Vulture

Profile

  • Real Name: Adrian Toomes
  • AKA: Falcon
  • Base of Operation: Mobile
  • Identity: Public Identity
  • Citizenship: American
  • Occupation: Professional criminal; former electrical engineer, inventor, businessman
  • Height: 5′ 11″
  • Weight: 175 lbs (79 kg)
  • Eyes: Hazel
  • Hair: Bald
  • Origin: Human
  • Universe: Marvel Prime (Earth-616)

He is one of Spider-man’s oldest foes. Both figuratively and literally. Introduced in Amazing Spider-Man #2 (1963) by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, the former business owner and inventor, Adrian Toomes was kicked out of his company by his former partner. He created his suit and wings that allow him to fly and began harassing the former partner and stealing from the company. He then began using his suit to steal from other companies and banks. Hearing about a huge bird flying around the city, Spider-man encounter the now named Vulture and defeated the villains. This earn him Toomes’ constant hatred. After being defeated a couple of more times, Vulture accepted Doc Ock’s invitation to join the Sinister Six as a founding member.

After the team’s defeat and being sent to prison, Toomes thought he was going to die and told his cell mate (Blackie Drago) the location of his suit. Blackie used this information to become the new Vulture. (IRL, this was actually done because Stan Lee was worried about their hero seen beating up an old man. Obviously they changed their minds). Toomes eventually broke out of prison and fought Drago, beating him to become the one true Vulture. Skipping a bit, Toomes began a friendship with Aunt May’s lover, Nathan Lubensky. Nathan convinced Toomes to give up on crime and take over his family rehab center but a battle with Spider-man led to Toomes nearly killing Nathan. He tried to turn his life around but another battle with Spider-man led to Nathan having a heart attack, dying in May’s arms.

Diagnosed with cancer, Vulture sought forgiveness for Nathan’s death from May but after a battle with Spider-man and being captured, May told him she couldn’t forgive him. Learning of a plot by Green Goblin (Harry) and the Chameleon to drive Peter insane using android copies of his parents, Vulture tried to save Peter by absorbing the essence of the Mary Parker android, which inadvertently turn him young again. He began attacking everybody who did him wrong and was turned old again after fighting David Keelan. After trying to be a hero, Vulture teamed up with a few villains to prevent a file of SHIELD operatives from becoming public, including his own daughter. After attacking Spider-man and even unmasking him (which led to him not even recognizing him due to Parker average looks), Vulture receive facial scars from the Owl and joined the Sinister Twelve.

After Spidey revealed his identity to the world during Civil War and became an outlaw, SHIELD had Vulture try and capture Spidey, which led to Toomes suffering a heart attack. In hospital, he begged Spidey to kill him but Spidey refused. He eventually returned and had runaway children use his flight harnesses to commit robberies. He eventually battle Spidey (who was Doc Ock at the time), which led to Vulture getting severely beaten. While in prison, Alistar Smythe transformed him into a new Spider-slayer but he lost these powers when Smythe was defeated by Doc Ock. He was then forced to work with Doc Ock as the Superior Six. He then tried to take the name Falcon but was capture by Spidey (Parker) and was hired by Thinker to capture Thinker’s “brother” but was eventually defeated.

Vulture is one of Spider-men most frequent and most famous foes. He has had a number of figure over the years but only 2 Marvel Legends (other versions have been different universes). He receive a figure in the Toybiz days as part of a Box set with Rhino, Carnage, Lizard and Spider-man (Spider-man and his Fearsome Foes.) However, this was during the final days of Toybiz so it was hard to find. Hasbro has announced a version in a Spider-man wave wave.


Classic

Recommend Figure:  Hasbro Marvel Legends Spider-man Demogoblin Wave Vulture

  • Background:
    • As was the case with many of Spidey’s earlier villains, Vulture classic green costume has become his signature costume. Just like many classic costumes, different artists have drawn differently.
  • Why you need it for your collection?:
    • If you are a Spider-man collector, then Vulture is an absolute most for your collection. Not only is he one of Spidey’s most frequent foes but has been a member of many incarnations of the Sinister Six (or whatever number they want). In fact, he holds the record of the most memberships in that group.
  • Does it need a remake?:
    • No.

Needs

Below you will find a gallery of suits that still need to be made. I have included what I think are the possibilities of them being made. Note that these are my personal opinions and not facts. Please let me know if I have missed anything.