BIOGRAPHY - Page 9
Exodus’ freedom did not escape the notice of the High Evolutionary. His attention was brought back to the mutant race and he did not like what he saw. Their potential for destabilizing the fate of the Earth was too great, marked by Apocalypse’s near-miss at godhood during the High Lord Ascension. Consequently, and with the assistance of his aged mentor Doctor Essex of Oxford, the High Evolutionary devised a network of satellites able to beam a neutralizing energy field down to Earth, reversing the effect of the X-Gene on any genetic structure and rendering the mutant race powerless. He considered himself magnanimous to address the protectors of mutantkind, the X-Men, before activating his satellites, though he also told them he had considered every possible counter-argument and would not be dissuaded. In the end, as always, Herbert Wyndham merely desired an audience for his greatness. [Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #379]
As days passed and mutantkind adjusted to their new status, even Wyndham questioned whether he had gone too far this time. He recognized a juxtaposition in the fact that much of his technology was created when he inhabited a higher plane of evolution. Though he chose not to remain distanced from humanity in that higher evolutionary state indefinitely, it also meant his own equipment was technically created by a greater mind than he currently possessed. Was it proper to use this technology when he could not both understand it and empathize with humanity in equal measure at the same time? Doctor Essex provided quiet encouragement of Herbert’s efforts… at least until such a time as he no longer needed him. After overriding and locking down the High Evolutionary’s containment suit, doddering old Doctor Essex felt comfortable revealing that he was now, and had always been… Mister Sinister.
A Victorian-era geneticist given prolonged life by Apocalypse, Sinister had always remained on the forefront of his field, monitoring young minds that might be useful to him in furthering his research. 
As he encouraged Charles Xavier and Moira Kinross decades later, Nathaniel Essex also made the acquaintance of young Herbert Wyndham and gained his trust. Rather than merely shutting down mutantkind, Sinister had more aggressive designs in mind for the High Evolutionary’s satellites. He secretly modified Wyndham’s technology so that the entire genetic code was open to remote manipulation instead of merely the X-Gene. Thanks to the High Evolutionary, all of Earth was now an experimental laboratory for Sinister to play with at his leisure. [X-Men (2nd series) #99]
The High Evolutionary was trapped in stasis as Mister Sinister began to unlock the secrets of his New Men, in addition to starting his global mutation experiments. Down on Earth, the X-Men witnessed the new unstable mutations striking the population. They were able to piece together what had happened after finding the connection between Wyndham and Essex. They fought their way aboard the Evolutionary’s space station and destroyed the stasis tube controls in their fight with Sinister. As Essex fled from the X-Men, the High Evolutionary saw the consequences of his work and triggered the self-destruct of his mutation array. He apologized to the X-Men, for whatever that was worth, and promised not to interfere in their genetic destiny again. [Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #380]
Out of shame or mere preoccupation, the High Evolutionary would not be heard from again for some time. He retired back to the seclusion of Wundagore and the Citadel of Science, following his own research while being cared for by his New Men. Ironically, it was another mass-depowering of the mutant race which next called for his attention. The Scarlet Witch had grown exponentially in power while falling into madness, unleashing a Decimation which magically 
removed the powers of over 90% of the mutant race. Henry McCoy had exhausted conventional avenues of research before turning to less reputable geneticists and power players for aid. The High Evolutionary was haughty and dismissive of McCoy’s request for help, even when it was delivered in person at Wundagore. His only counsel was that individual mutants could not be repowered if the Decimation effect was still active, and science was woefully incapable of addressing the effects of magic, historically speaking. [Endangered Species crossover]
If the High Evolutionary seemed distracted, perhaps it was because he had already been commissioned for a project on a grand scale. The Supreme Intelligence of the Kree Empire had attempted on several occasions to advance his people past the evolutionary dead-end they were trapped in, each time with only minimal success. When the Intelligence offered the High Evolutionary the opportunity to shape the genetic destiny of an entire species, he couldn’t help but accept. The High Evolutionary relocated to the Refuge space station in the heliosphere of a star in a remote Kree system, with all the data and genetic material necessary for his work.
Complications arose when galactic civilization nearly fell to the Annihilation Wave, an invading horde serving Annihilus of the Negative Zone. Adam Warlock had reconnected with the High Evolutionary at this time, but the sudden death of billions of souls during the Annihilation affected his spiritual sensitivity. The Evolutionary helped Adam summon his cocoon and enter a recuperative state on the planet Terma below the Refuge, until he could fortify himself and cope with the spiritual trauma. Wyndham continued alone in his efforts to develop the Nu-Kree, but the Supreme Intelligence fell during the Annihilation as well, and he was cut off from his patron.
In time, the lingering consciousness of the Supreme Intelligence guided Phyla-Vell – Quasar – and her lover Moondragon to awaken Adam Warlock and make contact with the High Evolutionary. The Annihilation Wave had fallen, but a new opponent arose when the Phalanx threatened to assimilate the Kree Empire, sealing it off from the rest of the galaxy behind an interdiction barrier. The Evolutionary had finished his work on the Master Kree race and wanted to 
barter for safe passage out of Kree space. Wyndham shuddered at the idea of his flesh or his creations being assimilated by the Phalanx’s techno-organic infection. Before an arrangement could be made, the Phalanx and their new dominator Ultron found the Refuge. Ultron killed Moondragon, and the High Evolutionary blew up the Refuge and the Terma star itself in an effort to destroy the techno-organic monstrosities.
Adam Warlock managed to use his newfound powers to preserve himself, Phyla, and the High Evolutionary for the trip back to Hala, the Kree capital. The Supreme Intelligence had engineered 
a mass-production facility for the Evolutionary’s work there, and they hoped to spawn a new race of Warrior Kree to fight back against the Phalanx incursion. Adam suffered a seizure so close to the devastating effect of the Phalanx Babel Spire, though, and his transport bubble dispersed over Hala. The High Evolutionary made his way alone to the Nu-Kree facility, only to be captured by the Phalanx. Ultron survived the star’s nova, able to exist anywhere the Phalanx did now, and he forced the Evolutionary to work for him in exchange for clemency. The High Evolutionary betrayed Adam and captured him for Ultron.
Ultron and the High Evolutionary had grim similarities in their outlook. Ultron’s hatred of flesh stemmed from its chaotic origins, but organic beings produced by design like Warlock and the Nu-Kree intrigued him. He forced the High Evolutionary to oversee the techno-organic transfer of his mind into the cosmically-endowed, genetically perfect body of Adam Warlock. Next, Ultron intended to force the Evolutionary into mass-producing techno-organic Phalanx through genetic 
replication of Adam’s cocoon. Fortunately, Nova and his allies broke through the interdiction barrier around Kree space and took the fight to Ultron at the Babel Spire. With Ultron distracted and the barrier down, the High Evolutionary was free to leave Kree space entirely, abandoning foes and “allies” alike. Adam Warlock’s soul survived in Quasar’s quantum bands and was able to force out Ultron’s mind to retake his body. The High Evolutionary anticipated this outcome but made no attempt to wait around and ensure it came to pass. [Annihilation: Conquest #1-6]
Despite his attitude towards McCoy, the High Evolutionary did consider the problem of the mutant Decimation eventually. It was a depowered Magneto who got his attention and convinced Wyndham to attack the problem as a challenge, rather than as a humanitarian gesture. They devised a daring plan that appealed to Magneto’s boldness and the Evolutionary’s hubris. [Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #516] Using a special costume to artificially recreate his powers for a night, Magneto staged an attack on the X-Men in their new home of San Francisco. This was a distraction so the High Evolutionary could strike at the Dreaming Celestial which had taken to standing in Golden Gate Park. [Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #500] By lobotomizing the mind of a 
god to steal fire, the High Evolutionary isolated Celestial elements he believed could forcibly undo the effects of M-Day on Magneto. Their experiment was a success – Magneto became the Master of Magnetism once more, although the High Evolutionary’s machine was destroyed and the unique Celestial elements lost with it. The Decimation would not be fully solved by the High Evolutionary, but he was content with having solved the problem in isolation, giving the right equipment. [Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #507]