History
Early Life[]
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"Jack Serious"
Dr. John Cereus is a psychologist who conducted an experiment involving placing one hundred human subjects in a vat that could only normally hold ninety. He exposed them to a vapor that he dubbed "Serious Gas" that would condense the mind. However Dr. Cereus fell into the vat himself and was trapped there for a full week. When he was released, he was changed both physically and mentally, losing his mind in the process.[1]
Dorkham Asylum[]
The other subjects were taken to Dorkham Asylum, where he now worked as Chief of Staff. He was annoyed that his theories were ignored and killed Timothy Hayes and his wife in anger right in front of their daughter Purple Hayes. He then began a long career of using the gas on people in crowds in public places.[1]
Nosferata & She-Hulk[]
Dr. Cereus again encountered Purple Hayes, now known as "Nosferata". She teamed up with She-Hulk to stop a shipment of the Serious Gas and he vowed revenge against the heroes. He sent Three Face to expose She-Hulk to the gas and kidnap her for experimentation.[2] However, due to her dense skin, he could not take a blood sample, so decided to electrocute her instead. Nosferata arrived to save her and learned that Serious had been the one that murdered her parents. He tried to run but lost his footing again and fell to the ground floor, where he was brutally attacked by the inmates.[1]
Crossmore Asylum[]
Cereus was later interned in Crossmore Asylum, in Doctor Whitby's section. She treated him for nine years, in Crossmore and in another institution.[3] His doctor's license had been revoked after his mass murder.[4]
He was beaten by Deadpool alongside the ten other patients of the unit, and sent to the hospital.[5]Attributes
Powers
- Mutated Appearance: Dr. Cereus's unusual appearance is a result of exposure to his Serious Gas and a group of mind-condensed subjects for a week.[6]
Abilities
- Psychologist: Dr. Cereus is a brilliant psychologist with several degrees.[6]
Paraphernalia
Weapons
- Serious Gas: hallucinogen of his own design.[6]
Notes
- Cereus is a parody of the Batman villain the Joker, and his Serious Gas of the Joker's Joker Venom.