Name

Aliases

Early Life[]

Karl Malus was born and raised in Mud Butte,South Dakota. From an early age, he displayed remarkable intelligence and a prodigious aptitude for science. However, his brilliance was coupled with a lack of empathy and a deeply ingrained sociopathic streak. Malus cared only for scientific advancement, showing no regard for ethics, morality, or the well-being of others.^[1] Thanks to his academic excellence, Malus earned a scholarship and attended theUniversity of California, Los Angeles, where he received a Bachelor of Science in biology. He later earned a Doctor of Medicine degree with a specialization in surgery, followed by a Master's degree in biochemistry.^[4] Malus was fascinated by the subject of superhuman powers since the first time he read a newspaper account of the superhero teamFantastic Four. Upon graduating with a degree in biology from theUniversity of California, Los Angeles, he applied to various institutions for a grant to study supernormal capacities in depth.^[5]

Institute for Supranormality Research[]

Unable to get any funding through legal means, Malus contacted certain wealthy investors active in theLos Angeles underworld. They set him up with a laboratory facility he immodestly called theInstitute for Supranormality Research, despite the fact that he comprised its entire staff. The underworld provided him with human test subjects to experiment upon, usually individuals the mob sought to liquidate. Malus hoped eventually to find an individual who already had superhuman powers he could study. In the course of research, Malus came up with a number of special toxins and other chemical-based weaponry which he sold to such Los Angeles criminals as theEnforcer.^[5]

Spider-Woman[]

Malus' first recorded encounter with a superhuman being occurred when the criminalFly sought out Malus to bolster his waning powers. Malus sent the Fly to steal some special equipment, but the theft led the Fly into battle withSpider-Woman. Malus then became determined to transfer the Spider-Woman's powers into the Fly. He lured her to his laboratory by stealing the comatose body of the Spider-Woman's then-partner, criminologistScott McDowell, who had been stricken by one of the Enforcer's toxic bullets. After the Spider-Woman defeated the Fly, Malus offered to resuscitate McDowell in exchange for lenient treatment. While reviving him, Malus injected McDowell with an extract of the Fly's blood, which days later caused McDowell's body to temporarily develop a certain amount of the Fly's superhuman powers.^[6] McDowell donned a costume Malus anonymously sent him and for several days wore it, calling himself the Hornet. Malus wanted McDowell to capture the Spider-Woman for study, but the ploy failed, and McDowell eventually returned to normal. About the same time,Jack Russell, unaware of Malus 's criminal connections, contacted Malus in hope of finding a chemical means to curb his rampages as a werewolf on the three nights of the full moon. Malus instead placed a control-collar device on him which enabled him to force the Werewolf to battle Spider-Woman. When Spider-Woman freed the Werewolf, he attacked Malus, wounding him.^[7]

Continued Experiments[]

While conducting augmentation experiments, Malus managed to restore the superhuman Daddy Longlegs to his original size. In doing so, Malus gained knowledge ofPym Particles, enabling him to manipulate size-altering technology. Soon after, Malus was approached by the criminalErik Josten, who sought to regain his lost strength. After extensive testing, Malus was not only able to restore Josten's strength but also used Pym Particles to endow him with the ability to grow in size. Josten adopted the alias Goliath. However, when Malus attempted to recruit him for criminal ventures, Goliath refused, deciding he no longer needed anyone’s help. Following Goliath's eventual defeat by theWest Coast Avengers, Malus lamented the failure as a wasted effort.^[8] Later, Malus was approached byAntonio Rodriguez, who was desperate to find a cure for his wifeBonita's paralysis. Malus agreed, but only on the condition that Antonio submit to experimentation himself. Using gene splicing techniques, Malus transformed Antonio into the monstrous Armadillo. Malus then ordered Armadillo to infiltrate Avengers Compound and retrieve Goliath. When Armadillo failed to secure the necessary Pym Particles and returned empty-handed, he unknowingly ledCaptain America to Malus laboratory. Malus threatened Bonita’s life to coerce Cap into surrendering, but Cap acted swiftly, hurling his shield and breaking Malus’ left arm. Malus was taken into custody.^[9]

Power Broker Inc.[]

While incarcerated, Malus was contacted byPower Broker, Inc., a company specialising in the creation of superhuman operatives-for-hire. In exchange for his freedom, Malus agreed to work for them. Power Broker Inc. supplied him and his team with a steady flow of test subjects, many of whom were professional wrestlers hoping to gain enough strength to compete in theUnlimited Class Wrestling Federation (UCWF). To ensure their long-term dependence, Malus administered a synthetic, highly addictive drug during the augmentation process. Clients were told that without regular doses they would die, when in reality they would suffer only extreme withdrawal. Wrestlers who kept up with their payments received continued access to the drug, securing Power Broker Inc.'s control over them. One such subject,Sharon Ventura, approached Malus in the hopes of gaining powers to join theGrapplers. Although she successfully underwent augmentation, she broke free before Malus could administer the addictive drug. Using her newfound strength, she escaped the facility, encountering several failed and mutated test subjects along the way.^[10]

During an investigation into the Power Broker's operations, Captain America infiltrated one of the clinics run by Malus, but was quickly overpowered by security. Malus attempted to kill him by placing him in the augmentation chamber, overloading his muscle growth in an attempt to make them burst. However, he was saved byD-Man, who then took Malus hostage.^[11] With Malus in custody, Cap forced him to give a tour of the facility. When agents from the Power Broker's "Sweatshop" arrived, Cap dragged Malus into the sewers to avoid capture. There, Malus revealed that failed augmentation test subjects had been dumped in the sewer system. The pair were attacked by the monstrous subjects, and Malus used the distraction to flee through a drainage pipe.^[12] Malus was soon recaptured by theNight Shift and compelled to assist them and Captain America in storming the Power Broker's headquarters.^[13] During the mission, Malus was forced to monitor D-Man's health after he suffered a heart attack. Following the raid, Malus was handed over to the authorities.^[14] Later, when the Power Broker was bedridden due to the effects of his own augmentation, Malus resumed operations under his employer's directive. He instructedBludgeon andMangler to abductVagabond, a woman who had once befriended the Power Broker. Malus fitted her with an explosive bracelet and forced her to obtain the Power Broker’s fingerprints using an epidermold, hoping to access his employer’s secure vault. After complying, Vagabond demanded Malus remove the bracelet in private. There, she overpowered him, destroyed the mold, and contactedU.S. Agent, who arrested Malus and his operatives.^[15]

Malus next resurfaced working independently, sending his superhuman enforcers, thePower Tools, to abductMadcap for experimentation. He also expressed interest in studyingDaredevil. Instead,Hawkeye responded to the situation, freeing Madcap and defeating the Power Tools. Malus escaped by initiating his lab's self-destruct sequence.^[16] Malus had previously attempted to steal the Power Broker's fingerprints. In retaliation, the Power Broker had Malus’ legs broken. Nonetheless, Malus was retained to run a new project attempting to cure the Power Broker's condition by experimenting on former augmentation subjects.^[17] He dispatched the Power Tools to recover them.^[17] Among those recaptured were theRed Zeppelin andBattlestar, both of whom were experimented upon. As Malus made apparent progress, Battlestar escaped and threatened his life. Before Malus could be harmed, U.S. Agent arrived and subdued the Power Tools. He then forced Malus to reverse the augmentations performed on the victims and destroyed the augmentation machinery.^[18] Malus eventually established a new clinic in Florida, entering a deal with crime bossArmando Aviles to create augmented boxers for illegal matches in Puerto Rico. One of his subjects,Roberto Velasquez, became the super-powered fighter known as Bantam.Captain America exposed Malus' operation by posing as a former client. Though Malus quickly realised the ruse, he was interrupted by a vengeful Bantam. Malus attempted to flee with his associateCruz, but both were taken down by Captain America. Bantam subsequently defeated Malus’ enforcerHammerhand.^[19]

The Corporation[]

It was revealed that a faction of theCorporation had reorganized under the leadership of Malus, establishing a new base of operations in Taylor, Mississippi, located in the American Midwest.^[20] Malus delivered the Corporation's quarterly report, proudly announcing their increased profits through the development of superhuman assets. Among their most lucrative investments was a private strike team known as theAssassination Nation, composed ofContract,Kickback,Manslaughter, andTroubleshooter. Malus emphasized the necessity of keeping the Corporation's activities hidden, branding them "America's best-kept secret." Malus initiated a plan to transformJames Lucas Jr. into their next enhanced operative, codenamed Coldfire. However, complications arose when the Corporation captured theAgent, prompting his father, theTinkerer, to recruitLuke Cage James' brother to rescue him.^[20] Working alongside private investigatorDakota North, Cage infiltrated the Corporation’s facility, where he successfully freed both the Agent and his own father,James Lucas Sr., who had been kidnapped to force Coldfire's obedience. Upon discovering the Corporation’s use of his father as leverage, Coldfire rebelled, turning against Malus and the organization. In the ensuing chaos, Coldfire seemingly sacrificed himself to destroy the Corporation’s headquarters, though many of its agents managed to escape.^[21]

Maggia[]

Malus was hired by theMaggia to assist in subjugatingAtlas andWonder Man using an ion ray machine originally developed byBaron Zemo at his South American facility. However, the lab was raided by theThunderbolts andBlack Widow, who captured Malus before his bodyguardCyclone could extract him.^[22] Malus agreed to cooperate with the authorities in exchange for a reduced sentence. He assisted theAvengers, Thunderbolts, andMadame Masque in developing the Ion Lock, a device capable of dampening the powers ofCount Nefaria.^[23] Dr. Malus was later investigated byQuasimodo on behalf ofNorman Osborn during the Dark Reign period.^[24]

Area 501[]

It was revealed thatNick Fury had made a covert arrangement with Malus and Power Broker, Inc. In the same issue, Malus operated out of Area 501 Laboratories, where he used Power Broker technology to mutate former special forces operativeDave Rickford into a newCaptain America under Fury's supervision. After testing Rickford’s abilities, Malus and Fury vanished, leaving him vulnerable to abduction byA.I.M. agents. Rickford was later rescued bySteve Rogers, andSharon Carter discovered Fury’s manipulation of Rickford to prompt Rogers into reclaiming the Captain America identity.^[25]

While working with Power Broker, Inc., Malus partnered withAngela Golden to oversee the research of Dr. Forrest. Malus intended to create superhuman infants, but Forrest's innovative method of genetically enhancing women directly rendered Malus' work obsolete. After a confrontation with Malus, Golden allied with Forrest to continue the experiments independently, excluding Malus from the project.^[26]

Superior Carnage[]

Dr. Malus was recruited byThe Wizard to be the newest member of theFrightful Four; however, afterCarnage resisted The Wizard's attempts to control him, both The Wizard andKlaw subdued Dr. Malus long enough to transfer thesymbiote into his more easily controllable brain.^[2]

Along with a new "superior" Carnage, the villains attacked the City Hall in order to take overNew York, but they found themselves up against theSuperior Spider-Man.^[3] During the battle, The Wizard lost control over Carnage, and Malus went rogue. Using a vibranium blade he found in The Wizard's hideout, Carnage stabbed Klaw in revenge. The disruption of Klaw's sonic body caused by the vibrainum made the villain explode, blasting the symbiote off of Malus in the process.^[27] The Carnage symbiote subsequently bonded to the Wizard and vengefully devoured Malus, seemingly killing him.^[28]

Remarkably, Malus survived being ingested by the symbiote, and instead gestated inside its digestive track and emerged as ahuman/symbiote hybrid. He continued his experiments on human subjects, as an employee of theSerpent Solutions.^[29]

Most of his subjects were illegal immigrants, captured by theSons of the Serpent in the Mexican/American border. These individuals were later brought to New York, where Malus experimented on them,^[30] turning them into animal hybrids. WhenCaptain America (Sam Wilson) tracked his operations down, Malus used his symbiotic abilities to capture him and turn him into "Cap-Wolf." After being liberated from Malus' old warehouse byMisty Knight, Captain America followed him and subdued him, taking advantage of the symbiotes' natural weakness against high pitched sounds by using his companionRedwing's sonic cannon.^[31]

Symbiote Hybrid Physiology: After being ingested by theCarnage symbiote, Karl Malus was transformed into a Human/Symbiote hybrid. This restored his ability to walk, and enabled him to transform into a monstrous form with abilities similar to those of aSymbiote bonded to a human host:^[29]

• Superhuman Strength
• Superhuman Speed
• Superhuman Stamina
• Superhuman Agility
• Superhuman Reflexes
• Regenerative Healing Factor
• Superhuman Durability
• Constituent Matter Generation
• Constituent Matter Manipulation

• Avengers: West Coast #76 reveals that Night Shift recruited one of Malus' failed augmentation patients, Misfit (Mitchell Godey), into their ranks followingCaptain America #331; he is presumably present but unseen inCaptain America #329.

• Malus favors tea with milk and sugar.^[12]

• Fantasy
• Sci-fi
• Marvel