| The Ringmaster | |
|---|---|
.png) The Ringmaster as depicted inThe Incredible Hulk #3 (September 1962). Art by Jack Kirby andDick Ayers. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The Incredible Hulk #3 (September 1962)[1] |
| Created by | Stan Lee Jack Kirby |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Maynard Tiboldt |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations | Circus of Crime |
| Notable aliases | Circus Master of Ceremonies; Martin Thraller |
| Abilities | Hypnotic mind control via device on his hat Formerly: Reality manipulation via cosmic powered ring |
TheRingmaster is the name of two characters appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. The first incarnation of Ringmaster,Fritz Tiboldt,first appeared inCaptain America Comics #5 (August 1941). The second incarnation, Fritz Tiboldt's sonMaynard Tiboldt, debuted inThe Incredible Hulk #3 (July 1962).[2]
Fritz Tiboldt debuted as the Ringmaster of Death inCaptain America Comics #5 (August 1941).[3] He appeared inCaptain America #112 in a flashback (April 1969).
Maynard Tiboldt debuted as the Ringmaster inThe Incredible Hulk #3 (July 1962). He has turned up as a somewhat pathetic and luckless opponent for virtually every hero in the Marvel universe since his first appearance, ranging fromSpider-Man toHoward the Duck. He is a tall thin man who sports aFu Manchu moustache and dresses in a green variation on the traditional circusringmaster costume. Having acquired a hypnosis-wave generator originally created by theRed Skull and mounted said device in his costume'stop hat, the Ringmaster's usual scheme is to lead hisCircus of Crime into a community and rob citizens as they attend his circus. Nearly every appearance of the Ringmaster ends with him being thrown back into jail, having been defeated by his current foe.
The original Ringmaster is aNazi agent named Fritz Tiboldt whose circus was a cover for murdering US government officials. He traveled withMissing Link who hadprimate-like features,midget Tommy Thumb;snake charmer Omar;strongman Zandow, and theTrapeze Trio. After Ringmaster uses a tiger to murder a U.S. sergeant,Captain America andBucky become suspicious of their activities. The Ringmaster kidnapsBetsy Ross, and the heroes trace him and his circus and defeat the foes.[4]
Fritz and his wife are killed by the Nazis for their defeat at the hands of Captain America.[5] Following the introduction of Maynard Tiboldt, Fritz was revealed to be his father.[6]
Maynard Tiboldt was born inVienna, Austria to the original Ringmaster, Fritz Tiboldt, and his wife Lola. He inherited the Circus when his parents were murdered.
The Ringmaster is a powerless man with a unique hat which is designed to hypnotize people, thus allowing him to take complete control over their actions. He originally travels across America as the manager, director, and ringmaster of his small traveling circus, which is a front for his "Circus of Crime", consisting ofHuman Cannonball,Clown,Bruto the Strongman, theGreat Gambonnos (two acrobat brothers), and snake charmerPrincess Python. During his shows, Ringmaster hypnotizes the crowd and sends his lackeys to steal valuables. Once, he managed to enslave theHulk when he was under the control ofRick Jones, who was attending a performance. However, the Hulk captures Ringmaster when he tries to escape in a chariot.[6]
Following several encounters with the Hulk and other heroes, Ringmaster attempts to reform, but helps the Circus of Crime escape from the police after battlingPower Pack.[7] He is later released from prison and placed intoDoc Samson's custody. Working alongside Samson, Ringmaster uses his hypnotism to make Bruce Banner revisit his traumatic childhood. Banner, the Hulk, and theGray Hulk eventually agree to work together, creating the Merged Hulk personality.[8]
The Ringmaster is given surgical alterations that allow him to hypnotize others with his eyes from surgeons working forDevlin DeAngelo. As "Martin Thraller", the Ringmaster employs his hypnotic abilities while running for president of the United States until he is stopped byDeathlok.[9]
The Ringmaster travels to Tibet and steals a ring made from a piece of a shatteredCosmic Cube that allows him to manipulate reality within a fifteen-foot radius. Attacking New York for 'practice', he clashes with various superheroes, includingSpider-Man andMoon Knight. ThePunisher shoots off Ringmaster's ring finger, which is later surgically reattached.[10][11] Ringmaster loses his ring after he is attacked by a M.O.D.O.C. squad.[12] The ring is found by Curtis Doyle, who uses it to become the superheroFreedom Ring.[13]
During the "Gang War" storyline, Ringmaster gains control ofRandalls and Wards Islands. He is briefly seen hypnotizing civilians to fight for him.[14] Ringmaster's hypnotized civilians fight againstCrime Master and theA.I.M. agents with him. As Spider-Man andSpider-Woman fight Crime Master, Ringmaster tries to hypnotizeElektra, only for her to resist the mind control and defeat him.[15]
Ringmaster was revealed to have a daughter who becameRingmistress, wielding a copy of her father's hat and leading a separate incarnation of the Circus of Crime.[16]
The Ringmaster possesses no inherent superhuman powers. His principal weapons are mind-controlling devices implanted in his hat and eyes. However, his hypnotism does not work on those who cannot see and can be neutralized with special glasses.[volume & issue needed]
With the Cosmic Ring, Tiboldt gained the ability to alter reality in a 15-foot (4.6 m) radius around him.[11]
The Ringmaster appears as a non-playable character inQuestprobe featuring Spider-Man.[21]
The Ringmaster appears inMarvel's Wastelanders: Hawkeye, voiced byJoe Morton.[22]
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