Justin Hammer (Earth-1010)

In an attempt to discredit Tony Stark's Iron Man, Thaddeus Ross hired Justin Hammer to develop a single pilot close-quarter combat vehicle with full protection and attack capabilities. Soon, both Hammer and Ross presented the vehicle to Senator Stern in Washington, D.C. and Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes. However, despite Hammer's claims that the vehicle was not vulnerable to surface-to-air attacks, the Congolese Army was able to shoot the plane down during its first mission, leaving the pilot alone in hostile territory, leading to Stark being sent in to rescue the pilot.

Recreating the Iron Man Suit

As Iron Man continued to gain popularity, Justin Hammer again attempted to discredit him by secretly focusing Hammer Industries' resources into building their own version of the Iron Man suit with a new Arc Reactor, something many of governments were attempting to do. The prototypes were unsuccessful however and during one test flight the suit malfunctioned, twisting the pilot's body and seriously damaging his spine, although he managed to survive the incident.

Meeting with the Senator

We all know why we're here - in the last six months Anthony Stark has created a sword with untold possibilities, and yet he insists it's a shield. He asks that we trust him as we cower behind it.

—Justin Hammer

Justin Hammer, weapons manufacturer and military defense contractor, was called as an expert to prove that Tony Stark's monopoly on his Iron Man armor was a danger for the United States of America, as part of Senator Stern's attempt to force Stark to give the government his Iron Man suit technology. Hammer showed many attempts made by America's enemies to replicate Iron Man's armor which all of them failed; however, Hammer was then humiliated by Stark himself, who showed Hammer's men attempting to do the same but ending up severely injuring the pilot's spine. Hammer tried to save face by confirming the pilot's survival but, ultimately, Stark ended up winning the case. After his public humiliation, Hammer's contract with the United States Armed Forces was suspended.

Duel of Monaco

She's actually doing a big spread on me for Vanity Fair. I thought I'd throw her a bone, you know. Right?"
"Right. Well, she did quite a spread on Tony last year."
"And she wrote a story as well.

—Justin Hammer, Pepper Potts and Tony Stark

Later Justin Hammer met Tony Stark and Pepper Potts again in Monaco, where both of them were supporting one of the cars involved in the race. Hammer was with Christine Everhart, a journalist who was flirting with him for having some scoops and an interview for Vanity Fair, but she was told by Stark that Hammer lost his contract with the Government, forcing Hammer to defend his companies' future.

As Hammer's interview with Christine Everhart went underway, they noticed on the television that Tony Stark had taken control of his own car and decided to race it himself. This led to Everhart leaving the interview to follow up this story instead. Having been left alone, Hammer watched the race unfold and witnessed Ivan Vanko step onto the track with his own weaponised armor complete with electrified whips and attempt to assassinate Stark. Stark survived the attack and Vanko was arrested, but Hammer watched the footage closely and saw an opportunity in finding someone who had successfully made an Arc Reactor powered suit.

Working with Ivan Vanko

What I saw you did to Tony Stark on that track, how you stepped up to him in front of God and everybody, that was... Wow!

—Justin Hammer to Ivan Vanko

Hammer had Ivan Vanko freed from prison and took him to his personal secret storage facility, in which the two of them forged an alliance. Hammer told Vanko that he had to build for him many armors so advanced that Iron Man's would become old news. Vanko agreed as long as Hammer arranged to have his pet bird flown in from Russia.

As they toured the Hammer Industries facility, Vanko examined the prototype suits, pulling the head off one to examine the inside, much to Hammer's horror when he considered the cost of the prototype. Vanko then hacked into the facilities' security systems with little effort and called it shit. Over the next few days Vanko worked tirelessly on designing the new suits, as a reward Hammer brought in a bird, claiming it to be Vanko's own from Russia. Vanko told him that building armors was not the best choice, and convinced him that drones were better. Hammer believed Vanko's claims, but he did not realize that Vanko was making them for his own purposes.

Upgrading War Machine

I'll take it."
"Which one?"
"All of it.

—James Rhodes and Justin Hammer

General Meade of the United States Air Force, who had received one of Stark's armors from James Rhodes, summoned Hammer to Edwards Air Force Base to improve and weaponize the suit. Hammer weaponized the armor with the best of the weapons produced by Hammer Industries, creating War Machine, who would introduce the Hammer Drones at the Stark Expo. Disappointed for having the drones not working at the Expo, which Vanko told him, Hammer had two guards keep an eye on him for not keeping to their arrangement.

Betrayed by Vanko

Слишком много говоришь"
"I don't know if you know this, but I don't speak Russian! Now I'm gonna go to the Expo, maybe you can watch me on TV, maybe I'll get laid.

—Ivan Vanko and Justin Hammer

While playing a round of golf with Senator Stern, Hammer called Vanko for an update on the design of the new Hammer Drones, wanting to know what they would be capable of doing at the Stark Expo presentation. Vanko informed him that he would only be able to make the drones salute and not fire their weapons.

Furious about having been lied to, Hammer stormed into Ivan Vanko's room and confronted him with two security guards. Hammer ordered his men to take Vanko's bird, shoes and pillow away from him to demonstrate how it felt to have things stolen from you. Hammer then told Vanko that he was now heading to the Stark Expo to demonstrate the Hammer Drones and a new project as well. Hammer then left Vanko with his guards to watch over him.

Battle at Stark Expo

Where's Vanko?"
"Who?"
"Tell me!"
"What are you doing here man?!

—Tony Stark and Justin Hammer

At the Expo, after a brief and goofy introduction where confidently he danced on stage to music, trying to one-up Stark's presentation a few months earlier, Hammer presented his drones and the War Machine armor, each drone representing a different branch of the military; the drones saluted just as Vanko had promised.

The demonstration was interrupted by Iron Man, who has discovered that Hammer was working with Ivan Vanko. Hammer initally tried to play off the situation and nervously deny knowledge of Vanko's survival, but Vanko remotely took control of the Hammer Drones and of War Machine's armor, starting a massive attack on the Expo. As the attack started Hammer dived to safety off the stage as his drones fired upon the audience.

Arrest

I'll get my revenge on you, someday!

—Justin Hammer to Pepper Potts

Hammer tried to have his technicians regain control of the drones, but was halted by Pepper Potts and Natasha Romanoff, the latter of whom forced him to reveal Vanko's location by slamming his head onto the table and twisting his arm. Pepper in turn called the police and had him arrested for his complicity with Ivan Vanko. As he was taken away, Hammer assured her that this was no problem for him and he would be back.

Life in Prison

Look at this guy. What is so special about him? I mean, I had an army of robots. What's he got? He's got some dumb accent. His name's Trevor. What is that? It's like if Bin Laden and Benny Hill had a baby.

—Justin Hammer talking about Trevor Slattery

Justin Hammer was sent to Seagate Prison after being arrested at the Stark Expo. He had apparently developed a relationship with a much younger man. While being interviewed for a documentary, Hammer stated that he resented Trevor Slattery and felt that he should be more recognized. During the interview, his partner made a gesture to him which he dismissed. At the same time, he was reading a Forbes magazine with Pepper Potts featured on the cover.

Crimson Cowl

After Baron Zemo broke him out of prison, he created a mechanical cloak to be a fit member of the Masters of Evil.

Personality

Justin Hammer is a rival businessmen of Iron Man and, just like Stark before his kidnapping, Hammer is a self-centred and arrogant person who doesn't care for virtually anyone beside himself. However as much as he might think it Tony Stark doesn't actually consider Hammer a threat and while his engineering skills are good they are nowhere near as good as Stark's which was shown during a presentation, Hammer was trying to replicate the Iron Man Armour which left the pilot severely injured but still survived.

After being humiliated by Tony once more, Hammer became obsessed over outshining Stark and even went as far to break out an attempted murderer from prison to help with his Arc Reactor Technology. When aggravated Hammer is not afraid of expressing his frustration to those who caused it, as he did with Ivan Vanko after him going back on their deal. He was not above selling somebody else's work as his own, as he did with War Machine and the Hammer Drones. Justin Hammer also shows a lack of his own original ideas and would rather rip-off someone else' which was shown when he created his own Iron Armoury and made an introduction to the Hammer Expo that attempted to out-shine Tony Stark's a few months ago.

Hammer has proven to be a capable engineer as he was able to create his Hammer Drones which shows a high IQ however he was also shown to be tricked wth ease as Ivan Vanko used Hammer Industries to create Whiplash Armour Mark II without him knowing.

Powers and Abilities

Powers

Strong financial empire that rivals Stark Industries allowing him to preform such dangerous maneuvers as breaking Ivan Vanko out of prison.

Abilities

Expert Engineer: Though Hammer is not of the same caliber as Tony Stark, he has created a number of weapons that has impressed the United States government, replacing Stark Industries when it stopped creating them. Among his inventions are the Aerodynamic Marvel, the Battle Tank, and the Ex-Wife Missile.
Expert Businessman: Hammer runs an industry that rivals Stark Industries and has government and military contracts. Hammer had hoped to use Ivan Vanko to create Arc Reactors for Hammer Industries when he saw the business opportunities that that technology provided.

Strength level

Unknown.

Weaknesses

Envious personality and hatred of Tony Stark makes him waste considerable resources and commit unethical acts simply to show up his rival, including prison breaks and rushed testing on Hammer designs that lead to implied deaths.
It seems the circuitry of the cowl can be disabled or overloaded by electrical attacks.

Paraphernalia

Equipment:

Crimson Cloak: The Crimson Cowl's cowl has a number of abilities including being able to stretch, expand to attack and grapple opponents by his mental command it seems even remotely. It also has circuitry within it that allows his to levitate and teleport seemingly anywhere on Earth since he has teleported from Colorado to Symkaria in a single port. When he teleports it creates an incredible burst of light to dazzle and distract his opponents. It seems the brightness of this light can be adjusted from a mild flash to nearly causing permanent damage to unprotected eyes.

Transportation: None known.
Weapons: Stockpiles of Hammer Product, but never used by him directly.

Notes

No special notes.

Trivia

No trivia.

Discover and Discuss

Search News for: Crimson Cowl · Justin Hammer · Justin Hammer (Earth-1010)

Links and References

None.