Fritz Tiboldt
The original Ringmaster is a Nazi agent named Fritz Tiboldt whose circus was a cover for murdering US government officials. He traveled with Missing Link who had primate-like features, midget Tommy Thumb; snake charmer Omar; strongman Zandow, and the Trapeze Trio. After Ringmaster uses a tiger to murder a U.S. sergeant, Captain America and Bucky become suspicious of their activities. The Ringmaster kidnaps Betsy 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
Maynard Tiboldt was born in Vienna, 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 of Human Cannonball, Clown, Bruto the Strongman, the Great Gambonnos (two acrobat brothers), and snake charmer Princess Python. During his shows, Ringmaster hypnotizes the crowd and sends his lackeys to steal valuables. Once, he managed to enslave the Hulk when he was under the control of Rick 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 battling Power Pack. [7] He is later released from prison and placed into Doc Samson's custody. Working alongside Samson, Ringmaster uses his hypnotism to make Bruce Banner revisit his traumatic childhood. Banner, the Hulk, and the Gray 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 for Devlin DeAngelo. As "Martin Thraller", the Ringmaster employs his hypnotic abilities while running for president of the United States until he is stopped by Deathlok. [9]
The Ringmaster travels to Tibet and steals a ring made from a piece of a shattered Cosmic Cube that allows him to manipulate reality within a fifteen-foot radius. Attacking New York for 'practice', he clashes with various superheroes, including Spider-Man and Moon Knight. The Punisher 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 superhero Freedom Ring. [13]
During the "Gang War" storyline, Ringmaster gains control of Randalls and Wards Islands. He is briefly seen hypnotizing civilians to fight for him. [14] Ringmaster's hypnotized civilians fight against Crime Master and the A.I.M. agents with him. As Spider-Man and Spider-Woman fight Crime Master, Ringmaster tries to hypnotize Elektra, only for her to resist the mind control and defeat him. [15]
Ringmaster was revealed to have a daughter who became Ringmistress, wielding a copy of her father's hat and leading a separate incarnation of the Circus of Crime. [16]
