Fancy Dan

 In: Characters
 Posted: 2003
 Staff: Al Sjoerdsma (E-Mail)
File Photo
Attributes
Eyes:

Black.

Features:

Pencil-thin mustache, yellow fedora, smokes cigarette in long-stem holder.

Hair:

Black.

Height:

5'even (Approximate.)

Weight:

100 lbs. (Approximate.)

Powers
Abilities:

Black belt in judo, dazzlingly fast footwork.

Limitations:

Should have stuck to intimidating mobsters and stayed away from super-heroes.

Strength Level:

Normal human.

Weapons:

Those small but powerful fists. And, sadly, most recently, a gun.

Summary
Citizenship:

USA

Created By:

Stan Lee, Steve Ditko

Current Groups:

The Enforcers.

Current Occupation:

Working in the prison laundry or something.

Education:

Unknown.

Former Bases:

New York City.

Former Groups:

The New Enforcers. (Montana and Ox III plus Hammer Harrison and Snake Marston.)

Former Occupation:

Mob Enforcer.

Known Allies:

Montana, the Ox, the Big Man, the Green Goblin, the Sandman, the Big Man II, the Crime Master II, the Ox III, Lightmaster, Hammer Harrison and Snake Marston (The Satan Squad), Norman Osborn, the Headsman, the Arranger, Mr. Hyde, the Kingpin.

Known Confidants:

Montana and the Ox (The Enforcers.)

Legal Status:

A guest of the state.

Major Enemies:

Spider-Man, the Human Torch, the Sons of the Tiger, the Dazzler, the Sandman, Daredevil, the Eel, Jimmy-6.

Marital Status:

Single.

Place of Birth:

Unknown.

Real Name:

Unknown.

Usual Bases:

New York City.

Background

Fancy Dan's origin has never been revealed. He first appears, with Montana and the Ox as a member of the Big Man's Enforcers. Though small, Fancy Dan is a "master of judo" whose "footwork is so fast and dazzling that no one can lay a hand on him". His talents in concert with those of his partners make the Enforcers so formidable that even Spider-Man struggles against them. Eventually, though, the web-slinger and the police manage to smash the Big Man's gang and imprison the Enforcers.

(A later retcon reveals the Enforcers as employees of Norman Osborn before they ever team up with the Big Man. They also work with the Headsman, an Osborn flunkey, post-Big Man, in yet another retcon.)

Soon after, Fancy Dan, Montana, and Ox, leave prison and team up with the Green Goblin. They lure Spidey out to the southwest by pretending to star him in a motion picture. Fancy Dan gets webbed up in a cave for his troubles and the Enforcers are defeated. The Green Goblin, however, escapes.

Later, Fancy Dan and friends team up with the Sandman. They still lose.

In later appearances, Fancy Dan and the Enforcers team up with Big Man II, Crime Master II, the Lightmaster, Hammer Harrison, Snake Marston, Mr. Hyde, and the Kingpin. Unfortunately, they are dealt with more and more as ineffectual laughingstocks that couldn't give Spidey a run for his money these days no matter how hard they tried. In their most recent appearance, the trio stooped so low as to resort to using guns... as if that is the only way they can be impressive. It's enough to break your heart.

Image Gallery

Appearances

Cover Date Appearance Information
Mar 1964 App: Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #10
Jul 1964 App: Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #14
Dec 1964 App: Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #19
Nov 1975 App: Marvel Team-Up #39
Dec 1975 App: Marvel Team-Up #40
Jun 1978 App: Spectacular Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #19
Jul 1978 App: Spectacular Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #20
Sep 1981 App: Dazzler #7
Oct 1981 App: Dazzler #8
Feb 1984 App: Marvel Team-Up #138
Apr 1996 App: Untold Tales of Spider-Man #8
Oct 1996 App: Daredevil (Vol.1) #357
Apr 2001 App: Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 2) #28

Thanks To

 The assistance of the Marvel Chronology Project is gratefully acknowledged.

 Some of the above information is extracted from the various versions of the Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe and the more recent Marvel Encyclopaedias.

 In: Characters
 Posted: 2003
 Staff: Al Sjoerdsma (E-Mail)