A Lasting (if Negative) Impression

Martin Li, aka Mister Negative, has certainly left quite the impression during his short time in the comics. Created by Dan Slott and Phil Jimenez, the Darkforce and Lightforce-powered character was introduced in FCBD: The Amazing Spider-Man #1 (May 2007).

Martin is generally known as the kindly operator of the F.E.A.S.T. Project (Food, Emergency Aid, Shelter, and Training), which assists various people in need in New York City. However, he has a terrible other personality, Mister Negative, which came about as the result of drug experimentation performed on Martin by gang members. Mister Negative is the head of a gang called the Inner Demons, and rules over the criminal activity of Chinatown as its so-called kingpin.

Mister Negative first encounters Spider-Man during the Brand New Day storyline, during which he attempts to wipe out all other gangs in New York via the use of a biological weapon called “Devil’s Breath.” He eventually tries to kill Spider-Man using the same means.

Martin initially appears unaware of his other self, as he claims to have played a game of Go with an unseen opponent (who in actuality is Mister Negative). Mister Negative appears to be a photographic negative of Martin, and has a variety of different powers, including the power to “corrupt” others and bend them to his will. However, Martin is not totally helpless on his own – he has a healing touch, and was responsible for curing Eddie Brock’s cancer and creating the Anti-Venom persona.