After being crippled by Quake, his head was severed by Aida and placed in a jar, but he also gained the power to remotely control numerous robotic duplicates of himself so he could protect the Framework. Despite serving Aida's instructions to not kill the agents, Ivanov attempted to use the Darkhold's wisdom to create a new world in which all of the Inhumans were feared and hated by the world. However Ivanov's plans were stopped by the combined efforts of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Ghost Rider, who destroyed more of Ivanov's robotic bodies and killed Aida while Ivanov escaped. Six months after S.H.I.E.L.D.'s disbandment, Ivanov's head was acquired by General Hale, forcing him to serve HYDRA to combat an impending alien invasion.
Publication Information
- S.H.I.E.L.D. : Anton Ivanov
- Version : Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
- Alter Ego : Superior
- Known As :
- The Superior Man
- Redshirt
- Bro
- The Top Watchdog
- The Russian
- Russki
- Conspiracy Theorist
- Terminators
- Tin Cans
- Ivan Drago
- Man Who Can't Die
- Type :
- Life-Model Decoy bodies
Lacking the ability to create more Life-Model Decoy bodies for himself after Aida's death, Ivanov instead created Sleeper Mechs under his control to aid Hale's agenda. Ivanov's desire to test the Particle Infusion Chamber led him to personally search for it, with his human head attached to a robotic body. However, that turned out to be a fatal mistake when a duel with a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Yo-Yo Rodriguez cost him his life.
Raised in Russia, Anton Ivanov's father was a strict and cruel man, described by Ivanov himself as a son of a bitch; however his father's great dedication and hard work on an oil rig allowed Ivanov to greatly respect him. However, Ivanov lost all respect for his own father upon seeing him suck up to another man from their town who had never worked for his fortune. His moment reinforced Ivanov's view that money and power was something that should be earned through hard work, not inherited or stolen. While working for the SVR, Anton Ivanov and his unit were sent to collect the Russian 0-8-4 from an old military compound called the Burkov Mining Facility, however upon arriving at the facility they found Phil Coulson was already there, claiming he had been sent to be investigated a bio-hazard leak, although Ivanov's commander remained highly skeptical of his true reasons for agent Coulson being there.
As a young boy, he greatly admired his abusive father because he worked hard for what he earns. But all of this was lost upon seeing him sucking up to a wealthy man who inherited his fortune. This gave him a sense of just that people would work for what they want to achieve and it should never be given to them. This could be one of the reasons why he views Inhumans in a hateful perspective and even thinks of them as abominations, calling them genetic cheaters because they inherited their abilities.
Initially, Ivanov despised robots and androids of all kinds, viewing them as mere machines which were fallible and would never best human beings, who he considered to be superior machines. However, when he himself was turned into a set of androids controlled by his human severed head so he could survive, Ivanov's views on the matter changed and he eventually considered this new way of living a solution to achieve immense strength and immortality, and thus to remain what he called a "superior man".
Superior
Abilities
Hive Mind System : Ivanov's crippled body was experimented on by Aida and managed to keep his own biological brain alive inside a device created with knowledge derived from the ancient book of spells called the Darkhold. It also gave Ivanov remote control over all of his robotic duplicates.
- Android Bodies : Ivanov has control over various of his own Life-Model Decoy duplicates, all of which are remotely controlled by his own human brain and through which he can experience perception. When Ivanov lost access to the machinery to build more identical robot bodies of himself, he resorted to controlling Sleeper Mechs, which worked in the same way but did not have his face or voice while the Mechs all worked as General Hale's personal bodyguards and enforcers.
- Superhuman Strength : Aida commented on him having superior physical strength. All of his Life-Model Decoys have superhuman strength.
- Pain Immunity : While battling Melinda May and Phil Coulson, Ivanov demonstrated that his Life-Model Decoy bodies are impervious to physical pain.
- Expert Tactician : Upon learning of the new Inhuman Outbreak, Ivanov was disgusted by the notion of Inhumans gaining power they did not earn and he led the Watchdogs, becoming the Superior in the process, and leading the entire organization from the shadows. As part of his mission to wipe out the Inhumans, Ivanov organized many missions against the Inhumans, including the Blackout Attack which was thwarted by S.H.I.E.L.D..
- Expert Combatant : As a former member of the SVR, Ivanov is highly trained in multiple fighting styles. While leading the Watchdogs, he trained himself to be a fierce combatant, being able to go fight Quake, Ghost Rider and Melinda May.
- Knife Mastery : Ivanov demonstrates great skill in the use of knives both as close quarters blades and as thrown projectiles.
- Multilingualism : Ivanov is fluent in his native Russian, as well as in English.
Weapons
- Knives : Ivanov carries an arsenal of knives, which he uses as both a close quarters weapon and as a projectile. He used several of these to torture Jeffrey Mace, and he utilized them again to great effect in combat with the Inhuman Quake, succeeding in injuring the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent.
- Makarov PM : Ivanov, in an LMD body, drew this handgun and attempted to execute Melinda May while she was still locked in the Framework. However, android parameters set by Aida prevented him from shooting
- AKM : Ivanov was equipped with this weapon during his time in the SVR. He carried this rifle to the Burkov Mining Facility to retrieve an alien artifact. However, his unit was met with resistance from Phil Coulson and Melinda May, and he used the rifle to attempt to apprehend the pair but failed.
