Marvel Comics fictional character
Comics character
Doctor Faustus
(
Johann Fennhoff
) is a
supervillain
appearing in
American comic books
published by
Marvel Comics
. The character is depicted usually as an adversary of
Captain America
. An
Austrian
psychiatrist and criminal mastermind who employs
psychological manipulation
on his enemies, the character was created by writer
Stan Lee
and artist
Jack Kirby
, and first appeared in
Captain America
#107 (November 1968).
[1]
Johann Fennhoff appeared in the first season of the
Marvel Cinematic Universe
TV series
Agent Carter
, portrayed by
Ralph Brown
.
Publication history
[
edit
]
Faustus' name comes from the
famous character
of
Christopher Marlowe
's Renaissance play
The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus
about a man who sold his soul to
Lucifer
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 Faust
.
[
citation needed
]
Fictional character biography
[
edit
]
Johann Fennhoff was born in
Vienna
, Austria. He became a psychiatrist and criminal mastermind.
[2]
He has proclaimed himself the "Master of Men's 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.
[
volume & issue needed
]
In his first appearance, Faustus induced nightmares and hallucinations in
Captain America
(Steve Rogers) in an attempt to drive him insane. However, he was easily bested in a physical confrontation.
[3]
[4]
It was later revealed that Faustus had been treating the amnesiac
Peggy Carter
, and captured Sharon Carter and Sharon's parents in an attempt to destroy Captain America.
[5]
Faustus, with the help of
Karla Sofen
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.
[6]
Faustus is 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 is defeated.
[7]
Faustus is the mastermind behind the neo-Nazi group
National Force
, directing them behind the scenes. He is responsible for the creation of the
Grand Director
to lead the National Force, as well as brainwashing
S.H.I.E.L.D.
Agent Sharon Carter and programming Sharon to commit suicide, though Carter survives. Faustus also temporarily brainwashes Captain America and battles the latter and
Daredevil
. His legs were injured by falling gas canisters during this confrontation.
[8]
Faustus later mentally conditions
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 battles
Spider-Man
and Mister Fantastic, but they defeat him. When Richards subsequently seeks Everyman's backer, Faustus attempts to attack Richards psychologically by using elaborate androids, one of which resembles
Doctor Doom
but with Reed's face, to foster the illusion that Richards has killed the rest of the
Fantastic Four
. Richards sees through the ruse and causes Faustus himself to have a breakdown.
[9]
After recovering from his breakdown, Faustus then allies with the
Red Skull
, and aids in the villain's mansion. Faustus unsuccessfully attempts to coerce Captain America into committing suicide through the use of ghostly holograms.
[10]
Faustus is presumed dead for a number of years, but reappears, living undercover as a S.H.I.E.L.D. psychiatrist, employed by the Red Skull. He is tasked with manipulating
Sharon Carter
, and claims responsibility for Sharon's increasing romantic attachment to
Steve Rogers
.
[11]
Faustus is responsible for manipulating Sharon Carter into assassinating Captain America following the 2006 storyline "
Civil War
".
[12]
It is further revealed that the
Captain America
from the 1950s is alive and in Faustus's possession, recuperating slowly, and reconditioned to be an agent sent to attack the new
Captain America
(Bucky Barnes). The failure of this attack, and the ever-increasing verbal abuse of Faustus by the Red Skull and
Arnim Zola
, causes him to withdraw from the project, but not before freeing Sharon and giving crucial information about the Red Skull's plans to S.H.I.E.L.D.
[13]
Rogers,
Falcon
and
Black Widow
are instrumental in exonerating Barnes when the latter is tried for the crimes committed as the Winter Soldier, in light of the mind control to which Barnes was subjected.
[14]
This is done in part with Faustus's testimony in the trial, and a demonstration of his mind-control abilities, which he displays by manipulating the prosecuting lawyer into attacking the judge.
[
volume & issue needed
]
Faustus is later revealed to have established a
real estate development
business based in
Jersey City, New Jersey
called Hope Yards Development Relocation Association, as a front for a
Hydra
cell. The cell's purpose is to implement Faustus's plan to market
energy drinks
and aerosol sprays laced with mind controlling nanomachines.
[15]
The plot is foiled by teenaged Jersey City resident
Ms. Marvel
,
[16]
as is Faustus's subsequent attempt at getting one of his minions elected mayor of Jersey City.
[17]
During the
Secret Empire
storyline, Doctor Faustus is part of the Hydra High Council that the new
Madame Hydra
is collecting to assist Steve Rogers,
[18]
who had the man's history altered to be a HYDRA long-time sleeper agent since childhood by the Red Skull's clone using the powers of
Kobik
.
[19]
[20]
[21]
an inadvertent side effect of Kobik's restoration of Rogers's youth.
[22]
[23]
After Hydra's global takeover, Faustus is assigned the task of 'convincing' Sharon Carter of loving Rogers regardless of this new allegiance, but as the final battle commences, Sharon pretends to have been won over by Faustus and then shoots him. Sharon reveals that she spent months after Faustus used her to shoot Steve listening to recordings of his voice so that the doctor would never be able to control Sharon again.
[24]
Powers and abilities
[
edit
]
Doctor Faustus has no superhuman powers but has a genius intellect,
[5]
and is extremely charismatic and can modulate his voice in a highly persuasive manner. He has a doctorate in psychiatry.
[
citation needed
]
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.
[5]
[9]
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.
[
citation needed
]
Other versions
[
edit
]
Earth-X
[
edit
]
In the pages of
Earth X
, Doctor Faustus has passed away at some point and is seen residing in Paradise.
[25]
House of M
[
edit
]
In the alternate timeline of the 2005
House of M
storyline, Dr. Faustus is a scientist working for the
Army
, heading up the research on battlefield confrontations.
[26]
Ultimate Marvel
[
edit
]
The
Ultimate Marvel
version of Doctor Faustus appears in
Ultimate Comics: Armor Wars
. Here, Johann Fennhoff became an information broker for the European underground superhuman mercenary community, stationing in
Prague
. At some point through an accident involving a dimensional portal, he wound up with a
little entity
living in his head.
[27]
In other media
[
edit
]
Television
[
edit
]
Video games
[
edit
]
Doctor Faustus appears in
Marvel's Midnight Suns
.
[33]
[34]
This version is a member of Hydra who seeks to use a combination of magic and science to resurrect
Lilith
and bring her under Hydra's control. While he succeeds in the former,
Crossbones
kills him to keep the
Midnight Suns
and the
Avengers
from learning her plans.
References
[
edit
]
- ^
DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019).
The Marvel Encyclopedia
. DK Publishing. p. ``9.
ISBN
978-1-4654-7890-0
.
- ^
Wells, John (2014).
American Comic Book Chronicles: 1965-1969
. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 198.
ISBN
978-1605490557
.
- ^
Captain America
#107 (Nov. 1968). Marvel Comics.
- ^
Brevoort, Tom; DeFalco, Tom; Manning, Matthew K.; Sanderson, Peter; Wiacek, Win (2017).
Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History
. DK Publishing. p. 132.
ISBN
978-1465455505
.
- ^
a
b
c
Captain America
#161-162 (May?June 1973). Marvel Comics.
- ^
Captain America
#192 (Dec. 1975). Marvel Comics.
- ^
The Amazing Spider-Man
#170 (July 1977). Marvel Comics.
- ^
Captain America
#232-236 (April?May 1979). Marvel Comics.
- ^
a
b
Marvel Team-Up
#132-133 (Aug.-Sept. 1983). Marvel Comics.
- ^
Captain America
#326 (Feb. 1987). Marvel Comics.
- ^
Captain America
vol. 5 #22 (Nov. 2006). Marvel Comics.
- ^
Captain America
vol. 5 #25 (April 2007). Marvel Comics.
- ^
Captain America
vol. 5 #40-41. Marvel Comics.
- ^
Captain America
#612. Marvel Comics.
- ^
G. Willow Wilson
(
w
),
Takeshi Miyazawa
(
a
), Ian Herring (
col
), VC's Joe Caramagna (
let
), Sana Amanat (
ed
). "Super Famous: Part 2 of 3"
Ms. Marvel
, vol. 4, no. 2 (16 December 2015). United States: Marvel Comics.
- ^
G. Willow Wilson (
w
), Takeshi Miyazawa (
p
), Takeshi Miyazawa (
i
), Ian Herring (
col
), VC's Joe Caramagna (
let
), Sana Amanat (
ed
). "Super Famous: Part 3 of 3"
Ms. Marvel
, vol. 4, no. 3 (20 January 2016). United States: Marvel Comics.
- ^
G. Willow Wilson (
w
), Mirka Andolfo (
p
), Mirka Andolfo (
i
), Ian Herring (
col
), VC's Joe Caramagna (
let
), Sana Amanat (
ed
). "Election Day"
Ms. Marvel
, vol. 4, no. 13 (30 November 2016). United States: Marvel Comics.
- ^
Captain America: Steve Rogers
#14. Marvel Comics.
- ^
Spencer, Nick (
w
), Saiz, Jesus (
p
), Saiz, Jesus (
i
).
Captain America: Steve Rogers
, no. 1 (July 2016).
- ^
Dockterman, Eliana (May 25, 2016).
"Captain America Is a Hydra Agent: Marvel Editor Explains"
.
Time
.
Archived
from the original on October 10, 2016.
- ^
Holub, Christian (May 25, 2016).
"Marvel's Nick Spencer, Tom Brevoort talk making Captain America a Hydra plant"
.
Entertainment Weekly
.
Archived
from the original on November 5, 2016.
- ^
Spencer, Nick (
w
), Saiz, Jesus (
p
), Saiz, Jesus (
i
).
Captain America: Steve Rogers
, no. 2 (Aug. 2016).
- ^
Marston, George (June 28, 2016).
"How Steve Rogers Became a Hydra Agent ? Spoilers"
.
Newsarama
.
Archived
from the original on August 6, 2016.
- ^
Secret Empire
#9. Marvel Comics.
- ^
Paradise X Special Edition
#1. Marvel Comics.
- ^
New Thunderbolts
#11. Marvel Comics.
- ^
Ultimate Comics: Armor Wars
#2. Marvel Comics.
- ^
Abrams, Natalie (February 18, 2015).
"Agent Carter boss teases what's next after the big sacrifice"
.
Entertainment Weekly
. Retrieved
February 19,
2015
.
- ^
Misiano, Christopher (director); Michele Fazekas & Tara Butters (writer) (February 24, 2015). "
Valediction
".
Marvel's Agent Carter
. Season 1. Episode 8.
ABC
.
- ^
"Agents of SHIELD: Where We've Seen [Spoiler]'s Brainwashing Before"
.
Screen Rant
. 14 April 2018.
- ^
Roth, Bobby (director); Owusu-Breen, Monica (writer) (October 7, 2014). "
Making Friends and Influencing People
".
Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D
. Season 2. Episode 3.
ABC
.
- ^
"New Year's Resolution".
Avengers Assemble
. Season 4. Episode 14. December 3, 2017. Disney XD.
- ^
"Vaush is a villain in a new marvel game Midnight Suns"
. 2 December 2022.
- ^
"Marvel's Midnight Suns: Everything you Should Know before Purchasing the Game"
. 5 December 2022.
External links
[
edit
]
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Folk legend
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Seminal works
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Prose
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Plays
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Operas
|
- Faust
(1816, Spohr)
- La damnation de Faust
(1846, Berlioz)
- Faust
(1859, Gounod)
- Mefistofele
(1868, Boito)
- Le petit Faust
(1869, Herve)
- Faust and Marguerite
(1855, Lutz)
- Faust up to Date
(1888, Lutz)
- Doktor Faust
(1916?1925, Busoni)
- Doctor Faustus Lights the Lights
(1938)
- The Rake's Progress
(1951, Stravinsky)
- Reuben, Reuben
(1955)
- Historia von D. Johann Fausten
(1994)
- Faustus, the Last Night
(2006)
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