Wikipedia

Ringmaster (comics)

TheRingmasteris the name of two characters appearing inAmerican comic bookspublished byMarvel Comics.The first incarnation of Ringmaster,Fritz Tiboldt,first appearedinCaptain America Comics#5 (August 1941). The second incarnation,Maynard Tiboldt,debuted inIncredible Hulk#3 (July 1962).[2]

The Ringmaster
The Ringmaster as depicted inThe Incredible Hulk#3 (September 1962).
Art by Jack Kirby andDick Ayers.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceThe Incredible Hulk#3 (September 1962)[1]
Created byStan Lee
Jack Kirby
In-story information
Alter egoMaynard Tiboldt
SpeciesHuman
Team affiliationsCircus of Crime
Lethal Legion
Notable aliasesCircus Master of Ceremonies; Martin Thraller
AbilitiesHypnotic mind control via device on his hat
Formerly:
Reality manipulation via cosmic powered ring

Publication history

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Fritz Tiboldt debuted as the Ringmaster of Death inCaptain America Comics#5 (August 1941).[3]He appeared inCaptain America#112 in a flashback (April 1969).

Maynard Tiboldt debuted as the Ringmaster inIncredible Hulk#3 (July 1962). He has turned up as a somewhat pathetic and luckless opponent for virtually every hero in the Marvel universe since his first appearance, ranging fromSpider-MantoHoward the Duck.He is a tall thin man who sports aFu Manchu moustacheand dresses in a green variation on the traditional circusringmastercostume. Having acquired a hypnosis-wave generator originally created by theRed Skulland mounted said device in his costume'stop hat,the Ringmaster's usual scheme is to lead the self-titled "Circus of Crime"into a community and rob the local citizenry as they attend his circus. Nearly every appearance of the Ringmaster ends with him being thrown back into jail, having been defeated by his current foe.

Fictional character biography

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Fritz Tiboldt

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The original Ringmaster is aNaziagent named Fritz Tiboldt whose circus was a cover for murdering US government officials. He traveled with Missing Link who hadprimate-like features,midgetTommy Thumb;snake charmerOmar;strongmanZandow, and theTrapezeTrio. After murdering a U.S. sergeant with a tiger,Captain AmericaandBuckybecome suspicious of their activities. The Ringmaster kidnapsBetsy Ross,and the heroes trace him and his circus and defeat the foes.[4]

Later, Fritz and his wife were killed by the Nazis for their defeat at the hands of Captain America.[5]Following the introduction of Maynard Tiboldt, this character was revealed to be his father.[6]

Maynard Tiboldt

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Maynard Tiboldt was born inVienna, Austriato the original Ringmaster, Fritz Tiboldt, and his wife Lola. He inherited the Circus when his parents were murdered.

The Ringmaster is a powerless man with a unique hat which is designed to hypnotize people, thus allowing him to take complete control over their actions. He originally traveled across America as the manager, director, and ringmaster of his small traveling circus, which was actually a front for his "Circus of Crime";TheHuman Cannonball,TheClown,Bruto the Strongman,TheGreat Gambonnos(two acrobat brothers), andPrincess Pythonthe snake charmer. During their show, he would hypnotize the crowd and send his lackeys out to steal any valuables on the victim's person. Once, while engaging in this activity, he managed to enslave theHulkwhen he was under the control ofRick Joneswho was attending a performance. However the Hulk captured him when he tried to escape in a chariot.[6]

Bringing this act to New York, he foughtSpider-ManandDaredevil,whose blindness prevents Ringmaster from hypnotizing him, though he was briefly able to place Spider-Man under his control.[7]

After this failure, he briefly abandoned the Circus of Crime, who became the Masters of Menace (a name Python thought up) led by the Clown. He came back to steal their loot after their capture by Spider-Man, but was captured by the police instead along with the rest.[8]

The Ringmaster next attempted to enlist recentAvengersinducteesHawkeye,Quicksilver,andScarlet Witchas circus performers, but instead wound up defeated by them, though he claimed they tried to rob him making them wanted by the Police, though it is later claimed the DA got the truth out of Python.[9]He later schemed to blow upAvengers Mansionduring the wedding ofYellowjacketand theWaspand defeated Jarvis, but fought and was defeated by the Avengers.[10]He later enlisted a mind-controlledUlikas an accomplice, but was defeated byThor.[11]WithBlackwing,he battled Daredevil once again.[12]He also battledPower ManandBlack Goliath.[13]Ringmaster later helpedNamorand theShroudsecretly enterLatveria.[14]He later captured the sea-nymph Meriam and fought the Hulk again.[15]

The Ringmaster later enlistedHoward the Duckas an unwilling accomplice, but was defeated by Howard and Iris Raritan.[16]Ringmaster battled theThing,Iceman,and Bill Foster asGiant-Man.[17]Ringmaster next pitted a mind-controlled Hulk against theDragon Man.[18]The Ringmaster was later hired by theHeadmento testShe-Hulk's strength and invulnerability.[19]He later attempted to reform, but helped the Circus of Crime escape from the police after battlingPower Pack.[20]He was released from prison inDoc Samson's custody, and assists in the therapy that creates theMerged Hulkpersonality for Bruce Banner when his MPD was causing him serious psychological damage.[21]

The Ringmaster later gets a surgical-upgrade of his eyes, allowing him to use them to hypnotize people, from surgeons working forDevlin DeAngelo,which he used to hypnotize Bruce Banner.[22]As "Martin Thraller", the Ringmaster used his hypnotic eyes while running for president of the United States (and manages to hypnotizeNick Furyinto forgetting his own identity) until stopped byDeathlok.[23]

The Ringmaster traveled to Tibet and stole a ring that had once been created for theMandarinshortly before his apparent demise. Made from a piece of a shatteredCosmic Cube,the ring allows him to manipulate reality within a fifteen-foot radius. Attacking New York for 'practice', he clashes with various superheroes, includingSpider-ManandMoon Knight.Moon Knight and Spider-Man are both given heart attacks, but then Daredevil joins the scene. Moments before the Ringmaster is about to fire them out of cannons, at the ground about one foot below, thePunishershoots off his ring finger.[24][25]

The Cosmic Ring is confiscated byCaptain America,who encourages the grouping of heroes to get the shot-off finger to the ambulance personnel for reattachment. He later loses the ring when he is attacked by a M.O.D.O.C. squad.[26]The ring is then found by Curtis Doyle, who uses it to become the superheroFreedom Ringuntil his death at the hands ofIron Maniac.[27]

During theCivil Warstoryline, the Circus of Crime appear as one of several villains captured byIron ManandS.H.I.E.L.D.agents.[28]

Later, Ringmaster enacts a plot to hypnotize the elderly into stealing for him, though this is foiled by Howard the Duck andTalos the Untamed.[29][30]

During theSecret Empirestoryline, the Circus of Crime joinBaron Zemo's Army of Evil.[31]

During the "Gang War"storyline, Ringmaster is revealed to runRandalls and Wards Islands.He is briefly seen hypnotizing civilians to fight for him.[32]After running into two people trying to get toCentral Park,Ringmaster informs them of what is happening and hypnotizes them into his ranks of hypnotized people as he needed a "circus" to lead. Ringmaster's hypnotized civilians fight againstCrime Masterand theA.I.M.Agents with him. Spider-Man's group arrives to fight them as Spider-Man advises the superheroes with him to be careful with the hypnotized civilians. As Spider-Man andSpider-Womanfight Crime Master, Ringmaster tries to hypnotizeElektra,only for her to resist the mind control and defeat him.[33]

Ringmaster was revealed to have a daughter who becameRingmistress,wielding a copy of her father's hat and leading a separate incarnation of Circus of Crime.[34]

Powers and abilities

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The Ringmaster possesses no inherent superhuman powers. His principal weapons are mind-controlling devices implanted in his hat and eyes. However, his hypnotism does not work on those who cannot see and can be neutralized with special glasses.[volume & issue needed]

With the Cosmic Ring, Tiboldt gained the ability to alter reality in a 15-foot (4.6 m) radius around him.[35]

In other media

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Television

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Video games

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The Ringmaster appears as a non-playable character inQuestprobe featuring Spider-Man.[40]

Miscellaneous

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The Ringmaster appears inMarvel's Wastelanders: Hawkeye,voiced byJoe Morton.[41]

References

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  1. ^Misiroglu, Gina Renée; Eury, Michael (2006).The Supervillain Book: The Evil Side of Comics and Hollywood.Visible Ink Press.ISBN9780780809772.
  2. ^Rovin, Jeff(1987).The Encyclopedia of Super-Villains.New York: Facts on File. p. 299-300.ISBN0-8160-1356-X.[1]
  3. ^"Ringmaster of Death (Fritz Tiboldt)".www.marvunapp.com.RetrievedNovember 3,2018.
  4. ^Captain America Comics#5. Marvel Comics.
  5. ^Marvel Two-In-One#76. Marvel Comics.
  6. ^abThe Incredible Hulkvol. 1 #3. Marvel Comics.
  7. ^The Amazing Spider-Man#16. Marvel Comics.
  8. ^The Amazing Spider-Man#22. Marvel Comics.
  9. ^Avengers#20. Marvel Comics.
  10. ^Avengers#60. Marvel Comics.
  11. ^Thor#173. Marvel Comics.
  12. ^Daredevil#118. Marvel Comics.
  13. ^Power Man#24-25. Marvel Comics.
  14. ^Super-Villain Team-Up#8-9. Marvel Comics.
  15. ^The Incredible Hulkvol. 2 #217. Marvel Comics.
  16. ^Howard the Duck#25-27. Marvel Comics.
  17. ^Marvel Two-in-One#76. Marvel Comics.
  18. ^The Incredible Hulkvol. 2 #292. Marvel Comics.
  19. ^Sensational She-Hulk#1. Marvel Comics.
  20. ^Power Pack#59. Marvel Comics.
  21. ^The Incredible Hulkvol. 2 #377. Marvel Comics.
  22. ^The Incredible Hulkvol. 2, #249, written by Joe Casey. Marvel Comics.
  23. ^Deathlokvol. 3, written by Joe Casey. Marvel Comics.
  24. ^Karbank, Octavio (May 8, 2017)."Spider-Man's 15 Most Bizarre Team-Ups".CBR.RetrievedSeptember 28,2024.
  25. ^Marvel Team-Up#7-10 (Sept. 2005). Marvel Comics.
  26. ^Marvel Team-Upvol. 3 #20. Marvel Comics.
  27. ^Marvel Team-Upvol. 3 #24. Marvel Comics.
  28. ^Civil War: War Crimes#1. Marvel Comics.
  29. ^Chip Zdarsky (w), Joe Quinones (p), Joe Rivera and Joe Quinones (i), Rico Renzi (col), Travis Lanham (let), Wil Moss (ed). "Nothing's Gonna Touch You In These Golden Years"Howard the Duck,vol. 5, no. 3 (July 2015). United States: Marvel Comics.
  30. ^Chip Zdarsky (w), Joe Quinones (p), Joe Rivera and Joe Quinones (i), Rico Renzi and Rachelle Rosenberg (col), Travis Lanham (let), Wil Moss (ed). "Dr. Stranger in a Dr. Strange Land"Howard the Duck,vol. 5, no. 4 (August 2015). United States: Marvel Comics.
  31. ^Captain America: Steve Rogers#16. Marvel Comics.
  32. ^Amazing Spider-Man - Gang War First Strike#1. Marvel Comics.
  33. ^Amazing Spider-ManVol. 6 #39. Marvel Comics.
  34. ^Doctor StrangeVol. 6 #11. Marvel Comics.
  35. ^Marvel Team-Up#7-10 (Sept. 2005). Marvel Comics.
  36. ^"Ringmaster Voices (Marvel Universe)".Behind The Voice Actors.RetrievedAugust 15,2024.A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  37. ^Wickline, Dan (March 13, 2018)."Marvel's Jessica Jones Season 2: The Comic History of Dr. Karl Malus".Bleeding Cool.RetrievedApril 9,2024.
  38. ^Commandeur, Jordan (March 9, 2018)."Jessica JonesSeason 2 Introduces... The Ringmaster? ".CBR.RetrievedSeptember 28,2024.
  39. ^Almas, Mairzee (director); Lisa Randolph (writer) (March 8, 2018). "AKA Sole Survivor".Marvel's Jessica Jones.Season 2. Episode 3.Netflix.
  40. ^"QuestProbe | Sinclair Programs".us.archive.org.February 1985.RetrievedApril 9,2024.
  41. ^Johnson, Mia (October 25, 2021)."Michelle Hurd and Joe Morton talk Marvel's newest podcast series Wastelanders: Hawkeye".Bam Smack Pow.RetrievedApril 9,2024.
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