Wednesday, March 01, 2023

"Exceptionally."

Featuring possibly my shoddiest prop yet, but is it weird we haven't had a Ringmaster figure yet...no, hearing it out loud, no, not surprising at all. I'm serious about the nine-volt though, as you can see in the diagram from the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #15, the Book of Weapons, Hardware, and Paraphernalia.
That hat (and Peter David!) are largely responsible for the smart 90's Hulk, the persona that would later be called "the Professor." Banner's multiple personalities were allegedly integrated, but that may have been backpedaled later, under the explanation that maybe a hypnotic hat maybe isn't going to solve all your problems. (Guys would rather stare at the hat than go to therapy...)

I don't know if we've ever seen Moonstone and Ringmaster actually interact, but with their shared interest in therapy--or short-cuts to same--it made sense. As did the return of one of Moonstone's former teammates, the Radioactive Man. I had to look, I don't think they were ever on the Masters of Evil at the same time, but they were on the Thunderbolts more than once. The Radioactive Man--or, Chen Lu, since Radioactive Man makes me think "Up and atom!"--actually went after Moon Knight during Civil War, and he and Karla also faced him in Punisher #15 (#243) and thereabouts. They appear to be mutually griping about their boss Zemo having lost the reality knob at that point; but maybe weren't as close as I'd thought...

3 comments:

Mr. Morbid's House Of Fun said...

Lu's totally Oddjob here.

Right now it doesn't look good, but maybe we'll get a twist that she's actually doing this for Marc's benefit. We'll see that's for sure.

I wonder if any kid or adult reading those handbooks every legit tried to replicate said weapon or gimmick by trying to copy the schematics as they were presented. You can't tell me someone out there didn't at least try. I can see it. Then if they ever got injured or it didn't work, they'd sue Marvel or attempt to sue Marvel for it not working out.

H said...

Ooh, a 'lab' mention and a Hulk mention? Sounds like a trip to our favorite genetic scientists (and maybe Sinister, if he decides to crash the party again) is coming. Not sure what they'd want Marc for but who knows why they do any of the crazy experiments they do?

Also, would hypnosis really work on MK? Marc may be hypnotized but Steven and Jake weren't there. They could come in at any time, really. I think Steven might play possum but Jake's a coin toss honestly.

Mr. Morbid's House Of Fun said...

Very true on that last point H. Could go either way.