- "You're not gonna kill me."
"Is that right?"
"Yeah, I know people. I'm an analyst. It's my job." - ―Micro and Frank Castle[src]
David Linus Lieberman is a former National Security Agency analyst and a former member of the Rising Tide who operates under the name Micro. A legendary hacker, Micro faked his own death to hide from his former agency and continue his work of exposure of the government's secret affairs. Seeking to return to his life, Micro recruited Frank Castle under the promise that they had mutual enemies.
Micro helped Castle discover the conspiracy which had led to the Massacre of his family, eventually learning that Castle was also betrayed and William Rawlins was responsible. As they closed in with their plans, Micro's own family was threatened by Rawlins and Billy Russo, forcing Micro out of the shadows as he and Castle managed to trick their enemies and finally kill them all, which allowed Lieberman to return to his old life with his family.
Biography
Early Life
- "Junior year. I'm taking History of the French Novel. Sarah's in my class. Now, you gotta remember, I'm a bit of a player at this point in my life. But for some reason, Sarah's just aloof. For me, no way. Unapproachable."
- ―Micro to Frank Castle[src]
As a child, David Lieberman wanted to be a vet. He set up an improvised veterinarian in his grandmother's basement and treated some birds, cats and squirrels in his neighnorhood. Later, he discovered computers and understood that it was his calling.[1]
During his junior year in college, David Lieberman took History of the French Novel. He was in the same class with woman named Sarah. Lieberman attempted to flirt with her, however, Sarah was unapproachable for him.
One night, Lieberman wear a Popsicle costume and came to costume party where he met Sarah again. All at the party was drunk, especially her. They get to talking and Sarah said that she wouldn't pay any attention to him just because she was shy. They got back to her place and both waiting for the other one to make the move. During several hours, Sarah and David talked and ate toast. At 5:00, Sarah finally kissed him and, according David, they had been together ever since. Several years later, they married and had children, Zach and Leo Lieberman.
According to Sarah, every Sunday night, Lieberman used to grab her car keys and disappered for 20 minutes to fill car tank. He knew that his wife hated going to the gas station and took care of it.[2]
MICRO
- "One of my sources, this guy Micro, he's kind of a crime-scene junkie. He came across something."
- ―Skye to Phil Coulson[src]
Having taken nickname "Micro", Lieberman became a legendary hacker and a member of hacktivist group Rising Tide. He was contacted by Skye who tried to decrypt the unknown symbols and asked another hackers for help. Lieberman recieved information about a murder in Rhinebeck, New York, where killer carved the similar symbols into the victim's corpse and alerted Skye.[3]
NSA Analyst
- "I was a, uh, NSA analyst. I was working on Afghanistan intelligence, which, uh... Maybe you know it's just an oxymoron because, uh our basic tactic is to pay anyone we can to tell tales. You know? "Hey, kid. Tell me a story, I'll give you some money". So they did, you know? And my job was to assess this shit pile for, uh, actionable intelligence. It was a monumental waste of my time. Till one day, uh, they sent me something interesting."
- ―Micro to Frank Castle[src]
For his hacking skills, Lieberman was eventually employeed by National Security Agency as an analyst. He was tasked to work on Afghanistan intelligence to assess recieved data in order to find anything useful. During five years, most of them was very irrelevant except strange video footage received from anonymous soldier. On the footage was recorded interrogation, torture and execution of Afghan policeman Ahmad Zubair, orchestrated by unknown miliraty squad.
At his his family's home, David and Sarah discussed about disk. Sarah asked why it was sent to him, to which he replied that this is his job as analyst and he can finally can do his job for the first time in five years. Sarah said that he should give it to his section chief and pass it up the line of command. Lieberman decided not to go around the chain of command and re-sent footage to Homeland Security agent Dinah Madani.[4]
First "Death"
Lieberman is confronted by Carson Wolf
- "Cell phone saved my life. I went underground. They, uh, rewrote the narrative. Planted evidence, painted me as a traitor. Picked my life apart. Made life hell for Sarah. For our kids."
- ―Micro to Frank Castle[src]
After it was revealed that it was David who was leaking the information on Kandahar, the Homeland Security sent out a hit squad lead by William Rawlins' ally Carson Wolf hit squad approaching behind him.
Meanwhile, Lieberman family drove through the city and were stick in traffic. He got out of the car and began to flee until he was corned on a pier. Wolf claim he had a gun and shot him in front of Sarah. He fell back into the river and the agents thought they killed him. However, it is revealed that it was his phone that saved him. Lieberman hid at the abandoned location, while Homeland deemed his as a traitor.[4]
Lieberman went off the grid and hid at the abandoned power station. He set up a big computer framework at his hideout and learned about Lieutenant Frank Castle who was involved in conspiracy what had him killed. He visited his former house and left disk with footage of Zubair's murder into his military platoon.[5]
Interacting with Castle
Micro finding the Punisher on a CTV camera
For a several months, Micro hacked various agencies, companies and police departments, to extract any useful information. Following massacre of Gnucci Crime Family, Micro learned that the Punisher involved, watched through nearby surveillance cameras. He then erased all footages from cameras and decided to contact with the Punisher.[6]
Micro speaks with Frank Castle on the phone
Micro waited atop Graniteville Diner and phoned the Punisher through the landline. The two conversed briefly about the Punisher's whereabouts and telling him that he needed him. After the Punisher left the diner and tried to locate Micro, he discovered a gift of a cellphone for communication. Returning to his hideout, he watched his family from the cameras in their home.
Micro finds Frank Castle talking with his wife
Later, to his horror, Micro saw the Punisher who talked with his wife in front of house. Afraid, that the Punisher could harm his family in order to find him, Micro took his car to arrive to the house, arming himself with a handgun. Outside of the house, Micro made a call to the Punisher but no response was received. Being nervous, he decided to came to the house but changed his mind when saw the Punisher and unharmed Sarah who left the house. Before they could see him, Micro drove away from the house and returned to the hideout. He reversed all footages from the cameras to make sure that the Punisher did not touch his wife.
He attempted to track the Punisher down again but failed, because he shaved his beard and change his walk and surveillance cameras didn't recognized him. Later, while the Punisher visited Pete's Diner, Micro called him again and the Punisher responded. While they talked, Micro prepared himself to leave and met the Punisher personally. The Punisher blamed him for putting his family in danger and informed him that Carson Wolf told him everything he needed, before the Punisher had killed him.
The Punisher arranged a meeting and explained that Micro need to move from the one location to another in order to make sure that he was not followed. Micro followed the Punisher's directions and the last was the Mount Zion Cemetery where he was "buried" after his fake death. Waiting nearby to his grave, Micro noted Curtis Hoyle who was coming to his direction and pointed his gun at him. Hoyle informed Micro that the Punisher held him at the gunpoint and if Micro shoot him, he would be the next. When Micro asked where is the Punisher, Hoyle said that he decided not to coming up and noted that if Micro try to find the Punisher again, he will visit his wife. Then Hoyle left Micro and he decided to return to the hideout.
Micro bound to the chair by Frank Castle
At the hideout, Micro placed his gun back underneath the desk and sat in his chair, unsure what to do. However, he soon met eyes with a living Punisher, whom hid in the Micro's car trunk while Hoyle distracted him. Before he could say more, Micro was knocked unconscious, stripped down of all of his clothes, and bound to the chair by the Punisher.[7]
Interrogation
- "You could have ended it all that night. You didn't, and then they killed your family. You have to live with that. But this war that you're waging, I mean, come on. That's the US military. That is the CIA. You just got rolled over by one spook zip-tied to an office chair, here. I mean, I thought I needed you, but you need me just as bad."
- ―Micro to Frank Castle[src]
During the torturous interrogation, the monitors had a set countdown. Initially, Lieberman warned Frank Castle that the countdown led to a delayed bomb explosion, informing him that if he did not input a password, they would both die. Castle then allowed Lieberman to reset the countdown and dragged him to computers. However, Lieberman forgot about his gun under table and Castle found it. Lieberman managed to calm him and then he reseted the countdown and Castle demanded to disabke it but Lieberman informed that he can't because the system is hardwired.
Micro being interrogated by the Punisher
Castle then tied him again and Lieberman told him about his NSA service and attempt to assassinate him, executed by Carson Wolf. Later, Lieberman slept but Castle woke him up with a bucket of water. Castle doubted that Lieberman survived alone and asked him who is going to help him. Lieberman then said that he survived for the same reason that Castle survived and tried to covince him that he was not Castle's enemy what Castle seemingly ignored.
Later, countdown appeared again but Castle noted that he did not found any exposives in hideout. Lieberman then informed him about cameras at the place and if Lieberman did not reset the countdown, footage will be sent to various media outlets and world will knows that Castle is alive. Castle allowed Lieberman to reset the system again while Lieberman explained that he did it to make sure that his family will learn about it if Lieberman dies here. Lieberman then noted that deaths of Castle's family was not his fault and reminded him about execution of Ahmad Zubair.
Lieberman then congradulated Castle for his birthday and asked him to сut him loose once again, noting that sooner or later, Castle have to bring Lieberman something to eat or drink, or kill him. Before he answered, system activated again and Castle brought Lieberman to reset it. However, he used needle in his pen and when Castle tied him again, Lieberman inkected him with heroin what makes him lose consciousness.
Micro asking Castle for help
While Castle slept, Lieberman freed himself and disabled the system. Castle then woke up and Lieberman explained that Operation Cerberus which Castle involved was bigger that he thought and had a ties in United States Armed Forces and CIA, and all of it was actually made his family killed. Lieberman then showed Castle all his data about everything what was connected with conspiracy, and noted that operation was unsanctioned by United States Congress and military turned Castle into a hitman. Then, Lieberman noted that they do not need to trust each other but need to work together. Castle then said about his only condition - he will kill all of them, and Lieberman said that he don't mind if Castle want to.[4]
Guidance System
Weaponry Resupply
To be added
Key Witness
To be added
Target: Morty Bennett
To be added
Interaction with Dinah Madani
- "I'm here because I hope I'm right and you're not one of 'em. I can give you the names of everyone involved in Kandahar. The CIA operation was off the books. It was, uh, totally illegal. The heroin was funding. Your guy Zubair, he caught wind of it, and, uh, they painted him as a terrorist, pulled him from his house, executed him."
"And you can prove all this?"
"I still have the video files. But you need Frank." - ―Micro and Dinah Madani[src]
Micro sat next to Madani while she had a drink at a bar and offered her another. He is dismissed by Madani as another random guy until Lieberman asked her about her condition since Stein's death; Lieberman then revealed a gun to her, identifying himself as Micro, the hacker who sent her Zubair's execution video. He revealed that he can provide her more names of those involved in Kandahar, including William Rawlins. When she pressed him to continue, he told her that she needs Castle's testimony, as he was present during the torture. However, only a few minutes later, the two watched, as the news reported on Castle, whom was identified through dashcam footage and called him the terrorist behind Senator Ori's attempted assassination.[2] To be added
Reunion with Daughter
To be added
Official Testimony
- "My priority is my family. My wife. My son. You help me get 'em back, I'll give you what you want."
"Yeah, what do I want?"
"You want evidence proving William Rawlins killed Ahmad Zubair. You want a video. A video that I already sent you, which you carelessly managed to lose. A video that already got me killed once. [...] In the end. I want my family safe. Help me get them back, and I'll give you everything you need. Not before." - ―Micro and Dinah Madani[src]
To be added
Second "Death"
- "Nothing about this looks good. Sarah and Zach?"
"They're doing okay, all things considered."
"You mean considering they just saw me die?"
"Hey, this was your idea. We told them you were okay as soon as we got them out of there." - ―Micro and Dinah Madani[src]
To be added
Return to Family Life
Goodbyes with Frank Castle
To be added
Personality
To be added
Abilities
- Master Hacker: Micro is a highly skilled hacker and one of the members of the Rising Tide hacktivist group. He was able to aid Frank Castle throughout their respective endeavors in clearing their identities and has kept surveillance over his family in his Micro's Hideout.
- Tactician: Micro has used his hacking ability as well as his knowledge of some technological gadgets to strategize thought-out plans while working alongside Frank Castle. He has also constructed and executed a "fake-death" plan with Dinah Madani, so that he could be reunited with his family.
- Multilingualism: Micro is capable of fluently speaking his native English, and he knows some Greek and Latin.
Equipment
Weapons
- SIG-Sauer P250 Compact: Lieberman kept this handgun in his hideout in order to protect himself, and began to carry it while trying to contact with Frank Castle. Lieberman pulled the gun when Curtis Hoyle startled him, but returned to the hideout as Castle had planned, and placed the handgun in its hidden holster before Castle revealed himself. Castle subsequently took it from there, but returned it when both of them became partners, noting that the gun had not been properly maintained. Lieberman subsequently carried it whenever he left the hideout and believed he should need, especially when he went to meet Dinah Madani behind Castle's back, intimidating her with the gun in order to make her listen to him.
Other Equipment
- Micro's Drone: During their search for Gunner Henderson, Micro made use of a multi spectrum aerial drone to survey the wooded areas where he and Frank Castle were located, especially when soldiers were confronting them. He would later use this same drone to aid Castle into infiltrating and escaping Fort Bryon.
- Cellphone: Micro tends to utilize the use of cellular devices to communicate with Castle.
Facilities
- Lieberman Residence: To be added
- Micro's Hideout: To be added
- Homeland Security Headquarters: To be added
Relationships
Family
Allies
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Enemies
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Appearances
| Appearances for David Lieberman |
|---|
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In chronological order:
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Trivia
- In the comics, David Lieberman, also called Microchip, was the hacker and armorer of the Punisher who allied with him after his nephew was killed by Kingpin's men for hacking into Kingpin's computers. Microchip later became Punisher's enemy following their final falling out.
- His password for his computer is "Zach@ndLeo" the names of his children.[4]
- Lieberman's blood type is O-, as he claimed to be a "universal donor."[8]
Behind the Scenes
- James Newman was a stunt double for Ebon Moss-Bachrach in the role of Micro.
- Micro in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is the second live-action incarnation of the character, following an incarnation portrayed by Wayne Knight.
- The Marvel Cinematic Universe's version of Micro is partially based on Edward Snowden, a former member of the CIA and NSA's consultant, who fled from the United States after he exposed of many global surveillance programs of the agency.
- Michael Nathanson originally auditioned for the role of Micro.[9]
References
- ↑ The Punisher: 1.11: Danger Close
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Punisher: 1.08: Cold Steel Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "TP109" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.07: The Writing on the Wall
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 The Punisher: 1.03: Kandahar
- ↑ Daredevil: 2.13: A Cold Day in Hell's Kitchen
- ↑ The Punisher: 1.01: 3 AM
- ↑ The Punisher: 1.02: Two Dead Men
- ↑ The Punisher: 1.06: The Judas Goat
- ↑ [1]
