Tri-Man aka Tri-Android
Context
The Tri-Man is a combat/operations android. It appeared in 1966 in Daredevil, and is representative of the series as it was back then.
There were further uses of this technology during the 1970s, but these we consider to be different characters/robots.
Background
- Group Affiliation: Agent of the Masked Marauder.
- Base Of Operations: New York City.
- Height: 6’5” Weight: 235 lbs.
- Eyes: White Hair: None
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Powers and Abilities
The Tri-Man is remotely animated by the combined life forces of three criminals. The large, robust android thus gets :
- The relentless strength of the Mauler.
- The speed and agility of Dancer.
- The vicious cunning of Brain.
In fact it would seem that it gets the combined power of all 3, and not just the best attributes.
The three “animators” are kept in glass jars with electrodes in a remote lab. With all the equipment in place they can animate the Tri-Man from about a mile away.
History
The Tri-Android, or Tri-Man, was built in 1966 by the Masked Marauder. Back then he was fronting the Nefaria mob in New York. The goal was to impress Maggia leaders by publicly having the android defeat it Daredevil (Matt Murdock).
The Marauder captured three talented criminals. He had selected these men to become the “animator” of the Tri-Android. They were :
- The down-and-out but formidably strong wrestler the Mauler.
- Expert safecracker and second-story man Dancer.
- A criminal genius called the Brain.
Tri-force
Now drawing on the combined talents of the three, the Tri-Man invaded Madison Square Garden during a boxing match. It challenged Daredevil there. Despite its superhuman prowess, it was soundly defeated by Daredevil – who then followed it to the Marauder’s lab.
Mauler, Dancer and Brain tried to defeat Daredevil, this time in the flesh. But they were easily captured – and never seen again.
The Masked Marauder used his Tri-Android technology twice more. Once as the Tri-Animan, and once as a new Tri-Man with three more powerful forms. Both attempts also ended in failure.
Description
See illustration.
Personality
When the Tri-Man talks, it is obviously Brain who is in control since it is articulate. However, Brain regularly recedes into the collective consciousness to let the silent Mauler or Dancer handle the fighting.
Quotes
“Notify Daredevil to meet me in the ring, or I’ll destroy the arena — and everyone within it !”
“You must be defeated — completely — eternally — in full view of thousands ! That is why I was created — I have the will — and I have the power — to destroy you !”
DC Universe History
He would be a dandy Intergang enforcer. Making full use of him as the three animators decide to operate more intelligently and not just as a combat machine could make for an interesting case.
He might even oppose the post-Crisis Ragman, as a wink toward the pre-Crisis Ragman.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Tri-Man
| Dex: 07 | Str: 06 | Bod: 06 | Motivation: Mercenary |
| Int: 05 | Wil: 05 | Min: 05 | Occupation: Android |
| Inf: 04 | Aur: 03 | Spi: 04 | Resources {or Wealth}: None |
| Init: 018 | HP: 010 |
Powers:
Self-Link (Gadgetry): 07, Sealed System: 07
Skills:
See below.
Advantages:
Lightning Reflex, Stabilization, No Vital Areas.
Connections:
Underworld (Low), Masked Marauder (Low).
Drawbacks:
Distinct Appearance, Misc.: If the three men animating the Tri-Man are disconnected from the network, the android becomes inert.
Design notes
The Tri-Android does not actually demonstrated any Skill — his pugilistic and acrobatic abilities are rolled into its Physical Attributes without a need for Skills.
From the character concept, it is likely it has access to the combined Skills of the three “animators”. Unfortunately those are not precisely known. They likely include Acrobatics, most aspects of Thief, Vehicle (Land), Weaponry (Street weapons) and Gadgetry at 5 APs, or close to that.
Stabilisation, Sealed System and No Vital Areas are not clearly demonstrated. But I’ve put it in since there is a lot of emphasis about how relentless he is and how his flesh is not normal flesh.
Source of Character: Daredevil v1 #22-23.