# Dreadknight

Dreadknight (Bram Velsing) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

## Publication history

The character first appeared in Iron Man #101 (Aug. 1977) and was created by writer Bill Mantlo and penciller George Tuska.

## Fictional character biography

Bram Velsing is a Latverian scientist, unsatisfied with serving Doctor Doom whom he referred to as a "grotesque mockery of a man" and thought himself as his superior. Upon learning of Velsing's treacherous ideals, Doom grafts a skull-like metal helmet to his head using a Bio-Fusor device, scarring him as a way to make him even with Doom. Velsing flees and comes under the care of Victoria Frankenstein, who nurses him back to health at Castle Frankenstein. The character gains a variety of weapons and rides the "Hellhorse", a bat-winged horse created by Victoria Frankenstein using the Black Knight's horse Aragorn. Calling himself the Dreadknight, the character attempts to force more resources from Frankenstein to defeat Doctor Doom, only to be defeated by Iron Man and Frankenstein's Monster and rendered comatose.
Dreadknight is revived by the mystical villains Morgan Le Fay and Mordred and menaced Captain Britain, Victoria Bentley, and Sean Dolan, but is defeated by Dane Whitman.
Dreadknight appeared as a member of Wizard's latest incarnation of the Frightful Four alongside Trapster and Man-Bull. In their attempt to capture a physicist named Dr. Cargill, the Frightful Four were defeated by Spider-Man and Dr. Cargill's daughter Turbine.
Dreadknight was among the villains who attend the wedding of Absorbing Man and Titania. He flees when She-Hulk crashes the wedding.
Hawkeye impersonated Dreadknight to get close to the Thunderbolts.
After Onslaught apparently kills Doctor Doom, Dreadknight briefly takes over Latveria and battles Spider-Man.
In Dark Reign, Quasimodo researches Dreadknight, among other villains, for Norman Osborn. He considers Dreadknight a pitiful creature
Dreadknight battles Iron Man while working for and still resenting Doctor Doom, but is defeated and the Hellhorse leaves him him.

## Powers and abilities

Dreadknight wears a steel alloy body armor granting him superhuman strength and durability. He uses a power lance capable of projecting energy blasts; electrified steel cable bolas; miniature missiles; and also uses a carbon dioxide pistol that fires concentrated nerve gas which can render opponents unconscious or kill them. Bram Velsing is also a gifted scientist with skills as an engineer.
Dreadknight rides the "Hellhorse", a demonic mutant horse.

## Other versions
### Mini Marvels

In the Mini-Marvels reality, Dreadknight is depicted as a child.

### Ultimate Marvel

An alternate universe variant of Dreadknight from Earth-1610 appears in Ultimate Comics: Armor Wars. This version is German and wields armor based on Iron Man's designs.

## In other media
### Television

* Dreadknight and his Hellhorse, Nightwing, appears in Iron Man, voiced by Neil Dickson. These versions serve as the Mandarin's henchmen, with Dreadknight competing against fellow henchman Blacklash for Hypnotia's affection.
* A legion of Dreadknights appear in the Iron Man: Armored Adventures episode "Ancient History 101". They are depicted as stone statues created by the original Mandarin to guard one of his Makluan rings and test his potential successors' wisdom. They come to life after Gene Khan fails the test and attack him and his friends until Tony Stark passes the aforementioned test.

### Merchandise

* Toy Biz produced a Dreadknight action figure for the Iron Man animated series tie-in line.
* A figure of Dreadknight was released for the Marvel Super Hero Squad line in The Danger of Dreadknight four-pack, packaged with two figures of Iron Man and one of the Mandarin.
* A figure of Dreadknight is included in the San Diego Comic-Con exclusive Marvel Legends "The Raft" box set.