Fictional Character Biography
The Yellow Claw was born over 150 years ago somewhere in mainland China. Like Fu Manchu, he is both a genius in biochemistry and a brilliant scientist and inventor in many fields, in addition to being an expert in mysticism, alchemy, and the martial arts. The Yellow Claw has formulated elixirs that have prolonged his life span, enabling him to retain his physical vitality. Following his Nick Fury appearances, artists have depicted him with an unusual, jaundiced-looking, yellowish skin tone, possibly as a result of his life-extension chemical.
The Yellow Claw has dedicated himself to achieving world domination and supplanting Western civilization. He controls a worldwide criminal organization, along with a staff of research scientists and engineers. In 1942, the Yellow Claw encountered Lady Lotus in New York's Chinatown. In the 1950s, he forged a pact with Communist Chinese leaders including General Sung whereby the Claw would seek to conquer the West for China. In fact, this was simply a ruse, and he intended to conquer the world for himself.
The Yellow Claw was aided by his second-in-command, the Nazi war criminal Karl von Horstbaden, alias Fritz von Voltzmann. However, the Claw was continually foiled by FBI agent Jimmy Woo and betrayed by his sole living relative, his grandniece Suwan, whom he could not bring himself to kill.
The Yellow Claw sent troops to invade Liberty Island and activate his Id paralyzer, but was foiled by Nick Fury and Captain America. Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. battled robots of Yellow Claw and his cohorts. Eventually, the Yellow Claw left the United States, placing the meddlesome Suwan in suspended animation. After severing ties with the People's Republic of China, the Claw fused Suwan's spirit with that of the conquest-minded ancient Egyptian princess Fanle-tamen. During a subsequent battle with Nick Fury, Captain America, the Falcon, and S.H.I.E.L.D., however, the Claw was betrayed by the vengeful Suwan; he transferred the spirit of Fan-le-tamen to himself, which caused Suwan to crumble into dust, and he escaped. The Yellow Claw later took part in the Black Lama's contest of super-villains, in which he defeated and apparently killed rival Chinese supervillain the Mandarin. He also battled the superhero Iron Man, but then abandoned the Black Lama's contest and escaped. He then made an attempt to destroy New York City using a tidal wave, but was foiled by Nova, Nick Fury, and S.H.I.E.L.D. He then planned to father sons by various genetically superior women, then sterilize mankind and rule the world, but this plot was foiled by the superhero team the Avengers. The Yellow Claw then attempted to destroy New York City, but was foiled by Captain America, Frog-Man, Spider-Man, the Human Torch, Angel, Beast, and Iceman. The Yellow Claw later recruited the second Madame Hydra as his new heir. He battled Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D., but witnessed the defeat of Madame Hydra's forces, and was responsible for the reunion of Fury and Dum Dum Dugan.
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