Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== Masters of Evil ====== ===== Part 1: The Dossier: An At-a-Glance Summary ===== * **Core Identity: A legacy supervillain organization founded by Baron Zemo, the Masters of Evil serves as the premier antagonistic counterpart to the [[avengers]], representing a dark mirror to their heroism and a persistent, existential threat to global security.** * **Key Takeaways:** * **Role in the Universe:** The Masters of Evil are the quintessential supervillain team in the Marvel Universe. While their roster and leadership have changed dramatically over the decades, their primary function remains the same: to destroy the Avengers and achieve their leaders' nefarious goals, ranging from personal vengeance to world domination. They are the benchmark against which other villain teams are measured. * **Primary Impact:** The team's most significant and infamous accomplishment was the "[[under_siege|Under Siege]]" storyline, where Baron Helmut Zemo led a massive, meticulously planned assault that resulted in the complete takeover and destruction of [[avengers_mansion]]. This event is considered one of the Avengers' greatest defeats and a defining moment for both teams, cementing the Masters of Evil as a top-tier threat. * **Key Incarnations:** In the Earth-616 comics, the Masters of Evil is a tangible, recurring organization with multiple distinct incarnations, most famously led by the two [[baron_zemo|Baron Zemos]]. In stark contrast, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has **never** featured a team explicitly named the Masters of Evil; instead, its themes are explored through the actions of characters like Helmut Zemo, who prefers psychological warfare over assembling a costumed army. ===== Part 2: Origin and Evolution ===== ==== Publication History and Creation ==== The Masters of Evil first appeared in **//The Avengers #6//** in July 1964. The team was co-created by the legendary duo of writer **Stan Lee** and artist **Jack Kirby**, the principal architects of the Marvel Universe. In the burgeoning Silver Age of comics, Lee and Kirby had already established the formula of a superhero team with the Fantastic Four and the Avengers. The logical next step was to create an equally formidable team of villains to serve as their direct opposites. The concept was simple yet effective: if the Avengers were Earth's Mightiest Heroes, united to face threats no single hero could withstand, the Masters of Evil would be Earth's Mightiest Villains, a coalition of individual rogues united by a common hatred for the heroes and a desire for power. The original lineup consisted of villains drawn from the solo stories of the founding Avengers: Baron Heinrich Zemo (Captain America), the Melter (Iron Man), the Radioactive Man (Thor), and the original Black Knight (an enemy of Giant-Man). This creative decision immediately established personal stakes and grounded the team's animosity in pre-existing conflicts, making their threat feel both personal and epic. The name itself—"Masters of Evil"—is a perfect example of Lee's dramatic, alliterative flair, leaving no doubt as to the group's malevolent intentions. ==== In-Universe Origin Story ==== The origin of the Masters of Evil is fundamentally tied to the legacy of Captain America and the burning desire for revenge. However, its manifestation differs drastically between the comic and cinematic universes. === Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe) === The story of the first Masters of Evil begins during the darkest days of World War II. **Baron Heinrich Zemo** was a brilliant and sadistic Nazi scientist, one of the top minds in the Third Reich and a personal rival of [[captain_america]]. During a final confrontation, Captain America threw his shield to stop Zemo from unleashing his powerful experimental chemical, **Adhesive X**. The shield shattered the vat containing the adhesive, permanently bonding Zemo's signature purple hood to his face. Humiliated and disfigured, Zemo was driven mad with hatred for the Captain. Decades later, after Captain America was discovered frozen in ice and revived by the Avengers, Zemo's obsession was rekindled. Believing his old foe had returned to mock him, the aged Baron Zemo assembled a team of powerful criminals to help him exact his revenge. He recruited: * **The Black Knight (Nathan Garrett):** A modern-day descendant of the heroic Arthurian knight, who used his scientific genius to create an arsenal of medieval-style weapons, including a winged steed and a power lance. * **The Melter (Bruno Horgan):** An industrialist saboteur who invented a "melting ray" capable of dissolving any metal, including [[iron_man]]'s armor. * **The Radioactive Man (Chen Lu):** A Chinese nuclear physicist who deliberately exposed himself to radiation, gaining the ability to project heat, control radioactivity, and project powerful energy blasts. Calling themselves the "Masters of Evil," they launched a campaign to terrorize New York City using Zemo's Adhesive X, successfully framing the Avengers for the chaos. Their initial schemes were thwarted, but Zemo's strategic mind and the team's combined power made them the Avengers' first truly significant recurring threat. Their reign ended when Zemo, in a final battle against Captain America in the Amazon rainforest, was killed by a rockslide he himself caused. This, however, was only the beginning of the Masters of Evil legacy, as the mantle of leadership and the thirst for vengeance would be taken up by others, most notably Zemo's own son. === Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) === It is crucial to state clearly: **an organization named the "Masters of Evil" does not exist in the Marvel Cinematic Universe**. The concept of a villainous team-up has been explored, but never under this specific banner. The closest thematic parallel lies in the actions and philosophy of **Helmut Zemo**, as depicted in //Captain America: Civil War// (2016) and //The Falcon and the Winter Soldier// (2021). The MCU's Helmut Zemo is not a Nazi scientist but a former Sokovian intelligence officer and colonel in an elite kill squad. His family—his wife, son, and father—were killed during the Avengers' battle with [[ultron]] in Sokovia. Unlike his comic counterpart, this Zemo is not driven by inherited fascism or a desire for world domination. His goal is singular and deeply personal: to avenge his family by destroying the Avengers, not by overpowering them, but by making them destroy themselves. Zemo's "team" was not a collection of costumed supervillains. His strategy was one of manipulation, research, and psychological warfare. He hunted down former [[hydra]] agents to acquire the code words to activate the Winter Soldier program within [[bucky_barnes]]. He then orchestrated a bombing at the signing of the Sokovia Accords, framing Bucky and setting Captain America and Iron Man on a collision course. His ultimate weapon was not a death ray or a super-soldier serum, but a piece of information: the video footage of a brainwashed Winter Soldier murdering Tony Stark's parents. By revealing this truth at the perfect moment, Zemo shattered the already fractured trust between Captain America and Iron Man, leading to a brutal, emotionally devastating battle that effectively dismantled the Avengers. In this sense, Zemo single-handedly achieved what entire armies of comic book Masters of Evil had tried and failed to do for decades. His actions in //The Falcon and the Winter Soldier// further his ideology of eradicating super-soldiers, which he sees as a threat to humanity, but again, he operates as a lone wolf or in temporary, uneasy alliances rather than as the leader of a formal "Masters of Evil" team. The upcoming [[thunderbolts]] movie may draw inspiration from the comics' Masters of Evil-to-Thunderbolts pipeline, but this remains speculation. ===== Part 3: Mandate, Structure & Key Members ===== The Masters of Evil is not a monolithic entity but a fluid concept, with each incarnation's goals, methods, and membership reflecting the personality and ambitions of its leader. === Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe) === ==== Mandate & Structure ==== The team's mandate has shifted dramatically with each leader: * **Heinrich Zemo:** Purely personal revenge against Captain America and, by extension, his allies, the Avengers. * **Ultron:** Global conquest and the eradication of humanity, with the Masters serving as his enforcers. * **Egghead:** Discrediting his scientific rival, Hank Pym, and profiting from organized crime. * **Helmut Zemo:** To utterly and decisively defeat the Avengers in a way that would shatter their spirits and prove his own strategic superiority over his father and Captain America. This was less about world domination and more about absolute victory. * **Justine Hammer (Crimson Cowl):** A business-like approach to super-crime, amassing a massive army of villains to operate as a criminal syndicate for hire. Structurally, the team is almost always a strict hierarchy with a single, undisputed leader. Baron Helmut Zemo's incarnation was notable for its military-style organization, with clear chains of command and specialized roles for each member. This strategic discipline is what made his version so uniquely dangerous. ==== Key Incarnations & Rosters ==== The history of the Masters of Evil is best told through its ever-changing membership. === The Original Masters (Baron Heinrich Zemo) === * **Leader:** Baron Heinrich Zemo * **Core Members:** Black Knight (Nathan Garrett), Melter, Radioactive Man * **Later Additions:** Enchantress and Executioner (loaned to Zemo by Loki) * **Legacy:** Established the core concept and the foundational feud with the Avengers. Their defeat and Zemo's death set the stage for future vengeance. === Ultron's Masters of Evil === * **Leader:** Ultron-5 * **Core Members:** A new lineup assembled to destroy the Avengers and help Ultron create his mate, Jocasta. The roster included Klaw, Melter, Radioactive Man, and Whirlwind. Ultron also briefly brainwashed [[black_knight_dane_whitman|Dane Whitman]] to join. * **Legacy:** This was one of the first major threats to emerge after the original team's demise, showing that the "Masters of Evil" name was a legacy that any powerful villain could claim. === Egghead's Masters of Evil === * **Leader:** Egghead * **Core Members:** Beetle, Moonstone, Radioactive Man, Scorpion, Shocker, Tiger Shark * **Legacy:** Notable for their plan to frame [[hank_pym|Henry Pym]]. While the team was ultimately defeated (and Egghead killed), their actions pushed Pym to a mental breakdown, a significant moment in the character's history. It also introduced Dr. Karla Sofen (Moonstone) to the team, a pivotal figure in later incarnations. === Baron Helmut Zemo's Fourth Masters (The "Under Siege" Team) === This is widely considered the definitive and most formidable incarnation of the team. Helmut Zemo, son of the original, assembled the largest version of the Masters ever seen with the sole purpose of destroying the Avengers on their own turf. * **Leader:** Baron Helmut Zemo * **Inner Circle:** Absorbing Man, Titania, Goliath (Erik Josten), Moonstone (Dr. Karla Sofen), Screaming Mimi, Fixer, Yellowjacket (Rita DeMara). * **Muscle/Support:** The Wrecking Crew (Wrecker, Bulldozer, Piledriver, Thunderball), Mr. Hyde, Tiger Shark, Blackout. * **Legacy:** Unparalleled. They successfully stormed Avengers Mansion, systematically defeated the heroes present, put Hercules in a coma, and psychologically tortured the Avengers' butler, Edwin Jarvis. Their eventual defeat came at a massive cost to the Avengers, both physically and emotionally. This storyline elevated the Masters from a "villain of the month" club to an A-list threat. === The Thunderbolts Connection === Following their defeat in "Under Siege" and the apparent death of the Avengers during the Onslaught event, Baron Zemo executed his most audacious plan. He rebranded his surviving Masters of Evil as a new team of superheroes called the **[[thunderbolts]]**. * Goliath became **Atlas**. * Screaming Mimi became **Songbird**. * The Fixer became **Techno**. * Moonstone kept her name but adopted a heroic persona. * Zemo himself became the patriotic leader **Citizen V**. Their goal was to win public trust and gain access to global intelligence, only to seize power when the moment was right. The plan backfired when most of the team members discovered they genuinely preferred being heroes, leading them to rebel against Zemo. This twist is one of the most celebrated in Marvel history. === Other Incarnations === Numerous other versions have appeared over the years, including a massive syndicate led by Justine Hammer as the new **Crimson Cowl** and a version assembled by the Shadow Council led by a rogue Nick Fury LMD named **Max Fury**. === Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) === As there is no formal Masters of Evil team, there is no mandate, structure, or roster to analyze. The actions of MCU villains reflect a different storytelling philosophy. Instead of villainous coalitions, threats are typically singular (Thanos, Ultron, Hela) or ideological (Hydra). Helmut Zemo's approach in //Civil War// is the antithesis of the Masters of Evil structure: he operated alone, seeking to divide his enemies rather than unite his allies. If a future MCU project were to introduce the Masters of Evil, it would likely be as a direct response to the formation of a new Avengers team, perhaps assembled by a figure like Valentina Allegra de Fontaine or even a returning Zemo, who might see the need for a more direct approach after the rise of new heroes and villains. ===== Part 4: Key Relationships & Network ===== ==== Core Allies ==== The term "ally" is used loosely, as the Masters of Evil's partnerships are almost always temporary and based on mutual convenience. * **[[hydra]]:** The connection is primarily through the Zemo family. Both Heinrich and Helmut Zemo have deep ties to Hydra, often leveraging its resources and manpower to support their own goals. During the //Secret Empire// event, Helmut Zemo and his Masters of Evil openly served Hydra's Captain America. * **Loki:** In the team's earliest days, [[loki]] manipulated the Enchantress and Executioner into joining Zemo's Masters of Evil as part of a larger scheme to defeat his brother, [[thor]]. * **The Criminal Underworld:** Larger versions of the Masters, like the one led by Crimson Cowl, operated like a supervillain union, providing muscle, technology, and support to any paying client, effectively becoming allies with various mob bosses and criminal syndicates. ==== Arch-Enemies ==== The Masters of Evil exist for one reason: to oppose heroes. * **The Avengers:** This is the foundational conflict of the team's existence. They are the anti-Avengers, a chaotic and self-serving force of evil assembled to counter a force of order and altruism. Nearly every incarnation has had the destruction of the Avengers as its primary goal. The "Under Siege" storyline represents the apex of this bitter rivalry. * **Captain America (Steve Rogers):** The original and most personal enemy. The team was created by Heinrich Zemo to get revenge on the man who disfigured him. This intense, personal hatred was inherited by his son, Helmut, whose obsession with defeating Captain America on every level—physically, strategically, and morally—has driven many of his greatest schemes. * **The Thunderbolts:** In a deeply ironic twist, the Masters of Evil's greatest enemies eventually became... themselves. After Zemo's team reformed as the Thunderbolts and chose the path of heroism, they often found themselves fighting against new incarnations of the Masters of Evil, forcing them to confront their own dark pasts. ==== Affiliations ==== The Masters of Evil is itself an affiliation. Membership is the defining characteristic. However, its leaders and members have often been part of other major villainous groups, creating a web of connections across the Marvel Universe. Key examples include Zemo's leadership role within Hydra, Moonstone's time with Norman Osborn's Dark Avengers, and the Wrecking Crew's status as freelance muscle for nearly every major villain. ===== Part 5: Iconic Events & Storylines ===== === The Avengers #6-16 (The Original Saga) === This foundational storyline introduced the world to the Masters of Evil. It detailed Baron Heinrich Zemo's assembly of the team, their initial public attacks using Adhesive X to frame the Avengers, and their first major defeats. The arc culminated in the "death" of Wonder Man (then a new recruit for the Masters) and the eventual death of Baron Zemo himself in a final, explosive confrontation with Captain America. This storyline established the team as the Avengers' first credible recurring threat. === Avengers: Under Siege (Avengers #273-277) === This is the definitive Masters of Evil story and a landmark event in Avengers history. Written by Roger Stern and drawn by John Buscema, this arc portrayed Baron Helmut Zemo's master plan. Unlike previous brute-force assaults, Zemo's plan was a masterpiece of intelligence gathering and strategic execution. He assembled a massive team and used the villain Blackout to cut off Avengers Mansion from the outside world. His forces systematically overwhelmed the depleted Avengers roster on duty. The story is famous for its shocking brutality: Hercules was beaten into a coma by the entire team, Captain America's original shield was damaged, and the team's loyal butler, Edwin Jarvis, was savagely beaten and psychologically tortured. The storyline culminated in a desperate, last-stand battle led by Captain America and the Wasp to reclaim their home. "Under Siege" permanently changed the dynamic, proving that the Masters of Evil could not only challenge the Avengers but utterly defeat them. === Thunderbolts: Justice, Like Lightning... (Thunderbolts #1) === This storyline is defined by one of the greatest plot twists in comic book history. In the wake of the Onslaught event, with the Avengers and Fantastic Four presumed dead, a new team of heroes called the Thunderbolts appears to fill the void. They are charismatic, powerful, and quickly win the public's adoration. The final page of their debut issue reveals the shocking truth: the Thunderbolts are actually the surviving members of Baron Zemo's Masters of Evil in disguise. This reveal launched one of Marvel's most enduring and popular series, beginning the long and complex journey of villains attempting to find redemption, forever linking the legacies of the Masters of Evil and the Thunderbolts. ===== Part 6: Variants and Alternative Versions ===== === The Ultimates (Earth-1610) === In the Ultimate Universe, the direct counterpart to the Masters of Evil were the **Liberators**. This was a multinational super-team assembled by the global community, secretly orchestrated by Loki, to "liberate" the United States from the perceived threat of its super-powered team, the Ultimates. The team included alternate versions of villains like the Abomination and Crimson Dynamo, as well as evil counterparts of characters like Hurricane (Quicksilver) and the Swarm (Wasp). They launched a devastating invasion of the U.S. that mirrored the shock and awe of the 616 "Under Siege" storyline. === The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes (Animated Series) === This critically acclaimed animated series featured a prominent and faithful adaptation of the Masters of Evil. Initially formed by Baron Heinrich Zemo with the Enchantress and Executioner, they served as the primary antagonists of the first season. Their goal was to pick off the Avengers one by one. The roster was a classic mix, including Abomination, Crimson Dynamo, and Wonder Man. The series expertly adapted key comic storylines, culminating in a massive battle for Asgard. This version is often cited by fans as one of the best portrayals of the team outside of the comics. === Heroes Reborn (Earth-616 Pocket Universe) === In the pocket universe created by Franklin Richards to save the heroes after the Onslaught event, Baron Zemo was a central antagonist. He manipulated the Avengers and Captain America, and his plan to use gamma technology to conquer the world was a major plot point. While he led a group of villains, the "Masters of Evil" moniker was less formal, but his role as the Avengers' primary, strategic foe remained intact. ===== See Also ===== * [[baron_zemo]] * [[avengers]] * [[thunderbolts]] * [[under_siege]] * [[avengers_mansion]] * [[captain_america]] * [[hydra]] ===== Notes and Trivia ===== ((The original Black Knight in the Masters of Evil was the villain Nathan Garrett. His heroic nephew, Dane Whitman, later took up the mantle and joined the Avengers, and was even briefly brainwashed into serving an Ultron-led version of the Masters.)) ((Many members of the "Under Siege" Masters of Evil went on to have complex character arcs as members of the Thunderbolts. Erik Josten (Goliath) became Atlas, and Melissa Gold (Screaming Mimi) became Songbird, one of the Thunderbolts' most iconic and heroic members.)) ((The identity of the Crimson Cowl has been used by two different leaders of the Masters of Evil: first by the robot Ultron and later by Justine Hammer, the daughter of industrialist and Iron Man foe Justin Hammer.)) ((The "Under Siege" storyline, which ran in //Avengers #273-277// (1986-1987), is considered by many fans and critics to be one of the top 5 Avengers stories ever written.)) ((In the MCU, Helmut Zemo's disavowal of his father's title ("My father was a baron, a title that has been disgraced by the Nazis. I have no interest in that.") is a direct inversion of his comic book counterpart, who proudly carries on his father's legacy and title.)) ((The concept of a villain team-up was a Stan Lee staple. Prior to the Masters of Evil, the Sinister Six had already been formed to fight Spider-Man, but the Masters of Evil were the first to directly mirror the structure and scale of a major superhero team like the Avengers.))