Dreadknight

Dreadknight (Bram Velsing) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Dreadknight
Dreadknight as depicted in Iron Man #102 (September 1977). Art by George Pérez.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Iron Man #101 (August 1977)
Created by	Bill Mantlo George Tuska
In-story information
Alter ego	Bram Velsing
Species	Human
Team affiliations	Frightful Four Masters of Evil
Abilities	Gifted scientist Rides the "Hellhorse" Use of weapons Steel alloy body armor grants: Superhuman strength and durability

Publication history

The character first appeared in Iron Man #101 (Aug. 1977) and was created by writer Bill Mantlo and penciller George Tuska.^[1]

Fictional character biography

Bram Velsing is a Latverian scientist, unsatisfied with serving Doctor Doom whom he referred to as a "grotesque mockery of a man" and thought himself as his superior. Upon learning of Velsing's treacherous ideals, Doom grafts a skull-like metal helmet to his head using a Bio-Fusor device, scarring him as a way to make him even with Doom.^[2] Velsing flees and comes under the care of Victoria Frankenstein, who nurses him back to health at Castle Frankenstein. Velsing gains a variety of weapons and rides the "Hellhorse", a bat-winged horse created by Victoria Frankenstein using the Black Knight's horse Aragorn. Calling himself Dreadknight, Velsing attempts to force more resources from Frankenstein to defeat Doom, only to be defeated by Iron Man and Frankenstein's Monster and rendered comatose.^[3]

Dreadknight is revived by the mystical villains Morgan Le Fay and Mordred and menaced Captain Britain, Victoria Bentley, and Sean Dolan, but is defeated by Dane Whitman.^[4]

Dreadknight appears as a member of Wizard's incarnation of the Frightful Four alongside Trapster and Man-Bull. In their attempt to capture a physicist named Dr. Cargill, the Frightful Four were defeated by Spider-Man and Cargill's daughter Turbine.^[5]

Dreadknight battles Iron Man while working for and still resenting Doctor Doom, but is defeated and the Hellhorse leaves him him.^[6]

During the "One World Under Doom" storyline, Dreadknight joins Mad Thinker's incarnation of the Masters of Evil and assists them in invading the Impossible City while still resenting Doctor Doom.^[7] After Sam Wilson's Captain America form had the Man-Slayer's "Suit" form plug into the computer to extract Black Panther, Mad Thinker sent Dreadknight after them while alerting the other Masters of Evil members. While pursuing them on Hellhorse, Dreadknight is knocked down by a radio tower's extending arm. Sam Wilson threw Dreadknight down a vent as Mister Hyde shows up.^[8]

Powers and abilities

Bram Velsing is a gifted scientist with skills as an engineer.

Equipment

Dreadknight wears a steel alloy body armor granting him superhuman strength and durability. He uses a power lance capable of projecting energy blasts; electrified steel cable bolas; miniature missiles; and also uses a carbon dioxide pistol that fires concentrated nerve gas which can render opponents unconscious or kill them.

Dreadknight rides the "Hellhorse", a demonic mutated horse.

Other versions

Mini Marvels

In the Mini-Marvels reality, Dreadknight is depicted as a child.^[9]

Ultimate Marvel

An alternate universe variant of Dreadknight from Earth-1610 appears in Ultimate Comics: Armor Wars. This version is German and wields armor based on Iron Man's designs.^[10]

In other media

Television

• Dreadknight and his Hellhorse, Nightwing, appears in Iron Man, voiced by Neil Dickson.^[11]
• A legion of Dreadknights appear in the Iron Man: Armored Adventures episode "Ancient History 101".^{[citation needed]} They are depicted as stone statues created by the Mandarin to guard one of his Makluan rings and test his potential successors' wisdom. They come to life after Gene Khan fails the test and attack him and his friends until Tony Stark passes the aforementioned test.

Merchandise

• Toy Biz produced a Dreadknight action figure for the Iron Man animated series tie-in line.
• A figure of Dreadknight was released for the Marvel Super Hero Squad line in The Danger of Dreadknight four-pack, packaged with two figures of Iron Man and one of the Mandarin.
• A figure of Dreadknight is included in the San Diego Comic-Con exclusive Marvel Legends "The Raft" box set.^[12]