Who the Clix? is a series of articles featuring information on comic book characters that have been made into figures for the popular tabletop game Heroclix. These articles are meant to help Heroclix players learn more about the characters behind their favorite pieces.

Today we look at the super intelligent mutant co-creator of the original android Human Torch: Dr. Nemesis

Appearances in Heroclix: Wizkids Marvel

First Appearance: Invaders Vol. 2 #1

Team Affiliations: X-Men, X-Club, X-Force

Created By: Roy Thomas and Dave Hoover

Educated as a medical physician, Dr. James Bradley finds work in the late 1930s with Professor Phineas T. Horton designing and building the original android Human Torch. Bradley is mostly a silent partner but begins building a second android. Even with both their intellects, the scientists are unable to stop their android from bursting into flame on contact with oxygen. Bradley wants to hold back their creation until the flaw can be solved but Horton went ahead. The press conference becomes a public relations nightmare when the android bursts into flame and is labeled a menace. Bradley dissolves their partnership and leaves with his uncompleted second android.

In the next year and a half, Bradley completes the android and allows it to begin acting as the superhero Volton, the Human Generator. Unaware that it is an android, Bradley tells Volton that it is actually a scientist named Guy Newton who has discovered how to use his body’s power to generate static electricity. Bradley also begins fighting crime while wearing a surgical mask and using a hypodermic gun, calling himself Doctor Nemesis.

After several adventures, agents of the Third Reich approach Nemesis and ask him to form a group of costumed beings. Bradley goes along with them and begins calling himself Dr. Death before recruiting Human Meteor, Spider Queen, Strongman and Volton. Dr. Death calls the group Battle-Axis. The group does not endorse Nazi beliefs but for a variety of reasons want to force the United States out of World War II. Doctor Death begins work on Project Mojave, the plan to use an experimental oscillotron to create a severe earthquake on the west coat. This quake would create enough damage to American cities that it would destroy the war industry and cause massive devastation that would force the US to withdraw from the war.

Battle-Axis protect a German u-boat from an attack by the Invaders. The two teams battle several times as the Invaders come to discover Doctor Death’s plans, including Project Mojave. Death kidnaps the Blue Bullet for Project Mojave and blackmails his brother, the Golem, to attack the Invaders. The Invaders attack Doctor Death’s base and are able to stop his plans, however, Blue Bullet is killed after being shot by Sky Shark. Doctor Death finally activates the oscillotron only to be struck down by Volton, who has discovered his origin and Death’s role in keeping it secret. Namor shuts down the machine and Doctor Death is left for dead.

Bradly survives the confrontation and returns to New York City. He regrets his involvement with Battle-Axis and returns to his persona of Doctor Nemesis while fighting crime. After World War II, Nemesis moves to Argentina in order to track down and punish Nazi super scientists and their clones.

Years later, a still young and vibrant Doctor Nemesis is approached by Beast and Angel to help in reversing M-Day. Nemesis is uninterested until they defeat two Super-Nazis, he then joins the team alongside Madison Jeffries and Dr. Kavita Rao. They time travel back to 1900s San Francisco to obtain genetic samples from the biological parents of one of the first 20th century mutants. Doctor Nemesis reveals that they are actually his parents and through his unique power, self-evolved intellect, he has been able to develop several serums to extend his life and vitality. Nemesis’ father is killed after helping the X-Club stop the Hellfire Club’s first Sentinel from rampaging across San Francisco. Nemesis’ mother later dies in childbirth, where Nemesis acts as the physician that delivers himself as a baby. The X-Club is unable to obtain the samples, however, as they seem to be blocked by the intervention of the Dreaming Celestial.

Doctor Nemesis, alongside the rest of X-Club, rescues Beast and Professor X from Norman Osborn before returning to the newly christened Utopia. Hope Summers later arrives which brings an attack from Bastion and the X-Club is led to a trap that sends them far from Utopia. Bastion then creates a massive energy barrier that blocks San Francisco from the rest of the world.

After the Phoenix’s return to Earth and dispersal by Hope Summers, Doctor Nemesis is rescued from jail and joins Cable’s X-Force.

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