Ebenezer Laughton was a naturally flexible, lithe, double-jointed youth who saw a "rubber man" perform at a traveling carnival and became obsessed with emulating him. Training himself almost incessantly, Laughton learned to twist and bend his body into numerous unusual positions and perform various acrobatic stunts. A brief audition of his abilities gained him a job at a live variety show where he billed himself as Umberto the Uncanny. During one of his performances, Iron Man entered the theater in pursuit of a criminal whom he observed robbing the ticket vendor outside. Seeking publicity, Laughton stopped the thief with a simple acrobatic move. As Iron Man carried the criminal away, Laughton realized the potential in his particular skills for illegitimate gain.

After stealing a scarecrow outfit from a costume shop, he chose for his first outing as a costumed criminal, the apartment of wealthy socialite and industrialist Tony Stark. At first attempting to steal Stark's valuables and money, the Scarecrow discovered top secret industrial designs in the apartment and decided to sell them to the highest bidder. This theft led him into battle with Stark's alter ego, Iron Man, but first Stark pal Happy Hogan had a (unsuccessful) crack at him! 'Crow escaped with the assistance of his loyal crows (!). He planned to sell the stolen plans to Cuban agents, but IM popped up and made short work of them, and tossed 'Crow in the drink. As IM trashed the Cuban boat, he turned to see Scarecrow being dragged through the surf by his crows -- to Cuba!! Hmmm...which is worse: American prison, or Castro's Cuba?

Most recently, he is apparently an undead pawn of Blackheart, the son of the demon Mephisto.

First IM Appearance: Tales of Suspense #51.

(Some info and pic provided by the online Unofficial Handbook
to the Marvel Universe.)