Kala is a member of the race of subterranean
dwellers who long ago formed a city called Netherworld
deep beneath the earth. According to Kala, the Netherworld was a descendant of
the great Atlantis. But
when great tidal waves threatened the land, the Netherworld used its scientific
genius to lower their land under the sea, and eventually to the center of the
world. Kala had become queen for her people prior to her first known
activities. Kala had ruled for many years, and presumably had lived for
centuries.
Kala and her chief consort,
General Baxu, had planned to invade the surface
world after learning of its existence since the Mole
Man had recently tried the same thing. To prepare,
she kidnapped Tony Stark in order that he might create weaponry for her (TOS
#43). Deducing the unique properites of Kala's
Netherworld, Stark, as Iron Man,
abducted Kala and brought her to the surface in order that the exposure to the
surface air would cause her to exhibit the signs of her
advanced age. Returning to the familiar conditions
of her domain, Kala reverted to her youthful condition, suspended plans to
invade the surface, and married General Baxu. Soon, however, Baxu died, and Kala was
banished from her Netherworld city who never forgave her for their defeat by Iron Man. Pretending to
entertain notions of invading the surface again, Kala formed an alliance with
the Mole Man, who soon developed a crush on her. Mole Man also tricked his
subterranean rival, Tyrannus,
into hypnotic servitude, only to be betrayed by Kala, who formed an alliance
with Tyrannus instead. Kala was secretly after Tyrannus'
fountain of youth, the only thing that would keep
her young now that she had left Netherworld. Tyrannus betrayed Kala,
imprisoning her like they did the Mole Man, but both were saved by the
intervention of the Fantastic Four. (FF #127-128.) Later, Kala apparently found herself in power
over a group of subterranean people, the Lava Men
and remained in contact with the Mole Man, who now controlled Tyrannus'
fountain of youth. Kala and Mole Man staged an "outlaw olympics" using captive
surface athletes. Among those captive were the heroes
Hulk and Spider-Man,
who soon teamed up to turn the tables on Kala and Mole Man. After the battle,
Kala was revived by her Lava Men, only to find herself ravaged with age once
more and that the fountain was damaged and drained. Distraught over the fact
that she must remain withered and old, Kala appealed to Mole Man, who agreed to
allow her to return to his domains. (See Marvel
Treasury Edition #25.) Later, when the underground race of
Deviants began a war on the other races of Subterranea, Mole Man was
ousted from his domains. Kala used the opportunity to escape, but made her way
to the surface to ask Iron Man
to aid the Mole Man in the war (IM Annual #12).
Winding up in the Netherworld once more, the rejuvenated Kala was attacked by
her own people. Kala's aides, the Subterranean superhuman team called the Outcasts, retaliated and almost
caused a destructive cave-in on the city if it were not for the intervention of Iron Man. Awed by the display of
power that Kala had brought back with her, the Netherworld citizens would have
accepted her back, but Kala instead chose to return to the Mole Man's side,
even though it meant returning to her great age. Kala was wounded in the
Subterranean war when taking a blow meant for Mole Man. Moved to compassion,
the Mole Man returned to his domains at the end of the war with Kala by his
side. First ever & IM appearance: Tales of Suspense #43.
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