RINGMASTER

Real Name: Maynard Tiboldt

Identity/Class: Human mutate

Occupation: Circus performer, criminal, ringmaster

Group Membership: Circus of Crime (Antoro, Blackwing/Joey Manfredi, Bruto the Strong Man/Bruce Olafsen Clem, Clown/Eliot "Crafty" Franklin, Eden, Fifi, Fire-Eater/Tomas Ramirez, Great Gambonnos/Ernesto & Luigi Gambonno, Human Cannonball/Jack Pulver, Jeb, Kimba the tiger, Live Wire/Rance Preston, Precious the python, Princess Python/Zelda DuBois, Professor, Rajah/Kahir Mahadevu, Sultan the elephant, Swordsman, Tarrax the Tamer, Teena the Fat Lady/Mary Stenson, "Thor"/Mike);
formerly Army of Evil (Absorbing Man/Carl Creel, Anaconda/Blanche Sitzniski, Armadillo/Antonio Rodriguez, Baron Blood, Baron Zemo/Helmut Zemo, Blackout/Marcus Daniels, Boomslang/Marc Riemer, Bruto the Strongman/Bruce Olafsen, Bulldozer/Henry Camp, Bushmaster/Quincy McIver, Clown/Eliot "Crafty" Franklin, Coachwhip/Beatrix Keener, Cottonmouth/Burchell Clemens, Cyclone/Pierre Fresson, Death Adder/Theodore Scott, Dragonfly/Veronica Dultry, Fer-de-Lance/Teresa Vasquez, Ferocia, Fire-Eater/Tomas Ramirez, Graviton/Franklin Hall, Great Gambonnos/Ernesto & Luigi Gambonno, Grey Gargoyle/Paul Duval, Gypsy Moth/Sybil Dvorak, Ironclad/Mike Steel, Klaw/Ulysses Klaw, Kraven the Hunter/Sergei Kravinoff, Living Laser/Arthur Parks, Madame Masque/Giulietta Nefaria, Mr. Hyde/Calvin Zabo, Nitro/Robert Hunter, Piledirver/Brian Calusky, Puff Adder/Gordon Fraley, Rock Python/M'Gula, Sidewinder/Gregory Bryan, Squid/Donny Callahan, Teena the Fat Lady/Mary Stenson, Thunderball/Dr. Eliot Franklin, Tiger Shark/Todd Arliss, Vapor/Ann Darnell, Vector/Simon Utrecht, Viper/Jordan Dixon, Whirlwind/David Cannon, Wizard/Bentley Wittman, Wrecker/Dirk Garthwaite, X-Ray/James Darnell, Yellowjacket/Darren Cross), Keibler Circus

Affiliations: A.I.M., Archie the Dog-Faced Boy, Betty Banner, John Blaze, Boris, Marlo Chandler, Chondu the Magician (Harvey Schlermerman), Chess Set (Brass Bishop, Dark Tower, Killer Queen, King Coal, Overknight), Cobra (Klaus Voorhees), Mr. Crouch, Miss Davis, Devlin DeAngelo, Dragon Man, Officer Dragon, Dennis Dubois, Earth-8311 villains (Bo-Dog-A Bandit, Dr. Octopussycat, Ducktor Doom, Eelectro, Green Gobbler, Kong-pin, M.O.O.D.O.K., Mysteriape, Paw, Punfisher, Sandmanatee, Shock-Cur), Electro (Max Dillon), Hammerhead, Headmen (Gorilla-Man/Arthur Nagan, others), Senator Healey, Hydro-Man (Morrie Bench), Ilsa, Masters of Menace (Clown/Eliot "Crafty" Franklin, Great Gambonnos/Ernesto & Luigi Gambonno, Princess Python/Zelda DuBois), Melvin, Milano, Pantheon (Achilles/Helmut Halfling, Ajax, Atalanta, Delphi, Hector, Paris, Prometheus, Ulysses/Walter Charles), Leonard Samson, Glenn Talbot, Fritz Tiboldt, Lola Tiboldt;
   formerly Circus of Lost Souls (Blossom, Dog-Faced Boy, Major Minor, Meriam, Stilts), Destiny (Irene Adler), Devil Dinosaur, Dragon Man, Hawkeye (Clint Barton), Howard the Duck, Rick Jones, Mechano (Hulk/Bruce Banner), Moon Boy, Mystique ("Raven Darkholme")

Enemies: Ella Acosta, Gonzo Acosta, Apex (Otherone), Auric, Avengers (Black Panther/T'Challa, Hawkeye/Clint Barton, Quicksilver/Pietro Maximoff, Scarlet Witch/Wanda Maximoff, Vision/"Victor Shade," Wasp/Janet Van Dyne, Yellowjacket/Goliath/Hank Pym), Noel Beckford, Black Goliath/Goliath (Bill Foster), Paul Raymond Bradlee, Luke Cage, Captain America (Steve Rogers), Captain America (Sam Wilson), Circus of Lost Souls (Blossom, Dog-Faced Boy, Major Minor, Meriam, Stilts), Dallas Cowboys, Daredevil (Matt Murdock), Daredevil (Elektra Natchios), Devil Dinosaur, Miss Evonshire, Frenchie (Jean DuChamp), Nick Fury, Generation X (Chamber/Jonothon Starsmore, Husk/Paige Guthrie, Jubilee/Jubilation Lee, Skin/Angelo Espinosa, Synch/Everett Thomas), D.W. Griffith, Samuel Griggs, Hawkeye (Kate Bishop), Hawkeye (Clint Barton), Terrence Hillman, Howard the Duck, Chen Hsu, Ignatz Hubley, Hulk (Bruce Banner), Iceman (Bobby Drake), Iron Man (Tony Stark), Jane, Amos Jardine, Edwin Jarvis, John, Rick Jones, Kingpin (Wilson Fisk), Dr. Thomas Marles, Alicia Masters, Miss Malone, Matador (Manuel Eloganto), Mercs for Money (Deadpool/"Wade Wilson," Domino/Neena Thurman, Gorilla Man/Ken Hale, Hit-Monkey, Machine Man/X-51, Masacre, Negasonic Teenage Warhead/Ellie Phimister), Moon Boy, Moon Knight (Marc Spector), Mark Mudge, Stanley Mudge, Multitude (Ward), Omnibus, Owl (Leland Owlsley), May Parker, John Proudstar, Punisher (Frank Castle), Iris Raritan, Relf, Rudolfo, Paul Same, Serpent Society (Anaconda/Blanche Sitzniski, Asp/Cleo Nefertiti), She-Hulk (Jennifer Walters), S.H.I.E.L.D., Shroud (Maximillian Coleridge), Silver, Spider-Boy (Bailey Briggs), Spider-Guin of Earth-8311, Spider-Ham of Earth-8311, Spider-Man (Peter Parker), Spider-Man (Miles Morales), Spider-Man (Parker Peterman) of Earth-28204, Spider-Woman (Gwen Stacy) of Earth-65, Sub-Mariner (Namor McKenzie), Talos the Untamed, Tara Tam, Claire Temple, Thing (Ben Grimm), Thor (Thor Odinson), Thunderbolts (Atlas/Erik Josten, Meteorite/Karla Sofen, Songbird/Melissa Gold, Techno/Norbert Ebersol), Tombstone (Lonnie Lincoln), George Torrance, Ulik, Kate Waynesboro, Winda Wester, Colleen Wing, Winter Soldier (Bucky Barnes), Wolverine (Logan/James Howlett), Wraith (Yuri Watanabe);
formerly Anaconda (Blanche Sitzniski), Clown (Eliot "Crafty" Franklin), Madame Masque (Whitney Frost), Baron Zemo (Helmut Zemo)

Known Relatives: Fritz Tiboldt (Ringmaster of Death, father, deceased), Lola Tiboldt (mother, deceased), Ringmistress (daughter), Pascale Tiboldt (niece)

Aliases: Dr. Grand, Martin Thraller, Arnold "Arnie" Quaid

Base of Operations: Mobile

First Appearance: Incredible Hulk I#3 (September, 1962)

Powers/Abilities: Maynard Tiboldt grew up learning the tricks and trades of the circus, including those requiring performance and athletic skills, as well as some rudimentary hand-to-hand combat skills. He developed a self-taught affinity for electronics, eventually allowing him to alter the Nullatron device, a hypnosis device first used by the Red Skull and acquired by Maynard's father, into his own hat. With his hypnosis hat, Ringmaster could project his own psionic energy outward and use it to control minds through sheer force of will as long as he stayed in contact with the hat. He could not use his hat to read minds or lift objects, however. The hat was equipped with flashing lights that help stun his victims, making them susceptible to the mind-control, though some have been able to resist by keeping their eyes closed. Ringmaster generally used his skills to alter the memories of his victims after he robbed them but he could also give those hypnotized commands which his victims would generally not remember later. Ringmaster at times augmented his technology to be able to hypnotize those watching his performances on television. In time, Ringmaster developed the ability to do direct hypnosis with his eyes. Recently, Ringmaster was exposed to cosmic toxic waste and it caused his brain to grow to massive size, giving him the ability to send out hypnotic energy (manifested in circles of light) and control an entire town, though he needed regular doses of toxic waste to boost his powers.

Ringmaster has used many kinds of weapons, including a giant mechanized elephant and a Mecha-Lord Big Top. He briefly designed a machine that he believed could permanently alter memory. Ringmaster briefly possessed a Cosmic Cube-infused ring, one which helped him alter reality.

For a time, Ringmaster altered his technology to project solid light images of the memories of his subjects but he retired this technology after a consequential incident with the Hulk.

Height: 6'1"
Weight: 190 lbs.
Eyes: Green
Hair: Black

History:
(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe I#9 (fb) – BTS) – Maynard Tiboldt was born to Fritz and Lola Tiboldt in Austria and he was raised in Tiboldt's Circus, a company his family had been running for generations. A natural showman, Maynard developed a sincere love for the circus.

(Cutting Edge I#1 (fb) – BTS) – Maynard grew up hearing stories of his father's fears of the Nazis and of the black boars in the forests of Germany. They immigrated to America but in time, they were sent back to Germany, rejected by the American government.

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe I#9 (fb) – BTS/Marvel Two-in-One I#76 (fb)) – In time, Fritz and Lola were murdered by Nazis in retaliation for their testimony against Nazi war criminals years before, though Fritz himself had been a Nazi agent who had once run the Circus of Death on American soil. Maynard held the bodies of his parents after their deaths.

(Official Handbook of Marvel Universe I#9 (fb) – BTS) – Maynard moved himself to America, taking Tiboldt's Circus, but he learned how difficult it was to be successful there with larger circuses as competition, such as the one owned by Amos Jardine. Maynard chose to turn to crime and profit, wanting revenge for himself and his father. Having inherited the plans to the Red Skull's Nullatron hypnotic device from his father Fritz, Maynard manipulated the device into one that could be worn on his hat in order to mesmerize entire crowds, rendering them helpless and impacting their memories, so that he could rob them. He outlined his plan to several members of his circus and many of them agreed to join him in the Circus of Crime, many of whom had come with him from Europe, though many others quit the circus (with Ringmaster altering their memories before they departed). Ringmaster discovered that even when his troop faced arrest, they could never be held long because their victims had no memories of their crimes.

(X-Force I#-1 (fb)) – At the Tiboldt Carnival of Wonders, Ringmaster announced the magic show of Chondu the Magician, with other active members including Clem, Jeb, Destiny, Mystique and Kimba the tiger, who was defeated by John Proudstar. Ringmaster invited Proudstar to join the Ringmaster's Circus of Delight, which he promised would be a big success.

(Ghost Rider II#73 (fb) ) - Ringmaster welcomed Clown (Franklin) in the Circus of Crime with Human Cannonball, Princess Python and the Great Gambonnos behind him.

(Incredible Hulk II#3/3 (fb) – BTS) – The Circus of Crime traveled through a series of small towns. In each, Ringmaster left the townspeople mesmerized and standing like living statues as they ransacked the town. By the time they hit Plainville, authorities were beginning to catch on. As civilians began to wake up, the F.B.I. questioned them and learned the truth.

(Incredible Hulk II#3/3) – In a new town, Ringmaster mesmerized a new crowd and the performers, including Bruto, Clown and Teena the Fat Lady, pillaged the audience and the town. In yet another town, Ringmaster hypnotized a new crowd, including Rick Jones, who summoned the Hulk with his thought waves. After the Circus caught the Hulk in nets, Ringmaster kept the Hulk tied up overnight, presumably subduing him with hypnosis. The next day, Ringmaster introduced Hulk as a circus performer but the F.B.I. closed in. The Hulk went on a small rampage and Ringmaster sought to escape but the Hulk subdued him.

(Avengers I#1 – BTS) – The Hulk disguised himself among the Circus as the super-strong robot clown Mechano and performed by juggling an elephant, a horse and a seal until the Avengers found him and exposed him as the Hulk. The resulting battle tore the Big Top apart.

(Hawkeye III#7 (fb) – BTS) – The Tiboldt Travelling Circus settled in Michigan with new performers Hawkeye the Marksman, Eden the tattooed lady and the Strong Man. They considered working with a local artist but Ringmaster and Eden instead robbed the man and saw him killed.

(Hawkeye III#7 (fb)) – When Hawkeye discovered the artist dead, he went to confront Ringmaster, finding Eden in his room and growing jealous.

(Hawkeye III#8 (fb)) – As "Mechano" performed, Ringmaster announced that Hawkeye the Marksman, Bruto the Strong Man and the "Garden of Eden" were up next but Hawkeye didn't show up.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#16 (fb) – BTS) – After much planning, the Ringmaster prepared his Circus for the biggest heist of all with a crowd in New York City. He prepared his Circus performers, including the Human Cannonball (using the name the Great Gambino), the Great Gambonnos, the Clown and Bruto the Strong Man, and he printed posters advertising Spider-Man's presence to draw a greater crowd.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#16) – When Spider-Man actually showed up to perform, Ringmaster was shocked but he simply hypnotized the hero along with the crowd. Daredevil, however, was immune to the hypnosis and fought back, soon freeing Spider-Man from his trance. The Circus members fought both heroes. Ringmaster tried hypnotizing the hero again but Spidey just closed his eyes and knocked the villain out. Spider-Man used Ringmaster's hat to free the crowd from their trance. Ringmaster was arrested.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#22 (fb) – BTS) – Ringmaster served time in jail.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#22) – Upon getting out, he was confronted by Spider-Man, who placed a tracker on his hat and warned him not to return to crime. Ringmaster made plans to relocate his circus to a smaller town but Human Cannonball, the Great Gambonnos and Princess Python declared Clown their leader, wanting to form a new villainous team. They turned against Ringmaster and he fled. Days later, when the others robbed an art gallery, the police questioned Ringmaster but he had an alibi. Ringmaster was then confronted by Spider-Man, who used the villain's own hat suspended from a web to hypnotize and question him. Spider-Man went after the circus criminals, who were now calling themselves the Masters of Menace. Later, Ringmaster was released from his trance when his hat fell and he tracked down the Clown, knocked him out and tried stealing his art but just then the police arrived and Ringmaster was arrested along with the Masters of Menace.

(Avengers I#22 (fb) – BTS) – After getting out of jail again, Ringmaster reformed the Circus but the crowds remained small.

(Avengers I#22) – After hearing the Avengers had disbanded, Ringmaster offered Hawkeye, Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch a place on their team. When Ringmaster told them they would be criminals, the heroes rebelled and Quicksilver rushed past Ringmaster's hypnosis efforts. Ringmaster instead summoned the police, claiming the heroes had instigated the attack.

(Thor I#145 (fb) – BTS) – After getting out of jail again, Ringmaster put together a plot to have the Circus steal the Golden Bull but they needed a circus strong man after Bruto became ill.

(Thor I#145) – Ringmaster oversaw the Circus auditioning strong men but none panned out. They came across a man claiming to be Thor (actually the true Thor, stripped of his god-like powers) and Ringmaster hypnotized him into lifting a lead replica of the Golden Bull to test his strength.

(Thor I#146) – The Circus performed with Thor, who put on a replica costume given to him by Ringmaster. Ringmaster hypnotized the crowd into thinking they were seeing the real Thor then he took the hypnotized hero to the museum to steal the Golden Bull. All went according to plan, with the Ringmaster keeping the guards under hypnosis, until gunfire from the guards woke Thor up from his trance.

(Thor I#147) – The Circus fled to safety while the police questioned Thor and Ringmaster used his hat to hypnotize any in their way.

(Avengers I#60/Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes II I#6-7) – The Circus of Crime, led by Ringmaster and posed as wedding caterers, snuck into Avengers Mansion, tied up Edwin Jarvis and prepared to set off nitro explosives. After Yellowjacket and Wasp were married, Hawkeye discovered the Circus but was apprehended. When Wasp cut the cake, she found Precious the python inside. The Circus soon attacked and during the fight, Ringmaster was tied up with the snake. The Circus was soon swiftly defeated, especially as Yellowjacket was revealed as Goliath (Hank Pym). As they were arrested, they were disappointed they couldn't get revenge on Thor.

(Thor I#173 (fb) – BTS) – The Circus of Crime, with new member Mike, who dressed as Thor, robbed an electronic store, stealing a valuable Dual Computer, which they then hid in a 5000-lb barbell.

(Thor I#173) – When Mike was injured while trying to lift the barbell, Ringmaster had Dr. Don Blake check on him. Later, as the Circus prepared to go on, the troll Ulik attacked and Ringmaster put him under hypnosis and caged him, thinking he could be a back-up Thor if needed. When the real Thor arrived, Ringmaster thought him to be Mike and sent Ulik against him in a mock battle. Realizing his mistake, Ringmaster tried hypnotizing Thor but Thor knocked his hat off. Soon, the police arrived and the Dual Computer was exposed inside the barbell. The Circus was soon arrested.

(Daredevil I#118 (fb) – BTS) – The Circus spent months performing and committing robberies in small towns. Preparing for a large benefit at Shea Stadium, the Circus of Crime recruited new member Blackwing, who could perform with his trained bats.

(Daredevil I#118) – Hearing that Daredevil had disrupted a group of bank robbers, Ringmaster assembled the Circus and developed a plan against the hero, who he suspected was immune to his hypnosis. The Circus failed in their first attack on the hero. That night, at the Stadium, the Circus performed then Ringmaster hypnotized all those present and all those watching on television at home. Blackwing sent his bats out to loot, soon returning with the riches, but then Daredevil arrived with the police and the hero easily defeated the Circus, though Blackwing escaped.

(Power Man I#25 (fb)) – The Circus of Crime were released from their prison van by Live Wire, who joined the team.

(Power Man I#24) – The Circus of Crime attacked Power Man and Black Goliath, determined to recruit them. The heroes' allies Claire Temple and D.W. Griffith stood nearby.

(Power Man I#25) – As Ringmaster bragged about his plans, Princess Python turned on Claire Temple with an electric zap. Live Wire stopped Griffith from grabbing Ringmaster's hat, though Ringmaster wondered why Live Wire didn't just kill Griffith. Soon, Temple posed as Princess Python and awakened Power Man. Ringmaster ordered Black Goliath to attack Power Man but Luigi Gambonno (owing a debt to Power Man for having been earlier saved from a fall) instead grabbed the hat and freed the giant. As a fight broke out, Ringmaster ordered lethal force be used against the heroes but the Circus was soon defeated. Griffith grabbed Ringmaster's hat and put him under his own hypnosis.

(Howard the Duck I#25) – The Circus of Crime were hired to perform for a party of rich socialites (including Paul Same and Winda Wester) by Iris Raritan. They robbed the party then forcibly recruited Howard the Duck.

(Howard the Duck I#26) – In Skudge, Pennsylvania, the Circus forced Howard to perform then robbed the crowd, including Ignatz Hubley. Ringmaster beat Howard when the duck hurt his feelings. Later, when they stopped for gas, Hubley shot Ringmaster's hat off and the Circus rushed away in the ensuing chaos, leaving Howard behind.

(Howard the Duck I#27) – Howard and Iris tracked the Circus to Cleveland, recording their next robbery. The Circus attacked them but the duo defeated the criminals, with Howard beating Ringmaster himself, then turned over evidence to the police.

(Super-Villain Team-Up I#8 (fb) – BTS) – Feeling too much heat in the United States, the Circus of Crime relocated to Europe.

(Super-Villain Team-Up I#8) – The Circus, with new member Rajah, briefly battled Shroud and Sub-Mariner in Latveria. The two heroes briefly posed as members of the Circus as they performed for "Dr. Doom" (secretly Prince Rudolfo).

(Super-Villain Team-Up I#9) – Ringmaster exposed the disguised heroes to "Doom" and Boris showed the Circus out of Latveria.

(Incredible Hulk II#217 (fb) – BTS) – Four side-show performers (the Dog-Faced Boy, Blossom, Stilts the Man with the Rubber Body and Major Minor) found a sea nymph named Meriam, who the Ringmaster tried locking up to question, but the side-show performers escaped with Meriam.

(Incredible Hulk II#217) – The Circus of Crime pursued the side-show performers and Meriam, capturing them along with the Hulk (who Ringmaster hypnotized) but they escaped and defeated the Circus (with Hulk resisting Ringmaster's influence this time), returning Meriam to the sea.

(Marvel Two-in-One I#76 (fb) – BTS) – Ringmaster designed a Psionic Eye machine, a larger device capable of mesmerizing an entire town with the idea of robbing millions of dollars.

(Marvel Two-in-One I#76) – The Circus set up in another town and Ringmaster got word that the Thing had been seen on sight. Ringmaster hypnotized the crowd to be robbed but the blind Alicia Masters resisted the control. As the Circus kidnapped her, the Thing woke up and began fighting the Circus with Iceman and Goliath soon joining the fight. Ringmaster tried activating the Psionic Eye during the battle but Iceman destroyed it. When Ringmaster and Clown sought to flee in a truck, Thing violently destroyed the vehicle then the police arrived.

(Spider-Man and the Dallas Cowboys: Danger in Dallas) - The Circus of Crime kidnapped Mark Mudge, the son of inventor Stanley Mudge, who had built a gravity-resistant invention that allowed the wheelchair to fly. Ringmaster demanded to know where Mark had hidden the anti-gravity device during the kidnapping, but it was actually in the possession of Stanley. The Ringmaster announced from the broadcast booth that he would hurt Mark if Stanley didn't hand it over, and used the giant television screen in the Dallas Cowboys' stadium to project his hypnotic hat's effect, mesmerizing the people inside Texas Stadium. After the Cowboys snapped out of the trance, they fought the Circus members for the device. It ended up in the hands of Jameson, who began to float into the air, where the Ringmaster waited in a helicopter. As Spider-Man attempted to swing up towards them, two Cowboys mistook him for a Circus member and grabbed his legs, pulling them into the air with him. After rescuing Jameson and causing Ringmaster to land, Spider-Man swung the two Cowboys towards the Ringmaster. They jumped and landed atop him and his pilot. The Circus of Crime was then arrested.

(Incredible Hulk II#292 (fb) – BTS) – Ringmaster, dodging warrants, took the Circus south to Mexico, where they performed shows legitimately. He acquired the Dragon Man, adding it to the show and keeping it under hypnosis.

(Incredible Hulk II#292) – In a small Mexican town, the full Circus assembled, including Rajah aboard Sultan the elephant. When Dragon Man escaped to feed, Ringmaster apprehended him. Later, Bruce Banner and his girlfriend Kate Waynesboro showed up at the Circus. Ringmaster hypnotized Bruce and forced him to transform to the Hulk and battle Dragon Man. As the Big Top was destroyed and the Circus fled. Dragon Man broke the hypnotic control and Kate Waynesboro fired Human Cannonball at Ringmaster, knocking off his hat, which was destroyed, freeing the Hulk.

(Captain America I#319) – When the Serpent Society had one of their members murdered, Asp and Anaconda attacked Ringmaster and Clown, wondering if they were behind it, as they had recruited Princess Python from them earlier.

(Sensational She-Hulk I#1 (fb) – BTS) – Using the name of the McFadden Brothers Circus, the Circus of Crime started taking paid gigs. They were hired by a mysterious source (secretly the Headmen) to test the strength of She-Hulk.

(Sensational She-Hulk I#1) –Ringmaster put She-Hulk under hypnotic control then the Professor made her up as Glamazonia to join the Circus. After the team robbed the crowd that night, the Professor tried to kill She-Hulk then Gorilla-Man, disguised as an actual gorilla, stole Ringmaster's hat and freed She-Hulk, who then tied up the Circus members to be arrested.

(Power Pack I#59) – At the MacFadden Brothers Circus, the Ringmaster tried convincing the Circus (Human Cannonball, Great Gambonnos, Clown, Bruto, Live Wire) to go legitimate but they wanted one last major heist, having heard that foreign royalty would be in the crowd. Clown took over leadership of the group and during the live performance, they tried stealing the crown off the prince but Power Pack and Franklin Richards, who were in the crowd, fought back and the Circus was easily stopped. When the police arrived, Ringmaster used his powers to make the Circus appear innocent.

(Incredible Hulk II#377 (fb) – BTS) – Needing help curing Hulk from his multiple personality disorder crisis, Leonard Samson recruited Ringmaster from jail to help him put the Hulk under hypnosis.

(Incredible Hulk II#377) – As he worked on the Hulk, Ringmaster claimed he was innocent of any recent wrongdoing and explained that he was turning over a new leaf. Hulk soon emerged from his trauma therapy in a strong green form.

(Incredible Hulk II#379) – In Reno, Hulk took Samson and Tiboldt out for drinks. Hulk was approached by members of the Pantheon, who sought to recruit Hulk, and they captured him after a brief fight. Betty Banner, Rick Jones and Marlo Chandler  showed up moments later.

(Incredible Hulk II#380) – Nick Fury showed up and made sure Ringmaster went back to jail.

(Marvel Comics Presents I#97/4) – At the Bar with No Name, Ringmaster played cards with Hydro-Man, Cobra, Whirlwind and Electro. Ringmaster was accused of cheating and a bar fight broke out.

(Captain America I#411) – Ringmaster attended a celebration on A.I.M. Island.

(Alpha Flight I#121) – Alongside dozens of villains, Ringmaster attended an auction for the powerful bodies of Silver and Auric held by the Chess Set. When Spider-Man and members of Alpha Flight attacked, King Cobra was not involved in the fight.

(Blaze II#2 (fb) – BTS) – Ringmaster and Princess Python lived at Brownings Corners among other circus performers, out of work for a time.

(Blaze II#2) – When John Blaze, the owner of Quentin Carnival, showed up in town, he was looking for recruits for his show. Ringmaster saw Princess get excited about joining up.

(Cutting Edge I#1 (fb) – BTS) – Ringmaster improved the technology on his hypnotic discs, allowing his hat to project solid light images from the memories of his subjects. He had grand plans of going straight and using the technology for space research, toxic waste disposal and prosthetics but the images would appear briefly as plasma fields that would break apart upon being touched.

(Cutting Edge I#1) – Ringmaster was drafted by Glenn Talbot into helping run tests on the limits of Hulk's strength. They offered him a hundred thousand dollars and provided him with a lab to perfect his new capabilities. Ringmaster worked with a crew to perfect the tech, not realizing the villain Omnibus was secretly directing them. Ringmaster inspired Bruce Banner to change to Hulk by showing him illusions of Hulk, Thing, Rhino and Betty Ross, Hulk's recently murdered wife, but then the hypnotic illusions took a life of their own, responding to Ringmaster's thoughts and fears. He saw his hands tied then saw illusions of the giant boars and the Nazis he'd heard about in his father's stories then a giant one of Uncle Sam, representing his own greatest fears. Hulk intervened before the illusions took the form of Desert Storm battles, playing on one of the soldiers' fears. The illusions expanded out of control into a conflict in Saudi Arabia, the deadly future of Maestro and Janus, illusions of rabid teddy bears, a giant spider with the face of the Leader and, lastly, Ringmaster's greatest fear: his father Fritz in the form of a giant pink worm. Finally, Hulk destroyed the illusion machine and the illusions dissipated. Ringmaster left with his money, free from prison.

(Savage Hulk I#1) – Ringmaster was part of a large group of villains that attacked the Hulk at court in New York City.

(Spider-Man Team-Up I#5/2 (fb) – BTS) – Ringmaster officially retired from the Circus of Crime, leaving the Clown in charge and the group changed its name to Cirque du Somnambulism. Ringmaster began working with the FBI, through contact with Officer Dragon, and they gave him a ukulele to hold on to. He lived in an apartment underneath Mr. Crouch.

(Spider-Man Team-Up I#5/2) – The mysterious Relf, an elf with a gun, showed up at Ringmaster's home seeking his hypnotic disc. Relf shot Tiboldt and accidentally stole the ukulele instead. Later Relf, with Princess Python, showed up at the hospital demanding the disc but Tiboldt had given it to Officer Dragon.

(Thunderbolts I#2 (fb) – BTS) – The Circus of Crime accepted Ringmaster back as their leader. They posed as a charity act in Delaware but ended up robbing the crowd to cover Ringmaster's recent medical bills.

(Thunderbolts I#2 (fb)) – The Thunderbolts defeated the Circus, including Ringmaster, and the recorded events hit the news.

(Generation X I#32) – The Circus performed in Massachussetts, where the students of Generation X sparred with them. During the fight, Ringmaster asserted control over the crowd. In the end, the mutants let the Circus go free if they promised to donate their proceeds to charity. Ringmaster found himself longing for a life of performance instead of crime but the others balked.

(Amazing Spider-Man/Devil Dinosaur '98  (fb) – BTS) – The Circus added Antoro the animal trainer to their ranks. Ringmaster hypnotized government officials into later releasing Devil Dinosaur and Moon Boy to his custody.

(Amazing Spider-Man/Devil Dinosaur '98 Annual) – Ringmaster and Princess Python interrupted a meeting between Dr. Thomas Marles and reporters Peter Parker and Noel Beckford to get official custody of the dinosaur. The Circus rehearsed for their new performances with Moon Boy and Devil, and their shows sold out. While the crowds gathered, however, Circus members robbed local stores. Soon, Spider-Man attacked, freed Moon Boy from hypnosis and helped take the Circus down.

(Incredible Hulk II#470 (fb) – BTS) – Ringmaster quit the Circus. The team took a gig performing in Las Vegas.

(Incredible Hulk II#469) – Hulk defeated Ringmaster's associate, Devlin DeAngelo. Ringmaster then approached Bruce Banner and, demonstrating the ability to hypnotize with his eyes instead of equipment, convinced Bruce Banner to go to Las Vegas and find the Circus, hypnotizing Banner to think he was seeking out the killer of his wife.

(Incredible Hulk II#470 (fb)) – Ringmaster sought out Clown in Vegas and Clown remained immune to his hypnosis. Ringmaster told Clown he had a plan to destroy the Circus and said goodbye.

(Deathlok III#8 (fb) – BTS) – Ringmaster created the cover identity of Martin Thraller. Using his hypnosis, he worked to secure himself a position as the presidential nominee for the Utilitarian Party, working with Senator Healey.

(Deathlok III#5) – At a Utilitarian Party fundraiser, Senator Healey introduced Nick Fury to "Martin Thraller," who hypnotized Fury into going away.

(Deathlok III#8) – After a call from Healey, "Thraller" hypnotized his secretary Miss Malone into spending private time in his office with him. After an appearance at a homeless shelter, "Thraller" met his opponent for the party ticket, George Torrance. Later, he was interviewed about his lack of political history on the Local Access show, contemplating how he would hypnotize the American public on national television later. Meanwhile, the hypnotized Fury believed himself to be a mob boss, Doyle.

(Deathlok III#9) – In a televised debate, "Thraller" forced George Torrance through hypnosis to reveal his personal secrets and scandals, disqualifying him from the race. He found Princess Python, draped in a snake, waiting back in his bedroom and she reminded him that he couldn't use hypnosis on her.

(Deathlok III#10) – "Thraller" hired campaign strategist Dennis Dubois to help him motivate the staff. After doing a series of phone interviews, "Thraller" strategized with Dubois and Healey then he realized that people were starting to turn his way. He hypnotized a small crowd into being enthusiastic about his campaign then saw headlines that accused him of tax evasion. He soon hypnotized the reporter Miss Evonshire into reversing the story. Meanwhile, Fury realized what Ringmaster had done to him.

(Deathlok III#11) – "Thraller" held a press conference and he began hypnotizing crowds through the television, soon pulling ahead in the polls. After a television interview with Miss Davis, "Thraller" pulled ahead at the national convention but Clown attacked and opened fire, wanting revenge on Ringmaster. "Thraller" was rushed to safety and later again tried hypnotizing a crowd but Clown caught up and shot him several times, as well as the people around him.

(Daredevil II#25 (fb) – BTS) – After designing a machine that could potentially permanently alter memory, Ringmaster wanted to test it out. He posed as psychiatrist Arnold Quaid, wearing a wig and opening a practice. In a long con against Daredevil, he sent his operative Ilsa to break into the greenhouse of Samuel Griggs then he hypnotized Griggs into thinking it had happened in a battle between Daredevil and the Hand. "Quaid" then forced Griggs to file a lawsuit against Daredevil.

(Daredevil II#20-22 – BTS) – Ringmaster closely monitored Griggs' case against Daredevil.

(Daredevil II#25 (fb) – BTS) – To further complicate the case, Ringmaster hypnotized Manuel Eloganto (Matador) and Paul Raymond Bradlee, altering their memories.

(Daredevil II#23- BTS) – As Bradlee came forward with fake testimony, Daredevil began to connect the pieces to "Quaid." At "Quaid"’s office, Daredevil found Eloganto waiting, claiming that he was the one implanting false memories. After battling Isla, Daredevil tried arresting Eloganto, whose hypnotized memories were suddenly gone, making the hero look like a fool.

(Daredevil II#24 – BTS) – "Quaid" taunted Daredevil with a self-destructing letter and a call claiming he was in Europe. Daredevil's legal team could find no dirt on "Quaid" and the trial against Daredevil soon began.

(Daredevil II#25) – Griggs' case against Daredevil continued until an amateur actor named Terrence Hillman entered the room dressed as Daredevil to prove a point, ultimately resulting in a mistrial. Daredevil confronted "Quaid," who revealed his true identity and plot, stating he had simply been trying to test out his machine. After stating that he planned to use the machine in a later plot, he opened a trap door and sent Daredevil plummeting into the street.

(Marvel Team-Up III#7) – Ringmaster met with Chen Hsu, who was prepared to trade him a ring infused with a bit of a Cosmic Cube, able to alter reality. Chen knocked Ringmaster's hat off when he tried to hypnotize him but Ringmaster still succeeded with his eyes. He put Chen to sleep then skipped off with the ring. After trying to rob a bank, Ringmaster noticed Moon Knight's ship flying overhead and he turned a flock of pigeons into a rocket launcher and shot it down. Seeing Spider-Man and Moon Knight there, he boasted about his plans for world domination and his new powers then he created a deadly circus to fight them. Overwhelmed by the concentration it took, Ringmaster was hit in the head and realized the ring needed simple commands. He instead caused an explosion.

(Marvel Team-Up III#10) – Ringmaster made Spider-Man and Moon Knight invulnerable to survive the explosion then gave them both heart attacks. Daredevil attacked and Ringmaster wished all three heroes into massive cannons that he would fire into the ground but Frenchie shot at him from the Moon-Copter, in the air and out of range of the ring's influence. As Ringmaster prepared to set the heroes on fire after being hit again, Punisher shot his ring finger off from far away. Captain America and Wolverine arrived and got Ringmaster to an ambulance, where they believed the finger could be attached.

(Amazing Spider-Man II#533) – Ringmaster saw Spider-Man unmask on live television.

(Civil War: War Crimes#1) – Members of the Circus of Crime, including Ringmaster, attended a criminal gathering organized by Hammerhead but S.H.I.E.L.D. and Iron Man attacked.

(Ghost Rider VI#33 - BTS) - Blackout and Deacon looked over photos of the Circus of Crime and other supervillains in order to decided which of them would get to help them kill the Ghost Rider.

(Hawkeye IV#2 (fb) – BTS) – Ringmaster set up a show called Whimsical, starring the Cirque du Nuit, and prepared to perform at the Hotel Metropol.

(Hawkeye IV#2 (fb)) – Ringmaster led the Circus of Crime, including new members Fifi and Swordsman, a knife-thrower who had once been trained by the original Swordsman, in performing for a group of criminals, including Owl, Hammerhead, Tombstone, Madame Masque and Kingpin. Ringmaster hypnotized the crowd so they could rob them. Hawkeye (Clint Barton) attacked and was briefly apprehended but Hawkeye (Kate Bishop) dressed as Fifi and fought to free him. In the subsequent battle, as the circus men opened fire on the heroes, Kate returned fire, hitting several with arrows and blinding Ringmaster directly with arrows to the eyes.

(Hawkeye IV#8) – Ringmaster and Swordsman attended a large meeting of criminals organized by Kingpin, discussing a hit on Clint Barton.

(Hawkeye IV#22) – Ringmaster and the knife-thrower agreed to participate in the hit.

(Howard the Duck V#3 (fb) - BTS) - Weary of trying to restart his circus, Ringmaster chose an easier life and began hypnotizing senior citizens to steal for him. Among those he controlled were Melvin and Aunt May.

(Howard the Duck V#3) - Melvin returned from pick-pocketing, but he was followed by Howard the Duck, Tara Tam the Skrull, and Aunt May. Ringmaster ordered the seniors to attack, but Aunt May hit him with her can, then Talos the Untamed, posing as a vagrant, knocked him unconscious. He reclaimed an "Abundant Gem" artifact off of a stolen necklace.

(Howard the Duck V#4) - Ringmaster was arrested.

(Amazing Spider-Man III#19.1 (fb) – BTS) – Ringmaster used black market tech to repair his eyes.

(Amazing Spider-Man III#19.1) – Mr. Negative proposed an alliance with the Circus of Crime, including Ringmaster, but the Circus refused. Later, as they battled police, Spider-Man and Wraith intervened, easily defeating the villains. During the fight, Ringmaster hypnotized the police into fighting Spider-Man but Spidey webbed Ringmaster's eyes.

SECRET WARS III HAPPENED

(Hawkeye: Kate Bishop#4 (fb) - BTS) - Ringmaster trained his niece, Pascale Tiboldt, in how to use hypnotizing equipment.

(Captain America: Sam Wilson I#7 (fb) - BTS) – The Circus of Crime, including Ringmaster, were arrested and transported to Pleasant Hill, a S.H.I.E.L.D. prison where supervillains were transformed by Kobik, a sentient Cosmic Cube, into innocuous civilians and used to populate an idyllic small town. The Circus of Crime became Pleasant Hill's circus.

(Captain America: Sam Wilson I#7) – Revereted to their original form the members of the Circus of Crime, including Ringmaster, fought Captain America (Sam Wilson) and Winter Soldier in Pleasant Hill.

(Scarlet Witch II#8 (fb) – BTS) – Ringmaster began hypnosis on Scarlet Witch privately, convincing her to see him as a therapist, Dr. Grand, and to steal jewelry every week and magically transport it to him. He acted as her therapist for a period of months.

(Scarlet Witch II#8) – "Grand" helped Scarlet Witch process through her deep family trauma but she soon revealed she had known his real identity all along, had counter-acted his hypnosis, and had been sending him fake glass copies of the jewelry. Ringmaster was upset but he'd genuinely enjoyed being her psychiatrist. Wanda told him he had a gift.

(Deadpool & the Mercs for Money II#6 (fb) – BTS) – Ringmaster invested in mechanized animals and a giant Mecha-Lord Big Top, a huge battle structure with sophisticated assault technology.

(Deadpool & the Mercs for Money II#6) – The Mecha-Lord Big Top attacked the city and Deadpool led his Mercs for Money to fight back. They fought back against clowns with rocket boots then the Circus itself, including Ringmaster on a giant robot elephant. During the fight, Gorilla Man opened fire on Ringmaster's elephant then Ringmaster pulled his hat over his eyes. The defeated villains were delivered to S.H.I.E.L.D.

(Captain America: Steve Rogers I#13) – Baron Helmut Zemo approached the Circus, including Ringmaster, for an alliance. They later gathered with a larger army, forming the Army of Evil.

(Luke Cage I#168 (fb) – BTS) – Ringmaster was transferred to a prison in the South after he'd applied to be a member of the Thunderbolts. Gonzo Acosta showed him to his cell and Ringmaster immediately sensed the radioactive waste that was buried beneath the prison. Soon, he realized his brain had grown to massive size and he could extend his hypnosis outward, manifested by energy circles. He began wearing his old hat to cover his brain and needed regular injections of the toxic waste to enhance his powers. In time, Ringmaster took over the entire prison and the town around it, altering memories and convincing everyone they were safe and fine. He maintained careful control of the crowds and monitored them closely. He had prisoners work to dig up more toxic waste to enhance his powers, though many of the prisoners died after exposure.

(Luke Cage I#166) – Eighteen months later, when Luke Cage pulled into town, police warned Ringmaster. At a local diner, waitress Ella Acosta told Cage something was wrong then armed guards under Ringmaster's control, including Milano, attacked Cage, gassing him and taking him to Ringmaster, who then hypnotized Cage and altered his memories. Cage was placed in the local jail.

(Luke Cage I#167) – Ringmaster kept control over those in the town by playing haunting bells and sending out hypnotic energy then he made sure Ella Acosta was under his control again. When guard Acosta helped Cage realize they couldn't remember their names and warned him of the mine, Ringmaster inspired a prison riot then he forced Acosta and Cage into the mine.

(Luke Cage I#168) – Ringmaster struggled to maintain control of the town and prison, feeling the toll it was taking on his body. Cage, Acosta and other prisoners worked to dig up more toxic waste and he received a new injection to keep him powerful. Meanwhile, the mine collapsed on Cage, Acosta and the others.

(Luke Cage I#169) – Luke Cage and Gonzo Acosta broke free from the cave-in and Ringmaster turned the prisoners and guards against them. Overwhelmed, he soon used his bells and powers to turn the entire town against Cage. As Ringmaster choked Acosta, Cage broke in and defeated Ringmaster with a series of punches. Ringmaster was soon taken away, his powers blocked, and the town was freed from his control.

(Spider-Man Annual III#1 (fb) - BTS) - Ringmaster weaponized animals to help him complete his new robberies, including lions and bears. He took mental control of Spider-Man (Miles Morales) and Spider-Woman (Gwen Stacy) to help entertain the crowd while he robbed them.

(Spider-Man Annual III#1) - Ringmaster accidentally opened a portal with a web-watch, transporting several animal-themed villains from Earth-8311 into the Big Top, including Dr. Octopussycat, Shock-Cur, Ducktor Doom, Eelectro, Bo-Dog-A Bandit, Green Gobbler, Sandmanatee, Punfisher, Kong-Pin, Mysteriape, M.O.O.D.O.K., and Paw, as well as the heroic Spider-Ham. Ringmaster activated the watch again and disappeared to Earth-28204. On that Earth, Ringmaster led the animal-themed villains in a crime revolt, growing rich, until that world's Spider-Man (Parker Peterman, with six arms), as well as Spider-Ham (now with six arms as well) and Spider-Guin from Earth-8311 liberated the villains and turned them against Ringmaster.

(Savage Avengers I#16) - Ringmaster was at the Bar With No Name.

(Ghost Rider X#4 (fb) - BTS) - Under unrevealed circumstances, the Circus of Crime (Ringmaster, Clown, Fire-Eater, Princess Python, the Great Gambonnos) became possessed by demons. They began appearing in random small towns, where the calliope would enchant the entire populace into entering the Big Top and then dying in violent ways.

(Ghost Rider X#4) - After killing people in Thorn, South Dakota, the Circus was attacked by Ghost Rider, who defeated a giant monster composed of corpses, but the Circus escaped using Ringmaster's telepathy for cover.

(Amazing Spider-Man: Gang War: First Strike#1) - When a gang war broke out in New York, Ringmaster tried claiming his own territory, mind-controlling civilians.

(Amazing Spider-Man VI#39) - Ringmaster controlled civilians, including John and June, in his fight with Crime-Master and A.I.M., but a group of super-heroes intervened. Ringmaster tired taking over the mind of Daredevil (Elektra), but she resisted and knocked him out.

(Invincible Iron Man V#19) - Ringmaster was in the Bar With No Name when War Machine invited criminals to join the fight against Orchis.

(Doctor Strange VI#11 - BTS) - Ringmaster's daughter became the new Ringmistress, in a costume very similar to his, and she launched a new Circus of Crime.

(Spider-Boy Annual I#1 (fb) - BTS) - The Circus of Crime (Ringmaster, Princess Python, Human Cannonball, Great Gambonnos, Bruto the Strongman) held an audition for Archie the Dog-Faced Boy to join their team.

(Spider-Boy Annual I#1) - Archie led Spider-Boy back to the Circus, and the pre-teen hero fought the Circus of Crime, soon joined by Apex and Multitude, then Colleen Wing showed up. The Circus was badly defeated. During the fight, Ringmaster complained about their being a Madame Ringmaster and a Ringmistress out there. After Ringmaster was unconscious, Colleen Wing ran a psychic blade through his mind.

Comments: Created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers.

Thanks to Ron Fredricks for the cleaned up handbook images and Incredible Hulk I#3 image.

Profile by Chadman.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Ringmaster should not be confused with: