The Marvel’s Avengers War Table live stream revealed the ultimate villain of the upcoming video game—M.O.D.O.K. But, who truly is this big-headed bad guy?
The comic fans are familiar with who M.O.D.O.K (Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing) is, while the recent Marvel’s Avengers fans might not have a clue. Technically speaking, he is not a new character, but this will be his digital screen debut.
For choosing the villain, the devs explained that they wanted a new face for the Avengers’ fans. Well, more of an old-new face, considering he is already a known villain in the Marvel comics but hasn’t been featured as a villain in the big-screen adaptations.
As seen during the stream, and his very own character introduction trailer, M.O.D.O.K is Dr. George Tarleton, he leads A.I.M. (Advanced Idea Mechanics) as a founding member. According to Kamala Khan’s theory, he is behind the set-up for the Avengers‘ ultimate downfall.
Marvel’s Avengers War Table: M.O.D.O.K’s story
According to comics, before M.O.D.O.K became the big-headed villain that he is today, he was just an average technician who goes by the name of George Tarleton. His fate changes after being randomly selected for “hideous experiments.”
The experiments resulted in his body mutating into what is seen today, a big-headed alien-like individual. That big head of his is supposed to possess “superhuman intelligence and extraordinary psionic powers.”
In fact, he was named M.O.D.O.C. or Mobile Organism Designed Only for Computing. However, this drove Tarleton mad.
He then rebelled against his superiors, ultimately killing them, and naming himself as the Scientist Supreme instead. Which is why he changed his name to M.O.D.O.K, changing the letter “C,” to “K” for “Killing.”
In Marvel’s Avenger game, Tarleton’s M.O.D.O.K transformation is said to be the result of the A-Day infection spread. It could also be just a story that Tarleton is playing.
Why is M.O.D.O.K after the Avengers?
Per GameSpot, M.O.D.O.K is actually a recurrent villain in the life of Captain America.
The two’s first encounter dates years before when Captain America went in to save Agent 13 of S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent 13 was sent to investigate A.I.M. and gather information about this mutant rebel. Unfortunately, the agent was captured.
Hence, the need for Captain America’s heroic swooping.
Initially, Cap’s rescue mission went south and became a prisoner of A.I.M. along with Agent 13. However, the M.O.D.O.K experience a taste of his own people’s rebellion when the A.I.M. agents—those that didn’t like him—turned on him and set the Cap and Agent 13 free.
In the end, A.I.M.’s submarine base got destroyed, along M.O.D.O.K. who at this point is believed to be dead. However, that wasn’t the case as he is said to have used his “psionic abilities to save himself” and soon took over A.I.M. again.
This actually makes sense as to why, among all Avengers to die, Captain America was chosen as the ultimate storyline sacrifice. Although it does have the public appeal to it, as Cap has always been known to be the people’s favorite.
Did M.O.D.O.K succeed to take revenge on Captain America? Or is Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics planning an ultimate climatic reveal upon the game’s release on September 4?
Images [1] & [2] courtesy of Marvel’s Avengers/YouTube Screenshots