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- “Von Ness no longer exists. I am... Von Nebula!”
- — Von Nebula, Von Nebula
| Von Nebula | |
| Former Hero | |
| Affiliation | Hero Factory (Formerly) |
| Weapons | Gravity Weapon, Black Hole Orb Staff (Formerly) |
| Status | Alive |
| Location | Inside the Black Hole Orb Staff (Formerly), Unknown |
Von Nebula, formerly known as Von Ness, “The Mastermind” or "That Blackhole Creature", is a dark and mysterious leader of various Villains within the Hero Factory Universe. Once a promising young Hero, Nebula acquired his new identity after uncovering a All powerful weapon after going AWOL during a curtail mission and since then, had remained anonymous until he attempts to destroy the Hero Factory and is ultimately defeated by His former fellow Rookie.
Biography
Early Life
Hero Factory
Von Ness was once a promising young Hero, created in the Assembly Tower of Hero Factory many years ago. From his creation, he was designed to uphold justice and protect the galaxy from villainous threats. He was placed under the mentorship of Thresher, the leader of the original Alpha 1 Team, who took him under his wing and trained him to become a strong and capable Hero. Throughout his early career, Von Ness performed his duties like any other Hero, engaging in missions to capture criminals and keep order. However, he lacked the unyielding resolve and dedication that many of his teammates exhibited, particularly Preston Stormer, who had an almost obsessive devotion to his role as a Hero. While Ness was competent, he often struggled with the weight of responsibility placed upon him, questioning if he truly belonged in the Hero Factory.
Legion of Darkness
At one point, Ness was sent on a dangerous mission to a prison on an unnamed asteroid, which was under siege by the infamous Legion of Darkness, led by the notorious villain Black Phantom. The attack was highly coordinated, aiming to free some of the galaxy's most dangerous criminals. At the time, Thresher was not present, leaving Von Ness and his teammates—Dunkan Bulk, Stormer, and Jimi Stringer—to handle the situation. While Stormer and Stringer piloted a Hero Craft in the skies above, Von Ness and Bulk were assigned to the prison’s rooftop to prevent villains XT4, Toxic Reapa, and Voltix from escaping.
As the battle raged on, Von Ness was overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of the fight. For the first time, he fully realized that being a Hero was not his choice—it had been forced upon him from the moment of his creation. Fear and doubt took hold of him. In the chaos, as blaster fire rained down and the enemy forces gained the upper hand, Von Ness hesitated. Instead of fighting with unwavering resolve like his teammates, he froze, conflicted between duty and self-preservation. This hesitation proved disastrous. Unable to bring himself to risk his life for a cause he no longer believed in, Von Ness eventually let the villains escape, leading to one of the worst failures in Hero Factory’s history with several dangerous criminals escaping, and the mission was deemed a disaster. The repercussions led to serious talk of shutting down Hero Factory entirely, as the organization had failed in its primary mission of keeping the galaxy safe. Surprisingly, Von Ness did not seem troubled by this outcome. He showed little remorse for his actions, further deepening the divide between him and his teammates.
After the asteroid mission, Von Ness returned to Hero Factory alongside Bulk and Stringer, while Stormer and Thresher remained behind to secure the asteroid. However, what awaited them back home was another crisis—the Legion of Darkness had launched a direct assault on Hero Factory itself, to take over the facility and convert it into their base of operations. Despite his growing doubts, Von Ness fought alongside his fellow Heroes during this battle. The clash was intense, but in the end, Hero Factory emerged victorious. Toxic Reapa, Speeda Demon, and Voltix were arrested, securing a major win for the Heroes. As a result of this victory, the decision to shut down Hero Factory was reversed. The organization was deemed too important to be dismantled and was allowed to continue operating. While this was seen as a triumph by the others, Von Ness was deeply displeased. The battle had only reinforced his belief that Hero Factory was not where he truly belonged.
Betrayal
Many months later, Thresher's team was dispatched to New Stellac City in response to a routine Hero response to a burglary in progress, the Alpha 1 Team soon found themselves facing a much more dangerous threat when they came across a giant heavily armed Drone packing a dozen of powerful plutonium cryptid canisters, having enough firepower to destroy half of the City. Upon contact, the Thresher and Preston Stormer begin firing at the Drone to draw his attention, while Von Ness gets visibly frightened about the situation, in an attempt to make it stop targeting civilian populated areas. Thresher orders the Rookies to take cover near the Hero Craft while he makes a run at the Drone to distract him, during the process, Thresher gets hit by one of the Drone's plasma projectiles leaving him badly injured and lying unconscious on the ground.
With their experienced Team Leader unavailable to provide guidance and strategy, Von Ness and Preston Stormer found themselves on their own. Stormer urges Ness to act quickly to stop the Drone before it could harm any civilians. However, Ness insists that they wait for Hero-backup, a stance Stormer opposes, given the potential destruction the Drone could cause in a short amount of time. Instead, Stormer instructs Ness to cover Thresher while he attempts to draw the Drone's attention away from them. As Stormer confronts the Drone alone, Ness can't shake the feeling that the Hero Factory has sent him on an impossible mission as merely a pawn among the countless Heroes dispatched to face peril on every mission.
Von Ness attempting to escape
Seeing an opportunity to escape the battle and secure his survival, he attempted to escape on the Hero Craft, leaving Stormer and their Injured leader. Stormer notices the fleeing vessel and jumps on the windscreen, cracking it and demanding that Ness bring the Drop Ship down immediate. Refusing to comply, Ness proceeds to shake Stormer off the Ship. While Stormer jumps from the ship to battle the Drone alone, Ness escapes the scene by flying off on the Hero Craft, going rogue. After the incident, he ends up blaming Stormer for his failure and for Stormer being blind and, agreeing to do everything that the Hero Factory ordered him to, vowing revenge on him and the Hero Factory. After many months of attempts from Preston Stormer and other Heroes to track Von Ness down, they were unable to locate him.
As Von Nebula
Years after, Von Ness roamed the galaxy in search of a new purpose. Haunted by past failures and consumed by resentment, he sought power not merely for survival, but to ensure that no one could ever control or undermine him again. It was during this period that Ness uncovered an eerie, glowing artifact—the Black Hole Orb Staff. The staff did not merely enhance him; it transformed him. His body expanded massively, his armor twisted into a more menacing form, and the lingering identity of Von Ness was erased becoming Von Nebula. Empowered by the Black Hole Orb Staff, Von Nebula could now create Black Holes, capable of consuming matter and energy, trapping them in an endless void. No longer just a rogue ex-hero, he had become something far more dangerous.
Villains
Von Ness observing with his Black Hole Orb Staff
Empowered by his newfound abilities, Von Nebula sought vengeance, but he understood that revenge alone would not suffice, he needed an army. His first move was to establish a network of criminals, recruiting some of the galaxy’s most dangerous villains to serve under his command. Among his initial recruits were Corroder, Meltdown, Thunder, XPlode, and Rotor. These villains were meticulously chosen for their unique skills, ruthless nature, and animosity toward Hero Factory. Over time, Von Nebula successfully assembled a formidable faction, a coalition of outlaws and mercenaries, all united under his leadership.
Since then, having built his criminal empire and positioned himself as a significant threat, Nebula devised a master plan to undermine and humiliate Hero Factory. Instead of attempting to destroy it outright, he aimed to tarnish its reputation and erode the morale of its Heroes. His campaign commenced with a series of calculated attacks, each meticulously designed to disrupt Hero Factory’s operations and force the organization into a defensive posture.
Rise of the Rookies
Firstly, he put his plan into effect by dispatching XPlode and Rotor to hijack a shipment of C-4000 explosives on Merak 9, where they battled the Alpha 1 Team. When this failed he sent the pair to rob an Explosives Plant on Lemus 2, however, their orders were not to cause mass destruction. Instead, they were instructed to cause enough trouble to rattle Hero Factory and the local authorities. This mission was the first sign to Nebula that the Hero Factory is more formational than he thought, as the attack on Lemus 2 resulted in the arrest and capture of Rotor. Days later He then sent Corroder to attack the premature Penitentiary 1331, a prison under construction on Tantalus 5. Once again the hench-bot was ordered to avoid doing too much damage. Realizing that conventional attacks alone wouldn’t be enough, Von Nebula devised a more personal assault against Preston Stormer. For this, he sent Meltdown to poison Stormer with nanobots that Nebula had injected into Meltdown's Whip, fully aware of their devastating effects on a Hero. Meltdown would go on to successfully infect Stormer, sending the veteran Hero into a berserk rage. For a time, Stormer became a danger to everyone around him, nearly turning on his allies before the nanobots were ultimately neutralized.
New Stellac Finale
After Stormer is cured, Von Nebula focuses his final scheme on the familiar location of New Stellac City. First, Von Nebula issues a false alarm meteor strike warning, to gain the Alpha 1 Team's attention. Next, he equips Thunder with a Nebula Gas Cannon and, along with Corroder, is sent down to the city in meteorite-like pods to confront the heroes. As the battle ensued, reinforcements arrived in the form of rookie heroes William Furno, Natalie Breez, and Mark Surge. When Stormer gets directly hit with a bolt from Thunder's Gas cannon, Nebula watches the battle from the comfort of his black hole via his Staff, before deploying additional reinforcements, sending down Xplode and Meltdown in similar pods to assist the villains.
As the battle rages below, Nebula finally makes his entrance, descending from the Black Hole that looms in the sky above. Not only does he reveal himself, but he also tilts the odds against the heroes by absorbing all of their weapons and gadgets, rendering them defenseless and forcing them to become mere "moving targets." In a bold move, Stormer, followed closely by Furno, willingly allows themselves to be drawn into the black hole, fully aware that they will confront Von Nebula. Upon entering the black hole, the Heroes come face to face with Von Nebula himself, who bloats at them for their efforts, stating that he will begin draining their Hero Cores until they perish. Nebula feels that the Vortex's gravitational pull would handle the Heroes itself and disappears within the vortex only to re-emerge upon learning that the Hero's Anti-Gravity Thruster Rings were not confiscated. As the Heroes split up going around the Vortex taunting the villain into guessing who has the devices, he roots back to Stormer always craving fame before unleashing an attack from his Staff at the Alpha leader, Only for it to be revealed that Furno had the devices and throws them into the core of the Vortex, causing it to explode.
Von Nebula's Defeat
A now furious Von Nebula directs his attention towards the Rookie and charges at him only for Stormer to push and seized the Black Hole Orb Staff right out of the villain's hands before using it to suck Von Nebula into it, imprisoning him in his own weapon. As the effects of the Black Hole reverse and eventually explode, Stormer and Furno are ejected from it landing back into the city scene below which they would later deliver and secure the staff in a High-Tech Vault back at the Hero Factory, with Nebula still imprisoned.
Breakout
Von Nebula Interacting with the Black Hole Orb Staff
Many years alter, shortly after Heroes Furno and Rocka deliver Voltix to his cell after Rocka arrests him far too easily, within his cell Voltix releases some sort of entity of Von Nebula with a loud scream which travels and shatters the Orb on his Staff, which at some point had been moved from the vault into the Storage facility. This allows Von Nebula to escape which in turn causes a Black Hole Tornado to burst through the factory's ceiling and, disables the Prisons security systems, allowing every Villain in the Storage Facility to escape. How Voltix was able to carry an embodiment of him remains a mystery. After escaping the prison via the destruction of his own weapon, Von Nebula went into hiding. After Black Phantom's defeat at the hands of Rocka and the Alpha 1 team. it's revealed that while within the Hero Factory, Phantom sent the blueprints for the entire Hero factory to an unknown location then revealing Von Nebula receiving the plans from the comfort of presumably his new base of operations, laughing maniacally away as an outline for the Factory appears on his monitor. However this could also as well be the Mysterious villain acquiring the plans instead as the voice it different to that of Nebula's and it is revealed in the following episode, Brain Attack that this villain looks more like Black Phantom. this is only speculation.
Personality and Traits
Von Ness was marked by his cowardice during his tenure as a Hero. This flaw became most apparent during a critical mission when his fear and inability to confront adversity led him to abandon his team at a crucial moment. This act of betrayal not only jeopardized the mission but also tarnished his reputation among his peers, particularly with Preston Stormer. Instead of taking responsibility for his failure, Ness deflected his guilt and shame, refusing to acknowledge his part in the debacle. He shifted all the blame onto Stormer, convincing himself that his former teammate was the root of his misfortune and since then, sought out ''revenge''.
This unwavering and weak hatred for Hero Factory was driven by a desire for the destruction of the organization and everyone associated with it. He aimed to dismantle the system he believed had wronged him, rallying like-minded villains under his command. Despite Von Nebula evolving into a formidable adversary, His relentless vendetta against Hero Factory and his refusal to let go of the past defined his character; nonetheless, his cowardice lingered, as evidenced when he protested against Stormer after being disarmed, warning that using the staff would lead to their demise—echoing sentiments he expressed during the Drone Battle in New Stellac when Von Ness attempted to flee.
Appearance
Original Form
As a Hero, Von Ness wore brownish-black armor with silver forearm spikes for close combat. His orange eyes and grey hero core with an orange center reflected his role in Hero Factory. Despite his sturdy design, his armor lacked the battle-worn modifications of his peers, hinting at his inner doubts.
Villain Form
Following his transformation as Von Nebula, he appears much larger and more intimidating. He is adorned in dark ebony and black, with his shoulders marked by bluish-black shades for added defence, reflecting his former self. His head now features two black man-tack claws on either side that move in unison with his mouth. Additionally, his hands have been replaced with massive claws that he uses to wield Black Hole Orb Staff.
Weapons
The Black Hole Staff
As a Rookie Hero, Von Ness used an equivalent of Surge's Electricity Shooter.
As Von Nebula, he carried the all-powerful Black Hole Orb Staff, which he uses to create black holes in battle and for quick transportation.
Set Information
Von Nebula Set
7145 Von Nebula was released as a one of the two large boxed Villain sets (the other being Rotor) in August 2010. His set contained 156 pieces including two dual colored armour Spike peices which he shares with Xplode and a recoloured Hydraxon helmet piece. One could spin the blades on his Black Hole weapon for added play value.
Quotes
- “Von Ness no longer exists. I am... Von Nebula!”
- — Von Nebula, Von Nebula
- “Mr. Makuro's precious Quaza , will enhance mu Black Hole 10000 times!”
- — Von Nebula, Von Nebula
- “You wont be so smug when I begin draining your Hero Cores.”
- — Von Nebula, Von Nebula
Trivia
- Von Nebula's helmet mold, was reused from the BIONICLE character Hydraxon.
- Von Nebula is voiced by Mark Hamill in Rise of the Rookies who would go on to also voice Black Phantom in Breakout.
- A Hero that looks identical to Von Ness can be seen in the crowd in Ordeal of Fire during Akiyama Makuro's Upgrade Confrence.
- He is not hard to create with actual pieces. One would need the original Stringer set and the Von Nebula set. Then you would need to switch Stringer's head with Von Nebula's but without the pincers. Then you would add the spikes onto his arms with 2-block cross axles. The problem with this is that Stringer has only one actual arm while Von Ness is shown to have two, not carrying a weapon that would replace one arm. Also, Von Ness is shown to have a different body armour (Same that's used on Bulk) than Stringer, but in the brownish-black color.
Appearances
- Core Crisis (First Appearance) (In a Flashback)
- The Enemy Within (Comic)
- The Enemy Within (TV Episode) (In a Mission Log)
- Von Nebula Rising (Game)
- Von Nebula (TV Episode)
- Hero Factory FM (Mentioned Only)
- The Makuhero Star (Non-Canonical Appearance)
- Mission: Von Nebula (Non-Canonical Appearance)
- Breakout (Cameo Appearance) (Cloud of Energy)
- Hero Factory Secret Mission 1: The Doom Box (Book) (Mentioned Only)
- Hero Factory Secret Mission 2: Legion of Darkness (Book) (As Von Ness)
- Hero Factory Secret Mission 4: Robot Rampage (Book) (Mentioned Only)
- Hero Factory Secret Mission 5: Mirror World (Book) (Alternate Universe)
- Face Off: Makuro's Secret Guidebook (Book)
TV Commercials
See Also
External Links
- Von Nebula Building Instructions on LEGO.com (European Version)
| Villains | ||
|---|---|---|
| Von Nebula's Group |
Corroder | Meltdown | Minion Bot 17 Rotor | Thunder | Vapor | XPlode | |
| Fire Villains | Fire Lord | Drilldozer | Jetbug | Nitroblast | |
| Legion of Darkness |
Black Phantom | Jawblade | Speeda Demon Splitface | Thornraxx | Toxic Reapa | Voltix | XT4 | |
| Others | Drone | Witch Doctor | Core Hunter | Unnamed villain | |