| “ | Congratulations, Lord Vilgax, Conqueror of Ten Worlds. | „ |
| ~ Psyphon to his master, Vilgax, and his first quote in the franchise. |
| “ | Of course. You still think of me as... a servant. But now... I am master! So you cannot imagine the joy with which I say this. GET THEM, BOYS! | „ |
| ~ Psyphon to Ben before ordering his men to kill him and Rook. |
Psyphon is a major antagonist in the Ben 10 franchise. He is Vilgax's servant and right-hand man before he started running his own business in Ben 10: Omniverse.
He was voiced by Dee Bradley Baker.
Appearance
Psyphon has a skeletal appearance; he has a skinny build with paper-white skin, a shark-like fin on top of his head outlined with three black stripes, blood-red eyes outlined with black spots that match his lips and 4 fingers on each hand. He wears a sleeveless black robe that completely covers his legs and a brace-like armor that outlines and envelopes his lower jaw and covers his torso with a red keypad-looking device where the armor meets his chest. He wears fingerless gloves adorned with the same armor and two more of those keypads which he uses for programming devices and activating weapons.
In Omniverse, his body shape is much slimmer and more skeletal. He is taller and much more nightmarish. His fin has become rounded, like a horn, with black accents covering half of it from the tip down. A large black stripe creates the illusion of a pattern with the whites, and two other stripes on his forehead curve down towards each other and point to where his corrugator muscles meet. His blood-red eyes now contain snake-like slits for pupils and matching sharp black lines that extend from the bottoms of the black spots that outline his eyes. He no longer has a visible nose. He has tan jagged-rock teeth, an underbite, and his fingers are now long and pointy, like claws. His robe is now more of a form-fitting armored suit that covers his arms and legs with the drapery only reaching to his knees, resembling a long coat. His armor has become bulkier in his shoulders and hips, and the armor that circulates his jaw is equipped with two sharp curves on the chin, resembling a goatee. The keypad thing on his chest now extends in length from the top of his sternum to his stomach. The drapery of his robe is equipped with a long loincloth-looking strip of red fabric decorated with black markings and three metal shell plates on each side. He has red markings on his shoulders, large horn-like spikes on the backs of his hands and tips of his toes, and 3 bolts on each side of his arms and legs, 2 on each side of his neck, and 2 on his clavicle.
Personality
In Alien Force, Psyphon is shown to be a stoic person, eternally loyal to his master Vilgax, helping him conquer worlds and draining the powers of the heroes of said worlds. Even if Vilgax lost or died he will still be by his side. He has advanced knowledge of alien gadgetry being able to modify the power-draining machine to absorb Dagon.
In Ultimate Alien, Psyphon still had these traits but now more cunning and aggressive, willing to avenge Vilgax's "death" by going to Earth with R.E.Ds and had taken some of Vilgax's equipment.
As of Omniverse, Psyphon is more independent and hotheaded, bragging about going from a servant to the leader of a crime syndicate. However, he is still scared of/loyal to Vilgax to the point of doing anything for him (even if he mistakes someone who looks like him) like in Bengeance is Mine, he admitted he is not really a leader preferring to go back to being his servant.
Biography
Ben 10: Alien Force
Psyphon first appears in "Vengeance of Vilgax: Part 1", where he helps Vilgax in absorbing Ultimos' powers. He then travels to Earth where he creates a force field around central park, even forcing a missile onto one of the officers that tried to shoot him. When Vilgax teleports in, Psyphon bows down to him and calls him: "Conqueror of Ten Worlds". Later, Psyphon appears after Vilgax defeated the Plumbers' Helpers. Vilgax tells Psyphon not use the power-draining machine on them for he only wants the Omnitrix, deciding to use them as a message to Ben.
In "Vengeance of Vilgax: Part 2", Psyphon is seen standing next to Villgax waiting for Ben to arrive when Jetray flies into battle. After Vilgax is defeated by Diamondhead and is ordered to leave Earth at once, Psyphon shuts off the force field and the two leave.
In "Primus", Psyphon was seen on Vilgaxia telling Vilgax how much his people love him and giving Vilgax advice about how to take Ben down. Vilgax then remembers what Zs'Skayr told him earlier about Primus.
Psyphon makes a cameo in "The Secret of Chromastone", giving Vilgax a tissue after he caught Ben's cold.
Ben 10: Ultimate Alien
Psyphon makes his debut in the episode "Ultimate Glory". After Cash and JT took credit for Ben's heroics by acting like "the leaders" of the group, Psyphon targeted them for revenge (since one of the actions they took credit for was the defeat of Vilgax in the Alien Force finale "The Final Battle: Part 2"). He summons his army of R.E.Ds to attack Ben's Team while he deals with the boys. After a long battle, Psyphon manages to corner the boys and prepares to kill them until they cowardly confess their ruse on TV in front of the whole world. Faced with this realization, Psyphon realizes that Cash and JT aren't of any use to him and focuses his vendetta on Ben. He manages to defeat Ultimate Spidermonkey in battle, only to be knocked out by a laser launched by Cash and JT.
Psyphon wasn't seen again until the Ultimate Alien finale, "The Ultimate Enemy", delivering the power-draining machine to a Lucubra mutated Vilgax. After Dagon killed Sir George and claimed his victory, Vilgax and Psyphon arrive with the machine. Thinking it is a weapon, Diagon tries to destroy it with his eye beams, only to realize too late that it absorbs power. However, since Diagon's essence is mainly power, he himself gets physically sucked into the machine. Vilgax orders Psyphon to fire it on him and, despite Ben's attempts to reason with Psyphon and persuade him otherwise, he complies with his master's orders before either disappearing or being captured off-screen.
Ben 10: Omniverse
Psyphon re-appeared in "The More Things Change: Part 2", where it is revealed, he now runs his own business in Undertown and no longer works for Vilgax. He is first seen in the shadows talking to Tummyhead about their plan. He then reveals himself to Ben saying he is the one responsible for the alien attacks on Bellwood. He then orders Bug-Lite, The Pickaxe Aliens, Sweet-Eels Sparklefunk, Thunderpig and the Bouncers to open fire on Armidrillo, one of which manages to damage Armidrillo's nervous system causing his arm to spin out of control. Ben quickly changes back and is about to confront Psyphon, but is interrupted by Khyber's dog in the form of Buglizard. Shocksquatch battles Buglizard while Psyphon fights Ben's new Rovannahgander partner, Rook Blanco. Psyphon and the rest of his gang are taken into Plumber custody.
In "Outbreak", after Dr. Psychobos stole a stabilizer core from the Omnitrix, Psyphon transforms into a Pyronite hybrid like the rest of his affected gang (Liam becomes a Vaxurian hybrid, Fistina becomes a Mechamorph hybrid, and Bubble Helmet is now a Ghilosmeusph hybrid). Using their new powers, the crew break free of their cells and plan on escaping Plumbers HQ. Psyphon has his three henchmen distract the Plumbers while he activates a portal that is going to suck the entire headquarters into the Null Void. He tricks the Plumbers into shutting it off, which also shut off the second defense energy field enabling them to break into the main entrance of Plumbers HQ. As they fight, Blukic and Driba finally fix the Omnitrix and Psyphon and his gang becomes normal again, much to their dismay.
In "Special Delivery", Psyphon is seen holding an auction in Undertown. He starts by auctioning a date with Fistina and moves on to several other things until he reaches the final item on the list: a Dwarf Star. Unfortunately, Carvo accidentally switches the bag containing the star with one of Mr. Baumman's deliveries (which Ben is currently delivering in Undertown) containing a bag of goldfish. The crowd finds out and goes after Ben to each wanting the Dwarf Star, as well as Psyphon himself realizing he won't get paid if they find it before he does. After a long chase, Psyphon surrounds Ben using the bidders from his auction as his army (consisting of Octagon Vreedle, Rhomboid Vreedle, Vulkanus, Zombozo, Fistrick, Thrumpiqulor and Sunder) and goads Ben saying how he won't be able to defeat them all at once. While Ben is battling the other bidders, Psyphon seizes possession over the Dwarf Star and his body becomes covered in a golden coating, granting him the ability to fly and shoot lasers. However, he is overcome with fear at the hulking face of Ben's new transformation, Toepick, to the point where he turns white in fear and accidentally knocks himself out in the process. Ben changes back and takes both the goldfish and the Dwarf Star with him.
In "Mud is Thicker Than Water", it is revealed that Psyphon and his gang are stealing Plumber weaponry and using them for their own benefit. Max suspects it to be an inside job, leading Gwen to accuse Lucy Mann of being the spy. Psyphon next attacks a Plumber base on a spaceship, with the help of two new members: Psyphon's Minion and the Hooded Alien. Liam suspiciously asks Psyphon who is the spy they hired for this operation, but Psyphon refuses to tell him due to it being confidential and thinking Liam is too stupid to be wondering something like this. Later, the spy is revealed to be Gorvan once he arrives at their hideout removing his Plumber disguise. Just then, the Plumbers break in to apprehend Psyphon and his goons and Psyphon thinks Gorvan gave away their location. However, it is revealed that "Liam" is actually Lucy Mann in disguise. During the battle, Lucy scares Psyphon by shape-shifting into Vilgax and Psyphon is led to believe that his old master has returned to him.
In "Vengeance is Mine", a plumber of the normal kind named Bill Gacks arrives to work at Undertown. Because of his tall muscular appearance and his long beard, Psyphon mistakes him for Vilgax and declares he would rather serve him once again than stay in Undertown and be teased by his own gang. Bill is confused at Psyphon's words, but reluctantly agrees to have him as an assistant. Psyphon starts doing various antics to please Bill, including robbing a bank (which Bill never asked him to do). When Vilgax's Squid Monsters emerge from the sewers and start rampaging over Bellwood, they recognize Psyphon and he rides on them to lead their attack. Suddenly, Vilgax arrives and tricks both Psyphon and the Squid Monsters in a pipe where Ben transforms into Snare-oh and successfully contains them from escaping. As Psyphon is being taken away by the Plumbers, he begins questioning his master's betrayal until he finds out that "Vilgax" is actually Bill Gacks wearing an ID Mask.
Three days before the events of "Cough It Up", he tried to rob a truck that was transporting a dangerous weapon but was preceded by Argit. He hired bounty hunters to get Argit for him, with the retriever receiving double the reward. At the Black Hole, after SevenSeven took Argit, he threatened him to hand over the dehydrated Techadon army. Argit swallowed the cube, which made Psyphon incredibly desperate and angry. Argit wanted to get the cube out of his body and Psyphon was about to do it with pleasure. Ben, knowing Psyphon's weakness, transformed into Toepick, which made Psyphon faint. Soon after, he and his minions are banned from Undertown.
Powers and Abilities
Despite his thinner appearance, Psyphon has enhanced durability and strength, and is even stronger than Ultimate Spidermonkey. He can create powerful beams of energy from both his hands and eyes, to either fire as blasts or create shields or a lasso from.
He seems to be handy with lots of technology, often given the role of preparing and operating important machines when he was working for Vilgax (ignoring all the gadgets he himself personally uses).
He is capable of levitation, though it is unclear if he can naturally or must use technology to do so.
He can control the Squid Monsters, in theory that he was Vilgax's servant.
During the brief period when he was half-Pyronite, he had access to all the basic Pyronite abilities.
In the "Vilgax Attacks" timeline, Psyphon is equipped with orbital lasers and grenades. He was even capable of bringing to life a Mr. Smoothies drawing and made it into the boss of the level.
In "Reflected Glory", Psyphon claimed that after Vilgax was blown he "wouldn't let his power go to waste", exhibiting levitation, enhanced strength that was enough to defeat Ultimate Spidermonkey and the ability to shoot lasers from his hands.
Equipment
Psyphon holds many small controller devices on his body for various purposes. One on his right arm has a button which creates a force field to stop attacks. Both of his arm ones can fire different kinds of beams, such as one that can burn objects, one that causes nervous system damage, and many more unseen. He also had grenades.
Parallel to Vilgax, Psyphon commands his own army of droids known as R.E.D.s (Robotic Extermination Devices). They are durable, capable of flight, and are armed with a variety of high-powered firearms.
Psyphon once took control of the Dwarf Star. When he charged his suit with it, he gained the ability to create more powerful energy blasts and stronger force fields, along with the power of teleportation and the ability to jump higher.
Weaknesses
Psyphon's egomaniacal plans normally go astray when some unforeseen factor or missed detail comes into play. Psyphon is terrified of Vilgax. His undying loyalty of Vilgax can be used against him. He has admitted to himself that he is no leader, as even his own gang makes fun of him, preferring to go back to Vilgax. This proves that he lacks foresight despite his high intellect. Psyphon can be scared by Toepick's face. Electricity can temporarily paralyze Psyphon. When he was half-Pyronite, he had the same weaknesses as one.
Trivia
- Psyphon's name comes from the word "syphon", meaning to absorb or transfer power from one to another. This clearly references his assisting Vilgax in absorbing the powers of ten great heroes which earned his master the title, "Conqueror of Ten Worlds".
- Psyphon is one of the very few Ben 10 villains to have defeated an Ultimate Form; the others being Aggregor, Sunder, Dr. Viktor, Eon, Dagon and Elena Validus.
- In "Vengeance Is Mine", it is revealed that Psyphon is always being made fun of by his own gang and prefers to work for Vilgax again.
