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[The Ringmaster]
Real Name: Beau Baer
Occupation: Freelance Writer
Base of Operations: Central City, Missouri
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Brown
First Appearance: Flash (first series) #261 (May 1978)

The Golden Glider blamed the second Flash for the death of her lover, the Top. After uncovering the Flash’s secret identity, she prepared a two-pronged attack against both the Flash and Barry Allen.

She selected freelance writer Beau Baer for his physique, followed him to his apartment, then hypnotized him to be her slave. She outfitted him with a ring-themed costume and gimmicks (flying rings, shocking rings, paralyzing rings, etc.) and directed him to become Central City’s new super-hero: the Ringmaster.

Replacing the Flash

After fighting and escaping the Flash, Glider arranged to let the new hero capture her. The Ringmaster became a media darling, and people started to wonder whether the Flash might be washed up. Then, the second part of her plan came into play: The Flash’s wife, Iris Allen, interviewed the Ringmaster. The Glider hypnotized her as well, and Iris ran off with the Ringmaster.

The Flash, tortured by losing both his wife and his city to the interloper, nonetheless tried to put a brave face on it, teaming up with the new hero. He played right into the Glider’s hands as she made him look more incompetent than ever.

Downfall

[The Top] The one thing that Golden Glider did not anticipate was falling in love with her own creation.* She realized that she had subconsciously chosen Beau and his ring motif for their resemblance to her late lover. She tried to eliminate Iris (and frame Barry for her murder), then commanded Beau to love her instead. She lured the speedster to a confrontation at the Flash Museum, where the Ringmaster and Glider fought him together. The Flash defeated the Ringmaster, while Iris—alive and freed from her hypnosis—froze Golden Glider using her brother’s cold gun.

His mind once again his own, Beau Baer came clean as the Ringmaster and hung up the costume, returning to his writing career.

Text by Kelson Vibber. Do not copy without permission.

Top of Page Art

  • Flash (first series) #261 (May 1978) - Irv Novick and Joe Giella

Significant Silver-Age Flash Appearances

  • Flash #261 (May 1978): “The Lure of the Ringmaster,” Cary Bates
  • Flash #262 (June 1978): “With This Ring... I Thee Master!” Cary Bates
  • Flash #263 (July 1978): “Nobody Stays a Flash Forever!” Cary Bates
  • Flash #264 (August 1978): “The Golden Glider’s Final Fling!” Cary Bates

Notes

The Ringmaster’s solid mask is “a radar-scanning ring that transmits visual impulses into [his] brain.”

The Ringmaster could probably be classified as either a hero or a villain. His actions were (mostly) heroic, but he was merely the pawn of a villain. And he was certainly the Flash’s rival (in more ways than one).

* The Golden Glider falling in love with the hero she created resembles the Pygmalion myth, in which a sculptor falls in love with the statue he has created.