Rhamu Rondi (Vision foe)

RHAMU RONDI

Real Name: Rondi (full name unrevealed)

Identity/Class: Human (Indian), alleged magic user (World War II Era)

Occupation: Professional medium

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Burns, Krantz, Mike Mulligan, Stacey, Harley Stone
(invoked) Kali

Enemies: Hannah Stone, the Vision (Aarkus), Linda Wayne

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: A base in an unidentified city in the USA

First Appearance: Marvel Mystery Comics I#15/4 (January, 1941)

Powers/Abilities: Rhamu Rondi claimed to be a "master of the occult" but demonstrated no actual mystical powers. He was, however, well-versed in the realms of magic, considering he could recognize the Vision as a supernatural being. His headquarters had an electric eye that alerted him when someone crossed the threshold, causing the eyes in a statue of Buddha in Rondi's back office to flash "the Buddha signal." This same statue contained an intercom radio which Rondi used for communication.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 5'11")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 135 lbs.)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black

History:

(Marvel Mystery Comics I#15/4) - Rhamu Rondi was hired by Harley Stone to help him arrange the death of his wealthy aunt Hannah Stone. Rondi agreed to hold a seance for Hannah in which he would pretend to summon the ghost of her dead husband Roger, but his actual intent was to frighten Hannah to death so Harley could collect her $10 million fortune.

When Hannah's ward Linda Wayne interfered with Harley's plan, trying to warn Hannah from going to the seance, Harley informed Rondi and he sent his two henchmen Mulligan and Stacey to kidnap Linda. However, the mystical hero the Vision prevented Linda's capture then invaded Rondi's office. Upon seeing the Vision, rondi summoned more of his men through his intercom and soon one of them, Krantz, was able to knock out the Vision with a blow from a blackjack.

Recognizing the Vision's mystical powers, Rondi arranged for him to be held within a steel room and set his subordinate Burns on guard outside the door, cautioning him particularly to prevent the Vision from coming into contact with smoke, which the Vision could use to transport himself through dimensions. With the Vision unable to interfere, Rondi sent Mulligan and Stacey back to capture Linda Wayne, which they succeeded at. Rondi resolved he would sever Linda's head and use it in the seance as part of the plot to frighten Hannah to death.

When Harley brought Hannah to Rondi's office, he began to start his seance by turning out the lights, but as he began to use smoke, suddenly the Vision appeared in the smoke; in the next instant, two policemen entered the room and each placed a hand on Rondi's shoulders. The police informed Rondi they'd already arrested his entire gang and Linda had been set free. As the police arrested Rondi and Harley, Linda chided the two men, telling them the Vision had freed himself and cleaned up their entire mob.

Comments: Created by an unidentified writer (possibly Joe Simon) and Jack Kirby.

Given that he invoked Kali but had a statue of the Buddha in his office, maybe he's a polytheist.

Profile by Prime Eternal.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Rhamu Rondi should not be confused with:

RAMA KALIPH - sorcerer, summoned for assistance against Dormammu--Strange Tales I#136
any other 'Rhamu Rondi'

BURNS

Burns was one of Rhamu Rondi's henchmen. After capturing the Vision and sealing him within a steel room, Rondi placed Burns outside the door with a machine gun to ensure the Vision wouldn't escape. However, the Vision sent his astral form to mesmerize Burns into opening the room, setting him free. Burns was evidently arrested with the rest of Rondi's gang.