Sin-Eater (character)
Sin-Eater | |
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Publication information | |
Publisher | Marvel Comics |
First appearance | Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #107 (October 1985) |
Created by | Peter David (writer) Rich Buckler (artist) |
In-story information | |
Alter ego | Stanley Carter |
Species | Human |
Team affiliations | S.H.I.E.L.D. New York City Police Department Sinful Six |
Abilities | Expert hand-to-hand combatant Skilled marksman Enhanced physical condition Wields a special gun |
Sin-Eater is a name given to several fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character usually appears in comics featuring Spider-Man and Ghost Rider.
Publication history
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The character was introduced in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #107 (October 1985).[1]
Stanley Carter
Stanley "Stan" Carter was born in Fort Meade, Maryland. He was an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. working in research and development. He was injected with experimental drugs to increase strength and endurance, but when the program was designated too dangerous it was discontinued. Carter became violent and resigned from S.H.I.E.L.D., eventually becoming a detective with the New York City Police Department. After his partner was killed by several young criminals, he became obsessed with killing anyone who "sinned" by abusing authority.[2]
As the Sin-Eater, his first victim was Captain Jean DeWolff (in "The Death of Jean DeWolff" story arc). As a detective, he is assigned to find the killer, and works closely with Spider-Man.[3] His next victim is Judge Horace Rosenthal, a friend of Matthew Murdock. During his escape after killing Rosenthal, he is attacked by Spider-Man and kills a bystander during the battle.[4] When Spider-Man and Daredevil discover that the Sin-Eater's next victim is going to be Betty Brant, Peter Parker's first love, they rush to save Betty. Spider-Man goes into a fierce rage and beats the Sin-Eater nearly to death. As he is being transferred to Riker's, a vengeful mob including DeWolff's father tries to kill him, but Daredevil and Spider-Man intervene.[2]
Carter is put in psychological and medical care, but is crippled by the beating Spider-Man inflicted. S.H.I.E.L.D. purges all the drugs from his system during this time, but he still has visions of his Sin-Eater persona. After Carter is released, he returns the favor Spider-Man did him by rescuing the latter from an angry mob, and begins writing a memoir of his career as the Sin-Eater. However, he has trouble readjusting to society. Finally he snaps, taking an empty shotgun and goading police officers into opening fire on him.[5] Carter is killed, though finally freed from the Sin-Eater persona's control.[6]
The Sin-Eater is later resurrected for
During the
During the Sinister War storyline, Kindred revives the Sin-Eater again. He is still angered at Kindred for forsaking him once more. From the Sin-Eater's reanimated corpse springs forth demonic centipedes that seek out and take possession of Grey Gargoyle, Living Laser, Whirlwind, Juggernaut, and Morlun. Led by the Sin-Eater, the "Sinful Six" corner Peter in an alleyway and are ready to finish him off.[22]
Emil Gregg
The public revelation of Stanley Carter as the Sin-Eater by Peter Parker was responsible for the ruin of
During the "AXIS" storyline, a new and supernatural Sin-Eater emerges to terrorize New York City, gunning down members of the press. Cletus Kasady (whose morality had been altered by a spell cast by Doctor Doom and the Scarlet Witch) comes into conflict with the Sin-Eater when he stops him from murdering the reporter Alice Gleason. The Sin-Eater later manages to track down and abduct Alice, taking her to his lair and implying that he is an undead version of Emil Gregg. Before the Sin-Eater can harm Alice, she is rescued by Carnage who allows the Sin-Eater to absorb all of his repressed evil. Overwhelmed by Carnage's sins, the Sin-Eater grows to gigantic size and explodes as Carnage declares "Rest now, wandering soul. Your work is done".[24]
Empowered by the Grendel symbiote during the "
Michael G. Engelschwert
A Sin-Eater copycat killer appears in the
Powers and abilities
The true version had an artificially heightened physicality, similar to that of Captain America. Though his strength, agility, stamina and reflexes was greater than that of any Olympic athlete, it did not exceed the hypothetical natural limitations of the human body and would not be considered truly superhuman. The same clandestine experiments that heightened his physique probably also drove him insane. He had also undergone military training, though it was rendered less effective by his insanity. He is an expert hand-to-hand combatant and skilled marksman, with his signature weapon being a double-barreled shotgun. When revived by Kindred, Sin-Eater wielded a special gun that removed any superhuman's powers and destroyed their sins. In addition, he can turn the sins into actual monsters, teleport, and absorb the powers of anyone he shoots. He has demonstrated making use of Overdrive's limited technopathy and vehicle alteration, Count Nefaria's ionic abilities, Grey Gargoyle's petrifying touch, Living Laser's laser projection, Whirlwind's rotation and wind-based abilities, Mister Negative's corruption touch, and Juggernaut's Cyttorak-based empowerment.[30]
The second version introduced claims of being able to detect the evil within others, and of absorbing a green energy which he claims is all of their sins after killing them. He is also unaffected by being repeatedly shot with a handgun and regrows his own head (which is merely a skull) after it is destroyed by Carnage.[24]
The third version wielded a heavy assortment of guns, bombs, knives, and rocket launchers, and wore a bulletproof costume.
Ethan Domblue
An earlier character named Sin-Eater first appeared in Ghost Rider #80. Ethan Domblue was a pastor obsessed with having a sinless congregation. Ghost Rider foe Centurious gave Ethan the power to "eat" his congregation's sins, leaving them in a passive, "sinless" state. He did not realize that by placing his parishioners' souls in the Crystal of Souls, he was creating an army of zombie-like slaves loyal to Centurious. Eventually, Ghost Rider defeated Centurious and freed the souls in the Crystal. As a last redemptive act, Ethan Domblue removed Zarathos from Johnny Blaze and placed the demon in the Crystal of Souls, freeing Blaze from the curse of Ghost Rider.[31]
Reverend Styge
The
Reception
- In 2014, WhatCulture ranked Sin-Eater 5th in their "7 Unused Spider-Man Villains Who'd Be Great In The Marvel Cinematic Universe" list.[33]
- In 2022, Screen Rant ranked Sin-Eater 4th in their "10 Most Powerful Silk Villains In Marvel Comics" list.[34]
In other media
- Stan Carter appears in The Spectacular Spider-Man, voiced by Thomas F. Wilson.[35] This version is a uniformed police sergeant partnered with Officer Jean DeWolff who supports Spider-Man's activities as opposed to his partner.
- Stanley Carter appears in the novel Spider-Man: Requiem, by Chthon, Carter seemingly sacrifices himself to stop the Elder God. In reality, he hid himself away at his uncle, Emory Carter's, house, where the latter became infected by the carrion virus. Carter dies and Emory becomes the new Carrion, but he is defeated by Spider-Man.
References
- ISBN 978-1465455505.
- ^ Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man#110. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #107 (October 1985). Marvel Comics.
- ^ Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #108 (November 1985). Marvel Comics.
- ^ Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #134-136. Marvel Comics.
- ISBN 978-0756692360.
- ^ The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 5 #37. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 5 #44. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 5 #45. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 5 #46. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 5 #47. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 5 #48. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Amazing Spider-Man: The Sins of Norman Osborn #1. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 5 #49. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 5 #50. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 5 #51.LR. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 5 #52.LR. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 5 #53.LR. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 5 #54. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 5 #54.LR. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 5 #56. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Sinister War #3. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Amazing Spider-Man #300 (May, 1988). Marvel Comics.
- ^ a b Rick Spears (w), Germán Peralta (p), Germán Peralta (i). AXIS: Carnage, vol. 1, no. 1-3 (29 October 2014 - 10 December 2014). United States: Marvel Comics.
- ^ Donny Cates (w), Juan Gedeon (p), Juan Gedeon (i), Jesus Aburtov (col), VC's Clayton Cowles (let), Devin Lewis (ed). Venom, vol. 4, no. 16 (11 July 2019). United States: Marvel Comics.
- ^ Venom: Sinner Takes All #3. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Venom: Sinner Takes All #1 (August 1995). Marvel Comics.
- ^ Venom: Sinner Takes All #2-5. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Venom: Sinner Takes All #5. Marvel Comics.
- ^ "Spider-Man: Sin-Eater Proves He's Still a LETHAL Threat". 5 December 2020.
- ^ Ghost Rider #80. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Ghost Rider vol. 3 #16-18. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Stewart, K. J. (2014-05-12). "7 Unused Spider-Man Villains Who'd Be Great In The Marvel Cinematic Universe". WhatCulture.com. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
- ^ Harn, Darby (2022-11-30). "10 Most Powerful Silk Villains In Marvel Comics". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
- ^ Comics Continuum by Rob Allstetter: Monday, February 4, 2008
External links
- Sin-Eater (Stanley Carter) at Marvel.com
- Sin-Eater (Stanley Carter) at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)
- Sin-Eater (Michael Engelschwert) at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)