The Masters of Evil were a team of supervillains. There have been eight incarnations of the Masters of Evil, accumulating dozens of members in total. The Masters of Evil were primarily opposed to the Avengers, although they also battled the Thunderbolts (ironically consisting of former Masters of Evil) and the Guardians of the Galaxy.
History
The Avengers meet their Masters[]
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The original Masters of Evil in action against the Avengers
After being responsible for Captain America's demise during World War II, the aristocratic Nazi scientist Baron Heinrich Zemo retreated to South America. Baron Zemo was infuriated upon learning about Captain America's return and schemed for revenge by gathering enemies of his nemesis' teammates and Earth's Mightiest Heroes, the Avengers. He enlisted the Black Knight, a foe of Hank Pym and the Wasp, the Melter, an adversary to Iron Man, and the Radioactive Man, an opponent to the God of Thunder Thor. Zemo and his Masters of Evil caused terror in New York City using Adhesive X, prompting the Avengers to intervene. When his accomplices were subdued and arrested by Captain America and the Avengers in the streets of New York, Baron Zemo beat a hasty retreat.[3]
Still eager for revenge, Baron Zemo was approached by the exiled Asgardian enemies of Thor, the beautiful Enchantress and the brute Executioner, in a failed scheme to seduce Thor into fighting against the other Avengers which got them lost in another dimension.[4] Enchantress returned the Masters of Evil to their home reality. In a subsequent plan, the Masters empowered the corrupt businessman Simon Williams as the apparently heroic Wonder Man to infiltrate the Avengers and gain their trust. Unpredictably, Wonder Man was inspired by Earth's Mightiest Heroes and turned against his murderous masters, ultimately sacrificing his life to save the Avengers. The Masters of Evil escaped one more time.[5]
The Masters of Evil were unexpectedly assisted by the master of time Immortus, who had his own plans for the Avengers. To prove his might, Immortus kidnapped the Avengers' teenager ally, Rick Jones, and tricked Captain America into believing the Avengers had been responsible for the boy's disappearance. Eventually, Immortus' minions were overpowered by the Avengers and he chose to abandon the fight. The Masters of Evil saw this as an opportunity to strike, but met defeat. Enchantress then decided to travel back in time to a moment before meeting Immortus, preventing their interaction. As such, the Avengers had no recollection of a battle where they were victorious against the Masters.[6]
Finally, Baron Zemo had Enchantress and Executioner free Black Knight and the Melter from jail, as Radioactive Man had been deported to his native country China. While his Masters battled the Avengers, Baron Zemo captured Rick Jones. Captain America and Zemo dueled in South America for Jones' safety. Blinded by the glare from his opponent's shield, Baron Zemo fired his death ray wildly and perished in the ensuing rockslide.[7] Meanwhile, without a leader, the remaining members were defeated by the Avengers after Thor transported Black Knight and Melter to another dimension so their battle would not destroy the city of New York, an opportunity Enchantress and Executioner took to escape. The Masters of Evil were no more and their end led the Avengers to alter their roster.[8]
An Enemy Within[]
The legacy of the Masters of Evil was carried on by a villain with no face and no identity, the mysterious Crimson Cowl. The Crimson Cowl maneuvered the Avengers' butler Edwin Jarvis into selling them the blueprints to the Avengers' security systems to launch a surprise attack in the Avengers Mansion. The revived group was formed by Radioactive Man, the Melter, the vicious Whirlwind, the master of sound Klaw and the new Black Knight, nephew of his predecessor. The new Black Knight had only joined the group to betray them to the Avengers, but was intercepted by the Masters when trying the warn the Earth's Mightiest Heroes. Their raid was successful, and the Masters took the Avengers captive with the Cowl revealing himself to be Jarvis, much to the Avengers' horror.[9]
As the Avengers attempted to break free from their opponents, they learned Jarvis had been hypnotically suggested to assume the Crimson Cowl identity.[10] In fact, the leader of the Masters of Evil was the robot Ultron-5, a living automaton created by the Avenger Hank Pym who had rebelled against his "father".[11] Ultron-5 disposed of Jarvis, who managed to survive and join the Black Knight to initiate the Avengers' rescue. Thus, the new Masters of Evil were defeated by the Avengers, but Ultron-5 escaped, to plague the Avengers subsequently without human accomplices.[10] No longer lead by Ultron-5, the remaining Masters still worked together, attacking the Avengers during Tom Fagan's super hero Halloween festivities. The all-female team known as the Liberators, secretly led by Enchantress in disguise, overpowered the Masters, causing its apparent dissolution.[12]
The Trial of Hank Pym[]
The Masters of Evil were reorganized by the evil scientist Egghead, enemy of Hank Pym. Looking for accomplices to aid him in his criminal ventures, Egghead broke Tiger Shark, Whirlwind, the Scorpion, and Moonstone out of prison. However, before they could be of use to him, Whirlwind sneaked away to stalk the Wasp by himself. The others followed him to the Avengers Mansion to try to keep him out of trouble, but they all ended up in combat with the Avengers and lost.[13]
However, this did not stop Egghead from scheming against his long-time nemesis Pym, who stood trial for treason after leaving the Avengers in disgrace and being framed by Egghead.[14] Egghead freed Moonstone and Tiger Shark to join him one more time, completing the group with the Radioactive Man, the Shocker, and the Beetle. Egghead sought final vengeance by staging a situation where Pym would be seen as a criminal ally of the Masters of Evil as they freed him from the courtroom. The Avengers were unable to prevent the kidnapping.[15] The Avengers learned about Egghead's plan from a captured Shocker. In his lair, Egghead coerced Pym into working on a longevity serum. Pym pretended to go along with him but instead invented a device that enabled him to defeat Egghead and virtually all the other Masters single-handedly. In a last stand, Egghead was killed when an arrow shot by the Avenger Hawkeye caused a gun he was aiming at Pym to misfire.[16] The Masters of Evil were apprehended, surrendering pacifically.[17]
Under Siege[]
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The most effective team was assembled by Baron Helmut Zemo, the son of the previous Zemo. Inheriting his father's hatred of Captain America, Zemo sought to assemble the most formidable Masters of Evil ever. Rather than follow past practice with a team roughly the size of the active Avengers roster, Zemo decided to organize a veritable army of superhuman criminals, to assure victory over the Avengers. Zemo's long-range design for the largest assemblage of costumed criminals is not at present known, though he stated his intent to defeat the West Coast Avengers and the Fantastic Four as well.[18]
The Avengers dealt with apparently isolated incidents regarding super villains escaping prison to secretly join these new Masters. Moonstone publicly attempted to damage the reputation of the Avenger Namor by pretending to be the widow of one of his victims. When defeated and arrested, she was greeted by the Masters of Evil Absorbing Man and Titania, who impersonated police officers to recruit her to their team.[19] The next recruit was Yellowjacket, broken free by the Grey Gargoyle and Screaming Mimi, though her rescuers were arrested by the Avengers.[20]
The reformed version of the team counted with many other members, namely the Wrecking Crew, Mister Hyde, Goliath, the Fixer, and Tiger Shark. Considering that in unity the Masters had power, Zemo planned to take over the Avengers Mansion to humiliate the Avengers. As a master strategist, he played on the Avengers' relationships to pick them off one by one on scouting missions, performing various tasks in preparation for the assault. Meanwhile, he maintained his command by preventing subversion from his rival Moonstone and giving his more physical recruits their promised action without striking too soon.[18]
The Avengers were subdued one by one as the Masters of Evil placed their mansion under siege.[18] Namor had taken a leave of absence to reclaim Atlantis, leaving the team one Avenger short; Black Knight was captured; Captain Marvel was trapped in the Darkforce Dimension by Zemo's ultimate weapon, the insane Blackout; and Hercules was beaten into a coma by the Wrecking Crew. Captain America was also defeated, being tortured by Baron Zemo by watching Jarvis being brutalized by Hyde. The Avengers Mansion was also trapped inside an impenetrable Darkforce dome cast by Blackout, leaving the Wasp as the only remaining active Avenger.[21]
Decided to take revenge on the Masters of Evil,[22] the Wasp assembled the Avengers to end the siege to the Avengers' home. She was joined by a freed Captain Marvel, Thor and Doctor Druid, who overpowered the Masters.[23] As his last act, Baron Zemo attempted to have Blackout drag the entire Mansion into the Darkforce Dimension, with no success. Ultimately defeated by Captain America, Baron Zemo perished in the battle; the Masters of Evil were no more, though they had been successful in having the Avengers' lives invaded in many ways.[24]
Infinity War[]
In face of the super heroic community gathering to oppose the vile Magus, Doctor Octopus took the opportunity to reassemble the Masters of Evil and carry on the plan of seizing control of the Avengers Mansion as its residents were not home. He was joined by agents he judged to be too insignificant and easy to control, namely the Absorbing Man, Titania, Oddball, Jackhammer, Powderkeg, and the uncertain Yellowjacket. and bore little resemblance to any other incarnation of the team. Unpredictably, the Masters found the Avengers Mansion occupied by the cosmic heroes from the future known as the Guardians of the Galaxy, who visited the past in search of the Royal Inhumans. Even more unexpectedly, Yellowjacket betrayed her team, assisting the Guardians defeat them by following heroic tendencies.[25]
Doctor Octopus was able to overcome his disadvantages by surprisingly having replacement lackeys in the form of the Shocker, Puff Adder, and Gargantua. However, the battle between the two teams was interrupted by enemies they had in common: the Magus' soul doppelgängers, who wished to replace their super powered counterparts. Calling a truce, Guardians of the Galaxy and Masters of Evil joined forces to combat their devilish clones. In the end, with the doppelgängers destroyed, the Masters of Evil rebelled against Doctor Octopus for his arrogance.[26]
Justice Like Lightning[]
Baron Helmut Zemo, succumbed to frustration due to his inability to defeat his enemies, made contact with Goliath, who was trapped in a parallel dimension. Recruiting the tinkerer Fixer to help retrieve his ally, he idealized reforming a team of Masters of Evil. His next lackey was Screaming Mimi, who was in deep grief after the death of her criminal partner and lover Angar the Screamer. Beetle was approached next and joined the Masters as a way to leave a career of failures. Zemo's plans to destroy the Avengers were foiled when most of Earth's Mightiest Heroes were declared killed in action against the psychic villain Onslaught. Without a cause, he embraced Goliath's idea, initially uttered as a joke, of replacing the Avengers and the Fantastic Four in their heroic duty. Masqueraded as heroes with new identities, the Masters of Evil broke Moonstone out of the Vault to round up the team. In the staged break-up, the Masters arrested many super villains they once had as allies to build a reputation. Completely rebranded, with new technology and appearances, the Masters of Evil were rebaptized by Baron Zemo as the apparently heroic Thunderbolts.[27]
In light of the Thunderbolts' public announcement, a new group of Masters of Evil was gathered by the mysterious Crimson Cowl as mercenaries for hire, in a roster formed by Tiger Shark, Klaw, Cyclone Man-Killer and Flying Tiger. First working for Hydra, they tried to garner the favor of the New York crime families, coming into direct conflict against the Black Widow. This incensed Baron Zemo, who had assumed the patriotic identity of Citizen V, and the rest of the Thunderbolts as they witnessed the Masters' legacy turned into mere mercenary work. When the Thunderbolts faced the Masters of Evil in battle, the mercenaries escaped due to the blinding flash that accompanied the Crimson Cowl's teleportation effect. When next they fought, Crimson Cowl escaped again.[28]
The Thunderbolts clash with Crimson Cowl's Masters of Evil
The Thunderbolts ultimately turned on Zemo, but found themselves fugitives hated by heroes and villains alike.[29] The Crimson Cowl saw this as an opportunity to induct the remaining Thunderbolts into her Masters of Evil. She sent Cyclone to bait the Thunderbolts into walking into an ambush. After defeating the Thunderbolts, she made her proposal of either joining her and enjoy all the amenities that come with being in her organization or defying her and being exposed to their enemies.[30] The Thunderbolts were given time to think over the situation, a period they used to insist on building a reputation as heroes to the public. However, when combating the burning Charcoal, the Masters of Evil sabotaged their operation to prevent them from achieving success. Moonstone decided to take the Masters of Evil down in retaliation.[31] When next they fought, the Crimson Cowl had advantage until Hawkeye, disguised as the Dreadknight, saved the Thunderbolts.[32] Hawkeye offered to become the Thunderbolts' new leader and, as one of his first actions, promised the media the capture of the Masters of Evil.[33]
With this revelation, the Masters of Evil prepared themselves to combat the Thunderbolts simultaneously with a plan to use a weather machine to blackmail world leaders for an insanely huge amount of money. The whole operation counted with an army of Masters of Evil in addition to the more public core team, namely Boomerang, Cardinal, Joystick, Man-Ape, Constrictor, Eel, Quicksand, Sunstroke, Blackwing, Shockwave, Scorcher, Slyde, Icemaster, Dragonfly, Bison, Aqueduct, Shatterfist, Lodestone, Supercharger. Outnumbered, the Thunderbolts infiltrated the Masters of Evil's headquarters in Mount Charteris to put an end to the potential meteorological devastation. Moonstone exposed her allies, inciting a chaotic fight as she fled with the Crimson Cowl. Moonstone ultimately betrayed the Crimson Cowl, unmasking her to the Thunderbolts, who were shocked to find Dallas Riordan, their former liaison to the office of the New York city mayor.[34] In reality, Dallas Riordan was actually the new Citizen V who had been framed for having interfered with the Crimson Cowl's plans. At the last moment the real Crimson Cowl had teleported out of her costume and placed a captive Riordan into it to frame her.[35]
The free Crimson Cowl reformed the Masters of Evil to carry on Justin Hammer's legacy as a criminal mastermind. The new team counted with Machinesmith, Black Mamba, Hydro-Man, Cyclone, Man-Killer, Gypsy Moth, and Cardinal. Her plans involved capturing Plantman[36] to threaten the world with a bio-toxin. They ambushed Plantman alongside his allies in the Thunderbolts, Hawkeye and Songbird, capturing him. Hawkeye convinced Gypsy Moth, Man-Killer, Cardinal and Cyclone that they were at risk by associating themselves with the Crimson Cowl.[37] As such, they joined the Thunderbolts. The Thunderbolts alerted Silver Sable about the Cowl's chemical weapon and its potential use in Symkaria. The Crimson Cowl had her true identity revealed as Hammer's daughter, Justine, when confronted by Silver Sable and the Thunderbolts.[38] However, they were subdued by the Masters of Evil. Unexpectedly, Plantman decided to deactivate the toxin, foiling the Cowl's plans. In the end, her Crimson Cowl was destroyed by Skein.[39]
Shadow Council[]
Max Fury and the Shadow Council organized a new incarnation of the Masters of Evil, which was discovered by the Secret Avengers during a mission run by Hawkeye and Captain America in Bagalia, an island nation run by criminals.[40] Max Fury and the now expanded roster of Masters of Evil later stopped John Steele from escaping Bagalia with the Serpent Crown.[41]
Following the destruction of Max Fury,[42] Baron Helmut Zemo regained leadership of the Masters of Evil and control of Bagalia,[43] and continued to expand group membership. Including teenage villains like the defunct Young Masters and former Hellfire Academy students among others and organizing them as the reformed Young Masters, the teenagers were personally supervised by Constrictor and occasionally dispensed to do the Masters' dirty work. Zemo also included Madame Masque as his right-hand woman, Constrictor and Hellstorm in his personal inner circle, organizing the Masters from Tower Zemo. Hellstorm transformed his portion of Bagalia City in a place inhabited by dark wizards, Vampires, Demons, and monsters while Constrictor's portion became the headquarters of the teenage members.[44]
Following the events of Murderworld, Arcade had an audience with Zemo, demanding a position of power in the Masters. Zemo refused, claiming that his crimes were simply child abuse and didn't deserve to join them. However, he recognized that the technology and design of Murderworld was impressive and claimed the person who built it would be an asset and deserves a place with them. He revealed that Arcade's assistant Miss Coriander, who built Murderworld, had already joined them.[45]
Hellstrom created a meat puppet of Arcade to run his Massacre Casino in Bagalia with Coriander in order to make everyone believe he still ran Murderworld while the real Arcade was kept prisoner by them.[46] Later a Murderworld survivor, Cullen Bloodstone, began tracking down Arcade. He eventually tracks the fake Arcade to Bagalia, where he forms an alliance with the Masters. However, Hellstorm started influencing and controlling him.[43] Other Murderworld survivors teleport to Bagalia in an attempt to rescue Bloodstone, and locate him at a bar. After a small fight, Cullen reveals his membership with the Masters of Evil. Constrictor and Masque arrange for Cullen to teleport the group to a nearby swanky party at Massacre Casino hosted by Arcade so that they can get revenge.[44] The group disables Arcade's power supply, after which he is killed by Hazmat much to everyone's surprise.[47] The group tries to flee but S.H.I.E.L.D. arrests them under suspicion for being members of the Masters of Evil. After the framed teenagers are visited by friends and family, Hellstrom teleports the group back to Bagalia, where Zemo offers the group a chance to truly join the Masters of Evil.[48]
Following the Avengers' attack on Bagalia, the Masters of Evil got away on a hijacked Helicarrier with Arcade strapped to the front of it.[46]
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Lightmaster's Masters of Evil[]
Lightmaster hired the Wrecking Crew to attack Alchemax and steal it's Quantum Machine. They were opposed by Sun Girl, and defeated when Spider-Man and his Superior Six arrive. After Wrecker reports back to Lightmaster, Lightmaster personally decides to become involved and brings his own Masters of Evil lineup for a rematch against Spider-Man and the Superior Six. In the battle, Absorbing Man and Titania destroy an Arachnaught dispatched to help the Superior Six and Blackout knocks Electro unconscious, disrupting his powers. At the end of the battle, Sun Girl, who Lightmaster realizes is his daughter, destroys the Quantum Machine and causes a mass explosion, in the process freeing the mind control of the Superior Six.[49] It is unclear whether this lineup of the Masters of Evil is a second entity or simply members from Bagalia City on a job.
Hydra's Army of Evil[]
Baron Helmut Zemo later formed his fourth incarnation of the Masters of Evil with Klaw, Man-Killer, Tiger Shark, Whiplash, and the Wrecking Crew (Wrecker, Bulldozer, Piledriver, and Thunderball). They attacked Atlas until Jolt showed up to help him. The Masters of Evil subsequently managed to capture the Thunderbolts.[50] Atlas, Fixer, and Moonstone defected from the Thunderbolts and sided with the Masters of Evil following a battle with the Thunderbolts that resulted in the apparent death of Man-Killer.[51] Afterwards, the new Masters of Evil joined the expansion Baron Zemo carried out for the enterprise of Hydra and its new leader, an alternate reality Captain America: the Army of Evil.[52]
The Masters of Evil aided in Steve Rogers' plan to take over the United States by launching an attack on Manhattan along with the Army of Evil in order to lure out as many of America's superheroes as possible. The Masters were later teleported away while Baron Zemo used the Darkhold to boost the powers of Blackout and trap half of Manhattan in a Darkforce dome, trapping the superheroes who fought the Masters.[53] The Masters later took part in a fight against the remaining superheroes in Washington, D.C. as Hydra moved toward the capital to secure its takeover of the country.[54]
After Hydra took over the United States,[55] the Masters of Evil along with the Army of Evil were all placed in stasis by Hydra out of fear of what they would do if they were allowed to remain free. When a contingent of America's superheroes who opposed Hydra's regime known as the Underground launched a massive assault against Hydra in Washington, D.C., Baron Zemo was ordered to awaken the Masters along with the Army of Evil to turn the tide. He was stopped by Black Panther and Winter Soldier before he could accomplish his task.[56] After the Hydra regime fell,[57] the Masters were likely freed from stasis and either forced to disband or arrested by the authorities.Paraphernalia
Equipment
Weapons
Notes
- In Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes Thor apparently named this group of villains "Masters of Evil" The name strengthened after the speech of the Black Knight (Garrett) in Avengers #6.
- The story of the fourth incarnation of the team, "Avengers Under Siege", is generally considered the definitive Masters of Evil storyline.[58]
See Also
- 77 appearance(s) of Masters of Evil (Earth-616)
- 8 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of Masters of Evil (Earth-616)
- 28 minor appearance(s) of Masters of Evil (Earth-616)
- 62 mention(s) of Masters of Evil (Earth-616)
- 17 mention(s) in handbook(s) of Masters of Evil (Earth-616)
- 46 image(s) of Masters of Evil (Earth-616)
- 114 member(s) of Masters of Evil (Earth-616)
Links and References
References
- ↑ Untold Tales of Spider-Man #13
- ↑ Avengers #4
- ↑ Avengers #6
- ↑ Avengers #7
- ↑ Avengers #9
- ↑ Avengers #10
- ↑ Avengers #15
- ↑ Avengers #16
- ↑ Avengers #54
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Avengers #55
- ↑ Avengers #58
- ↑ Avengers #83
- ↑ Avengers #222
- ↑ Avengers #227
- ↑ Avengers #228
- ↑ Avengers #229
- ↑ Avengers #230
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Avengers #273
- ↑ Avengers #270
- ↑ Avengers #271
- ↑ Avengers #274
- ↑ Avengers #275
- ↑ Avengers #276
- ↑ Avengers #277
- ↑ Guardians of the Galaxy #28
- ↑ Guardians of the Galaxy #29
- ↑ Thunderbolts '97 #1
- ↑ Thunderbolts #3
- ↑ Thunderbolts #10–12
- ↑ Thunderbolts #18
- ↑ Thunderbolts #19
- ↑ Thunderbolts #20
- ↑ Thunderbolts #23
- ↑ Thunderbolts #24–25
- ↑ Thunderbolts #39–41
- ↑ Thunderbolts #64
- ↑ Thunderbolts #65
- ↑ Thunderbolts #67
- ↑ Thunderbolts #69
- ↑ Secret Avengers #21.1
- ↑ Secret Avengers #29
- ↑ Secret Avengers #33
- ↑ 43.0 43.1 Avengers Undercover #1
- ↑ 44.0 44.1 Avengers Undercover #2
- ↑ Avengers Undercover #3–4
- ↑ 46.0 46.1 Avengers Undercover #10
- ↑ Avengers Undercover #3
- ↑ Avengers Undercover #4
- ↑ Superior Spider-Man Team-Up #6
- ↑ Thunderbolts (Vol. 3) #10
- ↑ Thunderbolts (Vol. 3) #12
- ↑ Captain America: Steve Rogers #13
- ↑ Secret Empire #0
- ↑ Free Comic Book Day 2017 (Secret Empire) #1
- ↑ Secret Empire #1
- ↑ Secret Empire #9
- ↑ Secret Empire #10
- ↑ Introduction to the Avengers: Under Siege TPB.