Eliot Franklin (Clown) (Earth-616)

Eliot Franklin
Name	Eliot Franklin
Aliases	Griffin, Clown, Crafty, Funny Man, Chicken Man, Grif
Affiliation and Relationships
Affiliation	Gamma Corps Formerly Circus of Crime
Relatives	Corky Franklin (father); Clown (half-brother);
Marital Status	Single
Physical Characteristics
Gender	Male
Height	5′8″ (1.73 m), 6′2″ (1.88 m) (as Griffin)
Weight	175 lbs (79.38 kg), 271 lbs (122.92 kg) (as Griffin)
Eyes	Irises: Brown Green (as Griffin)
Hair	Brown
Skin	Green (as Griffin)
Unusual Features	Formerly had an appearance similar to the Harpy, including claws, wings, green physical features, bird-like feet, and feathers
Origin and Living Status
Origin	Depowered Human genetically manipulated with DNA mutated by gamma radiation
Living Status	Alive
Reality	Earth-616
Place of Birth	Orlando, Florida
Personal Information
Identity	No Dual
Citizenship	American
Occupation	Former Government operative, professional criminal, assassin, circus clown
Base of Operations	Mobile
Creators and Appearances
Creators	Stan Lee, Jack Kirby
First	Incredible Hulk #3 (July, 1962)
First	Incredible Hulk #3 (July, 1962)

History

Circus of Crime

Franklin as the Clown

Eliot Franklin was born in Orlando, Florida, the son of a man named Corky. When he began his criminal career, he joined the Ringmaster's Circus of Crime, working as a circus clown, comedian, juggler, and unicyclist. Their first major crime spree involved the Ringmaster hypnotizing entire towns while Clown and the rest of the troupe robbed everyone of their wealth, they attempted this on Rick Jones but he summoned the Hulk through a mental link they shared. Upon his arrival, the Clown and others managed to subdue the Hulk and chain him up until he broke free as the FBI arrived to arrest Clown and the circus.

When the Circus of Crime acted independently of the Ringmaster, the Clown often served as the leader. For a time he broke from the Circus, setting himself up as a professional hitman, and clashing with Deathlok when he tried to kill his former friend the Ringmaster (who had reinvented himself as a political candidate).

Gamma Corps

As Griffin

Later the Clown underwent Gamma mutation to become the Gamma Corps' Griffin.

Griffin and the rest of the Gamma Corps were attacked by a haywire Hulk A.I., who wanted to kill them as part of the plan of the original Hulk to neutralize every Gamma-powered mutate from the Earth, even though the original Hulk's plan didn't include lethal force. After following the haywire A.I. to Fort Knox, Hulk saved the Gamma Corps from their deaths, but later stripped them of their powers.

Powers and Abilities

Power Grid

Powers

None after being depowered by the Hulk.

Former Powers

* Transformation: Currently none. After undergoing Gamma mutation but before his depowerment, Franklin could transform into a superhumanly strong, winged form.

• Superhuman Durability
• Superhuman Strength
• Superhuman Stamina
• Flight
• Talons: As Griffin he had extremely sharp talons that could cut Hulk's skin.
• Toxikinesis: As Griffin he could spit acid.

Abilities

Expert juggler & unicyclist. Marksman.

Weaknesses

• Mental Instability: Eliot appeared to be incapable of taking things seriously and wouldn't stop telling jokes even when being severely beaten. He was the only member of Gamma Corps to realize he was being recruited to tackle the Hulk and gleefully signed up with no questions or reasoning. Even whilst facing the Hulk, who had little problem fighting him one-on-one, he was unable to stop joking, prompting the Hulk to call him insane and point out that his insanity was his only reason for him signing on to Gamma Corps when compared to the others.

Paraphernalia

Weapons

As the Clown, he used a gas-emitting cane and juggling implements

Transportation

Formerly a unicycle

Notes

Griffin's powers mimic those of both Harpies (Betty Ross and Marlo Chandler)

Trivia

• Eliot's father Corky, was a performing clown for the Quentin Carnival and was a close friend of Ghost Rider Johnny Blaze.
• For a brief period of time, Franklin was known as the "Funny Man".

See Also

• 43 appearance(s) of Eliot Franklin (Clown) (Earth-616)
• 4 minor appearance(s) of Eliot Franklin (Clown) (Earth-616)
• Mentions (or invocations) of Eliot Franklin (Clown) (Earth-616)
• 30 image(s) of Eliot Franklin (Clown) (Earth-616)

Links and References

• Clown at the Marvel Directory
• Clown at wikipedia

Footnotes

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