Sinister Syndicate
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| Sinister Syndicate | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The Amazing Spider-Man #280 (Sep 1986) |
| Created by | Tom DeFalco Ron Frenz |
| In-story information | |
| Base(s) | New York |
| Member(s) | The Beetle Boomerang Hardshell Hydro-Man Rhino Shocker Speed Demon |
The Sinister Syndicate is a group of supervillains in the Marvel Comics universe, who serve as a collection of lesser-known Spider-Man villains. It was the focus of the 1991 "Deadly Foes of Spider-Man" mini-series.
Publication history
The Sinister Syndicate first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #280 and was created by Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz.
Fictional team history
Patterned after the conglomeration of Spider-Man's deadliest foes who call themselves the Sinister Six, the Sinister Syndicate originally was formed by the super-villain Abner Jenkins, a.k.a. "The Beetle". The original roster of the group consisted of Beetle, Hydro-Man, Rhino, Boomerang, and Speed Demon, who collectively gathered together under the Beetle's leadership. Unlike the Sinister Six, which was formed mainly to destroy Spider-Man, the Syndicate was formed to act as a mercenary group that worked for the highest bidder.
The Syndicate's first appearance was in The Amazing Spider-Man #280, where the group successfully prevented Spider-Man and Silver Sable from capturing famed assassin Jason Macendale, then known as Jack O'Lantern.
The group, now featuring Shocker and getaway driver/Boomerang's girlfriend Leila Davis, were the focus of the 1991 mini-series Deadly Foes of Spider-Man. The four-issue mini-series focused upon the group's break-up due to the Beetle's jealousy towards Boomerang and his attempts to usurp control over the group. Beetle eventually betrayed Boomerang by allowing him to be caught during a robbery and then convincing him to use Beetle's lawyer, not knowing that Beetle had instructed his lawyer to throw the trial to ensure Boomerang's conviction.
As Beetle forges an alliance with the Kingpin, Speed Demon begins a relationship with Leila while Rhino locates a scientist who can remove his rhino-themed body-armor, which had been permanently bonded to his body at the time. The scientist however, owes the Kingpin a large sum of money in unpaid gambling debts, resulting in Beetle killing the scientist. As Shocker helps Boomerang escape jail, Leila betrays Speed Demon and reveals her true purpose for dating Boomerang and involving herself with the Syndicate: Leila was the widow of the super-villain Anthony Davis a.k.a. "The Ringer." The Ringer had been kidnapped years earlier by Beetle, who then strapped a (what was ultimately revealed to be fake) bomb to his chest, forcing him to fight Spider-Man. Beetle watched via a camera hidden inside "the bomb" in order for him to observe Spider-Man in action. When Spider-Man defeated the Ringer and exposed Beetle's scheme, Ringer was humiliated and branded a loser by his fellow villains, culminating in his being killed by the Scourge. Leila sought to destroy Beetle in order to avenge her husband.
In the end, a massive showdown ensued between the members with Leila escaping with Boomerang and Rhino, while Beetle went to jail and his loyalist members Speed Demon and Hydro-Man made their own escapes.
Art by Jim Cheung.
In Avengers: The Initiative half of the Syndicate (Hydro-Man, Shocker, and Boomerang) reunite and fight Spider-Man. The battle is interrupted by Komodo and War Machine. They are later apprehended by the Initiative's Scarlet Spiders.
Some members of the Sinister Syndicate are reunited in the 2013 ongoing series Superior Foes of Spider-Man. Boomerang is the leader of the new "Sinister Six", which includes Shocker, Overdrive, Speed Demon and a new female Beetle. As the Beetle points out, the new group only has five members due to the Superior Spider (Doctor Octopus' mind in Peter Parker's body) reprogramming Living Brain to serve him, but Boomerang insists on keeping the "Sinister Six" name. Shocker suggests going back to the name "Sinister Syndicate", but the idea is quickly squelched, with Speed Demon objecting, "The Sinister Syndicate were losers!"
Membership
The following is the known membership of the Sinister Syndicate:
- The Beetle (Leader)
- Boomerang
- Hydro-Man
- Rhino
- Speed Demon
- Hardshell (Driver)
- Shocker
Other uses
Sinister Syndicate is also the generic name of affiliation in the Marvel VS System card game for Spider-Man's various villains, as well as many of Spider-Man's major foes in the Marvel HeroClix game.
In other media
Theme parks
- Sinister Syndicate appears in the Islands of Adventure ride The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man. The group consists of Doctor Octopus, Electro, Scream, Hydro-Man and Hobgoblin. During the ride, Doc Ock uses an anti-gravity ray on various items, including parts of the Statue of Liberty, and eventually the audience. They wreak havoc on New York City until Spider-Man thrwarts them.
Video games
- Sinister Syndicate appears in Marvel Super Hero Squad Online. The group consists of Doctor Octopus, Green Goblin, Lizard, Mysterio and Venom.