Hammerhead of the Family

The Beetle and Overdrive have finally tracked down Boomerang and demand answers as to why he double-crossed them. Boomerang, however, is more interested in how Overdrive tricked out a school bus. They try to get Fred to focus on the fact he screwed them over for a painting of Doctor Doom, instead of the head of Silvermane they thought they were supposed to find. Ever the schemer, Boomerang insists that he didn’t double-cross them, putting blame on the Chameleon.

The lie he spins directly rips off a popular action film and eventually, Boomerang begins getting caught in lies. Before anyone can act, the Owl arrives and confirms Boomerang’s story. The Beetle and Overdrive decide that this isn’t their problem and are about to leave when the Owl offers them the job of getting his painting back.

Meanwhile, Hydro-Man is meeting with Hammerhead and his gang to tell them that the Shocker has the head of their lost leader, Silvermane. This revelation upsets Hammerhead enough he begins reverting back into his previous mobster’s patois.[1] He orders his men to go and check it out and then asks one of his boys to set up a meeting with his therapist.

Meanwhile, Boomerang and the rest of the Sinister Six are planning their attack on the Chameleon’s stronghold. However, the Beetle isn’t going to let Boomerang into tricking them into doing all the dirty work while he double-crosses them again. However, Boomerang insists that the only person that is going to get double-crossed is the Owl, telling his teammates that they are going to sell the painting and split the profit among themselves. Overdrive then texts Speed Demon to meet up with them and they notice that he’s been crying. Speed Demon is upset because he lost his dog, Inspector, but admits nothing. That’s when the Owl comes in to finalize the plan and also return Boomerang’s girlfriend — who he was kept, prisoner.[2] She is furious at Fred for being a coward. After punching him in the face, the bartender storms out telling Myers to never call her again. With this out of the way, the Owl takes Boomerang into another room to show him the resources he has gathered. There Fred is impressed to see a gathering of villains. The Owl tells him that instead of just being the Sinister Six, they will be his Sinister Sixteen.

With the addition of the Armadello, Bi-Beast, Clown, Cyclone, the Human Fly, the Kangaroo, Man-Mountain Marko, Mirage, the Scorcher, Shriek, the Spot, and the Squid on their side, the Sinister Six storm the Chameleon’s hideout. While the new additions to the group are busy fighting the Chameleon’s men, Boomerang, the Beetle, and Overdrive head into the lower levels of the lair to recover the painting. After getting past the defenses they are approached by what appears to be Mirage, who tells them that the Chameleon’s men are trying to move the painting to another location. However, Boomerang sees right through this and punches “Mirage” out, having deduced that this was actually the Chameleon in disguise. When Overdrive catches up with him the Boomerang shows him the room where the painting is being kept. Fred doesn’t bother stopping Overdrive when he snatches the painting and flees. This is because the painting is a fake and what he is really after is in the Chameleon’s safe.

While back at the Shocker’s apartment, Herman tries to figure out what to do now that Hydro-Man has left with the knowledge that he has Silvermane’s head. Silvermane points out that this is what the Shocker gets from trusting criminals. Silvermane goes on to explain that he maintained his leadership of the Maggia over the years by making others fear him enough so he would never get betrayed. Afraid for his life, the Shocker doesn’t want to get fucked over again and decides to make a stand. He stuffs Silvermane’s head in a bowling bag and as he tosses his bowling ball out the window he dares anyone to come after him now. Out on the street, Hammerhead and his men are loading their weapons as they make their way to the Shocker’s apartment.

Recurring Characters

Sinister Six (Boomerang, Beetle, Overdrive, Shocker, Speed Demon), Hammerhead, Hydro-Man, Owl, Silvermane, Chameleon, Armadillo, Bi-Beast, Clown, Cyclone, Human Fly, Kangaroo, Man-Mountain Marko, Mirage, Scorcher, Shriek, the Spot, the Squid, Black Cat (in disguise)

Continuity Notes

1. When he first became Hammerhead in Amazing Spider-Man #113, the mobster had amnesia and was deeply inspired by films based on the mobs of the 1930s. More recently, he dropped this affectation after getting an upgrade and working for Mister Negative in Amazing Spider-Man Extra! #1.

2. The nameless bartender dating Boomerang is later revealed to be the Black Cat in disguise in Superior Foes of Spider-Man #17.

Topical References

• Dated pop-culture references: The Bourne Identity, James Cagney, This Island Earth