public exhibition (to try to earn some money for a trip to oppose Factor Three). He climbed to the top of the library and announced his plans, and also announced that the X-Men were his allies. This kept them tied up with the authorities, so that they couldn't stop his plans...for awhile, anyway. When they came after him, he held his own one-on-one for a short time, before fleeing from the group. He leapt out of the library onto a nearby monument, but didn't quite make it, and narrowly grabbed the edge. His gauntlets squeezed the ledge too hard and it crumbled. As he fell, Marvel Girl caught him telekinetically, and he surrendered. Just then his dad showed up, and he confessed that he did everything to get his dad to notice him. His father said, "So it looks like I'm the one who's guilty here--not you!" Mr. Regal refused to press charges, and instead, he gave the X-Men money for their needed trip. Then a rainbow shined overhead, and...

Comments: Created by Roy Thomas and Ross Andru.

Mekano has an entry in Marvel Legacy: The 1960s Handbook.

CLARIFICATIONS:

• Mechano, identity used by the Hulk @ Avengers I#1
• Mechano, giant robot @ Strange Tales I#86
• Mechano-Marauder, former alias used by Fabian Stankowicz @ Avengers I#217
• Mandroids, exo-skeleton type armored S.H.I.E.L.D. units @ Avengers I#94
• Mekkan race, robotic slaves built on the planet Maarin @ Fantastic Four I#91
• Mekkanoid, robot of the Kronans @ Thor I#482
• Mechanoid, Iron Man foe @ Iron Man I#32
• Mech-Monster, Shogun Warriors foe @ Shogun Warriors#3
• any of the numerous other characters with Mech as part of their name and other armored chuckleheads

images:

Last updated: 08/02/02

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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