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Dreadknight
Iron Man battles Dreadknight on the cover of Iron Man #102 (Aug. 1977). Art by George Perez.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Iron Man #102 (Aug. 1977)
Created by	Bill Mantlo George Tuska
In-story information
Alter ego	Bram Velsing
Team affiliations	Frightful Four
Abilities	Body armor and weaponry

Dreadknight is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Iron Man #102 (Aug. 1977) and was created by writer Bill Mantlo and penciller George Tuska.

Biography

Bram Velsing is a Latverian scientist, unsatisfied with serving Doctor Doom whom he referred to as a "grotesque mockery" and thought himself as his superior. Upon learning of Velsing's treacherous ideals, Doom permanently grafts a skull-like cybernetic helmet to Velsing's head, scarring him. Velsing flees, and comes under the care of Victoria Frankenstein who nurses him back to health at Castle Frankenstein. The character gains a variety of weapons and rides the "hellhorse", a mutated bat-winged flying horse genetically engineered by Nathan Garrett. Calling himself the Dreadknight, the character attempts to force more resources from Frankenstein to defeat Doom but is defeated by Iron Man, Frankenstein's Monster, and Victoria's mutated charges, The Children.^[1] Velsing is revived by the mystical villains Morgan Le Fay and Mordred, and menaced Captain Britain, Victoria Bentley, and Sean Dolan but is defeated by the Avenger, Dane Whitman.^[2] Following Doctor Doom's apparent death at the hands of Onslaught, Dreadknight briefly takes Latveria and battles Spider-Man.^[3]

Powers and abilities

Dreadknight wears a steel alloy body armor granting him superhuman strength and durability. The character 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 unconscious or kill opponents. Dreadknight rides the "hellhorse", a mutated bat-winged flying horse that was genetically engineered by Nathan Garrett and Victoria Frankenstein.

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

Other versions

Ultimate Dreadknight

Bram Velsing appears in a suit of armor based on Tony Stark's designs to menace Ultimate Iron Man in the 2009 Ultimate Comics: Armor Wars series. Although his armor features a skull motif and is painted in a color scheme reminiscent of his mainstream Marvel Universe counterpart, he is never called Dreadknight. Ultimate Velsing made his home in a renovated Castle Frankenstein. At the end of their encounter, Iron Man locked down the defeated Velsing's armor, leaving him to die, presumably of suffocation.^[4]

In other media

The character appears in the animated television series Iron Man (1994 - 1996) voiced by Neil Dickson; and the Iron Man: Armored Adventures (2009).

References

External links

• Dreadknight at MarvelDirectory.com
• Dreadknight at Marvel.com