Real Name: Leopold Stryke
Occupation: Marine life expert, professional criminal
Legal status: Citizen of the United States with criminal record
Identity: Publicly known
Former aliases: None
Place of birth: Unrevealed
Marital status: Presumed single
Known relatives: Jordan Stryke (alias Jordan Dixon, alias the Viper, brother, deceased)
Group affiliation: Member of the Serpent Squad, partner of the Porcupine, agent of Count Nefaria and the Cowled Commander
Base of operations: Mobile
First appearance: STRANGE TALES #112
Final appearance: GHOST RIDER #21

History: Leopold Stryke, the original Eel, was the curator of an aquarium who led a secret life as a costumed criminal. He was first captured by the police as a result of his battle with Johnny Storm, the Human Torch. After a second defeat by the Torch, the Eel was recruited by Count Luchino Nefaria to assist him in his attempt to bold Washington, D.C. for ransom. Nefaria and the costumed criminals he employed on this venture were thwarted by the original X-Men. However, the Eel later acted in partnership with three of the other criminals whom Nefaria had hired: the Plantman, Scarecrow, and Porcupine. Stryke later joined his brother Jordan, the original Viper, as a member of the first Serpent Squad. The Eel was also a member of the second Serpent Squad, although he was unaware on joining that Jordan had been murdered by the new Squad's organizer, the second Viper.
The original Eel was finally murdered by the costumed criminal known as the Gladiator, who stole a disintegrator ray device that was in the Eel's possession.

Height: 5 ft. 8 in.
Weight: 180 lbs.
Eyes: Green
Hair: Brown

Strength level: The Eel possessed the normal human strength of a man of his age, height, and build who engages in regular exercise.

Known superhuman powers: None

Weapons: The Eel wears a special costume that contains devices which generate large quantities of electricity, enough to stun or even kill a human being. The Eel's costume is, of course, insulated so that he himself is protected from the electricity it generates. The Eel can project electrical bolts from his hands while wearing the costume. He can use electricity to cause himself to glow in the dark. The Eel can also electrify his costume so that anyone touching him will he shocked into unconsciousness.

The Eel's costume is coated with a grease-like substance, which makes it difficult for an assailant to hold onto him.

Other abilities: Eel was highly skilled as an electronics expert and was quite agile. The Eel was a fair hand-to-hand combatant.