The Crime Master
Encyclopedia
The Crime-Master is a Marvel Comics
super-villain
, of the professional-criminal type, and an enemy of Spider-Man
. Created by writer Stan Lee
and designed by artist Steve Ditko
, he first appears in The Amazing Spider-Man
#26 (July 1965). The character was most notable for having briefly been the partner of the Green Goblin
. Both villains aspired to take over the criminal mobs of New York and formed an uneasy partnership. They were both aware of the other's secret identity which kept them from outwardly betraying the other. The Crime-Master only lasted one issue and was killed in Amazing Spider-Man #27; however, there was a second Crime-Master in the 1970s, and new stories were written in the pages of Untold Tales of Spider-Man
that featured the original character before his death.
, the original Big Man, after unmasking. Devastated by the discovery, Lewis Jr. has not appeared as The Crime-Master since.
The original Crime-Master was also featured in an untold story from before his death in Untold Tales of Spider-Man #23 (August 1997) and again in Untold Tales of Spider-Man #25. That issue is somewhat controversial as it alters the storyline from Amazing Spider-Man #26-27. This story shows the Crime-Master and Green Goblin reveal their identities to each other. The Goblin, however, is wearing a mask of J. Jonah Jameson
under his Goblin mask so as to suggest that The Crime-Master really believed that Jameson was the Goblin instead of Norman Osborn. This does not make sense in the continuity of Amazing Spider-Man #26 as thought bubbles reveal that the Goblin is concerned about The Crime-Master revealing his identity.
New York City crime gangs under his control. He was opposed by Spider-Man
, and his attempt failed when he was killed.
, but unlike his father, he was not killed by police.
(The current Venom) when Flash was sent to stop a mad scientist who has developed powerful Antarctic Vibranium bullets for Crime Master.
universe, and serves as one of the primary antagonists in Spider-Man Noir: "Eyes Without A Mask." He is the Crime-Master who has taken over New York since Norman Osborn
was put on trial as The Goblin. His enforcers include The Enforcers
and Sandman
. He also helps to sponsor Otto Octavius
in his experiments on African-Americans. He is dating Felicia Hardy
, but is enraged when he finds out that she sheltered Spider-Man, and slashes her critically. She phones the FBI Agent Jean DeWolff
, who then goes to Ellis Island and busts Crime Master.
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
super-villain
Supervillain
A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the villain character type, commonly found in comic books, action movies and science fiction in various media.They are sometimes used as foils to superheroes and other fictional heroes...
, of the professional-criminal type, and an enemy of Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
. Created by writer Stan Lee
Stan Lee
Stan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, actor, producer, publisher, television personality, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
and designed by artist Steve Ditko
Steve Ditko
Stephen J. "Steve" Ditko is an American comic book artist and writer best known as the artist co-creator, with Stan Lee, of the Marvel Comics heroes Spider-Man and Doctor Strange....
, he first appears in The Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man is an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics, featuring the adventures of the fictional superhero Spider-Man. Being the mainstream continuity of the franchise, it began publication in 1963 as a monthly periodical and was published continuously until it was...
#26 (July 1965). The character was most notable for having briefly been the partner of the Green Goblin
Green Goblin
The Green Goblin is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #14 ....
. Both villains aspired to take over the criminal mobs of New York and formed an uneasy partnership. They were both aware of the other's secret identity which kept them from outwardly betraying the other. The Crime-Master only lasted one issue and was killed in Amazing Spider-Man #27; however, there was a second Crime-Master in the 1970s, and new stories were written in the pages of Untold Tales of Spider-Man
Untold Tales of Spider-Man
Untold Tales of Spider-Man is an American comic book series starring Spider-Man published by Marvel Comics for 26 issues from September, 1995 to October, 1997....
that featured the original character before his death.
Publication history
The Crime-Master debuted in Amazing Spider-Man #26, his identity unknown. He was killed and revealed as Nicholas "Nick" "Lucky" Lewis after his death. His son, Nicholas Lewis Jr. became the second Crime-Master in Marvel Team-Up #39 (November 1975) and #40 and teamed up with the second Big Man. This Crime-Master did not know the identity of his partner and betrayed and shot to death the Big Man, who turned out to be his girlfriend Janice Foswell, daughter of Frederick FoswellFrederick Foswell
Frederick Foswell is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:Frederick Foswell first appeared, as the Big Man, in The Amazing Spider-Man #10 , and was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko....
, the original Big Man, after unmasking. Devastated by the discovery, Lewis Jr. has not appeared as The Crime-Master since.
The original Crime-Master was also featured in an untold story from before his death in Untold Tales of Spider-Man #23 (August 1997) and again in Untold Tales of Spider-Man #25. That issue is somewhat controversial as it alters the storyline from Amazing Spider-Man #26-27. This story shows the Crime-Master and Green Goblin reveal their identities to each other. The Goblin, however, is wearing a mask of J. Jonah Jameson
J. Jonah Jameson
John Jonah Jameson Junior is a supporting character of Spider-Man in the .Jameson is usually the publisher or editor-in-chief of the Daily Bugle, a fictional New York newspaper and now serves as the mayor of New York City...
under his Goblin mask so as to suggest that The Crime-Master really believed that Jameson was the Goblin instead of Norman Osborn. This does not make sense in the continuity of Amazing Spider-Man #26 as thought bubbles reveal that the Goblin is concerned about The Crime-Master revealing his identity.
Nicholas Lewis Sr. ("Lucky Lewis")
Nick "Lucky" Lewis was a masked criminal who attempted to organize all non-MaggiaMaggia (comics)
The Maggia is a fictional international crime syndicate that has appeared in various comic book series published by Marvel Comics. The organization exists in Marvel's main shared universe, known as the Marvel Universe...
New York City crime gangs under his control. He was opposed by Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
, and his attempt failed when he was killed.
Nicholas Lewis Jr.
Nick Lewis Jr. adopted his father's Crime-Master guise as a would-be avenger of his father's death. He was also defeated by Spider-ManSpider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
, but unlike his father, he was not killed by police.
New Crime Master
A new, currently undentified, Crime Master has appeared in the new Venom series. He is a shrewd planner, with substantial resources, with many hanchmen, chief among them the new Jack O'Lantern. His paths first crossed with Flash ThompsonFlash Thompson
Eugene "Flash" Thompson is a supporting character in Marvel Comics’s Spider-Man series. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, he first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15 ....
(The current Venom) when Flash was sent to stop a mad scientist who has developed powerful Antarctic Vibranium bullets for Crime Master.
Marvel Noir
An un-named Crime-Master exists in the Marvel NoirMarvel Noir
Marvel Noir is a 2009-2010 Marvel Comics alternative continuity combining elements of film noir and pulp fiction with the Marvel Universe. The central premise of the mini-series replaces super powers with driven, noir-flavored characterization....
universe, and serves as one of the primary antagonists in Spider-Man Noir: "Eyes Without A Mask." He is the Crime-Master who has taken over New York since Norman Osborn
Green Goblin
The Green Goblin is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #14 ....
was put on trial as The Goblin. His enforcers include The Enforcers
Enforcers (comics)
The Enforcers are a fictional team of villains in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist and co-plotter Steve Ditko, the team's first appearance was in The Amazing Spider-Man #10 .-Publication history:...
and Sandman
Sandman (Marvel Comics)
Sandman is a fictional character who appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. A shapeshifter endowed through an accident with the ability to turn himself into sand, he eventually reformed, and became an ally of Spider-Man...
. He also helps to sponsor Otto Octavius
Doctor Octopus
Doctor Octopus is a fictional character, a supervillain that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics since 1963. A highly intelligent mad scientist, Doctor Octopus is one of Spider-Man's greatest foes...
in his experiments on African-Americans. He is dating Felicia Hardy
Black Cat (comics)
The Black Cat is a fictional character, a superheroine in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist Keith Pollard, she first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #194 ....
, but is enraged when he finds out that she sheltered Spider-Man, and slashes her critically. She phones the FBI Agent Jean DeWolff
Jean DeWolff
Jean DeWolff is a fictional police detective who functions as a supporting character in books published by Marvel Comics, in particular those featuring Spider-Man...
, who then goes to Ellis Island and busts Crime Master.
Video games
- The Crime-Master is mentioned by VultureVulture (comics)The Vulture is the name of six comic book supervillains in the Marvel Comics universe. The best known Vulture in the Marvel Universe is Adrian Toomes, an elderly enemy of Spider-Man created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko in The Amazing Spider-Man #2 .-Golden Age Vulture:In Young Men #26, a scientist...
's henchmen in Spider-Man: Shattered DimensionsSpider-Man: Shattered DimensionsSpider-Man: Shattered Dimensions is a video game featuring Marvel Comics superhero Spider-Man. Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions blends together four universes from the Marvel Comics multiverse, allowing the player to play as four different Spider-Men...
. This version seems to be an enforcer working for HammerheadHammerhead (comics)Hammerhead is a fictional character, a supervillain that has appeared in various comic book series published by Marvel Comics. He is primarily an enemy of Spider-Man and a member of organized crime who exists in Marvel's main shared universe, known as the Marvel Universe...
. In his orders, he killed Fancy DanFancy DanFancy Dan is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:Fancy Dan first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #10 , and was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko....
and put him in a garbage can due to him flirting with Hammerhead's girlfriend Janice Foswell.
External links
- SamRuby.com has a bio of The Crime Master