The Circus: Super Hero Training 101

Everyone loves the circus. Exotic animals and amazing acrobatics, it conjures up an imaginary world where anything is possible. It is a clichéd notion that any child who is unhappy with his/her life should run away and join the circus. It’s an adventure. But perhaps there is a reason for joining the circus other than just pure escapism. Perhaps in reality (or the reality of the world of super heroes at least), the circus is the ideal training ground for the young super hero to be.

While the world of costumed super heroes is full of empowered individuals, there are many regular humans who feel the need to fight the good fight. And when you look at the ranks of these regular individuals you see a number of them have a background in the circus. The most famous of these individuals is original Robin, Dick Grayson, who now goes by the moniker of Nightwing. While he received the incredible tutelage in the ways of crimefighting from Batman, Dick Grayson had already mastered amazing physical abilities from having been raised by two amazing acrobats, The Flying Graysons. So Batman was not getting completely raw clay to mold into a crimefighter, but a trained athlete.

The circus is comprised of a motley crew of individuals with a wide array of skills. There are animal trainers, acrobats, magicians, clowns, stunt men, strong men, and in the olden days a wide variety of what was lovingly called freaks. Any one of these disciplines can be the foundation for a crimefighting skill, as in the case of Clint Barton aka Hawkeye of the Avengers. Hawkeye was the son of a daredevil trick shot performer, who passed on his incredible skills to his son(s Hawkeye has a brother who now goes by the moniker Trickshot and is part of the Dark Avengers). While Hawkeye initially started out as a villain, he soon turned his amazing archery skills into an asset for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and was deservedly featured in the recent blockbuster film.

Another hero who got his start in the circus is Boston Brand, aka Deadman. While his supernatural abilities to possess the bodies of the living was not developed in the circus, he initially gained this ability in an attempt to avenge his own murder. A murder that occurred while he was a famous acrobat and daredevil in the circus. He tends to possess people who are particularly physically fit so he can best uses those athletic abilities. There is also a need to atone for the life he lived as a brash circus performer before he can move on.

But it isn’t just heroes who get their start in the circus life. As mentioned with the Hawkeye description, there are also criminals whose skills were developed in circus life. There is an entire Circus of Crime in the Marvel Universe, one that had been in operation since the Old West. Hypnotists, strong men, acrobats and clowns, all of whom ply their talents to entertain to also commit crimes and even in World War II act as spies for the Nazis. The Ringmaster, who is blessed with hypnotic powers, has used his abilities to trick many heroes into joining the Circus of Crime and helping them commit their nefarious acts.

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The circus is a place of innocence and imagination but like anything there is usually a darker and dirtier world underneath. Nightwing’s parents were murdered in the circus. Deadman was also murdered in the circus. Hawkeye was trained to be a super criminal in the circus. Great heroes are often marred by tragic pasts and yet a circus seems like the last place one would find such tragedy. Perhaps that adds an extra layer to their tragedy in that it is so unexpected.