Dreadknight
| Dreadknight | |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Team affiliations | Doctor Doom, and the Frightful Four |
Dreadknight is a fictional character, a supervillain in the Marvel Universe. He has ties to Doctor Doom, and has come into conflict with Iron Man. He was created by writer Bill Mantlo and penciller George Tuska in Iron Man #101 (August, 1977). Given that the criminal Black Knight died fighting Iron Man during the Silver Age of comics, Dreadknight was likely meant as a new/legacy version of the villain, a heroic Black Knight having assumed the identity years before.
Bram Velsing was a Latverian scientist in the employ of Dr. Doom. When Doom discovered Velsing harbored treacherous ideals, he grafted a skull-like cybernetic helm to Velsing's head, scarring him. He sent the now-mutilated Velsing into the Balkan wilds to die.
Velsing did not die, however. He gained a variety of weapons and took possession of the flying mutant horse employed by the original, criminal Black Knight while taken under the care of Victoria Frankenstein, who discovered him in the wilderness. Velsing, now calling himself the Dreadknight, attempted to force more resources from Frankenstein that he might take revenge upon Doom. He was defeated by the "visiting" Iron Man, Frankenstein's Monster, and Victoria's mutant charges, The Children. Left a wounded shell at the finale of the battle, Dreadknight was given over to kindly Victoria's custody.
Velsing would escape Frankenstein's care with his steed and personal weaponry. Dreadknight's further schemes usually consisted of sporradic mercenary work meant to gather personal power or wealth to attempt a coup of Latveria. He has served the mystical villains Morgan Le Fay and her son Mordred in campaigns against Avenger Dane Whitman and battled Spider-Man when he became entangled in Dreadknight's failed coup of Latveria following Doom's apparent death fighting the entity Onslaught.
Dreadknight has made few appearances in the Marvel Universe. It is worth mentioning that Hawkeye once wore the Dreadknight's armor and weapons during an infiltration effort. The tone of the appearance was such that it made soft suggestion that Velsing had lost or abandoned his costumed arsenal/persona.
In Other Media
In the 1994 Iron Man animated series, Dreadknight served as one of the minions of the Mandarin. He and Blacklash were rivals for the affections of Hypnotia, the sole female member of the Mandarin's followers. He was played by Neil Dickson.