PROFESSOR CHALIS
Real Name: Chalis (first name unrevealed)
Identity/Class: Human (Old
West Era)
Occupation: Scientist
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Zugg
Enemies: Black Rider (Matthew Masters), Jim, Marie Lathrop
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: A ranch near Leadville, Texas,
USA;
formerly Chicago, Illinois, USA
First Appearance: Black Rider I#8 (March, 1950)
Powers/Abilities: Professor Chalis was a genius inventor. His greatest creation was the Giant Ray Machine, with which he turned men into giants. He also created an antidote to prevent himself from developing side effects from exposure to his own ray.
Height: Unrevealed
(approximately 6'1")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 165 lbs.)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
History:
(Black Rider I#8 (fb) - BTS) - While teaching at the Chicago School of
Scientific Research, Professor Chalis investigated a means to make
creatures grow larger, developing his Giant Ray Machine to that end.
The first person to be subjected to the machine was Zugg, who then
became Chalis' henchman.
(Black Rider I#8) - Hearing of his experiments, the board of the Chicago School of Scientific Research summoned him to a hearing and ordered him to immediately discontinue his research. Chalis refused and ranted to the board about his ability to create giant men and women. The board was horrified and decided Chalis belonged in an institution. Chalis was fired from the school, and the police were sent to his laboratory to dismantle the Giant Ray Machine. However, the police were greeted by Zugg, who murdered them. Realizing he needed a new place to continue his experiments and to keep away from the law, Chalis had Zugg dismantle the machine and join him in a journey to the southern USA.
Chalis took up residence on a ranch nearby that of Jim Lathrop. Deciding to continue his experiments by making animals grow to a larger size, Chalis visited the Lathrop ranch to obtain a wolf they had captured so that he could grow it to a giant size. Having no idea what Chalis was doing, Marie Lathrop was attracted to him and went riding with him one day, making Doc Matthew Masters jealous. Not content with using the Giant Ray Machine on the wolf, Chalis also rustled cattle from the Lathrop ranch for his experiments.
While Chalis' giant wolf escaped and was killed by the Black Rider, Chalis and Zugg began usng the machine on the rustled cattle. Marie followed the tracks of the cattle to Chalis' property but Chalis and Zugg hid the cattle from her. Upon seeing Zugg, Marie was startled and bumped into the lever for the Giant Ray Machine, which fired at Chalis. Marie left Chalis under Zugg's care and fetched Doc Masters to treat Chalis.
After tending to Chalis, Doc Masters investigated Chalis' home as the Black Rider and found a pit full of giant rattlesnakes then fought and escaped Zugg.
Chalis recovered and created an antidote for the effects of his Giant Ray Machine but decided not to ingest it yet so that he could study the effect of the ray upon his own brain. Over the next few days, Chalis kidnapped Jim and at least one other ranchhand from the Lathrop property and transformed them into giants. However, Jim fled Chalis' property and showed Doc Masters what had become of him. Meanwhile, Chalis kidnapped Marie, wanting to force her to be his bride (or next experiment), and her brother Bobby Lathrop informed Doc Masters.
The Black Rider invaded Chalis' property to rescue Marie but he was beaten by Zugg. Chalis had the Black Rider and Marie brought before the ray so that he could transform both of them. However, Jim and the other giants (except Zugg) turned on Chalis. The ray machine, focused on a wooden door, caused it to burst into flames, causing Chalis' entire property to burn down. The giants murdered Chalis, and fire claimed the property and machine.
Comments: Created by an unidentified writer, Syd Shores, Joe Maneely, John Severin and Vince Alascia.
Yes, he really did consistently call his invention the "giant ray machine." Not exactly a $10 word man, was he?
I didn't think Leadville was even wired up for electricity - Chalis could have made a fortune just supplying power to everyone in town.
This profile was completed 04/26/2022, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 25th anniversary 's celebratory event.
Profile by Prime Eternal.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Professor Chalis should not be confused with:
The imaginatively-named Giant Ray Machine emitted rays which turned men into giants. The machine itself was not especially gigantic. As a side effect, it transformed men into "slavish morons" (per Chalis himself). Prolonged exposure of the ray produced sufficient heat to burn through wood.
Professor Chalis first used the machine on Zugg while in Chicago but when the Chicago School of Scientific Research drove him from their ranks, they attempted to seize and dismantle the machine. Chalis and Zugg brought the machine to Leadville to continue his experiments.
In Leadville, Chalis used the Giant Ray Machine on various animals in his experiments including a wolf, cattle and rattlesnakes. Through an accident, Chalis himself was exposed to the ray and began to suffer from the mental effects of the ray but, although he made an antidote for the ray's effects, he delayed taking it so that he could observe the effect upon his own mind. Chalis then used the ray on two of Jim Lathrop's men including a ranchhand named Jim.
Chalis intended to use the machine on the Black Rider and Marie Lathrop as well, but the other giants revolted against him, and the machine caused a fire which destroyed Chalis' property and evidently the machine as well.
--Black Rider I#8
ZuggZugg was the first man to be experimented on by Professor Chalis in Chicago. Zugg became enormously tall and strong but also a "slavish moron." Capable of limited thought, Zugg remained ever-loyal to Professor Chalis.
When policemen came to demolish the Giant Ray Machine, Zugg defended the device, killing the police. With that, Chalis realized he would have to go on the run and continue his experiments elsewhere. Zugg helped Chalis dismantle the machine, and they fled westward.
Zugg continued to aid Professor Chalis in his experiments after relocating to Leadville, Texas. When Chalis threatened Marie Lathrop, involving the Black Rider as her protector, Zugg fought the Black Rider. As Chalis was later killed by the other giants, Zugg attempted to kill the Black Rider, but Zugg was kicked in the head by Satan, the Black Rider's horse. Zugg was left inside Chalis' property as it was consumed by flames, apparently killing Zugg.
In addition to his higher-than-normal strength, Zugg carried a knife.
Zugg could easily be Jack Webb's grandfather. Check out that face!--Black Rider I#8
images: (without ads)
Black Rider I#8, page 5, panel 4 (main)
Black Rider I#8, page 5, panel 7 (face)
Black Rider I#8, page 9, panel 7 (giant ray machine)
Black Rider I#8, page 6, panel 4 (Zugg)
Appearances:
Black Rider I#8 (March, 1950) -
unidentified writer, Syd Shores (pencils), Joe
Maneely, John Severin (artists), Vince Alascia
(inks), Stan Lee (editor)
First posted: 09/13/2026
Last updated:
09/10/2022
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel
Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™ and © 1941-2099 Marvel
Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you like this stuff, you
should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com
Special Thanks to http://www.g-mart.com/ for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!