Religion: Hindu
Name: Kalki
Alter Ego: Ashok Desai
Classification: villain scientist
First Appearance: The Doom Patrol (vol. 2) #1 (Oct. 1987): "The Doom Patrol!"
Creators: Paul Kupperberg, Steve Lightle, Gary Martin
Super? (Has Super Powers/Special Abilities/Technology): Yes
Number of Appearances: 5
Enemy of: The Doom Patrol
Ally: Celsius
Occupation: scientist
Nation: India
Gender: male
Note: sought immortality; father of Celsius
Ashok Desai called himself "Kalki," after the Hindu deity (the tenth and final incarnation of Vishnu). Desai actually believed he was a manifestation of Visnu or Kalki. Specifically, Ashok Desai believed that he was Kalki, the long-prophesied final manifestation of Vishnu. Desai believed that he needed to kill all of humanity as part of a cosmic cycle of death and rebirth.
Ashok Desai was a brilliant scientist. He used his scientific expertise to further his Hindu-based goal for the destruction of humanity. Ultimately, Ashok Desai (or "Kalki" as he was commonly known) was thwarted by the second incarnation of the Doom Patrol, a team which included his own daughter, Celsius.
Suggested links for further research about this character and the character's religious affiliation:
- http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Ashok_Desai_(New_Earth)
- http://comicbookdb.com/character.php?ID=2784
- http://www.rpi.edu/~bulloj/Doom_Patrol/issue1.html
- http://www.rpi.edu/~bulloj/Doom_Patrol/issue2.html
- http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Doom_Patrol_Vol_2_1
- https://www.comics.org/issue/43418/
- http://comicbookdb.com/issue.php?ID=11338