CIRCUS OF DEATH

Membership: Butch the roustabout, Derko the clown, the Missing Link, Omir the Snake Charmer, Rajar the elephant, Rawal the elephant trainer, Ringmaster of Death (Fritz Tiboldt), Spike, Tommy Thumb, the Trapeze Trio, Zandow

Purpose: To help Nazi Germany conquer America while entertaining the masses!

Aliases: None

Affiliations: Adolf Hitler

Enemies: General Blaine, Bucky (James Buchanan Barnes), Captain America (Steve Rogers), Defense Commissioner Newsome, Betty Ross

Base of Operations: Mobile;
formerly Germany

First Appearance: Captain America Comics I#5 (August, 1941)



History: (Captain America Comics I#5 (fb) – BTS) – A Nazi agent, the Ringmaster of Death took his Circus to America, where he planned to kill American military leaders. With grand plans of ruling America after Hitler took over Europe, Ringmaster fantasized about turning criminals into his Gestapo. He made a Wheel of Death, with the faces of military foes he could target to kill.

(Captain America Comics I#5) – Soldiers Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes met General Blaine at the Circus. The Ringmaster spun his Wheel of Death and let it choose General Blaine as the next to die. Using a whip, the Ringmaster forced Tommy Thumb to open the tiger cage and the tiger killed Blaine before Steve Rogers could change to Captain America and defeat the tiger, breaking its neck. Bucky followed Tommy but Ringmaster's men beat him over the head with a club, though Cap soon chased them off. The next day, the Ringmaster spun the Wheel to Defense Commissioner Newsome and he assigned Zandow, Omir the Snake Charmer and the Trapeze Trio to complete the task. The trapeze artists made a human bridge to Newsome's window in the armory then Omir played his flute, getting his deadly snake to bite and kill Newsome. Betty Ross saw the men escaping the armory window and Ringmaster's men kidnapped her, with Captain America being knocked out by Zandow. After spinning his Wheel to Captain America this time, the Ringmaster prepared his Circus for the hero. Cap and Bucky attacked, bypassing many Circus performers, including the man on the back of Rajar the elephant, only to find Betty dangling from a rope. Ringmaster cut the rope, Bucky caught Betty using the trapeze and Cap easily defeated Ringmaster by smashing the Wheel over his head. Bucky collapsed the Big Top on all of the performers and they fled as the police arrived.

Comments: Created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.

Butch the roustabout, Derko the clown, Rawal the elephant trainer and Spike's names were first revealed in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: A-Z Update#1 (2008). -Proto-Man (with info provided by John Holstein)

Profile by Chadman.

CLARIFICATIONS:
The Circus of Death should not be confused with:


General Blaine

General Blaine visited a traveling circus and saw Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes but he was soon mauled and killed by a released tiger.




--Captain America Comics I#5


The Missing Link

The Missing Link, a member of the Circus of Death, helped attack Captain America and Bucky, following the Ringmaster's orders. Bucky punched Missing Link aside.



--Captain America Comics I#5


Defense Commissioner Newsome

Defense Commissioner Newsome was planning military action in the armory when Omir the Snake Charmer sent a cobra in to bite and kill him.





--Captain America Comics I#5


Omir the Snake Charmer

Omir the Snake Charmer worked for the Ringmaster's Circus of Death, a group working with the Nazi Party. Ringmaster ordered Zandow, the Trapeze Trio and Omir the Snake Charmer to kill Defense Commissioner Newsome. After climbing across the human bridge made by the Trapeze Trio, Omir used his flute to inspire a cobra to bite and kill Newsome. The Circus was later shut down by Captain America and Bucky.



--Captain America Comics I#5


Rajar the Elephant

Rajar the elephant performed with the Circus of Death with a man on his back as Captain America and Bucky fought the Circus. Rajar picked up Captain America in his trunk and tossed him across the room.





--Captain America Comics I#5


Spike

A member of the Circus of Death, Spike tried shooting at Captain America after the hero had been tossed in the air by Rajar the elephant but Cap twisted his body and crashed into Spike.



--Captain America Comics I#5


Tommy Thumb

Tommy Thumb was the little person working for the Ringmaster's Circus of Death, a group working with the Nazi Party. When American soldiers visited the camp, Ringmaster forced Tommy with a whip to open the tiger cage and the tiger killed General Blaine. Bucky chased after Tommy but he escaped. The Circus was later shut down by Captain America and Bucky.




--Captain America Comics I#5


The Trapeze Trio

The Trapeze Trio worked for the Ringmaster's Circus of Death, a group working with the Nazi Party. Ringmaster ordered Zandow, the Trapeze Trio and Omir the Snake Charmer to kill Defense Commissioner Newsome with the Trio making a human bridge into Newsome's office to get in and out. The Circus was later shut down by Captain America and Bucky.



--Captain America Comics I#5


Zandow

Zandow was the strong man working for the Ringmaster's Circus of Death, a group working with the Nazi Party. Ringmaster ordered Zandow, the Trapeze Trio and Omir the Snake Charmer to kill Defense Commissioner Newsome. When Captain America attacked, Zandow briefly managed to knock the hero out. The Circus was later shut down by Captain America and Bucky.





--Captain America Comics I#5


images: (without ads)
Captain America Comics I#5, p1 (Circus of Death, group image, main image)
Captain America Comics I#5, p6, pan1 (Ringmaster giving the Circus of Death instructions)
Captain America Comics I#5, p2, pan3 (The Circus of Death's Wheel of Death)
Captain America Comics I#5, p1, pan2 (General Blaine)
Captain America Comics I#5, p11, pan4 (the Missing Link)
Captain America Comics I#5, p6, pan3 (Defense Commissioner Newsome)
Captain America Comics I#5, p6, pan5 (Omir the Snake Charmer)
Captain America Comics I#5, p10, pan5 (Rajar the elephant)
Captain America Comics I#5, p11, pan7 (Spike)
Captain America Comics I#5, p2, pan7 (Tommy Thumb)
Captain America Comics I#5, p6, pan4 (the Trapeze Trio)
Captain America Comics I#5, p8, pan1 (Zandow)


Appearances:
Captain America Comics I#5 (August, 1941) – Joe Simon (writer/inker/editor), Jack Kirby (writer/penciler)


First Posted: 11/03/2018
Last updated: 12/15/2018

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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