Origin
Karl Serr’s mutation activated in utero after his pregnant mother was caught in the same atomic blast that killed his father. Over the year’s, Karl’s mother came to believe that her husband had left her after Karl’s birth, believing Karl to be a demon. Because she viewed her son as a demonic monster, “Aunt” Serr believed she was meant to take over the world and the only mate suitable for Karl was his own cousin, Lucile Serr.
Creation
Karl Serr was created by George Tuska and Gerry Conway and first appeared in The Submariner #41.
Character Evolution
One stormy evening, Namor was flying above the small town of Starkburg in Upstate New York when he was struck by lightning. Found by Lucile Serr and taken to the Serr family estate, Aunt Serr offers Namor an opportunity to get revenge on those who taken from him. In essence, Namor would be helping Serr with her own plans. Namor rejects this offer and attempts to escape at which point, Serr commands her son, Karl, to kill Namor. Karl clearly has the upper-hand as Namor continues to weaken and tire and Karl’s strength and stamina remains as steady as ever.
Lucile demands Aunt Serr to stop Karl at once and is able to grant Namor a second chance by reminding her Aunt that her husband didn’t leave her but died and that Namor was new to Starkburg and the “tradition” of the Serr family being in charge of the town. Agreeing with her niece, Aunt Serr has Karl take Namor to his quarters. Upon waking, however, Namor demands to be released immediately, going berserk and breaking furniture. Aunt Serr arrives and reveals she has mesmeric powers herself, mesmerizing Namor and leading him, Karl, and Lucile to a subterranean chamber.
The chamber was equipped with a machined designed and built by Aunt Serr to create “friends” for Karl, peers with powers as potent as his own. She attempted to mesmer Namor to make himself ready for the machine but Lucile was able to break her aunt’s hold over the Sub-Mariner. While Namor and Karl fought in the underground laboratory, Lucile was caught in the machine and transformed into a glowing apparition-like being. Lucile immediately attacked Namor and, in the confusion, Karl and his mother ran back to the estate house.
After Lucille’s attack, Namor found himself in the town of Starkburg amid a number of townsfolk who had been changed by Aunt Serr and her machine. Promising revenge, Namor led a small group to the Serr estate and, while Namor confronted the Serr family, the transformed townsfolk went directly towards the machine. As Namor, Karl came out of hiding and fought the Sub-Mariner once more. With the mansion beginning to break apart around everyone, Aunt Serr attempted to have Karl escape but Lucile prevented it, saying it was better if they all should die. Whether Karl Serr actually died is unknown.
Powers & Abilities
Karl Serr’s body is covered in a thick, organic rock-like skin that grants him increased durability and stamina. Karl’s stamina is at a very high level as his mother has stated that Karl never tires. Karl’s level of super-strength is also very high as at this point in Namor’s career, the Sub-Mariner stated he had never battled someone with Karl’s strength – not even the raging Hulk.
Karl’s body can become surrounded by swirls of lightning which he can project into the sky or at close range at an opponent, surround himself as an aura to use with his physical attacks, or even use “electrical ropes” to bind others. Also, if Karl slams his open hands together, he will produce a loud thunderclap.