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Jim Dworman (Earth-616)

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History

Jim Dworman was a programmer working in the computer programming section of Cybertek Systems, Inc, the applied cybernetics division of Roxxon Oil, in Paterson, New Jersey.[1] He was good friends with the section director Michael Collins, and they shared a favorite ride in Coney Island amusement park - the Funhouse.[2] Both of them wrote software for high-technology artificial limbs; however, only Dworman knew that Cybertek was using their work for military purposes - and he knew that Collins had not been informed because Collins' ethics would prevent him from working in such a project.[1] Dworman also knew of other Cybertek immoral projects like Warwolf, a hunter-seeker assassination cyborg using a wolf brain.[3]

Cybertek's main secret project at that point was the human-brain-equipped cyborg Deathlok, who had trouble after the original brain, John Kelly's, had been killed in a test. Cybertek head Harlan Ryker demanded that his technical staff find and correct the cause of the problem[1] - and apparently Dworman was more involved in these steps of the Deathlok project that he'd later suggest.[4] High-ranking Deathlok technician Billy Hansen demanded that the programming staff review completely the operating system within the day, and he notified Dworman first thing in the morning, before Collins had even arrived, prompting the team to be overwhelmed with the work. Dworman told Collins when he was there, but Collins decided to not worry and instead go with Dworman to negotiate more time with Ryker. Rebuffed by Ryker's secretary Laurie, Collins took Dworman to hack the Cybertek computers and see what's the big deal. Just after Dworman had told him he wouldn't like what he'll find, Collins found about the Deathlok project. Enraged, Collins went solo to confront Ryker about it - and Ryker knocked Collins to transplant his brain and use it in the Deathlok cyborg.[1] As Collins was missing, Dworman was promptly promoted to head of the computer programming section; but he found the job less satisfactory than he had expected, as the frequent delays made him work until late hours, using coffee and chocolate bars to keep himself awake.[2]

Not long after that, Collins managed to override the Cybertek software and gained control over the cyborg body, escaping Cybertek's facilities[1] to become a superpowered vigilante in Coney Island. Ryker wanted to capture Deathlok and, correctly deducing that Collins would contact his best friend Dworman, put the later under the discreet surveillance of his trusted technician Stanley Cross. Collins did contact Dworman through the computer, arranging an encounter with him in Coney Island, and asked Dworman to recover a computer file with Cybertek's secret dealings in Estrella from well-guarded Cybertek's record room.[2] Dworman assumed he'd be fired or even prosecuted for that, but agreed to help his friend, appalled at the idea that Cybertek could have done that to him.[3] Dodging laser beams, electronic defense webs and electrified doors, Dworman obtained the information and sent it to Collins through the cyberspace - but not without Ryker tracking Collins' location. Ryker sent agents to try and capture Collins, but they failed,[2] and eventually Collins helped expose Cybertek's shady deals,[5] the company being disbanded soon afterward.[3]

Cybertek's parent company Roxxon Oil Corporation tried to steer clear of Cybertek's mess, and promoted Dworman so that he'd spend the following months overseeing the closure of Cybertek. It took Dworman only five weeks to get rid of all the employees, but Dworman delayed the process - to allow Collins to enter the facility and access the files. Ryker, understanding that those records could be used against him in a trial, sent Warwolf to destroy them. Warwolf raided the facilities and succeeded in this task, thou Collins tried to stop him. NSA agents Able and Baker, on Ryker's case, visited the facility because their own physical records had also been destroyed by Ryker's agent, and found Dworman; they took him for questioning because Ryker's case was based only on eyewitness evidence at that point, and most prosecution witnesses were other Cybertek ex-employees imprisoned at Danbury Maximum Security Federal Penitentiary. Collins noticed that Ryker was murdering those witnesses and, at his request, Dworman warned that NSA that those prisoners were in danger - but NSA believed the Penitentiary provided them with enough security. Again at Collins's request, Dworman pulled strings to obtain a helicopter with which Collins could reach the Penitentiary. There, Collins confronted and defeated Warwolf, and the wolf cyborg happened to have backup memory that Dworman analyzed, to find in it proof that Ryker had sent Warwolf to murder Hansen.[3]

At some point, Dworman moved to Riverdale, New York City.[6]

After an encounter with Nightmare and Ghost Rider's penance stare, Deathlok's software was suffering from issues. SHIELD's Nick Fury agreed to provide him with cybernetic help, including the equipment onboard the Helicarrier and the onboard services of Dworman as a "cyborg doctor", to restore his previous statu quo.[7]

Dworman knew that Collins wanted to return to his previous body and family, but he did not even know where his original body was[8] after seeing it in Ryker's hands.[5] Roxxon's President of International Development Clayton Burr, who had been involved in the Deathlok project (and in its immoral parts) from the very beginning,[2] approached Dworman to offer Collins a deal, with such body as the "carrot" - if Collins agreed to work on a mission for Burr. Dworman phoned Collins, who was sharing home with Jesus Badalemente in Coney Island (and at that point Badalemente was familiar with Collins' friendship with Dworman), but did not give him too many details. Dworman led Collins through Roxxon's corporate HQ to meet with Burr, who told him of the job.[8] The operation ended with Burr being sent to jail and Collins' body missing again,[9] but Collins' friendship with Dworman was unshaken.[6]

Deathlok's wife Tracy and children Nick and Patricia were living in Upper West Side Manhattan and, for safety reasons, Deathlok did not visit them there, instead meeting with them in the terrace of Dworman's Riverdale building.[6]

Attributes

Abilities

Dworman proved to be more than a competent programmer when he dodged the laser-based physical security of Cybertek's record room.[2]

Notes

  • Deathlok Annual #2 mentions that Dworman lives in Riverdale, and that Deathlok (living in Coney Island, New York) meets his wife and children (living in Upper West Side Manhattan, New York per Deathlok (Vol. 2) #15) at Dworman's. Dworman may live in Riverdale, a residential neighborhood in Bronx, New York; or in Riverdale, a borough in New Jersey, which would also make sense because Dworman worked at Cybertek Systems, Paterson, New Jersey. The building seen when Deathlok mentions being at Dworman's suggests it's New York City.

Trivia

  • Dworman smokes a pipe[1] and frequently keeps his hat on even indoors.[1]

See Also

Links and References

References

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