Real name: Unrevealed
Occupation: Professional criminal
Group affiliation: None
Base of operations: Unrevealed
First appearance: Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #1 (1963)

History: The mercenary spy called the Chameleon has found a challenging adversary in the wisecracking, web-slinging super hero known as Spider-Man. An unparalleled master of mimicry, the Chameleon has yet to reveal his true face. The genesis of his shapeshifting skills also remains a mystery, as little has been revealed of his past -- save that he is Russian, and that he grew up a ward of the abusive Kraven family. Because he has been deported following his capture on several occasions, it can be assumed that the U.S. intelligence community is aware of his true identity -- or at least his country of origin.

Soon after Spider-Man's public debut, the Chameleon stole a portion of the plans for a classified missile-defense system. He then learned through the news media that Spider-Man had paid a visit to the world's foremost team of superhuman adventurers, the Fantastic Four. Rumor had it Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Girl, the Thing and the Human Torch were considering the neophyte hero for membership. The Chameleon correctly theorized that the wall-crawler, then wanted by authorities, had sought to join the Fantastic Four as a means of securing a steady income. To cover his tracks, the Chameleon planned to frame Spider-Man for the theft of the remaining schematics. However, the web-slinger captured the Chameleon and exposed him as the real culprit, clearing his name.

Deported following his apprehension, the Chameleon returned to America after an absence of many months. Viewing the wall-crawler as a clear and present danger to his illicit objectives, he enlisted a partner in crime: Kraven the Hunter, master tracker and expert marksman. However, prey managed to turn the tables on predator. Since then, the Chameleon has engaged in numerous unlawful endeavors. Sometimes, he has worked in the employ of others -- including Hydra, a technologically advanced, neo-fascist subversive organization; and the Leader, gamma-irradiated super-genius. Often, he has committed robberies solely for his own benefit. In addition to Spider-Man, the Chameleon has run afoul of crimefighters such as the Avengers, Earth's Mightiest Heroes; Daredevil, fearless blind adventurer; and the Incredible Hulk, green-skinned engine of mass destruction.

To broaden the scope of his impersonation skills, the Chameleon adopted a holographic belt and ingested an experimental formula that rendered his body completely malleable. Capitalizing on his augmented abilities, he attempted to discover Spider-Man's secret identity. The Chameleon created an army of androids in the form of the only man ever to capture the wall-crawler on film: photojournalist Peter Parker. Little did he know that Parker and Spider-Man were one and the same. Captured by a relentless web-slinger, the Chameleon suffered a mental breakdown. Though the authorities were fully ready to prosecute the villain, his psychologist aided and abetted his escape. When last seen, he apparently leapt to his death off the Brooklyn Bridge after attempting to assume control of Parker's life.

Height: Unrevealed
Weight: Unrevealed
Eyes: Unrevealed
Hairs: Unrevealed

Known Superhuman Powers: The Chameleon's malleable flesh can assume the features of virtually any human being. His abilities are limited only by the extent of his imagination.

Weapons: To imitate individuals of a different sizes and weights, the Chameleon relies on a belt buckle containing a miniature holographic projector and microprocessor. This computer can capture and store an infinite number of profiles to augment the Chameleon's mastery of illusion.