This is Phipher Williams but he is known to the world as The Dark Alchemist now. Phipher is a brilliant physicist who is currently employed by The Winston-Berkshire Group & Affiliates. Phipher was performing a routine operation on a device that he created that allows him to imbue objects with the ability to shift between parallel realities when the device malfunctioned (due to sabatoge) and decimated his lab, and everyone in it, except for him. While unfortunate, the accident granted him with the ability to manipulate matter to whatever effect he so desires, a kin to the fabled stories of alchemists in the old days. The only drawbacks to his newfound powers is that what he creates is limited to his actual knowledge of the thing he would like to make and his stamina, which has been enhanced but is still limited. Another way he counteracts his limited knowledge is by communing and drawing on the memories of his parallel selves to fill in knowledge gaps or learn something completely new.

Phipher doesn't question the circumstances behind his new abilities until after having several, violent, encounters with the vigilante known as Anansi.

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