| Sinister Syndicate | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The Amazing Spider-Man #280 (September 1986) |
| Created by | Tom DeFalco Ron Frenz |
| In-story information | |
| Base(s) | New York |
| Member(s) | SeeMembership |
TheSinister Syndicate is a group ofsupervillains appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. The characters serve as a collection of lesser-knownSpider-Man villains. The group was the focus of the 1991Deadly Foes of Spider-Man mini-series.
The Sinister Syndicate first appeared inThe Amazing Spider-Man #280 and was created byTom DeFalco andRon Frenz.[1]
Patterned after the conglomeration of Spider-Man's deadliest foes who call themselves theSinister Six, the Sinister Syndicate was originally formed by the super-villainBeetle. The original roster of the group consisted of Beetle,Hydro-Man,Rhino,Boomerang, andSpeed Demon, who collectively gathered together under the Beetle's leadership.[2] Unlike the Sinister Six, which was formed to destroy Spider-Man, the Syndicate was formed to act as a mercenary group that worked for the highest bidder.[3][4]
The group, now featuring Boomerang's girlfriendLeila Davis, was the focus of the 1991 mini-seriesDeadly Foes of Spider-Man. The series focuses upon the group's break-up due to Beetle's jealousy towards Boomerang and his attempts to usurp control of the group. Beetle betrays Boomerang by allowing him to be caught during a robbery and then convincing him to use Beetle's lawyer Steve Partridge, not knowing that Beetle had instructed his lawyer to throw the trial to ensure Boomerang's conviction.[5]
As Hardshell, Leila Davis assembles Boomerang, Rhino, andVulture for her version of the Sinister Syndicate. All three seek a nuclear blaster, with Boomerang and Rhino wanting to sell the weapon for money while Vulture wants to use it to cure his cancer. Beetle andStegron make off with the Nuclear Blaster and battle Spider-Man. The battle ends with Boomerang, Rhino, and Vulture being incapacitated alongside Beetle and Stegron.[6]
InAvengers: The Initiative, half of the Syndicate (Hydro-Man,Shocker, and Boomerang) reunite and fight Spider-Man. The battle is interrupted byKomodo andWar Machine. They are later apprehended by the Initiative'sScarlet Spiders.[7]
Some members of the Sinister Syndicate are reunited in the 2013 seriesSuperior Foes of Spider-Man. Boomerang is the leader of the new Sinister Six, which includes Shocker,Overdrive, Speed Demon, and Beetle (Janice Lincoln).[8]
Operatives of MayorWilson Fisk freeElectro (Francine Frye) so that she can be part of a female version of the Sinister Syndicate. Janice Lincoln introduces Electro to the team, which consists ofLady Octopus,Scorpia,Trapstr, andWhite Rabbit.[9] In the "Sinister War" storyline,Ana Kravinoff joins the group.[10]
TheLife Foundation formed their own Sinister Syndicate, recruiting thesymbiotesScream,Phage,Lasher,Riot andAgony.
The following is the known membership of the Sinister Syndicate:
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