Department of Defense agent eddie Passim was order to drop an experimental chemical with the ability to alter people's appearances into a subway tunnel. A telepath, Passim knew his superiors planned to have him killed, so he attempted an escape. Unknown to Passim, the bottle containing the chimical did not break; it remained hidden in the subway for decades.

Passim's boss, Kenkoy was in league with the ninja clan known as the Snakeroot and needed the chemical to complete the bonding of Elektra's dark essence to Erynys.

Kenkoy kidnapped Eddie, who had been living among the homeless, but killed him after daredevil used the formula on Hellspawn.