DIEHARD II

Real Name: Classified / Prototype Unit-7

Current Alias: Diehard II

Identity: Classified

Alignment: Neutral / Lawful Neutral

Affiliation: Youngblood (Home Team); formerly The Allies (Memory Imprint)

Overview

Diehard II is the specialized, high-performance successor to the original Calvin Raines cybernetic model. While the first Diehard struggled to balance his fading humanity with his mechanical augmentations, Diehard II was designed specifically to prioritize tactical efficiency and cold, calculated combat execution. Built during a period when the original Diehard was considered physically or mentally compromised, the “Mark II” unit represents the extreme transition from “man-machine” to “pure machine” within the Youngblood initiative.

Origin

The Diehard II unit was commissioned by the United States government as a “Classified Combat Model.” Unlike his predecessor, who was a biological man heavily augmented by technology, Diehard II is essentially a synthetic shell programmed with a “Classified Memory Imprint” of Calvin Raines’ combat experiences. This was done to ensure that the team did not lose its most experienced tactical asset while eliminating the “emotional instability” that had begun to plague the original operative.

Creation

Diehard II was developed by Extreme Studios (Rob Liefeld) during the mid-90s “Extreme Prejudice” era of Image Comics. The character was designed to emphasize a more aggressive, industrial aesthetic—featuring sharper edges, more visible weaponry, and a distinct lack of the “human skin” textures that characterized earlier versions of the character.

Character Evolution

Diehard II’s tenure on the Home Team was marked by a chilling level of professionalism that often unsettled his teammates, particularly Shaft and Badrock. While the original Diehard would occasionally show mercy or emotional distress, the Mark II was a literal “killing machine” that followed government orders to the letter.

Eventually, as the original Calvin Raines’ consciousness was recovered or restored to new bodies (including his eventual rise to the Presidency), the Diehard II model was archived as a “failsafe” unit. It remains one of the most polarizing figures in the program’s history—a reminder of the government’s willingness to replace its heroes with more compliant, mechanical versions.

Powers and Abilities

Optimized Cyber-Physiology: Diehard II’s chassis is constructed from high-grade carbon-fiber and titanium alloys, granting him physical strength that exceeds the original model’s Class 100 limit.
Emotionless Tactical Processing: Lacking a biological amygdala, he is immune to fear, panic, and psychological warfare. He processes battlefield data at millisecond speeds.
Modular Weapon Systems: The Mark II design features integrated plasma casters in the forearms and a shoulder-mounted tracking array for “Fire-and-Forget” missile deployment.
Redundant Core Systems: He is equipped with multiple backup power cells and a “Self-Repair Nanite Protocol” that allows him to function even after taking catastrophic structural damage.
Flight: High-output thrusters located in the boots and backplate allow for supersonic flight and high-altitude combat maneuvers.

Vital Statistics

Property	Detail
Height	6′ 5″
Weight	350 lbs. (Heavy Chassis)
Eyes	Red (Sensor Glow)
Hair	None
Status	Archived / Failsafe Prototype