Mark Scarlotti graduated from Rennselaer Poly-Tech with a degree in engineering but soon got involved with the Maggia crime family. Using Maggia funds, Scarlotti built various technological weapons for them. The greatest of these was his original steel fiber whip, capable of penetrating many substances short of adamantium. He became one of their special enforcers, operating under the name Whiplash. Later, criminal financier Justin Hammer provided him with funds, totally overhauled and updated his weaponry. He renamed himself Blacklash.