Mister Hyde (comics)

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Mr. Hyde


Mister Hyde.
Cover to Amazing Spider-Man #232.
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance Journey into Mystery #99 (Dec 1963)
Created by Stan Lee
Don Heck
Characteristics
Alter ego Dr. Calvin Zabo
Affiliations N/A, Cobra (longtime partner), Scorpion, Batroc's Brigade (quit almost immediately), Masters of Evil IV, Jester
Abilities Superhuman strength, physical resistance and endurance,
Genius intelligence

Mister Hyde (Calvin Zabo) is a Marvel Comics supervillain. He first was an enemy of Thor, then an enemy of Daredevil. His first appearance was in Journey into Mystery #99, 1963.

Contents

[edit] Character biography

Calvin Zabo was born in Trenton, New Jersey. He was a morally abject but brilliant medical researcher who was fascinated by the effect of hormones on human physiology. One of his favorite stories was Stevenson's 1886 classic, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. He was convinced that the experiment in the story could actually be performed and obsessed with the idea of unleashing his full bestial nature in a superhuman form. However, he needed money to do this so he robbed his various employers systematically. Though too intelligent to be caught, the medical community was suspicious of his tendency to always be employed by organizations which were subsequently robbed.

He sought work as a surgeon in a hospital where Donald Blake was a directing physician, yet Blake would not allow him a job due to his history. Zabo was enraged that Blake would not give him the position, even though he did indeed intend to rob the organization. He swore revenge on Blake. He was eventually successful in creating his formula, and turned into a huge, Hulk-like creature he called "Mister Hyde", named after the Mr. Hyde in the book. In this new form he found he had superhuman strength enabling him to crush cars and tear through steel as though it were made of cardboard. With his new superhuman powers he sought out Blake, who transformed into Thor and beat him senseless.

He went into business as a full time super criminal and partnered himself with the Cobra. The two frequently fought Thor, Spider-Man and Daredevil and were essentially inept criminals. Eventually, tiring to their repeated failures, the Cobra elected to sever their partnership. He escaped from Riker's Island, taking the time to taunt Hyde before leaving. Hyde has never forgiven him for the slight and has attempted to kill him on several occasions, coming into conflict with Spider-Man and Captain America. He also was a member of the Masters of Evil IV.

Hyde briefly helped the symbiote-bonded Toxin track Cobra after a prison escape by providing a piece of skin for the symbiote to track.

Most recently, Zabo has gone on to begin to graft abilities similar to the powers of Spider-Man to homeless teenagers. Why he is doing this is unknown, but in all probability it has something to do with the fallout from the Marvel Civil War event.

[edit] Powers and abilities

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The process that transforms Dr. Calvin Zabo into his Mr. Hyde persona is a hormonal one.[citation needed] As his body adjusted to its new form, Mr. Hyde's strength increased, making it possible for him to engage beings as powerful as Thor in head-to-head combat and survive. Through further experimental procedures over the years, his strength has been increased even further.

Due to the nature of the transformation Hyde's skin is warped giving his face a look that is reminiscent of the Lon Chaney Sr. make-up used in the Phantom of the Opera black and white film.

Dr. Calvin Zabo is a brilliant medical research scientist, although these skills are lost on his Hyde persona.

[edit] Elseworlds

Mr. Hyde appeared in the Elseworlds Batman/Daredevil crossover book. Two-Face partnered with Hyde for a series of technological robberies. In truth, Two-Face had implanted Hyde's brain with the material needed to "grow" an experimental "organic" computer chip, and fed Hyde pills to keep him enraged. Once grown, the chip would kill Hyde. Hyde berates Two-Face, proud he has abandoned his past as Zabo and insults Two-Face for hanging onto his Harvey Dent side, as well as using a coin to decide between right and wrong. Two-Face is glad the process will kill Hyde. In the end, Daredevil uses his past friendship with Dent to talk Two-Face into supplying the antidote for the chip, which saves Hyde's life.

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] Appearances in other media

Mr. Hyde appears as a boss character in the 1996 video game, Iron Man and X-O Manowar in Heavy Metal.

[edit] External links

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