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Sidewinder is the name of three different fictional characters appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. The original version wasSeth Voelker. A second version appeared in 1998 but was killed during his attempt to infiltrateS.H.I.E.L.D. A third version,Gregory Bryan, was given powers similar to the original Sidewinder by the Brand Corporation.
Seth Voelker started out as an Economics professor beforeRoxxon Oil Company chemically mutated him and gave him the power to teleport, starting his criminal career as Sidewinder. He initially worked as hired henchman alongsideAnaconda,Death Adder andBlack Mamba. He later organized theSerpent Society, a group of snake-themed criminals for hire, with the Serpent Society working like atrade union. At one point, Sidewinder was deposed as leader byViper as several members of the Serpent Society had infiltrated the group to help Viper from within. While Viper was defeated, Sidewinder chose to leave the Serpent Society withKing Cobra taking control of the Serpent Society. He later retires from being a criminal.
Gregory Bryan was given his powers by the Brand Corporation and became a member of the Serpent Society later on. He later became a member of Serpent Solutions when the Serpent Society was reorganized.
![[icon]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg) | This sectionneeds expansion. You can help byadding missing information.(November 2016) |
The original Sidewinder, Seth Voelker, first appeared inMarvel Two-in-One #64 (Jun 1980), and was created by writersMark Gruenwald andRalph Macchio and artistGeorge Pérez.[1]
| Sidewinder | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Marvel Two-in-One #64 (June 1980) |
| Created by | Mark Gruenwald Ralph Macchio George Pérez |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Seth Voelker |
| Species | Human mutate |
| Team affiliations | Assassins Guild Serpent Society Serpent Squad |
| Abilities | Teleportation |
Seth Voelker was born inKenosha, Wisconsin and grew up to become an economics professor. He failed to make tenure and was hired by theRoxxon Oil Company as an economic analyst. He discovered their criminal schemes and they permitted him to apply for mutagenic alteration.[2][3] As the professional criminal Sidewinder, he is hired by Roxxon to retrieve theSerpent Crown. Alongside the third incarnation of theSerpent Squad, Sidewinder retrieves the crown and delivers it to company presidentHugh Jones.[4] After his stint working for Roxxon, Sidewinder decides to form his own criminal organization, theSerpent Society. In the Society's first mission, Sidewinder dispatches them to killMODOK on behalf ofA.I.M.[5]
Sidewinder is betrayed by his organization afterViper infiltrates the group. After being poisoned, he is aided byDiamondback and the two survive.[6]
Sidewinder retires from villainy to allowCaptain America to help him get money for his daughter who was ill with cancer.[7]
Sidewinder comes out of retirement after being hired by theAssassins Guild to targetElektra and her allies.[8]
| Sidewinder | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Iron Fist #1 (July 1998) |
| Created by | Dan Jurgens Jackson Guice |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Unknown |
| Species | Human mutate |
| Abilities | Teleportation |
| Sidewinder | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Captain America #31 (September 2004) |
| Created by | Robert Kirkman Scot Eaton |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Gregory Bryan |
| Species | Human mutate |
| Team affiliations | Serpent Solutions Army of Evil |
Gregory Bryan was made into the third Sidewinder under the orders of Hugh Jones and joined the Serpent Society. After Bryan leaves the group,Cobra uses the Brand Corporation's equipment (which had been stolen by the Serpent Society) to create a series of Sidewinder successors.[10]
Sidewinder and the Serpent Society capture Captain America and Diamondback (who was really a Life Model Decoy) and hold them in their underground New York headquarters. Sidewinder is knocked out by Diamondback.S.H.I.E.L.D. subsequently takes Sidewinder and the rest of the Society into custody.[11]
During theSecret Invasion storyline, Sidewinder and the Society held a number of civilians hostage in a compound in theAmerican Midwest, claiming they are protecting themselves from theSkrulls. However, they were easily defeated byNova and his newNova Corps.[12]
In theAll-New, All-Different Marvel publishing line, Sidewinder appears as a member ofViper's Serpent Society after it is rebranded as Serpent Solutions.[13]
During theSecret Empire storyline, Sidewinder and the members of Serpent Solutions joinHelmut Zemo's Army of Evil.[14]
Sidewinder possesses a cloak, created by scientists at the Roxxon subsidiary Brand Corporation's mutagenics laboratory and based on Nth Projector technology, which contains electronic circuitry that enables the wearer to open an aperture into another dimension. Sidewinder activates the cloak mentally through a device implanted in his body, enabling him to travel "sideways" through interdimensional space, taking with him whatever he covers with his cloak. This allows him teleport up to 50 miles (80 km) away in a single "jump". A cybernetic control chip implanted in Sidewinder's brain allows him to control it with pinpoint accuracy, and activate pre-programmed coordinates if he is knocked out or badly wounded. He has taken the precaution of implanting locator chips in his allies, allowing him to teleport to their location. Sidewinder can teleport anything that his cape can cover, up to the approximate size and shape of another human being. Sidewinder's armor provides protection against small-arms fire and a rebreather unit allowing him to survive underwater for extended periods.[2] He also has the ability to emit energy tendrils, which he calls his "Side Effects" from his forehead. It is not clear if this is a natural ability or a function of his armor.[15] Seth Voelker possesses no actual superhuman powers. He is a skilled financial expert, business planner, and strategist. He has an advanced degree in economics.
An alternate universe version of Sidewinder fromEarth-1610 appears inAll-New Ultimates. This version is a member of the Serpent Skulls gang and lieutenant to Diamondback.[16]
Seth Voelker / Sidewinder appears inCaptain America: Brave New World, portrayed byGiancarlo Esposito. This version is the leader of theSerpent Society.[17]
