Scarecrow (Marvel Comics)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- 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).
| Scarecrow | |
 Scarecrow. Art by Angel Medina. |
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| Publication information | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Tales of Suspense #51 (Mar 1964) |
| Created by | Stan Lee Don Heck |
| In story information | |
| Alter ego | Ebenezer Laughton |
| Team affiliations | Maggia Exterminators[1] |
| Notable aliases | Umberto the Uncanny |
The Scarecrow (Ebenezer Laughton) is a fictional character, a supervillain in the Marvel Comics Universe, in which he is an enemy of Spider-Man and Ghost Rider. His first appearance was in Tales of Suspense #51.
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[edit] Fictional character biography
Ebenezer Laughton was born in Rhinebeck, New York. Raised by an abusive mother who was alternately viciously cruel and extremly kind to him, Laughton became a circus escape artist and contortionist, helping 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 wantonly.
Laughton wears a scarecrow costume and is extremely flexible and agile 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.
Laughton's physiology and mentality would fluctuate quite a bit over the years, given his employ/manipulation by various demonic/magical entities, 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.
[edit] Civil War/The Initiative
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.
Scarecrow recently showed up when Peter Parker unmasked himself, 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. He later teamed again with Molten Man in a rampage which was halted by Captain America and the Punisher. The two criminals were sent as part of the "Thunderbolt Army" to flush heroes out of hiding. Cap was forced to prevent Punisher from killing Scarecrow once he'd been apprehended.
Ebenezer has been identified as one of the 142 registered superheroes who registered as part of the Initiative[1]. [2]
[edit] The Hood
Someone that looks like Scarecrow was among the members of Hood's Crime Syndicate [3]. He helped them assault the New Avengers' home until they were defeated.
[edit] Other versions
[edit] Marvel vs. DC
In Marvel vs. DC, Scarecrow briefly teamed up with DC's Scarecrow in an attempt to kidnap Lois Lane. They were thwarted by Ben Reilly. In the Amalgam Universe, Scarecrow was a combination of Marvel's Scarecrow and DC's Scarecrow.
[edit] In other media
[edit] Video games
An action figure for the Ghost Rider movie line by Hasbro is based on the fact that Scarecrow appears in the video game of the movie. In the game, Ghost Rider enters a church and fights Scarecrow's crows and then fights Scarecrow himself. Scarecrow attacks Ghost Rider but retreats to a pillar. After Ghost Rider knocks the pillar over, Scarecrow falls from a great height and then battle continues. He repeats it few times and Scarecrow is then beaten.
[edit] References
- ^ Avengers: The Initiative #1
- ^ Avengers: The Initiative #1 Character Map
- ^ New Avengers #35 (2007)
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