Horizon Labs is Manhattan’s leading company for technology and scientific research. It’s composed of seven interdependent labs, each that branch out in unpredictable ways, purposely leaving creativity unchecked.
Leading Tech Company
Headquartered in South Street Seaport, Manhattan, New York, Horizon Labs is a privately owned scientific technologies business founded by Max Modell. Its computer hardware and software can be found in homes, businesses, and schools around the world. Horizon also conducts highly advanced research and development in numerous fields. The offices are open 24 hours daily, and employees come and go as they please. The upper levels contain the labs and workspaces of the day-to-day employees, a store that sells their publicly available wares and the Atrium, a social hub used by its engineers and scientists to relax.
Below street level is the “Think Tank,” seven independent labs where Modell’s most creative scientists are allowed to work on personal projects, although they are forbidden from developing weapons technologies.
The Lucky 7
Horizon’s “Lucky 7” lead the labs, and their members include: Grady Scraps, a gregarious and wisecracking physicist who has created a mirror that records light patterns it reflects, among other projects; the acerbic Sajani Jaffrey, an expert in alien biology and technologies; Juergan Muntz, an elitist astrospace engineer, or “aerotect,” as he calls himself; Bella Fishbach, an environmentalist developing “green” technologies; Uatu Jackson, a teenager with a genius IQ, expertise in multiple fields, and who is named after the Watcher in hopes he would strive to know everything; noted biochemist and notorious Michael Morbius, AKA Morbius, The Living Vampire, known to the staff as “Number 6,” whose identity is kept secret from the staff except Modell himself; and newest recruit, Peter Parker, believed by the staff to develop equipment for the heroic Spider-Man, yet unaware that Parker himself is Spider-Man.
Other notable scientists on staff include the opportunistic Tiberius “Ty” Stone and reformed villain Magnetic Man, whom Parker recruits. Additional staff include the receptionist Flo and security guard Mr. Phillips, among others.
The Wrong Hands
Phil Urich, AKA Hobgoblin, invades Horizon’s headquarters to seal Reverbium and delivers it to his employer Wilson Fisk, AKA Kingpin, which results in a catastrophe. This event leads to Modell to cancel the Reverbium project.
Horizon’s orbital space laboratory comes under attack by Alistaire Smythe, AKA the Spider-Slayer, and Mac Gargan, AKA Scorpion (later Venom) who seek revenge on J. Jonah Jameson by taking out his son, Jameson, AKA Man-Wolf—the astronaut who pilots the lab.
Horizon Labs becomes Manhattan’s go-to facility to research a cure after Dr. Miles Warren, AKA Jackal, unleashes a virus that gives people Spider-Man-like abilities. Despite their good work, New York City’s Mayor at the time, J. Jonah, tries to shut down the company after spouting libelous accusations about them.
Horizon’s Heroic Allies
Such noteworthy scientific minds as Reed Richards, AKA Mister Fantastic, and Marla Madison-Jameson, who recommended Parker to Modell, assist Horizon. Horizon’s lawyer is Hector Baex, also Max Modell’s husband, who steps up to defend the company.
High Tech and Terror
On Parker’s first day at Horizon, Modell asked him for his word that he would never do anything secret that could jeopardize the safety or good work of those at the company. Parker promised. Shortly after Parker began work for Horizon, it was invaded by the Hobgoblin, who stole a cache of Jaffrey’s invention Reverbium, an artificial Vibranium that amplified rather than absorbed vibrations. Hobgoblin delivered the stolen metal to the Kingpin, and it ended up destroying Fisk’s skyscraper with its uncontrolled vibration amplification. Afterward, Modell cancelled the project for being too easily weaponized.
Horizon maintains an orbital space platform and was the guiding force behind the Vertex Shuttle, a spacecraft piloted by astronauts John Jameson and Dale Redfield. However, the launch was attacked by the Spider-Slayer, Scorpion, and Smythe’s genetically modified Slayer Swarm team in an attempt to kill John to get revenge on his father, New York City Mayor J. Jonah Jameson. But the launch was saved by Spider-Man and members of the Avengers.
During the infestation of genetically modified bed bugs, when the Jackal unleashed a virus that granted Spider-Man-like powers to Manhattan’s populace, Horizon was chosen by the city to serve as Center for Disease Control, impose a quarantine, and research a cure.
Later, the staff at Horizon Labs helped stop the Sinister Six and worked to find a permanent cure for Curt Connors, AKA the Lizard. They successfully cured him, but his Lizard personality remained. As he attempted to inject himself with the formula again, Modell got caught in the crosshairs and he transformed into a lizard himself. Spider-Man helped restore him back to normal.
Modell then offered a position to Tiberius “Ty” Stone at Horizon. Following Andy Maguire getting hit by Parker Particles, Max asked allies Mister Fantastic, Tony Stark, AKA Iron Man, Hank McCoy, AKA Beast, and Hank Pym to help him. Though Mister Fantastic suggested that Andy become “Alpha” and act as a representative for the company.
When Liz Osborn (née Allan) purchased Horizon Labs for a merger with Alchemax, Horizon Labs ceased to exist in the same way. But Parker launched Parker Industries, and so named its institute of technology after the company, calling it Horizon University. Modell and Baez led it with former Horizon Labs employees Bella and Grady Fishbach. When they found out about the Carrion virus, Horizon University staff helped to treat everyone infected.
