LEONID VASSILOV

Real Name: Leonid Vassilov

Class: Parallel Earth (Earth-AD) human mutate

Occupation: Cosmonaut

Group Affiliation: None

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Soyuz X, formerly Soviet Union, Earth-AD

First Appearance: Kamandi #35 (November, 1975)

Powers: Vassilov’s body was completely malleable, and he could stretch it to great lengths and alter his shape. His body was extremely durable and could secrete acid.

History: (Kamandi #35) - Leonid Vassilov and another cosmonaut were sent in space aboard Soyuz X by the USSR, with orders to launch a doomsday device, an orbital bomb, if the U.S. ever declared war on the Soviet Union. The Great Disaster destroyed most of humanity, and Vassilov mistook the explosions he saw from space as a nuclear war between the US and USSR. His fellow cosmonaut despaired thta everyone they knew and loved was probably dead, but Vassilov was determined to carry out his orders to the end, like a soldier. As he prepared to activate the doomsday device shockwaves and radiation form Earth hit Soyuz X. Vassilov’s companion died, but Vassilov, who practiced yoga, calmed himself and slowed his heartbeat to a crawl, enabling him to survive. Vassilov spent years in a near-catatonic state, and the radiation that hit him affected his body, turning it nearly amorphous inside his space suit. Survivors of the Great Disaster Kamandi and Dr. Canus were exploring space in their extraterrestrial friend Pyra’s UFO when they spotted Soyuz X and boarded it. Pyra sensed Vassilov was alive and used her energy powers to get his heart beating again. The awakened Vassilov was still singlemindedly  determined to carry out his mission. He attacked Canus and Kamandi, but a burst of flame from Pyra forced him to retreat. Pyra found the craft’s recording of Vassilov witnessing the Great Disaster, and when Vassilov tried to attack them again Pyra burned a whole in the hull of the craft and exited with Kamandi and Canus, returning them to her UFO. Vassilov found the doomsday device wrecked, but nonetheless fumbled with it, intent on trying to repair it. Even though it was likely impossible to get the weapon operation Vassilov was determined to work uselessly at it forever.

Comments: Created by Jack Kirby.