MODOK is a
fictionFiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
al
characterA character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
that appears in
comic bookA comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
s published by
Marvel ComicsMarvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
. The character first appeared in
Tales of SuspenseTales of Suspense is the name of an American comic book series and two one-shot comics published by Marvel Comics. The first, which ran from 1959 to 1968, began as a science-fiction anthology that served as a showcase for such artists as Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and Don Heck, then featured...
#93 (Sep. 1967) and was created by
Stan LeeStan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, actor, producer, publisher, television personality, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
and
Jack KirbyJack Kirby , born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic book medium....
.
Debuting in the
Silver Age of Comic BooksThe Silver Age of Comic Books was a period of artistic advancement and commercial success in mainstream American comic books, predominantly those in the superhero genre. Following the Golden Age of Comic Books and an interregnum in the early to mid-1950s, the Silver Age is considered to cover the...
, MODOK has appeared in over four decades of Marvel continuity, also starring in the
limited seriesA limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
Super-Villain Team-Up: MODOK's Eleven #1–5 (Sep. – Dec. 2008) and a self-titled one-shot publication
MODOK: Reign Delay #1 (Nov. 2009).
The character has featured in other Marvel-endorsed products such as video games and animated television series and merchandise such as trading cards and toys.
IGNIGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
's list of the Top 100 Comic Book Villains of All Time ranked MODOK as #100.
Publication history
MODOK first appeared in the title
Tales of SuspenseTales of Suspense is the name of an American comic book series and two one-shot comics published by Marvel Comics. The first, which ran from 1959 to 1968, began as a science-fiction anthology that served as a showcase for such artists as Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and Don Heck, then featured...
#93–94 (Sep. – Oct. 1967), and became a recurring foe for
superheroA superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
Captain AmericaCaptain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
. Writer Mike Conroy stated "Inevitably, he (MODOK) returned to plague Captain America, whose physical perfection he so resented."
MODOK reappeared in
Captain America #112 (April 1969) & #120 (Dec. 1969) and #133 (Jan. 1971). The character also featured in a storyline in
Sub-Mariner #49 (May 1972), before becoming the major villain in an extended storyline in
HulkThe Hulk is a fictional character, a superhero in the . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #1 ....
#167–169 (Sep. – Nov. 1973). MODOK also participated in the "War of the Supervillains" storyline in
Iron ManIron Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #39 .A billionaire playboy, industrialist and ingenious engineer,...
#74–75 (May – June 1975).
MODOK has a series of encounters with heroine
Ms. MarvelMs. Marvel is the name of a fictional character appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Roy Thomas and designed by artist Gene Colan, the non-powered Carol Danvers debuted as a member of the United States Air Force in Marvel Super-Heroes #13 and as Ms. Marvel—a...
in
Ms. Marvel #5 (May 1977); #7 (July 1977); #9 (Sep. 1977) and #10 (Oct. 1977). Constant battles against the Marvel heroes followed, including
Iron Man Annual #4 (Dec. 1977);
Marvel Team-UpMarvel Team-Up is the name of several American comic book series published by Marvel Comics. The series featured two or more Marvel characters in one story...
#104 (April 1981) and
Marvel Two-In-OneMarvel Two-In-One was an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics that featured the Fantastic Four member, the Thing, in a different team-up each issue with a different character. The series continued from the team-up stories starring the Thing in the final two issues of Marvel...
#81–82 (Nov. – Dec. 1981). Following a failed bid to use fellow Hulk foe the
AbominationThe Abomination is a fictional character, a supervillain that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics...
to achieve his ends in
Hulk #287–290 (Sep. – Dec. 1983), MODOK is assassinated in
Captain America #313 (Jan. 1986). The character's body makes a ghoulish return in
Iron Man #205 (April 1986).
During the
Taking AIM storyline in
AvengersThe Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...
#386–387 (May – June 1995);
Captain America #440 (June 1995);
Avengers #388 (July 1995) and
Captain America #441 (July 1995), MODOK is resurrected. More typical attempts to better the character's situation followed in
Iron Man Annual 1998;
DefendersThe Defenders is the name of a number of Marvel Comics superhero groups which are usually presented as a "non-team" of individualistic "outsiders," each known for following their own agendas...
vol. 2 #9–10 (Nov. – Dec. 2001);
Wolverine #142–143 (Sep. – Oct. 1999);
Captain America & The FalconThe Falcon is a fictional comic book superhero in comic books published by Marvel Comics.Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Gene Colan, and introduced in Captain America #117 , the character is mainstream comics' first African-American superhero...
#9 (Jan. 2005) and
Cable & Deadpool #11 (March 2005).
The character then made three humorous appearances, in
Wha...Huh? #1 (Sep. 2005);
Marvel Holiday Special 2006 (Jan. 2007) and
GLA-Xmas Special #1 (Feb. 2006). After appearing briefly in
mutantIn comic books published by Marvel Comics, a mutant is an organism who possesses a genetic trait called an X-gene that allows the mutant to naturally develop superhuman powers and abilities...
titles
X-Men #200 (Aug. 2007) and
Uncanny X-MenUncanny X-Men, first published as The X-Men, is the flagship Marvel Comics comic book series for the X-Men franchise. It is the mainstream continuity featuring the adventures of the eponymous group of mutant superheroes...
#488 (Sep. 2007), MODOK was featured in
Ms. Marvel vol. 2, #14–17 (June – Sep. 2007) and appears in two limited series:
Marvel 1985Marvel 1985 is a six-issue American comic book limited series, published in 2008 by Marvel Comics. It is written by Mark Millar and illustrated by Tommy Lee Edwards.-Plot:Issue 1...
#1–4 (July – Sep. 2008); #5–6 (Nov. 2008) and
Super-Villain Team-Up: MODOK's Eleven #1–5 (Sep. – Dec. 2008).
MODOK also featured in
Hulk #600 (Sep. 2009);
Astonishing TalesAstonishing Tales is an American anthology comic book series published by Marvel Comics originally from 1970-1976. Its sister publication was Amazing Adventures vol. 2...
vol. 2, #2 (May 2009) and the one-shot publication
MODOK: Reign Delay #1 (Nov. 2009).
Origin
George Tarleton is a
technicianA technician is a worker in a field of technology who is proficient in the relevant skills and techniques, with a relatively practical understanding of the theoretical principles. Experienced technicians in a specific tool domain typically have intermediate understanding of theory and expert...
for the organization
Advanced Idea MechanicsA.I.M. is a fictional terrorist organization in the . The organization first appeared in Strange Tales #146 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.-Publication history:...
(AIM). Having recently created the
artifactA magic item is any object that has magical powers inherent in it. These may act on their own or be the tools of the person or being whose hands they fall into. Magic items are commonly found in both folklore and modern fantasy...
the
Cosmic CubeThe Cosmic Cube, called the Tesseract in the film Captain America: The First Avenger, is the name of a fictional object that appears in the Marvel Universe. The concept was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and first appeared in Tales of Suspense #79 .-Publication history:The first Cosmic Cube...
, the AIM scientists use advanced
mutagenIn genetics, a mutagen is a physical or chemical agent that changes the genetic material, usually DNA, of an organism and thus increases the frequency of mutations above the natural background level. As many mutations cause cancer, mutagens are therefore also likely to be carcinogens...
ics to alter Tarleton and create the super intelligent
MODOC (acronym for
Mental
Organism
Designed
Only for
Computing) to study and improve the object. MODOC, however, becomes ambitious and kills its former masters and takes control of AIM. Calling itself MODOK (
Mental
Organism
Designed
Only for
Killing), it comes into conflict with the hero
Captain AmericaCaptain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
, who is intent on rescuing
SHIELDA shield is a type of personal armor, meant to intercept attacks, either by stopping projectiles such as arrows or redirecting a hit from a sword, mace or battle axe to the side of the shield-bearer....
agent
Sharon CarterSharon Carter, alias Agent 13, is a fictional character, a secret agent in the Marvel Comics universe. She is an ex-field agent of S.H.I.E.L.D...
from AIM.
MODOK becomes a recurring foe for Captain America, battling the hero on three more occasions, with the last encounter revealing the villain's origin. MODOK also battles Namor the Sub-Mariner and
Doctor DoomVictor von Doom is a fictional character who appears in Marvel Comics publications . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Fantastic Four #5 wearing his trademark metal mask and green cloak...
, who is intent on claiming the Cosmic Cube.
MODOK reappears and kidnaps Betty Ross, changing her into the mutant Harpy in a bid to destroy the
HulkThe Hulk is a fictional character, a superhero in the . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #1 ....
. The character follows the Hulk and the Harpy to a floating aerie, where the Hulk's
alter egoAn alter ego is a second self, which is believe to be distinct from a person's normal or original personality. The term was coined in the early nineteenth century when dissociative identity disorder was first described by psychologists...
Bruce Banner cures Ross of her condition. MODOK and an AIM team arrive in time to kill the creature the
Bi-BeastThe Bi-Beast is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Bi-Beast first appeared in the Hulk #169 The Bi-Beast is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Bi-Beast first appeared in the Hulk #169 The Bi-Beast is a...
, the guardian of the aerie, but not before activating a
self-destructA self-destruct is a mechanism which causes a device to destroy itself under a predefined set of circumstances.Self-destruct mechanisms are also found on devices and systems where malfunction could endanger large numbers of people...
mechanism, forcing the characters to flee. MODOK also accepts the offer of the other-dimensional being the
Black LamaBlack Lama is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:Black Lama first appeared in Iron Man #53 , and was created by Mike Friedrich, George Tuska, and Jim Starlin....
and participates in the "War of the Supervillains", but fails to capture the prize when defeated by
Iron ManIron Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #39 .A billionaire playboy, industrialist and ingenious engineer,...
.
AIM becomes dissatisfied with the lack of scientific advancement and MODOK's obsession with seeking revenge against metahumans, ousting him from power. MODOK attempts to regain control of the organization and prove his worth by unleashing a
nerve agentNerve agents are a class of phosphorus-containing organic chemicals that disrupt the mechanism by which nerves transfer messages to organs...
on
New York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, which is prevented by
Ms. MarvelMs. Marvel is the name of a fictional character appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Roy Thomas and designed by artist Gene Colan, the non-powered Carol Danvers debuted as a member of the United States Air Force in Marvel Super-Heroes #13 and as Ms. Marvel—a...
and the
VisionThe Vision is the name of three fictional characters that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:The first Vision was created by the writer-artist team of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby in Marvel Mystery Comics #13 The Vision is the name of three fictional characters that...
. MODOK seeks revenge against Ms. Marvel, attempting to
mind controlMind control refers to a process in which a group or individual "systematically uses unethically manipulative methods to persuade others to conform to the wishes of the manipulator, often to the detriment of the person being manipulated"...
the heroine and then hire assassin
DeathbirdDeathbird is a fictional character. She is a Marvel Comics supervillainess, an adversary of the X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Dave Cockrum, she first appeared in Ms. Marvel #9....
to kill her; Ms. Marvel overcomes these obstacles and finally defeats MODOK.
MODOK's ambitions grow and he seeks world domination, but is thwarted by Iron Man and superhero team the
ChampionsThe Champions are a team of superheroes that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The team first appears in The Champions #1 The Champions are a team of superheroes that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The team first appears in The Champions #1 The Champions are a...
. After an attempt to plunder the resources of the
Savage LandThe Savage Land is a hidden prehistoric land within the fictional Marvel Comics Universe. It is a tropical preserve hidden in Antarctica. It was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in X-Men #10...
and a battle with the savage
Ka-ZarKa-Zar is the name of two jungle-dwelling comics fictional characters published in the United States. The first appeared in pulp magazines of the 1930s, and was adapted for his second iteration, as a comic book character for Timely Comics, the 1930s and 1940s predecessor of Marvel Comics...
and the Hulk, the character develops a new
biological agentA biological agent — also called bio-agent or biological threat agent — is a bacterium, virus, prion, or fungus which may cause infection, allergy, toxicity or otherwise create a hazard to human health. They can be used as a biological weapon in bioterrorism or biological warfare...
called Virus X. MODOK's attempts to test the agent on the
homelessHomelessness describes the condition of people without a regular dwelling. People who are homeless are unable or unwilling to acquire and maintain regular, safe, and adequate housing, or lack "fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence." The legal definition of "homeless" varies from country...
is prevented by the
ThingThe Thing is a fictional character, a founding member of the superhero team known as the Fantastic Four in the Marvel Comics universe. He was created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee in The Fantastic Four #1...
, Sub-Mariner, and Captain America, although the villain escapes and the Thing almost dies when exposed to the virus.
Death
Abandoned by AIM for these failures, the character revives long-time Hulk foe the
AbominationThe Abomination is a fictional character, a supervillain that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics...
, planning to use the monster against his superiors. The plan fails when the Abomination is revealed to be unstable, although during the course of the storyline MODOK transforms
Dr. Katherine WaynesboroDr. Katherine "Kate" Waynesboro is a fictional comic book character appearing in books published by Marvel Comics, primarily as a supporting character to the Hulk. Created by writer Bill Mantlo and artist Sal Buscema, she first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #287 Dr. Katherine "Kate" Waynesboro is...
(an associate of Bruce Banner) into a female version of himself. Horrified by MODOK's callous disregard for life, Waynesboro demands to be restored to human form, and MODOK complies. Wishing to disassociate themselves from MODOK, AIM hires the
Serpent SocietyThe Serpent Society is a fictional organization of snake-themed supervillains in the Marvel Comics universe. The group was initially formed from the membership of a previous supervillain team, the Serpent Squad. The group, like its predecessor, has been made up of longtime antagonists of Captain...
to assassinate the villain, with the character being killed by
Death AdderDeath Adder , is a fictional supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe. He was one of the original members of the Serpent Society.-Fictional character biography:Roland Burroughs was born in Rochester, New York...
. The Serpent Society return MODOK's body to AIM, with the organization using it as a
supercomputerA supercomputer is a computer at the frontline of current processing capacity, particularly speed of calculation.Supercomputers are used for highly calculation-intensive tasks such as problems including quantum physics, weather forecasting, climate research, molecular modeling A supercomputer is a...
. A rogue AIM agent remotely operates MODOK's body in a bid to destroy Iron Man, with the battle ending with the body's destruction.
Although MODOK is no more, AIM replaces him with his more loyal and in certain ways more effective female counterpart,
MODAMMODAM is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Fictional character biography:AIM mutated one of their female agents into a large headed creature. This agent claimed to be Henry Pym's deceased first wife, Maria Troyvana. Pym took her in, believing she was his late wife, but she was secretly...
.
Resurrection
During the
Taking AIM storyline, MODOK is resurrected because AIM needs MODOK to assist with the creation of another Cosmic Cube. Eventually MODOK is stranded in an alternate dimension. After attempting to steal a device that boosts mental power MODOK aids the villainous group the
HeadmenThe Headmen is a group of fictional supervillains in the Marvel Comics universe. They first appeared in The Defenders #21 .-Fictional biography:...
. MODOK agrees to aid them in their plans of conquest, and after taking control of AIM once again, reneges on the agreement to avoid an encounter with superhero team the
DefendersThe Defenders is the name of a number of Marvel Comics superhero groups which are usually presented as a "non-team" of individualistic "outsiders," each known for following their own agendas...
. MODOK clashes with
CanadianCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
superhero team
Alpha FlightAlpha Flight is a fictional superhero team published by Marvel Comics, noteworthy for being one of the few Canadian superhero teams. Created by John Byrne, the team first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #120 ....
before being captured by a group composed of US Naval intelligence and a
drug cartelDrug cartels are criminal organizations developed with the primary purpose of promoting and controlling drug trafficking operations. They range from loosely managed agreements among various drug traffickers to formalized commercial enterprises. The term was applied when the largest trafficking...
. MODOK is
lobotomizedLobotomy "; τομή – tomē: "cut/slice") is a neurosurgical procedure, a form of psychosurgery, also known as a leukotomy or leucotomy . It consists of cutting the connections to and from the prefrontal cortex, the anterior part of the frontal lobes of the brain...
and employed to infiltrate
spy satelliteA spy satellite is an Earth observation satellite or communications satellite deployed for military or intelligence applications....
s and manipulate the
stock marketA stock market or equity market is a public entity for the trading of company stock and derivatives at an agreed price; these are securities listed on a stock exchange as well as those only traded privately.The size of the world stock market was estimated at about $36.6 trillion...
, but it recovers and exploits the situation until captured and taken into custody by
SHIELDA shield is a type of personal armor, meant to intercept attacks, either by stopping projectiles such as arrows or redirecting a hit from a sword, mace or battle axe to the side of the shield-bearer....
.
MODOK then seeks a sample of the
cyberneticCybernetics is the interdisciplinary study of the structure of regulatory systems. Cybernetics is closely related to information theory, control theory and systems theory, at least in its first-order form...
species the
PhalanxThe Phalanx are a fictional cybernetic species in the Marvel Comics universe. They have come in conflict with the X-Men and related groups on several occasions. They form a hive mind, linking each member by a telepathy-like system....
, and after brief encounters with the
mutantIn comic books published by Marvel Comics, a mutant is an organism who possesses a genetic trait called an X-gene that allows the mutant to naturally develop superhuman powers and abilities...
X-MenThe X-Men are a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1...
battles Ms. Marvel once again, the heroine aided by fellow
AvengerThe Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...
Wonder ManWonder Man is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, he first appeared in The Avengers #9 .-Publication history:Wonder Man debuted in the superhero-team title The Avengers #9 Wonder...
during an elaborate scheme by renegade AIM branches to kill MODOK, one of the rogues including MODOK's long-lost son as he seeks revenge for his abandonment. Employing an elaborate scheme and double-cross, MODOK restores his personal wealth and power and establishes himself as the leader of AIM once again.
It is also revealed that MODOK was involved in the creation of the
Red HulkGeneral Thaddeus E. "Thunderbolt" Ross is a fictional character appearing in books published by Marvel Comics, usually as an adversary of the Hulk, sometimes as a supervillain. Ross is a United States military officer, the father of Betty Ross, ex-father in-law of Glenn Talbot and the father in-law...
, and belongs to a secret organization of super-intelligent supervillains.
During the
Fall of the Hulks"Fall of the Hulks" is a 2010 comic book crossover storyline published by Marvel Comics, that ran through the ongoing Hulk and Incredible Hulk series, as well as a self-titled limited series, featuring the Hulk, and various members of his supporting cast.-Publication history:It details the plot of...
storyline, it is revealed that MODOK is a member of
IntelligenciaThe Intelligencia is a name of a fictional supervillain team that appears as an antagonist in the Hulk comic books published by Marvel Comics. The team first appeared in Fall of the Hulks: Alpha ....
whom had a part in the creation of Red Hulk and Red She-Hulk. They captured some of the smartest men and brought about the events that would lead up to the
World War Hulks"World War Hulks" is a comic book crossover storyline published by Marvel Comics that ran in 2010 following the "Fall of the Hulks" storyline....
storyline.
When several heroes are subjected, by the Intelligencia, to the Cathexis ray which can transfer radiant energy from one subject to another,
Amadeus ChoAmadeus Cho, also known as Mastermind Excello, is a fictional comic book character appearing in books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Greg Pak and artist Takeshi Miyazawa, the character first appeared in Amazing Fantasy vol. 2 #15...
is affected as well. Unlike the others, who become 'Hulked-Out Heroes', his mind expands and becomes so powerful he gains the ability to warp reality within a ten-foot radius. Using this power, he reverses the process that created MODOK, turning him back into George Tarleton, who knows no better than to get away as quickly as possible.
George Tarleton was taken into custody by the US military and remains confined, where Bruce Banner occasionally calls on him to help defuse the "doomsday plans" MODOK installed in the case his master plan should fail. Tarleton, however, appears to remember next to nothing of his time as MODOK and in fact seems to be either traumatized or just a simple mind.
Unknown to everyone, the doomsday plans left behind by MODOK serve as a distraction. The plans themselves are coordinated by a 'cluster' of brains, cloned from MODOK's own, who act as one non-sentient supercomputer. This cluster is destroyed by the Red Hulk, and the doomsday plans stopped. However, one of the cloned brains, rather than being utilized as an organic computer, was allowed to develop naturally and then uploaded with MODOK's own memories. This new MODOK (apparently free from the traumas and weaknesses of the original) declares himself superior and prepares to make his own mark on the world.
During the
Fear Itself"Fear Itself" is a 2011 crossover comic book storyline published by Marvel Comics, consisting of a seven-issue, eponymous miniseries written by Matt Fraction and illustrated by Stuart Immonen, Wade Von Grawbadger, and Laura Martin, a prologue book by writer Ed Brubaker and artist Scott Eaton, and...
storyline, MODOK Superior reviews the attacks by Skadi and tells his followers that she is actually
Red SkullThe Red Skull is a name shared by several fictional characters, all supervillains from the Marvel Comics universe. All incarnations of the character are enemies of Captain America, other superheroes, and the United States in general....
's daughter Sin who has tapped into the powers of the
AsgardiansAsgard is a fictional realm within the Marvel Comics universe based on the Asgard of Norse mythology and is home to the Asgardians and other beings of Norse mythology...
. He then views from his surveillance that Red Hulk is fighting Thing (in the form of Angir: Breaker of Souls). When he learns that Zero/One and Black Fog are also after Red Hulk, MODOK Superior plans to get to Red Hulk first. MODOK Superior prevents Black Fog from killing Red Hulk. MODOK Superior becomes intangible to keep himself from getting attacked by Angir (who shoots down Zero/One's Helicarrier). MODOK Superior has his encounter with Zero/One and both of them declare a truce to help fight the soldiers of the Serpent. During that time, MODOK Superior starts to develop a crush on Zero/One.
Powers and abilities
George Tarleton is subjected to a mutagenic process that grants him superhuman intelligence, including a computer-like memory and the ability to predict probable outcomes that borders on
precognitionIn parapsychology, precognition , also called future sight, and second sight, is a type of extrasensory perception that would involve the acquisition or effect of future information that cannot be deduced from presently available and normally acquired sense-based information or laws of physics...
, but his creativity remains at average human level. As MODOK, the character also has
psionicPsionics refers to the practice, study, or psychic ability of using the mind to induce paranormal phenomena. Examples of this include telepathy, telekinesis, and other workings of the outside world through the psyche.-History and terminology:...
powers enabling him to mentally control both individuals and large groups, and generate
force fieldA force field, sometimes known as an energy shield, force shield, or deflector shield is a concept of a field tightly bounded and of significant magnitude so that objects affected by the particular force relating to the field are unable to pass through the central axis of the field and reach the...
s able to withstand minor nuclear explosions. Courtesy of AIM technology, MODOK wears a headband that enables him to focus his mental power into a devastating beam.
A side effect of the mutation was the growth of Tarleton's head to the point whereby his body can no longer support the weight, necessitating the use of an
exoskeletonAn exoskeleton is the external skeleton that supports and protects an animal's body, in contrast to the internal skeleton of, for example, a human. In popular usage, some of the larger kinds of exoskeletons are known as "shells". Examples of exoskeleton animals include insects such as grasshoppers...
and
hoverchairA hovercar is a transport vehicle appearing in works of fiction. It is used for personal transportation in the same way a modern automobile is employed. You must steer it, like you would a normal vehicle...
. The chair is equipped with a variety of weapons including missiles and
laserA laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
s. Occasionally, Tarleton had the use of a giant humanoid vehicle that was proportionally sized to his head. Tarleton's organs also wear out quickly, necessitating the use of harvested clones, whose organs are used to sustain him.
As the leader of AIM, MODOK has advanced technology and a personal army at his disposal.
Earth-X
In this world, all telepaths and psionics not protected in some way died the very moment the Skull, a boy empowered with the ability to control any conscious mind in his sphere of awareness, had his power awakened in him. Later, when he ventures to conquer the world, he uses MODOK's hoverchair, emptied of its former occupant and refitted into a throne, as a mode of transport.
Marvel Adventures
A version called "MODOC" (
Mental
Organism
Designed
Only for
Conquest) appears in the title
Marvel Adventures: The Avengers, briefly turning the Avengers into (superior!) versions of itself before being defeated.
Ms. Marvel
Over the course of both her series, she had several interactions with AIM and MODOK; among others, she was both saved from being disincorporated by 24 embryonic MODOCs who had been outfitted with reality-altering powers when working in unison, and separated into two separate entities to fulfill her fondest wish. Also, reference was made, by AIM personnel, to actual MODOCs, who apparently really did function the way MODOK was supposed to have (namely as docile organic supercomputers).
MODOT
MODOT (
Mental
Organism
Designed
Only for
Talking, formerly
Nobel PrizeThe Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
hopeful
Dimitri Smirkov) appears in the third
Howard the DuckHoward the Duck is a comic book character in the Marvel Comics universe created by writer Steve Gerber and artist Val Mayerik. The character first appeared in Adventure into Fear #19 and several subsequent series have chronicled the misadventures of the ill-tempered, anthropomorphic, "funny...
limited series, and unlike predecessor MODOK can walk without the aid of a hover chair. He had no designs of world conquest, but instead was only interested in making money; this may be because the branch of A.I.M. that created him did so specifically so he could
talk the head office into increasing their budget. He ended up practically ruling the airways, influencing millions of viewers through a hundred android presenters, anchor men and reporters, all controlled directly by him.
MODOG
Iron Man has an encounter with MODOG (
Mobile
Organism
Designed
Only for
Genocide) in the second volume of
The Invincible Iron ManThe Invincible Iron Man is a direct-to-DVD animated movie based on the Marvel Comics character Iron Man. The film was officially released on January 23, 2007. Marc Worden reprises his role as Iron Man whom he voiced in the two Ultimate Avengers animated movies...
. Iron Man dispatches him with ease, dumping him in outer space.
Marvel MAX
The limited series
U.S War Machine, published under the mature-audience Marvel MAX imprint, showcases another version of MODOK salvaged by SHIELD when it is discarded by AIM, apparently a victim of racial prejudice.
Ultimate MODOK
The ultimate version of the character features in the title
Ultimate Vision, experimenting with a Gah Lak Tus probe. Although he starts the story as the amoral genius cyborg George Tarleton, after he is infected by Gah Lak Tus, he is eventually reduced to a disembodied head. At no point in the story is he referred to as MODOK, being addressed only by his given name.
Another version of MODOK appeared in
Ultimate Armor Wars #2, when the devious
Dr. FaustusDoctor Faustus is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics supervillain.An Austrian by birth, he is most commonly associated with Captain America, first appearing in issue #107 of his first series.-Creative origins:...
revealed he, too, was a cyborg, and harbored a tiny MODOK inside his hollow head.
Nextwave
At least four versions of MODOK, apparently based around
Elvis PresleyElvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, were created by the
Beyond Corporation©The Beyond Corporation© is a fictional multinational corporation that appears in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. The corporation acts as a recurring antagonist in the Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. series, appearing in every story arc....
to defend their secret weapons factory, State 51. They were defeated by the
NextwaveNextwave is a comic book series by Warren Ellis and Stuart Immonen, published by Marvel Comics between 2006 and 2007.-Concept:The series was written exclusively in two-issue story arcs, a choice deliberately bucking the trend in modern American comics toward decompression...
Squad in
Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. #11. Their principal mode of attack seemed to involve shooting cheeseburgers at their target.
The following issue revealed that the Beyond Corporation© was being run by a disguised infant MODOK, apparently conceived by a MODOK and MODAM making "sweet monkey love by the light of a rack of
World of WarcraftWorld of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game by Blizzard Entertainment. It is the fourth released game set in the fantasy Warcraft universe, which was first introduced by Warcraft: Orcs & Humans in 1994...
servers". This MODOK escapes the Nextwave Squad, but it is subsequently killed by its master,
Devil DinosaurDevil Dinosaur is a Marvel Comics character who resembles a red Tyrannosaurus rex. He first appeared in Devil Dinosaur #1...
.
Amalgam Comics
A version of the character features in a one shot title as part of the
Amalgam ComicsAmalgam Comics was a publishing imprint shared by DC Comics and Marvel Comics, in which the two comic book publishers merged their characters into new ones . These characters first appeared in a series of twelve comic books which were published in 1996, between issues 3 and 4 of the Marvel vs...
line, which is a
sequelA sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
to the Marvel vs. DC series. MODOK is merged with
DC ComicsDC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
character
Hector HammondHector Hammond is a DC Universe supervillain who is primarily an enemy of Green Lantern. The character was created by John Broome and Gil Kane, and originally appeared in Green Lantern # 5...
to form HECTOR, the '"H'"ighly '"E'"volved '"C'"reature '"T'"otally '"O'"riented on '"R'"evenge".
Marvel Zombies
An alternate version of MODOK is seen being eaten by zombified versions of
She-HulkShe-Hulk is a Marvel Comics superheroine. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist John Buscema, she first appeared in Savage She-Hulk #1 ....
and
HawkeyeHawkeye , also known as Goliath and Ronin, is a fictional character that appears in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Tales of Suspense #57 and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Don Heck. Hawkeye joined the Avengers in Avengers Vol. 1 #16 Hawkeye...
. Later, it is discovered that this universe's Ash had watched MODOK be devoured.
MODORD
A
DazzlerDazzler is a Marvel Comics superheroine, associated with the X-Men. She first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #130 ....
-centered story, "Disco Highway," in the fourth issue of the mini-series "
X-menThe X-Men are a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1...
: Serve and Protect," released in February 2011, features a character named MODORD, the '"M'"ental '"O'"rganism '"D'"esigned '"O'"nly for '"R'"oller '"D'"erby.
Television
- A much smaller MODOK appears in the 1994 Iron Man
Iron Man, also known as Iron Man: The Animated Series, is an American animated television series based on Marvel Comics' superhero Iron Man...
animated series voiced by Jim CummingsJames Jonah "Jim" Cummings is an American voice actor who has appeared in almost 100 roles. He has appeared in classic animated movies such as Aladdin and The Lion King, as well as taking on roles in more current films, such as Bee Movie, Princess and the Frog, and Winnie the Pooh.-Personal...
. He served as one of the minions of the MandarinThe Mandarin is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics supervillain and the archenemy of Iron Man.In 2009, Mandarin was ranked as IGN's 81st Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time.-Publication history:...
. He was a scientist who sought to cure the criminal mind. His boss the Red GhostThe Red Ghost and his Super-Apes are a group of Marvel Comics supervillains, who started their career fighting the Fantastic Four, before confronting other Marvel heroes like Iron Man and Spider-Man...
increased his mind by 100 times. He soon fell in love and got married to famous ballet dancer Alana Ulanova (voiced by Sarah DouglasSarah Douglas is an English actress. She is perhaps best known for playing the Kryptonian supervillain Ursa in the first two Superman movies , and for her role as Pamela Lynch in the 1980s primetime drama series Falcon Crest .-Early life:Douglas was born in Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire, the...
), who later became a swimsuit model. The Red Ghost was envious of his relationship with his new wife and turned him into MODOK. He served as Mandarin's 2nd in command so that he could turn him back into human. However, in the second season MODOK's character became little more than comic reliefComic relief is the inclusion of a humorous character, scene or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension.-Definition:...
, with his original back-story forgotten (When asked why he served The Mandarin after all the abuse he took from him, MODOK gushingly replied "He makes me laugh", which may be a reference to Jessica RabbitJessica Rabbit is a fictional character from the Roger Rabbit film-and-novel franchise.Jessica Rabbit may also refer to:* Jessica Rabbit vibrator, a sex toy* Melyssa Ford , Canadian model-See also:...
). After Mandarin was defeated in the season finale, MODOK (alongside Mandarin's henchmen) was sent to jail.
- MODOK is featured in Iron Man: Armored Adventures
Iron Man: Armored Adventures is a 3D CGI cartoon series based on the Marvel Comics superhero Iron Man. It debuted in the USA on the Nicktoons on April 24, 2009, and has already begun airing on Canadian network Teletoon. The series is story edited by showrunner Christopher Yost, who also worked on...
voiced by Lee TockarLee William Tockar is a Canadian voice actor and visual artist who works for several studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He is also a writer of children's literature, a musician, sculptor, illustrator and collected painter...
. In the show, the acronym is MODOC, the 'C' standing for "Conquest". In the episode "Ready, AIM, Fire," the MODOC project is being operated by AIM in their plans for world domination. In the episode "Panther's Prey," Moses Magnum meets up with some representatives from AIM to give them some vibraniumVibranium is a fictional metal that appears in the Marvel Universe. It is most commonly known as one of the materials used to construct Captain America's shield, but it is also noted for its connection to the Black Panther and his native homeland of Wakanda .-Publication history:Vibranium first...
needed to create MODOC's harness. In the episode "Designed Only for Chaos," AIM hires Ghost to spring Living Laser from the SHIELD Helicarrier in order to activate MODOC. Though the operation was a success, there were some problems: MODOC outed Basil SandhurstThe Controller, real name Basil Sandhurst, is a fictional character, a supervillain appearing in the Marvel Universe. He specializes in mind control, and is a frequent foe of Iron Man. Marvel Comics writer Archie Goodwin created the character, and Marvel artist George Tuska designed him.-Fictional...
into going against AIM to continue working on his Controller Disk and also usurped AIM's Scientist Supreme, becoming leader of AIM Iron Man had a hard time fighting MODOC until Living Laser recovered and helped Iron Man defeat MODOC. In the episode "Uncontrollable," MODOC was present when Controller used Iron Man to defeat him as part of his revenge against A.I.M. In the episode "The Hawk and the Spider," Justin Hammer uses a special remote control to control MODOC into attacking Iron Man, Hawkeye, and Black Widow after Justin Hammer's men had fished MODOC's body from the river. With help from Hawkeye, Iron Man manages to deactivate MODOC with a User Interface Chip which wasn't tuned to MODOC's brainwave. Later, its body was hit with gunfire during a firefight with Justin Hammer's security guards and exploded.
- MODOK appears in The Super Hero Squad Show
The Super Hero Squad Show is an American cartoon series by Marvel Animation. It is based on the Marvel Super Hero Squad action figure line from Hasbro, which portray the characters of the Marvel Universe in a cartoonish super-deformed-style...
voiced by Tom KennyThomas James "Tom" Kenny is an American actor, voice actor and comedian. He is especially known for his long-running-role as SpongeBob SquarePants in the television series of the same name, as well as the live-action character Patchy the Pirate, Gary the Snail and the French narrator based on...
. He is a member of Doctor DoomVictor von Doom is a fictional character who appears in Marvel Comics publications . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Fantastic Four #5 wearing his trademark metal mask and green cloak...
's Lethal LegionThe Lethal Legion is the name of five teams of fictional characters that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics.The first version of the Legion appears in The Avengers #78 ; the second version in Avengers #164 ; the third version in West Coast Avengers vol. 2, #1 ; the fourth Avengers...
and often paired up with AbominationThe Abomination is a fictional character, a supervillain that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics...
as the group's comic relief.
- MODOK appears in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes
The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes is an American animated television series by Marvel Animation in cooperation with Film Roman based on the Marvel Comics superhero team the Avengers. The show debuted on Disney XD in Fall 2010 starting with a 20 part micro-series. A second season has been...
voiced by Wally WingertWallace E. "Wally" Wingert is an American actor and voice artist. He is originally from Des Moines, Iowa but he currently works and lives in Los Angeles, California. He is the current announcer for the second incarnation of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and the current voice of Jon Arbuckle in...
and going by the same altered acronym as the version from Iron Man: Armored Adventures. In the episode "Iron Man is Born", MODOC is shown as an inmate of the VaultThe Vault is the widely used nickname of a fictional defunct prison facility for technological-based superhuman criminals in Marvel Comics' Marvel Universe. The prison's full official name is the United States Maximum Security Installation for the Incarceration of Superhuman Criminals.It first...
. In the episode "Everything is Wonderful", Simon Williams is brought to MODOC and AIM by Grim ReaperGrim Reaper is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe. He first appeared in The Avengers #52 May , by Roy Thomas and John Buscema.-Fictional character biography:...
to take part in an experiment (the same one which was tried on different AIM Agents whom did not survive it) that would grant him the power to take revenge on Tony Stark. This results in Simon Williams becoming Wonder ManWonder Man is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, he first appeared in The Avengers #9 .-Publication history:Wonder Man debuted in the superhero-team title The Avengers #9 Wonder...
. Grim Reaper tells MODOC to "let him know if his brother survives." He and AIM fight Thor and Wasp. MODOC gets away when the hidden base turned out to be a ship. In the episode "Widow's Sting", he is hired by HYDRA to create the Cosmic Cube which would grant them the power to take over the world. During a transaction in which AIM requests more money, the two parties are attacked by Hawkeye who is searching for the whereabouts of the Black Widow. Afterwards, MODOC finds out the Cosmic Cube might actually work. MODOC later tells Baron Strucker that the Cosmic Cube would not work and keeps it for himself. Unknown to MODOC however after he left, Baron Strucker knew he was lying which he states to Black Widow. In the episode "Hail, Hydra!", HYDRA and AIM go to war over the Cosmic Cube, and MODOC personally takes part in the battle. When he confronts Strucker, Baron Strucker sends three DreadnoughtsDreadnoughts are a type of fictional robot found in the Marvel Comics universe. They are frequently employed by villainous organizations. Different forms of the robots are depicted by organizations such as HYDRA and the Maggia....
to attack him. Due to their mechanical brains making them immune to his mental bolts, the Dreadnoughts defeat MODOC. MODOC is later seen being collected by S.H.I.E.L.D. forces alongside Baron Strucker.
Video games
- MODOK appears in the video game Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is an action role-playing game developed for PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox and Xbox 360 by Raven Software and published by Activision. The game was simultaneously ported to the PlayStation Portable and Wii by Vicarious Visions, and to Microsoft Windows by Beenox...
voiced by Michael GoughMichael Gough is an American voice actor and singer.-Television roles:*Dog from WordWorld* Don Diego de la Vega and The lead role in The New Adventures of Zorro* "Goof Troop" - Fester Swollen...
. He is a member of Doctor DoomVictor von Doom is a fictional character who appears in Marvel Comics publications . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Fantastic Four #5 wearing his trademark metal mask and green cloak...
's Masters of EvilThe Masters of Evil is a name for a number of fictional supervillain teams that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The first version of the team appeared in The Avengers #6 , with the lineup continually changing over the years....
. He alongside AIM take over the SHIELD Omega Base and try to ram it into a dam. When the heroes reach him, he freezes them and challenges them to a scientific quiz. If the player selects a wrong answer, MODOK administers an electric shock to the characters. If the player selects a correct answer, MODOK lets his guard down and the heroes are able to move forward. The heroes will have to fight MODOK whether they win or lose the quiz.
- MODOK appears in the Marvel Super Hero Squad
Marvel Super Hero Squad is a video game developed by Blue Tongue Entertainment, Mass Media, and Halfbrick and published by THQ. It was released on October 20, 2009 for the Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable and Wii...
video game, voiced by Tom KennyThomas James "Tom" Kenny is an American actor, voice actor and comedian. He is especially known for his long-running-role as SpongeBob SquarePants in the television series of the same name, as well as the live-action character Patchy the Pirate, Gary the Snail and the French narrator based on...
. He is often seen working for Doctor DoomVictor von Doom is a fictional character who appears in Marvel Comics publications . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Fantastic Four #5 wearing his trademark metal mask and green cloak...
.
- MODOK appears as a playable character in Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds
is a crossover fighting game developed by Capcom. It features Capcom's own characters and characters from American comic book company Marvel Comics. It is the fifth installment of the Marvel vs...
and Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3is a crossover fighting game developed by Capcom. It is an updated version of Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds. After the events of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami disrupted the development schedule for downloadable content for the original game, the additional content was made into a...
, voiced by Wally WingertWallace E. "Wally" Wingert is an American actor and voice artist. He is originally from Des Moines, Iowa but he currently works and lives in Los Angeles, California. He is the current announcer for the second incarnation of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and the current voice of Jon Arbuckle in...
.
- MODOK appears as a villain character in Marvel Super Hero Squad Online
Marvel Super Hero Squad Online is a MMOG for younger audiences based on the Marvel Super Hero Squad franchise.The MMOG officially was released as a open beta on April 29, 2011 and a closed beta was released in early 2011. The first debut trailer for Marvel Super Hero Squad Online was released on...
.
Music
- The band Monster Magnet
Monster Magnet is an American stoner rock band. Hailing from Red Bank, New Jersey, the group was founded by Dave Wyndorf , John McBain and Tim Cronin...
refers to MODOK in the song "Baby Götterdämerung" from the album PowertripPowertrip is a studio album by Monster Magnet, released on June 16, 1998. The album was the band's commercial breakthrough, achieving mainstream success due largely to the hit single, "Space Lord". Other hit songs on the album include "Powertrip", "Temple of Your Dreams", and "See You in Hell"...
with the lyrics "So what would MODOK do, if his memory got too full? He'd find the power source, and then he'd pick what plugs to pull."
- Rapper Akira the Don
Akira The Don is an independent British musician. Born in West Bromwich and raised in North Wales, in recent years he has lived in Hackney, East London....
has a song titled "M.O.D.O.K. (Supervillain Music)" on his "Superhero Music" mix-tape.
Toys
- Toy Biz produced a MODOK action figure for the 1994 Iron Man Animated Series.
- In 2006, a "Build-A-Figure" toy was produced by Toy Biz for Wave 15 of their Marvel Legends
Marvel Legends is an action figure line based on the characters of Marvel Comics, initially produced by Toy Biz, then by Hasbro. This line is in the scale, with spin-off lines in the , , and scale.-History:...
toy-line. This toy required you to buy all the figures in the wave with each figure coming with a piece of the MODOK toy. The pieces would snap together to make the MODOK figure complete.
- In 2010, Hasbro
Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
made a more kid-friendly version for its revised Super Hero Squad line, packaged together with Iron Man. He is described on the back of the pack as a "hovering psychic super menace." Originally MODOK was supposed to be called MODOC (Mental Organism Designed Only for Chaos) but was changed to his more familiar name, though the description does not reveal what the acronym really means.
Webcomics
- MODOK (with associates) makes an appearance in a 1999 strip of Bob the Angry Flower
Bob the Angry Flower is a black-and-white comic strip that tells the exploits of an easily angered anthropomorphic flower named Bob and his interactions with the world, often in search of either global domination or love...
.
- MODOK talks Star Wars with Abe in a 2007 strip of The Thinking Ape Blues.
External links
- MODOK at Marvel.com
- MODOK at the Comic Book Database