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MARVO

Real Name: Unrevealed

Identity/Class: Normal human (1950s Era)

Occupation: Circus performer

Group Membership: Bonham Bros. Circus

Affiliations: Samson

Enemies: Marvel Boy (Bob Grayson), Pete Mason, Starr Ryder, Bonham Bros. Circus patrons

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Mobile across the USA

First Appearance: Marvel Boy I#2/5 (February, 1951)

Powers/Abilities: Marvo had mind-reading powers that he had acquired/learned through unknown means, but he was greedy and ruthless.

History:

(Marvel Boy I#2/5 (fb) - BTS) - The owner of Bonham Bros. Circus was indebted to Marvo for a million dollars with the circus on the verge of bankruptcy. Marvo wanted his money back and twice set fire to the circus tent in the midst of a performance in order to get the fire insurance payout, the second time causing the death of 70 people. Meanwhile, he taught his understudy, Starr Ryder (the owner's niece), some mind-reading tricks.

(Marvel Boy I#2/5) - Suspicious, the insurance firm sent Bob Grayson (actually Marvel Boy) to investigate if there had been arson and he joined the circus as a high-wire performer. Marvo unsuccessfully tried to scan Marvel Boy's mind and had Samson steal the hero's pill box when Grayson sat down for lunch during rehearsals. Concerned that his scam had been discovered, he then had Starr Ryder kidnapped to prevent her talking. Later, during a circus performance before a large crowd, he secretly told his strong lackey Samson to upset Grayson's high-wire act in an attempt to kill him, but Grayson was able to recover. Seeing his henchman knocked out by the hero, Marvo became infuriated and charged at Grayson with a fire-ax, but was blinded by Marvel Boy's wrist jewels. The police then arrived, alerted by Grayson's reporter friend Pete Mason, and he was arrested.

 

Comments: Created by Bill Everett (writer (?) & art).

As Starr Ryder learned some mind-reading tricks from Marvo, it seems highly unlikely that he was a mutant/mutate.

Profile by Grendel Prime.

CLARIFICATIONS :
Marvo has no known connections to:


Samson

Samson

Samson was the strong man of the circus show and was Marvo's lackey. Marvo had him steal Grayson's strength-enhancing uranium pills and Samson later caused Grayson to fall while rehearsing for a new high-wire trick. He later kidnapped Starr Ryder for Marvo and again attempted to let Grayson fall to his death, this time during the performance, but Grayson instead fell on him, knocking him unconscious. He was arrested soon after.

 

--Marvel Boy I#2/5


images: (without ads)
Marvel Boy I#2/5, p6, pan1 (main image)

p4, pan3 (head shot)
p3, pan5 (Samson)


Other Appearances: None


First Posted: 11/18/2009
Last updated: 11/18/2909

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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