Vulturions
The Vulturions are a team that feature in Marvel Comics.
Contents |
History
The Vulturions were a team of criminals brought together by an engineer named Honcho who decided to pattern their equipment after the Vulture. Honcho had previously been pushing heroin when he was found and caught by Spider-Man. Whilst in prison, Honcho met Adrian Toomes and befriended the man. Working in the machine shop, he came to smuggle many items for Toomes with Adrian sharing his own knowledge with Honcho. This information proved invaluable as Honcho began using the newly acquired skills to create a set of flying wings and equipment which he intended to use following his release. He then became a model prisoner to ensure his early release where he immediately went about duplicating the Vulture gear as he and his newly recruited gang became the Vulturions. He had intended to test the equipment first before outfitting it with further weapons with Honcho intending to get his revenge on Spider-Man. (Web of Spider-Man v1 #1)
While out on a scouting mission, Gripes observed Spider-Man fighting his new costume, which had taken on a life of its own. Not wanting to take advantage of the hero while he was at a disadvantage, the other Vulturions joined Gripes in battle against the web-head. Despite being preoccupied, Spider-Man fought off three of the Vulturions easily and forced the fourth to fly into the church bell in order to weaken his costume. This last Vulturion, dazed from being smashed into the bell gladly fled the church tower at Spider-Man's direction. (Web of Spider-Man v1 #1) Honcho revealed new blow dart weapons to the group, which they used successfully in robbing an armoured car. They next contacted the Kingpin and told him of their plans to kill Spider-Man, hoping that he would hire them as assassins. They ambushed Spider-Man in full view of the Kingpin's tower but this agitated his wife, Vanessa Fisk, who was just beginning to recover from her psychological trauma. Coincidentally, Spider-Man was carrying a birthday present for his Aunt May with this being a hat that put the hero at a severe disadvantage against his attackers since he could not allow it to be damaged. Regardless of this advantage the Vulturions were defeated one by one however they did manage nail the hero with several darts resulting in his loss of consciousness after the battle as the hat blew away. Kingpin was pleased with Spider-Man for ending the disturbance and restored/returned the hat good as new, the Vulturions earning the mobster's disdain. (Web of Spider-Man v1 #2) Adrian Toomes, having read the newspaper reports of the Vulturion's exploits, was furious over their usurping of his identity. Designing a new costume and breaking free from prison, Toomes located and attacked the four Vulturions. Though outnumbered, the Vulture's superior experience and determination won out and he began to whittle down the group. Planning to finish off each member in sequence after their defeat, Spider-Man decided to get involved. Despite taking another dart to the arm, the hero webbed up the last of the Vulturions, passing out afterward leaving them at the mercy of the Vulture. The group was placed under police custody. (Web of Spider-Man v1 #3)
With his old crew gone, Honcho found two new members for the Vulturions. Shortly after, the group was hired by a Hydra agent named Senator Woodman where they were tasked to steal gamma-enhancement secrets from Baron Von Blitzschlag. The Vulturions successfully stole the case from Blitzschlag, but an out of costume Peter Parker and the Scarlet Spiders soon caught up with and defeated the group. (Avengers: The Initiative v1 #7) The Vulturions received some upgrades to their gear and committed a robbery in Chinatown. The powers of the Inhuman Ulysses led Spider-Man to Chinatown and coincidentally interrupted the Vulturions' escape. The Vulturions ran afoul Spider-Man in Manhattan and he quickly took them down. Honcho was hit by one of the other Vulturions with poison, but Spider-Man injected him the antidote after taking it from one of the other defeated Vulturions. (Civil War II: Amazing Spider-Man v1 #1) During one of their heists, they encountered the other Spider-Man who managed to defeat them despite their attempts at using a hostage to kill the superhero. (Spider-Geddon v1 #1)
Overview
In appearance, the Vulturions were a criminal gang who were all outfitted with equipment that resembled those worn by the original Vulture namely Adrian Toomes. The Vulturions functioned as a specialized criminal collective that operated with the disciplined structure of a paramilitary strike team rather than a typical street gang. Founded upon a shared history of incarceration, the group was established by a former inmate who sought to professionalise the methods of his former cellmate, the original Vulture. The organization was built on a foundation of intellectual theft and technical replication, with the membership consisting of four career criminals who viewed their alliance as a mercenary enterprise. Their primary goal was to achieve financial dominance through high-stakes aerial robberies, specifically targeting the wealthy elite of Manhattan while maintaining a low profile through stealthy maneuvers. By functioning as a coordinated unit, the group aimed to prove that a team-based approach to costumed crime was superior to the solitary efforts of aging villains, intending to secure a permanent and feared status within the New York underworld through efficiency and collective strength. (Web of Spider-Man v1 #1)
The Electromagnetic Wing Harness granted the wearer peak to enhanced human strength and winged flight. Utilizing this harness, the wearer was able to fly with a natural winged flight limit. The pinions on the wings were required in order for the user to steer. The team’s primary equipment consisted of green and yellow insulated flight suits equipped with large, articulatable wings that functioned through a sophisticated electromagnetic system, allowing the wearer to glide silently and perform complex acrobatic manoeuvres. Each member’s harness featured a silent propulsion unit that enabled high-speed flight without the mechanical roar of traditional jet engines, granting them the element of surprise during their nocturnal raids. For offensive capabilities, the group relied on a variety of specialised weaponry, including handheld blasters that fired concussive energy bolts and razor-edged throwing discs designed to shred obstacles or incapacitate targets. Their helmets were integrated with high-tech sensors for night vision and long-range communication, ensuring that the four criminals could coordinate their movements with military precision while navigating the urban canyons of the city. Mics were built in the headgear in order to allow each of the Vulturions to communicate with one another. (Web of Spider-Man v1 #1)
Members
- Honcho :
- Gripes :
- Pigeon :
- Sugar Face :
Notes
- The Vulturions were created by Louise Simonson and Greg LaRocque where they made their first appearance in Web of Spider-Man v1 #1 (April, 1985).
In other media
Video games
Appearances
- Web of Spider-Man v1: (1985)
- Civil War II: Amazing Spider-Man v1:
- Spider-Geddon v1:
External Links
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