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System Crash (comics)
Encyclopedia
System Crash is a group of fictional supervillain
s in the Marvel Comics
' main shared
universe
. They first appeared in Daredevil
vol. 1, #326 (Mar 1994), and were created by D. G. Chichester, Scott McDaniel
, and Bill Oakley
.
s before taking the leap into supervillainy. Beyond that, little is known about their origins.
They are first seen employed by Baron Strucker
, who wanted to improve the public image of HYDRA
, normally thought of as a terrorist organization. To that end, System Crash was supposed to take control of the internet and use it to cause chaos. Strucker also employed the criminal hacker Knowbot to obtain technology that allowed the United States government to secretly access information on any computer. According to Strucker, once he blocked this technology, it would lead the federal government to use Gestapo
techniques on its citizenry to re-acquire this unilateral access to their information, leading to mass anarchy, from which HYDRA would profit.
System Crash operative Killobyte was detailed to protect Knowbot as he accessed this information. However, the intrusion was discovered, and Captain America
was dispatched to stop it. After Knowbot accomplished his mission and finished sending Strucker the encrypted information, Killobyte killed them both with an electrical discharge to prevent Captain America from discovering who they worked for.
System Crash next helped cybercriminal Cobol Charlie blow up the Staten Island Ferry
, killing 33 passengers. System Crash member Bitmap then killed Charlie to keep the team's involvement secret. They did take public credit for the blast, but claimed to be a group of terrorists called the "Silicon Pirates". Meanwhile, Wirehead and Steel Collar stole Killobyte's body from S.H.I.E.L.D.
custody. Wirehead took over the Empire State Building
, which HYDRA used as a platform for sniper
s to fire into the crowds below. Order was restored by Daredevil and Silver Sable
, although Wirehead managed to escape.
Again, credit for the attack on the Empire State Building was taken by the "Silicon Pirates". Next, Infomorph, Steel Collar and Technospike burglarized an office of Rand-Meachum, but were caught in the act by Daredevil, Iron Fist and Captain America. Nevertheless, the criminals managed to escape with the company's hard drive. Meanwhile, Baron Strucker met with the brother of the dead Killobyte, and convinced him to carry on his brother's criminal career under that name. System Crash then flew with Strucker to Bosnia
to destroy the "Genesis Coalition", a splinter group of HYDRA posing as their erstwhile parent.
Steel Collar and the new Killobyte attacked a group of National Guardsmen, again ostensibly as the terrorist "Silicon Pirates", but were chased off by Daredevil and Gambit
.
Requiring help in breaking the encryption on the information Knowbot had stolen, Bitmap broke hacker Sinclair Spectrum out of The Tombs
in Manhattan
. Daredevil, noticing traces of a rare plant during his last encounter with the group, traced their hideout to the New York Botanical Garden
. He and Captain America engaged the villains, but the latter was captured while Daredevil escaped.
Daredevil tracked System Crash's new location to a ship near Liberty Island
. He helped Captain America escape from them, and destroyed the ship, presumably killing Bitmap, Technospike and Killobyte in the process. The two then tracked Sinclair Spectrum and the remaining members of System Crash (Wirehead, Steel Collar, Infomorph) to New Jersey
. Wirehead and Infomorph were captured by the heroes, while Steel Collar committed suicide.
Supervillain
A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the villain character type, commonly found in comic books, action movies and science fiction in various media.They are sometimes used as foils to superheroes and other fictional heroes...
s in the Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
' main shared
Shared universe
A shared universe is a fictional universe to which more than one writer contributes. Work set in a shared universe share characters and other elements with varying degrees of consistency. Shared universes are contrasted with collaborative writing, in which multiple authors work on a single story....
universe
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
. They first appeared in Daredevil
Daredevil (Marvel Comics)
Daredevil is a fictional character, a superhero in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Bill Everett, with an unspecified amount of input from Jack Kirby, and first appeared in Daredevil #1 .Living in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood...
vol. 1, #326 (Mar 1994), and were created by D. G. Chichester, Scott McDaniel
Scott McDaniel
Scott McDaniel is an American comics artist who has drawn numerous books, including Marvel Comics' "Fall from Grace" storyline for the Daredevil series...
, and Bill Oakley
Bill Oakley (artist)
William Douglas Oakley was a letterer for numerous comic books from Marvel, DC, and other companies. His most prominent works include the first two volumes of Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill's The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and Batman: Gotham Knights #1-11, #15-37.-Biography:Oakley attended...
.
Fictional history
The members of System Crash all started their criminal careers as hackerHacker (computer security)
In computer security and everyday language, a hacker is someone who breaks into computers and computer networks. Hackers may be motivated by a multitude of reasons, including profit, protest, or because of the challenge...
s before taking the leap into supervillainy. Beyond that, little is known about their origins.
They are first seen employed by Baron Strucker
Baron Strucker
Baron Wolfgang von Strucker is a fictional character created for Marvel Comics by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #5...
, who wanted to improve the public image of HYDRA
HYDRA
HYDRA is a fictional terrorist organization in the Marvel Universe.Despite the name's capitalization per Marvel's official spelling, the name is not an acronym but rather a reference to the mythical Lernaean Hydra...
, normally thought of as a terrorist organization. To that end, System Crash was supposed to take control of the internet and use it to cause chaos. Strucker also employed the criminal hacker Knowbot to obtain technology that allowed the United States government to secretly access information on any computer. According to Strucker, once he blocked this technology, it would lead the federal government to use Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
techniques on its citizenry to re-acquire this unilateral access to their information, leading to mass anarchy, from which HYDRA would profit.
System Crash operative Killobyte was detailed to protect Knowbot as he accessed this information. However, the intrusion was discovered, and Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
was dispatched to stop it. After Knowbot accomplished his mission and finished sending Strucker the encrypted information, Killobyte killed them both with an electrical discharge to prevent Captain America from discovering who they worked for.
System Crash next helped cybercriminal Cobol Charlie blow up the Staten Island Ferry
Staten Island Ferry
The Staten Island Ferry is a passenger ferry service operated by the New York City Department of Transportation that runs between the boroughs of Manhattan and Staten Island.-Overview:...
, killing 33 passengers. System Crash member Bitmap then killed Charlie to keep the team's involvement secret. They did take public credit for the blast, but claimed to be a group of terrorists called the "Silicon Pirates". Meanwhile, Wirehead and Steel Collar stole Killobyte's body from S.H.I.E.L.D.
S.H.I.E.L.D.
S.H.I.E.L.D. is a fictional espionage and a secret military law-enforcement agency in the Marvel Comics Universe. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Strange Tales #135 , it often deals with superhuman threats....
custody. Wirehead took over the Empire State Building
Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is a 102-story landmark skyscraper and American cultural icon in New York City at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street. It has a roof height of 1,250 feet , and with its antenna spire included, it stands a total of 1,454 ft high. Its name is derived...
, which HYDRA used as a platform for sniper
Sniper
A sniper is a marksman who shoots targets from concealed positions or distances exceeding the capabilities of regular personnel. Snipers typically have specialized training and distinct high-precision rifles....
s to fire into the crowds below. Order was restored by Daredevil and Silver Sable
Silver Sable
Silver Sable is a fictional character from Marvel Comics, a female mercenary, hunter of war criminals, the leader of the Wild Pack, and CEO of Silver Sable International...
, although Wirehead managed to escape.
Again, credit for the attack on the Empire State Building was taken by the "Silicon Pirates". Next, Infomorph, Steel Collar and Technospike burglarized an office of Rand-Meachum, but were caught in the act by Daredevil, Iron Fist and Captain America. Nevertheless, the criminals managed to escape with the company's hard drive. Meanwhile, Baron Strucker met with the brother of the dead Killobyte, and convinced him to carry on his brother's criminal career under that name. System Crash then flew with Strucker to Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
to destroy the "Genesis Coalition", a splinter group of HYDRA posing as their erstwhile parent.
Steel Collar and the new Killobyte attacked a group of National Guardsmen, again ostensibly as the terrorist "Silicon Pirates", but were chased off by Daredevil and Gambit
Gambit (comics)
Gambit is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero that has been a member of the X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Jim Lee, the character first appeared briefly in Uncanny X-Men Annual #14 , weeks before a more comprehensive appearance in Uncanny X-Men #266...
.
Requiring help in breaking the encryption on the information Knowbot had stolen, Bitmap broke hacker Sinclair Spectrum out of The Tombs
The Tombs
"The Tombs" is the colloquial name for the Manhattan Detention Complex, a jail in Lower Manhattan at 125 White Street, as well as the popular name of a series of preceding downtown jails, the first of which was built in 1838 in the Egyptian Revival style of architecture.The nickname has been used...
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. Daredevil, noticing traces of a rare plant during his last encounter with the group, traced their hideout to the New York Botanical Garden
New York Botanical Garden
- See also :* Education in New York City* List of botanical gardens in the United States* List of museums and cultural institutions in New York City- External links :* official website** blog*...
. He and Captain America engaged the villains, but the latter was captured while Daredevil escaped.
Daredevil tracked System Crash's new location to a ship near Liberty Island
Liberty Island
Liberty Island is a small uninhabited island in New York Harbor in the United States, best known as the location of the Statue of Liberty. Though so called since the turn of the century, the name did not become official until 1956. In 1937, by proclamation 2250, President Franklin D...
. He helped Captain America escape from them, and destroyed the ship, presumably killing Bitmap, Technospike and Killobyte in the process. The two then tracked Sinclair Spectrum and the remaining members of System Crash (Wirehead, Steel Collar, Infomorph) to New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. Wirehead and Infomorph were captured by the heroes, while Steel Collar committed suicide.
Members
- Bitmap - Made of some sort of liquid held together by a containment suit. He has the ability to shape his liquid body into different forms to attack people. In a confrontation with Daredevil, his liquid form fell into the waters of Upper New York BayUpper New York BayUpper New York Bay, or Upper Bay, is the traditional heart of the Port of New York and New Jersey, and often called New York Harbor. It is enclosed by the New York City boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Staten Island and the Hudson County, New Jersey municipalities of Jersey City and Bayonne.It...
. He has not been seen since. - Infomorph - Able to mimic the form and, to an extent, the abilities of other beings. She is not completely in control of this ability, as she is once forced by Daredevil to acquire the mental patterns of an entire hive of insects, which left her temporarily debilitated. She was last seen defeated by Captain America and Daredevil, who presumably turned her over to law enforcement officials.
- Killobyte (Lester) - A HYDRA operative who quit for unknown reasons, and his younger brother Joey took up the mantle of Killobyte. After this brother was killed, Lester was convinced by Baron Strucker to return to HYDRA and resume the role of Killobyte. He was on board System Crash's airship when it crashed into Upper New York Bay. He has not been seen since. As Killobyte, he used some sort of technological weapon that could emit electricity strong enough to kill a man.
- Killobyte (Joey) - Admired his older brother Lester, and so took up the mantle of Killobyte when his brother left HYDRA. Committed suicide to avoid capture by Captain America. He wielded the same technology as his brother.
- Steel Collar - A cyborg possessing superhuman strength, albeit one who lamented his lost humanity. He was often referred to by his teammates as a "robot", an epithet which Steel Collar loathed. When cornered by Daredevil and Captain America, he appeared to hold Sinclair Spectrum (for whom he had developed some feelings) hostage, but after securing a promise from Daredevil that he would not be charged with any crimes, he killed himself.
- Technospike - Wore a kind of exoskeleton that electrified a pair of long metal cables at his wrists, similar to the powers of the ConstrictorConstrictor (comics)Constrictor is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. The character is primarily a supervillain, but is often portrayed as a redeeming anti-hero. Constrictor first appeared in Incredible Hulk vol.1 #212 and was created by Len Wein and Sal Buscema.-Publication history:Constrictor...
. He was on board System Crash's airship when it crashed into Upper New York Bay. He has not been seen since. - Wirehead - Wore a helmet that showed him the world as if it were an MUDMUDA MUD , pronounced , is a multiplayer real-time virtual world, with the term usually referring to text-based instances of these. MUDs combine elements of role-playing games, hack and slash, player versus player, interactive fiction, and online chat...
, and through which he received instructions from his "Dungeon MasterDungeon MasterIn the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, the Dungeon Master is the game organizer and participant in charge of creating the details and challenges of a given adventure, while maintaining a realistic continuity of events...
". He could make weapons materialize instantly in his hand, as if he were a video-game character switching through his inventory. He was last seen defeated by Captain America and Daredevil, who destroyed Wirehead's helmet, and who presumably turned him over to law enforcement officials.