Clown (comics)

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The Clown

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Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance Incredible Hulk #3 (Sep 1962)
Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko
In story information
Alter ego Eliot Franklin
Team affiliations Circus of Crime
The Masters of Menace
Gamma Corps
Notable aliases Crafty, Griffin, Funny Man, Crafty Clown

The Clown is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.

Contents

[edit] Fictional character biography

Eliot Franklin was born in Orlando, Florida, the son of a man named Corky. When he began his criminal career, he joined the Ringmaster's Circus of Crime, working as a circus clown, comedian, juggler, and unicyclist. He uses a number of gimmicks such as a trick cane, unicycle, and juggler's balls.

He is apparently a member of the Circus of Crime from the outset but he is indistinguishable from the other clowns until he meets in a Hotel room with Human Cannonball, the Great Gambonnos and Princess Python when they decide to kick the Ringmaster out and go out on their own. They call themselves the Masters of Menace and elect Eliot as their leader. The Clown comes up with a plan to rob a Madison Avenue Art Gallery but the whole plot is eventually foiled by Spider-Man. After they get out of jail, the Masters agree to rejoin the Ringmaster as the Circus of Crime. They try to recruit Hawkeye, Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch to the cause but fail.

After a run-in with the Hulk and the Thing, Iceman, and Giant-Man, Eliot leaves the group, wipes off the make-up, he hangs out with the Quentin Carnival because his father Corky is a clown there. He wants to go straight but the Circus of Crime finds him and won't leave him alone. When Corky's tent burns to the ground, the Ghost Rider steps in to save Eliot's dad. But Corky is badly hurt and the hospital bills will be high so Eliot goes back to the Circus and re-assumes his role as the Crafty Clown. The group even appoints him leader. He takes the group back to rob the Quentin Carnival but his real intention is to way-lay Fire-Eater as revenge for what was done to his father. This ambush is interrupted by the Ghost Rider who forces Eliot to look at his own tainted soul. The Clown sees his life as a hell and is reduced to near-catatonia. Unblinking and robotic, Eliot is given the job of pushing a broom around the Quentin Carnival. Corky recovers, returns to the show, and works hard to help Eliot improve. By the time Johnny Blaze leaves the carnival, Eliot is soft-spoken and stuttering but is able to communicate.

Sometime later, he rejoins the Circus of Crime and they battle Namor, the Shroud, the Hulk again, the She-Hulk, Power Pack, Ben Reilly, Spider-Man, Howard the Duck, Generation X, Devil Dinosaur and Moon-Boy.

[edit] Civil War

Clown (alongside Ringmaster and Great Gambonnos) was among the villains in Hammerhead's unnamed villian army when Iron Man and S.H.I.E.L.D. raided their hideout.[1]

[edit] World War Hulk

He later joined the Gamma Corps, under the name Griffin with a mutation similar to Betty Ross' Harpy form. The team were assembled by General Ryker with the objective of destroying the Hulk. Franklin hold more personal grudges against the Green Goliath.

[edit] Powers and abilities

The Clown has no super human powers but often uses his clown paraphernalia in attacking his victims, such as using his juggling balls and trick canes

As Harpy-like man, based on the Betty Ross mutation. He has sharp claws and talons, and can spit a slimey corrosive venom. He is shown to be somewhat mentally unstable.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Civil War: War Crimes #1 (February 2007)

[edit] External links