IVAN MULOFF

Real Name: Ivan Muloff

Identity/Class: Human (Russian) (Post-World War II Era)

Occupation: Spy

Group Membership: KGB (presumably)

Affiliations: Soviet Union

Enemies: Agent X (Otto Ochnig), Boris

Known Relatives: Mr. Muloff (father, deceased)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Moscow, USSR

First Appearance: Menace I#2 (April, 1953)

Powers/Abilities: Ivan was an experienced intelligence operative with a ruthless streak in him, which made him willing to resort to lethal measures. He had experience using knives, handguns and rifles. He was particularly skilled at shadowing his targets without being detected.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 6'0")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 175 lbs.)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black

History:
(Menace I#2 (fb)) - When Ivan went into training as a spy for the Soviet Union, one of his tests was to beat his own father with a bullwhip. Without hesitation, Ivan beat his father, ignoring his pleas to spare him. When the beating was done, Ivan was handed a gun and told to shoot his father; he complied, killing him. For this, he was welcomed into the ranks of the Soviet Union's spies. In time, Ivan rose to prominence within the Communist Party but one day, an instructor was explaining a tactic to conceal a hand grenade behind a white flag when feigning surrender then set it off when the enemy came near. Ivan questioned whether they should break the promise of a white flag. This outraged the instructor and Ivan was brought to the torture den, where Boris drove a hot poker into his chest, branding him with the hammer and sickle so that he would never forget that "promises are made only to be broken!"

Ivan survived the torture and became tougher, stronger and more bestial from the experience. He was given his first position of authority as a security guard in a Siberian labor camp. Again, Ivan demonstrated his ruthlessness by his inhumane treatment of the laborers, forcing them outside without winter clothing and throwing the dead laborers' bodies to the wolves instead of burying them.

Ivan's time in Siberia convinced the party to entrust him with an important assignment. Ivan was ordered to journey to the United States and obtain plans for an atomic-powered submarine from Agent X. This was complicated by the fact that no one knew what Agent X looked like but Ivan's superiors assured him that Agent X would seek him out. A Soviet plane dropped Ivan off the coast of New York and a submarine waiting there gave him a rowboat so that he could journey to Long Island. In New York, Ivan made contact with other spies but none of them could provide further information on Agent X.

After months of waiting for Agent X to reveal himself, Ivan learned that Professor Otto Ochnig was working on the atomic-powered submarine. Stalking Ochnig, Ivan familiarized himself with the professor's routine. Ivan resolved that he would simply murder Ochnig himself and steal the plans from Ochnig's briefcase.

(Menace I#2) - Having chosen a spot on Ochnig's usual path home, Ivan lurked there until the professor passed nearby. Coming up behind him, Ivan stabbed Ochnig to death. Ivan attempted to take the briefcase but found it was attached to Ochnig's wrist by a chain too strong to break. As the police approached, assuming Ivan was a mugger, Ivan was forced to flee without the plans.

Although he had not obtained the plans, Ivan believed that by killing Ochnig he had at least created a setback in the development of the atomic-powered submarine. Returning to the Soviet submarine off the coast, he was ferried back to the Soviet Union and made his report. Ivan's superiors accused him of failure. He protested that the fault was that of Agent X, who had not materialized to aid him. Ivan's superiors ordered that he be brought to the torture den and be tortured for days before being killed. As the torture was about to begin, Ivan desperately noted that he should at least be thanked for killing Ochnig. However, his superior revealed to him that Agent X was Ochnig - he had killed a fellow Soviet operative. Then the torture began...

Comments: Created by Stan Lee and George Tuska.

    Ivan's organization was not identified but since he was acting as an agent of the USSR, the KGB seem most likely. Maybe they were afraid the KGB would sue.

    This profile was completed 02/02/2023 but its publication was delayed, as it was intended for the Appendix's 25th anniversary celebratory event.

Profile by Prime Eternal.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Ivan Muloff should not be confused with:

Agent X (Otto Ochnig)

Professor Otto Ochnig was Agent X of the Soviet Union. He posed as a scientist, operating in New York City. Agent X was assigned to steal plans for an American atomic-powered submarine and deliver them to Ivan Muloff so that he could transport the plans back to Moscow. However, Agent X's true identity was not known to Ivan or any other agents operating in the area. Deciding he would have to obtain the plans on his own, Ivan determined Otto was carrying them and assassinated him. However, the arrival of the police prevented Ivan from removing the plans from the briefcase chained to Otto's wrist. For killing Agent X, Ivan was tortured to death.






--Menace I#2

Boris

Boris was a torturer employed by the Soviet Union. When Ivan expressed doubts about breaking promises made to the enemy, he was turned over to Boris for torture. Boris drove a hot iron into Ivan's chest, branding him with the symbol of the hammer and sickle. Years later, Boris was given the job of torturing Ivan to death for unwittingly killing Agent X.





--Menace I#2

Mr. Muloff

Mr. Muloff was the father of Ivan Muloff. When Ivan enlisted as a spy for the Soviet Union, his resolve was tested by ordering him to beat his father with a bullwhip. Ivan complied and beat his father, ignoring his pleas to stop. After the beating, Ivan was handed a gun and ordered to shoot his father; he did so without hesitation, proving he would be a ruthless agent for the Soviet Union.






--Menace I#2 (fb)

images: (without ads)
Menace I#2, page 1, panel 1 (Ivan, main)
Menace I#2, page 5, panel 1 (Ivan, face)
Menace I#2, page 6, panel 6 (Agent X)
Menace I#2, page 7, panel 7 (Boris)
Menace I#2, page 2, panel 1 (father)

Appearances:
Menace I#2 (April, 1953) - Stan Lee (writer, editor), George Tuska (artist)

First posted: 09/16/2023
Last updated: 02/02/2023

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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