- "This is MB4. That's right. This is the MB4 serum that made you the monster that you are. Augmented strength, eternal youth, all here in this syringe that I'm about to plunge into your body."
- —Lynn Stewart to Tobias Whale[src]
The anti-aging serum, also known as MB4, is a serum created by Helga Jace, which she used on Tobias Whale. It, as the name suggests, prevents the user from aging as well as increases the user's strength with each dose regularly taken.
History[]
Original multiverse[]
At some point, the anti-aging serum was created by Helga Jace and used on many human test subjects to test it's reliability.[1] Ultimately, Tobias Whale was the only survivor of these experiments and was allowed to keep vials of the serum to continue living.[2]
New multiverse[]
Following the Anti-Monitor Crisis, it is revealed that at some point during the Cold War the anti-aging serum originated as a super-soldier experiment for the United States government to use against the Soviet Union. Helga Jace was tasked by the A.S.A. to station in Markovia, with Tyson Sykes, as the lead chemist to replicate his meta-human powers for the serum. Although she was successful in creating the serum, Sykes staged a coup on the U.S.-allied government in Markovia and overthrew it's previous ruler. Following the conflict, Peter Gambi was hired by the A.S.A. to extract, or kill, if necessary, Helga Jace and obtain the serum from Markovia and return them to the United States.[3]
At some point, the serum would be given to Tobias Whale who developed an addiction to the drug in order to maintain his youth and strength.[4]
Appearances[]
Black Lightning[]
Season 1[]
Season 2[]
- "The Book of Secrets: Chapter One: Prodigal Son" (mentioned)
Season 3[]
Season 4[]
Behind the scenes[]
- Tobias' reliance on the serum in order to maintain his heightened strength and youthful physique parallels Bane's need for Venom in the comics. However, Tobias' withdraw symptoms will cause him to drastically age in addition to losing his strength, whereas Bane's symptoms result in hallucinations and extreme loss of body mass.