—Iron Man[source]Hey, what do you think about me making a robot that looks, talks, and moves exactly like you?
Life Model Decoys (LMDs) are S.H.I.E.L.D.-designed robots, whose skin is made of a rare metal called epidurium[1] and whose purpose is to take the form of a living person, thus making a duplicate of them.[2] LMDs are based on Leonardo da Vinci's original prototype.[3][4]
History
Origin[]
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Leonardo da Vinci's decoy
The original LMD[4] was created by the Brotherhood of the Shield's patriarch, Leonardo da Vinci, and his two assistants, Pietro Perungino and Lorenzo di Credi, in 1503.[3] It replaced Leonardo da Vinci after he had travelled to the future, and no one else knew about it, not even the other members of the Brotherhood of the Shield.[5]
In 1961, on a mission for Leonardo da Vinci, Nick Fury, his brother, Jake, and Thomas Davidson opened Leonardo da Vinci's tomb and discovered the decoy. The self-replicating technology from the Renaissance latched onto Davidson and Jake Fury, creating robotic duplicates of both of them. It would later be reverse-engineered into the modern LMDs.[4]
Uses[]
Nick Fury[]
When Nick Fury was targeted for assassination by Hydra, they used LMDs as decoys. After he thwarted another attempt on his life, he was appointed director of S.H.I.E.L.D.[2]
S.H.I.E.L.D. sent out a squad of Fury LMDs in the hope that they could be used to track down who was trying to kill Fury. The Druid's eggs destroyed the LMDs.[6]
Dum Dum Dugan was shattered when he thought Fury was killed in a fire-bombing attack by A.I.M., only to discover that it was a LMD. Count Royale and his cohorts at A.I.M. were amazed at how advanced and convincing S.H.I.E.L.D.'s LMDs were, far more advanced than their own chemical androids, and were determined to steal one. A squad of A.I.M. agents broke into S.H.I.E.L.D.'s underground base to steal an LMD.[7] They were stopped by Nick Fury, thus keeping the LMD technology a secret from them.[8]
Dum Dum Dugan[]
In August 1966[9] Dum Dum Dugan was gravely injured, and Nick Fury was forced to preserve his body's last glimmer of life in suspended animation.[10] Deeply affected by the loss of his best friend, Fury decided to put into work some extremely advanced LMDs which had been retrofitted with alien technology to supersede Dugan's body.[11]
The real Dugan was kept in an undisclosed location, from where his consciousness was beamed into a host LMD,[10] and it would be transferred to any other spare unit each time that the previous one was destroyed.[9] For decades, only Fury knew of Dugan's true fate, making Dugan believe that he had maintained his youth and vigor due to using the Infinity Formula, as Fury had done before.[11]
Captain America[]
S.H.I.E.L.D. enacted an intricate plan to convince Steve Rogers to become Captain America again. They saved his life using an LMD who was targeted by a sniper, and he agreed to resume his identity of Captain America.[12]
China stole the plans for the LMDs from S.H.I.E.L.D. and used them for Operation: Replica. They used the plans to create an LMD of Captain America. It was sent to the U.S. to battle and replace Captain America, but it was easily defeated.[13]
Tony Stark[]
When Iron Man's true identity was discovered by the Mandarin, he used an LMD to fool his arch-enemy into thinking that he was someone else. He also wore a prosthetic mask so that, when the Mandarin unmasked him, he looked like another person. At the same time, he had the LMD call a press conference.[14]
Madame Masque set off an explosion at Stark Industries, which unintentionally reactivated the LMD Stark. When Stark returned to Stark Industries, he found the LMD waiting for him in his office. It explained that it would make a better Tony Stark and Iron Man than he did, and having changed Stark's filed signature and fingerprints, had Stark thrown out as an impostor. With his identity stolen, Stark could not cash checks or buy clothes, and was even kicked out of Avengers Mansion by Jarvis when he could not supply the proper entrance code. He was chased by the police and then saved by Madame Masque.[15] The LMD helped Nick Fury and Captain America subdue a Hydra base, convincing them both that it was the real Stark. Afterwards, it decided that it must kill the real Stark. Midas had Madame Masque prepare the "Impostor Stark" (who, unknown to him, was actually the real one) to infiltrate his own company and ordered her to kill him if things did not go well. That night, they infiltrated Stark Industries, but were quickly attacked by the waiting LMD; Stark protected Madame Masque and fought the LMD, who was now using the identity of Iron Man. Madame Masque attempted to kill Stark as ordered, but ultimately could not do it. The LMD, still acting as Iron Man, was distracted by two security guards, giving Stark time to don his original armor. The Avengers arrived just in time to see the LMD fall to its destruction in a smelting pot below.[16]
Stark arranged for LMD Unit 6 to temporarily head Stark International.[17] LMD Unit 6, believed by everyone to be the real Stark, prepared to provide technological support in case of Rigellian invasion via an alien egg.[18]
Jarella[]
When Jarella was removed from her homeworld of K'ai, they planned to use a LMD of Jarella and send it back to K'ai so that everything would be restored back to normal. The LMD was destroyed, though, so the original had to go back herself.[19]
Thor[]
When Don Blake was treating Captain America after an attack, Iron Man created a Thor LMD to take his place. However, the ruse was found out and the assassin learned Blake's alter ego of Thor.[20]
Nightshade[]
The criminal genius Nightshade was an expert in robotics and frequently used LMDs for various purposes, including ones designed in her own image.[21]
Arcade[]
Another villain with a special aptitude for engineering and robotics, Arcade has also frequently employed LMDs in his own likeness whenever he felt that his own life might be endangered by his own schemes.[22][23]
Others[]
In order to find out the limits of a new Thing Exoskeleton, Reed Richards had Ben Grimm beat up a specially prepared LMD. Ben easily knocked the robot's head off without any trouble or effort.[24]
Captain America was attacked by an army of Red Skulls. He was able to defeat them by forcing the lead "Skull" to change back into Nick Fury and collapse. Cap told the real Fury that he had tricked the Red Skull: noticing that the captured Nick Fury was not sweating, he had realized that it was actually an LMD.[25]
The Deltite[]
The Deltite was an LMD created by the Nazi scientist Arnim Zola and based upon the mind of Baron Strucker. They had Jake Fury smuggle the LMD inside of S.H.I.E.L.D. to wreak havoc at a later date.[26] The Deltite was completely unaware of its true origins, and believed that its actions were self-motivated.[27]
Ultron[]
LMDs were heavily used during Tony Stark's time as Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Some of these LMDs were not given names and were instead stamped with a serial number or a bar code on their arms. A time-displaced version of the original android Human Torch came to believe the plight of the LMDs was similar to that of the Jews during World War II, especially after seeing them used as cannon fodder during a battle and referred to as prisoners. The LMDs acted as if they were inspired by him to enact a revolution when, in reality, they were in fact Ultron robots that were being controlled by the real Ultron, who wanted to feed off of the Torch's blood in order to experience "life".[28]
Jake Fury[]
The LMD of Jake Fury would later go insane and become the terrorist known as Scorpio, while the LMD of Thomas Davidson would go undercover with Hydra as part of Nick Fury's decades-long plan to subvert the organization from within.[4]
Maria Hill[]
Maria Hill also employed LMDs during her time as Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.[29]
Deadpool[]
Someone created a large number of Deadpool LMDs which attacked him, and were destroyed by both the real Deadpool and the Red Hulk, who came by to recruit Deadpool to join Code Red.[30]
La Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine[]
After La Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine allegedly died in a Russian gulag, an LMD of her was created.[31]
Red Eyes[]
A second type of LMD that are not yet designated for impersonation duty are called "Red Eyes" and used for high-risk operations.[32]
Livewires[]
The Livewires' technology is largely based on that of LMDs.[33]
Rebecca Ryker[]
Deathlocket managed to commandeer the onboard LMDs of a S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier that she had taken command of while working with the Young Masters, even giving them, or unlocking, extra features in their bionic chassis.[34]Properties
As androids, Life Model Decoys possess various capabilities:
- Superhuman Strength: Life Model Decoys are superhumanly strong and possess strength beyond human limits.
- Superhuman Speed: An average Life Model Decoy can run and move at speeds that are beyond the physical limits of the finest human athlete.
- Superhuman Durability: The construction of Life Model Decoys makes them very durable.
- Superhuman Stamina: Life Model Decoys can exert themselves well beyond human limits.
- Superhuman Agility: The agility, balance, and bodily coordination of Life Model Decoys are enhanced to levels that are beyond the natural physical limits of the finest human athlete.
- Quick Repair: The nanites in their bodies give Life Model Decoys a form of self-repair that is similar to a Healing Factor.
- Remote Control: A Life Model Decoy's owner can see through it, speak through it, and control everything that it does in the field.
- Weapon Morphing: Life Model Decoys can transmogrify limbs into energized battlements for combat.
Alternate Reality Versions
| Image | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|
 |
On Earth-199999, the LMDs were a S.H.I.EL.D. project that Billy Koenig and Sam Koenig worked on as technicians.[35] Somehow, Tony Stark knew about the project and jokingly said that he was an LMD to Agent Phil Coulson via the phone.[36] Doctor Holden Radcliffe used the old S.H.I.EL.D. project to start making his own LMDs, starting with his assistant, Aida.[37] | Marvel Cinematic Universe |
 |
On Earth-8096, Nick Fury deployed a LMD which was destroyed by Graviton.[38] | Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes Season 1, Episode 2 |
|
On Earth-8096 many months later, General Thaddeus E. "Thunderbolt" Ross used an LMD when he became the Red Hulk to keep his true identity a secret. [39] | Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes Season 2, Episode 9 |
|
Also on Earth-8096 many months later, an LMD modeled after S.H.I.E.L.D.'s newest Director, Maria Hill, was executed by the Skrulls during their invasion.[40] | Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes Season 2, Episode 11 |
|
On Earth-904913, Nick Fury used an LMD to confront ex-S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Mallen. It ended up being destroyed.[41] | Iron Man: Armored Adventures Season 2, Episode 16 |
 |
On Earth-82809, Nick Fury wore his eye patch over his right eye instead of the left eye. As a result of this, all of his LMDs were useless because they wore the eye patch over the left eye. | What If? #34 |
 |
On Earth-9997 during his account of the past, Nick Fury reveals that Tony Stark has created several copies of Fury's LMDs to prevent the real Fury from being killed during missions on the front lines.[42] | Earth X ½ |
|
On Earth-12041 LMDs, which are able to roughly duplicate the powers of whoever they are disguised as, were used by S.H.I.E.L.D. to train Spider-Man and his team. In addition to the standard LMDs, there was a deadlier version used for harder training exercises.[43] When Captain America and Spider-Man arrived in Madripoor, they found the entrance to Arcade's lair, where Wolverine was fighting LMD ninjas. They discovered that Arcade had stolen some of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s LMDs that were modeled after themselves, which they were forced to fight. Arcade then unleashed multiple Hulk LMDs, which were defeated by Captain America and Wolverine. Captain America, Spider-Man, and Wolverine were later confronted by Red Hulk LMDs.[44] They were continuing to be used at S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy, formerly known as the Triskelion. They were also used to train the New Warriors. [45] | Ultimate Spider-Man Season 2, Episode 20 |
|
On Earth-71002, Nick Fury used an LMD to debrief Spider-Man in Cairo, Egypt. | Spider-Man: Friend or Foe |
 |
On Earth-5724, Nick Fury observed the the top half of the torso of an LMD of himself being constructed.[46] | Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. |
|
On Earth-91119, Nick Fury has created hundreds of LMDs of himself.[47] | Marvel Super Hero Squad Online |
|
On Earth-6109, LMDs of Nick Fury were created.[48] | Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 |
|
On Earth-9047 at one point, HYDRANT replaced the attendees of a Republican convention with LMDs. Nick Furious did not particularly endeavor to solve the situation; later, when the U.S. government got Furious stuck with doing unpleasant tasks, Furious believed that it was a punishment for this.[49] | What The--?! #23 |
|
On Earth-61284, LMDs exist.[50] | Marvel Avengers Academy |
Notes
- Arguably, the most well-known LMD is/was Max Fury, who believed himself to be the real Nick Fury for some time before associating himself with the Shadow Council.
Trivia
- In Marvel Super Heroes: What The--?! Episode 3, Nick Fury sent a less than helpful LMD of himself to assist the U.S. Agent, Howard the Duck, and Ch'od in stopping M.O.D.O.K. from pirating chick flicks. The LMD mocked David Hasselhoff, who had played Fury in one of his films, for being completely useless in the fight and, at one point in it, parodied the famous Internet video of Hasselhoff down on the ground, drunk and trying to eat a cheeseburger.
- An assassination of a U.N. official by the Winter Soldier in 1959 left the leaders in Washington, D.C. feeling paranoid and was responsible for the research and production of the first LMDs.
See Also
- 508 appearance(s) of Life Model Decoy
- 1 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of Life Model Decoy
- 37 minor appearance(s) of Life Model Decoy
- 68 mention(s) of Life Model Decoy
- 3 mention(s) in handbook(s) of Life Model Decoy
- 43 image(s) of Life Model Decoy
- 2 quotation(s) by or about Life Model Decoy
Links and References
References
- ↑ Occupy Avengers #3
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Strange Tales #135
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 S.H.I.E.L.D. (Vol. 2) #2
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Secret Warriors #26
- ↑ S.H.I.E.L.D. #4
- ↑ Strange Tales #145
- ↑ Strange Tales #148
- ↑ Strange Tales #149
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 S.H.I.E.L.D. (Vol. 3) #9
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 New Avengers (Vol. 4) #17
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Original Sins #5
- ↑ Tales of Suspense #96
- ↑ Captain America #106
- ↑ Iron Man #11–12
- ↑ Iron Man #18
- ↑ Iron Man #19
- ↑ Iron Man #109
- ↑ Iron Man #109–112
- ↑ Incredible Hulk #148
- ↑ Avengers #146
- ↑ Villains for Hire #1
- ↑ X-Force #30
- ↑ Wolverine, Nick Fury: The Scorpio Connection a Marvel Graphic Novel #1
- ↑ Fantastic Four #171
- ↑ Captain America #227
- ↑ Fury #1
- ↑ Nick Fury vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. #6
- ↑ Avengers / Invaders #5–7
- ↑ Mighty Avengers #18
- ↑ Hulk (Vol. 2) #14
- ↑ Thunderbolts (Vol. 5) #1
- ↑ Iron Man: Hypervelocity #3
- ↑ Livewires #1
- ↑ War of the Realms: Journey Into Mystery #1
- ↑ Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. S4E12
- ↑ Marvel's The Avengers
- ↑ Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. S3E22
- ↑ Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes S1E02
- ↑ Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes S2E09
- ↑ Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes S2E11
- ↑ Iron Man: Armored Adventures S2E16
- ↑ Earth X #½
- ↑ Ultimate Spider-Man S2E10
- ↑ Ultimate Spider-Man S2E20
- ↑ Ultimate Spider-Man S3E18–26
- ↑ Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
- ↑ Marvel Super Hero Squad Online
- ↑ Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2
- ↑ What The--?! #23
- ↑ Marvel Avengers Academy