Enforcers (comics)

The Enforcers
Cover art for Daredevil (vol. 2) #102. Art by Marko Djurdjevic.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	The Amazing Spider-Man #10 (March 1964)
Created by	Stan Lee Steve Ditko
In-story information
Base(s)	New York City
Member(s)	Fancy Dan The Ox Montana Hammer Harrison Snake Marston

The Enforcers are a fictional team of villains in the Marvel Comics universe. 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).

Publication history

The Enforcers appear often in the early issues of The Amazing Spider-Man, debuting in #10,^[1] and returning in #14 and #18-19, in the latter two issues teaming with the supervillain the Sandman. The team would go on to appear in Daredevil vol. 1, #86 and #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.

Fictional team biography

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. 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.^[2] 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. They next aided the Green Goblin in his first unsuccessful attempt to eliminate Spider-Man, but were again defeated and jailed.^[3] 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.^[4]

The Enforcers clash repeatedly with Spider-Man and occasionally other heroes such as Daredevil. Foswell is eventually unmasked and killed. After the Ox, later, appears to be killed,^[5] 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.^[6]

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.^[7] They later battle the superhero Dazzler.

The Enforcers return with new members Snake Marston, a master contortionist and Hammer Harrison, a boxer who used two steel gloves. The Enforcers come under the employ of the Kingpin, but were defeated by Spider-Man and the reformed Sandman.^[8] This lineup appears only once more, to fight Daredevil.^[9]

The original Ox (Raymond Bloch) returns, revived by the criminal mastermind the Kingpin.^[10] It is unclear whether it is Raymond or Ronald Bloch who appears with Montana and Fancy Dan in subsequent battles with Spider-Man and She-Hulk.^[11]

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.^[12] 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 by the Hood's organization.

Following the events of 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 a fake when the real one shows up. 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 rollercoaster. Grateful for the save, Ox agrees to come along quietly.^[13]

In 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 weren't actually part of this group ("we're The Enforcers, not The Kidnappers"), but got caught in the crossfire anyway when Sandman tries to recruit them to join up with him.^[14]

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.^[15]

Membership

The group originally consisted of:

• Fancy Dan - A diminutive martial artist. Daniel Brito was born in Brooklyn, New York. He has great proficiency with judo, karate, and fancy footwork.

• Ox I - Raymond Bloch is a brute strongman and the brother of Roland Bloch.

• Montana - Jackson Brice is an expert lasso-wielder.

Later members included:

• Ox II - Roland Bloch is a brute strongman and the brother of Raymond Bloch. He became the second Ox after the apparent death of Raymond.

• Snake Marston - Sylvester Marston is an expert contortionist.

• Hammer Harrison - Willard Harrison is an expert boxer who wore steel gloves.

Other versions

Earth X

In the Earth X reality, the Enforces consisted of Fancy Dan, Ox, and Montana with Vulture as a later addition. They would be hired by President Norman Osborn to act as his bodyguards. However, the Enforcers would fail in this task when the Skull arrived in New York to take over the United States. Like all who encounter the Skull, the Enforcers would be put under his control and Norman Osborn would be murdered. The Enforcers fate following the Skull's death remain unrevealed.^[16]

Marvel Noir

In Spider-Man Noir, the Enforcers are the muscle working for mob boss Norman Osborn, also known as the Goblin. Like the rest of the Goblin's goons (Kraven and Adrian Toomes), they are former carnies.^[17]

MC2

Fancy Dan makes a cameo appearance in an issue of The Amazing Spider-Girl as the owner of a company called Brito Imports and the leader of the Brooklyn gangs.^[18][19]

Ultimate Marvel

In the alternate universe Ultimate Marvel continuity, the Enforcers were re-imagined as hit men for the Kingpin, and pitted against Spider-Man.^[20] The following changes took place:

• Frederick Foswell was called Mr. Big and was not associated with the Daily Bugle - but videotapes of his untimely murder by the Kingpin were sent to Ben Urich and used for a Daily Bugle Exclusive.
• "Fancy Dan" was re-imagined as a young gunslinger and was called Dan Crenshaw.
• "The Ox" was re-imagined as an Black Dominican called Bruno Sanchez.
• "Montana" had the civil name Montana Bale and used a whip instead of a lasso (although he often used it to strangle Spider-Man and like a lasso).

After losing three times to Spider-Man, along with unofficial member Electro,^[21] the Enforcers supposedly disbanded.^[22][23]

Much later, they came back together to work for Hammerhead. This pitted them directly against their former employer.^[24]

In other media

Television

• In the 1967 Spider-Man cartoon's episode "Blueprint For Crime", Ox and Montana (known as Cowboy) were employed by the villain the Plotter to steal missile blueprints.

• The Enforcers appear in The Spectacular Spider-Man.^[25] They appear in the first episode, "Survival of the Fittest", along with Hammerhead.^[26] In the episode they are employed by the Big Man who is unseen. In the show, the Enforcers are re-imagined as a tactical strike team with modern weaponry, suits, and equipment. Montana, this time imagined as The Shocker is the leader and strategist of the team, with a strong southern accent. Instead of wielding a lasso like his counterpart in the main Marvel Universe, he uses an attack helicopter with various weapons and gives the orders to the rest of the team (though in "Opening Night", he uses several tied-together bedsheets as a lasso). Ox is much like his Marvel Universe counterpart, a simple-minded strongman. Perhaps the largest difference is his moustache. Fancy Dan, in this version known as Ricochet similar to his own counterpart is a martial artist skilled enough to combat Spider-Man despite his superhuman powers. He is African American, and wields a metal bō staff, as well as his armor allowing him to bounce around at extreme speeds and use his body as a weapon. At the end of the episode, Fancy Dan and Ox are captured but Montana escapes. He reappears several episodes later as this series' version of the Shocker. As for the Big Man, the episode "The Invisible Hand" seemingly reveals Tombstone as this series' Big Man. In the episode "Group Therapy", the Enforcers escape Ryker's Island with the Sinister Six; however Montana stays behind as the Shocker while Ox and Fancy Dan escape with Hammerhead, Tombstone's henchman. The Enforcers become the New Enforcers, because of the Tinkerer's newly designed-suits. Fancy Dan gains the ability to gain super-speed and takes the name Ricochet. Ox gains super-strength, but stays with his name. They fight Spider-Man in the Metro Bank, then escape to the nearby laundry to disguise as policemen to break into the Vault. They fight Spider-Man in the Vault which contains billions worth of gold. They try to escape in a prepared train, fighting Spider-Man at the same time. Spider-Man reverses the train and tumbles the train, destroying Ox's suit and losing all their gold. They are about to get away, but Hammerhead spikes their car, thus getting arrested. In the episode "Opening Night," the Enforcers were seen as prisoners in the Vault until the Green Goblin releases all the prisoners as Silvermane enlists the Enforcers to rally the prisoners into defeating Spider-Man.

Video games

• In earlier plans for the Spider-Man 3 video game, the Enforcers were planned to be in the game as the leaders of the three gangs in the gang wars missions on the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions but were cut before the first beta was made.^{[citation needed]}

• The Noir version of the Enforcers appear in Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions. They were mentioned and seem to work for Hammerhead. One of Hammerhead's minions state that Fancy Dan "The Ladies Man" was found dead in a trash can apparently for flirting with Hammerhead's girlfriend Janice Foswell. Ox was mentioned to be the stupidest of the Enforcers. Snake Marston is mentioned as well.

• The Enforcers appear in the video game Marvel Heroes. They kidnapped the super hero Speedball and almost kill him. However, they are caught in the act by Jean DeWolff who kills them all.

Footnotes

References

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