# Strongman (character)

The Strongman is the name of three different fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

## Publication history

The Bruce Olafson incarnation of Strongman first appeared in Incredible Hulk #3 (September 1962) as a member of the Circus of Crime, and was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. The character subsequently appears in The Amazing Spider-Man #16 (September 1964), The Avengers #22 (November 1965), Thor #145 (October 1967), Ghost Rider #72-73 (September–October 1982), The Sensational She-Hulk #1 (May 1989), and X-Men and Power Pack #3 (February 2006). The Strongman appeared as part of the "Circus of Crime" entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #2.

## Fictional character biography
### Bruce Olafsen

Bruce Olafsen was born in Stockholm, Sweden, but later came to the United States and became a naturalized American citizen. As a longtime member of the criminal organization Circus of Crime, Bruto the Strongman works as a circus strongman and weight-lifter. He has particularly strong biceps and teeth. Bruto first assisted the Circus of Crime to rob the people that attended the circus and were hypnotized by Ringmaster with one of the attendees being Rick Jones. When Hulk came bursting through the tent, Strongman and the rest of the Circus of Crime attacked Hulk where Ringmaster manages to hypnotize Hulk to be part of his next circus act. The next day, Hulk escapes Ringmaster's control and defeat the Circus of Crime before leaving with Rick upon the arrival of Thunderbolt Ross' army.
Strongman was later seen with Ringmaster when he hypnotizes Daredevil into serving him. Spider-Man manages to break Daredevil free of the hypnosis as they both defeat the Circus of Crime.
Strongman was seen at the Circus of Crime when Hawkeye, Quicksilver, and Scarlet Witch wanted to join a normal circus, unaware that it was a front. Strongman joins the Circus of Crime into fleeing when they claimed that the three superheroes were trying to rob their circus.
When Strongman is laid out upon straining himself upon trying to lift an elephant, Ringmaster had to hold auditions for a temporary strongman to cover for Strongman.
Strongman was present when Ringmaster forced Black Goliath into joining the Circus of Crime and fighting Power Man leading the two of them to be hypnotized. After the hypnosis was undone, Power Man fought the rest of the Circus of Crime and freed Black Goliath from their control while turning the hypnosis against them enough to leave them for the police.
Strongman was with the Ringmaster when the Circus of Crime attacked Hulk and the ex-Circus of Crime members on a deserted island. After freeing the ex-Circus of Crime members, Hulk defeats them.
Strongman was with the Circus of Crime when Ringmaster hypnotized Dragon Man into serving him. The Circus of Crime is defeated by Hulk again where they managed to escape.
Strongman was with the Circus of Crime when they were seen in Bagalia.
In Secret Empire, Strongman and the Circus of Crime join Helmut Zemo's Army of Evil.

### Percy Van Norton

The second Strongman, Percy Van Norton, is a Nazi and a member of the Battle-Axis who possesses drug-induced super-strength. He is loosely based on the character of the same name from Crash Comic Adventures.

### Spider-Squad's Strongman

The third Strongman appears as a member of the Spider-Squad, who Anton DeLionatus used in a failed attempt to gain money before being defeated by Spider-Man.

## Powers and abilities

The Bruce Olafsen incarnation of Strongman has no superhuman powers, but is strong and a skilled wrestler.
The Percy Van Norton incarnation of Strongman possesses superhuman physical abilities derived from drugs.

## In other media

* The Bruce Olafsen incarnation of Strongman appears in the Spider-Man episode "Carnival of Crime".
* The Bruce Olafsen incarnation of Strongman appears in the Avengers Assemble episode "Crime and Circuses", voiced by Adrian Pasdar.