MISTER FEAR
Real Name: Lawrence "Larry" Cranston
Identity/Class: Human mutate
Occupation: Criminal;
former lawyer, university professor
Group Membership: Thunderbolts (Ampere, Batroc the Leaper/Georges Batroc, Figment, Foolkiller/Greg Salinger, Grizzly/Max Markham, Man-Bull/William Taurens, Mr. Hyde/Calvin Zabo, Rhino/Alexei Sytsevich, Snakehead, Star/Ripley Ryan, Taskmaster/Tony Masters)
; formerly the Hood's army
Affiliations: Turk
Barrett, Chadwick, Chico,
Enforcers (Fancy Dan, Montana, Ox (Raymond Bloch)), Vanessa
Fisk, Gladiator (Wylie Lemmick), Gladiator (Melvin Potter),
Grey Gargoyle, Incendiary, Insomnia,
James, Janice, Lyman
Johnstone, Kingpin (Wilson Fisk), Lily Lucca, CO
Markham,
Merv, Mr.
Fear (Zoltan Drago), Monster (Brady Briedel), Norman Osborn, Starr Saxon, Triple
Threat Killer (Charles Boroughs);
formerly Dante
Govich, Gus,
Matt Murdock, Jason Sloan
Enemies: DA Algren, Black Cat (Felicia Hardy), Black Widow (Natasha Romanova), Becky Blake, Claudia Brooks, Bulldozer (Henry Camp), Luke Cage, Judge Bryant Chalmers, Captain America (Steve Rogers), Chimera, Daredevil (Matt Murdock), Milla Donovan, Marissa Dwyer, Elektra, Ghost Rider (Danny Ketch/Noble Kale), Gladiator (Melvin Potter), Dante Govich, Vincent Grazia, Gus, Hood, Iron Fist (Daniel Rand), Jessica Jones, Kingpin (Wilson Fisk), Knull, Det. Kurtz, Molten Man (Mark Raxton), Candace Nelson, Franklin "Foggy" Nelson, Liz Osborn, Paige Angel (Karen Page), Ivan Petrovich, Razor-Fist (Douglas Scott), Jason Sloan, Joanie Star, Mr. Steadman, Symbiotes, Thunderball (Eliot Franklin), Ben Urich, Mary Jane Watson, White Tiger (Ava Ayala), Williams, Wrecker (Dirk Garthwaite)
Known Relatives: Mister Fear (Alan Fagan, nephew), Shock (Ariel Tremmore, grand-niece)
Aliases: Harold Cranston, Harold Cranstone, Skull-face (nickname given by Daredevil)
Base of Operations: New
York City, USA;
formerly San Francisco, California, USA
First Appearance: Daredevil I#88 (June, 1972); (as Mr. Fear) Daredevil I#91 (September, 1972)
Powers/Abilities: Initially, Larry Cranston utilized the costume and weaponry of the original Mr. Fear, Zoltan Drago. He wore an exoskeleton equipped with boot jets and wielded fear gas that paralyzed others with visions and hallucinations of their greatest fears. After this gas proved ineffective with those with an antidote, Cranston altered his fear gas to no longer be effective against the antidote. He also underwent minor combat training and increased his weaponry to include darts equipped with his fear gas and razor-tipped edges to his cape. Recently, Cranston had a chemist alter his fear gas, giving him finer control over emotions related to fear, such as rage and love, in his victims. He had a special fear gas created that, when ingested, allowed its bearer to inspire loyalty in those around them. Cranston used this gas himself, permanently removing his own ability to feel fear, and provided another for Lily Lucca, allowing her to inspire feelings of trust and loyalty in men. Additionally, Cranston underwent combat training himself and became proficient in self-defense. He has recently utilized paralyzing gas and other technology, such as sound proof rooms.
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 175 lbs.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Brown
History:
(Daredevil I#90 (fb) - BTS) - Lawrence "Larry" Cranston went to law school with Matt Murdock.
(Over the Edge I#1 (fb) - BTS) - In a mock trial against Matt Murdock at Columbia University, Cranston was defeated by Murdock, who pulled out an ordinary technique and humiliated Cranston in front of his classmates. Cranston grew to hate Murdock and the law professors who supported him.
(Daredevil I#88 (fb) - BTS) - Years later, Cranston joined the law firm of Roderick, Sloan, and Cranston in San Francisco, California. He heard that Matt Murdock had moved out to San Francisco.
(Daredevil I#91 (fb) - BTS) - Cranston grew to hate all grand-standers, feeling that he did all the work while others sought the glory. While visiting New York, he heard a sound from the room across the hall and saw Starr Saxon murder Zoltan Drago, the original Mr. Fear. Cranston approached Drago's body and learned where his Mr. Fear costume and equipment were located before Drago died. When he realized that Daredevil was also in San Francisco, he figured that Murdock and Daredevil were the same person. He put a plan in place to rid himself of both Daredevil and Jason Sloan, the two grand-standers he hated the most. As Cranston, he convinced Sloan to try and hire Murdock.
(Daredevil I#88) - Cranston called Murdock's residence, where Ivan Petrovich answered the phone. He asked Ivan to tell Murdock he had called.
(Daredevil I#89) - Murdock called Cranston back and was offered a position at the firm. Murdock promised to get back to Cranston.
(Daredevil I#90) - Sloan and Cranston went to Murdock's residence, where they met Ivan Petrovich and Natasha Romanova (the Black Widow), Murdock's roommates. Sloan quickly silenced Cranston and bid Murdock farewell, letting him know that they hoped to see him soon. Meanwhile, Daredevil and Black Widow began to fall under the affects of the fear gas, which Cranston had secretly exposed them to.
(Daredevil
I#91) - Guised in his costume, Mr. Fear laughed as he watched Daredevil
move across the city. Later, Murdock went to meet Cranston, who
apologized to him for the previous day. They then went in to see Sloan,
who was just lighting up a cigar. Sloan then dismissed Cranston and
interviewed Murdock. Hours later, Mr. Fear attacked Daredevil in the
city, overwhelming him with a blast from the fear gun. Fear was shocked
when Daredevil, who'd designed an antidote to the fear gas, attacked.
Not to have his plans so easily upset, Fear fought himself free and hit
Daredevil, rushing off to finish his plans, but Daredevil pursued him.
Fear pinned Daredevil and started choking him, but Sloan distracted him
by opening the door, allowing Daredevil to rip off Fear's hood,
exposing Cranston. Daredevil, not wanting his identity revealed,
knocked out Sloan. Cranston explained how he'd become Mr. Fear and how
he'd determined Daredevil and Murdock were the same person, the he
jumped off the roof to free himself, not realizing his jets weren't
attached. He fell several stories, leading Daredevil to believe he'd
been killed.
(Over the Edge#1 (fb) - BTS) - Cranston somehow survived and created a false identity for himself as Harold Cranstone. Cranstone got a job at Columbia University as a law professor, where he took housing and became reacquainted with the teachers he'd come to despise from years before. He eventually heard that Matt Murdock had been killed, but found out that Daredevil was still active. He disbelieved this and began Cranston planning his ultimate revenge on Daredevil. Cranston eventually began kidnapping the teachers so that they could be witnesses to his final defeat of the hero. Weeks later, he kidnapped reporter Ben Urich, of the Daily Bugle, and kept all his captives under the influence of fear gas, which he'd altered to counteract the antidote Daredevil had previously developed, and in restraints.
(Over the Edge#1) -
Daredevil narrowly saved the bus from crashing, then found the envelope
Fear had left for him on the windshield while Fear watched from afar.
Daredevil soon found the envelope contained his yearbook from Columbia
the year he and Cranston graduated, with an X drawn over Murdock's
picture inside. Cranston's class was soon interrupted by Chairman
Chadwick, who came to warn him of the dangers of being kidnapped.
"Cranstone" promised to be on guard and assured Chadwick that he was in
no danger of getting kidnapped himself. As he walked back to his small
apartment, he also assured student James that he was fine. After
contacting Daredevil through an article in the Daily Bugle for
information on Urich, Cranston unleashed his fear gas on a public bus,
making it careen out of control. Cranston prepared a second clue for
the hero, planting it and fear gas on a midtown construction site the
next day. When worker Eddie nearly fell to his death, Daredevil, who'd
been warned about the event by Cranston via the Bugle again, narrowly
saved him before finding the second clue, a copy of a legal brief
Murdock had beat Cranston with in school. Mr. Fear sent notice to
Daredevil on where to find him, finally ready for his revenge. The hero
came bursting through the door at the Law School Library, where he saw
Urich, who was equipped with a pen and paper, and the teachers, who
were hanging upside down, all under the influence of the fear gas.
Holding a gun to Urich's head, Fear forced Daredevil into a witness
chair, preparing to have a mock trial that would end in its death. Fear
was shocked when he realized that Daredevil wasn't affected by the fear
gas, having used nose filters to hold it off. Fear then hit Daredevil
with fear darts that put the serum directly into his bloodstream,
though it took longer to work, then got Daredevil in a stranglehold.
Struggling to fight off the fear, Daredevil hit Fear repeatedly, but
the villain hit Daredevil with his cape, which had razor sharp spikes
hidden within the fabric. Fighting off the fear, Daredevil ripped off
Cranston's mask and knocked him to the floor. Cranston pointed out the
bomb he'd hidden in the library and managed to escape while Daredevil
and Urich dismantled it. Later, "Cranstone" attended a meeting with the
other teachers, who were recovering from having been kidnapped. He
resolved to keep planning his revenge.
(Daredevil I#363 (fb) - BTS) - Cranston convinced the powered Insomnia to work for him via unknown means. She ran the radio station WFSK, and Cranston put together a plot to broadcast subtle frequencies over the radio waves that would make others unable to sleep. Tying this in to his revenge plot against Daredevil, Cranston convinced Insomnia to hire Karen Page as a DJ.
(Daredevil I#361 (fb) - BTS) - Seeking to make more fear chemicals, Cranston hired Grey Gargoyle to steal chemicals from Roxxon, but Grey Gargoyle failed.
(Daredevil I#354-362 - BTS) - Karen Page began working as Paige Angel and her popularity steadily increased, though she didn't know that the frequencies were beginning to take effect in the public.
(Daredevil I#363 - BTS) - Insomnia was ordered to steal the chemicals that Grey Gargoyle had failed to obtain, but she came to blows with Daredevil and lost them. Cranston was furious and ordered Insomnia to kidnap Page.
(Daredevil I#364) - Insomnia kidnapped Karen Page and tried using fear gas to question her about Daredevil, but the hero rescued her. Insomnia, however, managed to obtain Daredevil's billy club and she delivered it to Mr. Fear, who planned to put his next plan in motion soon.
(Daredevil I#365) - Fear snuck into Osborn Chemicals and, with fear gas, forced ex-con Vincent Grazia to carry a briefcase full of fear gas into a meeting Molten Man was chairing. Molten Man grew violent as others, such as Williams, cowered in fear just as Murdock and Liz Osborn arrived. While Daredevil fought Molten Man, Fear and his men plundered the chemicals he needed and successfully escaped.
(Daredevil I#366) - Holding Murdock's billy club, Cranston lectured on punishment versus rehabilitation to his students at Columbia University. He taunted one student, Mr. Steadman, who'd fallen asleep. He waited until Murdock had gone to Rykers' Island prison to question Grazia. who was still under the effects of the fear gas and claiming he'd helped Fear of his own free will. Fear snuck into the prison with some of his operatives and had an inmate deliver the club to Murdock, which offered the hero proof that Fear knew his real identity, then fear released his newly concocted gas on the entire prison. He sent several inmates to confront Murdock, who fought them off, then he unleashed his gas on Murdock himself. Fear explained that he wanted revenge on Murdock and that this had all been about him, then he had inmate Wylie Lemmick in Gladiator's costume attack.
(Daredevil I#367) - Fear watched as Murdock cowered before Gladiator. Fear wondered what would drive a man with such skill to not defend himself. He ordered Gladiator and the other inmates to finish Murdock, promising Murdock he would keep his real secret to himself, then Fear left on his secondary objective. Murdock soon was able to triumph over Gladiator and the riot was contained.
(Daredevil I#375 (fb) - BTS) - Fear secured the release of a secret prisoner, Charlie Boroughs, an imprisoned former policeman, who he helped to become the Triple Threat Killer. He manipulated Charlie's father, Judge Chalmers, into keeping the release secret, leaving behind only a few blood stains from two murders that Charlie committed on his way out.
(Daredevil I#371 - BTS) - Charlie made his move on Marissa Dwyer, the friend of Franklin "Foggy" Nelson's sister, Candace.
(Daredevil I#372 - BTS) - Charlie killed Marissa, then checked in with Fear. He then started stalking Karen Page on her radio show. Meanwhile, Ghost Rider (Danny Ketch) killed the prison warden of Ryker's Island.
(Daredevil I#373) - Fear grew angry with Charlie for committing a murder against Fear's plans, and grew frustrated with Charlie's insanity. When assistant district attorney Cathy Malpher started contacting Chalmers for information, Fear checked in with Chalmer and made sure he knew Fear was in charge. Meanwhile, Charlie posed as a policeman and kidnapped Candace Nelson even while he continued stalking Karen Page.
(Daredevil I#374) - Fear discovered that Chalmer had betrayed him and he grew furious. He killed Chalmers with pills, making it look like a suicide. Meanwhile, Charlie planted evidence for Murdock to find at Fear's request. He then murdered Claudia Brooks, Karen Page's landlady, and left Karen to find the body.
(Daredevil I#375 (fb) - BTS) - Cranston killed Charlie and framed Karen Page for the murder. He kept Marissa in his Columbia University hideout, likely incapacitated from fear gas.
(Daredevil
I#375) - Using his Lawrence Cranston name again, Cranston appeared on a
television talk show with Joanie Star, offering his legal expertise
during the progress of Page's trial. He publicly laughed at Murdock's
choice to represent Page himself, and Page's claim that she'd killed
Charlie in self-defense and that he was the Triple-Threat Killer
himself. Cranston felt like he had everything under control, getting
guards in jail to harass Page and using indirect fear gas, via pen, on
the jury. During Murdock's opening statement, Fear dropped the dead
body of Marissa, marked with carvings of "I Love Karen" on her corpse,
leading the public to believe the Triple Threat Killer was still out
there. Over the following days, he bantered with Star over the body of
Marissa and over Page's checkered past. Fear showed up to taunt Murdock
briefly before bursting through a window, leaving Murdock to get
injured by the falling glass. Days later, as the trial continued
leaning against Page, Fear costumed himself and mixed fear gas in his
library. Fear was shocked and infuriated when Daredevil appeared,
having tracked Fear there from the scents on Marissa's body. Fear fired
gas, mixed with psychogenics, at Daredevil, who donned a gas
mask to resist and knocked Fear back. Fear activated explosives he'd
previously placed and tossed the journal of Judge Chalmers into the
fire. When Daredevil jumped in after the book, Fear was able to escape.
Murdock used the journal as evidence to help clear Page, and Cranston
grew ever more impatient with Star on the talk show as the trial
progressed. With the help of Elektra, Page survived an attack in the
jail, and with the help of the Kingpin, the jury was released from
Fear's influence. Page was soon cleared of her charges, and Cranston
was furious, walking off Star's show in a fury.
(Deadline#2) - Fear spent time fraternizing with other villains at the Bar With No Name.
(Daredevil II#100 (fb) - BTS) - Laying low, Cranston used the pseudonym Harold Cranston and took a job at Empire State Night School, teaching law classes. He watched from afar as Daredevil's secret identity was publicly exposed and Daredevil was arrested. When Murdock went free and tried returning to his old life as if nothing had ever happened, Cranston vowed revenge, hating Murdock for his arrogance.
(Daredevil II#102 (fb)) - Cranston met chemistry professor Dante V. Govich. Using his fear gas, he forced Govich to experiment upon and improve Cranston's arsenal, and several deadly drugs and gasses were created. Cranston began to understand the subtle connections between fear, love, paranoia, and insanity, and how to make others have their pheromones altered or to drive others to violence, homicide, or suicide.
(Daredevil II#99 (fb) - BTS) - Vanessa Fisk paid Cranston a large sum of money to provide a special gas perfume for one of her plots.
(Daredevil II#93 (fb) - BTS) - Mr. Fear provided one of his new chemicals, one that would awaken the favorite scent memories in the minds of men, for Vanessa Fisk to use on Lily Lucca in a plot against Murdock.
(Daredevil II#105 (fb) - BTS) - Cranston used his new gas on himself, granting himself the power to affect others through his scent pheromones and taking away his own ability to feel fear. He knew that if he killed his chemist, that there would be no cure for those affected by his deadliest fear gas, which would slowly drive them insane. Cranston also started combat training.
(Daredevil II#95 - BTS) - Fear's men tracked Milla Donovan, Murdock's wife, and learned she was seeing a therapist. They called to report to Fear.
(Daredevil II#105 (fb) - BTS) - Cranston put together a plot to take down Murdock, planning to drive one of his oldest enemies, Gladiator (Melvin Potter), incurably insane and on a killing spree, to drive Milla Donovan incurably insane, and to instill chaos in Hell's Kitchen. He figured that this complex plot would take time, but would destroy Murdock and fill him with fear for months to come.
(Daredevil II#96 - BTS) - Gladiator was exposed to the fear gas and he killed two men in prison, though he had no memory of the event.
(Daredevil II#99 (fb) - BTS) - Utilizing his fear gas, Cranston forced one of his students, Gus, to involve Becky Blake, the law partner of Murdock, in Gladiator's case.
(Daredevil II#96) - At the office of Dr. Lyman Johnstone, Cranston posed as a patient and made conversation with Milla Donovan about keeping secrets.
(Daredevil II#102 (fb) - BTS) - Cranston exposed Milla to his fear gas.
(Daredevil II#96 - BTS) - Cranston had some of his men, who were specially armed to handle Daredevil, break Gladiator out of prison. Gladiator, now fully insane from the gas, retrieved his criminal costume.
(Daredevil II#97 - BTS) - Manipulating Gladiator from afar, Cranston had Chico and Merv take Gladiator to Chinatown, where Gladiator killed dozens in the streets. Meanwhile, Gus killed himself due to the gas. Cranston ordered Gladiator to attack Murdock and his wife in a public restaurant, then Gladiator took Murdock's wallet and attacked Milla at their home. Using a special voice projecting device and a voice scrambler, Cranston informed Daredevil, who was in the back of a police car, of Milla's danger.
(Daredevil II#98 (fb) - BTS) - At some point, Cranston put Turk Barrett and the Enforcers (Ox (Ronald Bloch), Fancy Dan, and Montana) in his employ. He had Turk start spreading the fear drugs throughout Hell's Kitchen, knowing the drug would enable criminals to overcome their inhibitions and let chaos rule.
(Daredevil II#98 - BTS) - Gladiator was apprehended by Murdock as crime started breaking out across the city.
(Daredevil II#99 (fb) - BTS) - In order to lead Murdock into a trap, Cranston had Chico and Merv led to a bogus drug deal where Daredevil apprehended them.
(Daredevil II#99) - Cranston stood with the Enforcers in a room that blocked sounds from Daredevil, who was tracking them there from information gathered from Chico and Merv. The room was filled with a numbing gas, which made Daredevil sluggish. The others, with their antidote, easily beat Daredevil up. Cranston finally revealed himself in his Fear costume and told Murdock that he knew Milla.
(Daredevil II#100) - While Ox held Daredevil, Fear explained that he'd been planning on destroying Murdock for months, hating Murdock for his arrogance. After from revealing that he'd had a teaching job where he'd used the name Harold, Fear sprayed fear gas directly into Daredevil's face, then had Ox toss him from the window. He then had the word spread that it was open season on Daredevil.
(Daredevil II#100 - BTS) - Cranston returned to his residence, where he placed a trap for Daredevil. He strapped a bomb to Govich's form and set a trigger for it to explode when Daredevil landed on the window. He then played his own voice in the computer so that Daredevil would think he was in there. After Daredevil overcame the drug, he rushed to Cranston's residence and triggered the trap. Daredevil escaped, but Govich was killed in the explosion.
(Daredevil II#105 (fb) - BTS) - When the Hood's gang set up in town, Fear refused to join the gang, but kept a rivalry going. He surmised that a war between his gang and the Hood's would destroy Hell's Kitchen, driving Murdock that much more insane.
(Daredevil II#101 - BTS) - Daredevil learned about Govich, and Assistant D.A. Algren saw Milla placed in Bellevue psychiatric facility. Cranston was unaware that Turk chose to betray him and contact the Hood, a rival crime lord.
(Daredevil II#102 (fb) - BTS) - Cranston used fear gas on DA Algren to have him release Milla to Murdock.
(Daredevil II#102) - Cranston reflected on his perfect life while staying with three women at a penthouse suite for no charge (as he'd used fear gas on the hotel employees). He ate breakfast and read the paper, then trained against three deadly mercenaries who couldn't harm him due to the fear gas. Cranston then learned from Ox that the Hood had sent the Wrecker and Razor-Fist to disrupt Fear's drug trade. Cranston heard that Daredevil had been buried beneath a wall, but knew he would survive. He decided to keep his plans in place and focus on the Hood later. He thought about how Murdock must be gaining his confidence back, and smirked that it was all part of his plan.
(Daredevil II#104 (fb)) - Mr. Fear waited at the apartment of Lily Lucca, knowing it was she who Milla had tried to kill. With his fear gas impacting her, he ordered her to make it so Milla would be let free.
(Daredevil II#104 (fb) - BTS) - Fear ordered Lily to visit Milla, knowing that this would cause Milla to go over the edge.
(Daredevil II#103 - BTS) - While the Hood's goons Thunderball and Bulldozer continued fighting on Mr. Fear's turf, Daredevil managed to capture the Ox. Meanwhile, Lily went to Milla's apartment.
(Daredevil II#104 - BTS) - Fear vacated his headquarters when Ox warned him that Daredevil was coming. Ox also told Fear to come, without bodyguards, to a meeting with the Hood. He left behind a note that told Daredevil he was too late. He then called Lily, having heard that Milla had been arrested, and told her that he'd be by to give her the agreed reward later.
(Daredevil II#104) - Fear went with bodyguards to the Hood meeting, and Hood killed both bodyguards. Hood then, with guns pointed at Fear, said that it was time he and Fear came to an understanding. During this, Ox sat on the sidelines.
(Daredevil II#105) - With Ox standing by holding Hood's guards, Fear explained that the turf war had only been part of his plot against Daredevil. He offered to let the Hood keep Hell's Kitchen, but admitted that he wouldn't respond to threats. Knowing that Daredevil was on his way, Fear ordered Ox to depart with the Hood and leave the fight to him. Fear met Daredevil on the roof, asking how Milla was and laughing hysterically. Daredevil savagely attacked, but Fear managed to knock him aside. They fought savagely and Daredevil ripped off Fear's gas container, then tossed him off the roof to try and scare him. Fear never even screamed, not feeling fear, and instead cut himself free of Daredevil's billy club and burst through a window. Daredevil followed, immune to Fear's gas as he'd already survived it. He ripped Fear's mask off, and Cranston he was immune to his own gas. Daredevil knocked Cranston down and demanded that he cure Potter and Milla. Cranston happily revealed that there was no cure and that he'd won the battle weeks ago as Milla would always be insane. Cranston was arrested by Detective Kurtz, where he confessed to everything. He was incarcerated at Ryker's, where he quickly put all the guards and inmates under his control, even coercing C.O. Markham to sleep with him. He grew determined to stay there until he tired of it.
(Dark Reign: The Hood#4) - Backing the Shocker up against Force and an NYPD strike team, Mr. Fear (with the Hood, Mandrill, Piledriver, Scorcher, Shocker, and John King) had little chance to use his powers before he was taken down by the Hood's adversary White Fang.
(Dark Reign: The Hood#5) - Mr. Fear was freed by Controller, Squid, Blood Brother, Thunderball and Piledriver from Force and the authorities. Fear was present when Controller discussed to vote a new leader in Hood's absence and later attended the fight between Hood and Force on the Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island, New York, which ended with Hood defeating Force.
(Heroes for Hire IV#11 (fb) – BTS) – Fear hired chemist Brady Briedel to make fear gas for him.
(Fear Itself: Home Front#5/3) – With the world in the throes of fear, Mr. Fear wandered the streets, frustrated over how inane he’d become during this event, and angry that someone confused him for Dr. Doom.
(Thunderbolts I#168) – Mr. Fear escaped from the Raft and hid out in a church in Washington, D.C. with some allies, including Janice. Luke Cage tracked them down and Fear exposed him to deep fears, killing Janice with poison to make Cage think he did it, then escaping himself.
SECRET WARS III HAPPENED
(Civil War II: Kingpin#1/1) - Mr. Fear was defeated by Captain America.
(King in Black: Thunderbolts#2 (fb) - BTS) - At some point, Mr. Fear befriended Figment, and slept on her couch for two months, though she never saw him without a mask on.
(King in Black: Thunderbolts#1) - When Knull and his symbiote dragons attacked Earth, Kingpin assembled a new team of villains, including Ampere, Snakehead, Batroc the Leaper, Taskmaster, Star, Rhino, and Mr. Fear. After Mr. Fear and Taskmaster quipped about the similarity in their costumes, Kingpin had Incendiary killed for refusing to participate, then he sent the new team forward, without masks, on a suicide mission to stop Knull. When Kingpin called the team the Thunderbolts, Mr. Fear jokingly said they should be called the Hope League. A dragon attacked, killing Snakehead before it was defeated, then Mr. Fear killed Ampere when he tried to abandon the team. Mr. Fear took Ampere's electric gloves and gave them to Taskmaster and Batroc to use, then Rhino left the team. When Mr. Fear tried looting a jewelry store, Taskmaster yelled at him, then they saw Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, and Iron Fist battling symbiotes. The team fled to Ravencroft, where they met Norman Osborn.
(King in Black: Thunderbolts#2) - Mr. Fear suggested they recruit new teammates for the Thunderbolts from the Ravencroft cells, and he looked over the list of inmates including Bushman, Inquisition, Throatpuncher, the Night Scrubber, Foolkiller, Man-Bull, Mr. Hyde, and Panda-Mania. Mr. Fear insulted the Kingpin, not realizing he was listening on a video call, and Kingpin ordered Taskmaster to punch Mr. Fear in retaliation. Mr. Fear saw Figment, wanting to recruit her, but Taskmaster said no. Symbiotes attacked, infecting prisoners, and Mr. Fear used a blade and a gun (with a blade on it) that fired gas to fight back, and the team killed Night Scrubber. The team escaped in a bus and Mr. Fear, who proved to be a terrible driver, drove the team off of a broken bridge. Star saved them, and Mr. Fear flirted with her before Taskmaster threatened him.
(King in Black: Thunderbolts#3) - Mr. Fear helped stitch together the corpse of the Sentry as they drove toward a bridge in New York City, and they invited the Ravencroft escapees to join the Thunderbolts. Star used her powers to kill many symbiotes, then she collapsed from the strain. When Fisk tried to betray the team, they had Figment cast a massive illusion that made it seem as though Taskmaster betrayed the Thunderbolts and the rest died while blowing up the bridge to save the city. The Thunderbolts soon returned to confront the Kingpin, still with the corpse of the Sentry, and they blackmailed him for money and made plans to stay together as a team.
(Mary Jane & Black Cat: Beyond#1) - As Mary Jane Watson watched, Black Cat beat up Mr. Fear, demanding intel on where the demon was that had consumed Parker Robbins' hood.
(Marvel's Voices: Community II#1/3) - Mr. Fear went back to his old gear and attacked the streets with fear gas. Just as he was ready to triumph over the White Tiger, he was defeated by a new hero, Chimera.
Comments: Created by Gerry Conway, Gene Colan, and Tom Palmer.
It is possible that
Cranston was at the Hood's meeting in New Avengers I#35, but the Mister
Fear seen in that issue wore a different costume than Cranston
currently does, which makes it more likeley that it was Cranston's
nephew Alan Fagan at the meeting.
--Markus Raymond
Mr. Fear is listed as Daredevil's 8th deadliest villain in Daredevil Annual I#8/2.
Joan Star is clearly based on real-life celebrity Star Jones.
Larry Cranston/Mr. Fear
was probably at least partially an homage to
Lamont Cranston, The Shadow, from Detective Stories Magazines and radio
serials in the Thirties.
--Will U
Thanks to SQUEAK for his help with this profile. Thanks to Coeloptera for pointing out that Shock is Cranston's grand-niece.
Profile by Chadman.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Mister Fear should not be confused with
Mister Fear has no known connections to
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(Daredevil I#375) - Joanie Star interviewed law professor Lawrence Cranston on her show about the recent murder trial for Karen Page. As the trial went on, Cranston grew increasingly aggressive and sarcastic with Joanie during the interviews. --Daredevil I#375 |
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(Daredevil I#366) - After staying up late studying, Mr. Steadman fell asleep in his law class during a prison discussion. When awakened by Professor Cranston, Steadman gave his opinion that prison should be a place of suffering and not rehabilitation. --Daredevil I#366 |
images:
(without ads)
Daredevil II#104, p3, pan4 (main)
Daredevil II#102, p6, pan2 (face)
Daredevil I#91, cover (1st costume)
Over the Edge#1, p9, pan2 (as Harold Cranstone)
Over the Edge#1, p4, pan5 (purple cape)
Daredevil I#375, p20, pan1 (bursting through glass)
King in Black: Thunderbolts#2, p10, pan1 (black hooded costume)
Daredevil I#375, p3, pan7 (Joanie Star)
Daredevil I#366, p2, pan8 (Mr. Steadman)
Appearances:
Daredevil I#88-90 (June-August, 1972) - Gerry Conway (writer), Gene Colan (penciler), Tom Palmer (inker), Stan Lee (editor)
Daredevil I#91 (September, 1972) - Gerry Conway (writer), Gene Colan (penciler), Tom Palmer (inker), Stan Lee (editor)
Over the Edge#1 (November, 1995) - Ralph Macchio (writer), Robert Brown (penciler), Mike Witherby (inker), James Felder (editor)
Daredevil I#354 (July, 1996) - Karl Kesel (writer), Cary Nord, Rick Leonardi (pencilers), Matt Ryan (inker), James Felder (editor)
Daredevil I#355 (August, 1996) - Karl Kesel, Larry Hama (writers), Cary Nord, Steve Epting (pencilers), Matt Ryan (inker), James Felder (editor)
Daredevil I#356 (September, 1996) - Karl Kesel (writer), Cary Nord, Rick Leonardi (pencilers), Matt Ryan (inker), James Felder (editor)
Daredevil I#357 (October, 1996) - Karl Kesel (writer), Cary Nord (penciler), Matt Ryan (inker), James Felder (editor)
Daredevil I#358 (November, 1996) - Joe Kelly (writer), Pascual Ferry (penciler/inker), Jaime Mendoza (inker), James Felder (editor)
Daredevil I#359 (December, 1996) - Karl Kesel, Larry Hama (writers), Cary Nord (penciler), Matt Ryan (inker), James Felder (editor)
Daredevil I#360-361 (January-February, 1997) - Karl Kesel (writer), Cary Nord (penciler), Matt Ryan (inker), James Felder (editor)
Daredevil I#362 (March, 1991) - Karl Kesel (writer), Cary Nord (penciler), Matt Ryan, Al Milgrom, Hilary Barta (inkers), James Felder (editor)
Daredevil I#363 (April, 1997) - Karl Kesel (writer), Gene Colan (penciler), Cam Smith, Paul Neary (inkers), Jaye Gardner (editor)
Daredevil I#364 (May, 1997) - Karl Kesel (writer), Gene Colan (penciler), Matt Ryan (inker), Jaye Gardner (editor)
Daredevil I#365 (June, 1997) - Joe Kelly (writer), Cary Nord (penciler), Matt Ryan (inker), Jaye Gardner (editor)
Daredevil I#366 (August, 1997) - Joe Kelly (writer), Gene Colan (penciler), Al Williamson (inker), Jaye Gardner (editor)
Daredevil I#367 (September, 1997) - Joe Kelly (writer), Gene Colan (penciler), Bud LaRosa, Harry Candelario (inkers), Jaye Gardner (editor)
Daredevil I#371-372 (January-February, 1998) - Joe Kelly (writer), Ariel Olivetti (penciler), Pier Brito (inker), Jaye Gardner (editor)
Daredevil I#373 (March, 1998) - Joe Kelly, Ben Raab (writers), Richie Acosta (penciler), Bud Larosa (inker), Jaye Gardner (editor)
Daredevil I#374 (April, 1998) - Joe Kelly, Jonathan Barron (writers), Ariel Olivetti (penciler), Pier Brito (inker), Jaye Gardner (editor)
Daredevil I#375 (May, 1998) - Joe Kelly, Chris Claremont (writers), Cary Nord, Ariel Olivetti, John Paul Leon, Tom Lyle, Brian Denham, Rick Leonardi (pencilers), Mark Lipka, Pier Brito, John Paul Leon, Robert
Jones, Chris Carlson, Scott Hanna (inkers), Jaye Gardner (editor)
Deadline#2 (July, 2002) - Bill Rosemann (writer), Guy Davis (penciler/inker), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Daredevil II#93 (March, 2007) - Ed Brubaker (writer), Michael Lark (penciler), Stefano Gaudiano (inker), Warren Simons (editor)
Daredevil II#95-99 (May-September, 2007) - Ed Brubaker (writer), Michael Lark (penciler), Stefano Gaudiano (inker), Warren Simons (editor)
Daredevil II#100 (October, 2007) - Ed Brubaker (writer), Michael Lark, Marko Djurdjevic, John Romita Sr., Gene Colan, Bill Sienkiewicz, Alex Maleev, Lee Bermejo (pencilers), Stefano Gaudiano, Al Milgrom (inkers), Warren Simons (editor)
Daredevil II#101-102 (November-December, 2007) - Ed Brubaker (writer), Michael Lark (penciler), Stefano Gaudiano (inker), Warren Simons (editor)
Daredevil II#103-105 (February-April, 2008) - Ed Brubaker (writer), Michael Lark (penciler), Paul Azaceta, Stefano Gaudiano (inkers), Warren Simons (editor)
Dark Reign: The Hood#4-5 (October-November, 2009) - Jeff Parker (writer), Kyle Hotz (artist), Bill Rosemann (editor)
Heroes for Hire IV#11 (November, 2011) – Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning (writers), Kyle Hotz (penciler), Bob Almond (inker), Bill Rosemann (editor)
Fear Itself: Home Front#5/3 (October, 2011) – Howard Chaykin (writer/penciler/inker), Lauren Sankovitch (editor)
Thunderbolts I#168 (March, 2012) – Jeff Parker (writer), Matthew Southworth (penciler/inker), Tom Brennan (editor)
Civil War II: Kingpin#1/1 (September, 2016) - Matthew Rosenberg (writer), Ricardo Lopez Ortiz (artist), Wil Moss (Editor)
King in Black: Thunderbolts#1-3 (March-May, 2021) – Matthew Rosenberg (writer), Juan Ferreyra (artist), Jake Thomas (editor)
Mary Jane & Black Cat: Beyond#1 (March, 2022) - Jed MacKay (writer), C.F. Villa (artist), Nick Lowe (editor)
Marvel's Voices: Community II#1/3 (September, 2022) – Alex Segura (writer), Roge Antonio (artist), Angelique Roche (editor)
First Posted: 04/25/2008
Last updated: 11/13/2022
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
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