zombie-cyborgs-black_panther-marching.jpgzombie cyborgszombie-cyborgs-black_panther-upper.jpg

Classification: Reanimated ("zombie") humans via bionics/computers

Location/Base of Operations: Unrevealed; presumably somewhere within the USA

Known Members: None identified

Affiliations: US Army/government

Enemies: None known

First Appearance: Black Panther IV#5 (August, 2005)

Powers/Abilities: With varying numbers of bionic limbs, they are stronger and more durable than conventional soldiers. 

    They do not need oxygen and are tolerant of temperature extremes unless they are sufficient to directly destroy their tissues. 

    According to Wakandan scans, they are 40-70% organic matter.

    They can transmit data and video to their handlers, receive and act on orders from their handlers, and speak with others directly, generally voicing their own orders or instructions.

Traits: They are fearless and obey orders without question, although they have very limited ability to reason.

Type:  Bilaterally symmetric human cyborgs (although the bionic implants were not all bilaterally symmetric)
Eyes
: Two (on head; most appeared to have one bionic eye (although some had two, all of which appeared to solid red in color; the organic eyes presumably had variants mirroring that of humanity's eye colors)
Fingers
: Four (plus opposing thumb)
Toes
: Five
Skin color: Gray, pale yellow (presumably had variations compared to humanity's skin tones, but with more pale hues due to their corpse natures)
Average height: Approximately 6'1 (perhaps actually taller than average, as they were chosen as warriors)
zombie-cyborgs-black_panther-activated.jpg

zombie-cyborgs-black_panther-coffins.jpgHistory:
(
Black Panther IV#5 (fb) - BTS) - Seeking to avoid the wastes lost in training and manpower, when soldiers died in the line of duty, the US military implanted bionic parts and cybernetic minds into deceased US soldiers, 

(Black Panther IV#5 (fb) - BTS) - When Wakanda was under attack by the neighboring Nigandans and Ulysses Klaw, the US resolved to send in their zombie cyborgs to aid Wakanda, but also to establish a presence and take advantage of Wakanda's apparent weakness. 

(Black Panther IV#5) - Wishing to avoid the conflict of entering foreign territory, the US military activated their zombie cyborgs and sent them overboard, to walk along the sea floor to the shore.

(Black Panther IV#6) - As the zombie cyborgs marched toward Wakanda, the Radioactive Man (see comments) released a burst of energy from a subterranean location, and the cyborgs detected underground geological movement, considered that it could be nuclear testing, and activated geiger counters and downloaded  meterorological reports.zombie-cyborgs-black_panther-overboard.jpg

(Black Panther IV#6 (fb) - BTS) - Sensing the approach of the zombie cyborgs, Klaw prepared to either takeover Wakanda or destroy it.

(Black Panther IV#6 - BTS) - The Black Panther and his friends and family defeated Klaw and the other invaders.

(Black Panther IV#6) - The zombie cyborgs arrived in the city, announcing that they were US military assistance sent to help secure Wakanda's borders. The Black Panther told them their assistance was unrequested and that the threat had been neutralized. 

    When the zombies noted they would sweep the perimeter for any remains opposition, the Black Panther instructed one of the zombies to broadcast a message back to his handlers that the offer of assistance was appreciated but not needed; further, if the zombies remained on Wakandan soil for more than one hour, they would be considered an invading force and dealt with accordingly.

    Based on information transmitted by their handlers, the zombie cyborg reported that the message was received and that they would be heading back to base. They departed, instructing the Panther to have a nice day.

Comments: Created by Reginald Hudlin, John Romita Jr., and Klaus Janson.

        The use of zombie cyborg soldiers is strongly reminiscent of those used in Dark Reign: The List: Wolverine#1 (2009). I don't recall a connection being directly made, but it sure seems likely....especially given that 4-5 years real time is roughly equivalent to 1 year Marvel Time, which puts the Black Panther story perhaps a year or less distant from the Dark Reign story.

    After Priest's legendary run on the Black Panther, Hudlin's first arc seemed to be taking a big dump on continuity. Countless patches have had to be made to deal with this...material. For example, the Radioactive Man was Russian Igor Stanchek, and killed...I think that was just retconned as mistake or whatever eventually (the Radioactive Man and Black Knight from this arc were revealed as seperate beings from the more famous version while Rhino was retconned to be the original--Markus Raymond). But it was painful to read at the time...Now, it's not as bad.

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
The zombie cyborgs in this story arc have no known connections to


images: (without ads)
Black Panther IV#5, pg. 16, panel 3 (flag-covered coffins);
        pg. 17, panel 1 (awakening);
            panel 4 (leaping off boat)
    #6, pg. 3, panel 3 (marching)
        pg. 23, panel 1 (upper bodies)


Appearances:
Black Panther IV#5-6 (August-September, 2005) - Reginald Hudlin (writer), John Romita Jr. (penciler), Klaus Janson (inker), Cory Sedlmeier (assistant editor), Axel Alonso (editor)



 

Last updated: 12/28/14

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