Sinister Syndicate

The Sinister Syndicate is a group of

Publication history

The Sinister Syndicate first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #280 and was created by Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz.^[1]

Fictional team history

First version

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

Speed Demon begins a relationship with Leila. The Sinister Syndicate crashes the trial of Boomerang where Partridge brought up people to talk about Boomerang leading him to think that Patrtrige sold him out. Spider-Man helped to fight the Sinister Syndicate who got away. Leila anticipated that Kingpin would bribe Partridge to flub the case.^[7]

As Beetle keeps his trap for Spider-Man that involves the District Attorney being strapped to a bomb private, he claims that he has an inside person who can get Boomerang out of prison. As Rhino leaves upon not wanting any more involvement in the caper, Leila hears Beetle talking to Partridge about a plan to get Boomerang out that involves Kingpin. Shocker helps Boomerang escape jail. Leila betrays Speed Demon and reveals her true purpose for dating Boomerang and involving herself with the Syndicate: Leila was the widow of the super-villain

In the end, a massive showdown ensued between the members where Beetle has Hydro-Man and Speed Demon on his side while Leila has Boomerang and Rhino on her side. When Beetle throws a car at Leila, she is saved by Spider-Man who prevents her from shooting Beetle. This causes Leila to don Ringer's gloves to trap Beetle as the police arrive. Leila escapes with Boomerang and Rhino, while Beetle went to jail and Speed Demon and Hydro-Man made their own escapes. The in-fighting of the Sinister Syndicate served as distraction for Kingpin to get the data that he needs while also paying Rhino the money enough to get the Rhino armor removed.[9]

Although not referring to themselves as the Sinister Syndicate, Beetle, Boomerang, Hydro-Man, Rhino, and Speed Demon are among the villains hired by Justin Hammer to protect his secret laboratory from Spider-Man and the New Warriors.^[10] During the villains' fight with the New Warriors, they flee when Spider-Man arrives where they seal the door behind them.^[11]

Third version

As Hardshell, Leila Davis assembles Boomerang, Rhino, and Vulture for her version of the Sinister Syndicate. When it comes to motives, Rhino wants to bring his family to North America, Boomerang wants money and revenge on Beetle, and Vulture is seeking a cure for cancer. They agree to her offer for now. They attack the Atomic Research Company in Yonkers, New York where they want

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. They are later apprehended by the Initiative's Scarlet Spiders.^[16]

Some members of the Sinister Syndicate are reunited in the 2013 ongoing series

Operatives of Mayor Wilson Fisk free Electro (Francine Frye) so that she can be part of a female version of the Sinister Syndicate.^[18]

While waiting in another room, Electro meets with

Boomerang tries to reason with Beetle and Electro who are still made at him for betraying him. Beetle states that they aren't targeting F.E.A.S.T., they are targeting him. Beetle leads the Sinister Syndicate in attacking Boomerang. It was stated by Boomerang that he was the one who came up with the Sinister Syndicate name. Lady Octopus stated that they dropped the "Sinister" part of the Sinister Syndicate's name. After getting Aunt May to safety, Peter Parker changes into Spider-Man and helps Boomerang fight the Syndicate. The Syndicate starts doing their formation attack until Spider-Man accidentally sets off Boomerang's gaserang which knocks out Spider-Man enough for the Syndicate to make off with Boomerang. As Beetle has Electro write a proposal on how the Syndicate can use Boomerang as an example to the criminal underworld, Beetle leave while calling Wilson Fisk that they caught Boomerang as she is given the information on where the exchange can happen.[20]

After some time with Randy Robertson, Beetle sends Mayor Wilson Fisk the coordinates to Boomerang's location and goes to meet up with the Syndicate. As they plan to adjourn for the night, they hear Mayor Fisk outside stating that they are harboring a criminal and are to surrender Boomerang to him or suffer the full might of New York City. The Syndicate notices the police, the SWAT Team, the Anti-Super Squad, and low-level bureaucrats. Spider-Man arrives as well and tries to get Mayor Fisk to have the authorities stand down only for Mayor Fisk to claim that Spider-Man fell prey to Boomerang's hypnotic boomerang. Electro claims that Spider-Man is buying them some time. After reading the paper in Boomerang's hand that belonged to Mayor Fisk, Beetle tells the Syndicate that they should let Boomerang go. While Beetle claimed that she betrayed them, she did it because she's a supervillain and states that she plans to have Mayor Fisk deputize them. The rest of the Syndicate is not up with this plan. The Syndicate then assists Spider-Man against Mayor Fisk's forces. Beetle has Spider-Man evacuate Boomerang while the Syndicate fights Mayor Fisk's forces while not killing them. The Syndicate is defeated and arrested by the police. Their transport is then attacked by an unknown assailant who frees them.^[21]

During the "

On the eve of her wedding, Janice Lincoln is taken to an exclusive restaurant by White Rabbit, Lady Octopus, Electro, Scorpia, and Trapstr for a bachelorette party. Felicia Hardy shows up to talk to Janice who had invited Black Cat despite the other members stating that she interacts with Spider-Man a lot. Then they don their costumes and go on the attack on some drug smugglers associated with a rival boss while Black Cat tells Janice that she works alone.^[23]

During the "

• Beetle (leader)
• Boomerang
• Hydro-Man
• Rhino
• Speed Demon

Second Sinister Syndicate

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

Third Sinister Syndicate

• Leila Davis (leader)
• Boomerang
• Rhino
• Vulture

Fourth Sinister Syndicate

• Beetle (leader)
• Digger
• Electro II
• Kraven the Hunter
  III
• Lady Octopus
• Scorpia
• Trapstr
• White Rabbit

Fifth Sinister Syndicate

• Scream
• Phage
• Lasher
• Riot
• Agony

In other media

• The Sinister Syndicate appears in Marvel Super Hero Squad Online, consisting of Doctor Octopus, the Green Goblin, the Lizard, Mysterio, and Venom.^{[citation needed]}
• The Sinister Syndicate appears in The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, consisting of Doctor Octopus, Electro, Scream, Hydro-Man, and the Hobgoblin.
• The "Sinister Syndicate" appears in the Marvel Vs. System and HeroClix games as a generic affiliation of several Spider-Man villains.

References