MODOK
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For the legendary Welsh prince known as Modok, see Madoc.
| M.O.D.O.K. (Mobile Organism Designed Only for Killing) |
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MODOK is a fictional character, a supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe. His name is an acronym for Mobile Organism Designed Only for Killing. The original MODOK first appeared in Tales of Suspense #94 (October 1967), which was written by Stan Lee and illustrated by Jack Kirby.
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[edit] Fictional character biography
There have been several men to assume the MODOK name, as well as two female variants and a baby version. Despite the variety of individuals who have been mutated into MODOKs, they are all essentially the same character, as MODOK is a computer whose "hardware" is a genetically-altered and reconstructed human. Arguably, the female versions might not be so considered, as they demonstrated differing personalities from one another, and their male counterparts.
A MODOC (using the C version of the spelling) was also part of the Iron Man animated television series, where he served as the unwilling scientific mastermind of the Mandarin, who promised to return him to his human form upon his domination of the world.
[edit] MODOK I (George Tarleton)
Scientists at Advanced Idea Mechanics (AIM) created MODOK to analyze and probe the cosmic cube and to improve the organization's productivity in its scientific endeavors, while still being subservient to the higher echelons of the organization. To that end they mutagenically altered one of their technicians of average intelligence, George Tarleton, into the super intelligent being, MODOC (Mobile Organism Designed Only for Computing). These scientists unwisely did not take into consideration the theory that superior ability naturally leads to superior ambition.
It did not take long for MODOC to turn on his former masters and overthrow AIM. He adopted the new acronym for his title: MODOK (Mobile Organism Designed Only for Killing) at this time as he was more of a ruthless killer than a bean counter in his own estimation. MODOK and AIM frequently came into conflict with the Avengers and many other superheroes.
AIM was not happy with MODOK's megalomaniacal and short-sighted leadership and he was frequently ousted only to return to power again. MODOK was so focused on his personal grudge with various superheroes that he ignored the scientific aspect of the organization and allowed it to become stagnant. The other AIM leaders eventually hired assassins to eliminate him. The George Tarleton variant of MODOK was killed by the Serpent Society during that group's first mission in Captain America #313.
[edit] Ms. MODOK and MODAM
Dr. Katherine Waynesboro, an associate of Bruce Banner (the Hulk), was briefly transformed into a female MODOK counterpart called Ms. MODOK. This occurred prior to MODOK's death and she nearly married MODOK until he tried to disintegrate the Abomination, which appalled her. She eventually escaped from AIM and was returned to normal.
Subsequently, a different female counterpart of MODOK was created. She had been mutated into a large headed creature, and she was believed to be Henry Pym's first wife, Maria Troyvana. She first appeared in West Coast Avengers #36. Pym took her in, believing she was his late wife, but she was secretly a spy and returned to AIM. There, she was further mutated into a being nearly identical in appearance to MODOK called SODAM (Specialized Organism Designed for Aggressive Maneuvers), which later was changed to (Mobile Organism Designed for Aggressive Maneuvers). In Iron Man #296, Omega Red revealed that MODAM was not Maria Troyvana; her real name was Olinka Barankova.
[edit] MODOK II
Finally, a new MODOK (MODOK II) was created during the "Taking AIM" crossover. At the end of this story line this new MODOK was lost in another dimension and MODAM was killed. Eventually, the newly created MODOK III found his way back to his dimension of origin and took control of one of the dozens of AIM splinter organizations, arguably the dominant AIM branch. This branch, described as a "technology-worshipping cult", has run afoul of Wolverine, the new Defenders, Captain America, and Squirrel Girl.
InCaptain America and the Falcon, MODOK had been captured by a US Naval intelligence/drug cartel alliance, who lobotomised him and used him to tap spy satellites and manipulate stock markets. Unknown to them, MODOK regained consciousness and swapped his mind with the human Damocles Rivas as well as developing the ability to convert his original form to data and "e-mail" it around the world. His original body, acting off old instincts, murdered every AIM agent who had created MODOK while MODOK himself battled Captain America, the Falcon and the Anti-Cap in a takeover attempt. He was finally trapped in interdimensional stasis and taken into SHIELD custody.
MODOK II appears to have the memories of MODOK I, considering its reactions to Captain America and Iron Man - perhaps a result of its prolonged stay in the dimension opened by the unstable Cosmic Cube, or perhaps he was intended to be a complete recreation of his predecessor.
[edit] Beyond Corporation© MODOKs
At least four versions of MODOK, apparently based around Elvis Presley, were created by the Beyond Corporation© to defend their secret weapons factory, State 51. They were defeated by the Nextwave Squad in Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. #11. Their principle 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 Warcraft servers"[1]. This MODOK escaped the Nextwave Squad, but was subsequently killed by its master, Devil Dinosaur.
[edit] MODOK continuity conflicts
In Captain America and the Falcon, a flashback shows that story's MODOK as being an unnamed German AIM agent who was specifically transformed into a Mobile Organism Designed Only for Killing, and who was also the first subject for the process. This clashes with the George Tarleton origin. This could be a different, earlier MODOK that predates the Tarleton version; however, the story treats him as the regular MODOK, explicitly stated to have taken over AIM and fought Captain America in the past. It is most likely that the flashback is simply an error, and so it is counted here as MODOK II.
[edit] Powers and abilities
The following description is valid for all incarnations of MODOK, including his female counterparts.
MODOK has superhuman mental acumen. As a result of the mutagenic process he has undergone he is (in theory) capable of knowledge and comprehension beyond the human ability to understand. He is potentially capable of mastering every worldly subject and capable of adopting concepts completely foreign to his environment. His ability to predict probable outcomes of tactical and strategic scenarios is so advanced that it borders on clairvoyance.
In addition to extraordinary intelligence, MODOK has great psionic powers that enable him to mentally control large groups of people (provided they are weak minded), and with the assistance of his armor/flying platform he can use his psionic powers to fire a mind-beam. He is able to operate machinery such as his flying platform/armor with his thoughts alone.
MODOK has also designed a large number of sophisticated weapons, vehicles, computers, androids, and telescoping limbs for his armor. He even has a giant android body that is proportionally sized for his head. His armor/flying platform is designed based on magnetism. He has developed machinery that allows him to turn himself into data and "e-mail" himself to anywhere on Earth.
Despite MODOK's great powers, his effectiveness is greatly hampered by emotional instability and immaturity, sometimes to the point of making rash and dangerous decisions that belie his great intellect.
[edit] Alernate versions
[edit] Ultimate Marvel
The ultimate version of George Tarleton appears in Ultimate Vision #1, in which he tricks the Vision into activating the Gah Lak Tus module under the guise that they would order it to self destruct. Instead, he uses it to fire an energy beam at her and take control of the module, turning him into more of a monster (though not to the extent of his 616 counterpart). He then leads the Gah Lak Tus module back to Earth claiming that it has unfinished business there.
[edit] Marvel Adventures
The MODOC from the separate Marvel Adventures universe was created via a process he invented himself in order to increase his intelligence. The process can work on anyone, as he proves by temporarily turning the Avengers into beings like himself (they are later turned back.) Interestingly, this MODOC's name uses a new acronym, Mobile Organism Designed Only for Conquest. This makes sense as he is not shown ever killing anyone, but is interested in conquering the world.
[edit] Amalgam
During the Amalgamated reality that came abotu as a result of the conflict between the DC & Marvel Universes, MODOK was amalgamated with Hector Hammond to become H.E.C.T.O.R., (Highly Evolved Creature Totally Oriented on Revenge). He was an arch-nemesis of Iron Lantern (an Amalgamation of Iron man and Green lantern, and eventually absorbed into Oa, The Living Planet (an Amalgamation of Ego the Living Planet and Oa
[edit] Appearances in other media
[edit] Television
- In the 1994 Iron Man animated series, a much smaller MODOK served as one of the minions of the Mandarin. He was a scientist who sought to cure the criminal mind. His boss the Red Ghost increased his mind by 100 times. He soon fell in love and got married to a famous bikini model. The Red Ghost knew about the 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 relief, with his original backstory 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 Rabbit). He was voiced by Jim Cummings.
[edit] Video games
- MODOK appears in the video game Marvel: Ultimate Alliance where he is a member of Doctor Doom's Masters of Evil. He, along with A.I.M., takes 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, with questons like, "How far is the Earth from the Sun?" and "Which of these is not a sub-atomic particle?" 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. If the heroes win the quiz, MODOK accuses the heroes of cheating and battles them. If the heroes lose the quiz, MODOK's punishment is a battle. Either way, you have to fight him.
[edit] Parodies
- The villain Magnanimous from the animated show Megas XLR is modeled after MODOK with a touch of Bruce Campbell, who provides the character's voice.
- The villain Technor from the Disney animated series Teamo Supremo is modeled after MODOK, and his henchmen (the TechnoCreeps) are likewise similar to MODOK's minions at Advanced Idea Mechanics in their classic "bee-keeper" helmets.
[edit] Music
- The band Monster Magnet refers to MODOK in the song "Baby Götterdämerung" 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."
[edit] 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 toyline. 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.
[edit] Webcomics
- MODOK (with associates) makes an appearance in a 1999 strip of Bob the Angry Flower. [1]
[edit] External links
- The Journal of MODOK Studies
- There's Something About MODOK
- Mobile Organism Designed Only for Linking
[edit] Notes
- ^ Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. #12, Marvel Publishing, Inc., March 2007.
![[1]](http://www.angryflower.com/modoke.gif){kind=link}