Scarecrow (Marvel Comics)

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This article deals with the Scarecrow of Marvel Comics. For the DC Comics supervillain, see Scarecrow (comics). For the supernatural Marvel Comics hero of the same name, see Straw Man (comics).

The Scarecrow is a Marvel Comics supervillain.

[edit] Character History

Ebenezer Laughton was a circus escape artist who helped Iron Man apprehend a fleeing culprit. However, he decided to make his profit in crime and became an accomplished burglar. He mostly worked alone - except for a flock of trained crows which served as carriers and killers - although he once joined Count Nefaria's short-lived team of super-mercenaries (which included the Eel, the Porcupine, the Plantman and the Unicorn). Eventually, however, from breaking out of prison so many times his mind snapped, and Laughton became insane, willing to kill people wantomly.

Laughton wears a scarecrow costume and is extremely flexible due to heavy training. He became an undead character, raised by the sorcerer Stern after falling into his own pitchfork after a battle with the second Ghost Rider. Before this he possessed no superhuman powers save for his "rubber man" ability, but after his resurrection he gained superhuman strength, speed and endurance as well as the supernatural ability to induce fear in his enemies.

In Marvel vs. DC he teamed up with DC's Scarecrow in an attempt to kidnap Lois Lane, but Spider-Man saved her by knocking them both out with a single kick.

Laughton's physiology and mentality would fluctuate quite a bit over the years, given his employ/manipulation by various demonic/magical entites, resulting in continuing conflict with Ghost Rider and his allies, even becoming a body-hopping ghost during one such campaign. Eventually, Laughton would be abandoned by various "magical employers", and stabilize physically, if not mentally.

Scarecrow was jailed in the Raft prison facility following a failed sexual assault upon hostages who were freed by the Falcon. Following that facility's destruction, he found himself in conflict with Spider-Man and the Thunderbolts.

Scarecrow is among the army of villains recruited by Zemo and his Thunderbolts to serve as "hero-hunters" during the events of the Civil War crossover.

Scarecrow recently showed up during Spider-Man: Unmasked as one of a band of costumed villains, (including Electro, the Molten Man, and Will o' the Wisp), hired by the Chameleon to attack Peter Parker in a lopsided revenge effort. Scarecrow was defeated and incarcerated.