The Vulture rules the skies
Osborn: “Toomes!?”
Spectacular Spider-Man: “Survival of the Fittest” (Season 1, Episode 1)
Vulture: “Not Toomes, now! I’m what you called me. I’m the Vulture!”
Osborn: “I called you a buzzard.”
Vulture: “What?”
Osborn: “You can’t even get the name right.”
A group of CEOs is having a rooftop party. An enormous green bird swoops down and grabs one of the businessmen. The bird soars into the air, dragging its hostage with it. The CEO realizes it’s not a bird, but an old man with wings. The man snarls an ultimatum, “You’ll give me your money, or I’ll take your life!” The CEO frantically agrees, begging not to be killed. The Vulture smirks.
The Vulture is one of Spider-Man’s oldest foes, in both senses. You wouldn’t think much of a flying geriatric supervillain, but he’s no joke. So who is he? Where’d he get his wings? How can an old man battle a Spider-Man? Let’s find out.
Scene Select
Aerial Avarice: The Vulture’s Backstory
Vulture : “What’s the matter, Spider-Man? Too fast for you?”
Spider-Man (Video Game)
Spider-Man : “Hey! Come back! The food at the old folks home wasn’t that bad, was it?”
The Vulture debuted in Amazing Spider-Man #2 in 1963. He was the very first supervillain Spider-Man fought.
Adrian Toomes was an engineer and businessman who discovered his partner had been embezzling funds. His business was ruined, but Toomes had an ace up his sleeve. He had created an electromagnetic harness with wings that gave him super strength and allowed him to fly. Inspired by his new wings, Adrian Toomes began a crime spree as The Vulture.
The Vulture was unstoppable, able to easily elude the authorities. He soon encountered Spider-Man and easily dispatched the young whippersnapper. The Vulture then attempted a diamond heist, but was defeated when Spider-Man sabotaged his flight harness. Vulture was the first supervillain to swear revenge on Spider-Man, but he wouldn’t be the last.
The Sinister Six: The Vulture’s History
Spider-Man: “Gotta be honest, I liked it better when you two were loners.“
Spider-Man (PS4)
Electro: “Amazing what a little teamwork can achieve, ain’t it?!“
The Vulture: “The vigor of youth, the wisdom of experience, a fine pairing!“
The Vulture repeatedly tried to kill Spider-Man, but always failed and was sent to jail. During one incarceration, he met other supervillains who had been foiled by Spider-Man. They decided to team up, hoping to finally squash that annoying do-gooder. They ran Spider-Man ragged, but he managed to beat the whole group.
Vulture remained a criminal until he learned he had cancer. He became depressed, realizing his days were numbered. He befriended a handicapped man who convinced him not to waste time wallowing in misery. And, of all things, the man was dating Spidey’s Aunt May at the time. Vulture returned to villainy, and somehow accidentally killed his new friend during a fight with Spider-Man.
The Vulture recently attempted to use children as thieves, much like Fagin in Oliver Twist. This brought him into conflict with the Superior Spider-Man, who blinded Toomes and beat him to within an inch of his life. Don’t mess with kids around Superior Spider-Man.
Bird of Prey: The Vulture’s Powers and Personality
Vulture: “You walk through those doors, and you forget any of this happened. And don’t you ever, ever interfere with my business again, because if you do, I will kill you, and everyone that you love. I’ll kill you dead. That’s what I’ll do to protect my family. Pete, you understand?”
Spider-Man Homecoming
The Vulture’s powers come from his electromagnetic flight harness. He can fly silently, survive hits from Spider-Man despite his age, and he has super strength. At one point he had the power to drain other people’s life force, but this ability is rarely used anymore.
The Vulture is a brilliant engineer who lacks focus because of his hatred of Spider-Man. He is a remorseless killer, but has a soft spot for his family. He’s willing to kill and steal if it means helping his family, though he’d do it anyway so it’s just a benefit.
The Actors who played The Vulture
Don Messick – Spider-Man (1981)
Eddie Albert – Spider-Man (1994)
Robert Englund – Spectacular Spider-Man
Tom Kenny – Ultimate Spider-Man
Alistair Duncan – Spider-Man
Michael Keaton – Spider-Man: Homecoming, Morbius
Jorma Taccone – Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Didya get all that?
This guy may have wings, but he’s no angel.
Jared Bounacos has written for Movie Rewind since 2016.
Comments
George Bounacos
The others are great actors. I loved Eddie Albert and his environmental help. He helped create Earth Day. But Don Messick was a great voice talent--the Mel Blanc of Hanna-Barbera. I can't wait to see what Michael Keaton does with […] Read MoreThe others are great actors. I loved Eddie Albert and his environmental help. He helped create Earth Day. But Don Messick was a great voice talent--the Mel Blanc of Hanna-Barbera. I can't wait to see what Michael Keaton does with the role. The trailer looks amazing, and Keaton looks great again playing a villain! Read Less