Unicorn (comics)

Unicorn
The Unicorn as featured on the cover of Iron Man #154 (Jan. 1982). Art by Bob Layton].
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Tales of Suspense #56 (Aug. 1964)
Created by	Stan Lee (Writer) Don Heck (Artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Milos Masaryk
Team affiliations	Lethal Legion Maggia KGB
Partnerships	Count Nefaria Plantman Eel Porcupine Scarecrow Red Ghost Titanium Man Mandarin
Notable aliases	Uncanny Unicorn
Abilities	Formidable hand-to-hand combatant and marksman Highly proficient in the use of knives Superhuman strength, stamina, and durability via radiation treatments Flight via rocket belt Energy projection, force field generation and magnetic levitation via emitter on brow of suit

Milos Masaryk was a Soviet intelligence agent assigned to track down the original Crimson Dynamo, who defects to America. Wearing technology designed by the Dynamo, Masaryk gives himself the alias the "Unicorn" and battles Iron Man.[2] The Unicorn was among the villains affected by Doctor Doom's high-frequency emotion charger, who was compelled to attack the Fantastic Four at the wedding of Reed Richards and Susan Storm.[3]

The Unicorn later allies himself with Count Nefaria.[4] He then undergoes experimental conditioning to augment his powers.[5] With increased strength, he battles Iron Man once more after attempting to extort money from the U.S. Congress, but he is again defeated.[6] The process leaves the Unicorn with "accelerated cellular deterioration", and he is taunted with a cure by the villainous Red Ghost in exchange for help against Iron Man. However, once it becomes evident that the Red Ghost has lied, the Unicorn aids Iron Man and later escapes.[7]

The villain the Mandarin makes a similar promise to the Unicorn and deploys him against Iron Man. On two more separate occasions, Unicorn's battle with Iron Man ends in Unicorn's defeat. In the first instance, the Mandarin's consciousness becomes entrapped in the Unicorn's body,[8] but the Mandarin's mind is later freed from the Unicorn's body.[9] Using the alias "The Other", the Titanium Man uses the Unicorn against Iron Man who is finally able to capture Masaryk. In a dramatic turn, the very moment of his capture sees Masaryk slip into a life-threatening coma.[10] Iron Man takes Masaryk to the Avengers Mansion where teammate Yellowjacket wakes Masaryk and cures him of his debilitating disease. The process has the result of driving Masaryk insane, and a disorientated Unicorn inadvertently activates the hidden robot Arsenal. The Unicorn is stunned by the robot — which Iron Man drives off — and then placed in stasis pending a cure for his mental illness.[11]

Months later, Masaryk is freed when a fire breaks out at Stark Enterprises.[12] He resumes the identity of the Unicorn and finds and attacks Iron Man once again. Still insane, the Unicorn refuses to believe that "The Other" was a lie, and begins to walk back to the Soviet Union via the ocean to find him. A severely weakened Iron Man can only watch as the Unicorn apparently drowns in the Atlantic Ocean.[13]

The Unicorn is later revived by the entity the Beyonder to fight with a new version of the Lethal Legion. The Unicorn is given a true third eye on a stalk with energy projection capabilities in lieu of a suit.[14]

During the "Infinity" storyline, Unicorn is among the villains recruited by Spymaster to help him attack the almost-defenseless Stark Tower.[15]

Iron Man and Hellcat later find Unicorn trying to steal the Gutenberg Bible. Korvac witnesses the fight and uses lightning to strike Iron Man which also destroyed the Gutenberg Bible.[16] Unicorn later appears to help Korvac, Blizzard, and Controller fight Iron Man and Hellcat.[17]

A second unnamed (at the time of his debut) Unicorn with a developed tentacled eye within his power-horn appears as a member of Remont 4 and goes on a rampage in St. Petersburg until captured by the third Titanium Man. His third eye is then amputated and he is incarcerated.[18]

During the Civil War storyline, the second Unicorn is approached by Baron Zemo and forced to either join Zemo's team of Thunderbolts or go to jail. He chooses to join and fights on the team's behalf.[19]

He is next seen in Hulk: Winter Guard along with Iron Maiden, Titanium Man, Volga, and the Snow Leopards as Remont 6.[20]

This versions' real name is revealed to be Yegor Balinov in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z hardcover vol. 13.[21]

A third Unicorn, whose real name is Aaidan Blomfield and wore the same Unicorn costume as his predecessors, only with an actual horn on the helmet, is recruited into the supervillain group Stockpile by Morgan Stark to destroy Iron Man, but they are defeated by the combined efforts of Iron Man and War Machine. Blomfield claimed to be an old foe of Iron Man's, but it is unknown if he really is, or was just riding on the reputation of the original Unicorn. His accent suggests he is either Australian or British.[22]

Roderick Kingsley later sold one of the Unicorn's outfits to an unnamed criminal. Unicorn is seen working for Roderick Kingsley's side at the time when Hobgoblin (who was actually Roderick Kingsley's butler Claude) was leading his forces into attacking the Goblin King's Goblin Nation.[23]

Following Spider-Man's victory over the Goblin King, Unicorn was among the former Hobgoblin minions at the Bar with No Name where they encounter Electro.[24]

During the AXIS storyline, Unicorn was among the supervillains that Missile Mate assembled to join the side of Phil Urich (who was operating as Goblin King) and the remnants of the Goblin Nation upon claiming that Roderick Kingsley "abandoned" them.[25]

Roderick Kingsley later regains Unicorn's services.[26]

The Ultimate Marvel version of the Unicorn briefly appears as a participant in the abandoned Russian supersoldier program. This version is one of many convicts found by the Ultimates in the Tunguska base who were altered using biotechnology torn from the Vision, and driven mad by years of isolation. He appears to have the power to project electricity from his horn, to levitate, and enhanced durability. He is killed by Nick Fury.[27]