CIRCUS OF CRIME

The Circus of Crime is a traveling band of circus performers organized by the man known as the Ringmaster, who use their special skills to rob their audiences as they entertain them.  Over the years the membership of the group has varied, though there is a core group which has remained with the circus from the beginning.  The Circus of Crime has perfomred on occasion without the Ringmaster, but he is the troupe's acknowledged leader.

Bruto the Strongman

1st appearance: Incredible Hulk #3
Real Name: Bruce "Bruto" Olafsen
Swedish weightlifter who has particularly strong biceps and teeth

Cannonball

1st appearance: Incredible Hulk #3
Real Name: Jack Pulver
American acrobat who specializes in being shot out of a cannon

The Clown

1st appearance: Incredible Hulk #3
Real Name: Eliot "Crafty" Franklin
American who uses a number of gimmicks such as a trick cane, unicycle and juggler's balls

Fire-Eater

1st appearance: Ghost Rider #72
Real Name: Tomas Ramirez
Spaniard who swallows flames and exhales them through his mouth without injury

The Great Gambinos

1st appearance: Amazing Spider-Man #16
Real Names: Ernesto and Luigi Gambonno
Italian acrobats and aerialists

Live Wire

1st appearance: Fantastic Four Annual #5
Real Name: Rance Preston
American who does fancy rope tricks with an electrified lariat.  He first appeared as an agent of the Psycho Man and joined the Circus of Crime in Power Man #24

Princess Python

1st appearance: Amazing Spider-Man #16
Real Name: Zelda DeBois
French woman who performs with a twenty-five foot boa constrictor.  She was briefly a member of the original Serpent Squad

Ringmaster

1st appearance:
Real Name:

Blackwing

1st appearance: Daredevil #118
Real Name: Joe Silvermane
Was allowed in the Circus of Crime on a privisional basis but has not remained with the group.  American trainer of bats who is the son of a New York crime boss

Rajah

1st appearance: Super-Villain Team-Up #8
Real Name: Kabir Mahadevu
Was allowed in the Circus of Crime on a privisional basis but has not remained with the group.  An Indian elephant trainer and rider.  He performed with the troupe briefly in Europe but was not invited to return with them to the U.S.

Teena the Fat Lady

1st appearance: Incredible Hulk #3
Real Name: Mary Stensen
Was allowed in the Circus of Crime on a privisonal basis but has not remained with the group.  American sideshow performer.  She left the circus to raise a family.