History:
NUMBER ONE
Real Name: Unrevealed
Identity/Class: Human technology user
Occupation: Scientist, would-be world conqueror
Group Membership: Secret Empire
Affiliations: pawn: Sub-Mariner (Namor McKenzie), (formerly) Hydra
Enemies: Hulk (Bruce Banner), Number Nine
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: A penthouse suite in Park Tower, Manhattan, New York, USA
First Appearance: Tales to Astonish I#83
Powers/Abilities: Number One was a brilliant scientist who used a variety of advanced devices. His transportation included a Pontooned Hovercraft. He also designed the Lobotomizer, Transceiver, Vibra-Discs and Video-Scanner. He also had access to explosives and a pair of binoculars. His costume was weaved from a bullet-proof mesh.
Height: Unrevealed (approximately 6')
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 180 lbs.)
Eyes: Unrevealed
Hair: Unrevealed
History:
(Tales to Astonish I#85 (fb) - BTS) - Number One was once an "anonymous nobody-- a scientist whom no one ever heard of!" Frustrated by his lack of recognition, he formed the criminal organization the Secret Empire and took Number One as his rank, serving as the leader. However, he was still frustrated by the secrecy required by his role because with his robes on, he remained anonymous. He hoped one day he would achieve a great conquest and could then unmask.
(Captain America I#175 (fb)) - The Secret Empire, which began as an arm of Hydra. However, Number One took the organization away from Hydra to enact his own ambitions in world conquest.
(Tales to Astonish I#83) - After the Secret Empire suffered several setbacks at the hands of the Hulk, Number One went into hiding in his penthouse suite in Park Tower, Manhattan. One day, he caught sight of the Sub-Mariner fighting the battle cruiser of Warlord Krang out in the harbor. At once, Number One believed he could use the Sub-Mariner as a pawn to defeat the Hulk.
Boarding his Pontooned Hovercraft, Number One went out into the harbor to track the Sub-Mariner and look for an opportunity to use his Lobotomizer to brainwash the hero into obeying him. After the Sub-Mariner was hit by Krang's Fleet Destroyer missile, Number One helped him into the Pontooned Hovercraft, thinking he finally had the opportunity to use the Lobotomizer, only to discover the Sub-Mariner had been rendered amnesiac by the missile blast. Number One quickly began telling the Sub-Mariner he was his ally.
(Tales to Astonish I#83/2 - BTS) - Even as Number One was making his plans, the rest of the Secret Empire's council held a meeting to confront their member Number Nine, whom they accused of trying to take Number One's place as leader. However, Number Nine knocked out the entire council with a stun grenade, claiming he'd go after Number One next.
(Tales to Astonish I#85 (fb) - BTS) - To help ensure he could control the Sub-Mariner, Number One planted tiny Vibra-Discs inside the Sub-Mariner's ears.
(Tales to Astonish I#84) - Number One told the disoriented Sub-Mariner he was an enemy of the Hulk and placed a Transceiver around his neck to communicate with him, then sent him out into the streets of Manhattan to kill the Hulk. Number One returned to his penthouse and continued to send messages to the Sub-Mariner exhorting him to continue his search for the Hulk. As the Sub-Mariner's appearance was drawing attention from the police, Number One told him to steal some clothing to disguise himself. The Sub-Mariner wound up entering a movie theatre to watch a filmstrip about the Hulk. Number One contacted him on the Transceiver during the film, which drew the attention of other people in the theatre, who recognized the Sub-Mariner, forcing him to flee. Soon after, the Sub-Mariner again encountered Warlord Krang and when Krang blasted him with another weapon; the shock caused the Sub-Mariner to fully regain his memory.
(Tales to Astonish I#85) - Number One attempted to contact the Sub-Mariner through the Transceiver, but Namor angrily smashed the device into pieces. Trying to reestablish a link to the Sub-Mariner, Number One turned on his Video-Scanner and browsed the streets of Manhattan. Catching sight of the Hulk, Number One panicked and believed the Hulk was after him.
Number One activated the Vibra-Discs in the Sub-Mariner ears, transmitting an inaudible ultra-sonic sound beam that he hoped would cause the Sub-Mariner to be drawn to the penthouse. However, the Sub-Mariner removed the Vibra-Discs. Realizing he couldn't bring the Sub-Mariner to help him, and seeing the Hulk outside his building (the Hulk was blindly running from the police and still didn't know Number One was there), Number One resolved to set off a bomb in his penthouse which he hoped would kill the Hulk. Number One activated his explosives and went to escape the penthouse, but as he fled his office he accidentally slammed the door on his cloak. He tried to pull himself free but discovered the cloak was wedged inside the door's lock. He tried to tear the garment but because of its bulletproof materials it couldn't be torn; the bomb went off, leaving the Hulk unscathed, but Number One was killed.
When the police arrived at the scene of the explosion they found Number One's body but the explosion had left him so badly disfigured he couldn't be identified.
Comments: Created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers. The Secret Empire's costumes were originally designed by Bill Everett.
Number One wasn't the only Silver Age villain to suffer an embarrassing death, but his ranks near the top of the most embarrassing deaths.
Profile by Prime Eternal.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Number One shares his rank in the Secret Empire with:
...But the Numbers One of the Secret Empire should not be confused with:
The Lobotomizer was a device apparently created by Number One. It could send a "brain jolt" into its victims which made them susceptible to other people's suggestions. Number One intended to use it on the Sub-Mariner but relented when he discovered Namor had temporarily lost his memory.
--Tales to Astonish I#83
The Pontooned Hovercraft was a small motorized vehicle Number One piloted in his quest to capture the Sub-Mariner. It was designed for ocean travel.
--Tales to Astonish I#83
The Transceiver was a radio communication device designed by Number One. After convincing the Sub-Mariner to be his ally, Number One placed the Transceiver around his neck so he could communicate with him in the field. When the Sub-Mariner regained his memory, he smashed the Transceiver in his hand.
--Tales to Astonish I#84 (84/2, 85
The Vibra-Discs were tiny capsule-shaped devices which Number One planted inside the Sub-Mariner's ears. Using a device in his penthouse, Number One could release an inaudible ultra-sonic sound beam which would make the Vibra-Discs vibrate, causing pain to the Sub-Mariner. When Number One wrongly believed the Hulk was coming to the penthouse, he activated the Vibra-Discs in an attempt to force the Sub-Mariner to the penthouse and fight the Hulk. However, the Sub-Mariner quickly determined the pain he was feeling came from the Vibra-Discs and he removed them both from his ears.
--Tales to Astonish I#85
The Video-Scanner was a device in Number One's penthouse which allowed him to monitor events on the streets of Manhattan. It was presumbly linked to a series of video cameras planted throughout the city. In an attempt to locate the Sub-Mariner in Manhattan, Number One used the Video-Scanner to monitor the city but instead caught sight of the Hulk. Wrongly believing the Hulk was coming after him, it caused Number One to panick and eventually led to his death.
--Tales to Astonish I#85
images: (without ads)
Tales to Astonish I#85, page 9, panel 1 (main)
Tales to Astonish I#85, page 8, panel 5 (face)
Tales to Astonish I#85, page 12, panel 2 (death)
Tales to Astonish I#83, page 10, panel 3 (Lobotomizer)
Tales to Astonish I#83 page 12, panel 1 (Pontooned Hovercraft)
Tales to Astonish I#84, page 1 (Transceiver)
Tales to Astonish I#85, page 8, panel 4 (Vibra-Disc)
Tales to Astonish I#85, page 4, panel 1 (Video-Scanner)
Appearances:
Tales to Astonish I#83 (September, 1966) - Stan Lee (writer, editor), Jack Kirby (penciler), Dick Ayers (inker)
Tales to Astonish I#84 (October, 1966) - Stan Lee (writer, editor), Gene Colan (penciler), Dick Ayers (inker)
Tales to Astonish I#85 (November, 1966) - Stan Lee (writer, editor), Gene Colan (penciler), Bill Everett (inker)
Captain America I#175 (July, 1974) - Steve Englehart (writer), Sal Buscema (penciler), Vince Colletta (inker), Roy Thomas (editor)
First posted: 08/28/2026
Last updated:
08/28/2026
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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