The Cockroach was originally a normal insect within a bookstore in New York City. The owner of the bookstore, R. L. Haney, purchased a large order of books from a dealer in Cleveland, which contained the Cosmic Key (which had been hocked by Howard the Duck in order to buy clothing). Unaware of its true nature, Haney placed the Key inside a desk drawer, where it was encountered by the cockroach. Mistaking the Key for food, the hungry cockroach nibbled off the tarnish on the Key, and was filled with magical energy. It staggered back to the paperback section and transformed into a large, humanoid Cockroach.