New Men

NEW MEN

First Appearance: Thor #132
Base of Operations: Citadel of Science, Mount Wundagore, Transia; formerly the starship New Wundagore and the planets Counter-Earth and Wundagore II

History: In 1930, the brilliant English geneticist Herbert Wyndham began to experiment with his radioactive Isotope A to “evolve” (mutate) animals into a more advanced form, possessing the capacity for human speech, and be able to stand upright and rasp human tools. Wyndham’s first subject was his pet Dalmatian, Dempsey. However the Dalmatian escaped Wyndham’s laboratory, and was shot by a panicked man. Wyndham realized that his experiments had no place among humankind, and temporarily halted his tests. Aided by his mysterious ally Phaeder, an Inhuman geneticist, Wyndham set up his secluded base at Mount Wundagore in Transia, where he built the Citadel of Science with the help of his friend Jonathan Drew and subterranean slaves provided by Phaeder.

In 1932, Wyndham resumed his experiments using Isotope B. Assisted by Miles Warren, he began to mutate a number of animals into what he called “the New Men.” The first New Men included Tagar, a tiger; Porga, a pig; and Bova, a cow. He began to educate them at the citadel and treated them as his own children. Wyndham adopted a new identity as the High Evolutionary, lord of Mount Wundagore. When Jonathan Drew was possessed by the sorcerer Magus, Wyndham was alerted to the threat of the demon Chthon, who dwelled mystically within Mount Wundagore. To prepare for Chthon’s coming, the High Evolutionary trained his New Men for combat, dubbing them the Knights of Wundagore and granting them titles of nobility. The Knights of Wundagore were given armor, advanced weaponry, and atomic steeds (one-man flying vehicles).

When Chthon finally appeared in 1958, the Knights of Wundagore helped hold off the demon until Magnus could drive it away. That night, Chthon secretly bonded to the infant Wanda, twin sister to Pietro, born via midwife Bova to Magda, a woman the High Evolutionary sheltered at Mount Wundagore. When Magda vanished soon after the twins’ birth, the High Evolutionary and Sir Porga sought new parents, eventually giving the twins to the gypsies Django and Marya Maximoff.

The High Evolutionary had a falling out with Miles Warren when Warren attempted to usurp his authority. Warren mutated a jackal into a New Man, but the creature escaped Wundagore and eventually terrorized the outside world. The High Evolutionary cast Warren out, but Warren had amassed followers among the New Men, claiming that he could grant them perfect human forms. Warren eventually adopted the costumed identity of the Jackal, and the Cult of the Jackal sprang up around him.

Intending to prepare for the New Men’s eventual introduction to the outside world, the High Evolutionary brought Nurse Jane Foster to Wundagore in recent years to be the New Men’s teacher. Thor arrived in pursuit of Jane, interrupting the High Evolutionary as he experimented on a wolf with his new Isotope C. The wolf was exposed to the isotope for too long, and transformed into the evil Man-Beast, immediately leading a rebellion of New Men that it had created against the High Evolutionary’s forces. Thor helped defeat the Man-Beast, and the High Evolutionary cast Man-Beast and his followers into the galaxy Dromisana. Deciding that the New Men deserved to start a civilization of their own, the High Evolutionary transformed the citadel into a starship and blasted off into space. Of all the New Men, only Bova, Tabur and members of the Cult of the Jackal were known to have remained on Earth.

The High Evolutionary colonized a planet which he christened “Wundagore II.” He created mates for all of his New Men so that they could populate the planet in peace, but the New Men gradually turned violent, killing Sir Porga and turning on the High Evolutionary. The High Evolutionary sent the loyal Sir Ram to Earth to obtain new animal specimens that could be used to created warriors to fight his New Men, but Sir Ram found an even more useful ally, the Hulk. While the Hulk fought the New Men, the High Evolutionary exposed himself to Isotope D, transforming him into a godlike being. In this state, the High Evolutionary de-evolved all of the New Men on Wundagore II.

The High Evolutionary subsequently created Counter-Earth, a planet located in Earth’s solar system on the opposite side of the sun. He sped up the course of evolution on his world so that the population would be virtually identical to that of contemporary Earth, only a “perfect” race; however, while the Evolutionary rested, the Man-Beast returned with his followers and secretly corrupted Counter-Earth, hoping the Evolutionary would be prompted to destroy his creation. After the Evolutionary promised not to destroy the world, the newly-awakened Enclave creation Adam Warlock chased the Man-Beast to the surface, where the Man-Beast and allies Rhodan, Haukk, Pih-Junn, Triax and the Brute (Counter-Earth’s Reed Richards) tried to stop Warlock from saving Counter-Earth’s people. Man-Beast, possessing U.S. President Rex Carpenter, eventually took Warlock prisoner and killed him on the White House lawn. Preparing to launch a nuclear war, the Man-Beast was attacked by Warlock’s followers and the Hulk (who had been accidentally transported to CE weeks earlier). The Hulk almost killed Man-Beast before the newly-resurrected Warlock used his Soul Gem to temporarily devolve Man-Beast and his followers back to their original animal forms, freeing the world from his influence. Counter-Earth was ultimately destroyed years later by Thanos’ use of the Infinity Gantlet.

Meanwhile, the New Men on Wundagore II regained the evolved forms when that world was visited by a colonization party of Rigellians led by Commander Arcturus. Arcturus intended to claim Wundagore II for the Rigellians, and the New Men went to war with them, eventually gaining the aid of Iron Man, Jack of Hearts, and the Soviet Super-Soldiers. Arcturus was ultimately arrested by his own men for violating their colonization rules, and the Rigellians left Wundagore II to the New Men.

On Earth, driven mad by the separation from his people, Tabur waged war against the mystically-created Cat People and their champion Tigra. Tabur was briefly the king of the Cat People, but Tigra defeated him twice, and he was returned to the form of an ordinary cat in the end. The High Evolutionary returned to Earth on a mission to regress humanity’s evolution so that he could guide a simpler race through evolution himself. He forced the Cult of the Jackal to rejoin him, and the other New Men supported his efforts to set off a genetic bomb, but the Avengers fought the High Evolutionary and destroyed the bomb. The High Evolutionary was seemingly destroyed battling Hercules.

Count Tagar enlisted the Mongoose to kidnap Thor’s friend Eric Masterson, so that they could make Thor lead an expedition team to the enigmatic Black Galaxy where the High Evolutionary and Hercules were believed to have reappeared. One of the Knights who accompanied Thor intended to kill him, but died himself during the mission. After the High Evolutionary was brought back to Earth, Count Tagar obtained cell samples from Thor which the High Evolutionary used in his next experiment, the New Immortals, a band of genetically engineered humanoids with partial essences of godhood. Count Tagar exposed himself to this process, making himself more powerful. The High Evolutionary operated from the starship New Wundagore during this time. The New Men back on Earth once had to defend Mount Wundagore from Cyberwarriors sent by the Genesis Coalition – a splinter group of Hydra – who sought to capture the High Evolutionary’s technology, but they were aided in repelling them by Silver Sable and her Wild Pack.

The High Evolutionary abandoned the New Immortals in the end, and they waged a bitterly personal war against him. The High Evolutionary created more New Men on Earth, but his newly-created Godpack were now his favored creations. The Man-Beast returned to exploit the New Men’s feelings of rejection, making them his “Ani-Mutants,” but Thor and the Godpack repelled the Ani-Mutants and the High Evolutionary forgave his creations. The new Immortals and their New Men allies then sought to destroy all life on Earth, but were defeated by the High Evolutionary, Thor and the Godpack.

The High Evolutionary sent a band of New Men called the “Animen” to retrieve data of Miles Warren’s from one of his laboratories, and Wyndham was finally forced to deal with the rift between himself and the Cult of the Jackal when an encounter with the Scarlet Spider – a clone of Spider-Man created by Warren – inspired him to make amends.

The High Evolutionary created the White Tiger to hunt down the Man-Beast, unaware that the Man-Beast had infiltrated his Knights as Lord Anon, having killed the real Lord Anon (Sir Wulf). When mutant terrorists Exodus and his Acolytes invaded Mount Wundagore seeking Isotope E, Wyndham’s most powerful creation yet, the High Evolutionary abandoned the citadel and placed mutant speedster Quicksilver (Magda’s grown son Pietro) in charge of the Knights, including Lord Anon, Sir Delphis, Lord Churchill, Lord Gator, Sir Ram, Lord Tyger, Lady Ursula, and Lady Vermin. The Man-Beast eventually revealed himself when he made an attempt for Isotope E, killed Lord Churchill and formed an alliance with the Acolytes. Quicksilver and members of Heroes for Hire, a team which the White Tiger had joined, opposed them, and Lady Ursula was forced to kill herself during the battle when the Man-Beast tried to make her kill her friends. The High Evolutionary ultimately used Isotope E to de-evolve the Man-Beast. White Tiger also requested to be de-evolved, as she was unable to cope with her sentience.

	Anubia Jackal; priestess of Cult of the Jackal 1^st appearance: Scarlet Spider Unlimited #1
	Lord Anon (Sir Wulf) Wolf; Knight of Wundagore, killed and replaced by Man-Beast 1^st appearance: Quicksilver #11
	Barachuudar Barracuda; agent of Man-Beast on Counter-Earth, possibly killed in destruction of Counter-Earth 1^st appearance: Incredible Hulk #176
	Bobo Chimpanzee; client of Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg, and Holliway law firm 1^st appearance: She-Hulk #5
	Bova Cow; midwife and nanny to Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch 1^st appearance: Giant-Size Avengers #1
	Buzzard Hawk; Animen 1^st appearance: Scarlet Spider Unlimited #1
	Caiman Cayman; Cult of the Jackal 1^st appearance: Scarlet Spider Unlimited #1
	Lord Churchill Canine; Knights of Wundagore, killed by Man-Beast 1^st appearance: Quicksilver #1
	Civit Civit; priest, killed in destruction of genetic bomb 1^st appearance: Avengers Annual #17
	Crushtacean Crab; Animen 1^st appearance: Scarlet Spider Unlimited #1
	Sir Delphis Dolphin; Knights of Wundagore, scientist 1^st appearance: Excalibur #113
	Eaglus Eagle; former minion of Man-Beast; aided resistance against him, possibly killed when Counter-Earth destroyed 1st appearance: Incredible Hulk #177
	Equius Horse; follower of Man-Beast, killed by Man-Beast 1st appearance: Thor #475
	Sir Ferret Ferret; Knights of Wundagore, killed in Black Galaxy 1^st appearance: Thor #406
	Flying Fox Bat; Animen 1^st appearance: Scarlet Spider Unlimited #1
	Lord Gator Alligator; Knights of Wundagore 1^st appearance: Excalibur #113
	Gorr the Golden Gorilla Gorilla; agent of High Evolutionary on Counter-Earth, later inmate on Stranger’s lab world 1^st appearance: Fantastic Four #171
	Sir Gote Goat; Knights of Wundagore 1^st appearance: Uncanny X-Men Annual #12
	Harrier Hawk; Cult of the Jackal 1^st appearance: Scarlet Spider Unlimited #1
	Haukk Hawk; follower of Man-Beast on Counter-Earth, possibly killed when Counter-Earth destroyed 1^st appearance: Warlock #1
	Sir Hogg Pig; Knights of Wundagore 1^st appearance: Iron Man #111
	Sir Hystrix Porcupine; Knights of Wundagore, slain by Chthon 1^st appearance: Web of Spider-Man Annual #3
	Inheritor From Beyond Cockroach; exiled from Earth, returned with intent to conquer, de-evolved in battle with Hulk 1^st appearance: Incredible Hulk #149
	Jackal-Man Jackal; “son” of Miles Warren 1^st appearance: Alpha Flight #114
	Kohbra Cobra; Man-Beast follower on Counter-Earth, possibly killed when Counter-Earth destroyed 1^st appearance: Marvel Premiere #1
	Komodo Komodo dragon; Animen 1^st appearance: Scarlet Spider Unlimited #1
	Sir Lepard I – II Leopards; Knights of Wundagore, I killed by Rigellians 1^st appearance: (I) Thor #134, (II) Thor #473
	Lizhardus Iguana; Man-Beast follower on Counter-Earth, possibly killed when Counter-Earth destroyed 1^st appearance: Incredible Hulk #176
	Sir Lyan Lion; Knights of Wundagore 1^st appearance: Thor #134
	Lycrus Wolf; friend of Jessica Drew 1^st appearance: Spider-Woman #6
	Man-Beast Wolf; rogue New Man, alias Karnivore and Hate-Monger See here for full bio
	Monck Gibbon; Man-Beast follower on Counter-Earth, de-evolved 1^st appearance: Warlock #2
	Mongoose Mongoose; criminal, former agent of Seth See here for full bio
	Sir Ossilot Ocelot; Knights of Wundagore, killed by Rigellians 1^st appearance: Thor #134
	Sir Panther Panther; Knights of Wundagore, killed in Black Galaxy 1^st appearance: Thor #406
	Phrogg Frog; spied on Porcunis’ resistance for Kohbra, possibly killed in destruction of Counter-Earth 1^st appearance: Incredible Hulk #158
	Pih-Junn Pigeon; Man-Beast follower on Counter-Earth, possibly killed in destruction of Counter-Earth 1^st appearance: Warlock #1
	Piranis Piranha fish; Cult of the Jackal 1^st appearance: Scarlet Spider Unlimited #1
	Porcunis Porcupine; Counter-Earth, led resistance against Man-Beast, possibly killed in destruction of Counter-Earth 1^st appearance: Incredible Hulk #158
	Sir Porga Pig; Knights of Wundagore, killed in uprising on Wundagore II 1^st appearance: Thor #132
	Sir Puma Puma; Knights of Wundagore, killed in Black Galaxy 1^st appearance: Thor #406
	Sir Ram I – II Sheep; Knights of Wundagore, I killed by Man-Beast 1^st appearance: (I) Tales to Astonish #94, (II) Iron Man #111
	Reynar Fox; follower of Man-Beast on Counter-Earth 1^st appearance: Warlock #3
	Reynardo Fox; priest, killed in destruction of genetic bomb 1^st appearance: Avengers Annual #17
	Rhodan Rat; follower of Man-Beast on Counter-Earth, de-evolved and killed 1^st appearance: Marvel Premiere #2
	Simbus Lion; former Ani-Mutant 1^st appearance: Thor #472
	Snakar Snake; follower of Man-Beast, possibly killed in destruction of Counter-Earth 1^st appearance: Incredible Hulk #176
	Spinneret Spider; Animen 1^st appearance: Scarlet Spider Unlimited #1
	Lord Steed Horse; Knights of Wundagore, killed by Fabian Cortez 1^st appearance: Quicksilver #1
	Tabur Feline; rogue, former ruler of Cat People, de-evolved 1^st appearance: Marvel Premiere #42
	Count Tagar Tiger; Knights of Wundagore, New Immortals 1^st appearance: Thor #133
	Tantaro Elephant; former Ani-Mutant 1^st appearance: Thor #472
	Triax Boar; follower of Man-Beast 1^st appearance: Warlock #3
	Lord Tyger Tiger; Knights of Wundagore 1^st appearance: Quicksilver #1
	Lady Ursula Bear; Knights of Wundagore, committed suicide 1^st appearance: Excalibur #113
	Urson-Wellz Bear; former Ani-Mutant 1^st appearance: Thor #472
	Sir Ursus Bear; Knights of Wundagore, fought Chthon 1^st appearance: Uncanny X-Men Annual #12
	Lady Vermin Rat; Knights of Wundagore, not fully evolved 1^st appearance: Quicksilver #1
	Wheezhil Weasel, follower of Man-Beast, possibly killed in destruction of Counter-Earth 1^st appearance: Incredible Hulk #176
	White Tiger Tiger; former Heroes for Hire member, de-evolved 1^st appearance: Heroes for Hire #1