| Rhino | |
|---|---|
 The Rhino as depicted inDaughters of the Dragon #1 (March 2006). Art by Khari Evans. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The Amazing Spider-Man #41 (October 1966)[1][2] |
| Created by | Stan Lee John Romita Sr. |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Aleksei Mikhailovich Sytsevich |
| Species | Human mutate |
| Place of origin | Russia |
| Team affiliations | Sinister Six Sinister Syndicate Secret Defenders Klaw's Army Legion Accursed Emissaries of Evil S.H.I.E.L.D. Savage Six Thunderbolts |
| Notable aliases | Alex O'Hirn |
| Abilities |
|
TheRhino (Aleksei Sytsevich;Russian: Алексей Сицевич) is a fictional character appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. He was created by writerStan Lee and artistJohn Romita Sr., and first appeared inThe Amazing Spider-Man #41 (Oct. 1966).[3] The character is a Russian thug who underwent an experimental procedure that gave him an artificial skin covering and superhuman strength. Rebelling against the scientists responsible for his transformation, Rhino used his newfound powers to become a successful criminal, and soon clashed with superheroes likeSpider-Man and theHulk. The character is typically portrayed as a dimwitted brute, capable of great destruction, but ultimately easily deceived.
One of Spider-Man's most prominent adversaries, the Rhino has been adapted into various forms of media since his original debut during theSilver Age of Comic Books, includinganimated television series andvideo games. He has also featured in Marvel merchandise such asaction figures andtrading cards.
In live-action,Paul Giamatti played a version of Aleksei Sytsevich who uses a rhinoceros-themed battle armor, similar to the character'sUltimate Marvel incarnation, in the 2014 filmThe Amazing Spider-Man 2. Another version appeared in the 2024Sony's Spider-Man Universe filmKraven the Hunter played byAlessandro Nivola.
Described by writerMike Conroy as "famously one of Spider-Man's dimmest villains",[4] the Rhino debuted inThe Amazing Spider-Man #41–43 (Oct.–Dec. 1966) as a thug for hire working for anEastern Bloc country.[5] He volunteers to participate in an experiment that bonds a super-strongpolymer to his skin, as well as augmenting his strength and speed. The character returned inThe Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) #104 (June 1968), and although he apparently died at the end of the story, he was revived inThe Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) #124 (Feb. 1970), becoming a perennial opponent of both Spider-Man and the Hulk.
The character achieved significant exposure in the 1980s and 1990s, appearing in both a solo capacity and as a villain for hire in over 12 titles. Significant appearances included starring in thelimited seriesDeadly Foes of Spider-Man #1–4 (May–Aug. 1991); the "Flowers for Rhino" storyline inSpider-Man's Tangled Web #5–6 (Oct.–Nov. 2001), which is told from the character's perspective; andPunisher War Journal (vol. 2) #13–15 (Jan.–March 2008), in which Rhino begins to rethink his lifestyle. He has also been a member of multiple supervillain teams, including theEmissaries of Evil, theSinister Syndicate, and theSinister Six.
Aleksei Sytsevich was a low-ranking member of theRussian mafia who willingly underwent a series of chemical and radiation treatments meant to give him an artificial skin covering that would grant superhuman strength. After successfully completing the treatment, Sytsevich rebelled against theEastern Bloc agents who gave him these powers and sought to use him as a weapon, destroying their laboratory. He was subsequently hired to kidnapColonelJohn Jameson and obtain the extraterrestrialspores to which Jameson was exposed during a space mission, but Sytsevich was defeated by the superheroSpider-Man and taken to prison.[6]
After serving his sentence, the Rhino was approached by the same scientists for more augmentation. This time, they used the samegamma radiation that granted theHulk his abilities to further increase the Rhino's strength. They also equipped him with a more durable, acid-proof suit that would further increase his abilities. As repayment, the Rhino agreed to find and kidnap Bruce Banner, the Hulk's humanalter ego, for his knowledge of gamma radiation. Despite the Rhino's training and equipment, he was easily defeated by the Hulk, who placed him in acoma.[7]
Months later, the Rhino was revived by theLeader, who planned to interrupt Banner's wedding toBetty Ross. The Leader intended to transform Banner into the Hulk, and wanted the Rhino to protect him from the ensuing rampage. At the wedding, the Rhino betrays the Leader and attacks Banner the moment he transforms.[8] In the resulting chaos, the Rhino is once again comatose, and the Leader briefly takes mental control of Sytsevich's body to combat the Hulk.[9] The Leader abandons the Rhino and the Hulk on an alien world, and returns home in a rocket, which crashes on arrival.
The Rhino's first collaboration with other villains occurs when he and theAbomination activated agamma bomb at theHulkbuster base in an attempt to destroy the Hulk. Although this attempt failed,Egghead recruited the Rhino for his supervillain team, theEmissaries of Evil, where he was paired withSolarr in search of a rare jewel.[10] Rhino and Solarr are defeated by theDefenders,Doctor Strange,[11] andDoc Samson.[12]
Samson took the Rhino to Project P.E.G.A.S.U.S., where he was part of a failed prison break involvingMoonstone,Blackout, andElectro.[13] While being transferred to another facility, theMiracle Man attempted to free the Rhino, who wanted to stay in P.E.G.A.S.U.S. for medical treatment. The rocket crash had permanently affixed the Rhino's costume to his body, and he wanted it separated. He and theThing successfully stopped Miracle Man, and took the Rhino to a medical facility within P.E.G.A.S.U.S.[14]
When the treatments fail to return the Rhino to normal, he escapes P.E.G.A.S.U.S. and joins theSinister Syndicate, fighting Spider-Man on multiple occasions.[15] After the team falls apart, the Rhino is hired by theKingpin under the belief that he can raise the money for more surgery. When he hears the Kingpin tell a group of scientists not to remove the Rhino suit, Sytsevich kidnaps one of their children until they complete the procedure. Sytsevich then requests a removable suit fromJustin Hammer, allowing him to continue his life of crime.[16]
Hulk, in the bandaged disguise of "Bob Danner", played baseball for the Florida Pistols when they competed against the Miami Emperors. One player on the Miami Emperors turns out to be Rhino under the alias of "Alex O'Hirn". A fight soon happened between both teams where the baseball players soon left the field when they found out how strong "Bob Danner" and "Alex O'Hirn" are.[17]
Rhino was among the villains who accompanyKlaw in his invasion of Wakanda. It took the Wakandan Air Force to subdue Rhino.[18]
When the Rhino accidentally kills a security guard during a bank robbery, he is humiliated by thePunisher, and captured byAlyosha Kravinoff, the son ofKraven the Hunter. The Punisher rescues the Rhino from Kravinoff's superhuman zoo, and he is convinced to make amends. The Rhino sends a letter and money to the security guard's widow,[19] and aids the Punisher on a case.[20] Later, the Rhino persuades the Punisher not to kill Michael Watts, the thirdStilt-Man.[21]
DuringThe Gauntlet storyline, the Rhino gives up his life of crime, surrendering himself to the police. S.H.I.E.L.D. removes his Rhino suit and sentences him to 25 years on Ryker's Island. He is released early on good behavior, and upon release, he meets Doctor Tramma, who wants to reinvent the Rhino. Sytsevich declines, and Tramma creates a new Rhino. At Spider-Man's persuasion, Sytsevich refuses to fight the new Rhino.[22] That promise is broken when Sytsevich's wife Oksana is killed, and a grief-stricken Sytsevich kills the new Rhino.[23]
Doctor Octopus recruits the Rhino for his iteration of theSinister Six.[24] During theEnds of the Earth storyline, the Rhino tells Spider-Man that the loss of his wife has changed him, and he is prepared to die. When Doctor Octopus self-destructs his own lair, the Rhino pinsSilver Sable to the floor of a flooding corridor, knowing that Spider-Man will blame himself for his fellow hero's death.[25] He is presumed drowned, and while in Doctor Octopus' dying body, Spider-Man meets Oksana and the Rhino in the afterlife.[26]
As part of the lead-up to theDead No More: The Clone Conspiracy storyline, the Rhino resurfaces, having survived his apparent demise. TheJackal finds Sytsevich in hiding in Tahuexco,Guatemala, where he persuades the Rhino to do his bidding with the promise of a revived Oksana.[27] When Doctor Octopus activates a virus in all of the Jackal's clones that causes them to rapidly decay, Oksana turns to dust, and the Rhino goes on a grief-stricken rampage.[28] Spider-Man calms him by convincing him to move forward for his wife's sake, and the two agree to see each other once in a while to help the other with their pain.[29]
In a prelude to the "Hunted" storyline, the Rhino is among the animal-themed characters captured by theTaskmaster and theBlack Ant on behalf of Kraven the Hunter. He is among those whoArcade publicly reveals as theSavage Six.[30]
During the "King in Black" storyline, Rhino is among the villains recruited by MayorWilson Fisk to be part of hisThunderbolts at the time ofKnull's invasion. Following the deaths of Ampere and Snakehead, Taskmaster couldn't bring himself to prevent Rhino from walking away.[31]
During the "Sinister War" storyline, Rhino accompanied the Savage Six into attacking the premiere of the movie which Mysterio was involved in. This led up to the Savage Six also fighting the Sinister Six.[32]
During the "Devil's Reign" storyline, Rhino appears as a member of Mayor Wilson Fisk's latest incarnation of the Thunderbolts when Mayor Fisk passes a law that forbids superhero activities. He assistedAgony, Electro II, andU.S. Agent in taking downMoon Knight.[33] In truth, Rhino did not sign up to dispose underage superheroes after learning the Kamala's Law incidents inOutlawed and its conclusion inKiller App, so he secretly helps the Champions by giving them the Thunderbolts badge due to Fisk's patrol system becoming even tighter with Doctor Octopus' Octobots and many innocent people being unsaved.[34] It was because of Rhino declaring himself out of the Thunderbolts because of this reason that caused Mayor Fisk to bring in Abomination as a replacement.[35][36]
Orchis later subjected Rhino to the same mind-control device that they used onNightcrawler. He went on a rampage until he fought Nightcrawler's Spinnenmann appearance. Despite interference from Silver Sable and the Wild Pack, Spinnenmann defeated Rhino.[37]
A series ofmutagenic chemical and radiation treatments provide the Rhino with superhuman strength, stamina, durability, and speed, all which were further augmented by gamma rays. His incredible speed allows him to run at high velocities, especially over short distances. Sytsevich frequently "charges" his opponents in this manner, enabling him to cause great harm to most enemies in the surrounding area. He is, however, notorious for his lack of agility and slow reaction time, which makes it difficult for him to change direction when running at high speeds. As such, his fighting style is focused more on melee attacks.[38]
Sytsevich possesses a thickpolymer suit that resembles the physique of arhinoceros, including two horns, and covers everything but his face. The suit is resistant to damage and extreme temperatures and these horns are capable of penetrating two-inch plate steel. His first, cruder suit was originally bonded to his skin during a rocket crash and he went through several attempts to remove it.
After the first suit's destruction, Justin Hammer created a second, removable iteration with improved strength and durability.
When Aleksei Sytsevich declines Doctor Tramma's offer to return to the Rhino role, Tramma finds another subject and equips him with a high-tech suit that was supposed to be given to Sytsevich. The second Rhino comes after Sytsevich, feeling that he had to destroy the original Rhino if he was going toascend. Spider-Man defeats the second Rhino, who then escapes.[22]
While lifting a makeshift dumbbell made out of a pole and two trucks, the second Rhino is called up by a mysterious person telling him where he can find Sytsevich. Rhino attacks Aleksei at one ofJ. Jonah Jameson's press meetings. Aleksei lies to the second Rhino, agreeing to fight him in his Rhino suit, but instead goes into hiding with his wife Oksana. Before they arrive at their safehouse, however, the second Rhino attacks again, and Oksana dies as a result. Aleksei dons his old Rhino suit, which is strong enough to destroy the new Rhino's, and kills the unnamed wearer.[23]
A man namedRyan O'Smith was experimented on by an unnamed mad scientist where the experiment gave him flight and wanted to be a superhero. When he wanted to be a heroic Rhino after meeting Spider-Man, he would be targeted by the original Rhino which led to Ryan and Spider-Man defeating Rhino.[39]
An alternate universe variant of the Rhino from Earth-295 appears inAge of Apocalypse. This version is a rhinoceros-likeInhuman.[42]
An alternate universe variant of the Rhino from Earth-18119 appears inAmazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows. This version is an enforcer forRegent.[43][44]
An alternate universe variant of the Rhino from Earth-9939 appears inDeath's Head II #4. This version is a member of theAvengers.[45]
An alternate universe variant of the Rhino from Earth-58163 appears inHouse of M.[46]
The Rhino appears inJLA/Avengers as a brainwashed minion ofKrona.[47]
A zombified alternate universe variant of the Rhino from Earth-2149 appears inMarvel Zombies.[48]
An alternate universe variant of the Rhino from Earth-982 appears inMr. and Mrs. Spider-Man.[49]
An alternate universe variant of the Rhino from Earth-001 appears inSpider-Verse as a member of Verna'sHounds.[50][51]
An alternate universe variant of the Rhino from Earth-2301 appears inMarvel Mangaverse. This version is a member of the Kishi Kuri clan.[52]
An alternate universe variant of Aleksei Sytsevich from Earth-65 appears inSpider-Gwen. This version is amercenary.[53]
An alternate universe variant of the Rhino from Earth-807128 appears inOld Man Logan.[54]
An alternate universe variant of the Rhino from Earth-1610 appears inUltimate Marvel. This version isAlex O'Hirn, a scientist who uses a suit of armor called the R.H.I.N.O. (Robotism Heuristic Intelligence Navigable Operative), which he stole from the United States military.[55][56]
Now it was time for [John Romita, Sr.] to introduce a new Spidey villain with the help of [Stan] Lee. Out of their pooled creative energies Rhino was born, a monstrous behemoth trapped in a durable rhinoceros suit.
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