MORTICOCCUS

Real Name: Morticoccus

Class: Parallel Earth (Earth-AD) bacteria mutant

Occupation: Bacteria

Group Affiliation: None

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Tracking Site, Central America, Earth-AD

First Appearance: Kamandi #9 (September, 1973)

Powers: Morticoccus was an immense semi-intelligent bacteria deadly to almost all animal life.

History: (Kamandi #9, 10) - In the aftermath of the nuclear Great Disaster most of humanity perished, and the majority of survivors devolved into feral savages, while animals evolved intelligence. Misfit was from a group of mutants who retained normal intelligence and were immune to radiation. They were born with their powers after a series of experiments by Hiram Boxer and the Planners, who hoped their offspring could survive Earth-AD. Unlike his compatriots Misfit was severely deformed, having useless limbs and a grotesquely distorted head. Mutants Ben Boxer, Renzi and Steve, along with their friend Kamandi, returned to Tracking Site after a survey, only to find that Misfit had taken mental control of the Servitek robots that ran Tracking Site. Serviteks ambushed them, paralyzing Ben, Renzi and Steve with a para-shock ray. Misfit intended to try out his mind control powers on them next. The Serviteks restrained Kamandi and Misfit showed him his batch of Morticoccus, the deadliest bacteria known to man. It had wiped out all the non-mutant members of Tracking Site, and he planned to use it to control the fate of Earth. Kamandi shoved Misfit into Tracking Site's electric control, disabling him, but also the laseron that controlled the nearby Bat-Men. The Bat-Men were free to attack Tracking Site, and Misfit revived Ben and the other mutants, telling them that if the Bat-Men damaged the Morticoccus container it would mean the end of life on Earth. Misfit was mauled by the Bats, and Kamandi took him to safety, placing him behind a steel door. Thousands of Bats poured in, despite Ben and the mutants best try at fighting them off, and they decided Tracking Site had to be abandoned. They realized Misfit was in the same room as the Morticoccus, and he was once again in control. He allowed only Kamandi in the room before shutting the door with his telekinesis, and bragged that when Morticoccus was released only he and his fellow mutants would inherit the Earth. He showed Kamandi a film of Morticoccus ravaging the humans from Tracking Site, infecting and killing Ben's father Hiram. Ben used a shaft beneath the room to rescue Kamandi, and they proceeded to activate the Site's magnetic-repulsion engine, sending it into space as they escaped on a hover-jet. Morticoccus escaped its' prison, driven to end any life it found, killing Misfit and the Bats, but it was destined to starve in space with no more life to infect.

Comments: Created by Jack Kirby.

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