Universe
Marvel Universe

Real Name
Unknown

Aliases
None known

Identity
Secret

Citizenship
USA

Place of Birth
Unknown

First Appearance
Captain America #307 (1985)

The young man who would become Madcap was a devoutly religious person. While he was on a church-sponsored field trip with his parents, sister, and about forty others, the bus he was riding in was struck by a tanker truck containing an unknown chemical compound concocted by the A.I.M.. This chemical, called Compound X07, apparently contained enzymes that promoted rapid healing in the human body. Madcap was thrown clear during the accident and lay for several hours unconscious in a pool of Compound X07. After he gained consciousness in a hospital, his faith in a rational universe was shattered when he learned he was sole survivor of the accident.

Distraught by the death of his family and friends, he threw himself in the path of an oncoming car after fleeing the hospital. To his surprise his wounds from being hit by the car healed within seconds and he had felt no pain at all. He quickly concluded his bus accident was the cause of his new found powers which drove him further into madness. He could not understand why he should benefit from an accident that killed forty people including his friends and family. He finally rationalized that things happen without cause and effect and there is no purpose in anything.

He soon discovered he could cause whoever looked him in the eye to act crazily. Bored and delusional he bought a toy soap bubble-making gun from a dime store and stole a harlequin outfit from a costume shop. Inventing the persona Madcap, he decided to wander New York City and randomly cause people to go crazy in order to demonstrate to them the meaninglessness of existence.

Through the years he has crossed paths with Captain America (Steve Rogers), Nomad, Daredevil (Matthew Murdock), She-Hulk, Ghost Rider (Daniel Ketch), Thunderbolts, Heroes For Hire and the young heroes Power Pack.