 | This article has multiple issues. Please helpimprove it or discuss these issues on thetalk page.(Learn how and when to remove these messages) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
|
| Night Shift | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Captain America #330 (June 1987) |
| In-story information | |
| Member(s) | Team leader: Superior Spider-Man Current members: Brothers Grimm Dansen Macabre Digger Gypsy Moth Former members: Hangman Misfit Needle Shroud Tatterdemalion Tick-Tock Werewolf Satannish Mockingbird[1] |
TheNight Shift is a fictional group of criminals appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. The teamfirst appeared inCaptain America #330 (June 1987).[2] It notably includes the Brothers Grimm, Dansen Macabre, Digger, the Gypsy Moth, the Needle, the Shroud, and Tick-Tock.[3]
WriterFred Van Lente, who featured the Night Shift inMarvel Zombies 4, explained his choice of characters, stating, "The Hood doesn't just bring any group of villains with him on this jaunt. He brings a very horror-oriented group of villains with him. People know I love to dip as far back as I can into obscure Marvel-ania and a team I always enjoyed and never felt got their time was the Night Shift. So they're working for the Hood now."[4]
The Night Shift debuted inCaptain America #330-331 (1987).[5] The team subsequently appeared in several Marvel series, includingSolo Avengers #3 (February 1988),West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #40 (January 1989),Avengers: West Coast #76-79 (November 1991-February 1992),[6]Captain America in issue #420 (October 1993), the "Dark Reign" storyline,[7] getting involved inMarvel Zombies 4, where theMidnight Sons clash with the plans ofHood,Marvel Zombies 4 (2009),Moon Knight Vol. 6 #3-6 (September - December 2011), which ends with the team's death afterCount Nefaria kills them for failing to defeat theMoon Knight andEcho,The Superior Octopus #1 (December 2018), andPunisher (2023).[8]
Based inCalifornia, the group is gathered and initially controlled by theShroud. He is assisted by theWerewolf, misleading the team into believing they are forming a criminal gang; in reality, they are acting as vigilantes. The team's original lineup consists of theBrothers Grimm,Dansen Macabre,Digger, theGypsy Moth, theNeedle, the Shroud, theTatterdemalion,Tick-Tock, and the Werewolf.
With the exceptions of Digger and the Brothers Grimm, the Shroud met the team while a fellow captive of theLocksmith.[9] In their first appearance, they helpCaptain America take on thePower Broker. InWest Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #40 (January 1989),Mockingbird witnesses Digger burying three criminals. She takes the four of them to the local police precinct, where they are arrested. The rest of the team respond by attacking the West Coast Avengers at their headquarters. The Night Shift is defeated, but the Shroud teleports them away. Later, the Shroud is shown withHawkeye swapping opinions about the encounter.
Their next encounter with the West Coast Avengers occurs inAvengers: West Coast. The team is led by the Hangman, who calls onSatannish. The powers of the team are greatly increased, but in the end they are defeated anyway.[10]
InMarvel Zombies 4, the team is under the command of theHood. They battle theMidnight Sons, but before they can finish fighting, they are overcome by a cloud of the airborne zombie virus. The entire team is turned into zombies. Through mystical means the virus is contained, transforming the team back into their human forms and the Hood teleports them away.
Snapdragon hires the team to kill theMoon Knight on behalf ofCount Nefaria, who was operating as the Kingpin of Los Angeles. When they fail and are bailed out of prison by Snapdragon's lawyer, Nefaria reduces Dansen Macabre, Digger, the Needle, the Tatterdemalion, Tick-Tock, and the Misfit to ashes.[11]
During theSpider-Geddon storyline, Dansen Macabre and Digger turn up alive. They, the Brothers Grimm, and Skein rob a bus and its people of its valuables. In addition, they are now shown to have the Waxman as their latest member. Their robbery is interrupted by theSuperior Octopus, who takes down the Night Shift with equipment designed to counter their abilities. The Superior Octopus agrees to spare them more pain in exchange that the Night Shift becomes his agents, where he will compensate them from his own funds. They agree to the terms and are ordered to return the stolen items. The Superior Octopus leaves, advising them never to cross him or they will not live long enough to regret it.[12]
The Night Shift later helps the Superior Spider-Man in his battle againstTerrax, who appears inSan Francisco, California and attacks. They deliver a device from Horizon University, which the Superior Spider-Man uses to absorb some of Terrax's cosmic powers in order to defeat him. After the battle, the Night Shift assist the Superior Spider-Man in searching and rescuing survivors from the attack.[13]
