Jackson Arvad was born in
Scranton, Pennsylvania. An employee at the
Roxxon Energy Corporation, he works as a scientist in the division dedicated to electromagnetic research. Under constant pressure of being fired, Arvad overworks himself and ends up falling asleep on the job, causing him to be caught in the electromagnetic field of a device he was working on. This weakens the electromagnetic attraction between the molecules in his body, threatening his life. When his boss learns of the accident, he decides to let Arvad die. However, Arvad saves himself after learning to control the level of attraction between his molecules. Will o' the Wisp is forced by his employer,
Jonas Harrow, to carry out criminal activities.
Spider-Man persuades him to resist Harrow instead. He attempted to kill his employer Jonas Harrow multiple times, but is stopped each time by either Spider-Man or inadvertently by
Tarantula. Finally, he opts to hypnotize Harrow into confessing his crimes to the police. Will o' the Wisp takes control of
Killer Shrike's battle-suit and kidnaps Marla Madison, who restores him to his corporeal form. Will o' the Wisp later forces his former partner, James Melvin, to expose the Brand Corporation's illicit activities to the news media. Will o' the Wisp encounters the
Outlaws while hunting down Spider-Man in connection with a crime. Will o' the Wisp eventually joins the Outlaws as an adventurer, helping to rescue the kidnapped daughter of a Canadian official.
Civil War Will o' the Wisp allies with the
Scarecrow and later
Molten Man as part of the
Chameleon's plot to get revenge on Peter Parker after he publicly reveals his identity as Spider-Man during the "
Civil War" storyline. Will o' the Wisp is among the villains who visit the Bar with No Name to attend the wake of
Stilt-Man, who was killed by the
Punisher. The Punisher attacks the funeral, poisons the guests, then blows up the bar. The victims are treated for severe burns and have the poison pumped from their bodies. ==Powers and abilities==