Issue(s): Marvel Comics Presents #62 (Deathlok story only)
Cover Date: 1990
Title: "Test run"
Credits:
Dwayne McDuffie & Gregory Wright - Writer
Butch Guice - Penciler
Butch Guice - Inker
Kelly Corvese - Assistant Editor
Terry Kavanagh - Editor

Review/plot:
This is kind of a preview of this year's prestige format Deathlok mini-series (except it was actually published after the mini). It shows a company called Cybertek rolling out a new Deathlok. Recall that the original Deathlok came from the future; there's no indication that Cybertek is aware of that one.

During the course of the demonstration, something goes wrong, and the human side of this Deathlok, a Colonel John Kelly, dies.

But Cybertek continues running the program. And then change their mind when Deathlok goes off orders and upgrades his weapon.

He continues his mission and then gives everyone a scare.

In the end, they start looking for a new candidate for the Deathlok program.

The Deathlok in this story, John Kelly, will eventually become Siege.

I've always thought the interactions between Deathlok's human and computer sides were a lot of fun, and this story does a good job of setting up the conflict and problems inherent in designing a robotic killing machine (which of course isn't exactly a fresh theme at this time with all the Terminators and Robocops, but it's still fun and handled well here). It's also worth noting that Butch Guice has significantly dialed back his model tracing style for this story.

Note that this was published after the Deathlok mini-series, so the historical significance for these issues isn't taking into account the "first" appearances of the characters appearing here.

Quality Rating: C+

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: Takes place prior to Deathlok #1, which has a July cover date, so i'm pushing this back a bit.

References: N/A

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? Y

My Reprint: N/A

So since I mostly follow the Essential line, or did, gradually going from 60s to mid 80s at latest there's a gap in the later 80s and my time period of the 90s. So kind of neat seeing the universe just before Maximum Carnage or more recently the Infinity Gauntlet.

I think the female scientist in this story is Dr.Hu.

That would make sense. I've added her.

Heh... "Dr. Hu".

Now that I look at it, I think the bearded guy in the wheelchair is Ben Jacobs.

Agreed, thanks. Now if only you could find another appearance of Dr. Kimble. It's weird that he shows up in Deathlok #17-21 as a former Cybertek scientist without any previous on-panel appearances.