Chemistro

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Three characters have taken the moniker of the supervillain Chemistro appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Publication history

The Curtis Carr version of Chemistro first appeared in Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #12 and was created by writer Steve Englehart and artist George Tuska.

The Archibald Morton version of Chemistro first appeared in Power Man #37 and was created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist Ron Wilson.

The Calvin Carr version of Chemistro first appeared in Power Man and Iron Fist #93 and was created by writer Kurt Busiek and artist Ernie Chan.

Fictional character biography

Curtis Carr

Curtis Carr was born in Kansas City, Kansas. While working as a chemist and research scientist for Mainstream Motors, he created an "alchemy gun" capable of transmuting matter from one form to another by an unknown process. Company president Horace Claymore was impressed until Curtis voiced his intent to keep the device. Claymore argued that since the gun was made on company time, it belonged to Mainstream. When Claymore fired him, Curtis adopted the persona of Chemistro to gain revenge and to extort his former employers.

In combat with Luke Cage, Chemistro accidentally fired his alchemy gun at his right foot, turning it to steel and eventually disintegrating it due to the unstable nature of the transmutation.^[1] Carr was turned over to the police, and in prison was beaten by his cellmate Arch Morton into revealing how the alchemy gun worked. Morton took on the Chemistro persona, and Carr invented a "nullifier" device which enabled Cage to defeat Morton.^[2]

Curtis's alchemy gun was later stolen by his younger brother Calvin, who became the third Chemistro. Curtis aided Cage and

Later, Curtis came to 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. Stark Prosthetics ended up attacked by the Wrecker during the "Acts of Vengeance" storyline when the Kingpin sent him to attack Iron Man. Curtis aided Iron Man and Jim Rhodes against the Wrecker and Calvin, although Calvin destroyed Curtis' left foot, forcing him to build another prostheses.^[4]

Archibald Morton

Archibald "Arch" Morton was born in Sheridan, 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 attempted to replicate the alchemy gun, but it exploded in his hand, granting him superhuman powers and enabling him to transmute substances via touch. He battled Luke Cage on behalf of the Baron. Morton was ultimately apprehended, thanks in large part to the help of the original Chemistro.^[2]

Calvin Carr

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.^[5]

Calvin's alchemy gun was turned into wrist blasters by the Wizard who sent him and the Wrecker to attack Iron Man and Jim Rhodes during 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.^[4]

Calvin has been hired by The Hood to take advantage of the split in the superhero community caused by the Superhuman Registration Act.^[6]

Chemistro informs The Hood of a plot by

John King and The Hood reconvene in the back room of a run-down bar where they are confronted by a curious Wolverine who 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 the Baxter 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.

In Secret Invasion, he is one among many supervillains who rejoined the Hood's crime syndicate and attacked an invading Skrull force.^[7]

He joins with the Hood's gang in an attack on the New Avengers, who were expecting the Dark Avengers instead.^[8] 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.^[9] Chemistro was seen during the Siege of Asgard as part of the Hood crime syndicate.^[10] Later Calvin is shown to be arrested, along with other members of the Hood's gang, by the U.S. Army.^[11]

During the