TheTinkerer(Phineas Mason) is a fictional character appearing inAmerican comic bookspublished byMarvel Comics.The character is usually depicted as anadversaryof thesuperheroSpider-Manand the father ofRick Mason.The character was created byStan LeeandSteve Ditko,and made his first appearance inThe Amazing Spider-Man#2 (May 1963).[1]The Tinkerer is generally depicted as a genius inengineeringwho is able to creategadgetsand other devices from nothing more than spare parts left over from ordinary household appliances. While in his initial appearances he sought to personally eliminate Spider-Man, more recent storylines depict him under the employ of other supervillains, whom he supplies with his gadgets for their personal vendettas against Spider-Man or other heroes.
| Tinkerer | |
|---|---|
 The Tinkerer (Phineas Mason) from theOfficial Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition. Art by Peter Poplaski. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The Amazing Spider-Man#2 (May 1963) |
| Created by | Stan Lee Steve Ditko |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Phineas Mason |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations | Masters of Evil |
| Notable aliases | The Terrible Tinkerer Hophni Mason |
| Abilities | |
Since his introduction in comics, the character has been adapted into several other forms of media, such as animated television series and video games. The Tinkerer made his live-action debut in theMarvel Cinematic UniversefilmSpider-Man: Homecoming(2017), portrayed byMichael Chernus.Additionally, a female version of Phineas Mason named Phin Mason appears inSpider-Man: Miles Morales,voiced byJasmin Savoy Brown.
Publication history
editThe Tinkerer is a character that was created byStan LeeandSteve Ditko,and made his initial appearance inThe Amazing Spider-Man#2 (April 1963), opposing Spider-Man as a villain.[2][3]It would, however, be several years before he would return, and made his second appearance inThe Amazing Spider-Man#160 (September 1976), once again opposing Spider-Man in a losing effort.[4]The Tinkerer would be mentioned inThe Amazing Spider-Man#182 (July 1978). This was his first mention in the publication as a supporting side character to the other villains.[5]
Fictional character biography
editCriminal career
editPhineas Masonis a brilliant inventor and technician who designs advanced weaponry for criminals and sometimes undertakes crimes of his own. As "the Terrible Tinkerer",he runs an underground fix-it shop disguised as a radio repair shop. On at least one occasion, a potential customer gained the inventor's attention by presenting a transistor radio and telling Mason that" I've got a radio that just can't carry a tune ". The Tinkerer's original scheme involved the employment of a team of petty has-been stuntmen and thugs. They specialized in placingbugsinto radios and blackmailing state officials and politicians. The Tinkerer tried to present himself as analiento confuse his pursuers by leaving behind a mask that looked like his face when he escaped fromSpider-Manin a hovercraft shaped like a flying saucer.[6][7]
The Tinkerer's next encounter with Spider-Man resulted in deploying the Toy, a hi-tech robot that serves as an assistant and lackey.[8]The Toy also helped the Tinkerer escape from his hideout when raided by the police.[9]The Tinkerer is known to have created the suit forMysterio,a man that once worked as one of his alien-suited servants.[10]Much later, he was hired by theKingpinto rebuild the Spider-Mobile to destroy Spider-Man.[9]The Tinkerer redesignedRocket Racer's rocket-powered skateboard,[11]designed the armed wheel-shapedBig Wheelvehicle,[12]repaired theGoldbug's bug-ship.,[13]and designed some technological hardware so that Joseph Rambo can become Binary Bug.[14]He robbed loan companies by using remote-controlled toys until stopped by Spider-Man.[15]The Tinkerer also providedWhirlwindwith improved armor and weaponry,[16]providedDiamondbackwith new throwing diamonds,[17]built theGrim Reaper's scythe-like weapon to go over where his right hand was,[18]providedMac Garganwith a modified scorpion tail during the "Acts of Vengeance"storyline,[19]and even fixedGrizzly's exo-skeleton harness and grizzly suit.[20]He has worked forHammerhead(who was mentioned to have made Hammerhead's exoskeleton),[21]theBeetle(who Tinkerer helped to make a new Beetle armor),[22]theBlack Cat(who received special equipment from him that enhanced her agility, senses, and strength),[23]theJack O'Lantern,Owl(who made special equipment for him), theAni-Men,Jester(who made a number of gimmicks for him),[24]and theConstrictor.
Since he is a small business operator who works alone (and arms criminals), the Terrible Tinkerer takes precautions to prevent being cheated. For instance,Killer Shrikecommissioned the Tinkerer to improve weapon gauntlets. At delivery time, the criminal decided to use the weapons to threaten the inventor and avoid paying. The gauntlets backfired on Killer Shrike, wounding and immobilizing due to a failsafe the Tinkerer engineers into his products for such situations.[25]
Mason is forced to work for theVulture(Adrian Toomes) interested in freeingNitrofrom custody. This falls apart when the heroic mutantsRusty Collinsand Skids chance upon the situation and defeat the villains. The Tinkerer is arrested off-panel.[26]
TheTrapsterlater sued the Tinkerer for selling faulty equipment. The Trapster's character witnesses in the case against the Tinkerer include the Beetle,Blacklash,Blizzard,Boomerang,Jack O'Lantern,Mad Thinker,Porcupine,Ringer,Stilt-Man,SpymasterandTaskmaster.When Taskmaster accuses the other villains of not properly using the equipment that the Tinkerer provided, it resulted in an in-court brawl that was broken up byShe-Hulkwhich leads to the villains getting arrested. When the Tinkerer and Mad Thinker ask She-Hulk who is superior, She-Hulk says to sort it out themselves and storms off.[27]
His sonRick Masonis a world-class mercenary for the American government and freelance operative. Despite the two being on opposite sides of the law, father and son remained on good terms and met frequently. The Tinkerer even aided Rick from time to time, and once provided his son with information about a coup in South America.[28]After Rick was seemingly killed in action, the grief-stricken father decided to mend his ways while still maintaining links to supervillains to give information he could discreetly pass along.[29]
In theSecret Warminiseries,Nick Furydiscovered a link between the weaponry of most of the known technology-based villains in the Marvel Universe and the kingdom ofLatveria.The Tinkerer was revealed to have received a vast portion of his funding and presumably the resources and technology from which he has developed most of his clients' arsenals over the years from Latveria. This was part of an ongoing "terrorist" initiative fostered by the kingdom's despotic leaderDoctor Doomand minionCountess Luciana Von Bardas.[30]S.H.I.E.L.D.agents discovered the Tinkerer's workshop by using Killer Shrike as a mole. When the agents converged on the workshop, the canny villain detected this. Killer Shrike was struck down by the Tinkerer's security systems, and the Tinkerer fled to Latveria rather than face justice. Early in theMarvel Knightsimprint of Spider-Man,Eddie Brocksells theVenomsymbiote through an auction put on by the Tinkerer.[31]
ThePunisherfinds and confronts the Tinkerer after a confrontation with the murderous Stilt-Man to which Tinkerer begs for death. Not only was his son dead, but his grandson perished in theStamford, Connecticutexplosion that heralded theCivil War's beginning. Without his beloved son or grandson, he was suicidal and continued his work in the hope that both superheroes and supervillains would wipe each other out. The Punisher stabs the Tinkerer in the back, likely leaving him paralyzed.[32]Now reliant on a wheelchair, Mason has been contracted bySilas "Cyber" Burrto subject the resurrected villain's new body to theAdamantium-epidermal bonding process. Mason agrees to create a "pacemaker" for the ailing Cyber's heart condition, as well as threecarbonadiumbullets forLoganin exchange for the use of Logan's mysterious carbonadium synthesizer. Cyber awakens from the procedure to discover the deadly radioactive device permanently attached to the chest and that Logan has disappeared with the C-synth. Phineas is last seen in the enraged Cyber's clutches.[33]Surviving his encounter with Cyber, he is seen attending the Survivors' Guild, a therapy group for survivors of thePunisher.[34]He is later apprehended byIron Manfor ties to a superWMDblack market.[35]
During the "Secret Invasion"storyline, he is freed from Prison 42 to helpHuman Torch,Thing,Franklin RichardsandValeria Richardsreturn to the Earth dimension. It is mentioned that Mason had retired the Tinkerer identity but is imprisoned for breaking theRegistration Actanyway. He is initially reluctant to help his old foes, but Franklin's and Valeria's resemblance to his own grandchildren causes him to relent.[36]It was revealed Rick is in fact still alive, under deep cover, and in a conspiracy which resulted inCarol Danvers's apparent murder forNorman Osbornin exchange for his father's release and cleared record.[37]The Tinkerer is later seen in jail where he repairsHypno-Hustler's costume.[38]
Phil Urichlater visits the Tinkerer to have the Hobgoblin's gear upgraded to evade theSuperior Spider-Man(Doctor Octopus' mind in Spider-Man's body). It is shown that the Tinkerer has taken inTiberius Stoneas a secret apprentice as Stone gets revenge on the Hobgoblin by making it so that the Hobgoblin's tech fails.[39]
He fabricated the identity of his own brotherHophni Masonvia a robotic suit.[40]As Hophni, he acted a confidant of various superheroes (such asAnt-ManandCaptain America),[41]and both provided technology and an acquaintance toTeresa Parker.[42]His façade is revealed to which he used his said disguise as a battlesuit which gets defeated by Spider-Man. However, it is revealed that Tinkerer is an ally to the Vedomi alien race of sentient A.I.s.[43]After escaping from custody, the Tinkerer (equipped with the Vedomi's battlesuit) battles Spider-Man. Spider-Man realized the Tinkerer was sorrowful and resentful towards humanity and help change his point of view and stay with the Vedomi to help guide positively.[44]
Skills and abilities
editPhineas Mason has a genius-level intellect with extensive knowledge in various sciences. He is capable of designing and manufacturing numerousinventionsderived from pre-existing technologies. The Tinkerer can access to a wide array of advanced devices if needed. The Tinkerer'sold agelimits his physical abilities.[45]
Other versions
editAmazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows
editDuring the "Secret Wars"storyline in the pages ofAmazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows,a version of Tinkerer resides in theBattleworlddomain of The Regency. When Regent defeated every superhero, Tinkerer gave up a life of crime and started a fix-it shop. When Spider-Man came to him for Inhibitor Chips (to conceal the superhuman signatures of himself and his daughter Annie), Tinkerer stalled until the Sinister Six could arrive, although Spider-Man managed to steal the Inhibitor Chips and escape.[46]
Old Man Logan
editOn Earth-807127, Tinkerer was mentioned byPappy Bannerwhere he built an Adamantium suit of armor that ran on gamma energy. By the time Banner's head was placed on the Adamantium armor so that he can take revenge onOld Man Loganfor the defeat that cost Pappy Banner his body, he admitted that he ate Tinkerer after the Adamantium armor was complete.[47]
Ultimate Marvel
editTheUltimate Marvelincarnation of Phineas Mason is a scientific prodigy at Nursery Two, one of the think tanks of young geniuses sponsored by theU.S. government.TheMole Mankidnapped Mason and his fellow students with the intention of using them to seed a new underground civilization inSubterranea.With theFantastic Four's help, the Nursery Two students defeated Mole Man. Rather than return to their lives above ground, Mason and his teammates opted to stay behind and start a civilization on their own terms.[48]
The Ultimate Marvel equivalent of Tinkerer isElijah Stern,an original character created byBrian Michael BendisandMark Bagley,and designed to resemblePaul Giamatti.[49]This iteration's alias key indicator is stating that he merely "tinkers". The Tinkerer vindictively hiresKiller Shrike,Omega Redand theVulture(Blackie Drago) to torment his formerDonald Roxxonfor being fired by theRoxxon Corporationafter discovering a way to usevibraniumas a power source. His plan gets foiled by the originalSpider-Manand he is given a choice to work forNick Furyor death whenS.H.I.E.L.D.finds his hideout.[50]Choosing to work for S.H.I.E.L.D., the Tinkerer commands hisSpider-Slayerrobots in going after theCarnagesymbiote and Peter Parker.[51]
While repairing theBeetle's suit, the Tinkerer is approached to accommodate agroup of villainswith weapons against Spider-Man. As the Tinkerer is reluctant to take up the accommodations due to the Tinkerer stating that the Vulture hasn't paid him last time and the fact that he still blames the Vulture for bringing S.H.I.E.L.D. to his door, theGreen Goblin"motivates" him to help. The Tinkerer does so by providing the Vulture's suit stating that nobody can fit it.Kraven the Hunterhelps himself to some blasters and knives stating that he is starting a tab.[52]
TheProwler(Aaron Davis) later breaks into his workshop, getting interrogated before being killed in cold blood once his killer realized things about the newSpider-Man.[53]
In other media
editTelevision
edit- The Phineas Mason incarnation of the Tinkerer appears inThe Spectacular Spider-Man,voiced byThom Adcox-Hernandez.[54]This version is depicted as younger and with more hair than his comics counterpart. Following a minor appearance in the first season episode "Persona" while working for theChameleonuntil he is arrested, Mason appears in the second season as the Tinkerer and theMaster Planner's right-hand man. Additionally, the former designsMysterio's equipment, oversees theSinister Six's work, upgrades theVulture's suit, and is hired byTombstoneto create powered suits for theEnforcers.
- The Phineas Mason incarnation of the Tinkerer appears inSpider-Man(2017), voiced byAaron Abrams.[54]This version is an eccentric inventor who can create various forms of machinery from everyday appliances, primarily for his own amusement.
- The Phineas Mason incarnation of the Tinkerer appears inMarvel Super Hero Adventures,voiced byMichael Daingerfield.[54]This version creates toys for children that serve evil purposes.
Film
editPhineas Mason appears in theMarvel Cinematic UniversefilmSpider-Man: Homecoming(2017), portrayed byMichael Chernus.[55]Depicted around Elijah Stern's age, this version is a weapons maker and former member of a salvage company alongsideAdrian Toomes,Herman SchultzandJackson Brice.Following the events ofThe Avengers(2012), the salvaging company went out of business due to interference from theDepartment of Damage Control,a joint venture between the U.S. government andStark Industries.As part of their revenge scheme against them, Mason helps Toomes steal leftover technology from theAvengers' battles and build advanced weapons out of it, such as Toomes' flight suit and modified versions ofCrossbones's vibro-blast emitting gauntlets. While his associates are defeated bySpider-Manand arrested by the authorities, Mason's fate is left unknown.
Video games
edit- The Phineas Mason incarnation of the Tinkerer appears as the first Boss of theMaster Systemversion ofSpider-Man vs. The Kingpin.[citation needed]
- The Phineas Mason incarnation of the Tinkerer appears inSpider-Man(1995).[citation needed]He serves as a Boss in theSega Genesisversion and makes acameo appearancein theSNESversion.
- The Phineas Mason incarnation of the Tinkerer appears as a Boss in thePS2andPSPversions ofSpider-Man: Web of Shadows,voiced by William Utay.[54]
- The Phineas Mason incarnation of the Tinkerer appears inMarvel: Ultimate Alliance 2,voiced byPhilip Proctor.[citation needed]He uses the Fold, a nanite hive mind that has brainwashed supervillains thatIron Maninjected control nanites into, to achieve his goals until he is defeated by the heroes.
- The Phineas Mason incarnation of the Tinkerer appears as a Boss in theNintendo DSversion ofSpider-Man: Shattered Dimensions,voiced byJim Cummingsin an homage toSterling Holloway.[citation needed]He utilizes a fragment of the Tablet of Order and Chaos to power a machine capable of creating an army of robots. However, Spider-Man tracks him down and destroys it.
- The Phineas Mason incarnation of the Tinkerer appears as a playable character and mini- Boss inLego Marvel Super Heroes 2,voiced by Kevin Coello.[56]
- A character based on Phineas Mason / Tinkerer, a female, African-American teenager namedPhin Mason,appears as the final Boss ofSpider-Man: Miles Morales,[57][58]voiced byJasmin Savoy Brown.[59]She isMiles Morales's childhood best friend who seeks revenge againstRoxxonafter her brotherRick Masondied trying to expose the company's corruption and fast-tracking a dangerous new fuel called "Nuform". As the Tinkerer, she becomes the leader of the criminal group, the Underground, whom she supplies with her advanced programmable matter technology, and comes into conflict with the second Spider-Man, who she eventually learns is Morales. After her vendetta nearly destroysHarlemand almost kills Morales, Phin sees the error of her ways and sacrifices herself to save him.
References
edit- ^DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019).The Marvel Encyclopedia.DK Publishing. p. 382.ISBN978-1-4654-7890-0.
- ^Brevoort, Tom; DeFalco, Tom; Manning, Matthew K.; Sanderson, Peter; Wiacek, Win (2017).Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History.DK Publishing. p. 92.ISBN978-1465455505.
- ^Stan Lee(w),Steve Ditko(p), Steve Ditko (i). "The Uncanny Threat of the Terrible Tinkerer!"The Amazing Spider-Man,vol. 1, no. 2 (May1963). Marvel Comics.
- ^Ross Andru, Dave Hunt, Mike Esposito (p), Dave Hunt, Mike Esposito (i).The Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #160,vol. 1, no. 160 (10 September1976). Marvel Comics.
- ^Mike Esposito, Ross Andru (p), Mike Esposito (i).The Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #182,vol. 1, no. 182 (10 July1978). Marvel Comics.
- ^The Amazing Spider-Man#2. Marvel Comics.
- ^Rovin, Jeff(1987).The Encyclopedia of Super-Villains.New York: Facts on File. p. 346-347.ISBN0-8160-1356-X.[1]
- ^The Amazing Spider-Man#159. Marvel Comics.
- ^abThe Amazing Spider-Man#160. Marvel Comics.
- ^Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man#51. Marvel Comics.
- ^The Amazing Spider-Man#182. Marvel Comics.
- ^The Amazing Spider-Man#183. Marvel Comics.
- ^The Incredible Hulkvol. 2 #238. Marvel Comics.
- ^Machine Man#11. Marvel Comics.
- ^Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man#53. Marvel Comics.
- ^Captain America#324. Marvel Comics.
- ^Captain America#369. Marvel Comics.
- ^Avengers#52. Marvel Comics.
- ^Alpha Flight#79. Marvel Comics.
- ^Web of Spider-Man#58. Marvel Comics.
- ^Fantastic Four#233. Marvel Comics.
- ^The Deadly Foes of Spider-Man#1. Marvel Comics.
- ^The Amazing Spider-Man#369-370. Marvel Comics.
- ^Daredevil#42. Marvel Comics.
- ^The Amazing Spider-Man#310. Marvel Comics.
- ^The New Mutants#86 (February 1990). Marvel Comics.
- ^The Sensational She-Hulk#59 (January 1994). Marvel Comics.
- ^The Agent Graphic Novel
- ^Cage#14. Marvel Comics.
- ^Secret War#1. Marvel Comics.
- ^Marvel Knights: Spider-Man#7. Marvel Comics.
- ^Punisher War Journalvol. 2 #1
- ^Wolverine: Origins#12-15. Marvel Comics.
- ^Punisher War Journalvol. 2 #16
- ^The Invincible Iron Man#7
- ^Secret Invasion: Fantastic Four#3. Marvel Comics.
- ^Ms. Marvelvol. 2 #37. Marvel Comics.
- ^Avenging Spider-Man#13. Marvel Comics.
- ^The Superior Spider-Man#15. Marvel Comics.
- ^Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man#300. Marvel Comics.
- ^Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man#1. Marvel Comics.
- ^Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man#3-5. Marvel Comics.
- ^Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man#299-300. Marvel Comics.
- ^Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man#306-307. Marvel Comics.
- ^Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-ZVol 1 #12 (January 2010)
- ^Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows#3. Marvel Comics.
- ^Wastelanders: Wolverine#1. Marvel Comics.
- ^Ultimate Fantastic Four Annual#2. Marvel Comics.
- ^Brucie, Dylan (March 2007).Ultimate Spider-Man.Wizard Xtra!.p. 117.
- ^Ultimate Spider-Man#90. Marvel Comics.
- ^Ultimate Spider-Man#101. Marvel Comics.
- ^Ultimate Spider-Man#158. Marvel Comics.
- ^Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man#7. Marvel Comics
- ^abcd"Tinkerer Voices (Spider-Man)".behindthevoiceactors.RetrievedNovember 23,2020.Check mark indicates role has been confirmed using screenshots of closing credits and other reliable sources.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: postscript (link) - ^Fleming, Mike Jr. (August 10, 2016)."Michael Chernus Joins 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' As The Tinkerer".Deadline Hollywood.Archivedfrom the original on August 11, 2016.RetrievedAugust 10,2016.
- ^"Characters".IGN Database.19 May 2017.Retrieved28 January2018.
- ^Gartenberg, Chaim (September 16, 2020)."Spider-Man: Miles Morales Gameplay Trailer and Release Date".The Verge.Archivedfrom the original on September 17, 2020.RetrievedSeptember 16,2020.
- ^"Sony PS5 Showcase Gameplay Demo".YouTube.16 September 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-12-21.
- ^Insomniac Games(November 12, 2020).Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales(PlayStation 4).Sony Interactive Entertainment.Scene: Credits.