DR. WALSTON KRAFT
DR. WALSTON KRAFT
Real Name: Dr. Walston Kraft
Identity/Class: Human
Occupation: Geneticist, mad scientist
Group Membership: Former head of the International Council on Cloning and Research
Affiliations: Ivan (ally); Frankenstein monster (former ally); Frankenclones
Enemies: Frankenstein monster, Spider-Man
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Currently unknown; formerly a
castle in the Swiss Alps
First Appearance: Spider-Man Unlimited I#21 (August, 1998)
Powers: Walston Kraft is filthy rich and has the kind of brilliance you only find in the mind of the proverbial mad scientist. He is an expert in cloning and other forms of genetic research, and has sufficient wealth to accomplish projects on an immense scale. He is a scientist of great respect, and has the trust and support of many other research scientists and organizations.
History: (Spider-Man Unlimited I#21 (fb) - BTS) - Little of Kraft's past is known. He grew up in the Swiss Alps and inherited his ancestral home, a castle. He had a doctorate in genetic research and took steps towards organizing the International Council on Cloning and Research (ICCR), as part of a plot to gain the trust and funding of a number of organizations.
Kraft (of course) was a mad scientist, and really sought to gain the funding to allow him to build an army of clone warriors and take over the world. At some point he decided that the Frankenstein monster would be the ideal template. In order to accomplish this, he located and enlisted the aid of the kyphotic giant, Ivan. Kraft promised to give Ivan a beautiful new body. Ivan, in turn, recruited the monster, with whom he had had past encounters. The monster was promised to gain a new body, similar to his original, but fully human, and more aesthetically pleasing.
(Spider-Man Unlimited I#21) - Peter
Parker was sent to Kraft's castle during a party to gain support
for the ICCR, in order to learn more about the man and his
purposes. Parker discovered the presence of the Frankenstein
monster and Ivan, and eventually learned of Kraft's true plot.
Parker revealed the truth to the monster, who confronted Ivan,
and subsequently slew him in battle. Kraft awakened the
Frankenclones and sent them to destroy Parker and the monster.
During the course of the battle, Kraft's castle caught on fire,
and Parker pulled the monster to safety just seconds before
Kraft's volatile chemicals and equipment ignited and blew the
castle to pieces. The Frankenclones were apparently destroyed,
but Kraft survived and swore vengeance on the monster.
Comments: Created by Chris Golden and Mike Deodato jr.
Never you mind that the Frankenstein monster is a composite being and that clones would only represent the portion of him sampled -- Peter Parker marveled at what a brilliant scientist Kraft must be to be able to accomplish this feat (cloning the Monster), and that's as far as they got into it.
Kraft and the Frankenclones would make good foes for Elsa Bloodstone, whom the Frankenstein Monster works with under the name of Adam.
My favorite part of the story was right in the beginning as Jonah was sending Parker off, and asked him, "How do you feel about cloning."
I ASSume that no one needs me to tell him or her that Peter Parker is Spider-Man (That's why I didn't say it).
I wonder if there is some connection b/t Kraft's Frankenclones
and the Clone of Frankenstein seen in Nick Fury's Howling Commandos?
One of the points to the Frankenclones was that they were
created as whole creatures, without all the scars and piecemeal that were
indicative of the original. Clone of Frankenstein is very much reminiscent of
the original in those regards.
--Madison Carter
I wonder if Frank, who was a member of the First Line (as seen in Marvel: The Lost Generation#5) could have had some connection to the Frankenclones.
--John Kaminski
Clarifications: Walston Kraft has no known connections to:
The Frankenclones were a marvel of genetic cloning, designed by Walston Kraft using cell samples taken from the Frankenstein monster. Each one represented the composite form of the Frankenstein monster, but free of his scarred and horrific countenance. They presumably possessed at least comparable physical power to the monster, giving them superhuman strength (enhanced human to Class 5), massive durability and recuperative powers, and a phenomenal resistance to pain.
Appearances:
Spider-Man Unlimited I#21 (August, 1998) - Christopher Golden (writer), Mike Deodato Jr. (pencils), Joe Pimentel (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Last updated: 06/10/06
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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