# Awesome Android

The Awesome Android (also briefly known as Awesome Andy) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Fantastic Four #15 (June 1963) and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist and co-plotter Jack Kirby.
Debuting in the Silver Age of Comic Books, the character has made appearances in Marvel titles for over four decades, and also appeared in Marvel-related products including animated television series and trading cards.

## Publication history

The Awesome Android debuted in Fantastic Four #15 (June 1963) as the creation of the Mad Thinker. "Since then, [the Mad Thinker] and his 15-foot-tall (4.6 m) artificial being ... have had run-ins with most of Marvel's major superheroes.
The pair reappeared in Fantastic Four #28 (July 1964) to battle both the titular superhero team and the mutant superheroes the X-Men. The Android continued in the role of antagonist, appearing in Tales of Suspense #72 (Dec. 1965) as an opponent for Iron Man; Rom #14 (January 1981) against the Parker Brothers-licensed hero Rom; and in Captain America #311 (Nov. 1985). The Android reappeared as part of a supervillain team in The Avengers #286-289 (Feb.-May 1988); featured in the Acts of Vengeance storyline in Avengers Spotlight #27 (Mid-Dec. 1989); battled several Marvel heroes in Thunderbolts #2 (June 1997) and Heroes for Hire #1 (July 1997) and had two further encounters with the Fantastic Four in Fantastic Four vol. 3, #23 (Nov. 1999) and #43-44 (July-Aug. 2001). The Android was reclaimed and upgraded by the Thinker in a humorous storyline in the 2004–2005 series She-Hulk; and made a brief appearance in Exiles vol. 2 #4 (Sept. 2009).

## Fictional character biography

The Awesome Android was created by the Mad Thinker using Mister Fantastic's research, incorporating ape DNA and unstable molecules into an almost indestructible body with a microcomputer and a solar-power source. It battles the Fantastic Four and the mutant team the X-Men before being deactivated by X-Men leader Professor X.
The Thinker directs the Android to kidnap industrialist Tony Stark, which eventually leads to a battle with Stark's alter ego Iron Man. After an appearance during the "War of the Super Villains" storyline the Android is absent from Marvel continuity until directed by the Thinker to capture the Galadorian spaceknight Rom for further study. After a brief battle, Rom successfully deactivates the Android. The Android battles Captain America, having been repaired by then abandoned by the Thinker. Fellow artificial creation the Super-Adaptoid, posing as villain the Fixer, reprograms the Android and uses it as part of an assault team of advanced robots called Heavy Metal, consisting of the Awesome Android; Machine Man; the Sentry 459, and TESS-One. The group is eventually defeated by the Avengers with Namor the Sub-Mariner deactivating the Android by ripping off its head while in the water, causing his torso to flood and sink.
The Android reappears during the "Acts of Vengeance" storyline, being repaired by the robot Machinesmith and used to distract the Avengers while several villains escape confinement in the prison facility the Vault. The Android is neutralized by Captain Marvel. After battles with the superhero teams the Thunderbolts, and the Heroes for Hire, and two more encounters with the Fantastic Four, the Android is reclaimed by the Thinker.
The Thinker upgrades the Android to absorb additional abilities, which inadvertently gives him sentience. Subsequently, he rebels against the Thinker and joins Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg & Holliway, the law firm that employs Jennifer Walters / She-Hulk. However, he eventually returns to the Mad Thinker after being rejected by his coworker Mallory Book. In subsequent appearances, he accompanies the Mad Thinker in his schemes before eventually joining Iron Man's A.I. Army.

## Powers and abilities

The Awesome Android is created when the Mad Thinker steals and uses a technique invented by Mister Fantastic, involving splicing unstable molecules into the DNA patterns of an ape. It has limited artificial intelligence and no capacity for self-motivated activity, and is totally dependent on its programming or the programmer's spoken commands, and usually deactivates itself when inactive.
The Android has inhuman physical attributes and can mimic an ability (one at a time) after touching an opponent, such as the Thing's rock-like skin or Iceman's frost coating. It can also emit close-range blasts of gale-force wind from its mouth. The Android is given one weakness by the Thinker: a collection of nerve ganglia underneath its arms that will deactivate it if struck.

## Reception
### Accolades

* In 2017, Screen Rant ranked the Awesome Android 10th in their "15 Best Thors In Marvel Comics" list.
* In 2018, Comic Book Resources (CBR) ranked the Awesome Android 12th in their "20 Most Powerful Androids Of The Marvel Universe" list.
* In 2021, CBR ranked the Awesome Android 6th in their "10 Strongest Robots In The Marvel Universe" list.

## Other versions
### Ultimate Marvel

An alternate version of the Awesome Android named Bobby Burchill appears in Ultimate Fantastic Four. He is the younger brother and slave of Rhona Burchill.

### JLA/Avengers

The Awesome Android appears in JLA/Avengers #4 as a brainwashed minion of Krona.

## In other media
### Television

* The Awesome Android appears in the "Namor" segment of The Marvel Super Heroes.
* The Ultimate Marvel incarnation of the Awesome Android appears in Iron Man: Armored Adventures. This version, renamed Andy Erwin, is an android that Rhona Burchill designed to resemble a goth and act as her "brother" before being killed by Iron Man.
* The Awesome Android appears in Ultimate Spider-Man, with vocal effects provided by Kevin Michael Richardson. This version is an experimental robot with a rudimentary, child-like artificial intelligence that can ingest inorganic matter to increase its size and is kept in Dr. Curt Connors' lab on the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier in a brick-like state.

### Miscellaneous

The Awesome Android appears in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes #2.