Mandrake is basically the "science guy" of the team. But, he's not really the "tech guy," because that role goes to second-in-command, Manifold, and her engineering skills and technopathy super-powers. Instead, his skills lie in a variety of other sciences and academic pursuits. He has degrees of study in chemistry, archeology, geology, paleontology, astronomy, and above all botany, all of which served the team well with his seemingly inexhaustible knowledge while on missions. And, oddly enough, it was his primary skill in the study of botany which caused something within him to be accessed via the power of the "Manpower Chip" and mutate him into a human-plant hybrid! So, if the team is somewhat partially inspired by the "Fantastic Four," then that would make him partly akin to the "Thing." But, he's also partly a bit like "Beast" from the "X-Men," with a little bit of "Swamp Thing" thrown in as well. Upon his transformation, Harrold Lloyd, didn't really think of himself as a freak, or having had lost his humanity, in fact, he was fascinated by it. The scientist and scholar in him just took it in stride, and also took to his new abilities with the same passion as any of his studies. He also knew that he would always have the love of his life, Jaymie, beside him, and she wouldn't reject him no matter what he looked like, having been physically changed herself, as well as their other friends and teammates, they were all forever changed together, and would be in this together for the rest of their lives. And, although he'll never be able to become fully human again, his powers now basically make him a kind of plant-based shape-shifter, so he can alter his appearance to at least look more like his old self even if he is made of grass, leaves, and bark. The above image of him is his more monstrous "battle form," which is not what he usually presents himself to others as, and is how he chose the name "Mandrake" as his codename as it is one of the most dangerous plants ever. He's only dangerous to evil doers though, and any fears any good people might have seeing him in any form, are quickly subdued by his eloquent and gentile demeanor. for if Manifold is the heart of the team, then Mandrake is the soul. His original place of origin is Miami, FL, which is also the home state of his teammate, Manifold, who is from St. Augustine. Just another personal connection that makes them more than just a team, and a family. How, he came to know Mandate, who is from New York City, or became involved with Manipulation, who is from Seattle, is unknown. But, the circumstances of how their lives crossed paths with each other before the fateful mission that turned them into super-powered beings is a story for another time.