The Imitation Man

History: Carlos Zarago was the dictator of an unrevealled Central American country. After an unsuccessful assassination attempt upon him by rebels, Zarago wanted a way to protect himself. Zarago heard of scientist Pedro Lopez creating a “duplicating machine”. Zarago had Lopez brought before him, and commanded Lopez to create an exact duplicate of him as a decoy for any further assassination attempts. Against Lopez's wishes, the machine was activated and a perfect duplicate of Zarago was produced, but the duplicate was too perfect, and wanted to live as well, so it would not cooperate with Zarago when it heard of his plans for it. Angered, Zarago shot the duplicate, then went on to destroy the machine. The machine had been left on, and had created a dozen Zarago duplicates, all of whom argued with each other over power. In the confusion of this internal power struggle, the rebel forces rose up and overthrew Zarago, and a democratic government was established. Zarago and his twelve duplicates were banished, and Lopez destroyed the “duplicating machine”.

Height: 6 ft. 2 in.
Demonstrated Powers: Carlos Zarago was an ordinary human with no special powers.

Equipment: “Duplicating machine” - a three-stage machine which could analyze, record information, and reproduce a duplicate. The limits of this machine are unknown, but as the machine reproduced Zarago's clothes, it could reproduce inanimate objects as well to some degree.

Comment: In Journey Into Mystery # 95, “The Demon Duplicators”, Professor Zaxton used a similar, but much smaller, “duplicating machine” in his fight against Thor, the Norse thunder god. It is unknown if there is any connection between the two machines. Perhaps Zaxton's hand-held device was a redesigned, upgraded version of Lopez's original machine.

Comment: In Uncanny Tales # 54, “The Terrible Fate of Mister Wren!” (reprinted in Where Monsters Dwell # 36), an earlier matter duplicating machine was created by Hubert Wren; possible connection to Lopez's machine?

Comment: Carlos Zarago bears a resemblence to Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.

Actually, if the above image is accurate, I'd say the machine certainly could duplicate inanimate objects, since the clothes and weaponry worn by Zarago seem to be copied as well.

It would nice, however, if Marvel would answer the question of whatever happened to Zarago and the duplicates. Did they systematically kill each other off, or what?

This story while not naming Castro does imply Castro is the main charactor.
Thiis also reminds me of an episode of The Twilight Zone in which a “Castro”
look alike played by Peter Falk killed off all of his friends and advisors.
Both the Twilight Zone charactor and this one suffered from extreme paranoid
delusions. William Shakespeare said it best…”Uneasy lies the head which wares the crown”

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