Life Model Decoy

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Life Model Decoy
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceStrange Tales #135 (August 1965)
Created byStan Lee
Jack Kirby
In story information
TypeAndroid
Element of stories featuringS.H.I.E.L.D.
Nick Fury

A Life Model Decoy (frequently known by the abbreviation LMD) is a fictional android appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. LMDs duplicate all outward aspects of a real living person with such authenticity that they can easily impersonate a specific person without casual detection. LMDs first appeared in "The Man For the Job!", a short story by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby that ran in the anthology book Strange Tales #135 (August 1965), in which the spy agency S.H.I.E.L.D. created LMDs of agent Nick Fury to use as decoys for an attack by the terrorist organization Hydra.

LMDs have been used in numerous Marvel Comics storylines in the half century since their first appearance, and have also been adapted into other media based on Marvel, including films, television series, animation and video games.

Publication history[]

Life Model Decoys (LMDs) first appeared in "The Man For the Job!", a short story by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby that ran in the anthology book Strange Tales #135 (August 1965). The spy agency S.H.I.E.L.D. created LMDs of agent Nick Fury to use as decoys for an attack by the terrorist organization Hydra.[1]

A Life Model Decoy (or LMD for short) is a S.H.I.E.L.D.-designed robot that duplicates all outward aspects of a living person. The owner can see through, speak through, and control everything the Life Model Decoy does. Nick Fury's Life Model Decoys are probably the most common in the Marvel Universe.

It is designed to function as an exact body double for VIPs. Their design is such that they mimic the subject's outer appearance (i.e., fingerprints, hair, all details of the skin), speech patterns, scent, iris and retina patterns, body language, thought patterns (to fool telepaths), and any other biological indicators. Aside from any invasive procedure and vulnerability to strong electromagnetic pulse, they are indistinguishable from the original.

Powers and abilities[]

As an android, a Life-Model Decoy possesses all of the various superhuman attributes:

  • Superhuman Strength – An LMD is super-strong and possesses strength beyond the human limit.
  • Superhuman Speed – An LMD can run and move at speeds that are beyond human physical limits.
  • Superhuman Durability – An LMD's construction makes them very durable.
  • Superhuman Stamina – An LMD can exert itself well beyond a normal human's limit.
  • Superhuman Agility – An LMD's agility, balance and coordination are enhanced to levels that are beyond natural human physical limits.
  • Quick Repair – Nanites working within the LMD allow for self-repair similar to an enhanced Healing Factor.

Known examples[]

A number of Life Model Decoys with simple numerical designations have appeared in storylines. These include:

  • 281 – Appears in the 2011 "Fear Itself" storyline.[2]
  • 361 – Appears in the 2011 Hulk storyline "Scorched Earth".[3]
  • 391 – Appears in the 2011 "Fear Itself" storyline.[4]
  • 399 – Appears in the 2011 "Fear Itself" storyline.[2]
  • 442 – Appears in the 2011 Hulk storyline "Scorched Earth".[3]
  • 737 – Appears in the 2011 Hulk storyline "Scorched Earth".[3]

A number of Life Model Decoys have also been depicted impersonating specific characters. These include:

  • Amber D’Alexis – The Life Model Decoy of the mother of Mikel Fury (aka Scorpio) appears in the 1994 graphic novel Wolverine/Nick Fury: Scorpio Rising.[5]
  • Annie – This female Life Model Decoy created and programmed by Bruce Banner in a 2011 Hulk storyline to assist Red Hulk between missions.[6][7]
  • Ant-Man III – In a 2010 Secret Avengers storyline, a villain named Father replaces Eric O'Grady, the third Ant-Man, with an LMD after O'Grady's death.[8][9]
  • Black Panther - After Killmonger was resurrected by the Mandarin, he battled and appeared to have killed Black Panther, but it was later revealed that he had used an LMD to fake his death.[10]
  • Black Widow – An LMD of the former Russian agent appears in the 2011 "Fear Itself" storyline.[11]
  • Bucky – An LMD of Captain America's former partner appears in the 2011 "Fear Itself" storyline.[12]
  • Captain America – An LMD of the original Captain America, Steve Rogers, appears in a 1968 storyline in Captain America.[13][14][15]
  • Sharon Carter – An LMD of Captain America's ally, Sharon Carter, appears in a 1969 storyline in Captain America.[16]
  • Chuck – The Life Model Decoy who functions as the driver for Red Hulk and Annie is destroyed by Black Fog in a 2011 Hulk storyline.[17]
  • Deadpool – In the 2009 Hulk storyline "Code Red", the mercenary Deadpool is attacked by a number of Life Model Decoys made to resemble him.[18]
  • Dum Dum Dugan – The 2014 storyline "Original Sin" reveals that Nick Fury's long-time S.H.I.E.L.D. subordinate had been killed in 1966 from weapons fire ricochet and secretly replaced with an LMD that operated for many years without drawing suspicion from anyone, and which believes itself to be the genuine Dugan.[9][19] The Dugan LMD appears in a 2015 storyline in Howling Commandos of S.H.I.E.L.D.[20] and New Avengers where it was eventually revealed that the real Dugan was still alive, preserved via suspended animation, and that his mind had been beamed out to control the LMD bodies.[21]
  • Nick Fury – Numerous Life Model Decoys of Nick Fury are employed throughout his career.[22]
    • Max Fury - One LMD of Nick Fury is an enhanced version that is stolen by Scorpio in a 1977 storyline,[23] and later takes name "Max Fury" when recruited into the Shadow Council.[24]
  • Maria Hill – Maria Hill has used LMDs of herself as a tactical or hazardous situations that pose a danger to her life.[9] During the 2008 storyline "Secret Invasion", S.H.I.E.L.D. Hill uses her LMD, which she uses in order to escape a group of alien shapeshifters known as Skrulls.[25][26]
  • Master Matrix – An sentient super Life Model Decoy created by Richard and Mary Parker to control the other LMDs. When he tried to replace all humans with LMDs, he's stopped by Spider-Man and Deadpool and being convinced into becoming a superhero.[27]
  • Iron Man – LMDs of Iron Man, Tony Stark, were used as a tactical or hazardous situations that pose a danger to his life.[9] In a 1969 storyline that ran in Iron Man #11-12, his archenemy, the Mandarin, discovers that he is secretly Iron Man. Tony has an LMD of himself built in order to trick the Mandarin into believing that Iron Man is actually someone else. Stark subsequently secures the LMD in a vault which gains sentience, and believes in being the real Tony Stark.[1] Stark LMDs would reappear in subsequent storylines featuring Iron Man.[28][29][30]
  • Joanie – In a 2013 storyline in Avengers A.I., a Life Model Decoy is created by the terrorist weapons maker A.I.M. to infiltrate the youth culture in the 1970s. She later becomes an ally of Dimitrios.[31]
  • Nightshade – An LMD of this character appears in a 2012 storyline in Villains for Hire.[32]
  • Thunderbolt Ross – In a 2009 storyline in The Incredible Hulk, a Life Model Decoy of General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross is revealed to have been created to cover up his transformations into Red Hulk.[9][33]
  • Valentina Rychenko – An LMD of Valentina Rychenko appears in the 2001 "Rage" storyline in X-Force.[34]
  • Glenn Talbot – During the 2010 "World War Hulks" storyline, a Life Model Decoy of the Glenn Talbot is revealed to have been programmed to believe that it is the real Glenn Talbot brought back from death. It is destroyed when Red Hulk tears its head off its body.[35]
  • Thor – An LMD of the Asgardian God of Thunder appears in a 1976 Avengers storyline.[36]

Other versions[]

In the alternate timeline of the "Heroes Reborn" storyline, Captain America is brainwashed into believing that he is a civilian living in the suburbs. As part of this ruse, his wife and son are LMDs assigned to protect him. Nick Fury also used a Captain America LMD during secret missions.[volume & issue needed]

The android protagonists from the 2005 miniseries Livewires are built using LMD technology and Mannite technology. The main antagonists of the series are revealed to be rogue Nick Fury LMDs as well.[volume & issue needed]

In other media[]

Film[]

  • Life Model Decoys appear in the 1998 made-for-TV film Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. The titular character uses his, created by Gabriel Jones, to trick Madame Hydra into thinking he died from Arnim Zola's Death's Head Virus.
  • Life Model Decoys are first mentioned in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the 2012 film The Avengers when Tony Stark attempts to avoid taking a phone call from Phil Coulson by jokingly pretending to be a Life Model Decoy and asking to leave a voicemail message.[37]

Television[]

  • Life Model Decoy models are seen in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes. In the episode "Breakout" [Part 2], an LMD of Nick Fury is destroyed by Graviton in place of the actual Nick Fury. In the episode "Secret Invasion", a LMD of Maria Hill gets executed by the Skrulls in place of the actual Maria Hill.
  • A Life Model Decoy of Nick Fury is seen in Iron Man: Armored Adventures episode "Extremis", when it is used to confront Mallen and ends up destroyed.
  • Several Life Model Decoys appear in the Ultimate Spider-Man animated series. This series' versions can holographically project a person's exact appearance, exhibit exceptional strength, and are able to roughly duplicate the powers of whoever they impersonate. In the episode "The Man-Wolf", they are used to train Spider-Man and the S.H.I.E.L.D. trainees. In the episode "Game Over", several LMDs are corrupted by Arcade's mutant technopathic abilities. In the episode "New Warriors", Amadeus Cho uses several LMDs to pose as Spider-Man and help the New Warriors against Doctor Octopus, Scorpion and Beetle. In the episode "Contest of Champions" [Pt. 3], Spider-Man has LMDs pose as himself, Iron Spider, and Agent Venom to assist Thor in distracting the Grandmaster.
  • Multiple Life Model Decoys appear in the Avengers Assemble animated series. These versions appear as a S.H.I.E.L.D. drop team. In the episode "Avengers Disassembled", a number of LMDs assist the Avengers in fighting Ultron via the Super-Adaptoid. After Ultron hacks them however, they fight against the Avengers. In the episode "The Ultron Outbreak", Ultron uses a corrupted LMD's remains to spread his nano-virus.
  • Life Model Decoys are seen in the Marvel TV series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. In this series, the LMDs were inspired by the Koenig siblings, though the project remained dormant until scientist and inventor Holden Radcliffe revived it after he turned his A.I. assistant AIDA into an LMD, who went on to create more. LMDs also serve as central antagonists during the fourth season's second arc.[37][38][39] Season seven introduces a Phil Coulson LMD that was enhanced with Chronicom technology.[40]

Video games[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Whitbrook, James (January 10, 2017). "The Silliest Life Model Decoy Stories in Marvel Comics History". io9.
  2. ^ a b Parker, Jeff (w), Casagrande, Elena (a). "Planet of Fear, Part 1", Hulk Vol. 2 #37. Marvel Comics.
  3. ^ a b c Parker, Jeff (w), Hardman, Gabriel (a). "Scorched Earth Part 4: Exit Strategy", Hulk (Vol. 2) #29 (March 2011). Marvel Comics.
  4. ^ Parker, Jeff (w), Casagrande, Elena (a). "Planet of Fear, Part 2", Hulk (Vol. 2) #38 (October 2011). Marvel Comics.
  5. ^ Chaykin, Howard (w). McManus, Shawn (a). Wolverine/Nick Fury: Scorpio Rising (October 1994). Marvel Comics.
  6. ^ Parker, Jeff (w), Hardman, Gabriel (p), Palmer, Tom (i). "The Whale", Hulk (Vol. 2) #30.1 (May 2011). Marvel Comics.
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