Scarecrow

The Scarecrow is an American villain and former escape artist and contortionist known as the Uncanny Umberto. As well as wearing a traditional scarecrow costume, he employs a troupe of trained crows to carry out his bidding.

Biography

In early 1964, Vaudeville entertainer Uncanny Umberto helped the hero Iron Man stop a petty criminal using his trained agility. Iron Man complimented Umberto on his ability, and mused that it was a good thing he was on the good side of the law. Umberto pondered this, and arrived at the decision to use his skills for crime. Wandering past a store window, he saw a scarecrow Halloween costume and nabbed it, then took the trained crows from another act in his troupe. With the effect completed, the newly christened Scarecrow set his criminal sights high, opting to rob the apartment of billionaire Tony Stark—secretly the alterego of Iron Man. Scarecrow was caught red-handed by Stark and his chauffeur Happy Hogan, a retired boxer. As Hogan fought Scarecrow back, Stark slipped into another room and donned his Iron Man suit. Scarecrow was able to knock out Hogan, and his crows wrapped Iron Man in some drapery as Scarecrow hid in a corner. When the hero freed himself, the crows had flown out the window, and Iron Man followed, assuming Scarecrow had gone with them. Instead, Scarecrow remained inside, stealing invaluable weapons plans from Stark's belongings. He returned to his hideout and phoned Stark that night, ransoming him for the plans. Scarecrow never planned to give Stark the plans however, and also arranged a meeting with communist Cuban officials to sell them the plans instead. They met at the docks and Scarecrow took Stark's briefcase of cash, fleeing with it by boat to his rendezvous with the Cubans. They met on open water as Iron Man caught up, recovering the money and plans and destroying the Cubans' boat. Scarecrow was forced to flee all the way to Cuba, dragged through the water by his crows.