This android of Gabriel Lan was created by Galactus in his attempt to bring back his beloved, slain Herald, the Air-Walker. Despite containing some of Gabriel's life force, Galactus was not satisfied with the robot.[7] He left it when it was destroyed in a battle against the Silver Surfer and the Fantastic Four.[8]
Gabriel's friend, Pyreus Kril, became Galactus' next Herald, the Firelord, but Galactus suppressed his memories. When the Air-Walker robot was restored and then destroyed again, Firelord's memories returned and he buried the android's remains near Xandar, Gabriel's home planet.[9] Later, he was brought back online by the Firelord and other former Heralds in the conflict against Morg, and the android of Gabriel reunited with his old friend Pyreus.[10]
Since then, the android has been destroyed and restored multiple times.[11] When not in Galactus' service, he fights on the side of good, as he once did in life.[5]
History
Origin[]
_from_Uncanny_Origins_Vol_1_4_001.jpg){kind=link}
The original Gabriel Lan, a hero of Xandar and a Centurion of the Nova Corps
Gabriel Lan was the Xandarian captain of the explorer ship Way-Opener. The ship's mission was to seek out alien civilizations and attempt to establish peaceful relations with them. Lan had previously distinguished himself in Xandar's military, the Nova Corps, and welcomed his appointment to an explorer ship since he was filled with wanderlust and love of open space. Returning from his seven-year tour of duty, Lan was nearing his home solar system when an unidentified craft appeared and teleported him from the bridge of the Way-Opener to the craft of Galactus. Galactus was looking for a new herald to replace the rebellious Silver Surfer and, after scanning Lan's mind, deemed him an appropriate candidate. Hearing Galactus' offer of vast power and unlimited travel, Lan readily accepted and was transformed by a tiny fraction of Galactus' Power Cosmic into the Air-Walker.[7]
When Gabriel Lan was killed by the Ovoids, Galactus transferred the consciousness of his herald into a perfect robotic replica. Unfortunately, the robot lacked the vitality and passion for the mysteries of space that Galactus admired in the original Air-Walker.[12]
Attack on Earth and Burial near Xandar[]
_(Earth-616)_from_Fantastic_Four_Vol_1_120_0001.jpg){kind=link}
Walking on air
Soon Galactus dispatched the robot to Earth to re-enlist the Silver Surfer as Galactus' herald. The robot, calling itself Gabriel, encountered both the Surfer and the superhero team known as the Fantastic Four. The Surfer declined Galactus' invitation and deactivated the robot by shredding its cloak. Galactus abandoned both the Surfer and the defunct Air-Walker robot.[8]
_and_Air-Walker_(Automaton)_(Earth-616)_from_Thor_Vol_1_306_001.jpg){kind=link}
Firelord finding the Air-Walker robot
Later, the Air-Walker robot was recovered by the villainous scientist known as the Machinesmith, who tried to repair the robot but could not understand its alien circuitry. The Machinesmith did manage to activate the Air-Walker's self-repair functions, and after several months, it awakened.[2] The robot encountered Thor, who apparently destroyed it. The Air-Walker's remains were recovered by Galactus' next herald, Firelord, a colleague and friend of Gabriel during their time in the Nova Corps. Firelord buried the robot's remains on an asteroid near Xandar.[7]
Resurrection[]
_and_Air-Walker_(Automaton)_(Earth-616)_from_Silver_Surfer_Vol_3_73_001.jpg){kind=link}
Air-Walker back online and meeting Firelord
Later, Firelord, along with two other heralds (the Silver Surfer and Nova), resurrected the robot by combining their cosmic powers to recharge its batteries and repair its structural damage. Together, the four battled Morg, the latest and most powerful of Galactus' heralds, who grew in power and ferocity to rival Galactus himself. With Morg's defeat, the Air-Walker and Firelord agreed to serve side-by-side as heralds of Galactus. Firelord tried to rekindle the humanity in a construct that contains all that is left of his friend Gabriel Lan.[13] Later, Air-Walker and Firelord returned to Xandar to help Nova (Richard Rider) defeat Supernova (Garthan Saal).[14]
Secretly, Galactus had revived Morg,[15] and Morg later struck down Air-Walker and Firelord. The Air-Walker survived and informed the Silver Surfer about Morg's return; with his robotic body beyond repair, the Air-Walker's consciousness was then uploaded into Galactus' ship.[4] The Worldship was seemingly destroyed,[16] but Galactus saved it at the last second.[17] The Air-Walker was given a new robot body that looked like his original body.[5]
He was attacked by the Seekers, who were hunting down all of the Heralds in order to steal their power cosmic energy. Air Walker attacked them but they proved to be too much for him. Meanwhile, Silver Surfer attempted to help him but they were both beaten and Air-Walker was badly damaged by the Seekers' leader, Ravenous. In order for Silver Surfer to escape, Air-Walker activated his self destruct sequence and bought Silver Surfer some extra time. This way, the Seekers wouldn't be able to capture his energy either.[5]
Herald Supreme[]
Air-Walker resurfaced alive as part of a group that assisted Doctor Strange to stop Galactus.[18]
Annihilation - Scourge[]
Air-Walker was later seen as part of a group of heroes called by Mister Fantastic in the Negative Zone to fight the forces of the Cancerverse led by the Sentry.[19]Attributes
 |
Powers
- Robot Body: The Air-Walker robot replicated all the original's powers to approximate levels[20] and was imbued with the Power Cosmic.[21] He was stated to have an "Universal" threat level by the Nova Corps when herald of Galactus, and as well on his own. He remained classified as a category 1 threat due his possession of the Power Cosmic.[11]
- Self Repair: It was endowed with automatic self repair circuitry in its chest cavity, capable of functioning as long as 35% of the total system was intact.[20][21]
- Self Sustenance: The robot's power source was its fiery cloak, apparently some form of cosmic energy receptor and he also has enhanced stamina, making him able to sustain himself from basic human weaknesses, (food, air, water, sleep, space, shelter, etc.), also allowing him to survive unguarded for extended amounts of time in outer space.[20]
- Energy Manipulation: The robot can also virtually manipulate nearly all types of energy, be it magnetic, electric, thermal, air, matter, etc.[20]
- Energy Projection: The robot can shoot from his hands powerful beams of energy easily capable of destroying drones and tanks[22] and stunning the Silver Surfer[1] and Thor.[2]
- Molecular Reconstruction: The robot can rearrange matter but not on the Silver Surfer's level.[20]
- Thermokinesis: The robot could melt tanks with a wave of his hand.[22]
- Aerokinesis: The robot can generate gale force winds.[8]
- Hydrokinesis: The robot can cause tidal waves and tsunamis.[1]
- Superhuman Strength: He also has enhanced strength[20] and has proved able to easily overpower the Thing[22] and match Thor's brute strength.[2]
- Superhuman Durability: He possesses greatly enhanced durability[20] which combined with Power Cosmic makes him able to withstand large amounts of physical damage.[21] He was immune to the blows of the Thing and the Human Torch's nova flame[1] but Mjolnir was able to critically damage him when thrown with Thor's full strength.[2]
- Flight: The robot can enter hyperspace and fly at hyper-light velocities.[20] While inside a planetary atmosphere he can fly at vast supersonic speeds.[22]
Paraphernalia
Equipment
- Gabriel's Horn: A golden, trumpet-like device. It sends a hyperspace signal to summon Galactus.[8]
Notes
- The robot of Gabriel Lan was introduced before the original. The original Gabriel only appears in flashbacks.[7][23]
- Due to the name Gabriel and the use of his horn, the Air-Walker has been mistaken for an angelic being--specifically, the archangel mentioned in the Bible who heralds Judgment Day.[8]
- His name was misspelled as "Air Walker" throughout Annihilation: Silver Surfer #1.
See Also
- 26 appearance(s) of Air-Walker (Automaton) (Earth-616)
- 5 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of Air-Walker (Automaton) (Earth-616)
- 3 minor appearance(s) of Air-Walker (Automaton) (Earth-616)
- 2 mention(s) of Air-Walker (Automaton) (Earth-616)
- 1 mention(s) in handbook(s) of Air-Walker (Automaton) (Earth-616)
- 13 image(s) of Air-Walker (Automaton) (Earth-616)
- 1 quotation(s) by or about Air-Walker (Automaton) (Earth-616)
- 2 item(s) used/owned by Air-Walker (Automaton) (Earth-616)
Links and References
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Fantastic Four #121
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Thor #305
- ↑ Silver Surfer (Vol. 3) #73
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Silver Surfer Annual #7
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Annihilation: Silver Surfer #1
- ↑ Doctor Strange (Vol. 5) #15
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Thor #306
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Fantastic Four #120–121
- ↑ Thor #305–306
- ↑ Silver Surfer (Vol. 3) #73–75
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Annihilation: The Nova Corps Files #1
- ↑ Thor VOl 1 306
- ↑ Silver Surfer (Vol. 3) #73–76
- ↑ New Warriors #40–42
- ↑ Silver Surfer (Vol. 3) #77
- ↑ Silver Surfer (Vol. 3) #109
- ↑ Fantastic Four #414
- ↑ Doctor Strange (Vol. 5) #15–16
- ↑ Annihilation - Scourge Omega #1
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 20.6 20.7 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (Vol. 2) #16
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #4
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 Fantastic Four #120
- ↑ Uncanny Origins #4
- ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #4
- ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Vol 1 4