Doctor Faustus (comics)
Encyclopedia
Doctor Faustus is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics
supervillain
.
An Austrian
by birth, he is most commonly associated with Captain America
, first appearing in issue #107 of his first series.
, Austria. He became a psychiatrist and criminal mastermind. He has proclaimed himself the "Master of Mens' Minds," and is known for the use of psychological methods of combat. His plots typically involve manipulating his foes into positions where they will, essentially, kill themselves.
In his first appearance, Faustus induced nightmares and hallucinations in Steve Rogers
in an attempt to drive him insane. However, he was easily bested in a physical confrontation. It was later revealed that he had been treating the amnesiac Peggy Carter, and captured Sharon Carter
and her parents in an attempt to destroy Captain America. Faustus then acquired stolen weapons from Stark International with which he planned to threaten New York City, and organized a private flight of American criminals; however this plan was thwarted by Captain America.
Faustus was briefly able to control Spider-Man
and use him in an attempt to introduce a "psychogenic additive" to a flu vaccine (which would permit hypnotic control of the public), but he was defeated.
Faustus was the mastermind behind the neo-Nazi group National Force
, directing them behind the scenes. He was responsible for the creation of the villain known as the Grand Director
to lead the National Force, as well as brainwashing S.H.I.E.L.D.
Agent Sharon Carter
and programming her to commit suicide (though Carter survived). Faustus also temporarily brainwashed Captain America and battled Cap and Daredevil
. His legs were injured by falling gas canisters during this confrontation.
Faustus later mentally conditioned Everyman
to be his operative, later known as Zeitgeist. He used his absorbascan to draw in psychic power from other people in an attempt to mentally defeat Mister Fantastic
and prove his worth to the Secret Empire
. Everyman subsequently battled Spider-Man
and Mister Fantastic, using a ray to temporarily deprive Reed Richards of his intellect, but the two heroes were nevertheless able to prevail and restore Richards to normal. When Richards subsequently sought Everyman's backer, Faustus attempted to drive him to die of despair by making it appear that he had killed the rest of the Fantastic Four using elaborate androids. The plan was to culminate in Faustus shooting Richards - reasoning that, by this point, Richards would be so broken that even a conventional bullet would kill him as he would want to die. Richards realized the true natures of Faustus's androids and defeated his plan, apparently causing the psychiatrist - who had already been talking with a hallucination of his deceased mother throughout this attack - to have a breakdown.
Faustus then allied with the Red Skull
, and occupied the Skull's mansion. Faustus attempted to coerce Captain America into committing suicide through the use of ghostly holograms.
Faustus is also known for his involvement with the villain and future Thunderbolts
member, Moonstone
.
He was presumed dead for a number of years, but reappeared again, now living undercover as a S.H.I.E.L.D.
psychiatrist, and in the employ of the Red Skull
. Faustus is tasked with manipulating Sharon Carter
, and claims responsibility for Carter's increasing romantic attachment to Captain America. Faustus is responsible for manipulating Sharon Carter into assassinating Captain America while she escorts him from the courtroom. It is further revealed that the Captain America
from the 1950s remained alive in Faustus' possession, recuperating slowly, and he is reconditioned and sent against the new Captain America, James Barnes. The failure of this attack, and the ever-increasing vituperation of the Skull and Zola towards Faustus, causes him to withdraw from the project, but not before freeing Sharon Carter and giving crucial information about the Skull's plans to SHIELD.
Some time later, Falcon and Black Widow apprehended Faustus.
Faustus regularly employs hologram projectors, hallucinogenic gas dispensers, androids, and elaborate props. He also hires henchmen to impersonate various people as a part of his scheme to affect his victims' minds.
Faustus has suffered extensive leg injuries, forcing him to use a cane or wheelchair for mobility. He can stand or walk without assistance for only a brief time.
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
supervillain
Supervillain
A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the villain character type, commonly found in comic books, action movies and science fiction in various media.They are sometimes used as foils to superheroes and other fictional heroes...
.
An Austrian
Austrians
Austrians are a nation and ethnic group, consisting of the population of the Republic of Austria and its historical predecessor states who share a common Austrian culture and Austrian descent....
by birth, he is most commonly associated with Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
, first appearing in issue #107 of his first series.
Creative origins
- Faustus' name comes from the famous characterFaustFaust is the protagonist of a classic German legend; a highly successful scholar, but also dissatisfied with his life, and so makes a deal with the devil, exchanging his soul for unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasures. Faust's tale is the basis for many literary, artistic, cinematic, and musical...
of Christopher MarloweChristopher MarloweChristopher Marlowe was an English dramatist, poet and translator of the Elizabethan era. As the foremost Elizabethan tragedian, next to William Shakespeare, he is known for his blank verse, his overreaching protagonists, and his mysterious death.A warrant was issued for Marlowe's arrest on 18 May...
's Renaissance play The Tragical History of Doctor FaustusThe Tragical History of Doctor FaustusThe Tragicall History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus, commonly referred to simply as Doctor Faustus, is a play by Christopher Marlowe, based on the Faust story, in which a man sells his soul to the devil for power and knowledge...
about a man who sold his soul to LuciferLuciferTraditionally, Lucifer is a name that in English generally refers to the devil or Satan before being cast from Heaven, although this is not the original meaning of the term. In Latin, from which the English word is derived, Lucifer means "light-bearer"...
in exchange for 24 years of service from a devil called Mephistophiles in order to gain all knowledge. This character predates the Christopher Marlowe play, in the legend built around the real-life Johann Georg FaustJohann Georg FaustDr. Johann Georg Faust , also known in English as John Faustus , was an itinerant alchemist, astrologer, and magician of the German Renaissance...
.
Fictional character biography
Johann Fennhoff was born in ViennaVienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Austria. He became a psychiatrist and criminal mastermind. He has proclaimed himself the "Master of Mens' Minds," and is known for the use of psychological methods of combat. His plots typically involve manipulating his foes into positions where they will, essentially, kill themselves.
In his first appearance, Faustus induced nightmares and hallucinations in Steve Rogers
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
in an attempt to drive him insane. However, he was easily bested in a physical confrontation. It was later revealed that he had been treating the amnesiac Peggy Carter, and captured Sharon Carter
Sharon Carter
Sharon Carter, alias Agent 13, is a fictional character, a secret agent in the Marvel Comics universe. She is an ex-field agent of S.H.I.E.L.D...
and her parents in an attempt to destroy Captain America. Faustus then acquired stolen weapons from Stark International with which he planned to threaten New York City, and organized a private flight of American criminals; however this plan was thwarted by Captain America.
Faustus was briefly able to control Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
and use him in an attempt to introduce a "psychogenic additive" to a flu vaccine (which would permit hypnotic control of the public), but he was defeated.
Faustus was the mastermind behind the neo-Nazi group National Force
National Force
The National Force was a fictional organization in the Marvel Universe.The National Force was a neo-fascist organization masterminded by Doctor Faustus....
, directing them behind the scenes. He was responsible for the creation of the villain known as the Grand Director
Grand Director
The Grand Director , also known as the Captain America of the 1950s is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics Universe...
to lead the National Force, as well as brainwashing S.H.I.E.L.D.
S.H.I.E.L.D.
S.H.I.E.L.D. is a fictional espionage and a secret military law-enforcement agency in the Marvel Comics Universe. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Strange Tales #135 , it often deals with superhuman threats....
Agent Sharon Carter
Sharon Carter
Sharon Carter, alias Agent 13, is a fictional character, a secret agent in the Marvel Comics universe. She is an ex-field agent of S.H.I.E.L.D...
and programming her to commit suicide (though Carter survived). Faustus also temporarily brainwashed Captain America and battled Cap and Daredevil
Daredevil (Marvel Comics)
Daredevil is a fictional character, a superhero in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Bill Everett, with an unspecified amount of input from Jack Kirby, and first appeared in Daredevil #1 .Living in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood...
. His legs were injured by falling gas canisters during this confrontation.
Faustus later mentally conditioned Everyman
Everyman (Marvel Comics)
Everyman is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:The Everyman first appeared in Captain America #267 and was created by J. M. DeMatteis and Mike Zeck...
to be his operative, later known as Zeitgeist. He used his absorbascan to draw in psychic power from other people in an attempt to mentally defeat Mister Fantastic
Mister Fantastic
Mr. Fantastic is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero and a member of the Fantastic Four. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby, he first appeared in Fantastic Four #1 ....
and prove his worth to the Secret Empire
Secret Empire
-Fictional organization history:This subversive organization has been headed by a number of different leaders, always known as “Number One,” with each iteration's goals following the desires of its current leader. The Secret Empire was originally founded by a scientist who felt like an anonymous...
. Everyman subsequently battled Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
and Mister Fantastic, using a ray to temporarily deprive Reed Richards of his intellect, but the two heroes were nevertheless able to prevail and restore Richards to normal. When Richards subsequently sought Everyman's backer, Faustus attempted to drive him to die of despair by making it appear that he had killed the rest of the Fantastic Four using elaborate androids. The plan was to culminate in Faustus shooting Richards - reasoning that, by this point, Richards would be so broken that even a conventional bullet would kill him as he would want to die. Richards realized the true natures of Faustus's androids and defeated his plan, apparently causing the psychiatrist - who had already been talking with a hallucination of his deceased mother throughout this attack - to have a breakdown.
Faustus then allied with the Red Skull
Red Skull
The Red Skull is a name shared by several fictional characters, all supervillains from the Marvel Comics universe. All incarnations of the character are enemies of Captain America, other superheroes, and the United States in general....
, and occupied the Skull's mansion. Faustus attempted to coerce Captain America into committing suicide through the use of ghostly holograms.
Faustus is also known for his involvement with the villain and future Thunderbolts
Thunderbolts (comics)
The Thunderbolts are a Marvel Comics superhero team, which consists mostly of former supervillains. The group first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #449 , and was created by Kurt Busiek and Mark Bagley.-Publication history:...
member, Moonstone
Moonstone (comics)
Moonstone is a fictional character, both a supervillain and superheroine in Marvel Comics' Marvel Universe.-Publication history:...
.
He was presumed dead for a number of years, but reappeared again, now living undercover as a S.H.I.E.L.D.
S.H.I.E.L.D.
S.H.I.E.L.D. is a fictional espionage and a secret military law-enforcement agency in the Marvel Comics Universe. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Strange Tales #135 , it often deals with superhuman threats....
psychiatrist, and in the employ of the Red Skull
Red Skull
The Red Skull is a name shared by several fictional characters, all supervillains from the Marvel Comics universe. All incarnations of the character are enemies of Captain America, other superheroes, and the United States in general....
. Faustus is tasked with manipulating Sharon Carter
Sharon Carter
Sharon Carter, alias Agent 13, is a fictional character, a secret agent in the Marvel Comics universe. She is an ex-field agent of S.H.I.E.L.D...
, and claims responsibility for Carter's increasing romantic attachment to Captain America. Faustus is responsible for manipulating Sharon Carter into assassinating Captain America while she escorts him from the courtroom. It is further revealed that the Captain America
Grand Director
The Grand Director , also known as the Captain America of the 1950s is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics Universe...
from the 1950s remained alive in Faustus' possession, recuperating slowly, and he is reconditioned and sent against the new Captain America, James Barnes. The failure of this attack, and the ever-increasing vituperation of the Skull and Zola towards Faustus, causes him to withdraw from the project, but not before freeing Sharon Carter and giving crucial information about the Skull's plans to SHIELD.
Some time later, Falcon and Black Widow apprehended Faustus.
Powers and abilities
Faustus has no superhuman powers but has a genius intellect, and is extremely charismatic and can modulate his voice in a highly persuasive manner. He has a doctorate in psychiatry.Faustus regularly employs hologram projectors, hallucinogenic gas dispensers, androids, and elaborate props. He also hires henchmen to impersonate various people as a part of his scheme to affect his victims' minds.
Faustus has suffered extensive leg injuries, forcing him to use a cane or wheelchair for mobility. He can stand or walk without assistance for only a brief time.
Television
- Doctor Faustus appears in the Spider-Man and His Amazing FriendsSpider-Man and His Amazing FriendsSpider-Man and His Amazing Friends is an animated series produced by Marvel Productions starring established Marvel Comics characters Spider-Man and Iceman and an original character, Firestar...
episode "Pawns of the Kingpin" voiced by Dennis MarksDennis MarksDennis Marks was an American screen writer, producer and voice actor, mainly for children's animations. Marks wrote for several big production companies during the 1960s through to the 1990s, including Hanna-Barbera, DC and Marvel...
. He is depicted with a grey beard and balding grey hair wearing a long lab coat. He is employed by Wilson FiskKingpin (comics)The Kingpin is a fictional character, a supervillain in the . Kingpin is one of the most feared and powerful crime lords in the Marvel Universe. The character is a major adversary of Daredevil, the Punisher, and Spider-Man...
to construct the Psycho Disk and use it to brainwash Captain America and Iceman.
External links
- Doctor Faustus at Marvel Wiki
- Doctor Faustus at Comic Vine