The Spider Slayers known as the Delta-Nine Synthezoids are highly-enhanced synthezoids created by Doctor Octopus. Each member was synthesized from the DNA of Spider-Man, whom the Spider-Slayers were also designed to eliminate.
Background[]
The Spider Slayers were a part of HYDRA scientist Arnim Zola's "Weapon S" program as clones engineered from Spider-Man, giving them all of his abilities plus their own, for the purpose of eliminating Spider-Man. While Doctor Octopus created them, Zola was the one who could control them. However, Doctor Octopus created Scarlet Spider so that he could lead and unite the Spider-Slayers as their commander. Unfortunately for Scarlet Spider, and unaware to Ock, Ock's unstable experiment, which he thought to be failure, Kaine has more absolute powers on commanding the Slayers than Scarlet.
History[]
It was revealed that the Scarlet Spider was merely an advanced Synthezoid version spliced with Spider-Man's DNA (similar to the Clone Saga) and the memories he had was implanted, and that he was originally meant to be the Delta-Nine Synthezoids' leader. As the two heroes struggle against the Synthezoids, Doctor Octopus (with improved Nano-tech) comes to the Spiders' aid and imprison the Synthezoids. After Zola gets reactivated, Doctor Octopuis betrayed Spider-Man and Scarlet Spider and left the heroes to the clones' wrath. Zola reactivates HYDRA Island's nanotechnology and traps Scarlet Spider and Spider-Man. Scarlet Spider feigns falling into his dark side and convinces the Spider-Slayers to not attack Spider-Man as the Web Warriors arrived. With help from the newfound allies, Spider-Man was able to defeat Zola. Escaping the HYDRA Island's destruction and placing the Delta-Nine Synthezoids into stasis pods, the Web Warriors and the Delta Nine Synthezoids go off to the Triskelion.
Biography[]
The first series of robots were originally designed and built by Prof. Spencer Smythe with the financial backing of J. Jonah Jameson, who piloted them for the pleasure of personally hunting the superhero he hated for capture and public unmasking. However, Spider-Man always managed to defeat each robot in turn. Smythe's continual efforts to perfect his machines backfired on him, leading to himself being fatally contaminated by radiation poisoning from the building materials of his creations. Blaming both Jameson and Spider-Man for this, he attempted, as a final act, to murder them both, but died just before Spider-Man thwarted the attempt.
At one point, Jameson commissioned another scientist, Dr. Marla Madison, to create a new and improved Spider-Slayer.[volume & issue needed] While that attempt failed, he eventually fell in love with her and married her.
In The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #19 (1985), Smythe's son, Alistair, emerged as the new builder of the Spider-Slayers. He swore revenge on Spider-Man, repeatedly attacking the superhero with his own series of Slayers. Smythe later mutated into a humanoid Spider-Slayer, but remains a minor foe.[volume & issue needed]
The original Spider-Slayer was seen among the robots and machines in the Reanimator's collection. Wolverine later destroyed the Spider-Slayer when the Reanimator attempted to use it against him. It was later used by J. Jonah Jameson to attack the She-Hulk after she had married his son John, but it was destroyed again.[volume & issue needed]
In The Amazing Spider-Man #603, Jameson (now Mayor of New York) has some old Spider-Slayers sent to him from storage to better equip his "Anti-Spider Squad" to take down Spider-Man. The Spider-Slayer technology is combined with that of the Mandroid suits. However, the "Spider-Slayer Squad" wearing the suits quit their jobs after Spider-Man saves them and New York from a dirty bomb.[volume & issue needed]
Despite not being technically related to the Smythes' and Madison's creations, when Spider-Man refits all the Octobots confiscated from Doctor Octopus and kept in the New York Police Precinct to carry an antidote able to reverse the mutations turning all the New York population into Man-Spiders, he humorously renames them his own Spider-Slayers.
When the Goblin King and his Goblin Underground group cause havoc in Manhattan, Mayor J. Jonah Jameson unveils the Goblin-Slayers which he plans to use against the Goblin-related threats. Mary Jane Watson voices her concern that the Goblin-Slayers used to be former Spider-Slayers. Mayor J. Jonah Jameson orders Chief Pratchett to send one of the Goblin Slayers to the robbery location and then head to chase the Superior Spider-Man (Doctor Octopus' mind in Peter Parker's body). After Don Lamaze sacrifices his life to get out of the Goblin King's trap, the Superior Spider-Man confronted by a legion of Spider-Slayers with Mayor J. Jonah Jameson's face projected on the front faceplate. Mayor J. Jonah Jameson replies that he is done with being blackmailed by him and he does not care if he loses everything as long as he can finally bring down Spider-Man. The Superior Spider-Man tries to fight the Spider-Slayers, but discovers that they are far stronger than all the previous ones. Suddenly, the Spider-Slayers are deactivated remotely by Spider-Man 2099, who confronts the Superior Spider-Man about who he really is and the reasons behind his actions of late. Suddenly, the Spider-Slayers are reactivated, to Spider-Man 2099's shock. The Goblin King's voice rings out, declaring that he has taken control of the Spider-Slayers as well, which grab both Spider-Men by their heads as the Goblin King comments that Norman Osborn now runs this city.
In a Spider-Man 2099 storyline following Smythe's death, dealers illegally sell Spider-Slayers to foreign nations. However, after Miguel accompanies Tiberus Stone on one such deal, he ends up fighting the Scorpion (who was hired by Alchemax to further test the Spider-Slayers) as Stone is captured by the local rebels, Miguel defeating the Scorpion by tricking the Spider-Slayers into attacking him, while Stone's encounter with the rebels prompts him to change his mind about the original deal.
Current Members[]
- Kaine (Leader)
- Bone Spider
- Goliath Spider
- Ghost Spider