Post by andyman on Jan 20, 2007 19:33:34 GMT -5
 Annihilus | Untold years ago, voyagers from the world Tyanna in the Negative Zone, an other-dimensional universe made of anti-matter, set forth to seed the barren worlds of the Zone with living organisms that they had bio-engineered in the form of spores. One of the Tyannan ships crashed on the barren volcanic planet Arthros, and the dying voyagers released all of their life spores as their final act. One of the spores grew into an insectoid being who possessed great intelligence through mutation. This being, who would become known as Annihilus, discovered the Tyannan starship and found within it a knowledge-transference helmet. Annihilus used the helmet to learn the history and the accumulated knowledge of the Tyannans. Using that knowledge, Annihilus increased his strength and intelligence and created the Cosmic Control Rod from the canisters that held the life spores and the technology of the starship. The Cosmic Control Rod not only enabled Annihilus to wield great power, but also extended his life span indefinitely as long as he possessed it. Annihilus used his newly acquired power to become the master of the other life forms that had risen on Arthros from the spores, and soon he set forth to conquer the neighbouring worlds in the Negative Zone. |
 Beetle | Abner Jenkins was a master mechanic at an airplane-parts factory. He became bored with his job and tried to interest the company in a set of plans for some hydraulic technology he created. Unfortunately he was rebuffed and he used his plans to build his first set of Beetle armour, he turned to crime in the hopes of winning fame, wealth and thrills that were denied to him at work. |
 Doctor Octopus | Otto Octavius was a brilliant mild-mannered atomic researcher who designed and constructed a chest harness to which four artificial tentacle-like arms were attached to enable him to manipulate radioactive substances from a safe distance. Because of his invention Octavius was nicknamed Doctor Octopus. In a freak laboratory accident, volatile radioactive organic liquids exploded, bombarding the scientist with radiation. The accident bonded his harness to his skin and nervous system. Octavius received brain damage in the accident, causing him to become criminally insane. Octavius has sought to amass wealth and power through various criminal activities, and has formed gangs with which he has attempted to dominate crime in New York City. |
 Firebrand | Gary Gilbert was the son of an unscrupulous businessman and abusive father. In retaliation, Gilbert and his sister Roxanne became political activists against what they believed were unjust businesses. Gilbert was soon banished from his family home and his sister soon followed of her own volition. Gilbert became increasingly radical and believed only a violent revolution to overthrow the existing American government and capitalist system was necessary. Gilbert used his talents in physics and invention along with training classes offered by Stark Industries to create the weapons and costume of Firebrand. |
 Fixer | Norbert Ebersol was a child prodigy whose engineering abilities were evident from an early age. He became disillusioned with society for judging him on his looks and personality rather than his intellect and skill. He dropped out of high school due to boredom and drifted from job to job, often fired by employers because of his unorthodox methods and superior attitude. Desperate for real challenges and a lifestyle that rewarded ability rather than conformity, Ebersol turned to crime as The Fixer. |
 Radioactive Man | Dr. Chen Lu was a respected nuclear physicist for the People's Republic of China. After the thunder god Thor thwarted a Chinese military incursion into India, the Chinese government called upon its scientists and military strategists for a way to retaliate against Thor. Chen Lu had already been experimenting for several years with a way of harnessing nuclear radioactivity to induce superhuman powers in human beings. Chen Lu, concealing his own aspirations of world conquest, volunteered to become China's human weapon against Thor. Having already spent months immunizing himself against the harmful effects of radiation, Chen Lu exposed himself to massive doses of specific-particle radiation, thereby mutating his body. After impressing his superiors with a demonstration of the new superhuman powers he had gained, Chen Lu, calling himself the Radioactive Man, traveled to New York City to challenge Thor. |
 Scorpion | MacDonald Gargan, a private investigator, was hired by Daily Bugle publisher J. Jonah Jameson to follow Peter Parker to find out how Parker managed to photograph the activities of the hero Spider-Man. While Gargan was on the case, a press release came to Jameson's attention that a scientist named Dr. Farley Stillwell who had developed a means to mutagenically endow animals with various uncharacteristic features. At the time of the press release, Stillwell's experiments had given a rat gills and a fish lungs. Jameson called in Gargan and arranged for them to meet with Stillwell. He offered Stillwell $10,000 to develop a way to give a person superhuman abilities that could defeat Spider-Man. He also offered $10,000 to Gargan to undergo whatever treatments would be involved. Stillwell needed the money to further his research, so he accepted Jameson's offer. Gargan, intrigued, also accepted. Stillwell then put Gargan through a battery of chemical and radiological treatments to give him superhuman powers. Equipped with a special costume and a cybernetically controlled mechanical tail designed by the Tinkerer Gargan went on to battle Spider-Man and other heroes in the marvel universe. |
 White Rabbit | Apparently, the woman who would grow up to be the White Rabbit fell in love with Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. Although she lacked nothing, she nonetheless craved the life of danger, excitement, and mayhem. Years passed, and the woman was married to an elderly man, a "perfect bore" who was nonetheless a multi-millionaire. When the man finally died, his wife inherited his money and decided to fulfill her cravings for excitement by becoming a super-villain inspired by her love of Wonderland. As the White Rabbit, she made her first appearance as the leader of a small gang, engaging in a crime spree through New York City. |
