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Attributes

Height: (strongman) 6' 5"; (acrobat) 5'2"; (tumbler) 5'10"

Weight: (strongman) 265#; (acrobat) 120#; (tumbler); 170#

Eyes: (strongman); (acrobat); (tumbler);-none clearly seen...they all had two eyes out of costume

Hair: (strongman) red; (acrobat) black; (tumbler) brown;

Features: (strongman) big white guy; (acrobat) small black guy; (tumbler) medium white guy;

Summary

Created By: Archie Goodwin, Bill Mantlo, Don Perlin, Jim Mooney

Real Name: All unknown

Current Aliases: strongman, acrobat, tumbler

Former Aliases: None known

Dual Identity: Secret

Current Occupation: Criminal mastermind

Former Occupation: Possibly performed professionally using their respective talents

Citizenship: Presumably USA

Legal Status: Criminal record in USA

Place of Birth: Unknown, possibly New York

Marital Status: Unknown, presumably single

Known Relatives: None

Known Confidants: Each other

Known Allies: Former agents of Anton DeLionatus, who betrayed them

Major Enemies: Spider-Man, Klemmer (kidnapping victim)

Usual Bases: New York, used a silo on an abandoned farm in Yonkers, New York (or is it Jersey?)

Former Bases: New York

Current Groups: Spider-Squad

Former Groups: The three were previous partnered with each other in other criminal operations

Education: Unknown. None were particularly bright

Powers & Paraphenalia

Strength Level: (strongman) peak human to Class 10; (acrobat and tumbler) human athlete to enhanced human

Powers: None.

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

Weapons: (strongman) relied mostly on strength; (acrobat) used a fencing foil coated with venom; (tumbler); project sticky web

Limitations: None

Background

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

Thanks To:

The assistance of the Marvel Chronology Project is gratefully acknowledged.

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