During a clash with powerful Soviet super-agent Omega Red, Katu lost both of his arms. Swearing revenge, Katu equipped himself with bionic arms and joined the Acolytes. He seized upon an opportunity for vengeance, and he and the other Acolytes briefly aligned themselves with Cable to stop Omega Red. In the ensuing battle with his archenemy, Katu unleashed his powers, causing a blast that seemingly killed him and Omega Red. Both survived, but it remained unclear what ill effect, if any, Katu suffered from turning his explosive power on himself.
Katu died in the Genosha attack, and was later resurrected by the Transmode virus from Selene, along with some other Acolytes.
A 'living satellite dish', Katu is able to siphon off a portion of the Earth's electromagnetic field, converting it into discharges of destructive force while creating a vacuum in the environment that causes inter-atmospheric anomalies, counteracting natural weather phenomena. A running gag from his earlier appearances is that his powers were never shown on panel because of their complicated explanation. Cyclops remarked as he blasted Katu in Excalibur 72 that someday he'd like to see Katu use his powers.