A full understanding of Bent Magnus begins with his mind. Imagine if you poured the intellectual horsepower of Einstein, Edison, and Ben Franklin all into one man. Now imagine that the man wasn’t a total pansy, like those other guys, and you have Bent Magnus.

Beginning with his birth at the “Fight of the Century” in 1910, Bent Magnus was destined for an extraordinary life. He spent his early childhood running through the halls of Magnus Towers, which served as the family home and power center for scientific research and eccentric social gatherings. Rare was the day when Bent didn’t interact with the elite of mankind, whether it was breakfast with a famed entomologist or afternoon playtime with an alcoholic poet. Bent’s passion for life arose from this cultured environment.

But by the tender age of 10, Bent was ready for more. And after a short stint at Columbia University, with a focus in anthropology, Bent traveled the globe for the next 30 years. With gravity-like force, Bent attracted adventure and intrigue to himself while crossing paths with world leaders, literary giants, business moguls, and general scum of the earth.

It was soon after WWII when Bent witnessed a tragedy that would shape him for years to come. Shrouded in mystery, this tragedy gave him a new mission in life: to cure. Bent returned to Magnus Towers and rechristened it Magnus General, devoting himself to creating the most advanced hospital in the world. And indeed, it became the stuff of legend.

Over the next decades, while headquartered at the hospital, he continued to be a major power player in the arts and sciences. During that time his influence was seen far and wide. Those who’ve cited him as inspiration range from the Beatles to NASA to MIT to Peter Weller.

Then in late May 1980, for reasons unknown, Bent abruptly left the hospital and the country. Rumors were rampant, yet completely unsubstantiated, though some gained traction. That Bent was the architect of the eruption of Mount St. Helens still holds sway over conspiracy theorists to this day.

The details of Bent Magnus’ life over the next few years are scant at best, consisting primarily of hearsay and innuendo. It wasn’t until he was discovered living under the Statue of Liberty during its renovation in 1985 that he returned to the public eye, thirty pounds lighter and, curiously, four inches taller.

On July 4, 2020, Bent Magnus will turn 110.