The Sinister Syndicate is a group of

supervillain A supervillain, supervillainess or supercriminal is a major antagonist and variant of the villainous stock character who possesses Superpower (ability), superpowers. The character type is sometimes found in comic books and is often the primary ...

s appearing in

American comic book An American comic book is a thin periodical literature originating in the United States, commonly between 24 and 64 pages, containing comics. While the form originated in 1933, American comic books first gained popularity after the 1938 publ ...

s published by

Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is a New York City–based comic book publishing, publisher, a property of the Walt Disney Company since December 31, 2009, and a subsidiary of Disney Publishing Worldwide since March 2023. Marvel was founded in 1939 by Martin G ...

. The characters serve as a collection of lesser-known

Spider-Man Spider-Man is a superhero in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, he first appearance, first appeared in the anthology comic book ''Amazing Fantasy'' #15 (August 1962) in ...

villains. The group 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 ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' is an ongoing American superhero American comic book, comic book series featuring the Marvel Comics superhero Spider-Man as its title character and main protagonist. Being in the Earth 616, mainstream continuity of t ...

'' #280 and was created by

Tom DeFalco Tom DeFalco (born June 26, 1950) is an American comic book writer and editor well known for his association with Marvel Comics, with long runs on ''Amazing Spider-Man'', ''Thor (comic book), Thor'', ''Fantastic Four (comic book), Fantastic Four'' ...

and

Ron Frenz Ronald Wade "Ron" Frenz (born February 1, 1960) is an American comics artist known for his work for Marvel Comics. He is well known for his 1980s work on ''The Amazing Spider-Man'', particularly introducing the hero's Venom (character), black cos ...

Fictional team history

First version

Patterned after the conglomeration of Spider-Man's deadliest foes who call themselves the

Sinister Six The Sinister Six are a group of supervillains in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, mainly those featuring Spider-Man. The members are drawn from the character's list of enemies, with the original members forming the team in ''T ...

, the Sinister Syndicate was originally formed by the super-villain

Beetle Beetles are insects that form the Taxonomic rank, order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Holometabola. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 40 ...

. The original roster of the group consisted of Beetle,

Hydro-Man Hydro-Man (Morris "Morrie" Bench) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Dennis O'Neil and artist John Romita Jr., the character first appeared in ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #212 (Januar ...

Rhino A rhinoceros ( ; ; ; : rhinoceros or rhinoceroses), commonly abbreviated to rhino, is a member of any of the five extant taxon, extant species (or numerous extinct species) of odd-toed ungulates (perissodactyls) in the family (biology), famil ...

Boomerang A boomerang () is a thrown tool typically constructed with airfoil sections and designed to spin about an axis perpendicular to the direction of its flight, designed to return to the thrower. The origin of the word is from Australian Aborigin ...

, and Speed Demon, who collectively gathered together under the Beetle's leadership. 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.

Second version

The group, now featuring Boomerang's girlfriend Leila Davis, was the focus of the 1991 mini-series ''Deadly 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.

Third version

As Hardshell, Leila Davis assembles Boomerang, Rhino, and

Vulture A vulture is a bird of prey that scavenges on carrion. There are 23 extant species of vulture (including condors). Old World vultures include 16 living species native to Europe, Africa, and Asia; New World vultures are restricted to Nort ...

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 and

Stegron Stegron (Vincent Stegron) is a fictional supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Len Wein and artist Gil Kane, he first appeared in ''Marvel Team-Up'' #19 (March 1974). Fictional character biog ...

make off with the Nuclear Blaster and battle Spider-Man. The battle ends with Boomerang, Rhino, and Vulture being incapacitated alongside Beetle and Stegron.

Unofficial versions

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 War Machine (Col. James Rupert "Rhodey" Rhodes) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by David Michelinie, John Byrne, and Bob Layton as a supporting character for Iron Man, he first appeared i ...

. They are later apprehended by the Initiative's

Scarlet Spider The Scarlet Spider is an alias used by several fictional Character (arts), characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, most notably Ben Reilly and Kaine Parker, both of whom are genetic clones of Peter Parker, the sup ...

s. Some members of the Sinister Syndicate are reunited in the 2013 series '' Superior Foes of Spider-Man''. Boomerang is the leader of the new Sinister Six, which includes Shocker, Overdrive, Speed Demon, and Beetle (

Janice Lincoln Janice Lincoln is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Ed Brubaker and artist Jackson Guice, the character first appeared in ''Captain America'' #607 (August 2010). Janice Lincoln is the da ...

Fourth version

Operatives of Mayor

Wilson Fisk The Kingpin (Wilson Grant Fisk) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by Stan Lee and John Romita Sr., and first appeared in ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #50 (cover-dated July 196 ...

free Electro (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 of

Lady Octopus Lady Octopus (Carolyn Trainer), also known as Doctor Octopus II, is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, primarily as an enemy to the superheroes Spider-Man and Scarlet Spider. The character is the protég� ...

, Scorpia, Trapstr, and

White Rabbit The White Rabbit is a fictional and anthropomorphic character in Lewis Carroll's 1865 book ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland''. He appears at the very beginning of the book, in chapter one, wearing a waistcoat, and muttering "Oh dear! Oh dea ...

. In the " Sinister War" storyline, Ana Kravinoff joins the group.'' Sinister War'' #2 (September 2021)

Fifth version

The Life Foundation formed their own Sinister Syndicate, recruiting the symbiotes Scream,

Phage A bacteriophage (), also known informally as a phage (), is a virus that infects and replicates within bacteria. The term is derived . Bacteriophages are composed of proteins that encapsulate a DNA or RNA genome, and may have structures tha ...

Lasher ''Lives of the Mayfair Witches'' is a trilogy of supernatural horror/fantasy novels by American novelist Anne Rice. It centers on a family of witches whose fortunes have been guided for generations by a spirit named Lasher. The series began in ...

Riot A riot or mob violence is a form of civil disorder commonly characterized by a group lashing out in a violent public disturbance against authority, property, or people. Riots typically involve destruction of property, public or private. The p ...

and

Agony Agony may refer to: Concepts * Agony, a terminal state of the body before death *Suffering of intense degree, relating to physical or mental suffering *Agony in the Garden, Christ's agony in the Garden of Gethsemane Comics * ''Agony'' (book), ...

Membership

The following is the known membership of the Sinister Syndicate:

First Sinister Syndicate

(leader) *

* Speed Demon

Second Sinister Syndicate

* Beetle (leader) * Boomerang * Hydro-Man * Rhino * Speed Demon * Hardshell (driver) * Shocker

Third Sinister Syndicate

* Leila Davis (leader) * Boomerang * Rhino *

Fourth Sinister Syndicate

(leader) * Electro (Francine Frye) *

Kraven the Hunter Kraven the Hunter (Sergei Nikolaevich Kravinoff; Russian: Сергей Николаевич Кравинов) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, th ...

(Ana Kravinoff) *

* Scorpia *

Trapster Peter Petruski is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in ''Strange Tales'' #104 (January 1963). Petruski is one of the first supe ...

Fifth Sinister Syndicate

* Scream *

In other media

* The Sinister Syndicate appears in ''

Marvel Super Hero Squad Online ''Marvel Super Hero Squad Online'' was a massively multiplayer free-to-play online game for younger audiences based on the '' Marvel Super Hero Squad'', developed by American video game companies the Amazing Society and Gazillion Entertainmen ...

'', consisting of

Doctor Octopus Doctor Octopus (Dr. Otto Octavius), also known as Doc Ock for short, is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko and first appeared in ''The Amazin ...

Green Goblin The Green Goblin is the alias of several supervillains appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, the first and best-known incarnation of the Green Goblin is Norman Osborn, ...

Lizard Lizard is the common name used for all Squamata, squamate reptiles other than snakes (and to a lesser extent amphisbaenians), encompassing over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most Island#Oceanic isla ...

Mysterio Mysterio is the alias of several supervillains appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, the character first appeared in ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #13 (June 1964). He is one of the super ...

, and

Venom Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a sti ...

. * The Sinister Syndicate appears in ''

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, also known as The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man – The Ride is a 3D motion simulator and dark ride located at Universal Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida. Based on the Marvel Comics superhero Spid ...

'' attraction at

Universal's Islands of Adventure Universal Islands of Adventure, often shortened to Islands of Adventure, is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida, United States. It originally opened as Universal Studios Islands of Adventure on May 28, 1999, along with CityWalk, as part ...

and formerly at

Universal Studios Japan is a theme park located in Osaka, Japan. Opened on March 31, 2001, it is one of six Universal Destinations & Experiences, Universal Studios theme parks worldwide and was the first to open outside the United States. The park is owned and operat ...

, consisting of Doctor Octopus, Electro, Scream,

, and

Hobgoblin A hobgoblin is a household spirit, appearing in English folklore, once considered helpful, but which since the spread of Christianity has often been considered mischievous. Shakespeare identifies the character of Puck in his '' A Midsummer Nigh ...

. * The "Sinister Syndicate" appears in the Marvel Vs. System and

HeroClix HeroClix is a collectible miniatures game that uses the Clix system that centers on the world of superhero comic books, especially DC and Marvel universes. Players construct teams of comic book heroes, villains, or characters from various video ...

games as a generic affiliation of several Spider-Man villains.

References

External links

Sinister Syndicate at Marvel.com

Sinister Syndicate
at Marvel Wiki {{Sinister Six Characters created by Tom DeFalco Characters created by Ron Frenz Comics characters introduced in 1986 Marvel Comics supervillain teams