The 611th Kaplan of the Astran Empire was previously the Kaplan Minus of the 610th Kaplan, rising to power following his assassination. The new Kaplan was a male (COMIC: The Amaryll Challenge [+]unclear authorship, The Daleks comics (City Magazines, 1965).) Astran whose skin was lime-green. As Minus, he'd used a hover-disc that was three times as large as regular Astrans' and adorned with a huge golden ruff. He was easily angered, ambitious, and deeply prejudiced against "Solarians".
Biography[]
The Kaplan Minus was a "young, ambitious politician" who was described unfavourably by TV 21 as having ridden to power on the 610th Kaplan's bandwagon. (PROSE: Kaplan Assassinated! [+]TV Century 21 cover stories (City Magazines, 1965).)
During the Space War, after Steve Zodiac was captured and brought to Astra based on his claims that he had an important message to bring to the Kaplan, the Minus had Zodiac brought before them. The Minus prepared to destroy Zodiac using their energy ray; however, before they could do more than cause some pain to him, the actual Kaplan interrupted them. Despite the Minus's weak protests that they believed Zodiac was a threat who might attempt to assassinate the Kaplan, the Kaplan reprimanded the Minus and agreed to parlay with Zodiac (who was acting on behalf of the President of Earth). (COMIC: Colonel Zodiac Disappears [+]TV21 Fireball XL5 crossover comics (City Magazines, 1965).)
When the Astrans came to Earth, the Kaplan Minus rode in the same car as Zodiac during the parade through Unity City, and his mutterings about how he still suspected a "Solarian trap" were accidentally broadcast as part of the televised reporting on the event. Shortly thereafter, the Kaplan was shot by an unknown assassin. The Kaplan Minus thus automatically became the new Kaplan and gave Earth an ultimatum: unless Zodiac could bring the culprits to justice within 36 hours, the War would start anew and be fought "to the end". (COMIC: Assassination! [+]TV21 Fireball XL5 crossover comics (City Magazines, 1965).)
After having repeated this declaration to world press reporters, the new Kaplan returned to Astra. (COMIC: The Amaryll Challenge [+]unclear authorship, The Daleks comics (City Magazines, 1965).)
