Folding Circle
Encyclopedia
The Folding Circle is a team of comic book
supervillain
s in Marvel Comics
' shared universe
, the Marvel Universe
. They were created by Fabian Nicieza
and Mark Bagley
in New Warriors Volume 1 #21. They are Mutates
who have an innate ability to tap into the extra-dimensional energy of the Universal Wellspring, due to exposure to the mutagenic properties of the "Well of All Things" while in the womb.
, an American recon patrol in Cambodia
stumbled upon the ancient, hidden temple
of a cult known as the Dragon's Breadth, which had remained hidden for centuries. It had been built upon a well-spring of raw, primal energy called the "Well of All Things". The inhabitants decided to breed a superior race that would one day unite with the ways of the west. They believed that this union would produce children capable of harnessing the power of the Well. The members of the recon patrol were to be the fathers of these children. Most of the patrol agrees to this plan.
Diego Casseas, one of the other members of the recon patrol (who now calls himself the Left Hand), stole the power of the Well from his own child, then gathered the other children of the pact including Midnight's Fire into a group called the Folding Circle. The New Warriors and the Circle join up at the Cambodian temple where it all started. The Circle attempts to take control of the Well away from Tai, who intends to sacrifice everyone but herself in order to gain power. Both teams suffer losses as Tai knocks out several of the more durable members. Tai is seemingly slain by an Uzi to the chest wielded by New Warriors leader Night Thrasher
. Casseas also apparently dies. The surviving members of the Circle escaped in an Avengers Quinjet, an aircraft originally stolen by the New Warriors.
The remaining members of the Folding Circle later crash in Madripoor
and attempted to usurp the role of Aardwolf
a mutant
crime lord. They succeed, but were later taken down by Night Thrasher and Silhouette.
during Civil War. After that the three villans have been identified as members of the 142 registered superheroes who appear on the cover of the comic book Avengers: The Initiative
#1.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
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...
s in Marvel Comics
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...
' shared universe
Shared universe
A shared universe is a fictional universe to which more than one writer contributes. Work set in a shared universe share characters and other elements with varying degrees of consistency. Shared universes are contrasted with collaborative writing, in which multiple authors work on a single story....
, the Marvel Universe
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
. They were created by Fabian Nicieza
Fabian Nicieza
Fabian Nicieza is an American comic book writer and editor who is best known for his work on Marvel titles such as X-Men, X-Force, New Warriors, Cable and Deadpool, and Thunderbolts, for all of which he helped create numerous characters.-Early life:The son of Omar and Irma Riguetti Nicieza, Fabian...
and Mark Bagley
Mark Bagley
Mark Bagley is an American comic book artist. He has worked for Marvel Comics and DC Comics on such titles as The Amazing Spider-Man, Thunderbolts, New Warriors, and Ultimate Spider-Man.- Early life and career :...
in New Warriors Volume 1 #21. They are Mutates
Mutate (comics)
The term Mutate refers to most non-mutant superbeings in the Marvel Comics universe. See below for other uses.-History:Mutate is a term used to refer to superhumans who acquired their superpowers by exposure to some mutagenic compound or energy...
who have an innate ability to tap into the extra-dimensional energy of the Universal Wellspring, due to exposure to the mutagenic properties of the "Well of All Things" while in the womb.
Fictional team biography
In 1966 during the Vietnam WarVietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, an American recon patrol in Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
stumbled upon the ancient, hidden temple
Temple
A temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out...
of a cult known as the Dragon's Breadth, which had remained hidden for centuries. It had been built upon a well-spring of raw, primal energy called the "Well of All Things". The inhabitants decided to breed a superior race that would one day unite with the ways of the west. They believed that this union would produce children capable of harnessing the power of the Well. The members of the recon patrol were to be the fathers of these children. Most of the patrol agrees to this plan.
Diego Casseas, one of the other members of the recon patrol (who now calls himself the Left Hand), stole the power of the Well from his own child, then gathered the other children of the pact including Midnight's Fire into a group called the Folding Circle. The New Warriors and the Circle join up at the Cambodian temple where it all started. The Circle attempts to take control of the Well away from Tai, who intends to sacrifice everyone but herself in order to gain power. Both teams suffer losses as Tai knocks out several of the more durable members. Tai is seemingly slain by an Uzi to the chest wielded by New Warriors leader Night Thrasher
Night Thrasher
Night Thrasher is a fictional character, a superhero published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared in Thor #411 , and was created by Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz.-Publication history:...
. Casseas also apparently dies. The surviving members of the Circle escaped in an Avengers Quinjet, an aircraft originally stolen by the New Warriors.
The remaining members of the Folding Circle later crash in Madripoor
Madripoor
The Principality of Madripoor is a fictional island located in Southeast Asia in the Marvel Comics universe. Based on illustrations, it is in the southern portion of the Strait of Malacca, southwest of Singapore.-Publication history:...
and attempted to usurp the role of Aardwolf
Aardwolf (comics)
Aardwolf is a fictional character, a mutant in the Marvel Comics Universe. His first appearance was in Night Thrasher vol. 2, #3, released in October 1993...
a mutant
Mutant (Marvel Comics)
In comic books published by Marvel Comics, a mutant is an organism who possesses a genetic trait called an X-gene that allows the mutant to naturally develop superhuman powers and abilities...
crime lord. They succeed, but were later taken down by Night Thrasher and Silhouette.
Civil War/The Initiative
More recently, Bloodstrike, Silk Fever, and Smiling Tiger had aided the ThunderboltsThunderbolts (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:...
during Civil War. After that the three villans have been identified as members of the 142 registered superheroes who appear on the cover of the comic book Avengers: The Initiative
Avengers: The Initiative
Avengers: The Initiative was a comic book series from Marvel Comics. Written by Dan Slott and Christos Gage with artwork initially by Stefano Caselli, Steve Uy and Harvey Tolibao, the series dealt with the aftermath of Marvel's Civil War crossover Avengers: The Initiative was a comic book series...
#1.
Membership
- Bloodstrike - Eric Conroy is a mutate who worked as an enforcer for a ChicagoChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
crime family before being recruited into the Circle. He possesses superhuman strength and durability. - The Left Hand - Diego Casseas, the leader of the Circle, possesses the ability to manipulate DarkforceDarkforce-Description:It is a powerful, extra-dimensional energy that can be manipulated in slightly different ways by a handful of beings that are attuned to it. There are slight yet inconclusive hints that it may be a corruptive influence of some kind and perhaps even sentient...
energies, a power he stole from his comatose daughter. - Midnight's Fire - Aaron Chord is a mutate possessing enhanced physical attributes and healing ability. He is the brother of Silhouette and an enemy of Night Thrasher.
- Night Thrasher - Dwayne Michael Taylor is a skilled martial artist who infiltrated the group in order to destroy it.
- Silk Fever - Min Li Ng originally joined the Force of Nature as the merciless killer Firewall. After being told the true source of her powers she joined the Folding Circle. She possesses pyrokineticPyrokinesisPyrokinesis, derived from the Greek words and , was the name coined by horror novelist Stephen King for the ability to create or to control fire with the mind that he gave to the protagonist Charlie McGee in Firestarter...
powers, and her body appears to be on fire. - Silhouette - Silhouette Chord is a mutate with the power to physically interface with the Darkforce dimension. Like Night Thrasher, she infiltrated the group in order to destroy it.
- Smiling Tiger - Smiling Tiger is a mutate with enhanced senses. He only speaks in feral growls, and wears a bodysuit with razor sharp claws.