Otto
Octavius had a turbulent upbringing. His father, a factory
worker, was abusive and violent towards both Otto and
his mother, leading Otto to be shy and reclusive in
school. However, at his mother's insistence, he was
determined not to become like his father and threw all
his efforts into his education, regularly scoring top
marks. It was hinted that he was a low-level telepathic
mutant whose powers emerged at puberty; this mutation
may have been responsible for giving his father an aneurysm
as his father went to beat him. His father's death in
an industrial accident pushed Otto further towards the
study of, and obsession with, physical science.
Before
his transformation into the megalomaniacal archenemy
of the web-slinger, Otto was a brilliant and respected
nuclear physicist, inventor, and lecturer. He became
the youngest person to serve on the National Board
of Nuclear Science. He designed a set of highly advanced
mechanical arms to assist him with his research into
atomic physics. The tentacled arms were resistant
to radiation and were capable of great strength and
highly precise movement. They were attached to a harness
that fit around his body.
During
an accidental radiation leak that ended in an explosion,
the apparatus became fused to Octavius' body. It was
later revealed that the radiation (or possibly his
own latent mutation) had mutated his brain so that
he could control the movement of the arms using his
thoughts alone. The tentacles have since been surgically
removed from his body, although Octavius retains the
power to control them telepathically from a great
distance. The accident also seemingly damaged his
brain (although it was later suggested that what was
interpreted as brain damage was in fact his mind rewiring
itself to accommodate four extra limbs), and the scientist
turned to a life of crime.
Powers
Psionic
link with four adamantium tentacles, can lift up to
20 tons if properly braced, possible low-level telepathy
Weapons
Four metallic tentacles made of adamantium, which
can be controlled remotely, and can be used for attacks,
and blocking projectiles, scaling walls and heavy
lifting. Each has three razor-sharp, multi-purpose
claws attached.