Enforcers (comics)

Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist and co-plotter Steve Ditko, the team's first appearance was in The Amazing Spider-Man #10 (March 1964).[1]

The Enforcers appear often in the early issues of The Amazing Spider-Man, debuting in #10,[2] and returning in #14 and #18–19, in the latter two issues teaming with the supervillain Sandman. The team would go on to appear in Daredevil #356–357, and Dazzler #7–8, and fight Spider-Man again in Marvel Team-Up #39–40 and #138, The Spectacular Spider-Man #19–20, Spider-Man (1990s series) #94–95, Spider-Man, vol. 2, #28, and elsewhere.

The Enforcers are a group of hired assassins and extortionists, each with an expertise in a different unique area of combat, whose goal it is to aid various employers in the takeover of New York City's criminal gangs.[3] In their first appearance, the Enforcers aided the Big Man (Frederick Foswell) in his attempt to gain control of New York City's criminal gangs. They clashed with the superhero Spider-Man for the first time, and are defeated by him.[4][5] They were subsequently employed by corrupt industrialist Norman Osborn, hired them to shut down Malone's Flophouse in a bid to gain the land. However, then-amnesiac Malone resident Namor the Sub-Mariner thwarted them, later destroying Osborn's construction equipment.[6] They next aided the Green Goblin in his first unsuccessful attempt to eliminate Spider-Man, but were again defeated and jailed.[7] Soon after that, they joined forces with the Sandman to subdue the Human Torch at a point where it was believed Spider-Man had become a coward, but are defeated by the combined might of Spider-Man and the Human Torch.[8]

The Enforcers clash repeatedly with Spider-Man and occasionally other heroes such as Daredevil. Foswell is eventually unmasked, but later reforms and is killed. After the Ox, later, also appears to have been killed,[9] Montana and Fancy Dan team with a new Big Man, as well as with the Sandman and a new Crime Master, Nick Lewis, Jr. son of the original. During a battle in which the team is defeated by Spider-Man, the Human Torch, and the Sons of the Tiger, Crime Master shoots the new Big Man, learning belatedly that this "Big Man" was, in fact, a woman — Janice Foswell, daughter of the original and the younger Lewis' romantic interest.[10]

The Enforcers were hired by the Lightmaster, who introduced a new Ox, Raymond Bloch's twin brother Ronald Bloch, to the team. The Enforcers are once again defeated by Spider-Man.[11] They later battle the mutant superheroine Dazzler.[12]

The Enforcers return with new members Snake Marston, a master contortionist and Hammer Harrison, a boxer who wears steel hammers over his hands. The Enforcers come under the employ of the Kingpin, but were defeated by Spider-Man and the then-reformed Sandman.[13] This lineup appears only once more, to fight Daredevil.[14]

The original Ox (Raymond Bloch) returns, revived by the criminal mastermind the Kingpin.[15] It is unclear whether it is Raymond or Ronald Bloch who appears with Montana and Fancy Dan in subsequent battles with Spider-Man[16] and She-Hulk.[17]

During the events known as the superhero Civil War, either Raymond or Ronald Bloch and Snake Marston are recruited into the Thunderbolts, a team of reformed villains.[18]

Later, they came back together to work for Mister Fear, which pitted them directly against Daredevil. After Mister Fear's arrest, the Enforcers are taken in to work for the Hood's crime organization.

Following the events of the storyline "Spider-Man: Brand New Day", the Enforcers are patrons at the Bar with No Name. They take bets with a person calling himself "The Bookie", over whether Spider-Man will show up to battle "Basher", an unknown villain who claimed to have fought Spider-Man. Spider-Man shows up, but is revealed to be Screwball in disguise when the real one shows up at the scene of the fight. The Enforcers decide to get revenge on The Bookie, capturing him. The Bookie's father calls Spider-Man for assistance, and he agrees to help. Spider-Man defeats Fancy Dan and Montana, and saves Ox from being flattened by a falling roller coaster. Grateful for the save, Ox agrees to come along quietly.[19]

During the "Origin of the Species"' storyline, Spider-Man goes against the villains after Menace's infant was stolen from him by the Chameleon. The Enforcers were not actually part of this group where they quoted "we're The Enforcers, not The Kidnappers". They got caught in the crossfire anyway when Sandman tries to recruit them to join up with him.[20]

Montana then started working for the Kingpin. During a fight which resulted in the Kingpin's office crumbling, the Hobgoblin lets him fall to his death to take his place as Fisk's right-hand man.[21]

The Enforcers (Fancy Dan, Ox, Snake Marston, and Hammer Harrison) are reassembled by the fourth Crime Master, who convinces them and Black Cat to assist him with breaking Hammerhead and Tombstone out of Ryker's Island. The attempted breakout is prevented by Spider-Man and the Wraith, and the Crime Master is revealed to be an imposter who Mister Negative had instructed to assassinate Hammerhead and Tombstone.[22][23]

• Enforcers at Marvel.com
• Marvel Directory: Enforcers
• Grand Comics Database