Byte of the Binary Bug!

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Crime doesn't pay, but insurance does.
Byte of the Binary Bug!
Publisher Marvel Comics
Published in The Transformers issue 1
issue 2
issue 3
First published 20th September, 1984 (part 1)
4th October, 1984 (part 2)
18th October, 1984 (part 3)
Script Marv Wolfman
Art Steve Ditko
Colours Michele W.
Letters John Costanza
Edits Marv Wolfman
Consultant Jim Shooter

Machine Man investigates a spate of burglaries affecting New York's wealthiest residents, while, during the day, Aaron navigates the experience of office life.

Synopsis

Part 1

A dark cloud drifts across the New York City skyline, and from it emerges the Binary Bug, who lands his jetpack on the roof of a luxury apartment building. Using various devices, the Binary Bug infiltrates the high-security premises while avoiding all but one of its theft prevention measures. The burglar uses the computer on board his craft, still positioned on the roof, to crack the combination of the electronic safe of Byron J. Benjamin, millionaire of note, but he is caught red-handed with Benjamin's paperwork by security guards Harry and Frank. The Binary Bug blinds them with a smokescreen and disarms them by shocking their hands with electricity.

Meanwhile, Peter Spaulding and his friend Machine Man are in the lobby, early for a meeting with Benjamin. Peter is disturbed by the lack of security guards, and Aaron notices the alarm, using his computer powers to cancel the gravity equation and propel himself up the stairwell. He catches the Binary Bug, but the thief is prepared for him, clamping him with a techno-breaker designed to scramble any machinery. Peter catches up, but is electric shocked by the Bug, who makes good his escape.

Peter struggles to his feet and unhooks the device from Machine Man. Byron J. Benjamin walks in on them, and is shocked to hear of the robbery – or attempted robbery, as Aaron reveals that he prevented the theft of Benjamin's bonds, worth millions. Peter and Aaron explain that the purpose of their meeting was to ask Benjamin to hire Aaron to his company, as part of Aaron's mission to learn to live among humans. Perplexed but grateful, Benjamin accepts.

Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., Senator Miles Brickman rips up a poster from the Committee to Destroy Machine Man, which have been exhibited nationwide. He explains to his goons that it was his campaign of hatred against Machine Man that got him elected into the senate, and these upstarts are jeopardising his political career – and his eventual bid for the presidency. He dispatches the two goons to discover the origins of these posters, promising that they'd better not fail him...

Part 2

The following day, Peter has Aaron fitted for a suit, and with the addition of a toupee and dark glasses, his human disguise is complete. Benjamin shows him around the office at Delmar Insurance, where he is to replace an investigator, Rambo, that was recently let go. Gilroy interrupts to hand Benjamin the James Anderson policy, and they discuss how the client should beef up his security measures. Benjamin asks Aaron to run the policy down to Compucord, the company's computerised records room.

In a small loft on the Lower West Side, the Binary Bug suits up, ready for a second score, but not before a late night visit to Delmar. Once again hacking into the building from high up, the Binary Bug navigates through the office to Compucord, where he steals information on the company's clients.

Outside a Midtown movie house, Peter and Aaron discuss the human need for leisure, when Aaron notices the bizarre flight pattern of a grey cloud – the grey cloud that cloaks the Binary Bug's craft from view.

The Binary Bug flies to the Anderson estate in Westchester, where a party is being thrown celebrating Anderson's youngest daughter's birthday. At first, the guests think the Binary Bug is a hired attraction, but they realise the truth as he begins stealing belongings from the manor and guests. Subduing Anderson and his small security detail, the Bug gleefully collects Anderson's rare paintings, and makes for his two million dollars' worth of diamonds.

The next day, at Delmar, Byron J. Benjamin is in complete disbelief – this is the third time in three weeks that a Delmar-insured client has been robbed, with the sum value of stolen goods totalling around seven million dollars. Aaron notes that it can't be a coincidence that Benjamin's apartment was broken into – someone with a grudge must be targeting Delmar clients in order to bankrupt the company.

After the meeting adjourns, Aaron is approached by an amorous co-worker, Maggie Jones, who invites him over for cocktails "and, well... whatever", but she is affronted when Aaron shows no interest. The local wiseguy, Eddie Harris, congratulates Aaron on handling Maggie, but his slap on the back produces a metallic thunk. Aaron brusquely dismisses him.

At his new Park Avenue Penthouse bought with dirty money, an unmasked Binary Bug looks over his stolen valuables, vowing that Benjamin will suffer for firing him from the company!

Part 3

Joseph Rambo – removed from Delmar after being discovered tampering with their computer records and stealing from their clients, he promised to destroy the company, and with a little technology from the Tinkerer, he set himself up as the Binary Bug! Now, he contemplates one last score – a dangerous one, but one that will guarantee Delmar's destruction!

Machine Man begins his investigation in earnest: firstly, he communes with Compucord, getting the low-down on Delmar's clients and personnel; then, he heads to Rambo's Lower West Side loft, learning through interrogating Calvin C. Bryer that Rambo has moved up in the world; and lastly, in Rambo's new apartment, he analyses all of the crook's notes, finally learning the Binary Bug's next target is Delmar's richest client...

Xanadu – an airship stronghold and home to the elusive crime lord known only as Khan. Currently in a "business" meeting with Mr Gianelli, Khan is interrupted cutting the gangster out of the profits by the arrival of the Binary Bug. The Bug disarms Gianelli, and threatens Khan to hand over his ten million dollars worth of insured valuables.

Machine Man arrives on the scene, and the Binary Bug blinds him with a smokescreen long enough to destabilise his balance with a sonic blaster. Knowing that Khan's unconscious guards will soon come to, the Binary Bug makes his escape, but as he flies from the dirigible, he reflects that it felt like Khan had had the upper hand.

Having somehow shaken off the effects of the sonic blaster, Machine Man pursues the Binary Bug, who turns to fire missiles at the android – and, not listening to Machine Man's warnings, the Binary Bug crashes into a power line, filling the air with a blood-curdling scream. Aaron laments on the waste of human life.

On Xanadu, Khan talks with Gianelli on the apparent fate that keeps Machine Man and himself intertwined. A few days ago, he endangered Machine Man by creating an earthquake, and is amused that in turn, Machine Man rescued him from the Binary Bug. He declares that he wants Machine Man to serve his will – and what Khan wants, he always gets!

Featured characters

Regular cast Antagonists Incidentals

Delmar Insurance

Quotes

"[You're] the one the papers call Machine Man."
"I prefer Aaron."

—Benjamin and Machi— er, Aaron.


"Row after row of desks. Everything is the same. Small cubicles, all without individuality. I came here to learn about people and their differences. This seems rather dehumanizing to me."

—Aaron doesn't think much of the office.


Maggie: "Sayyy, who's Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome?"
Co-worker: "His name's Aaron Stack. Hired as an investigator Monday... to replace Rambo."
Maggie: "Mmmm, I wouldn't mind investigating him!"


"So you're safe for now, Khan... but only for now. I'll be back."
"I trust you will. And trust that Khan shall be waiting for you."

—The Binary Bug tries to threaten Khan.

Notes

Byte of the Binary Bug! on Marvel Database, an external wiki

Original printing

  • Machine Man (vol 1) issue 11, July 1979

Edits

  • The first page of part 1 re-letters "somber" to "sombre" and "gray" to "grey" (the latter again on page 5), and even Michele W.'s credit from "colors" to "colours".
  • Pages 3-5 of part 2 are printed in black and white.
  • On the first page of part 2, "colored" is re-lettered to "coloured". The second and fifth pages change "favor" to "favour". The third and fourth pages again change "gray" to "grey", and on page 3, "mold" is changed to "mould".
  • Pages 3 and 4 of part 3 are printed in black and white.
  • On the first page of part 3, "meager" is changed to "meagre".
  • A footnote on the final page of the original issue notes that Khan's attempt at destroying Machine Man by earthquake occurred in the previous issue.  Since the majority of that story wasn't printed in TFUK – excepting the three pages used for "Introducing Machine Man" – the footnote is removed.

Artwork and technical errors

  • Page 3 of part 1 has a panel in which Machine Man is coloured in the lilac of his undershirt rather than maroon of his regular suit.
  • The first page of part 2 changes "colored" to "coloured", but leaves "dehumanizing" with a Z in it.
  • Khan is misspelled as "Kahn" five times, at least twice in the same panel as it being spelled correctly!
  • Page 4 of part 3 again leaves a Z in "stablizers", which is on top of the word being misspelled in the first place.

Continuity errors

  • It's only an error in retrospect, but: Aaron coldly refers to Eddie by his full name, "Mr. Edward White", presumably in subtle retaliation for Eddie abbreviating his name to "Aarie". After Marv Wolfman hands the writing duties over to Tom DeFalco, Eddie's surname becomes "Harris" (beginning with "Kill Me or Cure Me").

Continuity notes

  • Under Kirby, Peter's surname was written as Spalding. Wolfman seems to have deliberately altered the spelling to Spaulding.
  • Benjamin is interrupted before managing to introduce Aaron to his vice president, Brock Jones. The two eventually meet in "Jolted by Jack O'Lantern!".
  • Khan is introduced here. He has a more central role in "Xanadu!"

Real-life references

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