Purple Man

Not to be confused with Purple Mask.

The Purple Man, also known as Killgrave, is a villain known for his trademark purple skin and superhuman ability to influence people to do things they wouldn't otherwise do. This power is linked to the experimental nerve gas that permanently colors his skin, and exposure to it allows his victims to be controlled.

Biography

While acting as a spy for an unknown foreign entity, Killgrave infiltrated an American munitions base in search of a particular nerve gas. But he was spotted and shot at, and in the confusion a vial of the material in question spilled onto him, permanently dyeing his skin purple. When he was confronted by the guards, he told them that he was innocent, and they instantly believed him. Killgrave thus discovered that he had attained the ability of perfect and effortless persuasion, and came to be known as the Purple Man for his new complexion. He came to prominence when he brashly walked into a bank in New York City and politely requested thousands of dollars in cash. The teller naturally obliged, and it wasn't until Killgrave was well down the street with the money that he was confronted by police, who took him to jail with no resistance. A lawyer was assigned to him by the court by the name of Matt Murdock. Murdock met with Killgrave in his cell, accompanied by his secretary Karen Page. Killgrave told the guard to release him, Page to be his secretary, and Murdock to stay behind. The former two obeyed, but as Killgrave left he failed to witness the unassuming attorney resist his command and become the hero Daredevil, pursuing his new foe into the streets. Killgrave ordered a group of passersby to attack, and they occupied Daredevil long enough for him to escape with Page in tow. Purple Man recruited a group of bodybuilders to be his muscle, and commandeered the top floor of an expensive hotel as his base of operations. Killgrave wasn't shy about his actions, and Daredevil quickly discovered him, defeating his powerful henchmen and chasing him to the roof of the building as Killgrave kept hold of Page. On the roof, Killgrave threatened to tell Page to jump off. Daredevil mock-surrendered and was held at gunpoint, secretly activating a tape recorder and asking how he got his powers. Killgrave's arrogance won out, proudly explaining his origin story to the man he thought he would kill at any moment. But Daredevil's lightning-fast reflexes allowed him to escape the Purple Man's grasp and safely jump to a scaffolding below with Page. The two met on the street, where a crowd of press, police, and bystanders had gathered. Purple Man attempted to sic them against the hero once more, but Daredevil covered him with a simple plastic sheet and bound him inside it. As Daredevil had gambled, Killgrave's powers were linked in some way to exposure to his skin itself. Purple Man was taken into custody in part thanks to Daredevil's recording.