Vulture (comics)

This article is about the Marvel Comics character. For the Vulture in DC Comics, see Vulture (DC Comics).
Vulture

Cover photo of Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #5 featuring Spider-Man battling the Vulture. Art by Scot Eaton.
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance The Amazing Spider-Man #2 (May 1963)
Created by Stan Lee
Steve Ditko
In-story information
Alter ego Adrian Toomes
Team affiliations Sinister Twelve
Sinister Six
Legion Accursed
Abilities Genius electrical engineer
Electromagnetic tailored body-harness grants:
Enhanced physical attributes
Flight

The Vulture is an alias used by several fictional characters, all supervillains appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The original character to use the alias is Adrian Toomes. A recurring supervillain and enemy of Spider-Man, he was the second villain Spider-Man encountered, after the Chameleon. Over the years, other characters have taken the mantle as enemies of Spider-Man, but Adrian Toomes is still the most recurring Vulture.

Publication history

The original Vulture (Adrian Toomes) was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, and first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #2 (May 1963).

Fictional character biographies

Adrian Toomes

Adrian Toomes was born in Staten Island, New York. He is a former electronics engineer who was once the business partner of Gregory Bestman; Bestman handled the finances whilst Toomes handled the inventions. One day, after creating a flight harness, Toomes eagerly rushed into Bestman's office to share the happy news. However, Bestman was not there, and Toomes discovered that Bestman had secretly been embezzling funds and that Toomes had no legal recourse, meaning he lost his job. Enraged, Toomes wrecked the business, discovering that the harness also granted him superhuman strength. He then decided to turn to crime professionally as the Vulture.

The Vulture employs a special harness of his own design that allows him to fly; his flight is directed by a pair of wings worn on his arms. The harness also endows him with enhanced strength and (according to some sources) increases his lifespan. Although Toomes is advanced in age, he is a strong fighter and a remorseless killer. On one occasion, he restored his youth through biochemical means,[1] though this wore off after exposure to an elemental superhuman's corpse.[2] At one point, he had used a device to steal Spider-Man's youth, leaving Vulture young and Spider-Man elderly, but this effect wore off within hours.[3]

Vulture was on a robbery and burglary spree throughout New York City when he first encountered Spider-Man. Spider-Man realized for the first time he could sell photos to J. Jonah Jameson after the Daily Bugle offered a reward for a picture of Vulture.[4] Spider-Man was beaten in the first battle due to his occupation with the camera, he was knocked out by Vulture and sealed in a watertank with sides too slippery to climb up, but was able to break free. Vulture then challenged the police, saying he was going to steal diamonds; however, he escaped through the sewer. Spider-Man had created a device that stopped Vulture's harness working and activated it during an airborne fight with Vulture, causing the two to crash onto a roof, knocking Vulture unconscious. He was then arrested.[5] Vulture modified his harness, and attempted to rob the Daily Bugle payroll.[6] He joined Doctor Octopus's first Sinister Six, and gave the message to the Daily Bugle that they had captured Betty Brant. He was the last foe to battle Spider-Man before Doctor Octopus. He forced Spider-Man to remove his web-shooters by threatening to fly away, then squirted oil onto the roof, and tried to push Spider-Man off using a wind created by his wings, but Spider-Man escaped this. The Vulture was caught after Spider-Man swung onto him using a lasso the Vulture had tried to use against him. He then told Spider-Man where to find the lair of Doctor Octopus, and like the rest of the team was jailed by the end of the story.[7]

Later, believing himself to be dying in prison due to injuries in the prison workshop, Toomes revealed the location of an extra Vulture outfit on the prison grounds to his cellmate Blackie Drago (who became the second Vulture). Blackie revealed to Toomes he caused the accident for this purpose. Toomes was angry, but apparently fell unconscious within the next few minutes; Blackie knocked out a guard, dug up the wings, and escaped.[8] Drago, as the Vulture, teamed with Kraven the Hunter against Spider-Man.[9] Toomes ultimately got out of prison and defeated Drago,[10] and then defeated Spider-Man in battle as well.[11] Some time later, Dr. Clifton Shallot mutated his body into a form resembling Toomes's, but possessing natural wings and flight capability.[12]

Vulture later humiliated the racketeering mobster Mr. Morgan, who hired the Hitman to kill Spider-Man, trying to rob the Vulture of his revenge.[13] Vulture then arranged the murder of New York's top mobsters to become New York's new crime lord, and battled Spider-Man.[14] Vulture later escaped prison, and battled Spider-Man again.[15]

Vulture later came out of retirement to claim vengeance on Gregory Bestman, his former research partner who embezzled him out of the profits.[16] He then confronted the Vulturions, a group of criminal youths who stole his designs.[17]

He became involved in Atlantic City casino racketeering to prepare for his own ostentatious funeral, but was thwarted by the Hobgoblin.[18] Reduced to a "mere salesman", he journeyed to Las Vegas, where he attacked Morris "Snake" Diamond in the middle of the desert for stealing Toomes' blueprint journals for ultrasonic-sensitive dice. Intending to inject Snake with a mummification serum, Vulture was thwarted by Spider-Man (who had been granted a fight on Snake's plane back to New York) and agent Sara Glenville of the Central Intelligence Division.[19] He later confronted the mutants Rusty Collins and Skids in an attempt to release Nitro.[20]

On more than one occasion, Toomes has been in league with several other Spider-Man villains in order to destroy the wall-crawler. Vulture has been in every incarnation of the Sinister Six, and appeared in the ranks of the Sinister Twelve. He has a strong friendship with fellow villain Electro; the two of them nearly beat Spider-Man to death.

During one of his many periods of ill health, Toomes struck a friendship with Nathan Lubensky, a man who had become the new love of May Parker's life. Nathan was unaware of Toomes' true identity, and encouraged the injured criminal to take his chances with life and not to let handicaps drag him down (Nathan was a paraplegic). Toomes followed Nathan's advice and attempted to take over his rehab clinic as Vulture. A battle with Spider-Man led to Toomes almost killing Nathan; the shock of almost taking the life of a man who had helped to save his own distracted Toomes and led to his capture.[15]

Vulture would seemingly cherish Nathan's influence, but irony would serve him a cruel blow when he was hired by the Kingpin to assassinate a high-ranking casino runner. During another conflict with Spider-Man as part of Doctor Octopus's new Sinister Six, the Vulture sought to use a hostage as a shield, and selected May Parker from the crowd. Little did he suspect though that Nathan was also with May, and he defiantly leapt from his wheelchair and grabbed Toomes; still not realizing who it was, Toomes flew high into the air with Nathan on his back, warning the man to get off. Nathan took one look down and realized how high they were, triggering a fatal heart attack. Toomes fled as Nathan was falling. Though he was successfully caught by Spider-Man, Nathan would die in May's arms.[21]

Toomes was later diagnosed with cancer, caused by frequent exposure to the essentials needed to power his flying apparatus. In an attempt to be forgiven for all of his previous sins, Vulture terrorized the Parker household, pleading that May Parker forgive him for indirectly causing Nathan's death. An enraged Parker attacked Toomes, forcing The Vulture to capture him and take him back to his old lair. After escaping Toomes, Peter switched to Spider-Man and brutally assaulted The Vulture, and in the ensuing battle, Vulture's own power pack malfunctioned and exploded, setting his wings ablaze. Spider-Man successfully ripped the burning pack off of Toomes, and the two crash landed in a muddy ditch.[22]

After being arrested, Toomes was returned to the Parker home so May, reunited with Peter, could identify him. May hoped that Toomes' death would be slow and full of suffering. The next day, she visited Toomes in prison and apologized to him for her cruel remarks, but also stated that she could not forgive him, and that any kind of redemption would be left up to him and God.[23]

Vulture once stumbled across a plot by the Chameleon and the Green Goblin (Harry Osborn) to drive Spider-Man insane by having shapeshifting androids impersonate his late mother and father; due to Toomes' interference, the androids were destroyed, leading the wall-crawler to a brief nervous breakdown. The Vulture absorbed the artificial life force from the Mary Parker android, and the effect on the Vulture was twofold; not only did he become a young man again, but he was instantly cured of the cancer that had been slowly killing him for some time.[1] During this period he attempted to kill everyone who'd ever known him as an old man in an attempt to get a clean slate for his life, but this plan went wrong when he targeted a Prowler impersonator as the Prowler having once thwarted his attempted takeover of his old company; Toomes was unconcerned about the fact that the current Prowler was a thief who'd stolen costume of the original Prowler (Hobbie Brown) and Spider-Man; although Toomes nearly gutted the fake Prowler, Spider-Man managed to get him to the hospital. During a later fight with Spider-Man, the Vulture was 'attacked' by David Kalen, a man capable of dissolving anything he touched who had turned his power on himself in his grief at the death of his brother. Toomes subsequently reverted to his old age, presumably due to Kalen's power having negated the youth effect.[2]

Adrian Toomes' identity as Vulture has been claimed by impostors on several occasions. Blackie Drago and Professor Clifton Shallot are two of them. Vulture technology was later copied by a group of thugs called "The Vulturions"; Toomes defeated these usurpers as well. Also, Toomes himself was not the first comic villain to use the name. In the 1941 comic Doll Man Quarterly, a robber named Vulture used his pet vultures to carry bombs and commit crimes.

In the Identity Disc series, it was revealed that Toomes, with the help of Sandman, manipulated Marvel villains Bullseye, Deadpool, Juggernaut and Sabretooth into laying siege to terrorist group A.I.M. headquarters in order to retrieve a disc containing the identities of undercover S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives (including that of Toomes' daughter, Valeria Toomes, aka "Valerie Jessup").

During a brief time working for the Owl, he failed in a mission (and had his face brutally slashed by the Black Cat) and was severely beaten as punishment. He subsequently revealed himself as a member of Norman Osborn's Sinister Twelve — though he wore a helmet, presumably to mask the wounds.[24]

Under the tutelage of Alyosha Kravinoff, the son of Kraven the Hunter, Toomes briefly attempted a stint at heroism, but before long he returned to the other side of the law.

Aside from his daughter, Toomes also has a son whom he has dismissed, and a grandson from that son. The Vulture has come to care deeply for both his grandson and his mother, committing a series of robberies to finance a cure for his grandson's terminal illness. He once had a nephew, Malachai Toomes, and flew into a killing rage when he was murdered by a gang-lord.

Adrian Toomes in his red and black design in Marvel Knights Spider-Man. Art by Terry Dodson.

During the Civil War, he was apprehended along with the Grim Reaper and the Trapster, by Captain America and his growing Resistance, who chained him together with Grim Reaper to a pole and broke his nose. When he was found and taken into custody by S.H.I.E.L.D., he complained, "that lunatic broke my damn nose." After Spider-Man unmasked himself, Toomes was seen in his jail cell, knitting his fingers together. As someone on the television set said they hoped it would not be any trouble for Spider-Man, Toomes said, "Oh I think it will be." [25]

After Spider-Man goes rogue, Toomes is seen in a S.H.I.E.L.D. prison cell speaking with Agent Jamie Madrox, and commenting on Spider-Man's inherent weakness, that being his unwillingness to use his powers for personal gain. S.H.I.E.L.D. then returns his flying harness and encourages him to hunt down Spider-Man, saying that he "is now an outlaw, same as you."

Later, the Vulture attacks Spider-Man at a book signing, and manages to slash him with a powerful sedative. Toomes, however, falls unconscious and, sensing something is wrong, Spider-Man rushes him to the hospital.

Toomes wakes up a few hours later, where a doctor reveals that he has suffered a stroke, and many of his muscles on the left side of his body have been paralyzed. When the doctor leaves, Spider-Man sneaks in and Toomes asks him to kill him because he is weak. When Spider-Man refuses to do so, he says that Spider-Man is also weak, and always has been. After making remarks about Uncle Ben, Spider-Man takes a pillow and begins suffocating him. He fights back, and Spidey removes the pillow, commenting that "For somebody who's begging to die, you fight for life pretty hard." [26]

When Alyosha Kravinoff began collecting a zoo of animal-themed superhumans, Vulture was one of his captives.[27] To stop Vulture from using his intellect to find a way to remove his bomb collar, Kraven broke his hands repeatedly[28] but with the help of Rhino, Vulture escapes.[29]

Spider-Man later visits Vulture's cell to ask him about the latest person who calls himself the Vulture. Toomes says calmly that he has no connection to him, though he heard that the new Vulture was made that way by the mob and is out for revenge. He just as blandly states that while he normally hates people who steal the Vulture name, he would have no problem with him killing Spider-Man.[30]

Following the Spider-Island storyline, Vulture returns as the leader of an unnamed gang of penthouse thieves and murderers who have vulture-like wings, but with a new gothic style. The members of his gang have the same name of an angel that matches with the black angel look they have.[31] However, it is swiftly revealed that the gang's technology is actually controlled by the Vulture, who designed their wings so that he could shut them down with a simple signal if they tried to act against him. Having used his new magnetically sensitive webbing to catch the gang and deactivate their wings, Spider-Man defeats Toomes despite his new use of his gravity-manipulating technology to give himself seemingly superhuman strength.[32]

Carlie Cooper later works with the Superior Spider-Man (Otto Octavius' mind in Spider-Man's body) to investigate a series of crimes committed by Vulture's gang. Spider-Man confronts Vulture and attempts to bribe him into giving up crime by offering him a small fortune from Octavius's hidden bank accounts. Vulture does not believe a word of it, and has his midget henchmen attack. Spider-Man accidentally knocks out one of the midget henchmen, who turns out to be a young boy. Realizing that the Vulture has been using children all this time, and remembering his own abusive childhood, Spider-Man attacks Vulture in a rage. After a brief midair struggle, Spider-Man blinds the Vulture with a searchlight, causing him to crash onto the roof. Carlie arrives and finds Vulture, broken and bloody but still alive.[33] The Vulture's child henchmen are then recruited by the Goblin King to be part of his Goblin Nation.[34] Vulture is later seen in the Raft's infirmary, along with Boomerang and Scorpion. When Alistair Smythe escapes with the help of his mini Spider-Slayers, he sends the mini Spider-Slayers into the infirmary, where they heal and enhance Vulture, Boomerang, and Scorpion in exchange for their assistance in killing Spider-Man.[35] While Spider-Man fights Boomerang, Vulture is sent to attack the civilians in the Raft.[36] Glory Grant, Norah Winters, and Smythe's lawyer plead with him to stop, claiming they can clear him of any charges, causing him to stop and consider his options. When Smythe dies, the Vulture's enhancements fail, leaving him blind once again. He is then tasered by Ted Shipley, the Raft's chief of security.[37]

The Vulture eventually has another encounter with the Superior Spider-Man, seeking revenge for his recent defeats, but is defeated again.[38] The Vulture, Chameleon, Electro, Sandman, and Mysterion are later seen as part of a team led by Spider-Man called the "Superior Six", which is forced via mind control to perform heroic (and occasionally dangerous) deeds as an act of "redemption". When they are not being controlled, they are kept in containment cells.[39] They eventually break free of Spider-Man's control and attempt to exact revenge on the wall-crawler, nearly destroying New York in the process.[40] Spider-Man barely manages to stop them with Sun Girl's help.[41]

Blackie Drago

Vulture
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance The Amazing Spider-Man #48 (May 1967)
Created by Stan Lee
John Romita
In-story information
Alter ego Raniero "Blackie" Drago
Partnerships Adrian Toomes

Raniero "Blackie" Drago, was a prison cellmate of Adrian Toomes' who tricked Toomes by causing an accident in the prison workshop that made Toomes think he could die soon, and stole the Vulture harness and costume which was recently rebuilt. He used the suit to make money through air piracy which ended up in a three-way battle against Spider-Man and Kraven the Hunter — Kraven resented Drago's claims that he'd recently killed Spider-Man when in fact Spidey had merely collapsed due to a cold — which Spider-Man won.[8] After robbing a helicopter, Drago was pursued by Kraven the Hunter and ended up fighting him until Spider-Man arrived. Spider-Man managed to defeat them and webbed them up for the police.[9]

Drago later teamed up with Toomes when escaping from prison, but that was merely so that Toomes could prove himself the true Vulture once again. Once free, he was subsequently defeated and humiliated by Toomes whom regained the recognition he deserved. A humbled Blackie was taken away by the police, vowing "I'm through!! I'll never put these wings on again!"[10]

He was seen in the same prison that Norman Osborn was incarcerated in during the "Sinister Twelve" storyline.[42]

Clifton Shallot

Vulture
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance The Amazing Spider-Man #127 (Dec. 1973)
Created by Ross Andru
Gerry Conway
John Romita
In-story information
Alter ego Clifton Shallot
Team affiliations Empire State University

Professor Clifton Shallot was an expert on bio-mutation and professor at Empire State University.[43] He also had a Vulture wings and costume making project which he requisitioned from the State Prison Authority. When one of his courses was canceled by the university trustees, something snapped in the doctor's head, and so he underwent the final stage of the mutation himself when he donned the Vulture costume. The result was a change in himself which no amount of expertise and practice could do for the original Vulture...his face, teeth, and fingernails mutated, and for a short time, the wings became part of his body. The only one who knew his secret was his lab assistant Doctor Christine Murrow and her roommate Gloria Jenkins.[44]

Mary Jane Watson witnessed him killing Gloria (whom he had mistaken for Christine) and she became a target. While flying around Mary Jane's apartment, he noticed Spider-Man and attacked him. Vulture managed to defeat Spider-Man and leave him for dead. Clifton then searched for a way to reverse the transformation. He stole some chemicals from a ship called Düsseldorf at Dock 20. The next morning as he was flying to Christine's lab, Vulture noticed Mary Jane in her car. He dove toward the car and grabbed Mary Jane. He was then encountered in the air by Spider-Man who dropped Mary Jane giving Vulture enough time to reach the Biology Lab. He attacked Christine only for Spider-Man to arrive and defend her. Vulture managed rip the webbing with his talons and teeth. Their fight continued with Spider-Man blinding Vulture with the webbing as the cops arrived and threw a net over them. Still blinded by the webbing, Vulture broke free from the net and grabbed Spider-Man thinking he was Christine. When he saw it was Spider-Man, Vulture ended up dropping him.[12]

Vulture went back to his lab and transformed back into Clifton. He then had an agreement with Christine stating that he will not kill her if she does not betray his trust. Later that night, Vulture flew back to Dock 20 and stole some chemicals. He noticed that Peter Parker had followed him and picked him up and dropped him into the water. When he flew above Mary Jane's apartment, Vulture noticed her getting into a taxi. Vulture attacked the taxi and kidnapped Mary Jane only for Spider-Man to interrupt him causing Vulture to flee. He makes it back to his lab where Christine is. Spider-Man then arrives an hour later finding Christine there. Vulture then attacks Spider-Man who subdues him and force-feeds Vulture the antidote stolen from the Düsseldorf. After reverting from Vulture, Clifton fainted. Clifton Shallot is presumably still serving his sentence for the murder.[44]

Vulturions

While in prison for dealing heroin, an engineer named Honcho becomes the cellmate of Adrian Toomes, who has revealed the designs of his Vulture harness to him. Memorizing how to construct the Vulture harness, Honcho (when released on parole) builds four red, yellow and silver Vulture harnesses with which he equips himself and three petty criminals (Gripes, Pidgeon, and Sugar Face). Gaining all the powers of the Vulture, the group members call themselves the Vulturions.[45] Wanting to make names for themselves and become big-time criminals, the Vulturions make several attempts to kill Spider-Man and accumulate wealth, ultimately failing in all their attempts. Learning of the Vulturions' existence and exploits, Adrian Toomes builds a new Vulture harness and breaks out of prison, intent on hunting down his "rip-offs." Locating the group, Adrian beats them all and comes close to killing them, only to be stopped by Spider-Man, who defeats the Vulture and turns him and the Vulturions in to the police.[46]

A new group of Vulturions (consisting of three members) appear in Avengers: The Initiative, where they steal a briefcase containing classified research on gamma radiation from Baron Von Blitzschlag. One of the Vulturions is identified as Honcho (apparently released from prison and back to crime). They are stopped with ease by a costume-less Peter Parker and the Scarlet Spiders.[47]

Jimmy Natale

Vulture

Jimmy Natale's Villain Variant cover for The Amazing Spider-Man #623. Art by Joe Quinones
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance The Amazing Spider-Man #593 (June 2009)
Created by Mark Waid
In-story information
Alter ego Jimmy Natale
Species Human Mutate
Abilities Flight
Acid spitting
Superhuman strength
Enhanced durability

A new Vulture appears in the story arc "Spider-Man 24/7". He is a mutate vigilante rather than a supervillain, mercilessly killing and eating criminals. During battle, Spider-Man is temporarily blinded by an acid the creature spits in his face.[48] Spider-Man defeats the new Vulture in the new Yankee Stadium.[30]

During The Gauntlet storyline, he escapes prison and goes after the mobsters responsible for his transformation. The first mobster he finds reveals Vulture's past as the Maggia's "cleaner" Jimmy Natale, and then claims that the transformation was caused by J. Jonah Jameson. In truth, it was actually biochemist Dr. Charlie Goss who used the machines that were previously used by Dr. Farley Stillwell and his brother Dr. Harlan Stillwell so that they can have a newer Vulture. It was Charlie Goss that claimed that Jameson had a hand in his creation when he confessed to the authorities about Vulture.[49] After being fended off from Spider-Man, Vulture visited the mobster again who came clean about who was behind his transformation. Vulture then killed the mobster. Vulture is later seen soaring above the ruins of the Daily Bugle and past a jobless, depressed Peter Parker into the night.[50]

In the Origin of the Species story-arc, Vulture joins Doctor Octopus' supervillain team, which was assembled to procure specific items. He attacks Spider-Man, who was caring for Lily Hollister's newborn child, in Hamilton Heights, but their fight is interrupted by Freak. The two villains team-up after a brief scrimmage, and are knocked out by Spider-Man.[51]

A further-mutated Vulture is hired by the Exchange to assassinate the Punisher.[52] Vulture ambushes the vigilante at an abandoned warehouse, and the two engage in aerial battle that ends with the Punisher fatally stabbing the Vulture in the torso and jaw, causing him to crash land in the South Bronx.[53] The Punisher flees the scene, leaving Vulture's body to be recovered by the NYPD, and examined Carlie Cooper.[54]

Powers and abilities

Utilizing his harness, the Vulture is able to fly as if by natural winged flight. He wears a costume of synthetic stretch fabric housing a tailored electromagnetic harness with bird-like wings attached beneath the arms. This consists of an electromagnetic anti-graviton generator worn on his body as a harness enabling him to fly silently with precise maneuverability. The harness also increases his resistance to injury to the point that he can survive blows from Spider-Man's enhanced strength despite his age. Another by-product of his exposure to the harness is that despite his age and lack of exercise, his physical strength represents the upper limit of human development. When he removes the harness some of his enhanced abilities slowly fade, although the rate at which this transpires remains unclear (some writers have suggested that his strength is permanent). The Vulture is elderly and depends on his electromagnetic harness to augment his strength, vitality, and athletic prowess as well as absorbing life force to maintain his vitality. It has recently been revealed that, due to his prolonged use of the harness, the Vulture can levitate or float his body even without the harness, although he requires his wings to maneuver while airborne. The Vulture has a new version of his flight harness that has supposedly been augmented by the Green Goblin. Though Vulture claimed that it increased his strength by five-hundred percent it appeared to be a bluff to frighten the Black Cat, who proceeded to beat him half to death. The Vulture is intellectually brilliant in the fields of electronics and mechanical engineering, with a great talent for invention. He has earned a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering.

The Jimmy Natale version of Vulture not only can fly with the razor-sharp wings that are bonded to his torso, but he can also spit acid from his mouth, possesses super-strength, and enhanced durability. Vulture later developed bird-like talons on his hands and feet. Prior to his mutation, Jimmy Natale was an expert cleaner.

Other versions

Ultimate Marvel

The Ultimate Marvel incarnation of Doctor Adrian Toomes is an employee of Bolivar Trask. They were about to extract the Venom suit from Eddie Brock, Jr. when the Beetle attacks the facility with knockout gas.[55]

The Ultimate version of Vulture was rendered by artist Mark Bagley to resemble actor Jason Statham as per writer Brian Michael Bendis' instructions.[56] This version is Blackie Drago,[57] a disgruntled former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent that had been hired to kill Donald Roxxon. Drago received his equipment from the Tinkerer (Elijah Stern). He was defeated by Spider-Man and taken into S.H.I.E.L.D. custody, imprisoned in the Triskelion, headquarters of the Ultimates. When the Green Goblin broke out, several other villains including Drago escape in the chaos; a news report depicts Vulture's recapture at Captain America's hands.[58] He was apprehended by Spider-Woman and the Human Torch after a robbery.[59] Alongside the rest of the Ultimate Six, Vulture plays a role in the "Death of Spider-Man" storyline. Osborn breaks him and the rest out of the Triskelion, and after their escape, informs them that God wishes for them to kill Spider-Man.[60] When Drago shows up with his teammates in search of weapons, Tinkerer accommodates them by giving them weapons, including Vulture's suit.[61] When Electro is shot by Aunt May, an electric surge knocks out Kraven the Hunter, Sandman and Vulture.[62]

Earth X

In the Earth X reality, Adrian has mutated into a more vulture-like appearance, with real wings, claws and beak, due to the action of the Terrigen Mists. He was seen as a member of the Enforcers, bodyguards of the USA President Norman Osborn.[63]

House of M

In the House of M reality, Vulture is one of Rhino's friends who helped him attack and detain the Green Goblin for ruining the best chance at a good life Rhino ever had.[64]

Marvel 1602

In the Marvel 1602 reality, the group of warriors working for Otto von Doom are referred to as the Vulture-Fliers and wear flight enabling armor similar to the mainstream universe Vulture.[65]

Marvel 2099

Spider-Man 2099 and Vulture 2099 on the cover of Spider-Man 2099 #7.

In Marvel 2099, a new Vulture is a recurring foe of that era's Spider-Man. This version of the character uses advanced combat armor to fly, and is an insane cannibal who wishes to rule the sky. In his debut, the Vulture saves Spider-Man from a group of thugs, and proposes an alliance against the Public Eye Police Force with him, but Spider-Man rejects his offer of partnership when he realizes the Vulture is a man-eater. Spider-Man and the Vulture fight, their battle bringing them to a church, where the Vulture and his followers ("The Freakers") are driven off by Spider-Man's ally Kasey Nash and her gang, the Throwbacks.[66]

When the original Spider-Man is brought to the year 2099 due to two companies (one in 2099, the other in the past) experimenting with extra-dimensional generators, he fights and defeats the Vulture before meeting his successor, Spider-Man 2099.[67]

Marvel Noir

The Marvel Noir version of Adrian Toomes (a.k.a. the Vulture) is depicted as a former circus freak, a geek who lived in a cage, feeding on chicken heads. The Vulture was taken by mob boss Norman Osborn (The Goblin) to become one of his hitmen. Toomes was responsible for the death of Ben Parker, whom the Vulture cannibalized after Parker was beaten by Osborn's Enforcers.[68]

In issue #4, Vulture took May Parker hostage and attempted to kill her, but Spider-Man killed him instead.[69]

Marvel Zombies

In the second issue of Marvel Zombies, an undead Adrian Toomes can be seen among a group of zombified heroes, whom he later aids in attacking the Silver Surfer.[70] The zombified Vulture is among those who battled against the Silver Surfer, and is seemingly killed. In "Marvel Zombies 3", it is revealed he survived, and along with Angel, The Falcon, and Beak, he attacks the Earth-616 Machine Man, Ultron and Jocasta, but is quickly killed by a zombified Spider Man by ripping out his skull and crushing it with his foot.[71]

In the one-shot prequel to Marvel Zombies, Marvel Zombies: Dead Days, the Vulture is part of an undead version of the Sinister Six, alongside Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, Electro, and Mysterio, who he helps in attacking and devouring the inhabitants of New York.[72]

MC2

In the timeline of MC2, Blackie is revealed to have had a daughter named Brenda Drago, the Raptor.[73]

Spider-Verse

During the Spider-Verse storyline, a group of five Vultures (consisting of alternate versions of Blackie Drago, Jimmy Natale, Vulture Noir, a young Adrian Toomes, and Clifton Shallot) are members of the Hounds which are owned by Morlun's sister Verna. They are sent after the Ben Reilly of Earth-94 by Verna. Reilly defeats them with the aid of Spider-Ham and the Old Man Spider-Man of Earth-4.[74]

Another version of the Vulture from Earth-803 is a member of the "Six Men of Sinestry", the universe's version of the Sinister Six.[75]

Spider-Gwen

The Vulture appears in the first arc in the Spider-Gwen solo series taking place on Earth-65 where Gwen Stacy was bitten by the radioactive spider. Vulture appears more deranged than his Earth-616 incarnation and secretes a green gaseous cloud wherever he goes. Vulture was attacking police officers while mentioning how Spider-Woman "killed" Peter Parker and was easily lured out by Gwen who wrote graffiti insults towards him all over the city. Once she caught his attention, both fought. As Vulture was flying away, Spider-Woman shot a webline in order to be carried away with him and follow him. However, Vulture used the claws in his suit to rip the web, causing Spider-Woman to fall from a great height[76] With Spider-Woman believed dead, Vulture was captured by Kingpin's henchmen and beaten up by Matt Murdock. Vulture admitted not being certain of Spider-Woman's death due to the lack of a body. He was ordered by Matt Murdock to find evidence of her survival.[77] Vulture attacked George Stacy in his home in order to find his connection with Spider-Woman due to her rescuing him from Aleksei Sytsevich time ago and gassed the residence. Gwen, who was on the scene, used the gas as a cover to change to her Spider-Woman suit and confront Vulture. After being shot in the shoulder by George Stacy, Vulture was forced to flee. Spider-Woman followed him where she managed to beat him even though she was under the effects of the gas. He was then left webbed to a police car.[78]

In other media

Television

Vulture in the Spider-Man animated series.
Vulture in Spider-Man Unlimited.
Vulture in The Spectacular Spider-Man.

Film

It was reported on December 8, 2009 that John Malkovich was in negotiations to play Vulture in Spider-Man 4.[82] Malkovich himself confirmed the casting in January 2010.[83] However, production of the movie was subsequently canceled so that the Spider-Man franchise could be rebooted with The Amazing Spider-Man.[84]

Video games

Toys and collectibles

Other characters

In Young Men #26, a scientist named Dr. Isidoro Scarlotti went by the name Vulture and was an enemy of the original Human Torch and Toro.[88]

References

  1. 1 2 The Amazing Spider-Man #388
  2. 1 2 The Sensational Spider-Man #18
  3. ↑ The Amazing Spider-Man #387
  4. ↑ Manning, Matthew K.; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2012). "1960s". Spider-Man Chronicle Celebrating 50 Years of Web-Slinging. Dorling Kindersley. p. 18. ISBN 978-0756692360. [Stan] Lee and [Steve] Ditko focused on Peter Parker's career when they had Spider-Man develop a knack for photography in the first of [The Amazing Spider-Man #2's] two stories. As the sinister Vulture - soon to be a major foe of Spidey - debuted, Peter Parker set out to earn the reward money offered by The Daily Bugle for snapping a photo of the winged villain.
  5. ↑ The Amazing Spider-Man #2
  6. ↑ The Amazing Spider-Man #7
  7. ↑ The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1
  8. 1 2 The Amazing Spider-Man #48
  9. 1 2 The Amazing Spider-Man #49
  10. 1 2 The Amazing Spider-Man #63
  11. ↑ The Amazing Spider-Man #64
  12. 1 2 The Amazing Spider-Man #127
  13. ↑ Spectacular Spider-Man #4-5
  14. ↑ Spectacular Spider-Man #44-45
  15. 1 2 The Amazing Spider-Man #224
  16. ↑ The Amazing Spider-Man #240-241
  17. ↑ Web of Spider-Man #1-2
  18. ↑ Web of Spider-Man #24
  19. ↑ Web of Spider-Man #45
  20. ↑ New Mutants #86
  21. ↑ The Amazing Spider-Man #336-339
  22. ↑ The Spectacular Spider-Man #187
  23. ↑ The Spectacular Spider-Man #188
  24. ↑ Marvel Knights: Spider-Man #9-12
  25. ↑ Civil War #2
  26. ↑ Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #16
  27. ↑ Punisher War Journal vol.2 #13
  28. ↑ Punisher War Journal Vol.2 #14
  29. ↑ Punisher War Journal vol.2 #15
  30. 1 2 The Amazing Spider-Man #594
  31. ↑ The Amazing Spider-Man #674
  32. ↑ The Amazing Spider-Man #675
  33. ↑ The Superior Spider-Man #3
  34. ↑ The Superior Spider-Man #4
  35. ↑ The Superior Spider-Man #11
  36. ↑ The Superior Spider-Man #12
  37. ↑ The Superior Spider-Man #13
  38. ↑ Superior Spider-Man Team-Up #1
  39. ↑ Superior Spider-Man Team-Up #5
  40. ↑ Superior Spider-Man Team-Up #6
  41. ↑ Superior Spider-Man Team-Up #7
  42. ↑ Marvel Knight: Spider-Man #10
  43. ↑ Sanderson, Peter (2007). The Marvel Comics Guide to New York City. New York City: Pocket Books. pp. 30–33. ISBN 1-4165-3141-6.
  44. 1 2 The Amazing Spider-Man #128
  45. ↑ Louise Simonson (w), Greg LaRocque (p), Jim Mooney (i). "Till Death Do Us Part!" Web of Spider-Man 1 (April 1985), Marvel Comics
  46. ↑ Louise Simonson (w), Greg LaRocque (p), Jim Mooney (i). "Iron Bars Do Not A Prison Make... Or Vulture Is As Vulture Does!" Web of Spider-Man 3 (June 1985), Marvel Comics
  47. ↑ Dan Slott (w), Stefano Caselli (p), Stefano Caselli (i). "Triple Threat" Avengers: The Initiative 7 (December 2007), Marvel Comics
  48. ↑ The Amazing Spider-Man #593
  49. ↑ The Amazing Spider-Man #623
  50. ↑ The Amazing Spider-Man #624
  51. ↑ The Amazing Spider-Man #644
  52. ↑ Greg Rucka (w), Marco Checchetto (p), Marco Checchetto (i), Matt Hollingsworth (col), VC's Joe Caramagna (let), Stephen Wacker (ed). The Punisher v9, #2 (24 August 2011), United States: Marvel Comics
  53. ↑ Greg Rucka (w), Marco Checchetto (p), Marco Checchetto (i), Matt Hollingsworth (col), VC's Joe Caramagna (let), Stephen Wacker (ed). The Punisher v9, #3 (7 September 2011), United States: Marvel Comics
  54. ↑ Greg Rucka (w), Marco Checchetto (p), Marco Checchetto (i), Matt Hollingsworth (col), VC's Joe Caramagna (let), Stephen Wacker (ed). The Punisher v9, #4 (12 October 2011), United States: Marvel Comics
  55. ↑ Ultimate Spider-Man #125
  56. ↑ Brucie, Dylan (March 2007). "Ultimate Spider-Man". Wizard Xtra!. p. 117.
  57. ↑ Ultimate Spider-Man #90
  58. ↑ Ultimate Spider-Man #113
  59. ↑ Ultimate Spider-Man #129
  60. ↑ Ultimate Spider-Man #156
  61. ↑ Ultimate Spider-Man #158
  62. ↑ Ultimate Spider-Man #159
  63. ↑ Earth X #9
  64. ↑ Spider-Man: House of M #3
  65. ↑ Marvel: 1602 #1-6
  66. ↑ Spider-Man 2099 #6-8
  67. ↑ Spider-Man 2099 Meets Spider-Man
  68. ↑ Spider-Man: Noir #1
  69. ↑ Spider-Man: Noir #4
  70. ↑ Marvel Zombies #2
  71. ↑ Marvel Zombies #3
  72. ↑ Marvel Zombies: Dead Days one-shot
  73. ↑ Spider-Girl #18
  74. ↑ Christos Gage (w), Dave Williams (p), Dexter Vines (i). "The Power of Positive Thinking" Spider-Verse Team-Up #1 (2014), United States: Marvel Comics
  75. ↑ Spider-Verse #1 (2015)
  76. ↑ Spider-Gwen #1 (2015)
  77. ↑ Spider-Gwen #2
  78. ↑ Spider-Gwen #3
  79. ↑ Comics Continuum by Rob Allstetter: Monday, February 11, 2008
  80. ↑ Comics Continuum by Rob Allstetter: Saturday, December 8, 2007
  81. ↑ "The Vulture". Ultimate Spider Man. Season 3. Episode 6. September 28, 2014. Disney XD.
  82. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: Spider-Man 4 Circling John Malkovich, Anne Hathaway". Movieline LLC. MoveLine. 2009-12-08. Retrieved 2009-12-12.
  83. ↑ Armitage, Hugh. "John Malkovich confirmed in Vulture role". Digital Spy.
  84. ↑ http://www.deadline.com/hollywood/urgent-spider-man-4-scrapped-as-is-raimi-and-cast-out-franchise-reboot-planned/
  85. ↑ "San Diego Comic-Con 2010: Spider-Man: Shattered Dimension Updates". Retrieved 2010-07-22.
  86. ↑
  87. ↑
  88. ↑ Young Men #26

External links

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