AMBIENT
ENERGY COLLECTOR
Classification: Alternate reality
Creator: Apparently Dr. Doom's scientists during
the heroic age.
First Appearance: 2099 Unlimited#6/3 (October, 1994)
Powers/Abilities/Functions: The Ambient
Energy Collector feeds off energy waves in the atmosphere.
In miniaturized form, it could potentially make make vehicles, weapons, etc. self-charging, thus eliminating the need for power sources.
It also proved to be able to collect television
signals trapped in the atmosphere. Apparently with the union of the
collective mind-power of a society, it somehow gathered a large number
of televisions into a stack which played the various shows 360 degrees,
and it formed a television-based dreamtime reality. Those around the
collector were drawn into and virtually addicted to watching the shows
and/or observing the reality that existed as a collection of the
characters from the various TV shows.
Additionally, the Collector apparently sought to
add to the collective, and beings arriving on the island on which it
existed were surrounded by an extremely durable force field that pulled
them toward the television stack.
When they were within range of the television
stack, the force field dissipated, and the former captives developed
rapid lethargy and were swiftly entranced to watch the shows/reality.
Even a being as powerful as the armored Doom fell victim to its power.
It contained an unspecified rare alloy via which it could be traced.
The Collector floated in the air continuously via
the power it collected, but it did not project any shielding around
itself, and it could be destroyed by a simple handheld blaster weapon.
History:
(2099 Unlimited#6/3 (fb) - BTS) - During the heroic age (see
comments), Dr. Doom's scientists developed the Ambient Energy
Collector.
(2099 Unlimited#6/3 (fb) - BTS) - Under
unrevealed circumstances, the Ambient Energy Collector ended up on an
island eight miles off of the coast of California, and it not only drew
in raw power, but it also collected television signals trapped in the
atmosphere.
At some point, a group of people came to exist on
this island, along with a large number of television sets. It is
uncertain whether the collective mind power or the television-based
dreamtime came to exist first, but the people spent the bulk of their
time immersed in the TV reality (although they apparently retained
enough will/independence to feed and maintain their existence. 
(2099 Unlimited#6/3 (fb) - BTS) - Circa 2099 A.D., Doom sought the Ambient Energy Collector to make the Zefiro's vehicles and weapons self-charging. As he had not been involved in its development and did not have access to any of its design notes, he tracked it via the rare alloy used in its manufacture. Accompanied by Wire and Fortune, Doom arrived at an island eight miles off of the California coast.
After discovering a group of people existing in very primitive fashion, they were encased within a force field they could not escape and which forced them to follow the people to a larger crowd who sat worshiping a stack of 20th Century television sets, which were powered by the Ambient Energy Collector (which they suspected also powered the force field). As the force field dissipated, Doom, Fortune and Wire were overcome by lethargy as the broadcasts projected directly into their nervous systems.
To escape this fate, Wire jacked into the ambient
broadcast ban's neuro-line in his own mind, and he found himself in a
reality/world mimicking that of the various sitcoms, including the
Honeymooners, Beverly Hillbillies, Bewitched, Get Smart, Mister Ed and
others. After Wire escaped back to the real world, where Doom and
Fortune stood, caught up there in their dream reality. He destroyed the
Ambient Energy Collector with an energy blast from a hand-held weapon
before he could succumb as well.
While Doom and Fortune were freed from its effects, the people were furious at having lost their "leaders" and "spiritual guides."
As Doom, Fortune and Wire departed, Wire wondered which came first: The development of a collective mind power or the television-based dreamtime. Doom considered it academic, as his interest was gone with the Collector destroyed.
Wire wished he could have salvaged it, while Doom
considered that he might use the television to control the minds of
Latverians.
Comments: Created by Michael Jan Friedman and Marie Severin.
Doom noted that his scientists had developed the
Ambient Energy Collector over a century ago, which was fine as the
story came out in 1994.
It's unclear to me whether in Reality-928, if the
heroic age ended around 2000 A.D., or whether the sliding means that
the time between the end of the heroic age and the era of 2099 keeps
shrinking (down to like 73 years at the time of this profile's
publication) or not.
I guess it's moot as all of the 2099 realities were
allegedly merged into Reality-2099...
It is quite possible that the Ambient Energy Collector was created in Reality-616, as well...
This profile was completed 11/21/2025, but its publication was
delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 25th anniversary
's celebratory event.
I suppose I'll circle back and cover the TV reality
and the collective at some point
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
The Ambient Energy Collector should be distinguished from:
images: (without ads):
2099 Unlimited#6/3, pg. 10, panel 3 (force field);
pg. 12, panel 1 (collective with TV
stacks);
panel 4 (main
image);
pg. 20, panel 4 (Wire destroying the
AEC)
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
First posted: 09/12/2026
Last updated: 11/21/2025
Non-Marvel
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