Moonstone
Dr. Karla Sofen
in a remarkably manipulative person. She is a master of
psychology and can almost always see a way to turn things to her
advantage. She is very attractive, incredibly smart, and not to
mention also quite powerful. I think all of the Thunderbolts,
Moonstone included, are probably surprised that Moonstone hasn't
turned on her teammates.
Thunderbolts #25- flashback- Moonstone was the daughter of Karl August Sofen. Karl was a butler to a famous oscar winning producer Charles Stockridge. Karla could see wealth and fame right before her yet was unable to partake of any. Karla's mother sends her to her room as Karla watches a Hollywood party. Karla also resented her role as "companion" of Deanna Stockridge, but it was early practice for Karla manipulating those she was smarter than to get the things she wanted. Karla talks Deanna into giving her clothes that Karla say make her look fat. When Karl died at the age of 42 Marion, Karla's mother, turns down Charles Stockridge's generous offer to stay there, not wanting to take charity. Karla's mother worked three jobs to let Karla attend the best schools. On graduation day Karla looked at her mother and vowed never to be as stupid as her mother. Karla goes into psychology o learn to better manipulate people.
Thunderbolts #-1- While attending the Midwestern Convocation on Psychiatry Dr. Karla Sofen runs into Joanne, a college from school. They decide to get lunch and skip out on Dr. Leonard Samson's speech on ethics. As they walk together Karla tells Joanne about her patient Angela who is paranoid her husband is cheating on her. Karla says she is at the root of the problem. Karla excuses herself for a second. She disguises her voice and calls Angela. In a sultry way she asks for Angela's husband Howie. Karla tells Joanne that her practice isn't big enough to lose a patient. Joanne stares aghast as Karla walks to lunch.
Thunderbolts #25- flashback- Karla grows unsatisfied depending on the unbalanced. She studies under Dr. Faustus and made a web of underworld contacts. She first learns of Lloyd Bloch, the original Moonstone.
Captain America #192- Steve Rogers needs to get back to New York right away. All flights are full except one charter flight. Steve's SHIELD priority gets him on. As Steve gets on the plane the "stewardess" Karla Sofen, wearing a skin tight outfit and bullet belts across her chest, asks Steve for his gun as she does all who get on the plane. He says he has none so she tells him to sit down. Once in the air Dr. Faustus speaks to the group of criminals. Karla hits the lights for the slides. Faustus says they will hold Manhattan for ransom for millions. Steve changes into his Captain America suit. Cap defeats Faustus' plan and when they land the crimials are arrested.
Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #229- flashback- Karla Sofen hides in an overhead compartment as Captain America takes the rest of Dr. Faustus' gang into custody. She is called in to try and cure the original Moonstone. It's costing them a fortune to keep him contained in the special cell. Once alone Karla uses a combination of a special gas and a technique called Total Voice Control, that she learned from Dr. Faustus, to cause him to see himself as a monster. Karla tells him that the Moonstone is making him a monster. He gives her the Moonstone. Karla absorbs the Moonstone. The guards rush back in to find Moonstone collapsed. She tells them that he burned out his power in one great psychic trauma.
Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #228-
After watching the news report about Samson's failed
psychiatry of Hulk Dr. Karla Sofen calls Gamma Base to volunteer
her services. Samson meets Karla Sofen. He remarks about her
causing 'a stir' at the Utrecht (U-Foes?) conference. Karla
integrates herself on the base. Everyone immediately loves her.
Moonstone walks past one of the guards, and fires a specially
coded coherent light beam at the magno-lock. She finds the
Gammavator components that she wants to steal and sell to
"the corporation". The Hulk, who is unable to sleep in
a bed, gets up and accidentally sets off an alarm. Karla,
thinking the alarm is for her, transforms into Moonstone to avoid
incrimination. Moonstone phases through the wall, and Hulk thinks
he is dreaming. Moonstone, afraid of Hulk, hits him. Hulk freaks.
Moonstone realizes that she is letting fear ruin her operation.
She finds a way to turn the situation to her advantage. She
starts playing the "scared girl" and starts striking
Hulk. She tells Hulk everything is his fault. She keeps goading
him. Samson arrives outside the building and "Dr.
Sofen" yells out to Samson that she can handle it. She tells
Hulk that his doctor, his friends, even his mother hates him.
When she tells Hulk that Jarella hated him Hulk breaks a hole
through the wall. Moonstone transforms to her Dr. Sofen clothes
and goes limp in Hulk's arms. Hulk shouts that he is a monster,
and will show everyone how big a monster.
Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #229- Samson tells Hulk to put Dr. Sofen down, and come down to talk to him. Hulk is confused since "metal-lady" is gone. He decides he might as well listen to Samson. Worried that Hulk might expose her Sofen blasts a gas line. Hulk pushes Samson and Karla back before the gas line explodes. Samson tries to tell Hulk how good he did, but Sofen again blasts Hulk while no one is looking. Hulk thinks he is being tricked and throws Samson. Hulk starts trashing tanks. Moonstone arrives on the scene and starts pretending to be a hero. She fights the Hulk until Samson gets back. Samson tells her to leave, and she listens since there is nobody there to pretend for anymore. After Hulk crushes Samson with a tank Hulk starts going after Moonstone again. Moonstone begins to realize the mistake she made. Thunderbolt Ross arrives on the scene with a gamma-blaster. When Moonstone sees him she loses her concentration and reverts to Karla Sofen. Moonstone realizes that Ross knows. She transforms back and forth between Sofen and Moonstone all the time talking to Ross. Ross, already kinda weary, has a total nervous breakdown. Hulk realizes that Moonstone is hurting Ross with her words. Samson returns and Dr. Sofen yells for help. Samson sees Ross down and calls Hulk a monster. Hulk leaps away.
Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #230- Karla Sofen is with Doc Samson as he checks on General Ross. Samson has to go prepare to meet with two senators who aren't pleased with his leadership. He asks Karla to watch Ross for him. Karla agrees and thinks to herself that it's only appropriate since she was the one who gave him his nervous breakdown.
Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #231- Dr. Sofen sits in on the meeting with the two Senators, Hawk and Stivak, Samson, and Quartermain. Samson commends Sofen for her help keeping Gamma Base running. At one point in the meeting Stivak turns to Sofen and uses her Corporation code-phrase letting her know that he, like her, is with the Corporation. Jim Wilson bursts in and tells Samson that the Hulk has been spotted in California. Stivak suggests that he, Jim, and Dr. Sofen go to California to deal with Hulk while Samson and Hawk remain behind to run Gamma Base. Karla agrees. On Stivak's private jet Stivak gasses Jim, and turns to talk to Karla. Stivak tells her he is the head of the Mid-Atlantic division of the Corporation, but because of some setbacks he has lost some face with the Board of Directors. Stivak asks Karla if she'd like to move from the West Coast branch to his division. Karla asks what is in it for her. Stivak answers money and power.
Captain America #230- Bruce Banner and Fred Sloan are captured by the Corporation. Dr. Karla Sofen uses her powers to destroy "Senator Stivak's' plane. He needed to fake his own death to cover up all the illegal activities he pulled while a senator. Stivak tells Sofen that she should call him Kligger. He also tells her to assume her Moonstone identity. Kligger and Moonstone arrive with Jim Wilson at Curtiss Jackson's Corporation West hideout in Alcatraz. Jackson has guests in Captain America, Marvel Man, and the Vamp who are trying to rescue Falcon from Jackson. Kligger had the Vamp planted in SHIELD with Captain America. Kligger offers Wilson for Captain America. Marvel Man blasts Bruce Banner free. Bruce hulks out. The fighting begins. Hulk's distrust of Marvel Man and Captain America works for the Corporation as Hulk knocks them both out. Kligger boosts Vamp's power turning her into Animus. Together with Animus' attack, Moonstone blasts the Hulk unconscious.
Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #232- While Kligger again offers Jackson Wilson for Captain America, Cap wakes up. Moonstone sees him and notices he is still groggy. She blasts Captain America into the water. When the bubbles stop coming up she assumes Cap is dead. Really Cap is freeing Falcon. The Hulk wakes up. He grabs Moonstone by the wrist and throws her into a wall. Hulk starts battling Animus. Moonstone asks Kligger is she should assist. Kligger says that Animus is doing okay by herself. She encases Hulk in a concrete prison. Captain America and Falcon return. Marvel man blasts Moonstone. When the Hulk breaks out of his prison Moonstone decides the odds are against her. Moonstone blasts a seagate and flies out as the water floods in.
Spectacular Spider-Man #61
Avengers #228- Moonstone lets Dr. Chen Lu, the Radioactive Man, in to see Egghead. While they talk Tiger Shark and Shocker come crashing through the roof. Moonstone and Beetle separate the two. Egghead reminds them that Shocker is important to the plan. Later as Hank Pym takes the stand in his own defense the courtroom roof collapses and Tiger Shark, Moonstone, Beetle, Shocker, and Radioactive Man drop in. Moonstone grabs Pym and leaves. All the villains escape with Pym except Shocker. Shocker tells the heroes that it was Pym who arranged for the villains to break him out. Pym awakens and charges Egghead. Tiger Shark restrains him. Egghead tells Pym that he brainwashed Shocker into thinking Pym really did arrange his escape. Pym has no choice but to join the Masters of Evil.
Avengers #229- Moonstone thinks to herself that Egghead shouldn't push Pym to far as Egghead goads Pym while he works. Moonstone says she knows that Pym is trying to pull a trick, but to test his work they hook Pym himself up to the machine. The machine emits a force field that can't be turned off. Nothing, including Moonstone's blasts, can get through the field. Pym defeats the entire Masters of Evil, knocking out Moonstone with a blast. Moonstone is starting to rise as Hawkeye accidentally kills Egghead trying to protect Pym from Egghead's blaster.
Avengers #230- Moonstone tries to sneak away, but is stopped by She-Hulk, Captain America, Wasp, and Thor. Moonstone surrenders and offers to tell what she knew of Pym being set up. Moonstone is seen on television being arrested.
Avengers #236- Blackout is freed accidentally from a machine inside Project Pegasus. Moonstone sees him passing her cell and calls out to him. She suggests he free her so they can team up. Blackout isn't sure about trusting her, but her voice is so reassuring. Blackout shorts out her cell bars. Moonstone shows Blackout where to go. Moonstone frees Rhino and Electro so they can all team up to get out of Project Pegasus.
Avengers #237- Moonstone and the others see that the Avengers and Spider-Man are in the building. Electro gets nervous. Moonstone has Electro break up a fight between Rhino and Blackout. She says they were all being used because of their energy powers, but together they can turn the tables. They cut the power to the Tube (a vortex beam transport) bringing the Avengers back to them. The Avengers find a wall of darkforce backed up by Electro's charges. She-Hulk breaks the darkforce, but is shocked down. Moonstone appears on a monitor telling them that they are now in charge. Spidey recognizes her. Scarlet Witch uses her hex power to knock the darkforce down. While the others are fighting Moonstone activates the reactor. Wasp arrives, but Moonstone blasts the control panel. Wasp says she missed, but Moonstone explains that what she blasted was the only way to stop what she just set in motion. Moonstone flees down the evacuation shaft with Blackout. Blackout blocks the way with darkforce. Captain Marvel uses her energy powers lead by Spidey's scientific knowledge to stop the meltdown.
Avengers #238- As Blackout shouts his paranoid ravings Moonstone drugs his coffee. The drug relaxes Blackout, and Moonstone has him tell her how he became this way. Moonstone realizes that Blackout's power has warped his mind. But since he trusts her she can use him. Vision's holographic self appears next to Moonstone. Moonstone tries to blast him, but as he is only an image it doesn't affect him. Moonstone wakes Blackout. She tells him to deal with him. Blackout tries to imprison him in darkforce, but again since he isn't here it fails. The Avengers come crashing through all sides of the room. Moonstone blasts a hole in the floor to fall through. Blackout tries to seal it up again, but Wanda's hex causes it to melt onto them encasing them in it. Moonstone tells Blackout to merge the Avengers with the darkforce, but he accidentally merges them, and they vanish as the darkforce closes in on itself.
Dazzler #32- The Inhumans teleport from the Blue Area of the moon to bring Dazzler up to help them. There is a giant dark cloud moving toward Attilan. Dazzler is brought up to shed some light on it. The black cloud is Moonstone and Blackout. Moonstone was hoping to search the blue area of the moon for more moonstones to amplify her powers (and though she doesn’t say it she also plans to get rid of Blackout). Moonstone didn’t know about Attilan however, and so they are masking their arrival with the black cloud. Maintaining the black cloud (which allows the two of them to breathe) is a great strain to Blackout. Blackout spots Dazzler and is distracted by her beauty. The cloud starts to withdraw so Moonstone smacks him. Blackout restores the cloud, but when Dazzler creates light powered by Black Bolt’s sonic whisper the cloud is blown away. Blackout quickly puts it back up. Dazzler blasts them again, but when Quicksilver runs at Moonstone and Blackout Karla blasts him. Moonstone blasts the building Dazzler and Black Bolt are in. Blackout quickly puts the cloud up to breath again. Dazzler blasts it again and Moonstone freaks. She unleashes a large amount of power. The cloud goes up and down until Blackout passes out. Moonstone passes out from lack of oxygen. Quicksilver grabs her. The Inhumans contact Reed Richards and he tells them to drop off Moonstone at Project Pegasus when Lockjaw returns Dazzler to Earth.
Avengers #279- Captain Marvel tries to go see how Moonstone is doing. Moonstone asks Marvel if she came to gloat. She says that this is all her fault. Moonstone says Zemo had to do everything his way, and that things would have gone different if she were in charge. Marvel says that it was Moonstone’s own fault she got careless and broke her neck. She says that she would have made a lousy leader because she is so quick to blame somebody other than herself.
Captain Marvel Special #1- Working for Kristina Ramos, the most powerful crime-lord in Brazil, Moonstone beats up Ron Morgan for a box of Stark International circuits that Ron had promised to give her, but refused to do so when he learned who Kristina was. Unfortunately for Moonstone, Ron Morgan had one Monica Rambeau working for him, also known as Captain Marvel (or now Photon). Photon quickly flies to Brazil and confronts Dr. Sofen as she gets off her plane. Karla transforms into Moonstone and tries to fly away. Photon punches Moonstone. Moonstone realizes that photon must be solid so she blasts her. Photon falls to the ground. Moonstone thinks how she should just deliver the circuits, but remembers that she owes Photon for breaking her neck. She starts blasting at Photon. Moonstone blinds Photon and then grabs her in a chokehold. Moonstone says that she spent three months in traction. She asks Photon if she knows what that feels like, and adds that she will. Moonstone starts to fly up with Photon in the chokehold. Photon flips Moonstone and throws her to the ground. Photon then punches Moonstone to the ground.
Fantastic Four annual #23- flashback- Two guards stand outside the hospital room of Moonstone. Moonstone is now a quadriplegic and unable to move. The guards wonder why they have to stand outside her room when she can’t even roll over. Moonstone’s eyes open. The Moonstone has completely healed Karla Sofen, and she now stands back in costume after blasting a hole in the hospital wall. The guards rush in, but Moonstone blinds them with a flash. Moonstone flies out the window. A cop takes a shot at her, but Moonstone just blasts at him. Volcana, in her human form, pushes the cop out of the way as his squad car explodes. Volcana transforms and with an unknown power, that the Molecule Man left her when he became part of the Cosmic Cube, she turns into volcanic rock. Moonstone blasts her. While Volcana lay on the ground Moonstone grabs the officer and shows him how it feels to be helpless. Moonstone says that she had to lay this way for weeks and that it made her very irritable. Volcana gets up and grabs Moonstone’s foot. Volcana tries to throw her into a truck, but Moonstone just phases through it. Moonstone flies after Volcana as she runs to a construction site. Moonstone blasts her in the back knocking her into a pit. Volcana launches debris into Moonstone’s face. The shock knocks her down. Volcana walks up to her, but Moonstone blinds her with another bright light. Moonstone picks up a steel girder and smacks Volcana. Moonstone’s flash was a little weak and Volcana was only slightly blinded. Moonstone flies at Volcana, but Volcana picks up the catcher from a bulldozer. Moonstone bounces right off it and goes unconscious. Volcana leaves Moonstone in chains.
Captain America #379- Captain America and Quasar are called during their jog for an Avengers priority at the city courthouse. Two people have been killed, but no description of the villain. As they arrive Count Nefarius smashes through the courthouse wall with Moonstone under an arm. Karla is wearing manacles and boots that prevent her from using her powers. Cap recognizes the outfit as belonging to Count Nefaria. Cap and Quasar get closer to try and negotiate with their unknown opponent. Count Nefarius instantly recognizes Captain America. Cap asks if he knows him. Nefarius says that he doesn’t anymore. Nefarius shoots eye blasts. Cap blocks the beams, but almost hits Moonstone with the ricochet. Nefarius says that if anyone gets to hurt her it will be him. Nefarius leaps away, and warns Cap that he will kill her if he follows. Moonstone asks Nefarius where he is taking her. Nefarius says he will tell her when they get there. He also tells her to shut up and enjoy the ride. As they chase after them Captain remembers the face and name of Nefarius. He remembers his name Lloyd Bloch, and that he once fought him when he was the old Moonstone. Nefarius lands near a church. He goes inside to hide from Captain America and Quasar he says until he is done with Moonstone. Moonstone asks what Lloyd wants from her. Nefarius says that he wants to kill her for when she took advantage of him. Lloyd tells her how he was institutionalized after she stole his Moonstone, and how he got his new power. He says that he has the power to do whatever he wants, and what he wants is to kill Karla. Karla asks if he is going to kill her there in the church. Nefarius says that funeral services are held there all the time. Karla apologizes to Nefarius for hurting him, and that she has been racked with guilt since. She explains that she saw his power and coveted it. She says that the power blinded her to the man behind the power. Karla tries to come on to him, but Nefarius says to forget it. He tells her to pick the first bone he will break. Karla says that Nefarius is obsessed with her not out of hate, but out of love. She says that he has been fantasizing about her that whole time. She asks why kill her when he can posses her utterly. She says that she wants him to possess her, and that she has been looking for a virile enough man to dominate her. She asks that they love each other as only superior beings can. She asks Nefarius to release her manacles so that she can caress and make him feel like nobody ever has. Nefarius uses his eye blasts to destroy the manacles. Just as her arms are free Cap shows up and grabs Moonstone. Quasar buts a bubble around Nefarius’ head to stop his eye blasts, and holds him with a band around his body. Cap asks Moonstone if Nefarius is her accomplice in escape. Moonstone says that he was going to kill her, but realizes that she doesn’t care what Cap thinks. When Nefarius leaps through the ceiling Cap looks over. Moonstone tries to blast him, but Cap dodges and then quickly knocks her out. After defeating Quasar Nefarius throws him at Cap. He grabs the unconscious Moonstone. As he walks away Moonstone wakes up and blasts him between the ears. Nefarius falls on her. Cap tells Moonstone to put her hands up. Having missed before, not wanting to get knocked out again, and being pinned down causes her to surrender. Cap asks why she did it. He saw her kissing him, and it looked like she was enjoying it. Karla says that she was just acting to keep from being killed.
Captain America #388-
Captain America #389- Moonstone blasts into the water and hits Captain America's head. Paladin gets Cap to the surface. He shoots Moonstone down while still emerged in water. Moonstone crashes into the water. Paladin pulls Moonstone aboard the Avengers Quinjet. Moonstone is kept unconscious by nueronic-disruptor cuffs.
Avengers: Deathtrap- The Vault- Moonstone and Speed Demon are freed by damage caused during Venom's escape attempt. Speed Demon makes a reference to Gene Krupa. Moonstone says that he is dating himself. Speed Demon says that he'd rather date her, but Moonstone says that isn't much of a compliment coming from a guy who has been in prison for months. When the villains break off into different factions Moonstone stays with Venom's side. Moonstone is teamed with Titania and Piledriver as they fight Wasp, Wonder Man, and Hawkeye. Moonstone and Wasp's hand blasts meet each other in the air. The warden of the place tries to blow it up, but the heroes save the day. As the villains fight the heroes Iron Man broadcasts a command from Mentallo that hypnotizes Moonstone and the other villains.
Avengers Unplugged #1- Moonstone tells the Guardsman gawking at her that he can turn off the sun lamps. He asks if she is sure, but she says that she has had enough positive reinforcement for the day. Moonstone sees that they are wheeling Count Nefarius past her cell. As soon as he sees her he breaks from his restraints. They quickly wheel him into another room. After trashing some guards Nefarius bursts through the wall of Moonstone's cell. Moonstone tries coming on to Nefarius, but he says he isn't a fool and throws her into the wall of her cell. The Avengers are trying to help, but are divided by the energy bars. Nefarius forces Moonstone to tell him which bone she wants broken. She says arm and he snaps it. Hercules tackles Nefarius. Nefarius throws him off. Moonstone leaps out through the hole Nefarius made so that the power dampeners would no longer affect her. Moonstone falls down the elevator shaft until her powers kick back in. Moonstone hits the Vision away from her. Moonstone hides in the ventilation system until at one point Nefarius hits a white-hot, diamond hard Vision so hard that he burns a passage straight to the surface of the Vault. Moonstone tries to escape up the passage, but the Black Widow tackles her. Moonstone says she can't trust the Avengers to protect her as Nefarius is pounding them. She runs into Vision who is coming back down. Vision was weakened by the blow and cannot become intangible enough to avoid Moonstone's photon blasts. Black Widow catches up to Moonstone on the surface. They are in a standoff when Widow convinces Moonstone that if she kills her Moonstone will get life, but since she is being a model prisoner she can easily go back to her cell and finish her time.
Thunderbolts 1997 annual- flashback-
CONTINUE MOONSTONE'S CHRONOLOGY