Acrobat (comics)

Acrobat
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Strange Tales #106 (1963)
Created by	Stan Lee Dick Ayers
In-story information
Alter ego	Carl Zante
Notable aliases	Captain America, World's Greatest Acrobat
Abilities	expert gymnast and tumbler who uses his acrobatic skills for fighting

Acrobat (Carl Zante) is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe, a minor enemy of the Fantastic Four (primarily the Human Torch) and a former circus performer. As the acrobat, he has often clashed with other heroes like Captain America (whom he once impersonated in order to rob a bank) and sometimes Spider-Man. His first appearance was in Strange Tales #106 in 1963.

Fictional character biography

Circus Life

Carl Zante began his career as the "World's Greatest Acrobat" in a circus, where he was a world famous stuntman. As a performer, Zante never quite saw happiness in his life, so he began to pursue a different career that would still make his abilities useful but would not be as hostile. He decided that he would be a criminal due to his natural abilities and he could use them to rob banks and steal power. On one of his first days of being a criminal, he met the Human Torch, a superhuman who he believed could help him.

Criminal Life

Zante asked the Torch to leave the Fantastic Four and join him as the crime fighting pair the Torrid Twosome. Seeing the opportunity as a chance to really become famous and rich, Johnny Storm agreed, and the Acrobat tricked him into melting a bank vault, claiming a Teller was locked inside and it could not be opened until tomorrow. Zante gassed everybody in the bank, sprayed the Torch with a liquid that stopped his flame and stole a million dollars. The Acrobat shot Johnny in the arm, but the Torch was then aided by the Fantastic Four. The team defeated Zante, and later clashed with him on several other attempts to take power from society. Each time, the Acrobat's plans were foiled. Some time later, Zante was posing as Captain America after shaving of his moustache at an auto show where, with the help of some co-workers, he managed to steal valuable automobiles. He broke two thugs out of jail and they led the police out of town on a chase. Zante bound and gagged the only guard left in the bank, then stole a fortune from it. Before the Acrobat could escape with the valuables, he was met by the Human Torch. He finally locked the Torch in a truck used for transporting flammable materials, but the Torch heated up the air in there, breaking the lock. He then captured and unmasked Zante (in Strange Tales #114).

Powers and abilities

Carl Zante is, as his name suggests, a highly skilled acrobat as well as a gymnast, tumbler, and martial artist. He often incorporates these skills into fighting styles. The Acrobat uses a liquid asbestos gun capable of dousing flames, and has access to expensive equipment such as a rocket-equipped sky platform.

External links

• http://www.marvel.com/universe/Acrobat_(Carl_Zante)
• http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/acrobath.htm