Abner Croit was a researcher studying alternate forms of energy, especially the Darkforce, an extradimensional energy coming from the Darkforce Dimension. Croit had Marcus Daniels working for him, granting him a job despite Daniels' criminal record. Croit didn't share his knowledge of the Darkforce with Daniels, which lead to an accident that transformed Daniels into a conduit for the Darkforce. Croit built a special suit and a stabilizer to help Daniels contain and eventually get rid of the power, but Daniels enjoyed his new condition and powers, so he escaped before Croit could cure him.