Tomás Ramirez aka Fire-Eater is a member of the Circus of Crime who was performing in the circus at Flushing Meadows when the Clown recognized Ben Grimm aka the Thing with his girlfriend, Alicia Masters and friend, Bill Foster. The Clown informed his boss, the Ringmaster that he saw the Thing and he may thwart his plans to use his machine called the psionic eye to hypnotize large crowds. The Thing, Alicia and Bill Foster were sitting in the audience when Ringmaster used his hypno-disk to place everyone in a deep trance but it did not work on Alicia because she was blind. She managed to break free the Thing of his trance and he started to fight members of the Circus of Crime. The Thing got some assistance from Iceman when he also attended the circus with a date. Fire-Breather would spew some fire to melt Iceman’s ice slide where he would fall into a net held by the Flying Gambonnos. However, Iceman breaks free and the heroes managed to destroy the psionic eye device and defeat the Circus of Crime.
Creation
Fire-Breather was created by Tom DeFalco, David Michelinie and Jerry Bingham in 1981 and first appeared in Marvel Two-In-One # 76. However his name would change from Fire-Breather to Fire-Eater in Ghost Rider # 72.
Story Arcs
A Council Of Masters
Max Fury, the leader of the Shadow Council has assembled a new Masters of Evil in the sovereign nation of Bagalia where Fire-Eater and the rest of the Circus of Crime are currently members. Max Fury and the Masters of Evil capture John Steele after he attempts to escape Bagalia with the Serpent Crown and the Crown of Thorns. Steele is given to the Circus of Crime where he is shackled onto a giant bullseye as part of their show. Steele was beaten and tortured in front of a large audience until he is struck in the heart by a plasma knife from the Clown. Steele knew his time was short and broke free. Fire-Eater spews his flaming breath at Steele but he blocks it and fights his way out of the tent. Fire-Eater and the rest of the Circus of Crime chase after Steele but he manages to elude capture with the help from the Secret Avengers.