Carl Bork (New Earth)

Carl Andrew Bork was a criminal dock worker from Gotham City who went by the nickname King of the Docks. After a shipboard theft in the South Pacific during which he saved a young native boy from drowning, he discovered Desolation Island. In thanks for Bork's rescue of the young boy, the Desolation Island natives gave him a 'magic' statue which eventually transformed him, and made him invulnerable to physical harm. With this new power, he set out to establish himself as the new 'head' of Gotham City, with Batman's attempts to defeat or contain him meeting with failure; even when they actually trapped Bork in a cell, his invulnerability allowed him to keep punching the wall until it was worn down. While Batman kept Bork's attention occupied, the Flash retraced Bork's steps to find the source of his invulnerability until he found the statue on Desolation Island. Flash then tried to destroy it, but all his attempts failed until he was able to throw it into the sun. Once the statue was destroyed Bork's invulnerability disappeared, allowing Batman to defeat him.^[1]

Prison

Bork served hard time in the Van Kull Maximum Security facility outside Metropolis. While in prison, his body began to mutate. His invulnerability returned along with super-strength and an increasingly deformed physique. He escaped Van Kull, and was opposed by Batman and the Flash, but managed to elude them and visit his mother in Newark, New Jersey. After his mother collapsed from a weak heart, Batman talked Bork into surrendering himself to the authorities, on the condition that they help her to get well. Bork peacefully served the remainder of his prison sentence, and Batman arranged for his mother to get the best medical treatment available, and had the Wayne Foundation pay her hospital bills.^[2]

The Power Company

After his parole, Bork attempted to find gainful employment, but was hampered by the disadvantages of his criminal record and monstrous appearance. He was later approached by Josiah Power with a job offer to join a new corporate heroes-for-hire organization called the Power Company. Bork accepted Josiah's offer and joined the team as an associate, later becoming roommates with co-worker Sapphire.

One Year Later

Main article: One Year Later

Bork was an unwilling participant in one of Roulette's metahuman brawls, fighting against the current Son of Vulcan. He apparently escaped, and was seen as a client of Oblivion Bar with Witchfire and Traci Thirteen.

Powers and Abilities

Powers

Transformation: Bork is stuck in his dangerous form and cannot revert to his human body.
- Superhuman Strength
- Invulnerability

Weaknesses

Monstrous Appearance: Due to his physical appearance, Bork is not easily trusted.

Notes

Although this character was originally introduced during DC's Earth-One era of publication, their existence following the events of the 1985–86 limited series Crisis on Infinite Earths remains intact. However, some elements of the character's Pre-Crisis history may have been altered or removed for Post-Crisis New Earth continuity, and should be considered apocryphal.

Carl Bork (New Earth)

Contents

History

Origin