Great Gambonnos

Ernesto and Luigi Gambonno are twin acrobat brothers who joined the Circus of Crime, using their extraordinary aerialist skills as performing villains. They debuted as part of the troupe's criminal operation when the Circus crossed paths with Spider-Man.

Born in the Silver Age pages of The Amazing Spider-Man #16 (1964) under the legendary hands of Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, the Great Gambonnos are one of Marvel's most enduring criminal curiosities — acrobatic performers whose six decades of continuous appearances speak to a staying power that few supporting players can match. Affiliated with both the Avengers and the notorious Circus of Crime, they've kept remarkable company over the years, sharing adventures with the likes of Ringmaster, Princess Python, and Zelda DuBois across titles as varied as Marvel Spectacular, Thor, and Ghost Rider. Two of their 42 catalog appearances carry key-issue status, making them a genuinely rewarding quarry for the dedicated Silver Age collector. If you love the weird, carnivalesque corners of the Marvel Universe — the big-top villainy that gives the House of Ideas so much of its irresistible flavor — the Great Gambonnos are absolutely worth tracking down.