Origins
Before George Tarleton was made into M.O.D.O.K. by Advanced Idea Mechanics, he was of average intellect. For A.I.M., Tarleton worked on experiments to unlock mental potential. Some sources say he volunteered; others say he was forced. Either way, Tarleton became the next experiment.
After the transformation, he was to be known as M.O.D.O.C.: Mental Organism Designed Only for Computing. He quickly overthrew A.I.M. and became their commander, becoming known as M.O.D.O.K.: Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing. As leader of A.I.M., he has had confrontations with Captain America, S.H.I.E.L.D., Iron Man, Hulk, The Avengers, and Namor. He is also a member of The Intelligencia.
Creation
M.O.D.O.K. was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and fist appeared in Tales of Suspense #93. The prototype of M.O.D.O.K. is the villain Marto, created by Jack Kirby and Joe Simon in Blue Bolt #6 (1940)
Character Evolution
He was overthrown several times by A.I.M., and assassins were hired to kill him. He was eventually killed by the Serpent Society. His body was then used as a weapon (without his mind) against Iron Man, who destroyed the body.
A.I.M. used a cosmic cube to recreate M.O.D.O.K., and he was (apparently) as loyal as originally intended. This was not the case, and once again, M.O.D.O.K. seized control and placed himself as Scientist Supreme. He had the title retaken from him, however, by Monica Rappacini, a woman M.O.D.O.K. once loved in his human form.
M.O.D.O.K. then set his sights on an item known as the Hypernova, a near-infinite power source. Under Monica, A.I.M. sought it as well. M.O.D.O.K. was able to retrieve it first, but Monica forced M.O.D.O.K. to sell it to her. However, M.O.D.O.K. knew it was unstable when giving it to her. It exploded, appearing to kill her.
Major Story Arcs
Fall of the Hulks
M.O.D.O.K. is also a part of the Intelligencia and has played a part in creating the Red Hulk using both cosmic and gamma
radiations. He teamed himself with the Leader, the Wizard, the Mad Thinker, the Red Ghost and Doctor Doom, a group of the smartest villains in the world, in a secret ploy for total and final annihilation of their enemies, namely the Hulk. Doom turned on the group after acquiring ancient texts and spells, leaving M.O.D.O.K. and the Leader calling the shots. They were responsible for capturing Reed Richards and Doctor Doom and have laid plans to capture the remaining 6 of the 8 smartest people on Earth. The plan is to absorb their knowledge and use it to their own advantage, afterward leaving the mindless husks to whatever the Wizard chooses to do with them. M.O.D.O.K. and Leader soon use a cathexis ray to transform all the heroes and their personal army, the AIMarines, into “hulked-out” versions of themselves. One of the heroes, Amedeus Cho, becomes infected himself, gaining the ability to warp reality in a 10 foot radius and becoming the smartest man in the world. He then uses his reality warping powers to turn M.O.D.O.K. back into George Tarleton, who then escapes.
Powers and Abilities
George Tarleton is subjected to a mutagenic process that grants him superhuman intelligence, including a computer-like memory, the ability to scour and retain large databanks of information very quickly and solve abstract mathematical problems nearly instantaneously. He also has the ability to calculate the mathematical probability of any given event occurring; an ability so strong that it borders on precognition. However, his creativity remains at average human level. As M.O.D.O.K., the character also has psionic powers enabling him to mentally control both individuals and large groups, and generate force fields able to withstand minor nuclear explosions. Courtesy of A.I.M. technology, M.O.D.O.K. wears a headband that enables him to focus his mental power into a devastating beam.
A side effect of the mutation was the growth of Tarleton’s head to the point whereby his body can no longer support the weight, necessitating the use of an exoskeleton and hoverchair. The chair is equipped with a variety of weapons including missiles and lasers. Occasionally, Tarleton had the use of a giant humanoid vehicle that was proportionally sized to his head. Tarleton’s organs also wear out quickly, necessitating the use of harvested clones, whose organs are used to sustain him.
As the leader of A.I.M., M.O.D.O.K. has advanced technology and a personal army at his disposal.
Weaknesses
M.O.D.O.K. is unable to move without his hover chair. M.O.D.O.K. also wears through his body very quickly. To counter this, M.O.D.O.K. has created countless clones of himself that he harvests organs from. He then uses the brains to power organic hard drives that control AIM equipment.
Physical Characteristics
- Height: 12 feet
- Weight: 750 lbs
- Hair: Brown
- Eyes: White
Other Media
Film
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
M.O.D.O.K. appears in the 2023 film Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quanumania as the secondary antagonist. George Tarleton has been swapped by another character. Corey Stoll reprises his roll as Darren Cross, who turns into M.O.D.O.K. off screen in the first Ant-Man. While Darren Cross was stuck in the Quantum Realm, he was found by the Quantum people, who transformed him into the Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing. Later on at the end, he dies saving Ant-Man and his family, dying “an Avenger.”
Animation
Iron Man: The Animated Series
M.O.D.O.K. appears in the 1994 Iron Man animated series as a recurring villain working for the Mandarin. He is a far cry from his comic book appearances, often being used exclusively as comic relief, and for ridiculous feats like disguising himself as a baby. After the Mandarin’s defeat in the season finale, M.O.D.O.K. was sent to jail. He is voiced by Jim Cummings.
Iron Man: Armored Adventures
M.O.D.O.C. appears in Iron Man: Armored Adventures, first when it was reveled that A.I.M. was searching for materials to finish constructing “the M.O.D.O.C. Harness,” and sought to make a trade with Moses Magnum for the .needed to finish the project. M.O.D.O.C. would appear later in the first season, where Iron Man defeated him. He is voiced by Lee Tockar. Due to censorship issues involving the use of the word “killing” in a children’s cartoon, the character was renamed M.O.D.O.C. (“Mental Organism Designed Only for Chaos”).
The Super Hero Squad Show
M.O.D.O.K. is a recurring villain in The Super Hero Squad Show, working for Dr. Doom and usually alongside Abomination. Like every other character in the show, he is much more comical, and is rarely seen as a real threat. He also shows complete disdain for his teammates, constantly belittling Abomination and planning to betray Doctor Doom. At one point, M.O.D.O.K. eats one of the Infinity Sword fractals, forcing the Lethal Legion and Super Hero Squad to team up with Black Panther to stop him. Later, Enchantress accidentally makes M.O.D.O.K. and Ms. Marvel fall in love with each other, and he convinces her to join the Lethal Legion before the spell is finally broken. He is voiced by Tom Kenny.
The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes
In this animated Marvel series he refers to himself as M.O.D.O.C.-Mental Organism Designed Only for Conquest-and was an inmate of the Vault and is seen in one of the micro-episodes leading up to the show premiere. He broke out with all the other prisoners from all four superhero prisons during the first episode, using Graviton’s fight with the Avengers to cover his escape. He would appear in later episodes of the first season where he has returned to A.I.M. after his escape from the Vault. He would become involved in transforming Simon Williams into Wonder Man as well as he & A.I.M. becoming involved in a war with Baron Strucker and HYDRA over the Cosmic Cube, which A.I.M was commissioned to create for HYDRA, but decided to keep for themselves for their own purposes telling Strucker that the Cosmic Cube creation was a failure. A mini war broke out between the two criminal organizations when HYDRA learned that the Cosmic Cube was in fact functional and still in A.I.M’s possession. M.O.D.O.C. is last seen being attacked and apparently destroyed by HYDRA controlled Dreadnaughts designed to neutralize his mental abilities. He is voiced by Steven Blum.
Avengers Assemble
M.O.D.O.K. appears in the series, where he is a recurring villain and a member of the Cabal. This version of the character is a combination with of his comic incarnation and Arnim Zola, as he acts as the chief scientist of the Red Skull and HYDRA. Unlike past animated depictions of the character, this version of M.O.D.O.K. is also bald. Partway through the series, he comes to inhabit the body of the Super-Adaptoid, causing him to resemble Zola even further.
This same version of M.O.D.O.K. also appears in episodes of Ultimate Spider-Man, Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel TV special, and one of the Guardians of the Galaxy shorts. In all four series, M.O.D.O.K. is voiced by Charlie Adler. Adler also reprised his role in the Marvel’s Spider-Man episode “A Troubled Mind.”
M.O.D.O.K.
In 2021, Hulu launched a M.O.D.O.K. animated series starring comedian Patton Oswalt as the title character. The show is a workplace comedy depicting M.O.D.O.K.’s struggles as the head of the A.I.M. organization, as well as the strife within his own family. The show’s voice cast also includes Aimee Garcia as M.O.D.O.K.’s wife Jodie, Ben Schwartz and Melissa Fumero as their children Lou and Melissa, Wendi McLendon-Covey as Monica Rappaccini and Jon Daly as the Super-Adaptoid.
Video Games
Marvel Ultimate Alliance
M.O.D.O.K. and A.I.M. appear in Marvel Ultimate Alliance, attacking the S.H.I.E.L.D. Omega Base and trying to ram it into a dam. When players reach him he forces them to play a scientific trivia game. Every time the player answers a question correctly, they get closer to M.O.D.O.K. but every time they answer a question incorrectly, he electrocutes them. If they get electrocuted so many times, they must fight M.O.D.O.K. with a significant health subtraction. If they reach M.O.D.O.K., he will yell at them for cheating and the player must fight him with full health. He is voiced by Michael Gough.
Marvel: Super Hero Squad
M.O.D.O.K. appears in the Super Hero Squad video game, he is a boss in the game’s adventure mode, and is oddly not a playable character in any other game modes. He is once again voiced by Tom Kenny.
Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds
M.O.D.O.K. is a playable character in Marvel vs. Capcom 3, first confirmed at the New York Comic-Con. M.O.D.O.K. can hover around in the air of a stage, and because of his odd proportions most of his attacks involve ranged beams and bombs, and most of his melee attacks are kicks, headbutts and body slams. In one of his Hypers he uses his hover chair to become a rocket and hits his opponents multiple times, and another one where he reaches out with wire-tentacles to grab his enemy, before unleashing a massive electric shock. He can also fire a massive energy beam from his forehead. He is voiced by Wally Wingert.
Iron Man 3
M.O.D.O.K. appears as a major antagonist in the video game adaptation of Iron Man 3, despite not actually being in the film it is based on. In the game, it is revealed that M.O.D.O.K. was created by A.I.M. to house the downloaded consciousness of Aldrich Killian, who had been killed by Pepper Potts during the event of the movie. M.O.D.O.K. battles Iron Man several times throughout the course of the game, and is ultimately destroyed after trying to hijack Stark Industries‘ network. He was voiced by Nick Sullivan.
Lego Marvel Super Heroes
M.O.D.O.K. appears in the game. After Loki is defeated on Asgard by Thor, Captain America and Wolverine, Loki Escapes to earth and forges an alliance with several villains, Including M.O.D.O.K.
M.O.D.O.K. appears in the level “that sinking feeling” were they are on a submarine owned by Doctor doom. After Loki sees the heroes he leaves M.O.D.O.K. to fight them on his own. M.O.D.O.K. takes on Iron Man, Thor and Spider man and is defeated. The submarine later sinks and M.O.D.O.K.’s fate is never revealed.
Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Super Heroes
M.O.D.O.K. appears in the game, voiced by Charlie Adler.
Marvel Future Fight
M.O.D.O.K. appears as a character in this mobile app game.
Lego Marvel’s Avengers
M.O.D.O.K. appears as a playable character in the game.
Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite
Though he does not return as a playable fighter, M.O.D.O.K. does appear in the game’s story mode as an NPC. Here, he is the keeper of the Mind Stone and the head of the A.I.M.brella braintrust (a combination of A.I.M. and the Umbrella Corporation). He also appears prominently in the background of the A.I.M.brella – Control Room stage, where he can be seen observing the battle.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order
M.O.D.O.K. appears as a boss character in the third Ultimate Alliance game, voiced by Wally Wingert.
Marvel’s Avengers (2020)
M.O.D.O.K. appears as the main antagonist of the Square Enix Avengers game, voiced by Usman Ally.
Merchandise
- M.O.D.O.K. was featured in ToyBiz’s toyline for the 90’s Iron Man animated series.
- M.O.D.O.K. was the subject of a Marvel Legends Build-a-Figure wave from ToyBiz. The BAF could be completed upon purchasing each of the corresponding figures (Thorbuster armor Iron Man/Destroyer, Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew/Julia Carpenter), Beta Ray Bill, Captain Marvel (Mar-Vell/Genis-Vell), Moon Knight and Wasp) in the wave.
- M.O.D.O.K. was featured in the Marvel Super Hero Squad line from Hasbro.
- M.O.D.O.K. was featured in a Minimate Marvel vs. Capcom two-pack from Diamond Collectibles alongside Akuma.
- Eaglemoss produced a M.O.D.O.K. figurine.
- Bowen Designs produced a M.O.D.O.K. statue.
- A M.O.D.O.K. figure was produced by Hasbro for the interactive Playmation line.
- M.O.D.O.K. is featured in the “Hulk Lab Smash” Lego kit.
- M.O.D.O.K. was featured in Hasbro’s Marvel Legends line as a deluxe release.