Marvel Team-Up (vol. 3) #7
Master of the Ring Part One
After beating Sunfire within an inch of his life, the massive Skrull named Titannus returns to his ship which has crashed into the side of a mountain in Japan. He returns to his ship where his love, Amissa, remains in stasis. He apologizes for her for almost allowing Sunfire to open the pod that is keeping her alive, promising that he’ll keep their ship cloaked from now on.
In New York City, the Ringmaster meets with a man named Chen Hsu, who is offering to sell him a special ring. He explains that the Mandarin commissioned it’s creation, saying it was made from a fragment of the Cosmic Cube. However, the Mandarin died before it was completed and his son is not worthy to weild it.[1] When the Ringmaster attempts to use the hypnotic device on his hat, Chen Hus smacks the Ringmaster over the head with his cane, telling the crimial that he’s more than prepared to deal with his parlor tricks. However, the Ringmaster reveals that the hat is mostly a spectacle these days and uses his eyes to hypnotize Chen Hsu and take the ring away from him.[2]
Meanwhile, Peter Parker is making dinner for him and his wife, Mary Jane Watson.[3] Peter complains about having to cook since he fought the Rhino on top of his usual job as a teacher. Mary Jane tries to cheer him up by making jokes until the couple start getting romantic. This causes their steaks to catch fire, prompting them to decide to get take-out instead.
At that same moment, Moon Knight is undercover when he spots the Constrictor overseeing a smuggling operation. When he attacks, Moon Knight quickly takes down the Constrictor’s good. However, the villain manages to snare Moon Knight in his mechanical coils. Luckily, Moon Knight is rescued by Spider-Man who was passing by on his way to get Chinese food and webs up the Constrictor, freeing Moon Knight in the process. Despite this, the Constrictor quickly frees himself, prompting Spider-Man and Moon Knight to work together to take him down.
Back in Japan, Titannus continues his secret observartion of various superheroes. He tells Amissa that these superheroes will become the weapons he will use against her father, whom he blames for Amissa’s condition.
Meanwhile, back in New York, the Ringmaster decies to test out his new ring. eciding to rob a bank, he crosses the street and parts the busy traffic with a simple wave of the hands. At that same moment, Spider-Man and Moon Knight have just finished off the Constrictor. Hearing police sirens, the pair escape into Moon Knight’s Moon Coptor. Along the way home, Spider-Man is so impressed with Moon Knight’s set-up that he begins babbling incessantly.[4] That’s when Moon Knight’s assistant, Frenchie, tells them that there is a bankrobbery happening nearby. As they arrive on the scene, something shoots the Moon Coptor out of the sky. Although everyone survives the crash unharmed, Spider-Man’s take-out is ruined.[5] That’s when the Ringmaster arrives with a bazooka that turns into a flock of pigeons when he discards the weapon. Following him are bank guards he turned into loyal clowns to clean out the bank for him. The Ringmaster gloats over the power of the ring he recently and decides to kill Spider-Man second as a reward for recognizing him.[6] With a mere wave of his hands, the Ringmaster transforms the area around them into the scene of a circus. The two heroes are surrounded by various circus acts that are trying to kill them. While Spider-Man is busy fighting off their attackers, Moon Knight deduces that the Ringmaster needs to concentrate to maintain his creation and strikes him in the face. Sure enough, the blow breaks the Ringmaster’s concentration causing the entire circus scene to disappear. Admitting that he is still learning how to use the ring, the Ringmaster decides to change tactics by using the ring to change the fluid in Spider-Man’s web-shooters into highly unstable explosives. Just as Spider-Man complains about Ringmaster playing dirty the area is rocked by a sudden explosion.
Recurring Characters
Spider-Man, Moon Knight, Ringmaster, Constrictor, Titannus, Amissa, Mary Jane Watson, Fremchie, (on screen) Hulk, X-23, Fantastic Four (Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, Thing), Captain America, Wolverine, Black Widow, Doctor Strange, Nova
Continuity Notes
At the time of this story, everyone believes that the Mandarin had died in Iron Man (vol. 3) #10. He was succeeded by his son Temugin in Iron Man (vol. 3) #53. The Mandarin will turn up alive again in Iron Man (vol. 4) #16.
The Ringmaster was fitted with special contact lenses that would allow him to hypnotize people without needing to use the device built into his hat circa Incredible Hulk #469.
Peter and Mary Jane are referred to as husband and wife here. However, not long after this their marriage is erased from existence by Mephisto in Amazing Spider-Man #545. In the new timeline, the couple never get married but have been living in a prolongued engagement.
Spider-Man mentions he had a car and it was lame. He is referring to the Spider-Mobile which first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #130. The vehicle ended up getting trashed and abandoned in Amazing Spider-Man #160. Since Marvel Knights: Spider-Man #7, the vehicle has been on display at the Smithsonian.
Spider-Man wonders why everyone is surprised to hear that he is married, Wolverine mirrored Moon Knight’s surprise in Marvel Team-Up (vol. 3) #1. In the new timeline, everyone would likely be expressing surprise to hear that Spider-Man was enganged instead of being married.
Spider-Man has fought the Ringmaster on many occasions, the first time they met was back in Amazing Spider-Man #16.
Topical References
Mary Jane mentions that she has a spread in Cosmopolitan magazine. Although this magazine has been around for over 130 years as I write this (July 2020) it’s a real world publication and could be cancelled or end its publication run at some point.
