NM-E (comics)
Encyclopedia
NM-E is a comic book villain that appeared in the Malibu Comics
' Ultraverse
book Hardcase
, created by James Hudnall.
for one purpose...to destroy all Ultra-humans. NM-E was the ultimate killing machine, able to create any weapon by converting matter, it was also able to regenerate itself from any damage given enough time and available matter (in this way NM-E was similar to the X-Men's foe, the super-sentinel, Nimrod).
Throughout the ages, Rex Mundi had NM-E assassinate any ultra that appeared, ensuring that there was never anyone to oppose him. These ultras were being created by the Entity
on the moon in attempts to create a being that would free it. As the 20th century approached, the Entity starting creating ultras in greater number, causing Mundi to have them attacked in secret as to not call attention to himself.
This changed in the 1990s, when the Entity "Jumpstarted" a number of people in Los Angeles. Many kept their abilities secret, but four of them went public, forming the Ultra-Team the Squad
. The team consisted of D.J. Blast, Forsa, Hardcase
and Starburst. The Squad was very successful at fighting crime, and subsequently became celebrities. Rex Mundi had to make an example of them.
Mundi first unleashed NM-E on some of the ultras that had chosen to remain hidden. As the bodies were discovered, the police had no idea who was doing the killings, but pieced together that the victims were all ultras. Contacting the Squad, the police informed them that there was an Ultra-Killer on the lose.
Though warned, the Squad thought they would be able to protect themselves; They were wrong. NM-E attacked the Squad without warning, during a party at Forsa's house in Encino. Within minutes, NM-E had killed several of the partygoers, before Forsa threw it into a nearby aqueduct. The Squad attacked it, but were no match for NM-E. Forsa was impaled, Starburst unconscious, Hardcase suffered from multiple broken bones, and D.J. Blast was near death. In a desperate measure, D.J. Blast created his most powerful explosion, vaporizing himself and NM-E in the blast, while Hardcase lept away carrying Starburst. Hardcase retired from ultra-heroics soon after, though his retirement was only for a short time.
Believed to have been destroyed by the explosion, enough of NM-E survived to reconstitute itself years later. Regenerating enough of itself, NM-E made its way back to Rex Mundi, who repaired it so it could continue its mission. After several months, Mundi sent NM-E to kill Hardcase, the one mission it had failed. It attacked Hardcase, and would have killed him if Prime
had not intervened. Though Prime was unable to stop NM-E, he was able to weaken the creature and allow a recovered Hardcase to demolish it. Before Hardcase was able to completely destroy NM-E, the Alternate took possession of its pieces.
Months later, when Harcase confronted Rex Mundi in his underground lair, the Alternate attacked Mundi, wearing NM-E as pieces of armor. Hardcase was sent away before this battle was decided, and no clear victor was revealed.
and named NM-E Mark II appeared in Mantra Vol.2.
cartoon.
NM-E was one of the action figures produced for Galoob's
Ultraforce line
Malibu Comics
Malibu Comics was an American comic book publisher active in the late 1980s and early 1990s, best known for its Ultraverse line of superhero titles. The company's headquarters was in Calabasas, California. Malibu imprints included Aircel Comics and Eternity Comics...
' Ultraverse
Ultraverse
The Ultraverse was the name given to a comic book imprint published by the American company Malibu Comics. The Ultraverse was a shared universe in which a variety of characters — known within the comics as "Ultras" — acquired super-human abilities.-History:...
book Hardcase
Hardcase
Hardcase is a comic book series written by James Hudnall for Malibu Comics’ Ultraverse imprint, which lasted 26 issues. The series was about Tom Hawke, who became one of the first publicly known Ultras ....
, created by James Hudnall.
Plot
NM-E, short for Nanotech Mechanized Entity, was created by Rex MundiRex Mundi (Malibu Comics)
Rex Mundi is a fictional immortal character from Malibu Comics' Ultraverse imprint. He has played important behind-the-scenes roles in most of the Ultraverse's major events, beginning with the downfall of the Fire People...
for one purpose...to destroy all Ultra-humans. NM-E was the ultimate killing machine, able to create any weapon by converting matter, it was also able to regenerate itself from any damage given enough time and available matter (in this way NM-E was similar to the X-Men's foe, the super-sentinel, Nimrod).
Throughout the ages, Rex Mundi had NM-E assassinate any ultra that appeared, ensuring that there was never anyone to oppose him. These ultras were being created by the Entity
The Entity (comics)
The Entity was a fictional device from Malibu Comics' Ultraverse. It first appeared in The Strangers #1; its origins were detailed in Ultraverse Future Shock, Phoenix: Resurrection, Ultraverse: Year Zero, and Break-Thru.Four billion years ago, an alien spacecraft exploded in our solar system...
on the moon in attempts to create a being that would free it. As the 20th century approached, the Entity starting creating ultras in greater number, causing Mundi to have them attacked in secret as to not call attention to himself.
This changed in the 1990s, when the Entity "Jumpstarted" a number of people in Los Angeles. Many kept their abilities secret, but four of them went public, forming the Ultra-Team the Squad
The Squad (comics)
The Squad was a short-lived superhero team from Malibu Comics' Ultraverse.The Squad's team members were:*D.J. BLAST*Forsa* Hardcase*Starburst...
. The team consisted of D.J. Blast, Forsa, Hardcase
Hardcase
Hardcase is a comic book series written by James Hudnall for Malibu Comics’ Ultraverse imprint, which lasted 26 issues. The series was about Tom Hawke, who became one of the first publicly known Ultras ....
and Starburst. The Squad was very successful at fighting crime, and subsequently became celebrities. Rex Mundi had to make an example of them.
Mundi first unleashed NM-E on some of the ultras that had chosen to remain hidden. As the bodies were discovered, the police had no idea who was doing the killings, but pieced together that the victims were all ultras. Contacting the Squad, the police informed them that there was an Ultra-Killer on the lose.
Though warned, the Squad thought they would be able to protect themselves; They were wrong. NM-E attacked the Squad without warning, during a party at Forsa's house in Encino. Within minutes, NM-E had killed several of the partygoers, before Forsa threw it into a nearby aqueduct. The Squad attacked it, but were no match for NM-E. Forsa was impaled, Starburst unconscious, Hardcase suffered from multiple broken bones, and D.J. Blast was near death. In a desperate measure, D.J. Blast created his most powerful explosion, vaporizing himself and NM-E in the blast, while Hardcase lept away carrying Starburst. Hardcase retired from ultra-heroics soon after, though his retirement was only for a short time.
Believed to have been destroyed by the explosion, enough of NM-E survived to reconstitute itself years later. Regenerating enough of itself, NM-E made its way back to Rex Mundi, who repaired it so it could continue its mission. After several months, Mundi sent NM-E to kill Hardcase, the one mission it had failed. It attacked Hardcase, and would have killed him if Prime
Prime (comics)
Prime is a superhero created by Bob Jacob, Gerard Jones, Len Strazewski, and Norm Breyfogle. He debuted in Prime #1 under Malibu Comics' Ultraverse imprint, and was one of its flagship characters along with Mantra and Hardcase . The character design was credited to Bret Blevins...
had not intervened. Though Prime was unable to stop NM-E, he was able to weaken the creature and allow a recovered Hardcase to demolish it. Before Hardcase was able to completely destroy NM-E, the Alternate took possession of its pieces.
Months later, when Harcase confronted Rex Mundi in his underground lair, the Alternate attacked Mundi, wearing NM-E as pieces of armor. Hardcase was sent away before this battle was decided, and no clear victor was revealed.
Black September
After the Black September Event struck the Ultraverse and rewrote reality, a version of NM-E, created by AladdinAladdin (comics)
Aladdin was a fictional government organization from Malibu Comics' Ultraverse imprint.- Overview :Aladdin was a U.S. government agency apparently founded sometime in the 1960s to deal with the growing number of Ultras in their world. 1n 1970, their scientific division, using a synthesis of...
and named NM-E Mark II appeared in Mantra Vol.2.
Appearances in other Media
NM-E appeared in the short-lived UltraforceUltraforce (comics)
The Ultraforce is a fictional superhero group that appears in comic books published by Malibu, and later Marvel, as well as an animated series produced by DIC. Their purpose was to protect the public and keep other Ultras from getting out of line...
cartoon.
NM-E was one of the action figures produced for Galoob's
Galoob
Lewis Galoob Toys, Inc. was a toy company headquartered on Forbes Blvd. in South San Francisco, California. Best known for distributing the Game Genie, a videogame cheat device, for Codemasters in the US, Galoob was founded by Barbara Frankel and Lewis Galoob in 1954 as an import business. Before...
Ultraforce line