As a young man, William Asmodeus Zard was a criminal gun man who was soon captured by the police. During his time in prison, Zard decided that crime was like a business and to succeed he would need to practice new and different methods. Upon his release, Zard traveled to Tibet where he studied the mystical arts. While there he learned the method of Astral projection, hypnotism and he also taught himself Black Magic, using the latter to kill the lama who had been his teacher.