Black Supervillain: Moses Magnum

"You thought to take me by surprise? YOU HAVE FAILED! And as I dealt with your misanthropic companion, so shall I deal with you"

Moses Magnum

Moses was born in Ethiopia and had a of love of weapons. He would build them, break down and reconstruct them. Weapons were his one and only passion. In 1935 Ethiopia was invaded by Mussolini and the Italian Army. Moses Magnum sided with Mussolini against his own people, helping to assure that Ethiopia would become part of Italian West Africa.

As an adult Moses became the president of Deterrence Research Corporation (DRC) and eventually the owner. In the process Moses helped the DRC become the world leader in weapons manufacturing. The DRC was hired to create a biochemical weapon for war by a dictator. To test the gas he had people kidnapped off the streets and subjected to testing.

Spider-Man and Punisher heard about the operation and independently went to investigate. During the battle that followed the confrontation Punisher exposed Moses to the gas and left him for dead. Luckily the gas he was exposed to was non fatal and he managed to escape custody. Moses being outed as an obvious criminal no longer used his given name and adopted the moniker Magnum Force.

Moses started a mining operation on an island called Katsyu and hoped to tap into the Earth's core to use it's natural power. He kidnapped Amanda Sheridan, a geologist, to help the operation speed up and the fact that she knew the island. What Moses didn't know is that Luke Cage had been hired by Amanda's grandmother to protect her. Luke Cage showed up and shut down the whole operation. During the fight Moses caused an earthquake hoping to kill Luke but during the earthquake he fell down a mine shaft and died.

However he was revived by Apocalypse and had his latent mutant abilities unlocked and enhanced. Moses now had super strength, the ability to sense earthquakes as well as generate seismic waves. All of this was given to Moses if he pledged his allegiance to Apocalypse and cause some problems for the X-Men. Moses traded some weapons with a group known as They Who Wield Power and went to Japan.

While in Japan Moses threatened to sink the entire island if he was not made Supreme Ruler. He destroyed the city of Agarashima when they doubted him. However his plan was stopped when Banshee countered Moses' seismic waves with his own scream. Moses was stopped but Banshee was left temporarily mute and without use of his scream. The explosion caused by their battle destroyed Moses base and he used the confusion to escape.

Moses restarted his company as Magnum Munitions and once again began creating weapons and again becoming one of the top companies in the world. Magnum purchased a deactivated Deathlok android to scrap for new technology. When the Deathlok was stolen Moses sent his henchmen to deal with it. Only for them to be stopped by the current Deathlok at the time Michael Collins. Moses entered a bidding war with Advanced Idea Mechanics (AIM). When AIM didn't withdraw a bid he couldn't beat he went back to his villain days and blew up their headquarters.

With the money he earned he brought together an army and outfitted them with some of the latest military tech. He then waged war on the African country of Canaan and took control as the new leader. The reason he did this is because he experienced racism in America and wanted to create a new nation for Black Americans to go where they could be left alone. However, before that could happen he needed the country to be economically stable. To stabilize the economy, he thought it would be a good idea to take over Wakada. Long story short, T'Challa did not play that shit. Even after the failed war Canaan still managed to attract a number of Black Americans. Helping to establish the country as one of the stronger nations in Africa.

During all of this, Moses did not cause trouble for the X-Men like Apocalypse required. He wasn't stripped of his powers, instead the ability to control them was taken from him. When Magnum would touch the ground he would trigger an earthquake. Being the genius that he is, he build a flying base so that he never had to touch the ground again. He attempted to steal a seismic cannon that would help stabilize his powers. He succeeded but the Avengers caught up with him. They threw him from his base in the sky to an island below. His powers activated and caused a massive earthquake sinking the island and Moses into the ocean. Great job on that one Avengers, you committed murder.

So you thought, he somehow survived and regained control of his powers. During Civil War many black superheroes and villains flee America. Both Canaan and Wakanda accept these refugees. An African conference is called between leaders and Moses attends representing Canaan much to T'Challa's surprise.

While attempting to make Daken, a son of Wolverine, more popular Norman Osborn pit him against several villains. Initially caught off guard Magnum was taking a beaten and trying to explain that he had no beef with Daken and Daken didn't want any. Daken continued to ask "what's beef," only for Moses to fight back and almost kill Daken by using his seismic powers directly against Daken's skull. Later Daken tracked down Moses for revenge and failed. In an attempt to hide is scheme Normon Osborn planted a bomb that almost killed Moses.

Moses left the crime game, mostly. Now he rules his country peacefully and occasionally sells doomsday devices when the country needs a financial boost. It's like the Anti-Wakanda. On Alternate Earth - 989192 he actually did destroy Japan and become ruler of the world. However, ruling the second most powerful African country isn't bad.

Powers, Abilities and Equipment

• Seismic Projections - Can create earthquakes at will, including inside an opponents body
• Genius Level Intellect
• Super Strength
• Multiple Power Suits
• Evangeline - Floating Airbase
• Excellent Strategist
• Diplomatic Immunity

You can hear Darrell on the CP Time and Powerbomb Jutsu podcasts. He also plays classic arcade games on The Cabinet
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