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Quote1 I became what I had wanted to become -- I became Mister Hyde! Quote2
Mister Hyde[src]

History

Calvin Zabo (Earth-616) from Sensational Spider-Man Vol 2 36 001

Early Life[]

Dr. Calvin Zabo 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 Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 classic, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. He was convinced that the experiment in the story could actually be performed[7] (and indeed Jekyll's story was a true one,[8] although it had been reported as a fiction), 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 Dr. 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.[7]

Mr. Hyde[]

Zabo was eventually successful in creating the Hyde 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 vast 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. In response, Hyde began committing robberies disguised as Thor.[7] He next kidnapped Donald Blake and Jane Foster and even though he was once again defeated by Thor, he managed to escape because Foster had hidden Thor's hammer, fearing that if Hyde was captured, Blake would be killed by a time bomb Hyde had set.[9]

Daisy Johnson[]

At some point Hyde fathered a daughter with a prostitute named Kim Johnson. The girl Daisy, was put up for adoption after birth, subsequently manifesting superpowers due to her mother's Inhuman lineage.[10] She eventually became a member of S.H.I.E.L.D. under the codename of Quake.

Partnership with Cobra[]

Hyde went into business as a full time professional super criminal and partnered himself with the Cobra to get revenge upon Thor.[11] With the Cobra, he was employed by Loki to kidnap Jane Foster, and they battled Thor again, but were defeated even though Loki had doubled their power.[12]

Hyde and Cobra were among the many costumed menaces assembled by Doctor Doom to disrupt the wedding of Reed Richards and Susan Storm.[13]

Hyde and the Cobra next battled Daredevil.[14] They then teamed with the original Jester against Daredevil.[15]

Teaming with the Cobra again, Hyde attempted to acquire Cagliostro's serum.[16] While serving in prison following this failed attempt, Hyde was ensnared by the mind control power of the Purple Man, and forced to battle Daredevil in an arena alongside Cobra, the Jester, and the Gladiator.[17]

Eventually, tiring of their repeated failures, the Cobra elected to sever their partnership. He escaped from Ryker's Island, taking the time to taunt Hyde before leaving. Hyde never forgave him for the slight.[18]

Revenge[]

Teaming with Batroc, Hyde blackmailed New York City with a hijacked super-tanker. Hyde attempted to destroy the entire city in order to kill Cobra. Eventually, he was defeated by Captain America with Batroc's aid.[19]

Hyde then stalked Cobra seeking revenge, and this time battled Spider-Man.[20]

He was imprisoned again but escaped Ryker's Island, and stalked Cobra again, and battled Spider-Man and the Black Cat.[21]

Choosing to Be Human?[]

In the Financial District, Mr. Hyde battered several policemen and stole money from an armored car. The police pursued him; and Hyde prepared to take a potion and revert back to his less identifiable alter ego. However, the serum does not affect him. However, Hyde still escaped and made his way back to his Chinatown lab. Daredevil decided to find Hyde. He used his senses to smell Hyde and the chemicals from his lab. At Hyde's lab, the criminal finally found a serum to revert him to his human self. However, it will make him human forever. The effects of the serum would be irreversible. Hyde decided to become human forever. At that moment, Daredevil crashed into the lab and startled Hyde. Hyde did not take the serum and noted that he, now, does not want to become human. His past superhero pursuers would find him, and as he would be a weak human, he could no longer defend himself. The two battle and Daredevil eventually lures him to subway station. He is able to use his billy club to electrocute Hyde on one of the rails. Hyde is rendered unconscious and the police arrest the villain.[22]

Under Siege[]

Hyde later became a member of the fourth incarnation of the Masters of Evil. With the Masters of Evil, Hyde invaded Avengers Mansion. He tortured Black Knight and Edwin Jarvis. Working with Goliath and the Wrecking Crew, he nearly killed Hercules, but was defeated by the Avengers.[23]

The Vault[]

Hyde later attempted an escape from the Vault alongside Titania, Vibro, the Griffin, and Armadillo. He was defeated and recaptured by the Captain.[24][25]

He later eventually escaped from the Vault alongside the Wizard and others. Hyde was later defeated in combat by the Cobra.[26]

Hulk[]

Mr. Hyde attacked Dr. Bruce Banner on a moving train. Mr Hyde destroyed the roof allowing sun to flood the room and causing Hulk discomfort as he leaped to the roof, with Hulk pulling him through and the two beginning a brawl in the car. Hulk then threw Hyde from the train who grabbed the caboose as he fell forcing the Hulk to catch and save it, and after Hyde fell he managed to pull the car back up, but falls to the river below.[2] After his escaped he went to Canada and battled Alpha Flight.[27]

At the wedding of Rick Jones and Marlo Chandler with a number of unexpected guests show up including Mr. Hyde. He received head trauma that limited his ability to transform.[28]

Jack Flag[]

Jack Flag was offered a chance to join the Serpent Society by stealing a painting from an old partner. He agreed and broke into the mansion. Only to be confronted by Mr. Hyde. After getting soaked in chemicals containing the Hyde Formula. Jack discovered he is strong enough and took down Mr. Hyde.[29]

Mr. Hyde attended the wedding of Absorbing Man and Titania.[30]

Defended by Matt Murdock[]

Mr. Hyde battled Daredevil again, he was defeated and arrested. However it is revealed that Matt Murdock himself would have to defend him. After a battle with Pyro where he learns that Hyde is innocent of the crime, Matt agreed to take the case. Matt and Foggy began to prepare their defense of Mr. Hyde. Matt Murdock was supposed to be in court defending Mr. Hyde but was captured by the Enforcers. Daredevil escaped and captured the Eel, proving that he is responsible for the murder for which Mr. Hyde has been charged.[31]

Hotel Brawl[]

Rejected by the New World Order Mr. Hyde went to Manhattan to track them down and get the money owed him. Peter spotted Hyde's alter ego Calvin Zabo checking into the hotel. Having left his costume at home, Peter grabbed Phil Urich's hooded sweatshirt to hide his face and investigates. Instead, he ends up in a brawl with Hyde that leads right into the party. Hyde finally decided his opponent is his old partner, the Cobra, and eventually withdraws, right into the waiting police force.[32]

Shortly after he had several run-ins with the Ghost Rider in which he was defeated with the Penance Stare.[33][34][35]

Iron Man[]

Mr. Hyde was sent to attack Iron Man, to make sure the bomb attached to him would blow up. They fought for a while and Tony managed to outsmart him and beat him.[36]

The Raft[]

Zabo was held in the Raft for some time. When a prison break was caused by the villain, Electro, Zabo emerged in his Hyde persona and fought with Daredevil and was knocked unconscious by Luke Cage.[37] Hyde briefly helped the symbiote-bonded Toxin track Cobra after a prison escape by providing a piece of skin for the symbiote to track.[38]

Young Avengers[]

At one point, Zabo was discovered by the Young Avengers to be selling a derivative of his Hyde formula on the street as one of the various illegal substances known as Mutant Growth Hormone.[39]

Civil War[]

Zabo grafted abilities similar to the powers of Spider-Man onto homeless teenagers.[40] After Spider-Man revealed his identity during the Civil War, Zabo sought to recreate the circumstances of Spider-Man's "birth", by taking in orphans off the street, imbuing them with spider-powers, and seeing whether or not the teenagers would give in to their darker impulses.[3] During the ensuing battle with Spider-Man, Hyde pulled webbing off his face, taking his eyelids with it, and was hit in the face with hydrochloric acid, courtesy of one of his own guinea pigs. He was left blinded and his face was ruined as a result. Dr. Curt Connors later aided Spider-Man in a cure for Calvin, one of Zabo's test subjects.[41]

The Hood[]

The Hood hired him as part of his criminal organization to take advantage of the split in the superhero community caused by the Superhuman Registration Act. Later. along with Cobra, Firebrand and Mauler, he attacked Yellowjacket, Constrictor and other Initiative staff and trainees.[42]

Mister Hyde worked with Boomerang, Tiger Shark, and Whirlwind to manipulate Venom into procuring Norman Osborn's fortunes. This was thwarted by Venom and Green Goblin as Norman threw a bomb into Mister Hyde's mouth causing him to spit out blood. Norman Osborn then warned Mister Hyde and the villains that if they crossed him again, he would kill everyone that they ever loved before they were tortured to death.[43][44][45][46]

Lethal Legion[]

Mr. Hyde was recruited in the Grim Reaper's Lethal Legion.[47] The team later battled Hawkeye.[48]

Bucky and Black Widow confronted the escaping Mr. Hyde. Taking out his goons, Hyde is compelled to run. Observing the fight, Captain America caught Bucky's shield-throw, using it to break Hyde's glass jaw.[49]

Calvin Zabo (Earth-616) Marc Spector (Earth-616) Moon Knight Vol 6 1

Moon Knight fights Hyde

Moon Knight[]

At the docks, Moon Knight spied two armed henchmen, making a pick-up for a mysterious employer. They approach Mr. Hyde, who demands payment. When it is not given, he killed the two men. Moon Knight attacked and the fight moved onto Hyde's boat, and Moon Knight discovered that Hyde was selling a dead Ultron. He made off with the Ultron's head, diving into the water. The henchmen's employer appeared above the boat as Moon knight dived deeper. He refused to pay Hyde, in return for killing the henchmen. He attacked with a massive burst of energy and absconded with the rest of the Ultron body.[50]

Traveling to the Past[]

Calvin Zabo (Earth-616) from Thunderbolts Vol 1 159 001

Hyde was recruited into the Thunderbolt's Beta Team.[51]

He escaped together with several other inmates who were members of the Thunderbolts. Due to a failure of the teleportation technology of their tower (caused by Man-Thing), the tower began to move in time as well as in space. They ended up in World War II teaming up with the Invaders to battle the Nazis[52]

They next end up in Victorian London where the presence of the Satana awoke the Iceni. They possessed local street walkers and Satana with the help of Mr Hyde slew the creatures killing the women in the progress. This lead to Mr. Hyde revealed to be "Jack the Ripper" allowing history to follow course.[53]

They go even further back in time ending up in King Arthur's court in Camelot.[54] They eventually bounced back to the time of the original Zemo lead Thunderbolts team.[55] After the Fixer killed his younger self this began to cause a collapse in reality which forced Fixer to assume his younger self's place. Zabo returned to the future with the rest of the Thunderbolts.[56]

Ghost Rider[]

Mr. Hyde had battled the new Ghost Rider, Roberto Reyes, after building a criminal empire and trying to take over East Los Angeles.[57] Mr. Hyde also worked with mercenaries of a drug cartel to form an Urban Alliance, which he prepared to use to finish off Grumpy's Gang, when their leader suddenly took some mysterious pills, secretly derived from the Hyde Formula, and mutated into a massive, hulking creature.[58] The Ghost Rider subdued the gang's leader after a brutal fight,[59] and was subsequently confronted by Mr. Hyde. Zabo was initially defeated,[60] causing Ghost Rider to become a protector in the eyes of local residents, though the threat did not end there as Zabo next sought new allies.[61]

Avengers: Standoff![]

Mister Hyde was later apprehended by S.H.I.E.L.D. and placed in Pleasant Hill which served as the most unlikeliest of prisons[62] where the prisoners were transformed into mild-mannered versions of themselves by the sentient Cosmic Cube Kobik.[63] Hyde and the other prisoners were returned to normal by Baron Zemo and the Fixer and joined Zemo in an assault to take over the town.[64][65] The takeover was eventually halted by the Avengers, Avengers Unity Division, and S.H.I.E.L.D. reinforcements.[66] While not shown, it can be presumed that Mister Hyde was defeated and transferred to a different prison.

Secret Empire[]

Hyde eventually joined Baron Zemo's Army of Evil,[67] aiding them in Hydra's takeover of the United States by launching an attack on Manhattan to lure out many of the nation’s superheroes so Zemo and Blackout could trap them behind an impenetrable Darkforce dome.[68] Hyde later led a Hydra force into the Inhuman city of New Attilan to take it over and began arresting the Inhumans living there.[69]

Hyde was one of the few members of the Army of Evil that wasn't put in stasis by Hydra.[70] Instead, Hyde was put in charge of managing the detention facilities where the Inhumans were placed in as Hydra rounded them up if they failed to register with the government or posed a threat.[71] Months later, Hyde led a Hydra force against his daughter Quake and a ragtag team of Inhumans she assembled.[72]

With assistance from Hydra's Avengers, Quake and her team were captured and taken aboard a Hydra Helicarrier. Quake managed to cripple the Helicarrier with her seismic powers forcing Hyde and his force to evacuate, but not before capturing Quake's teammate Moon Girl.[73]

Hyde took Moon Girl and another Inhuman, Leer, whom Quake's team was searching for, to New Attilan where he kept them prisoner. The Warriors learned where Moon Girl was being held and head to New Attilan to rescue her. The Warriors then led a prison uprising against Hydra. Hyde escaped in a Hydra Jumpship with Quake as his prisoner. He tried to convince her to join forces with him, but before he could make a deal, the Warriors knocked his ship out of the air. After Hyde emerged from the wrecked aircraft, Karnak struck Hyde's pressure points, leaving Hyde immobilized for the next 10 days.[74]

Ravencroft[]

Hyde was later transferred to the newly built Ravencroft Institute.[75] While there, he developed an obsession with the institute's security consultant John Jameson. One day, he grabbed Jameson and tried to get him to transform into the Man-Wolf for his amusement. Hyde was quickly subdued by Jameson's fellow staff member Misty Knight and taken to solitary confinement.[76]

Still obsessed with Jameson, Hyde was from his cell in solitary by Ravencroft consultant Norman Osborn and gave him a shiv, wanting him to kill Jameson, though Osborn actually hoped Jameson would transform into Man-Wolf. When Hyde attacked Jameson, Jameson was able to stop Hyde's attack. After Hyde backhanded Misty Knight when she tried to stop him, Hyde was tackled by institute guard Dennis Dunphy and prisoner Grizzly. However, Hyde's shiv accidentally hit Dunphy in the chest. Hyde was then subdued by prison guards.[77] When a group of vampires took over Ravencroft shortly afterward, all of the inmates were set free, including Mister Hyde.[78]

Hyde's Downfall[]

Some time later, Zabo struck a deal with an elusive mercenary known as The Sokovian, who offered Zabo ten million dollars in Mutant Growth Hormone in exchange for passage out of the United States. Their meeting was interrupted by the new Punisher, Joe Garrison, who sought revenge on The Sokovian for the murder of his wife and children. After Joe dispatched Zabo's goons, Zabo transformed into Mister Hyde to try and kill the vigilante, nearly succeeding due to his superior strength, even though he lost one of his eyes to Joe in the process. Joe managed to gain the upper hand by stealing The Sokovian's suitcase of Mutant Growth Hormone, which he force-fed Hyde to overdose him. Although the dose seemed lethal,[6] Zabo resurfaced alive shortly afterward,[79] and was readmitted to Ravencroft.[80]

Attributes

Power Grid[88]
:Category:Power Grid/Fighting Skills/Experienced Fighter:Category:Power Grid/Energy Projection/None:Category:Power Grid/Durability/Enhanced:Category:Power Grid/Speed/Normal:Category:Power Grid/Strength/Superhuman (75-100 ton):Category:Power Grid/Intelligence/Genius

Powers

Calvin Zabo (Earth-616) from New Avengers Vol 1 2 001
  • Hyde Formula: Any and all superhuman attributes Zabo has are due to consuming a formula of his own design specifically to transform him into a superhumanly powerful being. By consuming different mixtures of his transformation potion, Calvin Zabo can transform back and forth from his alter-ego of Mister Hyde. The chemical process is hormonal in nature, causing the cells of his anatomy to instantly manufacture mutated hormones that induce a physical transformation encompassing his entire figure. The transformation is excruciating, taking about 30 seconds, adds 7 inches and approximately 235 lbs of muscle and bone tissue to his frame. Aside from his greater physical size, the transformation process also stretches his skin, particularly his face to the point that he has a permanent sneer. Due to the process, Zabo's fingerprints in both his normal and Hyde forms are different.[81] Zabo's body now produces the formula on its own and Fixer theorized that this could mean that his transformation could now be permanent.[82]
    • Superhuman Strength: Hyde possesses superhuman strength, but the exact limits of his strength changed regularly. He is constantly modifying and improving upon his formula, producing different results, including adding other elements such as MGH.[39] When his strength was measured around the time of the Masters of Evil strike on Avengers Mansion, he could lift (press) 50 tons.[81]
    • Superhuman Stamina: Hyde's advanced musculature generates considerably less fatigue toxins during physical activity than the musculature of an ordinary human. He can exert himself at peak capacity for about 24 hours before fatigue begins to impair him.[83]
    • Superhuman Durability: Hyde's body is much harder and more resistant to conventional physical injury than the body of a normal human. He can withstand high caliber bullets, falls from great heights, exposure to extreme temperatures and pressures, powerful energy blasts, and tremendous impact forces without sustaining injury.[83]
    • Healing Factor: While his body is highly durable, it is possible to injure him. If injured, his accelerated metabolism allows him to rapidly heal from mild to moderate injuries faster than a normal human. Ultimately, the full limits of his heightened healing abilities aren't known. However, it is believed that he is unable to fully regenerate severed limbs or missing organs should such injuries occur.[83]

Abilities

  • Genius Intelligence: Calvin Zabo is a gifted scientist and chemist. However, when transformed into Hyde, his intelligence decreases to within normal human ranges.[81]
  • Hand to Hand Combat: Hyde is a formidable hand to hand combatant, though he's had no formal training. He tends to rely on street fighting techniques that allow him to make full use of his great strength.[81]
  • Mr. Hyde can drive a truck (as long as he doesn't lose his temper and tears off the wheel).[24]

Weaknesses

  • Zabo originally had to ingest his formula on a regular basis in order to remain as Hyde, otherwise he would revert to his normal state after a certain amount of time. This is not 100% consistent, however, due to constant changes to the formula and Zabo's own bio-structure. At times he can trigger the change at will without using his formula, or has remained as Hyde indefinitely without reverting back or reapplying his formula.[84]
  • He is also less intelligent as Hyde and is prone to savage, almost bestial rages in which he becomes reckless.[20]
  • The Punisher and Henry Russo knocked him out by playing a song by Three Inches of Blood (real band with covers/arts by Rick Remender) through the external speakers of the ant helmet wore by the Punisher, looping it with feedback through Henry's mic. [85]

Paraphernalia

Equipment

  • Later in his criminal career, Zabo developed a wrist-mounted mechanism which delivers his formula directly into his bloodstream, allowing him to transform at will.[32]

Trivia

  • Mr. Hyde was a regular at the Bar With No Name.[86]
  • Captain America has stated that he considers Hyde to be a true monster as he is 'infinitely ruthless and cruel' as well as 'deriving sadistic pleasure from the pain and suffering of others.'[87]

See Also

Links and References

References

  1. Thunderbolts #166
  2. 2.0 2.1 Incredible Hulk #368
  3. 3.0 3.1 Sensational Spider-Man (Vol. 2) #36
  4. All-New Ghost Rider #8
  5. Captain America #367
  6. 6.0 6.1 Punisher (Vol. 14) #1
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Journey Into Mystery #99
  8. Supernatural Thrillers #4
  9. Journey Into Mystery #100101
  10. S.H.I.E.L.D. (Vol. 3) #7
  11. Journey Into Mystery #105106
  12. Journey Into Mystery #110111
  13. Fantastic Four Annual #3
  14. Daredevil #3032
  15. Daredevil #61
  16. Daredevil #142143
  17. Daredevil #153154
  18. Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #46
  19. Captain America #251252
  20. 20.0 20.1 Amazing Spider-Man #231232
  21. Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #8890
  22. Daredevil #235
  23. Avengers #273276
  24. 24.0 24.1 Captain America #340
  25. Iron Man #228
  26. Avengers: Death Trap, The Vault #1
  27. Alpha Flight #106
  28. Incredible Hulk #418
  29. Captain America #434436
  30. Avengers: Unplugged #4
  31. Daredevil #353357
  32. 32.0 32.1 Amazing Spider-Man #433
  33. Ghost Rider (Vol. 3) #4
  34. Ghost Rider (Vol. 3) #36
  35. Ghost Rider (Vol. 3) #55
  36. Iron Man (Vol. 3) #43
  37. New Avengers #2
  38. Toxin #1
  39. 39.0 39.1 Young Avengers #78
  40. Sensational Spider-Man (Vol. 2) #35
  41. Sensational Spider-Man (Vol. 2) #37
  42. New Avengers #35
  43. Thunderbolts: Reason in Madness #1
  44. Avengers: The Initiative #13
  45. Punisher (Vol. 8) #5
  46. New Avengers #56
  47. Dark Reign: Lethal Legion #13
  48. Hawkeye: Blind Spot #1
  49. Captain America: Who Will Wield the Shield? #1
  50. Moon Knight (Vol. 6) #1
  51. Thunderbolts #155162
  52. Thunderbolts #163165
  53. Thunderbolts #166167
  54. Thunderbolts #168169
  55. Thunderbolts #170172
  56. Thunderbolts #173
  57. All-New Ghost Rider #2
  58. All-New Ghost Rider #3
  59. All-New Ghost Rider #4
  60. All-New Ghost Rider #5
  61. All-New Ghost Rider #6
  62. Howling Commandos of S.H.I.E.L.D. #6
  63. Avengers Standoff: Welcome to Pleasant Hill #1
  64. Captain America: Sam Wilson #8
  65. Avengers Standoff: Assault On Pleasant Hill Alpha #1
  66. Avengers Standoff: Assault On Pleasant Hill Omega #1
  67. Captain America: Steve Rogers #13
  68. Secret Empire #0
  69. Secret Warriors (Vol. 2) #2
  70. Secret Empire #9
  71. Captain America: Steve Rogers #17
  72. Secret Warriors (Vol. 2) #3
  73. Secret Warriors (Vol. 2) #4
  74. Secret Warriors (Vol. 2) #5
  75. Ruins of Ravencroft: Dracula #1
  76. Ravencroft #1
  77. Ravencroft #3
  78. Ravencroft #4
  79. Daredevil (Vol. 8) #5
  80. Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 6) #45
  81. 81.0 81.1 81.2 81.3 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (Vol. 2) #8
  82. Thunderbolts #174
  83. 83.0 83.1 83.2 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Master Edition #12
  84. See Mr. Hyde's stint with the Thunderbolts.
  85. Punisher Vol 8 #5.
  86. Spider-Man's Tangled Web #13
  87. New Avengers Most Wanted Files #1
  88. Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Vol 1 7
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