Chemistro

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Three characters have taken the moniker of the supervillain Chemistro appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

The Curtis Carr incarnation of Chemistro first appeared in Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #12 and was created by writer Steve Englehart and artist George Tuska.

The Archibald Morton incarnation of Chemistro first appeared in Power Man #37 and was created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist Ron Wilson.

The Calvin Carr incarnation of Chemistro first appeared in Power Man and Iron Fist #93 and was created by writer Kurt Busiek and artist Ernie Chan.

Curtis Carr is a chemist from Kansas City, Kansas who created an "alchemy gun" capable of transmuting matter. Company president Horace Claymore is impressed until Curtis voices his intent to keep the device. Claymore argues that since the gun was made on company time, it belongs to Mainstream. When Claymore fires him, Curtis becomes Chemistro to get revenge and extort his former employers.^[1]

During a battle with Luke Cage, Chemistro accidentally fires his alchemy gun at his right foot, turning it to steel and eventually disintegrating it.^[2][3] Carr is turned over to the police, where his cellmate Arch Morton forces him into revealing the secrets of his gun. Morton later becomes the second Chemistro, and Carr invents a "nullifier" device to help Cage stop him.^[4]

Curtis's alchemy gun is later stolen by his younger brother Calvin, who becomes the third Chemistro. Curtis aided Cage and Iron Fist in defeating Calvin.^[5]

Later, Curtis finds work at a division of Stark Enterprises as a research scientist and Director of Research and Development at Stark Prosthetics in Denver, Colorado, creating a prosthesis to replace his missing foot.^[6]

Archibald Morton was born in Sheridan, Wyoming, and became a professional criminal and was sent to prison. He forced Curtis Carr to reveal the secret of his alchemy gun while they were cellmates. Upon leaving prison, Morton attempts to replicate the gun, but it explodes in his hand, granting him the ability to transmute substances via touch.^[1] He battled Luke Cage on behalf of the Baron. Morton is ultimately apprehended, thanks in large part to the help of the original Chemistro.^[4]

Curtis' younger brother Calvin Carr stole the alchemy gun and took the Chemistro name.^[3] He embarked on a criminal career and battled Luke Cage and Iron Fist. Curtis intervened, and helped the heroes foil his brother's plans.^[7]

The Wizard later converts the gun into gauntlets and sends Chemistro and the Wrecker to attack Iron Man and Jim Rhodes during the "Acts of Vengeance" storyline.^[1][3] Curtis helped the heroes, and Calvin destroyed Curtis' other foot, but gave up when he was defeated by Iron Man.^[6]

Calvin has been hired by The Hood to take advantage of the split in the superhero community caused by the Superhuman Registration Act.^[8]

Chemistro informs The Hood of a plot by Owl to sell Deathlok, which he stole from S.H.I.E.L.D., to the highest bidder. As Owl had not gained permission from his new crime syndicate, The Hood decides to gatecrash the auction. Sending Madame Masque, the Crimson Cowl, the Wizard, and Jonas Harrow as proxies, he effortlessly ambushes and dispatches the Owl.

John King and The Hood reconvene in the back room of a run-down bar where they are confronted by a curious Wolverine who overhears their plans to run Deathlok through the lobby of Avengers Tower. They escape by shooting Wolverine and assuming the form of the Nistanti who originally owned his hood.

Chemistro suggests that they change their plan and instead use Deathlok to rob a federal reserve bank under the Baxter Building. In the process they gain over 15 million in cash and lose Deathlok in the ensuing chaos. He helped them fight the New Avengers but was taken down by Doctor Strange.

In Secret Invasion, he is one among many supervillains who rejoined the Hood's crime syndicate and attacked an invading Skrull force.^[9]

He joins with the Hood's gang in an attack on the New Avengers, who were expecting the Dark Avengers instead.^[10] He later orchestrates a power-draining trap that was meant for the Dark Avengers only to end up having the New Avengers in his trap.^[11] Chemistro was seen during the Siege of Asgard as part of the Hood crime syndicate.^[12] Later Calvin is shown to be arrested, along with other members of the Hood's gang, by the U.S. Army.^[13]

During the Shadowland storyline, Chemistro was seen as member of Flashmob (a group of former opponents of Luke Cage consisting of Cheshire Cat, Comanche, Dontrell "Cockroach" Hamilton, Mr. Fish II, and Spear) when they confront the new Power Man on the rooftop. Although Chemistro used his alchemy gun to free Iron Fist and Luke Cage, he was knocked out by Power Man and incarcerated at Ryker's Island. However, Deadly Nightshade's solicitor Big Ben Donovan arranged for him to be released.^[14]

During the Spider-Island storyline, Chemistro is among the villains infected by the Jackal and given spider powers. He alongside Cheshire Cat, Commanche, Cottonmouth, Cockroach Hamilton, Mr. Fish II, Nightshade, and Spear ended up fighting Heroes for Hire.^[15]

Chemistro is among the Iron Man villains recruited by Mandarin and Zeke Stane to participate in a plot to take down Iron Man.^[16] Chemistro tried to kill Tony Stark (who had to take his armor away for legal issues) alongside Mauler. The new Iron Man arrived and saved Stark, but also killed Chemistro in the act.^[17]

Curtis Carr is a gifted research scientist, with advanced degrees in chemistry, physics, and mechanical engineering. He is a highly skilled inventor and built his alchemy gun, which fires radiation able to transmute any substance into any other form of matter. He also built a "nullifier" rifle which is able to neutralize and reverse the effects of the alchemy gun, and Arch Morton's transmutation powers. The devices are cybernetically linked to the user, enabling him to work any transformation he can imagine. The transformed material usually turns to dust after exposure to heat or after a certain amount of time. Therefore, his alchemy gun cannot be used merely to transmute substances, such as turning lead or rock into gold. As High-Tech, Carr employed an armored exoskeleton suit and various devices of his own invention.

Archibald Morton was granted the ability to transmute substances by the touch of his left hand in a similar fashion after his experimental version of the alchemy gun exploded.

Calvin Carr used a set of wrist-blasters designed by the Wizard, which functioned in an identical manner as his brother's alchemy gun.

An alternate universe variant of Calvin Carr / Chemistro from Earth-58163 appears in House of M: Masters of Evil as a member of the Hood's Masters of Evil.^[18]

The Curtis Carr incarnation of Chemistro appears in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, voiced by Nolan North.^[19] This version is a member of the Masters of Evil before the Enchantress betrays him, steals his alchemy gun, and transforms him into gold. He is stated to be alive while being taken into custody, which writer Christopher Yost later confirmed.^[20]

• Chemistro I at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
• Chemistro II at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
• Chemistro III at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe