| Masters of Evil | |
|---|---|
 Baron Heinrich Zemo's incarnation of the Masters of Evil on the cover ofThe Avengers #6 (Aug. 1964) Art byJack Kirby andChic Stone. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The Avengers #6 (July 1964)[1] |
| Created by | Stan Lee Jack Kirby Chic Stone |
| Roster | |
| See:List of Masters of Evil members | |
TheMasters of Evil is asupervillain team appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics.[2] The first version of the team appeared inThe Avengers #6 (July 1964), with the lineup continually changing over the years.
The first version of the Masters of Evil debuted inThe Avengers #6, created byStan Lee andJack Kirby.[3][4]
The second version of the Masters of Evil debuted inThe Avengers #54, created byRoy Thomas,John Buscema, andGeorge Tuska.
The third version of the Masters of Evil debuted inThe Avengers #222, created byJim Shooter,Steven Grant, andGreg LaRocque.
The fourth version of the Masters of Evil debuted inThe Avengers #270, created byRoger Stern,John Buscema, andTom Palmer.
The fifth version of the Masters of Evil debuted inGuardians of the Galaxy #28, created byJim Valentino,Herb Trimpe, and Steve Montano.
The sixth version of the Masters of Evil debuted inThe Incredible Hulk #449, created byKurt Busiek andMark Bagley.
The seventh version of the Masters of Evil debuted inThunderbolts #3 created byKurt Busiek,Mark Bagley, and Vince Russell.
The eighth version of the Masters of Evil debuted inSecret Avengers #21.1, created byRick Remender,Patrick Zircher, and Andy Troy.
The ninth version of the Masters of Evil debuted inThunderbolts #10, created byJim Zub, Jon Malin,Kurt Busiek, andMark Bagley.
The original Masters of Evil (consisting of existing supervillains theBlack Knight (Nathan Garrett),Melter, andRadioactive Man) was gathered byBaron Heinrich Zemo.[5] Despite attempting to capture theAvengers with Adhesive X and spreading it overNew York City, the Avengers find an antidote with the help ofPaste-Pot Pete, give it to the Masters in secret, and then send most of the members to jail. Zemo is tricked into opening a container filled with tear gas inside his helicopter, but escapes anyway.[6]
Baron Zemo leads the team in his revenge onCaptain America and theAvengers. The team had been joined by theEnchantress and theExecutioner, whom Zemo found in their exile to Earth that was imposed on them byOdin for attackingThor.[7] The Enchantress hypnotizes Thor into attacking the Avengers, but Iron Man breaks him out of the trance. Meanwhile, Captain America is lured to South America to fight Zemo. After defeating Zemo, Captain America returns on Zemo's helicopter and stops Zemo from shooting the Avengers. However, Enchantress casts a spell that gets the helicopter to the rooftop she and the Executioner are on. The Executioner knocks Captain America out by striking his shoulder, and takes him out of the helicopter, after which they all try to escape. The Masters are sent to another dimension in a space warp generated by Thor.[8]
Two issues later, Enchantress returns them to Earth using a spell.Simon Williams is given superhuman strength with an ionic ray, though he is told he will die in a week unless given an antidote Zemo has. He captures theWasp and lures the Avengers into a trap, but sacrifices himself to save the Avengers.[9]Immortus appears and offers to help the Masters by defeating the Avengers. He succeeds in sending Captain America to theTower of London in 1760. The Masters attack the Avengers, but Captain America manages to return. The Enchantress, sensing defeat, sends the villains back in time to before they met Immortus.[10]
In a later issue, Zemo kidnapsRick Jones with an attractor beam and has the Enchantress and the Executioner release the Black Knight and the Melter (the Radioactive Man having been deported back to China). They attack the other Avengers, forcing Captain America to go alone to Zemo's kingdom to rescue Rick. The Executioner tells the Avengers that a battle in the city would hurt many people, meaning they should surrender. Captain America blinds Zemo with his shield and Zemo dies when he accidentally triggers a rock slide.[11] The Black Knight and the Melter are captured after Thor transports them to another dimension with different scientific laws, meaning their weapons rebound. However, Enchantress and Executioner escape before they can be transported.[12]
The second version, organized byUltron-5 in hisCrimson Cowl disguise, consisted ofBlack Knight (Dane Whitman),Klaw,Melter, andWhirlwind.Radioactive Man is also added to the group after being sprung from the group. TheDane Whitman version of Black Knight receives an invitation in Nathan Garrett's mailbox, as Ultron-5 was unaware that Garrett had died. Whitman decides to join the group as a spy. Ultron-5 also capturesEdwin Jarvis and used him as a proxy. Learning of Ultron-5's plot, Black Knight attempts to warn the Avengers, only for Ultron-5 to learn of his plan. The Avengers were taken captive by the Masters of Evil. However, Jarvis escapes and helps Black Knight rescue the Avengers while exposing Ultron-5 has Crimson Cowl. The Masters of Evil are defeated by the Avengers, but Ultron-5 escapes.[13]
During theRutland Halloween Parade, Klaw takes over the Masters of Evil in a plot to kidnap scientist T.W. Erwin. The Liberators led by Enchantress posing asValkyrie arrive and both groups work to defeat the Masters of Evil.[14]
Criminal scientistEgghead organizes a third version, consisting ofMoonstone (who is made deputy leader),Scorpion,Tiger Shark, andWhirlwind. Egghead uses this incarnation to assist him in making technological breakthroughs. When Whirlwind decides to attack Wasp by himself, Moonstone leads Scorpion and Tiger Shark in retrieving him. The villains are defeated by the Avengers.[15]
After that incident, Egghead keeps only Moonstone and Tiger Shark on the team, while Scorpion and Whirlwind are replaced withBeetle,Shocker, andRadioactive Man. Shocker is brainwashed as part of a plot by Egghead to bringHank Pym into the Masters of Evil. While Pym is on trial, the Masters of Evil invade the courtroom and attempt to make the public believe that Pym is their leader. When Egghead attempts to shoot Pym,Hawkeye shoots his arrow into his gun, causing it to overload and kill Egghead. Beetle and Moonstone cooperate with the Avengers and tell them that Egghead framed Pym, who is cleared of all charges.[16]
Baron Helmut Zemo forms the fourth version of the Masters of Evil from over a dozen villains, consisting ofAbsorbing Man,Blackout,Black Mamba,Fixer,Goliath,Grey Gargoyle,Mister Hyde,Moonstone,Screaming Mimi,Tiger Shark,Titania,Whirlwind, theWrecking Crew (Bulldozer,Piledriver,Thunderball andWrecker), andYellowjacket, created with the goal of obtaining vengeance on Captain America and overwhelming theAvengers with sheer power. The villains stormAvengers Mansion and beatHercules into a coma.[17]
A later flashback reveals thatAugustus Roman's family died during the fight between the Avengers and this incarnation of the Masters of Evil.[18]
The fifth incarnation was organized byDoctor Octopus, but bore little resemblance to previous incarnations. Its roster includedGargantua,Jackhammer,Oddball,Powderkeg, andPuff Adder, in addition to former membersAbsorbing Man,Shocker,Titania, andYellowjacket. Doctor Octopus uses this incarnation of the Masters of Evil to steal the technology of the Avengers and ends up fighting the originalGuardians of the Galaxy, a superhero group from an alternate future timeline. When Gargantua, Puff Adder, and Shocker become sympathetic towards the Guardians of the Galaxy, they turn on Doctor Octopus, who flees.[19]
The sixth incarnation of the Masters of Evil are assembled by Helmut Zemo and pose as superheroes known as theThunderbolts.[20] In addition to Zemo, the team consisted ofBeetle,Fixer,Goliath,Moonstone, andScreaming Mimi. All of the group's members eventually become true heroes and renounce their criminal ways, though Zemo, Fixer, and Moonstone all return to villainy some time later.
The seventh incarnation of the Masters of Evil is assembled by theCrimson Cowl (Justine Hammer) and consists ofCyclone,Flying Tiger,Klaw,Man-Killer, andTiger Shark. Crimson Cowl later recruitsAqueduct,Bison,|Blackwing,Boomerang,Cardinal,Constrictor,Dragonfly,Eel,Icemaster,Joystick,Lodestone,Man-Ape,Quicksand,Scorcher,Shatterfist,Shockwave,Slyde,Sunstroke, andSupercharger into the group. The Masters of Evil plot to get control of Earth's superhuman mercenaries and tried to get the Thunderbolts to join them.[21] The Masters of Evil are defeated by the Thunderbolts, but the Crimson Cowl escapes while usingDallas Riordan as a decoy.[22]
The eighth incarnation, led by the Crimson Cowl, consists ofBlack Mamba, Cardinal,Cyclone,Gypsy Moth,Hydro-Man,Machinesmith, andMan-Killer. Crimson Cowl uses this incarnation in her second attempt to master and control Earth's superhuman mercenaries. While Cyclone tries to steal a disc containing information on a weapon that would have assisted in this plot, Crimson Cowl gets Cardinal on her side by claiming that Hawkeye killed his daughter Meteorite. When the Thunderbolts catch up to the Masters of Evil, Hawkeye shows them that the disc actually contains a biotoxin thatJustin Hammer would have used to kill them all. This causes Cardinal, Cyclone, Gypsy Moth, and Man-Killer to forcefully aid the Thunderbolts in attacking Hammer.[23]
Max Fury of theShadow Council forms a ninth incarnation of the Masters of Evil, consisting ofPrincess Python,Vengeance, andWhiplash.[24] Fury later recruitsBlack Talon, theBrothers Grimm,Carrion,Constrictor,Crossfire,Diablo,Firebrand,Griffin,Killer Shrike,Lady Stilt-Man,Pink Pearl, andSquid to join the Masters of Evil.[25] Fury hires Taskmaster to retrieve the Crown of Wolves from Baglia. Taskmaster succeeds, but he and Fury are unable to control the Crown's power, causing Taskmaster to be possessed by the Abyss.[26][27] Taskmaster is eventually freed from the Abyss afterAgent Venom destroys the Crown.[28]
The Masters of Evil are featured in the series "Avengers Undercover", where the surviving captives ofArcade's Murderworld[a] infiltrate Bagalia to kill Arcade.[29] Following the death of Max Fury, Helmut Zemo has become the new leader of the Masters of Evil.[30] After a fight with the villains,Cullen Bloodstone is accepted into the Masters of Evil and teleports his accomplices into Arcade's casino, where Arcade is apparently killed byHazmat.[31] While the other young heroes take up Zemo's offer to join the Masters of Evil (with a plan to take the group down from within),Cammi is the only one to decline. She attempts to flee, only to be caught by Constrictor and slammed into a rock wall.[32]
Lightmaster assembles a more traditional lineup (10th incarnation) when he and his henchmen, theWrecking Crew, encounter theSuperior Spider-Man and hisSuperior Six while attackingAlchemax.[33] Besides the Wrecking Crew, this roster includes theAbsorbing Man,Titania,Mister Hyde,Whirlwind, andBlackout.[34]
Baron Helmut Zemo created an 11th incarnation consisting of Whiplash, Man-Killer, Klaw, Tiger Shark, and the Wrecking Crew, all of whom had been members of previous incarnations of the Masters of Evil. Zemo sends them out to persuade Atlas of the Thunderbolts to rejoin the team. However, they are thwarted byJolt.[35]
During theSecret Empire storyline, Zemo hasKobik sendBucky Barnes back through time toWorld War II and another battle with the Thunderbolts, in which the Man-Killer was apparently killed by Kobik. After Atlas, the Fixer, and Moonstone join the Masters of Evil, they worked to reassemble Kobik. AsErik Selvig hordes the fragments that he has, kisses them, and commits suicide, the Kobik-reprogrammed Captain America persuades Zemo to have the Masters of Evil joinHydra's "Army of Evil."[36]
To combat theWest Coast Avengers,Madame Masque formed a West Coast version of the Masters of Evil consisting of Eel,Graviton,Lady Bullseye,MODOK Superior,Satana, andKate Bishop's parentsDerek andEleanor Bishop.[37]
Mephisto suggests toDoom Supreme to form a team of evil villains that would take on the Avengers. As a condition from the Council of Red, Doom Supreme is to saveEarth-616 for last. He forms a multiversal version of the Masters of Evil consisting ofBlack Skull,Dark Phoenix,Ghost Goblin, Kid Thanos, andKing Killmonger.[38][39]
During the "One World Under Doom" storyline, Carol Danvers tells the Avengers that they are willing to work withArcade,Baron Mordo, Doctor Octopus, MODOK Superior,Madelyne Pryor, andMysterio in battling Doctor Doom, who has becomeSorcerer Supreme. With Iron Man willing to go along with this plan, MODOK Superior "welcomes" Iron Man to the Masters of Evil.[40] While most of the Avengers and the Masters of Evil fought Doom, Scarlet Witch, Mordo, and Pryor scanned the minds of the world leaders and found that they followed them through human nature and that Doom did not cheat. Doom then teleports the Avengers and the Masters of Evil to theRaft to prevent a mass-breakout.[41]
Wanting to take advantage of this,Mad Thinker forms a new incarnation of the Masters of Evil withDreadknight,Exterminatrix, Madcap, and Mister Hyde. In addition, Mad Thinker rebuildsQuasimodo, dubbing him Quasimodo Mark X. Quasimodo hacks into theImpossible City, enabling the Masters of Evil to enter it. As Quasimodo tries to get information from the Impossible City,Captain America and Black Panther enter the Impossible City and subdue most of the Masters of Evil. After being informed of these events by Quasimodo, Mad Thinker dons an armor derived fromSuper-Adaptoid technology that gives him the combined abilities of his teammates. However, the Impossible City takes control of Dreadknight's body and resets itself, disposing of Quasimodo. The rest of the Avengers appear and help defeat Mad Thinker.[42]
During the "Dark Reign" storyline, a young version of the team - controlled by criminal mastermindNorman Osborn - debuts in theminiseriesDark Reign: Young Avengers.[43]
A group calling themselves the Bastards of Evil debuted in the 2010 "Heroic Age" storyline. All members claim to be the children of supervillains who were discarded and disavowed by their parents. They includeAftershock (the supposed daughter ofElectro), Warhead (the supposed son of theRadioactive Man), Mortar (the supposed daughter of theGrey Gargoyle), Singularity (the supposed son ofGraviton), and Ember (the supposed son ofPyro).[44]
It was later revealed that the Bastards are led by a child genius known as Superior (who claims to be the son of theLeader). It was also revealed that the Bastards were actually normal teenagers who were mutated by exposure to radiation by Superior and given false memory implants. The surviving Bastards are held in the Raft after their capture.[45]
Ziggy Pig formed an animal-themed counterpart of the Masters of Evil called the Masters of Animal Evil consisting ofArmadillo, a black mamba implied to be owned byBlack Mamba, an octopus version ofDoctor Octopus, Doom Fish,Dragon Man,Red Ghost's Super-Apes, and several ofSwarm's bees. It is unclear whether the octopus and Doom Fish are owned by Doctor Octopus andDoctor Doom respectively. They fought the Pet Avengers and were defeated by them.[46]
Darby Harn ofScreen Rant included the Masters of Evil in their "10 Most Powerful Hercules Villains In Marvel Comics" list,[47] and in their "15 Most Powerful Black Panther Villains" list.[48] Mark Ginocchio ofComicBook.com ranked the Master of Evil 1st in their " Marvel's 5 Greatest Supervillain Stables" list."[49] Jerry Stanford ofComic Book Resources ranked 3rd in their "10 Most Important Marvel Villain Teams" list,[50] while David Harth ranked the team 6th in their "5 Best Marvel Villain Teams (& The 5 Best DC Villain Teams)" list.[51]
An alternate universe iteration of the Masters of Evil appear inHeroes Reborn: Masters of Evil, initially consisting ofBlack Knight,Klaw,Melter,Radioactive Man, andWhirlwind before Klaw leaves the group and theCrimson Dynamo andTitanium Man take his place.[52] AfterDoctor Doom'sDoombots kill Black Knight, Crimson Dynamo, and Titanium Man, Whirlwind leaves the group to start a new life.[53]
A group based on the Masters of Evil called theMasters of Doom appear in "Heroes Reborn" (2021), consisting ofDoctor Juggernaut,Silver Witch,All-Gog, and theBlack Skull. This version of the group are enemies of theSquadron Supreme of America and were previously imprisoned in theNegative Zone.[54][55]
An alternate reality iteration of the Masters of Evil appear inHouse of M: Masters of Evil, formed and led bythe Hood and consisting ofAbsorbing Man,Batroc the Leaper,Blizzard,Chemistro,Cobra,Constrictor,Crossbones,Madame Masque,Mister Hyde,Nitro,Sandman,Titania,Wizard, and theWrecking Crew. This version of the group was formed to defyMagneto.[56] While taking over the Central American country of Santo Rico, its dictatorsMadison andLionel Jeffries kill two of the Wrecking Crew,Bulldozer andPiledriver.[57] Though the group succeed in killing the Jeffries in turn, Magneto andSebastian Shaw expose the Masters of Evil's criminal pasts, leading to Cobra, Crossbones, Hyde, Chemistro, Wizard, and Wrecking Crew memberThunderball abandoning the remaining members, most of whom are killed by the Red Guard, though Absorbing Man throws Titania to safety.[58][59]
The Masters of Evil appear inMarvel Adventures #4, consisting ofHelmut Zemo,Abomination,Leader, andUltron.[60] Additionally, a group called theNew Masters of Evil appear inMarvel Adventures: The Avengers #16, consisting ofEgghead,Man-Bull, Melter, and Whirlwind.[61]
A future incarnation of the Masters of Evil from Earth-2099 appear in theMarvel 2099 storySpider-Man 2099: Exodus #3, consisting ofPatriot,Black Knight,Baron Zemo,Enchantress,Melter, andRadioactive Man. This version of the group killed several members of theAvengers and conquered multiple worlds. After Zemo kills the Black Knight for disobeying orders, the Masters of Evil are defeated by theNew Avengers and remanded to a prison on the planet Wakanda.[62]
A group based on the Masters of Evil called theLiberators appear inUltimates 2, formed byLoki under the alias ofNorwegian scientist "Gunnar Golman" and consisting ofAbomination,Crimson Dynamo,Schizoid Man,Colonel Abdul al-Rahman,Hurricane,Insect Queen, andPerun. They received support from their respective international governments, such asChina,France,Iran,North Korea,Syria, and laterRussia, and other superpowered individuals such asNatasha Romanoff / Black Widow,Hank Pym, and hisUltron /Vision II sentries to invade the United States.[63] However, they are defeated by the U.S.'s heroes, with Perun surrendering toS.H.I.E.L.D. and being held in the Triskelion and Loki being held byOdin for inciting a world war.[64]
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