Spider-Squad
Attributes
| Eyes: | (strongman); (acrobat); (tumbler);-none clearly seen...they all had two eyes out of costume |
| Features: | (strongman) big white guy; (acrobat) small black guy; (tumbler) medium white guy; |
| Hair: | (strongman) red; (acrobat) black; (tumbler) brown; |
| Height: | (strongman) 6' 5"; (acrobat) 5'2"; (tumbler) 5'10" |
| Weight: | (strongman) 265#; (acrobat) 120#; (tumbler); 170# |
Powers
| Abilities: | Each was talented in their area of training: bodybuilding, acrobatics, and tumbling |
| Equipment: | All wore exo-skeletons which enhanced their physical abilities to superhuman levels |
| Strength Level: | (strongman) peak human to Class 10; (acrobat and tumbler) human athlete to enhanced human |
| Weapons: | (strongman) relied mostly on strength; (acrobat) used a fencing foil coated with venom; (tumbler); project sticky web |
Summary
| Citizenship: | Presumably USA |
| Created By: | |
| Current Aliases: | strongman, acrobat, tumbler |
| Current Groups: | Spider-Squad |
| Current Occupation: | Criminal mastermind |
| Dual Identity: | Secret |
| Education: | Unknown. None were particularly bright |
| Former Aliases: | None known |
| Former Bases: | New York |
| Former Groups: | The three were previous partnered with each other in other criminal operations |
| Former Occupation: | Possibly performed professionally using their respective talents |
| Known Allies: | Former agents of Anton DeLionatus, who betrayed them |
| Known Confidants: | Each other |
| Legal Status: | Criminal record in USA |
| Major Enemies: | Spider-Man, Klemmer (kidnapping victim) |
| Marital Status: | Unknown, presumably single |
| Place of Birth: | Unknown, possibly New York |
| Real Name: | All unknown |
| Usual Bases: | New York, used a silo on an abandoned farm in Yonkers, New York (or is it Jersey?) |
Background
The members of the Spider-Squad were a "master criminal," combining their talents until Spider-Man put a stop to their activities. They each sought vengeance on Spider-Man.
They were hired by Anton DeLionatus, the producer for Delazny Studio's movie, "Spawn of the Spider." The movie was behind schedule and over-budget, when the stunt-man for the lead character, the Man-Spider, nearly fell to his death. The director of the film, Barney Muller, fired the Special Effects director, Klemmer, for designing "faulty equipment." Klemmer told Muller that he would regret this.
To replace the stuntman, Muller subsequently hired Spider-Man, who had been nearby to watch his girlfriend, Mary Jane, who was playing the part of an extra in the movie. Delionatus saw the picture as a losing business venture, and hired the group of above-mentioned master criminals to become the Spider-Squad. He outfitted them with exo-skeletons designed by Klemmer, deliberately framing Klemmer in the process.
The Spider-Squad kidnapped Klemmer, who was then drugged, and placed at the site of the Spider-Squad's "base" in Yonkers. The Spider-Squad sabotaged a filming of Spawn of the Spider, destroying some of the equipment and briefly engaging Spider-Man himself before fleeing. As DeLionatus planned, everyone assumed that Klemmer was the mastermind behind the Squad, so Spider-Man investigated Klemmer's apartment. The Spider-Squad was waiting for him again and ambushed him, but again fled after a short battle.
Spider-Man followed them to their "base", an old silo on an abandoned farm in Yonkers. The Squad set at trap for Spider-Man, and he was caught in a tangle of sticky web while trying to sneak up on them. They had him at a disadvantage until he eventually broke free from the web, and tangled them up in it. Spider-Man made short work of the entangled Squad, and then found the unconscious form of Klemmer. DeLionatus, who was present a short distance from the silo, detonated some pre-set explosive charges, planning to kill all involved to prevent him from being connected with their activities, and seal the blame on Klemmer. Spider-Man, however, was warned of the imminent explosion by his spider-sense, and managed to get himself, the Squad, and Klemmer out in time. He then caught DeLionatus and presumably sent him and the Squad to prison.
Note: The individual members, who are referred to only by the skill (strongman, acrobat, and tumbler) should not be confused for the super-villains by those names:
- Acrobat, Carl Zante, aka "Captain America",who has struggled against the real Captain America and the Human Torch II (Johnny Storm), @ Strange Tales I#106
- Strongman I, Percy van Norton, of Battle-Axis, @ Crash Comics#2 and Invaders II#1
- Strongman II, Bruce Olafson, of the Circus of Crime, @ Incredible Hulk I#3
- Tumbler I, John Robert Keane, killed by Moonstone I, @ Tales of Suspense I#83
- Tumbler II, Michael Kenneth Keane, brother of I, @ Captain America I#291
Image Gallery
Appearances
| Cover Date | Appearance Information |
|---|---|
| Year 1977 | App: Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 1) Annual #11 (Story 1) |
Thanks To
The assistance of the Marvel Chronology Project is gratefully acknowledged.
Some of the above information is extracted from the various versions of the Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe and the more recent Marvel Encyclopaedias.