Stealing Reed Richards' patented DNA research and artificial life form designs, the Mad Thinker spliced unstable molecules into the DNA patterns of an ape to construct the Awesome Android. This android battled the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, Iron Man (Tony Stark), and the Spaceknight ROM on the Thinker's behalf, meeting defeat each time. Disgusted, the Thinker ordered the android to remain out of his sight. The android deactivated in a Mayfield, Ohio barn, briefly fighting Captain America upon discovery until revealing that it would shut down if left alone.

Eventually reprogrammed by the synthetic Super-Adaptoid, which had the copied the Fixer's technological skill, it fought Avengers solo and with the Heavy Metal robot team before being decapitated by Namor. The Android's body was placed in a special containment facility in Fort Meade, Maryland. Some time later, the Android was sent by Machinesmith to distract the reserve Avengers while other synthetic villains escaped confinement. It was neutralized by Captain Marvel (Monica Rambeau) and Firebird.

The Thinker eventually reclaimed the Android and sent it to kidnap Franklin Richards, whose parents were stranded on an alternate Earth. The Thunderbolts prevented the abduction, defeating the Android and a robotic Thinker replica. The Android was placed as an exhibit on the convention floor (as back-up in the Thinker and Red Skull's plot to enslave the Avengers with microbial nanites) at San Diego's Comic-Con International, but the Fantastic Four foiled the villains' plans. The Gideon Trust later used the Android as a security device in their New York City headquarters, the Gideon Tower, where it battled Human Torch (Johnny Storm), She-Hulk (Jen Walters), Namorita, and Ant-Man (Scott Lang).

Somehow the Android developed sentience, and the New York law firm of Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg, & Holliway emancipated it from Thinker, got it American citizenship, and hired it. Nicknamed "Awesome Andy," it moved into the Excelsior apartments with Ditto, the firm's shape-shifting process server. When a robotic Thinker replica orchestrated a breakout at the experimental super-villain prison the Big House, Andy rejected his former master's orders and turned on him. Most recently, when Titania (Mary MacPherran) attacked the law firm, Andy intervened and was decapitated. Repaired by Mr. Fantastic, Andy returned to work but cut ties with Ditto, whose cowardice had helped make Titania's assault possible.