Arnold's parents were Slovak immigrants and his father fought for Germany in World War II. Arnold was raised in Queens, New York City. He was the father of Vance Astrovik. Arnold couldn't accept that his son was becoming a "freak" when his mutant powers developed. He began to physically abuse his son via beatings and his son eventually lashed out with his emerging powers and accidentally killed his father. Arnold was originally thought to be abusive because he hated the fact that his only child was a mutant. Vance later discovered two other reasons. One, Arnold was abused by his own father, and two, Arnold was a deeply closeted homosexual. It is unclear if Norma suspected her husband was gay.
