Chemistro

Three characters have taken the moniker of thesupervillainChemistroappearing inAmerican comic bookspublished byMarvel Comics.

Publication history

The Curtis Carr incarnation of Chemistro first appeared inLuke Cage, Hero for Hire#12 and was created by writerSteve Englehartand artistGeorge Tuska.

The Archibald Morton incarnation of Chemistro first appeared inPower Man#37 and was created by writerMarv Wolfmanand artistRon Wilson.

The Calvin Carr incarnation of Chemistro first appeared inPower Man and Iron Fist#93 and was created by writerKurt Busiekand artistErnie Chan.

Fictional character biography

Curtis Carr

Chemistro
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Luke Cage, Hero For Hire#12 (Aug. 1973)
Created by	Steve Englehart(writer) George Tuska(artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Curtis Carr
Species	Human mutate
Team affiliations	Stark Industries
Notable aliases	High-Tech
Abilities	Gifted research scientist Highly skilled inventor Wields alchemy gun and a "nullifier" rifle Ability to transmute substances through contact with his left hand (As High-Tech): Wears armored exoskeleton suit Use of various devices

Curtis Carr is a chemist fromKansas City, Kansaswho created an "alchemy gun" capable of transmuting matter. Company president Horace Claymore is impressed until Curtis voices his intent to keep the device. Claymore argues that since the gun was made on company time, it belongs to Mainstream. When Claymore fires him, Curtis becomes Chemistro to get revenge and extort his former employers.

During a battle withLuke Cage,Chemistro accidentally fires his alchemy gun at his right foot, turning it to steel and eventually disintegrating it.Carr is turned over to the police, where his cellmate Arch Morton forces him into revealing the secrets of his gun. Morton later becomes the second Chemistro, and Carr invents a "nullifier" device to help Cage stop him.

Curtis's alchemy gun is later stolen by his younger brother Calvin, who becomes the third Chemistro. Curtis aided Cage andIron Fistin defeating Calvin.

Later, Curtis finds work at a division of Stark Enterprises as a research scientist and Director of Research and Development at Stark Prosthetics in Denver, Colorado, creating a prosthesis to replace his missing foot.

Archibald Morton

Chemistro II
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Power Man#37 (Nov. 1976)
Created by	Marv Wolfman(writer) Ron Wilson(artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Archibald Morton
Species	Human mutate
Abilities	Ability to transmute substances through contact with his left hand

Archibald Morton was born inSheridan, Wyoming,and became a professional criminal and was sent to prison. He forced Curtis Carr to reveal the secret of his alchemy gun while they were cellmates. Upon leaving prison, Morton attempts to replicate the gun, but it explodes in his hand, granting him the ability to transmute substances via touch.He battled Luke Cage on behalf of the Baron. Morton is ultimately apprehended, thanks in large part to the help of the original Chemistro.

Calvin Carr

Chemistro III
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Power Man and Iron Fist#93 (June 1983)
Created by	Kurt Busiek(writer) Ernie Chan(artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Calvin Carr
Species	Human
Team affiliations	Mandarin's Minions Flashmob
Abilities	Wields alchemy wrist-blasters

Curtis' younger brother Calvin Carr stole the alchemy gun and took the Chemistro name.He embarked on a criminal career and battled Luke Cage and Iron Fist. Curtis intervened, and helped the heroes foil his brother's plans.

TheWizardlater converts the gun into gauntlets and sends Chemistro and theWreckerto attackIron ManandJim Rhodesduring the "Acts of Vengeance"storyline.Curtis helped the heroes, and Calvin destroyed Curtis' other foot, but gave up when he was defeated by Iron Man.

Calvin has been hired byThe Hoodto take advantage of the split in the superhero community caused by the Superhuman Registration Act.

Chemistro informs The Hood of a plot byOwlto sellDeathlok,which he stole from S.H.I.E.L.D., to the highest bidder. As Owl had not gained permission from his new crime syndicate, The Hood decides to gatecrash the auction. SendingMadame Masque,theCrimson Cowl,theWizard,andJonas Harrowas proxies, he effortlessly ambushes and dispatches the Owl.

John King and The Hood reconvene in the back room of a run-down bar where they are confronted by a curiousWolverinewho overhears their plans to run Deathlok through the lobby of Avengers Tower. They escape by shooting Wolverine and assuming the form of the Nistanti who originally owned his hood.

Chemistro suggests that they change their plan and instead use Deathlok to rob a federal reserve bank under theBaxter Building.In the process they gain over 15 million in cash and lose Deathlok in the ensuing chaos. He helped them fight the New Avengers but was taken down by Doctor Strange.

InSecret Invasion,he is one among many supervillains who rejoined the Hood's crime syndicate and attacked an invadingSkrullforce.

He joins with the Hood's gang in an attack on the New Avengers, who were expecting theDark Avengersinstead.He later orchestrates a power-draining trap that was meant for the Dark Avengers only to end up having the New Avengers in his trap.Chemistro was seen during theSiegeofAsgardas part of the Hood crime syndicate.Later Calvin is shown to be arrested, along with other members of the Hood's gang, by the U.S. Army.

During theShadowlandstoryline, Chemistro was seen as member of Flashmob (a group of former opponents of Luke Cage consisting ofCheshire Cat,Comanche,Dontrell "Cockroach" Hamilton,Mr. FishII, andSpear) when they confront the newPower Manon the rooftop. Although Chemistro used his alchemy gun to free Iron Fist and Luke Cage, he was knocked out by Power Man and incarcerated at Ryker's Island. However,Deadly Nightshade's solicitorBig Ben Donovanarranged for him to be released.

During theSpider-Islandstoryline, Chemistro is among the villains infected by theJackaland given spider powers. He alongside Cheshire Cat, Commanche,Cottonmouth,Cockroach Hamilton,Mr. FishII,Nightshade,and Spear ended up fightingHeroes for Hire.

Chemistro is among the Iron Man villains recruited byMandarinandZeke Staneto participate in a plot to take down Iron Man.Chemistro tried to kill Tony Stark (who had to take his armor away for legal issues) alongsideMauler.The new Iron Man arrived and saved Stark, but also killed Chemistro in the act.

Powers and abilities

Curtis Carr is a gifted research scientist, with advanced degrees in chemistry, physics, and mechanical engineering. He is a highly skilled inventor and built his alchemy gun, which fires radiation able to transmute any substance into any other form of matter. He also built a "nullifier" rifle which is able to neutralize and reverse the effects of the alchemy gun, and Arch Morton's transmutation powers. The devices are cybernetically linked to the user, enabling him to work any transformation he can imagine. The transformed material usually turns to dust after exposure to heat or after a certain amount of time. Therefore, his alchemy gun cannot be used merely to transmute substances, such as turning lead or rock into gold. As High-Tech, Carr employed an armored exoskeleton suit and various devices of his own invention.

Archibald Morton was granted the ability to transmute substances by the touch of his left hand in a similar fashion after his experimental version of the alchemy gun exploded.

Calvin Carr used a set of wrist-blasters designed by theWizard,which functioned in an identical manner as his brother's alchemy gun.

Other versions

An alternate universe variant of Calvin Carr / Chemistro from Earth-58163 appears inHouse of M:Masters of Evilas a member of theHood'sMasters of Evil.

In other media

The Curtis Carr incarnation of Chemistro appears inThe Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes,voiced byNolan North.This version is a member of theMasters of Evilbefore theEnchantressbetrays him, steals his alchemy gun, and transforms him into gold. He is stated to be alive while being taken into custody, which writerChristopher Yostlater confirmed.

External links

• Chemistro Iat The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
• Chemistro IIat The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
• Chemistro IIIat The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe