TIME MAGAZINE - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH 'DR. NECROSIS': UNMASKING THE WORLD'S MOST CONTROVERSIAL SUPERVILLAIN

BY ELENA MARTINEZ, AUGUST 10, 2021

In the shadowy, desolate outskirts of Detroit, far from the eyes of the world, I find myself at the doorstep of the infamous Felix Fleischer, known to many as 'Dr. Necrosis'. The journey to this point has been a labyrinthine one, involving encrypted messages, discreet liaisons, and a deep dive into the underbelly of the city. It's here, in a derelict building that belies the genius within, that I prepare to meet one of the most enigmatic figures of our time.

Felix Fleischer, born in a small town in Germany in 1982, was raised in an environment steeped in science and academia. His parents, educators themselves, fostered a home where questioning and exploration were not just encouraged but celebrated. From an early age, Felix exhibited a prodigious talent in biology and chemistry, leading him to pursue a career in microbiology.

His journey from a promising scientist to a notorious supervillain began in the early 2000s, during his Master's degree at the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin. It was here, on the brink of death from a severe flu, that Felix's latent powers emerged, granting him the extraordinary ability to create and manipulate viruses. This newfound power, combined with his growing disillusionment with the pharmaceutical industry, set him on a path that would eventually lead to his infamy as Dr. Necrosis.

The world first became aware of Dr. Necrosis in the mid-2000s, when a series of targeted bioterrorist attacks against major pharmaceutical companies made headlines. His actions, while decried by many as acts of terrorism, were also seen by some as a radical stand against corporate greed and the commodification of healthcare.

Reaching out to Dr. Necrosis for an interview was a journey that began with a series of clandestine communications and meticulous planning. My initial proposal to my editors at TIME Magazine was met with a mix of skepticism and concern. The idea of granting a platform to a figure as controversial as Felix Fleischer was not taken lightly. There were ethical considerations, safety concerns, and the potential backlash from our readers. After intense discussions and assurances of journalistic integrity, we agreed to proceed, understanding the importance of presenting a multifaceted view of such a complex individual.

Contact with Dr. Necrosis was made through a web of intermediaries. The process was painstaking, involving encrypted emails, covert meetings, and a series of verifications to ensure authenticity and safety. Each step was shrouded in secrecy, a necessity given the stakes involved.

The location of the interview, as per the agreement, remains undisclosed. It's a place that mirrors Felix's persona: isolated, unassuming, yet brimming with an undercurrent of intensity. The room is sparse, lit only by the faint glow of old light bulbs, casting long shadows across the walls. The air is heavy with the sense of something momentous about to unfold. This setting, devoid of any identifiable details, was a non-negotiable condition set by Felix — a small price to pay for the opportunity to delve into the mind of one of the world's most enigmatic figures.

As I wait for Dr. Necrosis to make his appearance, I can't help but reflect on the gravity of this moment. This interview, a culmination of months of effort and negotiation, is not just about unmasking a supervillain. It's about understanding the human beneath the persona, and perhaps, shedding light on the darker corners of our society that gave rise to him.

Felix Fleischer emerges from the shadows not with the dramatic flair befitting his infamous alter ego, but with a quiet assurance that commands the space. As the locked, steel hatch in the floor seals behind him, there's a moment of silence that's almost reverent, a stark contrast to the chaos he's known to orchestrate.

His appearance is meticulous, calculated to unsettle. The menacing red LEDs of his helmet are dormant, revealing green eyes that watch the world with a piercing intelligence. The macabre grin of his mask, now visibly artificial, paint-on-carved-plastic, no longer hides his intent but serves as a reminder of the fear he can evoke. He reaches his hand up, and with a small click, the mouthpiece falls away, revealing prematurely greying stubble of what was once an orange-and-brown beard, sitting atop ghostly pale skin. "Easier to speak this way," he tells me, with a small smile. His voice, when he speaks, is polite, the faint trace of his German origins softened by years spent in the crucible of Detroit.

He moves with a purpose, each step measured, the heavy fabric of his coat whispering against the concrete. As he sits, the room seems to lean in, the walls themselves bearing witness to the enigma that is Dr. Necrosis. There's a confidence in his manner, a sense that he's as in control here as he is in the lab. The absence of gadgets or weapons speaks of a man who believes that the greatest tool at his disposal is his mind.

Elena Martinez (EM): Felix, your emergence into the public eye was as dramatic as it was unsettling. Could you recount the moment you realized the true nature of your abilities?

Felix Fleischer (FF): Indeed, Elena. It was an awakening most profound during the nadir of my health; a brush with death by viral assault. In that crucible, my innate power surfaced — a harbinger of change. I was granted the formidable ability to sculpt life at its most microscopic, wielding viruses as a potter does clay. It was both an enlightening and burdensome revelation.

EM: Your crusade has left an indelible mark on the world. How do you reconcile the consequences of your actions?

FF: Reconciliation implies wrongdoing. My actions are the brushstrokes of a larger canvas — one that seeks to eradicate the festering corruption within the pharmaceutical industry. It's a necessary act of cleansing, a purgation of systemic greed to pave the way for an era where science is the vanguard of public welfare, not profit.

EM: In the court of public opinion, you're a supervillain. Do you see yourself in that light?

FF: A supervillain, no. A revolutionary, yes. History's lens is farsighted, and I trust it shall vindicate my endeavors. I stand as a sentinel at the gates of change, not an agent of chaos.

EM: What is the ultimate goal of your campaign against the pharmaceutical giants?

FF: My crusade, dear Elena, is to dismantle the mercenary bulwarks that obstruct the true purpose of medicine. I aim to architect a world where science serves the sanctity of life, not the coffers of corporations.

EM: Has the collateral damage wrought by your actions ever weighed on you?

FF: It is a weight I bear, undeniably heavy, yet a necessary toll on the path to revolution. One must not flinch in the face of sacrifice if we are to uproot the deeper evils of our time.

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EM: Critics argue that you've become akin to those you despise. Your reaction?

FF: My integrity remains unassailable. My transactions with the industry are a tactical gambit, ensuring the tools of knowledge are wrested from the hands of avarice. The core of my mission has never once been tarnished by the very scourge I seek to cleanse.

[Editor's Note: The "transactions" referred to are Felix's sales of bespoke viruses to pharmaceutical companies for research purposes. Every 3-4 years, he will create and sell singular samples of his viruses under the stipulation that all research into them be open sourced and the patents released, in order to fundraise for his criminal activities.]

EM: The repercussions of your attacks have been far-reaching, affecting families and communities. What would you say to those who have suffered as a result?

FF: To the bereaved, I extend my deepest sympathies, for their loss is the unfortunate shadow of greater good's light. The actions I've taken, though harsh, serve a utilitarian ideal where the many outweigh the few. My heart is not devoid of empathy, but it is steeled by the necessity of my cause.

EM: In your relentless pursuit, is there a line you deem too far to cross?

FF: Indeed, there is a moral perimeter I maintain. I've eschewed the pathogen's indiscriminate wrath, like pandemics, for my war is with institutions, not innocents. There is a code within the chaos, an ethical boundary I will not overstep. My actions are not undertaken with the need for ceaseless mass destruction - something I could very easily cause should it be desired - but precision strikes of a surgeon's great scalpel, made to excise the tumors that sit so fat and happy upon the tops of the healthcare industries, crushing all beneath their weight.

EM: Amidst this tumultuous life, what connects you to your humanity?

FF: Ah, it is the arts that anchor me — music's harmony, literature's solace. They are the bastions of my spirit, nurturing the hope that tomorrow's world will be a sanctuary of free thought and free health. In my free time, I have been practicing piano, as well as, of course, keeping up-to-date on the latest in virology and epidemiology.

EM: Looking ahead, where do you see yourself in a decade?

FF: In ten years, I envision a landscape transformed by the seeds I've sown. A realm where my principles are no longer insurgent but intrinsic, and I, perhaps a ghost in the machine, continue to steward the ideals I've fought for. I would one day wish to hang up this old helmet and this lab coat, and gladly turn myself in to the likes of Daedalus or Sisyphus, or any of the other Hells for superpowered miscreants such as myself.

EM: Your comment about the notorious 'Seven Hells' strikes a chord. What are your thoughts on these superhuman prison facilities?

FF: The 'Seven Hells,' as society has so aptly named them, are a testament to humanity's ingenuity and its inherent fear of the unknown — of us. They are both sanctuary and dungeon, Elena. A necessary evil, perhaps, for those who have lost their way. But they are also a reminder of what awaits should my crusade falter or fail. The irony of seeking to be imprisoned there, willingly, is not lost on me — it would be the ultimate acknowledgment of my impact.

EM: Turning yourself in would indeed be a dramatic end. Do you believe the current system within these facilities is adequate for reform or rehabilitation?

FF: Adequacy is a relative term. These institutions are fortresses of containment, not cathedrals of change. They are built to hold, not to heal. I would submit myself not with the hope of reform, but as a symbol that my work has reached its conclusion. That, Elena, would be a day of reckoning — both for myself and the society that built those Hells.

EM: Felix, you're recognized as the forefather of what's now called the 'Second Wave of Supervillainy.' What's your take on those who emulate your approach?

FF: I see them as my ideological progeny, yet I must clarify — where I sculpt with precision, some choose to wield their powers with reckless abandon. My methods have always been surgical, not scattershot. Those who emulate me should strive for strategic influence, not indiscriminate force.

EM: This legacy, inspiring others to leverage their powers for political ends — do you regard this as a triumph or a liability?

FF: A bit of both. It's a triumph of ideology, the awakening of a collective consciousness among the superpowered. Yet, it's a liability when the message is muddied by needless brutality. The strategy is paramount in the march towards progress.

EM: The ascent of political superpowers has, arguably, escalated global conflict. Does this align with your vision?

FF: Conflict is the crucible of change. I do not endorse all deeds done in my name, but I recognize the necessity of upheaval. The old must be challenged to make way for the new.

EM: What counsel would you offer to the upcoming cadre of 'activist villains'?

FF: Keep the cause in your sights. Do not lose yourself to the anarchy of action. Remember, we are architects of a new paradigm, not mere agents of chaos.

EM: Critics argue that your actions exacerbate global instability. Your thoughts?

FF: The world was already on the precipice; I merely illuminated the path. Instability is the seed of change, and my role has been to channel that energy towards a greater good.

EM: In an unstable world, what role should those with superpowers play?

FF: We are the vanguards of the future. Our role is to dismantle the archaic and oppressive, to be the harbingers of a world where power is a tool for justice, not subjugation.

EM: Felix, in your confrontations with superheroes, how do you perceive those who stand against you and your mission?

FF: They are sentinels of a bygone era, upholding systems that require metamorphosis. I harbor respect for those whose moral compass aligns with the true north of the common weal, even as our methodologies diverge.

EM: Have your encounters with these superheroes ever led you to doubt your approach?

FF: Self-reflection is the cornerstone of growth. There have been formidable adversaries whose convictions have prompted me to evaluate my methods, ensuring my actions remain in harmony with my ethos.

EM: If a superhero were here, questioning the path you've chosen, what would you say?

FF: I would extend an invitation to dialogue. My crusade is not born of whimsy but necessity, and I would welcome any paragon of justice to join me in rectifying the systemic maladies we face.

EM: Some say you're a terrorist, others a liberator. Where is the line drawn?

FF: History will etch that line, not the opinions of the present. My actions are seeds; time will reveal them as either poison or fruit. I am steadfast in my conviction that the harvest will vindicate my toil.

EM: Felix, as we conclude, is there anything you'd like to say to the world — a final message?

FF: I stand before you not as a harbinger of chaos but as an agent of change. To those who have witnessed the tempest of my actions, know that tranquility follows the storm. May we all witness the dawning of an era where science and compassion govern over profit and indifference. Let this dialogue be a bridge towards understanding, not a battleground of ideals.

EM: Thank you for your time, Mr. Fleischer.

FF: The pleasure is all mine, Mrs. Martinez.

As I leave the dimly lit confines of our meeting place, the words of Felix Fleischer, or Dr. Necrosis, echo in my mind. The man behind the supervillain facade is complex, his motives tangled in a web of idealism and radical action. He is a figure who challenges the boundaries of villainy and activism, blurring the lines between moral crusade and terror.

His vision of a world freed from corporate shackles, while noble in intent, is marred by the undeniable suffering his actions have caused. The conversation raises profound questions about the role of superpowered individuals in society. Are they guardians of the status quo, or agents of change? Where does one draw the line between fighting for a cause and inflicting harm in its name?

Felix's story is a reminder of the fine line between heroism and villainy, and the subjective nature of justice. As readers, we're left to ponder the ethics of his methods and the true cost of radical change.

[Postscript from the Editors of TIME Magazine]

The decision to publish this interview was not made lightly. We believe in the power of journalism to shed light on all aspects of our society, including its darker corners. This interview is not an endorsement of Dr. Necrosis's actions, but an exploration of the complex motivations behind them. Our commitment remains to unbiased, comprehensive reporting, providing our readers with the information necessary to form their own opinions on these critical issues.