As a child, Madam Macabre was saved from a Rickshaw accident by the Mandarin. Because she had been carrying an abacus instead of a doll, the Mandarin decided that she should be schooled by him. He sent her to a Buddhist school, where she studied for years, eventually developing her power to shrink inanimate objects. She wanted to team up with Giant-Man, seeing as he had the same power, but over living matter. When he refused, she trapped him, trying to force him to reveal the secrets of his powers. She was finally defeated by the combined powers of Giant-Man and the Wasp.