Maestro (Marvel)

**Maestro** is a male comic supervillain who features in Marvel Comics.

## Biography

### Origin

**Robert Bruce Banner** was a male human who was native to **Earth-9200** in the Multiverse. Decades ago, the scientist was testing the development of a Gamma Bomb where he was exposed to the radiation whilst attempting to save a teenagers life with this creating the Hulk. (Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect v1 #1)

One day, terrorists were responsible for setting off nuclear weapons in both the United States and Moscow. This convinced the two nations that the other was responsible for an attack leading to the outbreak of World War III. By the time the conflict was over, around 60% of humanity had been killed by the war. Millions more were still dying from radiation poisoning when a cult known as the **Black Scythe** emerged who believed that mankind was destined to die off. Thus, they were responsible for a series of offensives involving a specially prepared gas to kill people in cities around the world. During this time, the Hulk was taken by Advanced Idea Mechanics who managed to save a small number of people who had benefited from exposure to radiation. (Maestro v1 #1)

The Hulk then travelled across what remained of the United States where in Washington, D.C., he came upon a small community of survivors descended from employees that worked in the White House. Their ancestors had survived by living in a bunker beneath the White Hose with Machine Man. From them, the Hulk learnt that the remains of New York City had been remade into the city of **Dystopia** that was ruled by a figure known as the **Maestro**. Curious about this figure, the Hulk travelled to the city where he came to learn that the mysterious Maestro was the demigod Hercules. (Maestro v1 #2)

With the Maestro dead, he took his body before the people and burnt it where the Hulk claimed to be taking over Dystopia as their former leaders successor. At first, their was opposition to his claims and some led by Rick Jones wanted to prevent the Hulk from taking the throne. This was thwarted but then Hercules's burning body came back to life after he made a deal with Hades in order to get his revenge on his murderer. He managed to overpower the Hulk but was killed when his former minister used an energy weapon to destroy the remains of his body. The minister then pledged his allegiance to the Hulk who wanted to confront Rick Jones only to find his headquarters abandoned with him remotely detonating an explosive in an effort to kill his old friend. The Hulk survived and returned to the palace where everyone heading the palace pledged their allegiance to him where he began to take the name of Maestro for himself. (Maestro v1 #5)

With Doom defeated, the Maestro travelled to Los Angeles to confirm the destruction of A.I.M. when he came under attack from the android Human Torch. Jim Hammond's flames were strong enough to hurt the Maestro but the Human Torch disengaged from their brief battle. (Maestro: World War M v1 #1)

### Displaced

Continuing to rule Dystopia, he came to encounter the Exiles that were a group of heroes that travelled through the Multiverse to stop threats to all realities. They had been in pursuit of Proteus who had stolen the body of Hulk 2099 and had come to this reality. Whilst there, he allied with the world's Rick Jones who wanted him to kill the Maestro though unknown to him the Proteus-possessed Hulk 2099 wanted to replace the despot of Dystopia by claiming his body for himself. To prevent this, the Exiles allied with the Maestro who was prepared for Proteus's arrival and angered at the audacity of the intruder. Proteus then attempted to use a weapon designed by that world's Forge to weaken the Maestro so that he could claim his body. However, the Exiles had switched places with Dystopia's ruler with Morph having taken his place. After seemingly defeating Proteus, the Maestro then turned on the Exiles and looked to eliminate them. (Exiles v1 #79) He came to overpower them but then Proteus recovered and resumed his battle against the Maestro. Looking to neutralise his foe, Proteus snapped his neck and paralysed the gamma mutate and though it would heal in time it would do so wrongly thus leaving the Maestro crippled. Ultimately, Proteus came to take possession of Morph's body and escaped into another reality. The Maestro then demanded that they leave his kingdom with the Exiles continuing their pursuit of Proteus as they now sought to free their friend from him. (Exiles v1 #80) Despite the injury, he managed to make a full recovery and continued to rule this variant future timeline. His kingdom suffered an intrusion from a reality displaced Genis-Vell and Spider-Man 2099 who were manipulated by **Thanatos** to battle the Maestro. This was to keep him occupied whilst Thanatos looked to acquire the power of Mjolnir but he was thwarted leading to Genis-Vell and Spider-Man 2099 disappearing from this reality with no further consequences to the Maestro. (Captain Marvel v4 #30)

A version of the Maestro along with the Wolverine from the Days of Future's Past timeline were recruited by an incarnation of the Red Hulk in the timestream. They were sent back in time the modern day to kill the Red Hulk there where they arrived in Avengers Tower where they found their younger selves. A battle was fought between the two versions until the Hulk used a clap to send the two intruders falling out of the building. A time platform then was called that sent the Maestro and Wolverine back to their employer where they promised to complete the task if they were sent back into the past. (A+X v1 #1) Following the Spider-Verse, a change in the Multiverse and timeline saw the year 2099 itself being altered into a desolate wasteland with the Maestro arriving on this world to conquer it which became known as Dystopia. During an encounter with Spider-Man Miguel O'Hara, he intended to forcibly enlist his aid in operating a time machine so that the Maestro could go back into the past to conquer it as he desired a new land to conquer. (Spider-Man 2099 v2 #10)

### Battleworld

After the Final Incursion, Doctor Doom created a new planet known as Battleworld. Among its many realms was the lands of Dystopia whose appointed Baron was the Maestro. (Future Imperfect v1 #1)

Following the destruction of Battleworld, the Multiverse was restored with its inhabitants returned to their various planets. The ruined Battleworld became known as the **Battlerealm** and on a piece of it survived the weakened Maestro. He witnessed the arrival of the Elders of the Universe who debated on how to distribute the power of the reborn Multiverse amongst themselves. The Grandmaster offered a new Contest of Champions amongst themselves whereby each Elder had a champion from across the Multiverse to battle in the Battlerealm. The Maestro confronted them which was when the Collector selected him to be his champion and he participated in the Contest. He defeated numerous combatants such as Iron Hulk with each foe eliminated leading to an Elder losing the Contest. In the end, it was the Maestro and Punisher 2099 who was the champion of the Grandmaster. The Collector and Grandmaster were ready to send their champions against one another in a final battle for possession of the Iso-Sphere. However, the Maestro refused and instead offered an alternative namely a new Contest whereby he along with Punisher 2099 would serve as coaching summoners to teams of champions. The two Elders agreed but his was ultimately part of the Maestro's machinations as he had formed a secret alliance with Punisher 2099 to take the power of the Iso-Sphere. With scavenged technology, he staged an attack on the weakened Grandmaster to claim his portion of the Iso-Sphere whereupon he summoned the remaining part from the Collector. With the Iso-Sphere forged, he used its power to banish the Elders from the realm and recreated Battleworld in order to become its God-King. (Contest of Champions v2 #6)

He then arrived in an isolated region of the Northern Territories in Canada where he took over Fort Wells and forced the inhabitants to serve him. This saw him kill those that tried to escape whilst making the men serve as guards and the women as concubines. During this time, Old Man Logan came to hear of the Maestro's return and sought him out in order to defeat him. They fought at Fort Wells with the Maestro managing to defeat Logan and intended to kill him. (Old Man Logan v2 #48) Despite his efforts, Logan survived but was captured again where the Maestro intended to kill him slowly. During this time, some people in the town were working in secret to rise up against him. This gave Logan the opportunity to inject himself with Regenix to boost his healing factor to help him in the fight. The Maestro led Logan to his time travel machine where he offered Old Man Logan to return to his own world on the condition he allowed the villain to continue operate free. Logan refused and Maestro in spite destroyed the machine to prevent the hero from returning to his world. In their fight, Old Man Logan used the last fading strength of the Regenix to help him in cutting off the head of the Maestro thus killing the villain. (Old Man Logan v2 #50) However, in reality, his body was regenerating slowly but had been recovered by Forge who kept the Maestro's body in stasis to slow down his body repairing itself whilst also looking to create anti-Hulk weaponry for the time when his body was restored. (Dead Man Logan v1 #6)

## Overview

### Personality and attributes

It was said that he took what he wanted and did whatever he wanted with him being called insane. The Maestro lived largely for his own amusement and gratification. Those who earned his favour were treated well and those that did not were forgotten. (Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect v1 #1) He considered himself to be a reasonable man and was able to ally with others to fight a common threat. In all universes, it was said that there was no more powerful, intelligent or corrupt version of the Hulk than the Maestro. (Exiles v1 #79)

There were a few things in this world with bravery being one of them and rewarded those that demonstrated such traits. However, he was said to had abhorred stupidity. (Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect v1 #1)

The Maestro often acknowledged that he was a 'bad guy' and often engaged in acts of villainy such as targeting innocent bystanders to force the hero to act. (Captain Marvel v4 #30)

According to him, no one was capable of standing up to the Maestro. (Maestro: World War M v1 #3)

He grew angry if any of his relics from the Box Room were damaged as he desired them to be in mint condition. (Contest of Champions v2 #2)

The Maestro considered himself the final product of natural selection where only the strongest survive where he commended that on account of surviving the devastation of his world that he was the strongest. (Hulk: Future Imperfect v1 #2)

He was deemed to be smart and strong enough to create a city from the ruins of a destroyed world. (Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect v1 #1)

### Powers and abilities

Wielding his trophies in Contest of Champions v1 #2.
Originally, he was an ordinary human until he was exposed to the radiation from the Gamma Bomb. This changed again when nuclear bombs were launched that destroyed much of the world. The radiation from them made him stronger with it said that he could survive anything short of a ground-zero nuke. (Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect v1 #1)

It was said that he had no weaknesses with his strength being limitless and anywhere that it fell short he came to instead outthink his opponents. (Maestro: World War M v1 #3) Though possessing Banner's intellect, he lacked his technical expertise which prevented him from repairing certain highly advanced equipment such as a time-platform. (Spider-Man 2099 v2 #10)

According to the Maestro, he was incapable of dying and would always come back. His spirit was able to linger even if his body died where it began to absorb gamma radiation from nearby sources. This was until his body was fully restored whereupon the Maestro came back to life. (Incredible Hulk v2 #460)

On his wrist was a computer device that linked to his **Box Room** of weapons and relics that he could summon for use in battle where they teleported in an instance for his use in a fight. (Contest of Champions v2 #2)

On his Earth, he was the master of the Earth where he controlled a city called **Dystopia**. He managed to gain many followers to serve him with these including the **Gravity Police**. (Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect #1) Through his intelligence, he created the **Dog O'War** that were large mechanical canine riding hounds used by the forces of Dystopia. (Hulk: Future Imperfect v1 #1) Dog O'War were a series specially bred by the Maestro himself with jaws capable of crushing Adamantium in 7.3 seconds. (Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect v1 #1)

## Notes

* The Maestro was created by Peter David where he made his first appearance in The Incredible Hulk v2 #401 (January, 1993).
* Though made by Peter David, the character was an alternate version of the Hulk who was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

## In other media

### Television

* In Avengers Assemble, Maestro was mentioned in the setting of the animated television series in the episode "The Age of Tony Stark" when a horde of robots from the future were incidentally brought to the present by the Time Gem. When the machines see the Hulk, they state that the Maestro was detected and targeted him.
* In Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H., the character made an appearance in the animated television series in the episode "The Maestro Enter" where he was voiced by actor Fred Tatasciore. He was the Hulk of an alternate future timeline when a Gamma Meteor was on a collision course for Earth. The Agents of S.M.A.S.H. were aware of its arrival due to being forewarned in another further alternate timeline by the High Evolutionary. Hulk and his comrades went into space to destroy it before it could impact Earth but only succeeded in splintering. During this event, the Hulk was unknowingly stricken with a gamma infection that altered his personality making him more paranoid, aggressive and violent causing him to become a tyrant who conquered the planet. He defeated its various heroes including his fellow S.M.A.S.H. members and ripped off A-Bomb's left arm as he became the Maestro. As the Maestro, he was a brutal dictator and had the Abomination as his servant. Seeking to ensure this timeline, the Maestro went back in time and saved the Hulk after he had been infected and the meteor destroyed where he attempted to steer him on the path to ensure his own future. At this time, the future A-Bomb travelled back in time seeking to cure the past Hulk an prevent the Maestro's future but the evil Hulk convinced his earlier self that Rick Jones along with his friends were all his enemies. Both the Maestro and the Hulk battled the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. until future A-Bomb repaired his Gamma Neutralizer and passed it to his past self who used it on the current version of the Hulk. With the Hulk cured, the Maestro's infection was similarly gone and he became repentant over his actions. Both the Maestro and the future A-Bomb then disappeared as the future had been rewritten.

### Video games

* In The Incredible Hulk: The Pantheon Saga, the Maestro appeared in the setting of the 1997 PlayStation beat 'em up video game. During the siege of the Mount, the Hulk came to be catapulted into the Future Imperfect world where he encountered the Maestro. In their fight, the two were sent back in time during the original gamma bomb test that created the Hulk where the explosion destroyed the Maestro.
* In Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, the Maestro was referenced in a card power-up in the fighting video game.
* In Marvel Heroes, the Maestro appeared as an alternate costume for the Hulk in the setting of the MMORPG.
* In Marvel: Contest of Champions, the Maestro appeared as an antagonist and operated as the Summoner in the mobile video game. This version was equipped with the Iron Hulk armor, armed with Magik's Soulsword and Ronan the Accuser's Universal Weapon.
* In Marvel: Realm of Champions, the Maestro was referenced in the setting of the mobile video game sequel. It was revealed that he had become the Emperor of the Battlerealm and commanded the nations that formed on it. Ultimately, the Maestro was killed bringing about conflict from the nations that had pledged loyalty to him where they sought to claim the throne of Battlerealm.
* In Marvel: Future Fight, the Maestro appeared as am alternate costume for the Hulk.
* In Marvel's Avengers, the Maestro appeared in the setting of the 2020 action role-playing brawler video game in the DLC storyline, "Operation: Hawkeye - Future Imperfect" where he was voiced by actor Darin De Paul. He came from an alternate future timeline where the Kree empire invaded Earth with the Avengers failing to stop them thus causing the world to be destroyed by nuclear war. The Hulk came to survive in the years afterwards where he absorbed the excess radiation from the resultant nuclear fallout causing him to grow more powerful whilst his mental health began to degrade. Drive mad with power, he adopted a new alias whilst looking to conquer as much of the former United States where he became to earn the moniker of the 'Supreme Leader'. In this time, he came to kill most of the Avengers and took control of a large army of A.I.M. robots that he used to wage a war against the surviving S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives. The current Avengers came to travel to the future to learn what caused the end of humanity in order to prevent this timeline leading to the Maestro learning of their plans and looking to stop them. Ultimately, he came to be defeated by the heroes with the aid of a future version of Hawkeye.
* In Marvel: Future Revolution, the Maestro appeared as a boss level antagonist in the setting of the mobile video game. He came to be the ruler of the reality of Sakaar where he forced the people to fight in gladiatorial combat against his champion Ares for his amusement.

### Novels

* In Incredible Hulk: What Savage Beast, the Maestro appeared in the past to kidnap Bruce Banners and Betty Ross's newborn gray skinned son **Brett** who he took twenty years into the future. The boy grew up to believe in the Maestro's goals of conquest until Banner convinced him it was evil,

## Appearances

The Maestro in Future Imperfect v1 #1.

* *Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect v1*: (1992)
* *The Incredible Hulk v4*: (1993)
* *Abominations v1*:
* *Exiles v1*:
* *Captain Marvel v4*:
* *Spider-Man 2099*:
* *Future Imperfect v1*:
* *Secret Wars v1*:
* *A+X v1*:
* *Contest of Champions v2*:
* *Old Man Logan v2*:
* *Dead Man Logan v1*:
* *Maestro v1*: (2020)
* *Maestro: War and Pax v1*:
* *Maestro: World War M v1*: