Morris "Morrie" Bench gains his superpowers while as a crewman on the cargo ship the U.S.S.Bulldog, having been knocked overboard accidentally by Spider-Man (after the hero had finished a fight against Namor) while a powerful experimental generator is being tested in the ocean. The combination of unknown radiation and his immersion in a deep ocean-dwelling bacteria turns him into the Hydro-Man. When he realized that he had become a man-of-water, he blamed Spider-Man for his disgrace and started to hunt him (through many showers, sewers, and water valves), in order to get revenge on the hero, but was defeated in combat. Soon after that, he briefly becomes merged with the Sandman into a composite mud/quicksand-like creature called Mud-Thing.
Hydro-Man is a typical low rent supercriminal, joining supervillain teams such as the Sinister Syndicate, including the Frightful Four. While working with the Sinister Syndicate, Hydro-Man demonstrates a willingness to put up with just about anything in the name of financial gain. He ignores the constant politicking of the other members and looks past the Beetle's betrayal of the group to the Kingpin in the belief that the group was economically beneficial to him.
Hydro-Man was a member of Crimson Cowl's Masters of Evil and battled the Thunderbolts. After the disintegration of the group, he began to cooperate with the Shocker. He was hired by the Green Goblin to be part of his Sinister Twelve to help kill Spider-Man but was defeated.
Morris was one of the 46 villains to escape the Raft when Sauron was broken out by Electro. Before escaping, he attempts to drown Jessica Drew, Matt Murdock, Foggy Nelson, and Luke Cage.
After Civil War, he is seen alongside Shocker and Boomerang. This group attempts to rob Baily's Auction House but is interrupted by Spider-Man and then Initiative members War Machine and Komodo. The latter is there to neutralize Spider-Man. The trio escapes but is later defeated by the Scarlet Spiders.
When a member of Wizard's Frightful Five, Hydro-Man received a costume from Wizard that is made from the same material as the Human Torch's costume. In the Frightful Five's fight with the Fantastic Four, Hydro-Man was frozen in Titan's atmosphere.
-ComicVine
Key Issues & Appearances
1
Significant comic book appearances featuring Hydro-Man
