Princess Python
Encyclopedia
Princess Python is a fictional character
, a supervillain
in the Marvel Comics Universe, most notably as a member of the Circus of Crime
. She has no superhuman abilities, but rather relies on her snake charming
skills and her 25 feet (7.6 m) pet rock python snake. She has fought several superhero
es, ranging from the Avengers
to Iron Man
. She is also notable as she was the first villainess that Spider-Man
has faced. She is normally seen with the Circus of Crime, but had a short stint with the Serpent Society
until she was banned for cowardice. She first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man
#22 (Mar 1965) and was created by Stan Lee
and Steve Ditko
.
, developed an act as a snake charmer and circus performer using a twenty-five foot python as a young adult. Presumably, she joined the Circus of Crime in its early days but isn't actually seen as a professional criminal until the formation of the Masters of Menace. It is, in fact, the Princess who convinces the others to get rid of the Ringmaster
, appoint the Clown as the leader, rename the group (she comes up with the name), and go out on a crime spree of their own. The Masters of Menace steal paintings from a Madison Avenue Art Gallery where they run afoul of Spider-Man. However, the web-slinger is unwilling to hit a woman and turns out to be putty in Zelda's hands. She maneuvers the wall-crawler into a fight with her pet after jamming his web shooters with an electric prod, but is defeated when Spider-Man maneuvers her into the arms of the law.
When they get out of prison, the Masters of Menace agree to rejoin the Ringmaster and his Circus of Crime. They try to hypnotize Avengers' members Hawkeye
, Quicksilver
, and the Scarlet Witch
into joining them but fail. Princess Python fights hand-to-hand with the Scarlet Witch after trying to cover her eyes, but loses when the Witch uses her hex power to soak her down with water, preventing her whistling for her pet. The Circus of Crime does escape capture, however, though it is later mentioned the D.A. "wormed the truth out of Princess Python".
The Circus next schemes to steal a huge golden bull but they need a new strong man to replace theirs since "he strained himself trying to lift the elephant". They find the Mighty Thor
who has been stripped of his godly power but is still superhumanly strong. Thor is hypnotized into stealing the massive golden bull but Princess Python is trapped under the idol in the melee that follows. Thor rescues her. The grateful and somewhat smitten Princess tells the police that Thor was duped into helping them before she uses her snake to escape and rejoin the Circus.
In their next caper, the Circus disguises themselves as caterers in order to sneak into Avengers Mansion
so they can disrupt the wedding of Yellowjacket
and the Wasp
. Zelda's giant python jumps out of the wedding cake and puts the squeeze on the Wasp. But Yellowjacket turns out to be Hank Pym (which no one knew at the time) and he disrupts the plan by turning into Giant-Man, yanking the python off of the Wasp and tying it around the Ringmaster instead. Princess Python tries to sneak away, only to be decked by a punch from the Wasp.
The Circus then sets up a scheme that involves enlisting a mind-controlled Ulik
the Troll as an accomplice. Thor thwarts the plan and ties Zelda up with her own python in the process.
At this point, the Princess struck out on her own. She goes out to Stark Industries
and manages to get an opportunity to get her python around Tony Stark. She tells the world that she wants "one million dollars and a jet plane to South America" or Stark dies. Stark, secretly Iron Man, frees himself by using his chest-plate to shock the snake. This isn't good enough. According to Zelda, her "precious" has been specially bred to be able to crush Iron Man's armor. The python nearly does so until Iron Man kills it by tossing it in a vat of acid. Zelda is so distraught over the death of her pet that she jumps in after it; only to be saved by Iron Man before she hits the acid. Iron Man, clearly not a pet lover, suggests the Princess be "taken care of by good doctors" because of her excessive hatred of him over the death of her snake.
Apparently, the Princess gets away from those doctors to whom Iron Man consigned her. The Princess acquires a new trained python and gets recruited by Viper
to start a new Serpent Squad. Zelda breaks the Cobra
and the Eel
out of jail and they all battle Captain America
in his Nomad identity. Eventually they are joined by Warlord Krang
who is in possession of the Serpent Crown
and the whole thing ends up involving the Sub-Mariner
and Roxxon Oil
. The Princess is defeated and led off to jail. She is back with the Circus of Crime soon after, but she and the Circus are defeated by Daredevil.
But the Circus never makes it to jail. They are freed from a prison wagon on its way to the penitentiary by Live Wire
who then joins the group.
. Zelda finds herself attracted to Luke which doesn't please Luke's girlfriend Claire Temple. With the help of Black Goliath
, Luke Cage defeats the Circus. Zelda is stopped when Luke's pal D.W. Griffith hypnotizes her with the Ringmaster's hat.
With the Circus of Crime, Princess Python captured the sea-nymph Meriam, and fought the Hulk
. The Circus reaches its lowest point when it tries to enlist Howard the Duck
as an unwilling accomplice, but he defeats them with help from Iris Raritan. Zelda gets bitten on the nose by Howard and runs away sobbing.
There's an adventure involving the Thing
, Iceman
, and the former Black Goliath now calling himself Giant-Man, and another involving the mind-controlled Hulk and Dragon Man
. Then Death Adder
recruits Zelda to join the Serpent Society and she attends an organizational meeting. The Society is led by Sidewinder
and its other members are Constrictor
, Black Mamba
, Cottonmouth
, Diamondback
, Bushmaster
, the Cobra, the Asp
, the Rattler
, and Anaconda
. The Society is a longtime thorn in Captain America's side but the Princess decides to break away from the group when they are dispatched to kill MODOK
and runs out. She is captured and brought back, where she is questioned and tortured by Sidewinder. She is sent to be ransomed back to the Circus of Crime, but Death Adder, who is delivering her, is killed by the Scourge of the Underworld
before the transaction is complete.
. Princess Python then turns up as the master of ceremonies at the "power pageant" of Superia
's Femizons, introducing all the members of the group to each other. She battles Captain America and Paladin
when they board Superia's cruise ship. Later, she gets refused admittance to the Bar With No Name by the bouncer (Angar the Screamer
) because she won't check her python at the door.
Again with the Circus, she is thwarted by the Ben Reilly
Spider-Man, Howard the Duck, Generation X
, the Peter Parker Spider-Man, Devil Dinosaur
and Moon-Boy.
Around this time, Zelda hooks up with Johnny Blaze, the former Ghost Rider
, who operates the Quentin Carnival. Python develops friendships among the crew and deep romantic feelings for Johnny. When there was trouble in a nearby trailer, she and Kody, a wolf-man, rush over and succumb to knock-out gas by the trailer's owner, the assassin known as Arcade
. While Johnny defeats Arcade, Kody drags her to safety.
Zelda and the other Masters of Menace (Clown, Cannonball and Gambonnos) resorted to armed robbery in between their stints of running the Circus (without the Ringmaster who has gone straight). The Hulk busted up these plans but the Princess was not captured in the process. She remains free and at large.
Zelda's was next making the startling revelation that she had been married to Stilt-Man
during the latter's funeral held by supervillains and former supervillains. It was for her that a robot Doctor Doom was made to attend so as to give her the belief that Stilt-Man had been respected by some of the "major league" supervillains, and she also shared a sympathy dance with the Gibbon
. By the end of the issue, the Bar that the wake had been held in was blown up by the Punisher. It was later mentioned that "they all had to get their stomachs pumped
and be treated for third-degree burns
."
Later, it was revealed that she was blinded in the explosion, but she has since married the Gibbon. Her python, Pythagoras
, had also gotten sick and died, however, Gibbon bought her a new python at the end of the story.
At the beginning of the Marvel Apes storyline, the Gibbon admits that even if Zelda truly loved him in the past, currently she's fed up with the loser streak of her new husband, and so they parted.
#2, Daniel, or "the Executioner", a member of the New Young Avengers call his mother on the phone to talk about Kate Bishop
. His mother turns out to be Princess Python. Daniel seems unaware of Princess Python costumed adventures, as their dialogue implies Daniel knows Zelda DuBois as a simple, but shady and rich businesswoman. Princess Python pressures Daniel into contacting Kate Bishop, even setting him a large fund for his New Young Avengers/Young Masters of Evil.
In Dark Reign: Young Avengers #4, Daniel places a bomb in Zelda's car after learning of her super-villain past. Zelda is caught in the explosion.
Princess Python has a 25 feet (7.6 m) trained pet rock python
. She has had more than one such snake in her criminal career. Although real-life snakes are deaf, her pythons respond to verbal command, indicating they are of an unusual breed; in Howard the Duck #27, one even reacted to her cry of distress from several yards away. They also have teeth, an unusual feature, since pythons swallow their prey whole.
. However, unlike her Earth-616
version, this Princess Python has super-strength, and was able to knock a piece of the Thing
's body off him.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
, a supervillain
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...
in the Marvel Comics Universe, most notably as a member of the Circus of Crime
Circus of Crime
The Circus of Crime is a fictional villainous organization in the Marvel Comics universe.-Old West:Oddly, there were two organizations in the Old West who dubbed themselves the Circus of Crime...
. She has no superhuman abilities, but rather relies on her snake charming
Snake charming
Snake charming is the practice of pretending to hypnotise a snake by playing an instrument. A typical performance may also include handling the snakes or performing other seemingly dangerous acts, as well as other street performance staples, like juggling and sleight of hand...
skills and her 25 feet (7.6 m) pet rock python snake. She has fought several superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
es, ranging from the Avengers
Avengers (comics)
The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...
to Iron Man
Iron Man
Iron Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #39 .A billionaire playboy, industrialist and ingenious engineer,...
. She is also notable as she was the first villainess that 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...
has faced. She is normally seen with the Circus of Crime, but had a short stint with the Serpent Society
Serpent Society
The Serpent Society is a fictional organization of snake-themed supervillains in the Marvel Comics universe. The group was initially formed from the membership of a previous supervillain team, the Serpent Squad. The group, like its predecessor, has been made up of longtime antagonists of Captain...
until she was banned for cowardice. She first appeared 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...
#22 (Mar 1965) and was created by 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 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....
.
Fictional character biography
Zelda DuBois, born in Darlington, South CarolinaDarlington, South Carolina
Darlington is a city in and the county seat of Darlington County, in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of South Carolina. It is a center for tobacco farming. The population was 6,720 at the 2000 census and is part of the Florence Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, developed an act as a snake charmer and circus performer using a twenty-five foot python as a young adult. Presumably, she joined the Circus of Crime in its early days but isn't actually seen as a professional criminal until the formation of the Masters of Menace. It is, in fact, the Princess who convinces the others to get rid of the Ringmaster
Ringmaster (comics)
Ringmaster is the name of two characters in Marvel Comics. The best known Ringmaster in the Marvel Universe is Maynard Tiboldt who debuted in Hulk #3.-Publication History:The second Ringmaster is Maynard Tiboldt...
, appoint the Clown as the leader, rename the group (she comes up with the name), and go out on a crime spree of their own. The Masters of Menace steal paintings from a Madison Avenue Art Gallery where they run afoul of Spider-Man. However, the web-slinger is unwilling to hit a woman and turns out to be putty in Zelda's hands. She maneuvers the wall-crawler into a fight with her pet after jamming his web shooters with an electric prod, but is defeated when Spider-Man maneuvers her into the arms of the law.
When they get out of prison, the Masters of Menace agree to rejoin the Ringmaster and his Circus of Crime. They try to hypnotize Avengers' members Hawkeye
Hawkeye (comics)
Hawkeye , also known as Goliath and Ronin, is a fictional character that appears in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Tales of Suspense #57 and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Don Heck. Hawkeye joined the Avengers in Avengers Vol. 1 #16 Hawkeye...
, Quicksilver
Quicksilver (comics)
Quicksilver is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in X-Men #4 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby...
, and the Scarlet Witch
Scarlet Witch
The Scarlet Witch is a fictional comic book character that appears in books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in X-Men #4 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby...
into joining them but fail. Princess Python fights hand-to-hand with the Scarlet Witch after trying to cover her eyes, but loses when the Witch uses her hex power to soak her down with water, preventing her whistling for her pet. The Circus of Crime does escape capture, however, though it is later mentioned the D.A. "wormed the truth out of Princess Python".
The Circus next schemes to steal a huge golden bull but they need a new strong man to replace theirs since "he strained himself trying to lift the elephant". They find the Mighty Thor
Thor (Marvel Comics)
Thor is a fictional superhero who appears in publications published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Journey into Mystery #83 and was created by editor-plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, and penciller Jack Kirby....
who has been stripped of his godly power but is still superhumanly strong. Thor is hypnotized into stealing the massive golden bull but Princess Python is trapped under the idol in the melee that follows. Thor rescues her. The grateful and somewhat smitten Princess tells the police that Thor was duped into helping them before she uses her snake to escape and rejoin the Circus.
In their next caper, the Circus disguises themselves as caterers in order to sneak into Avengers Mansion
Avengers Mansion
In the fictional Marvel Comics universe, Avengers Mansion has traditionally been the base of the Avengers. The enormous, city block-sized building is located at 890 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, New York City.-Creative origin:...
so they can disrupt the wedding of Yellowjacket
Henry Pym
Dr. Henry "Hank" Pym is a fictional character that appears in publications by Marvel Comics. Created by editor and plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber and penciler Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Tales to Astonish #27...
and the Wasp
Wasp (comics)
The Wasp is a fictional character, a superheroine in the Marvel Comics universe and founding member of The Avengers. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Tales to Astonish #44 ....
. Zelda's giant python jumps out of the wedding cake and puts the squeeze on the Wasp. But Yellowjacket turns out to be Hank Pym (which no one knew at the time) and he disrupts the plan by turning into Giant-Man, yanking the python off of the Wasp and tying it around the Ringmaster instead. Princess Python tries to sneak away, only to be decked by a punch from the Wasp.
The Circus then sets up a scheme that involves enlisting a mind-controlled Ulik
Ulik
Ulik is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Ulik was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and first appears in Thor #137 ....
the Troll as an accomplice. Thor thwarts the plan and ties Zelda up with her own python in the process.
At this point, the Princess struck out on her own. She goes out to Stark Industries
Stark Industries
In the fictional world of Iron Man, Stark Industries, later also known as Stark International, Stark Innovations, Stark/Fujikawa, Stark Enterprises and currently Stark Resilient, is a fictional multi-billion dollar corporation owned and run by businessman Anthony Edward "Tony" Stark, also known as...
and manages to get an opportunity to get her python around Tony Stark. She tells the world that she wants "one million dollars and a jet plane to South America" or Stark dies. Stark, secretly Iron Man, frees himself by using his chest-plate to shock the snake. This isn't good enough. According to Zelda, her "precious" has been specially bred to be able to crush Iron Man's armor. The python nearly does so until Iron Man kills it by tossing it in a vat of acid. Zelda is so distraught over the death of her pet that she jumps in after it; only to be saved by Iron Man before she hits the acid. Iron Man, clearly not a pet lover, suggests the Princess be "taken care of by good doctors" because of her excessive hatred of him over the death of her snake.
Apparently, the Princess gets away from those doctors to whom Iron Man consigned her. The Princess acquires a new trained python and gets recruited by Viper
Viper (comics)
Viper is the name of three fictional characters in the Marvel Comics universe. All three are villains.-Viper :The first known Viper was created by Steve Englehart, Steve Gerber, Sal Buscema and John Verpoorten and first appeared in Captain America #157 .-Fictional character biography:Jordan...
to start a new Serpent Squad. Zelda breaks the Cobra
Cobra (comics)
The Cobra is the alias of two fictional comic-book supervillains that appear in the Marvel Comics universe.-Klaus Voorhees:Klaus Voorhees, the original Cobra, was also known as The Human Cobra and is currently known as the original King Cobra...
and the Eel
Eel (comics)
The Eel is an alias used by two fictional characters in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The first character to take up the identity was Leopold Stryke who first appeared in Strange Tales #112, while his successor, Edward Lavell, first appeared in Power Man and Iron Fist #92 .-Publication...
out of jail and they all battle Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
in his Nomad identity. Eventually they are joined by Warlord Krang
Krang (comics)
Warlord Krang is a fictional character, in the Marvel Comics universe. He was a high-ranking member of the Atlantean military.-Fictional character biography:...
who is in possession of the Serpent Crown
Serpent Crown
The Serpent Crown is a fictional mystical power object which has appeared in various comic book series published by Marvel Comics. It exists within Marvel's main shared universe...
and the whole thing ends up involving the Sub-Mariner
Namor the Sub-Mariner
Namor the Sub-Mariner is a fictional comic book character in the Marvel Comics universe, and one of the first superheroes, debuting in Spring 1939. The character was created by writer-artist Bill Everett for Funnies Inc., one of the first "packagers" in the early days of comic books that supplied...
and Roxxon Oil
Roxxon Oil
Roxxon Energy Corporation is the name of a fictional massive petroleum corporation owned by Aleksander Lukin and run by August D'Angelo. The company appears in comic book stories published by Marvel Comics and exists in that company's shared universe, known as the Marvel Universe...
. The Princess is defeated and led off to jail. She is back with the Circus of Crime soon after, but she and the Circus are defeated by Daredevil.
But the Circus never makes it to jail. They are freed from a prison wagon on its way to the penitentiary by Live Wire
Live Wire (Marvel Comics)
Live Wire is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:Live Wire first appeared in Fantastic Four Annual #5 , and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby....
who then joins the group.
Back with the Circus
But she ends up back with the Circus when the group captures Luke CageLuke Cage
Luke Cage is a fictional character, a superhero appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Archie Goodwin and artist John Romita, Sr., he first appeared in Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1...
. Zelda finds herself attracted to Luke which doesn't please Luke's girlfriend Claire Temple. With the help of Black Goliath
Bill Foster (comics)
Dr. Bill Foster, also known as Black Goliath, the second Giant-Man, and the fourth Goliath, is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the Marvel Comics universe.-Publication history:...
, Luke Cage defeats the Circus. Zelda is stopped when Luke's pal D.W. Griffith hypnotizes her with the Ringmaster's hat.
With the Circus of Crime, Princess Python captured the sea-nymph Meriam, and fought the Hulk
Hulk (comics)
The Hulk is a fictional character, a superhero in the . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #1 ....
. The Circus reaches its lowest point when it tries to enlist Howard the Duck
Howard the Duck
Howard the Duck is a comic book character in the Marvel Comics universe created by writer Steve Gerber and artist Val Mayerik. The character first appeared in Adventure into Fear #19 and several subsequent series have chronicled the misadventures of the ill-tempered, anthropomorphic, "funny...
as an unwilling accomplice, but he defeats them with help from Iris Raritan. Zelda gets bitten on the nose by Howard and runs away sobbing.
There's an adventure involving the Thing
Thing (comics)
The Thing is a fictional character, a founding member of the superhero team known as the Fantastic Four in the Marvel Comics universe. He was created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee in The Fantastic Four #1...
, Iceman
Iceman (comics)
Iceman is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero, a member of the X-Men. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, he first appeared in X-Men vol. 1 #1, ....
, and the former Black Goliath now calling himself Giant-Man, and another involving the mind-controlled Hulk and Dragon Man
Dragon Man
Dragon Man is a fictional character, a supervillain in the Marvel Comics Universe. He is an artificial dragon-like humanoid android who was animated via alchemy. He was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Fantastic Four #35 ....
. Then Death Adder
Death Adder (comics)
Death Adder , is a fictional supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe. He was one of the original members of the Serpent Society.-Fictional character biography:Roland Burroughs was born in Rochester, New York...
recruits Zelda to join the Serpent Society and she attends an organizational meeting. The Society is led by Sidewinder
Sidewinder (comics)
Sidewinder is a fictional character, a reformed super villain in the Marvel Comics Universe who first appeared in Marvel Two-in-One #64 and was created by Mark Gruenwald and Ralph Macchio.-Fictional character biography:...
and its other members are Constrictor
Constrictor (comics)
Constrictor is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. The character is primarily a supervillain, but is often portrayed as a redeeming anti-hero. Constrictor first appeared in Incredible Hulk vol.1 #212 and was created by Len Wein and Sal Buscema.-Publication history:Constrictor...
, Black Mamba
Black Mamba (comics)
Black Mamba is a fictional character, a supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe, most notably a member of the Serpent Society and BAD Girls, Inc.-Publication history:...
, Cottonmouth
Cottonmouth (comics)
Cottonmouth is a fictional super villain in the Marvel Comics Universe.- Fictional character biography :Originally from Mobile, Alabama, Cottonmouth was chosen by Sidewinder to join a snake-themed villain group, the Serpent Society...
, Diamondback
Diamondback (comics)
Diamondback is the name of four fictional characters appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:Diamondback first appeared in Captain America #310 , written by Mark Gruenwald and illustrated by Paul Neary.-Willis Stryker:The first Diamondback was a foe of Luke Cage...
, Bushmaster
Bushmaster (Marvel Comics)
Bushmaster is the name of two Marvel Comics brothers, both supervillains.-Fictional character biography:John McIver was a powerful crime boss, criminal financier and organizer, and was oft-confronted by the super-hero Iron Fist. McIver is best known for his attempts to lure Misty Knight to his...
, the Cobra, the Asp
Asp (comics)
The Asp is a former supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe, most notably a member of the Serpent Society and BAD Girls, Inc.. She was created by Mark Gruenwald and Paul Neary, and first appeared in Captain America vol. 1 #310....
, the Rattler
Rattler (comics)
The Rattler is a fictional character from the Marvel Comics Universe, and is a member of the Serpent Society.-Fictional character biography:...
, and Anaconda
Anaconda (comics)
Anaconda is a supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe who was created by Mark Gruenwald and Ralph Macchio and first appeared in Marvel Two-in-One #64 in June 1980.-Fictional character biography:...
. The Society is a longtime thorn in Captain America's side but the Princess decides to break away from the group when they are dispatched to kill MODOK
MODOK
MODOK is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Tales of Suspense #93 MODOK (acronym for Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing) is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character...
and runs out. She is captured and brought back, where she is questioned and tortured by Sidewinder. She is sent to be ransomed back to the Circus of Crime, but Death Adder, who is delivering her, is killed by the Scourge of the Underworld
Scourge of the Underworld
The Scourge of the Underworld is the name of a series of fictional characters that have appeared in various series set in the Marvel Comics universe....
before the transaction is complete.
Two Circuses
Somehow, she finds her way back to the Circus where she is captured and defeated by the She-HulkShe-Hulk
She-Hulk is a Marvel Comics superheroine. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist John Buscema, she first appeared in Savage She-Hulk #1 ....
. Princess Python then turns up as the master of ceremonies at the "power pageant" of Superia
Superia
Superia is a fictional character, a misandrist supervillain and criminal scientist in the Marvel Universe. She was created by writer Mark Gruenwald and artist Rik Levins in Captain America Superia (Dr. Deidre Wentworth) is a fictional character, a misandrist supervillain and criminal scientist in...
's Femizons, introducing all the members of the group to each other. She battles Captain America and Paladin
Paladin (comics)
Paladin is a Marvel Comics character, a mercenary. While he claims that Paladin is his real name, he often goes by the name Paul Denning . Though not precisely a supervillain, his mercenary activities often bring him into conflict with superheroes.-Publication history:Paladin first appeared in...
when they board Superia's cruise ship. Later, she gets refused admittance to the Bar With No Name by the bouncer (Angar the Screamer
Angar the Screamer
Angar the Screamer , also known as Scream, is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics supervillain- Publication history :...
) because she won't check her python at the door.
Again with the Circus, she is thwarted by the Ben Reilly
Ben Reilly
Benjamin "Ben" Reilly is a fictional character in the . He is a clone of Peter Parker , and is prominent in the "Clone Saga" story arc...
Spider-Man, Howard the Duck, Generation X
Generation X (comics)
Generation X is a fictional comic book superhero team, a spin-off of the X-Men franchise published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Scott Lobdell and artist Chris Bachalo, the team formed during the 1994 "Phalanx Covenant" storyline, and appeared in their own monthly series in September 1994...
, the Peter Parker Spider-Man, Devil Dinosaur
Devil Dinosaur
Devil Dinosaur is a Marvel Comics character who resembles a red Tyrannosaurus rex. He first appeared in Devil Dinosaur #1...
and Moon-Boy.
Around this time, Zelda hooks up with Johnny Blaze, the former Ghost Rider
Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze)
Ghost Rider is a fictional character, an antihero in the Marvel Comics Universe. He is the second Marvel character to use the name Ghost Rider, following the Western hero later known as the Phantom Rider, and preceding Daniel Ketch.Johnny Blaze was portrayed both in the 2007 film Ghost Rider and...
, who operates the Quentin Carnival. Python develops friendships among the crew and deep romantic feelings for Johnny. When there was trouble in a nearby trailer, she and Kody, a wolf-man, rush over and succumb to knock-out gas by the trailer's owner, the assassin known as Arcade
Arcade (comics)
Arcade is a fictional character, a supervillain in the Marvel Comics Universe created by Chris Claremont and John Byrne. Arcade first appeared in Marvel Team-Up, vol...
. While Johnny defeats Arcade, Kody drags her to safety.
Zelda and the other Masters of Menace (Clown, Cannonball and Gambonnos) resorted to armed robbery in between their stints of running the Circus (without the Ringmaster who has gone straight). The Hulk busted up these plans but the Princess was not captured in the process. She remains free and at large.
Civil War
Stilt-Man
Stilt-Man is the name of two supervillains in Marvel Comics.-Publication history:Stilt-Man first appeared in Daredevil vol. 1 #8 and was one of his earliest enemies. He is a criminal wearing a suit of armor with powerful telescopic legs .The character did not age well, as his powers were more a...
during the latter's funeral held by supervillains and former supervillains. It was for her that a robot Doctor Doom was made to attend so as to give her the belief that Stilt-Man had been respected by some of the "major league" supervillains, and she also shared a sympathy dance with the Gibbon
Gibbon (comics)
Gibbon , is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics mutant, associated with Spider-Man.-Publication history:Created by Stan Lee and John Romita Sr., the Gibbon first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #110 ....
. By the end of the issue, the Bar that the wake had been held in was blown up by the Punisher. It was later mentioned that "they all had to get their stomachs pumped
Gastric lavage
Gastric lavage, also commonly called stomach pumping or Gastric irrigation, is the process of cleaning out the contents of the stomach. It has been used for over 200 years as a means of eliminating poisons from the stomach. Such devices are normally used on a person who has ingested a poison or...
and be treated for third-degree burns
Burn (injury)
A burn is a type of injury to flesh caused by heat, electricity, chemicals, light, radiation or friction. Most burns affect only the skin . Rarely, deeper tissues, such as muscle, bone, and blood vessels can also be injured...
."
Later, it was revealed that she was blinded in the explosion, but she has since married the Gibbon. Her python, Pythagoras
Pythagoras
Pythagoras of Samos was an Ionian Greek philosopher, mathematician, and founder of the religious movement called Pythagoreanism. Most of the information about Pythagoras was written down centuries after he lived, so very little reliable information is known about him...
, had also gotten sick and died, however, Gibbon bought her a new python at the end of the story.
At the beginning of the Marvel Apes storyline, the Gibbon admits that even if Zelda truly loved him in the past, currently she's fed up with the loser streak of her new husband, and so they parted.
Dark Reign
At the end of Dark Reign: Young AvengersYoung Avengers
Young Avengers is an American comic book series written by Allan Heinberg and published by Marvel Comics. It follows a group of young superheroes, each of whom patterns themselves after a member of the long-established Marvel superhero team the Avengers....
#2, Daniel, or "the Executioner", a member of the New Young Avengers call his mother on the phone to talk about Kate Bishop
Hawkeye (Kate Bishop)
Hawkeye is a fictional character. She is a member of the Young Avengers, a team of superheroes in the Marvel Comics' shared universe, the Marvel Universe...
. His mother turns out to be Princess Python. Daniel seems unaware of Princess Python costumed adventures, as their dialogue implies Daniel knows Zelda DuBois as a simple, but shady and rich businesswoman. Princess Python pressures Daniel into contacting Kate Bishop, even setting him a large fund for his New Young Avengers/Young Masters of Evil.
In Dark Reign: Young Avengers #4, Daniel places a bomb in Zelda's car after learning of her super-villain past. Zelda is caught in the explosion.
Powers and abilities
Princess Python has no super human powers; however, she is a trained athlete and an extremely talented snake charmer and handler. She usually carries a hand held, electric cattle prod capable of discharging 1,000 volts.Princess Python has a 25 feet (7.6 m) trained pet rock python
Rock python
Rock python may refer to:* Python sebae , a.k.a. the African rock python, a non-venomous species found in subsaharan Africa.* Python molurus, a.k.a. the Asiatic rock python or Indian python, a non-venomous species found in southern Asia....
. She has had more than one such snake in her criminal career. Although real-life snakes are deaf, her pythons respond to verbal command, indicating they are of an unusual breed; in Howard the Duck #27, one even reacted to her cry of distress from several yards away. They also have teeth, an unusual feature, since pythons swallow their prey whole.
Ultimate Princess Python
Princess Python appeared in the Ultimate Universe as a member of the all-female Serpent SquadSerpent Squad
The Serpent Squad is a fictional mercenary group composed of snake-themed criminals in Marvel Comics. Most often antagonists of Captain America, the roster has changed through various incarnations...
. However, unlike her Earth-616
Earth-616
In the fictional Marvel Comics multiverse, Earth-616 or Earth 616 is the name used to identify the primary continuity in which most Marvel Comics titles take place.-Origin of Earth-616:...
version, this Princess Python has super-strength, and was able to knock a piece of the Thing
Thing (comics)
The Thing is a fictional character, a founding member of the superhero team known as the Fantastic Four in the Marvel Comics universe. He was created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee in The Fantastic Four #1...
's body off him.
External links
- Princess Python's Profile at the Women of Marvel Comics
- http://www.marvel.com/universe/Princess_Python