Doctor Faustus (character)

Doctor Faustus
Doctor Faustus
Art by Mike Perkins
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceCaptain America #107 (Nov. 1968)
Created byStan Lee
Jack Kirby
In-story information
Alter egoJohann Fennhoff
SpeciesHuman
Team affiliationsSecret Empire
Corporation
National Force
S.H.I.E.L.D.
Hydra
PartnershipsRed Skull
Notable aliasesDoctor Faustus, Master of Men's Minds, Edward Marlowe
AbilitiesExpert in psychological warfare
Genius-level intellect
Use of hologram projectors, hallucinogenic gas dispensers, androids and elaborate props
Ability to modulate his voice in a highly persuasive manner

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

Faustus is named after the character in Christopher Marlowe's Renaissance play The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus, about a man who sold his soul to Lucifer to gain infinite knowledge in exchange for 24 years of service to the devil Mephistophiles. This character predates the Christopher Marlowe play, in the legend built around the real-life Johann Georg Faust.

Fictional character biography

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.

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 her parents in an attempt to destroy Captain America.[5] Faustus, with the help of Karla Sofen, 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 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 Sharon Carter and attempting to make her commit suicide.[7]

Faustus 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 battles Spider-Man and Mister Fantastic, but they defeat him. When Mister Fantastic seeks Everyman's backer, Faustus attempts to attack Mister Fantastic psychologically by using elaborate androids to create the illusion that Mister Fantastic has killed the rest of the Fantastic Four. Mister Fantastic sees through the ruse and causes Faustus to have a breakdown.[8]

Faustus is responsible for manipulating Sharon Carter into assassinating Captain America following the 2006 storyline "Civil War".[9] 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 verbal abuse from the Red Skull and Arnim Zola, causes Faustus to withdraw from the project. Before this, he frees Sharon and gives crucial information about Red Skull's plans to S.H.I.E.L.D.[10]

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.[11] 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.

Faustus establishes 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.[12] The plot is foiled by Ms. Marvel,[13] as is Faustus's subsequent attempt at getting one of his minions elected mayor of Jersey City.[14]

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,[15] who had become a Hydra sleeper agent after Red Skull and Kobik rewrote reality.[16][17][18] After Hydra's global takeover, Faustus is assigned to convince Sharon Carter of loving Rogers regardless of this new allegiance. Sharon pretends to have been won over by Faustus, then attacks him. It is revealed that, after she was brainwashed and forced to shoot Captain America, Sharon trained herself to prevent Faustus from controlling her again.[19]

Powers and abilities

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.

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][8]

Other versions

Earth-X

An alternate universe version of Doctor Faustus from Earth-9997 makes a cameo appearance in Paradise X #1 as a resident of the titular afterlife.[20]

House of M

An alternate universe version of Doctor Faustus from Earth-58163 appears in New Thunderbolts #11. This version is an Army scientist.[21]

Ultimate Marvel

An alternate universe version of Doctor Faustus from Earth-1610 appears in Ultimate Comics: Armor Wars #2. This version is an information broker based in Prague who was fused with MODOK after an accident with Reed Richards' dimensional portal.[22]

In other media

Television

Video games

Doctor Faustus appears in Marvel's Midnight Suns, voiced by Time Winters.[28][23] 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

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Wells, John (2014). American Comic Book Chronicles: 1965-1969. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 198. ISBN 978-1605490557.
  3. ^ Captain America #107 (November 1968)
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ a b c Captain America #161-162 (May–June 1973)
  6. ^ Captain America #192 (December 1975)
  7. ^ Captain America #232-236 (April–May 1979)
  8. ^ a b Marvel Team-Up #132-133 (August-September 1983)
  9. ^ Captain America (vol. 5) #25 (April 2007)
  10. ^ Captain America (vol. 5) #40-41 (September - October 2008)
  11. ^ Captain America #612 (January 2011)
  12. ^ Ms. Marvel (vol. 4) #2 (February 2016)
  13. ^ Ms. Marvel (vol. 4) #3 (March 2016)
  14. ^ Ms. Marvel (vol. 4) #13 (January 2017)
  15. ^ Captain America: Steve Rogers #14 (May 2017)
  16. ^ Dockterman, Eliana (May 25, 2016). "Captain America Is a Hydra Agent: Marvel Editor Explains". Time. Archived from the original on October 10, 2016.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ Marston, George (June 28, 2016). "How Steve Rogers Became a Hydra Agent – Spoilers". Newsarama. Archived from the original on August 6, 2016.
  19. ^ Secret Empire #9 (October 2017)
  20. ^ Paradise X Special Edition (July 2001)
  21. ^ New Thunderbolts #11 (October 2005)
  22. ^ Ultimate Comics: Armor Wars #2 (December 2009)
  23. ^ a b c "Doctor Faustus Voices (Marvel Universe)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved September 19, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  24. ^ Abrams, Natalie (February 18, 2015). "Agent Carter boss teases what's next after the big sacrifice". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on February 18, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  25. ^ Misiano, Christopher (director); Michele Fazekas & Tara Butters (writer) (February 24, 2015). "Valediction". Marvel's Agent Carter. Season 1. Episode 8. ABC.
  26. ^ "Agents of SHIELD: Where We've Seen [Spoiler]'s Brainwashing Before". Screen Rant. April 14, 2018. Archived from the original on April 23, 2018.
  27. ^ 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.
  28. ^ Kachwala, Adnan Juzar (December 5, 2022). "Marvel's Midnight Suns: Everything you Should Know before Purchasing the Game". The Sports Rush. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022.
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