Phillip Masters

Phillip Masters is the Puppet Master, a villain who discovered that radioactive clay from a mysterious source could be sculpted into figurines capable of controlling the minds of whomever they represented. A gifted sculptor and toymaker, he has repeatedly used this power to bend others to his will.

Few characters from the Marvel Silver Age carry as much quiet menace as Phillip Masters, who first stepped onto the page in Fantastic Four Annual #1 in 1963, conjured into existence by the legendary trio of Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Sol Brodsky. Over six decades — a remarkable span stretching all the way to 2025 — he has woven himself through the fabric of Marvel history, racking up 81 catalog appearances across Fantastic Four, Tales to Astonish, and beyond, with six of those issues earning key collector status. He keeps rarefied company, sharing adventures with Reed Richards, Ben Grimm, Johnny Storm, and the rest of Marvel's First Family, cementing his place as a fixture in some of the most celebrated corners of the Marvel Universe. If you're building a serious Silver Age collection, Phillip Masters is exactly the kind of deep-cut figure who rewards the devoted fan.