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.[volume & issue needed]
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.[volume & issue needed] 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.[volume & issue needed] 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.[1]
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.
References
- ^ Strange Tales #114