Dr. Koenig worked on a project for Ashton Biotechnics, with Jonathan and Dolores Vale. They were trying to find a way for living cells to absorb energy more efficiently by bypassing the metabolic process. It failed, and while the Doctors Vale continued on another project, Dr. Koenig continued experimenting on himself. It was a success: he could now absorb mass from other objects. However, he could not stop the "hunger", feeling the need to absorb more and more mass, becoming heavier and tougher.