CIRCUS OF DEATHCIRCUS OF DEATH
Membership: Butch the roustabout, Derko the clown, the Missing Link, Omir the Snake Charmer, Rajar the elephant, Rawal the elephant trainer, Ringmaster
of Death (Fritz Tiboldt), Spike, Tommy Thumb, the Trapeze Trio, Zandow
Purpose: To help Nazi Germany conquer America
while entertaining the masses!
Aliases: None
Affiliations: Adolf Hitler
Enemies: General Blaine, Bucky (James Buchanan Barnes), Captain America (Steve Rogers), Defense Commissioner Newsome, Betty Ross
Base of Operations: Mobile;
formerly Germany
First Appearance: Captain America Comics I#5 (August, 1941)
History: (Captain
America Comics I#5 (fb) – BTS) – A Nazi agent,
the Ringmaster of Death took his Circus to America, where he planned to
kill
American military leaders. With grand plans of ruling America after
Hitler took
over Europe, Ringmaster fantasized about turning criminals into his
Gestapo. He
made a Wheel of Death, with the faces of military foes he could target
to kill.
(Captain America Comics I#5) – Soldiers Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes met General Blaine at the Circus. The Ringmaster spun his Wheel of Death and let it choose General Blaine as the next to die. Using a whip, the Ringmaster forced Tommy Thumb to open the tiger cage and the tiger killed Blaine before Steve Rogers could change to Captain America and defeat the tiger, breaking its neck. Bucky followed Tommy but Ringmaster's men beat him over the head with a club, though Cap soon chased them off. The next day, the Ringmaster spun the Wheel to Defense Commissioner Newsome and he assigned Zandow, Omir the Snake Charmer and the Trapeze Trio to complete the task. The trapeze artists made a human bridge to Newsome's window in the armory then Omir played his flute, getting his deadly snake to bite and kill Newsome. Betty Ross saw the men escaping the armory window and Ringmaster's men kidnapped her, with Captain America being knocked out by Zandow. After spinning his Wheel to Captain America this time, the Ringmaster prepared his Circus for the hero. Cap and Bucky attacked, bypassing many Circus performers, including the man on the back of Rajar the elephant, only to find Betty dangling from a rope. Ringmaster cut the rope, Bucky caught Betty using the trapeze and Cap easily defeated Ringmaster by smashing the Wheel over his head. Bucky collapsed the Big Top on all of the performers and they fled as the police arrived.
Comments: Created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.
Butch the
roustabout, Derko the clown, Rawal the elephant trainer and Spike's
names were first revealed in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe:
A-Z Update#1 (2008). -Proto-Man (with info provided by John Holstein)
Profile by Chadman.
CLARIFICATIONS:
The
Circus of Death should not be confused with:
General Blaine visited a traveling circus and saw Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes but he was soon mauled and killed by a released tiger.
--Captain
America Comics I#5
The Missing Link, a member of the Circus of Death, helped attack Captain America and Bucky, following the Ringmaster's orders. Bucky punched Missing Link aside.
--Captain America Comics I#5
Defense Commissioner Newsome was planning military action in the armory when Omir the Snake Charmer sent a cobra in to bite and kill him.
--Captain
America Comics I#5
Omir the Snake Charmer worked for the Ringmaster's Circus of Death, a group working with the Nazi Party. Ringmaster ordered Zandow, the Trapeze Trio and Omir the Snake Charmer to kill Defense Commissioner Newsome. After climbing across the human bridge made by the Trapeze Trio, Omir used his flute to inspire a cobra to bite and kill Newsome. The Circus was later shut down by Captain America and Bucky.
--Captain
America Comics I#5
Rajar the elephant performed with the Circus of Death with a man on his back as Captain America and Bucky fought the Circus. Rajar picked up Captain America in his trunk and tossed him across the room.
--Captain America Comics I#5
A
member of the Circus of Death, Spike tried shooting at Captain
America after the hero had been tossed in the air by Rajar the elephant
but
Cap twisted his body and crashed into Spike.
--Captain
America Comics I#5
Tommy Thumb was the little person working for the Ringmaster's Circus of Death, a group working with the Nazi Party. When American soldiers visited the camp, Ringmaster forced Tommy with a whip to open the tiger cage and the tiger killed General Blaine. Bucky chased after Tommy but he escaped. The Circus was later shut down by Captain America and Bucky.
--Captain
America Comics I#5
The Trapeze Trio worked for the Ringmaster's Circus of Death, a group working with the Nazi Party. Ringmaster ordered Zandow, the Trapeze Trio and Omir the Snake Charmer to kill Defense Commissioner Newsome with the Trio making a human bridge into Newsome's office to get in and out. The Circus was later shut down by Captain America and Bucky.
--Captain
America Comics I#5
Zandow was the strong man working for the Ringmaster's Circus of Death, a group working with the Nazi Party. Ringmaster ordered Zandow, the Trapeze Trio and Omir the Snake Charmer to kill Defense Commissioner Newsome. When Captain America attacked, Zandow briefly managed to knock the hero out. The Circus was later shut down by Captain America and Bucky.
images: (without ads)
Captain
America Comics I#5, p1 (Circus of Death, group image, main image)
Captain America Comics I#5, p6, pan1 (Ringmaster giving
the Circus of Death instructions)
Captain America Comics I#5, p2, pan3 (The Circus of Death's Wheel of
Death)
Captain America Comics I#5, p1, pan2 (General Blaine)
Captain America Comics I#5, p11, pan4 (the Missing Link)
Captain America Comics I#5, p6, pan3 (Defense Commissioner
Newsome)
Captain America Comics I#5, p6, pan5 (Omir the Snake
Charmer)
Captain America Comics I#5, p10, pan5 (Rajar the elephant)
Captain America Comics I#5, p11, pan7 (Spike)
Captain America Comics I#5, p2, pan7 (Tommy Thumb)
Captain America Comics I#5, p6, pan4 (the Trapeze Trio)
Captain America Comics I#5, p8, pan1 (Zandow)
Appearances:
Captain America Comics I#5 (August, 1941) – Joe Simon
(writer/inker/editor), Jack Kirby (writer/penciler)
First Posted: 11/03/2018
Last updated: 12/15/2018
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
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