Merge:Masters of Evil

The Masters of Evil are a team of supervillains in the Marvel Comics universe. They have gone through many incarnations, accumulating dozens of members in total. The first incarnation appeared in Avengers Vol. 1 #6 (July 1964). The Masters of Evil are primarily opposed to the Avengers, although they have also battled the Thunderbolts and the Guardians of the Galaxy.

The original Masters team was organized by Baron Zemo, who led the team until his death. The second team of Masters was organized by the android Ultron under the alias of Crimson Cowl. The third team was organized by the criminal scientist Egghead. The fourth team was organized by the second Baron Zemo, the son of the original Zemo. The fifth team was organized by Doctor Octopus, and bore little resemblance to any other incarnation of the team. The sixth incarnation was assembled by the second Baron Zemo; they are better known under the alias they adopted, the Thunderbolts. The seventh and eighth incarnations were gathered by the mysterious Crimson Cowl (Justine Hammer).

"Avengers Under Siege" is generally considered the definitive Masters of Evil storyline. In it, a reformed version of the team invades Avengers Mansion, wrecking the headquarters, torturing their butler Jarvis, beating Hercules into a coma, and taking down the team. It took a hastily assembled squad of reserve Avengers to defeat this version of the Masters.

Membership
listed alphabetically, after leader

Masters of Evil I
The original grouping, from Avengers (vol. 1) #6–7, #9–10, #15–16 (July 1964–May 1965)


 * Baron Heinrich Zemo (leader) (died in Avengers #15)
 * Black Knight (Nathan Garrett) (died in Tales of Suspense #72)
 * Enchantress (joined in Avengers #7)
 * Executioner (joined in Avengers #7; died in Thor #362)
 * Melter (died in Avengers #263)
 * Radioactive Man

Masters of Evil II
From Avengers (vol. 1) #54–55, #83 (July 1968–December 1970)


 * Ultron-5, (leader, "died" in Avengers #57)
 * Black Knight (Dane Whitman) (joined with the intention of betraying the Masters)
 * Klaw
 * Melter (died in Avengers #263)
 * Radioactive Man
 * Whirlwind

Masters of Evil III
From Avengers (vol. 1) #222, #227–230 (August 1982–April 1983)


 * Egghead (leader) (died in Avengers #229)
 * Beetle
 * Moonstone
 * Radioactive Man
 * Scorpion
 * Shocker
 * Tiger Shark
 * Whirlwind

Masters of Evil IV
From Avengers (vol. 1) #270–277, West Coast Avengers #16, and Amazing Spider-Man #283 (August 1986–March 1987)


 * Baron Helmut Zemo (leader)
 * Absorbing Man
 * Goliath
 * Blackout (new recruit) (died in Avengers #277)
 * Black Mamba (associate, appears as Tanya Sealy)
 * Fixer
 * Grey Gargoyle
 * Mister Hyde
 * Moonstone
 * Screaming Mimi (new recruit)
 * Tiger Shark
 * Titania
 * Whirlwind
 * The Wrecking Crew (Bulldozer, Piledriver, Thunderball, and Wrecker)
 * Yellowjacket (Rita DeMara)

Masters of Evil V

 * Dr. Octopus (leader)
 * Absorbing Man
 * Gargantua
 * Jackhammer
 * Oddball
 * Powderkeg
 * Puff Adder
 * Shocker
 * Titania
 * Yellowjacket (Rita DeMara)



Masters of Evil VI/Thunderbolts

 * Baron Helmut Zemo (leader)
 * Beetle/MACH-1
 * Fixer/Techno
 * Goliath/Atlas
 * Moonstone/Meteorite
 * Screaming Mimi/Songbird

Masters of Evil VII

 * Crimson Cowl (leader)
 * Aqueduct
 * Bison
 * Blackwing
 * Boomerang
 * Cardinal
 * Constrictor
 * Cyclone II
 * Dragonfly
 * Eel
 * Flying Tiger
 * Icemaster
 * Joystick
 * Klaw
 * Lodestone
 * Man-Ape
 * Man-Killer
 * Quicksand
 * Scorcher
 * Shatterfist
 * Shockwave
 * Slyde
 * Sunstroke
 * Supercharger
 * Tiger Shark

Masters of Evil VIII

 * Crimson Cowl (leader)
 * Black Mamba
 * Cardinal
 * Cyclone II
 * Gypsy Moth
 * Hydro-Man
 * Machinesmith
 * Man-Killer

Ultimate Universe
Though no team with the name "Masters of Evil" has appeared in the Ultimate Marvel Universe, the Liberators are also a team directly opossed to the Ultimates, the Ultimate version of the Avengers, who also appear without their Earth 616 team name.

Other media
The Masters of Evil I appeared in Story 4 and Story 6 of the Captain America segment of The Marvel Superheroes Show. The lineup consisted of Baron Zemo I, Melter, Radioactive Man, and Black Knight.

The Masters of Evil appeared in the sixth chapter of The Avengers: United They Stand "Command Decision". In this episode, the team was formed by Baron Zemo II, Moonstone, Whirlwind, Absorbing Man, Tiger Shark, Dragonfly, Cardinal and Boomerang.

It has been said that the Masters of Evil will appear in the game Marvel: Ultimate Alliance in an alliance with Doctor Doom.