Forever set apart by his freakish appearance and childlike demeanor, the mutant bloodhound called Caliban stands alone even among his genetic brethren. Once, he found a home with the Morlocks, a society of mutant outcasts. Later, he acted as an adventurer of sorts in the company of the original X-Men, mutant heroes sworn to protect humanity. But for Caliban, kindred spirits have been few and far between. Mutated, manipulated and mistreated by the would-be conqueror called Apocalypse, he has been released from servitude to seek his own destiny in a world that hates and fears his kind!

Real name: Unrevealed
Occupation: Unrevealed; former adventurer and Horseman of Apocalypse
Group affiliation: None; formerly X-Force, the Morlocks, X-Factor and Apocalypse's Horsemen
Base of operations: Mobile

Height: 6'8", 5'8" before bioengineering
Weight: 275 lbs., 150 lbs. before bioengineering
Eye color: Black pupils, no apparent irises, yellow corneas
Hair color: None

Powers: Caliban possesses the psionic ability to sense the presence of other mutants within a 25-mile radius. In addition, Apocalypse's bioengineering enhanced his strength, speed, stamina, durability, agility and reflexes to superhuman levels.

Weapons: None

History: A mutant, Caliban was born with a freakish appearance that caused his father to name him after the grotesque creature in William Shakespeare's The Tempest. At some point, the mutant Callisto recruited Caliban to use his superhuman ability to locate others of their kind, whom she organized into the underground society of outcasts known as the Morlocks. Caliban lived with the Morlocks beneath the streets of Manhattan, but felt alone even among his fellow mutants.

One evening, Caliban sensed the presence of mutants in a New York City nightclub. Entering, he found himself fighting Dazzler, Storm, Kitty Pryde and the original Spider-Woman -- members and allies of the X-Men, an outlaw band of heroic mutant adventurers. The women allowed the pathetic Caliban, who only sought friendship, to return to his underground home.

When the X-Men came into conflict with the Morlocks, Caliban held captive a feverish Kitty Pryde, with whom he had fallen in love. Kitty promised to remain with Caliban if he helped the X-Men defeat his fellow Morlocks. Caliban carried out his part of the bargain, but Kitty failed to keep her promise. Weeks later, the Morlocks kidnapped Kitty on orders from the vengeful Callisto and attempted to force her to marry Caliban. But Caliban realized she did not truly wish to live with him and released her from their pact.

The original X-Men, now known as X-Factor, rescued Caliban from the massacre of the Morlocks by the Marauders, a band of superhuman assassins answering to the twisted geneticist called Mr. Sinister. Vowing to avenge the Morlocks, Caliban took up residence at X-Factor's headquarters and soon joined the team. When X-Factor's arch foe, Apocalypse, offered to grant him enough power to exact vengeance on his enemies, Caliban became a servant to the ageless mutant warlord. Apocalypse used advanced methods of genetic engineering to increase Caliban's size and strength. Reborn first as Hellhound, then Death, he joined the would-be conqueror's Horsemen.

Caliban and the other Horsemen subsequently pledged their allegiance to Sinister, but met defeat at the hands of the X-Men. Removed from the influence of his malevolent masters, Caliban joined X-Force -- a battle-ready, proactive strike team founded by the time-tossed mutant freedom fighter called Cable. Caliban served loyally, coming to regard Cable as one of his closest friends.

Later, Caliban once again fell under the thrall of Apocalypse. He mutated even further, becoming much more aggressive. Caliban threatened to kill X-Force in his first act as Pestilence, First Horseman of the Apocalypse. Following the Horsemen's defeat, Caliban sought out Apocalypse -- who had merged with Cyclops, stalwart leader of the X-Men. By the time the amalgamated entity released Caliban from his service, he already had begun reverting to his original, childlike personality.