{"code":200,"status":"OK","etag":"55d156347042cf91714da8213f167899","age":1701,"cache":"hit","data":{"offset":0,"limit":1,"total":1,"count":1,"results":[{"revision_id":6028631,"page_id":"649981","state":"published","title":[{"value":"Scorpion (MacDonald \"Mac\" Gargan) Default Page","type":"string"}],"character":[{"id":{"target_id":"14126"},"type":"node","entity":"character"}],"meta_tags":[{"title":"Scorpion (MacDonald \"Mac\" Gargan) Powers, Enemies, History | Marvel","meta":[{"name":"title","content":"Scorpion (MacDonald \"Mac\" Gargan) Powers, Enemies, History | Marvel"},{"property":"og:type","content":"website"},{"name":"twitter:card","content":"summary_large_image"},{"name":"description","content":"The armored professional criminal known as Scorpion uses his signature sting to defeat his enemies, namely Spider-Man."},{"property":"og:description","content":"The armored professional criminal known as Scorpion uses his signature sting to defeat his enemies, namely 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It's time to look for Loki in the latest season of MARVEL SNAP!","sponsor":false,"link":{"link":"\/articles\/games\/marvel-snaps-new-season-tracks-down-loki-for-all-time","title":"MARVEL SNAP's New Season Tracks Down Loki For All Time"},"timestamp":1693926118,"insider_activities":[]}]}],"id":"7330321","ab_test_name":null,"ab_test_group":null,"moderation_state":"published"},{"id":"1851916","component_type":"power_grid","data":[{"label":"durability","powerRating":5},{"label":"energy","powerRating":1},{"label":"fighting_skills","powerRating":2},{"label":"intelligence","powerRating":2},{"label":"speed","powerRating":3},{"label":"strength","powerRating":5}],"ab_test_name":null,"ab_test_group":null,"moderation_state":"published"},{"id":"1851951","component_type":"two_column","content_components":[{"id":"1851931","component_type":"content_block","title":"Biography","left_rail_header":null,"left_rail_content":[],"body_content":{"type":"text","value":"<p>Private investigator turned professional criminal with a suite of superhuman powers, Scorpion is outfitted with a full-body battle suit and a one-track mind: take out his most hated enemies, namely Peter Parker, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/spider-man-peter-parker\"><u>Spider-Man<\/u><\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4><strong>A Scorpion\u2019s Tale<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n\r\n<p>Born in Yonkers, New York and once obtaining a high school degree, MacDonlad \u201cMac\u201d Gargan becomes a Private Investigator. Though Gargan\u2019s work is often undignified and sometimes illegal. In one of his biggest assignments, he is hired by corporate executive <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/iron-monger\"><u>Obadiah Stane<\/u><\/a> to steal military robotics plans from corrupt businessman <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/green-goblin-norman-osborn\"><u>Norman Osborn<\/u><\/a> to obtain a lucrative government contract (pushing Osborn into biological enhancement research).&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Gargan is also hired by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/teams-and-groups\/daily-bugle\"><u>Daily Bugle<\/u><\/a> publisher <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/j-jonah-jameson\"><u>J. Jonah Jameson Jr.<\/u><\/a> to find out how Peter Parker consistently manages to photograph Spider-Man (secretly Parker). Jameson discovers scientist <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/farley-stillwell\"><u>Dr. Farley Stillwell<\/u><\/a> had developed a means to mutagenically endow animals with various uncharacteristic features. Jameson pays Stillwell to develop a way to bestow superhuman abilities to a human and hires Gargan to receive powers and defeat Spider-Man.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>At the ruins of the original <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/teams-and-groups\/ravencroft-institute\"><u>Ravencroft Hospital<\/u><\/a> on Roosevelt Island, Stillwell puts Gargan through a battery of chemical and radiological treatments, endowing him with superhuman powers. Phineas Masno, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/tinkerer\"><u>Tinkerer<\/u><\/a>, designs Gargan a cybernetically controlled mechanical tail and Jameson directs the Scorpion to battle Spider-Man. Meanwhile, Stillwell observes violent psychotic behavior in his test animals, concluding that Gargan would become sociopathic. Stillwell tries to administer an experimental antidote to Gargan, but falls to his death off a ledge in the attempt. Defeating Spider-Man twice and desiring freedom from his co-creator, Scorpion targets Jameson, the only one who knows his secret identity, at the Daily Bugle. Spider-Man saves Jameson by tearing off the Scorpion\u2019s tail and leaves Gargan for the police.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4><strong>Sting Like the Devil<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n\r\n<p>Gargan has superhuman endurance, agility and strength (with an especially powerful grip), originally able to lift 15 tons, then further augmented to 20 tons via upgrades.&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Gargan as Scorpion wears a full-body battlesuit with two layers of light steel mesh separated by a thin layer of insulated rubber. His first costume has a seven-foot long mechanical tail, controlled via cybernetic link to the fine muscles on his spine. The tail is a tool-steel articulated framework with 12 segments, each containing four contracting electric motors, all equipped with clutches enabling 100-feet per second whipping. Covered with a resilient, durable spring-steel outer shell, the non-prehensile tail is powered by high-density batteries that last 24 hours on average. By coiling his tail, he can spring himself at least 30\u2019. His second tail is longer (18\u2019), faster, prehensile, and with a sharp \u201cstinger\u201d at the end, and could discharge energy as focused heat rays, mace, cyanide gas and acid. The eye-pieces can vaporize Spider-Man\u2019s webbing.&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>His third costume has improved armor plating, and a shorter spiked tail (12\u2019) capable of releasing plasma bolts, sulfuric acid and a three-stage neurotoxin poison. The Tinkerer adds an electrical charge.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>His fourth Scorpion costume is an Omnium battlesuit with wrist-mounted bioscanner, clawed gauntlets, and a rapid fire plasma blaster attached to a 16\u2019 spiked tail, capable of short range vertical propulsion.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Gargan\u2019s fifth suit is given to him by Alastair Smythe, AKA Spider-Slayer, and is cybernetically connected to Gargan\u2019s physiology. Its tail, mechanical pincers and overall construction are much more powerful and sturdy in that it\u2019s bulletproof. In giving him this suit, Smythe also alters his biology, adding in a \u201cscorpion-sense\u201d akin to Spider-Man\u2019s spider-sense. Finally, Scorpion\u2019s sixth battlesuit is much more massive than previous iterations.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Gargan has average detective skills, though is mentally unstable due to the mutation he endured when becoming Scorpion.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>When the alien <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/venom-symbiote\"><u>Venom Symbiote<\/u><\/a> is grafted to him, he can produce claws, teeth and a flexible spiked tail.&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4><strong>Adversaries and Allies<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n\r\n<p>J. Jonah Jameson Jr. helps create Gargan into the mutated Scorpion and as such, Scorpion seeks revenge upon his maker. Though often, Spider-Man protects Jameson and denies Scorpion his vindication. He may get incarcerated numerous times, but Gargan always comes back with a vengeance.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Elihas Starr, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/egghead-elihas-starr\"><u>Egghead<\/u><\/a>, recruits Scorpion into his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/teams-and-groups\/masters-of-evil\"><u>Masters of Evil<\/u><\/a> squad, and alongside teammates Karla Sofen, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/moonstone-karla-sofen\"><u>Moonstone<\/u><\/a>, and Daivd Cannon, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/whirlwind-david-cannon\"><u>Whirlwind<\/u><\/a>, they go up against the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/teams-and-groups\/avengers\"><u>Avengers<\/u><\/a> but are defeated. Other groups that he joins, mainly with the purpose of getting vengeance on J. Jonah Jameson and Spider-Man, include Norman Osborn\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/teams-and-groups\/thunderbolts\"><u>Thunderbolts<\/u><\/a> and Avengers, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/teams-and-groups\/sinister-twelve\"><u>Sinister Twelve<\/u><\/a>, the short-lived <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/teams-and-groups\/spider-man-revenge-squad\"><u>Spider-Man Revenge Squad<\/u><\/a>, and the Savage Six.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>He also teams up with cat burglar Felicia Hardy, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/black-cat-felicia-hardy\"><u>Black Cat<\/u><\/a>, in a black market sale but ends up going up against their supposed ally Lee Price, who is bonded to the Venom symbiote. Though their battle is interrupted by Spider-Man.<\/p>\r\n"}}],"rail_components":[{"id":"1851936","component_type":"rail_explore_bio","context":"comic","title":"Scorpion (MacDonald \"Mac\" Gargan)","content_type":"character","bioData":[{"label":"Universe","body":[{"body":"Marvel Universe"}]},{"label":"Other Aliases","body":[{"body":"Venom, Spider-Man, Kilgore Trout, \u201cVen-orpion,\u201d \u201cScorpy,\u201d Scorpion"}]},{"label":"Education","body":[{"body":"High school graduate"}]},{"label":"Place of Origin","body":[{"body":"Yonkers, New York"}]},{"label":"Identity","body":[{"body":"Secret (Scorpion); Publicly known (Venom); Secret (Spider-Man)"}]},{"label":"Known Relatives","body":[{"body":"None; (symbiote) <a href='\/characters\/carnage-cletus-kasady'>Cletus Kasady<\/a> (Carnage), <a href='\/characters\/hybrid-scott-washington'>Scott Washington<\/a> (Hybrid), <a href='\/characters\/scream-donna-diego'>Donna Diego<\/a> (Scream) (children) "}]},{"label":"Powers","body":[{"body":"Superhuman Strength"},{"body":"Heightened Senses"}]},{"label":"Group Affiliation","body":[{"body":"Masters of Evil"},{"body":"Alchemax"},{"body":"Ravencroft Institute"},{"body":"Symbiotes"}]}],"physical_traits":{"eye_color":"Brown","height":"Gargan: 6'2\"; Venom: variable","weight":"Gargan: 220 lbs.; Venom: 245 lbs.","hair_color":"Brown (shaved head)","gender":"Male"}},{"component_type":"ad_component","adTagOverride":null,"adTargeting":null,"theme":"light","section_color":"light"}],"ab_test_name":null,"ab_test_group":null,"moderation_state":"published"},{"id":"1851991","component_type":"featured","variant":"image_left","body_text":null,"body_text2":null,"legal_text":null,"headline":null,"ctas":[],"logo":{"filename":null,"alt":null,"height":null,"width":null},"image_lg":{"filename":null,"alt":null,"height":null,"width":null},"image_sm":{"filename":null,"alt":null,"height":null,"width":null},"background_lg":{"filename":"202scp_com_fea_dsk_01.png","alt":"Scorpion (MacDonald \"Mac\" Gargan)","height":1280,"width":3840},"background_sm":{"filename":"202scp_com_fea_mob_01.png","alt":"Scorpion (MacDonald \"Mac\" Gargan)","height":800,"width":1680},"eyebrow":null,"category":"single","theme":"light","section_color":"light","data":[{"label":null,"copy":null}],"ab_test_name":null,"ab_test_group":null,"moderation_state":"published"},{"id":"1851981","component_type":"two_column","content_components":[{"id":"1851971","component_type":"content_block","title":null,"left_rail_header":null,"left_rail_content":[],"body_content":{"type":"text","value":"<h4><strong>Sting Operation<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n\r\n<p>A few months later, the Scorpion escaped from jail, his rage focused on Jameson, blaming him for his public humiliation and losing his normal existence. Publishing a disparaging headline, Jameson lured Spider-Man to his office to protect him. When the Scorpion attacked Jameson, Spider-Man tangled Gargan with \u201cweb bolas\u201d and dropped him into the Hudson River; Scorpion was again imprisoned.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Paroled, Scorpion was hired by an unidentified spy ring to follow <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/teams-and-groups\/s-h-i-e-l-d\"><u>S.H.I.E.L.D.<\/u><\/a> agent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/sharon-carter\"><u>Sharon Carter<\/u><\/a>. He was defeated by Steve Rogers, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/captain-america-steve-rogers\"><u>Captain America<\/u><\/a>, and taken into custody, where the android assassin Mr. Kline somehow captured him and Calvin Zabo, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/mister-hyde\"><u>Mister Hyde<\/u><\/a>. Kline made android duplicates of the Scorpion and Hyde and sent them against Matt Murdock, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/daredevil-matthew-murdock\"><u>Daredevil<\/u><\/a>. Following Kline\u2019s defeat, Scorpion and Hyde escaped and, assuming S.H.I.E.L.D. had held them, terrorized S.H.I.E.L.D. agents until being stopped by Captain America and Sam Wilson, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/sam-wilson\"><u>Falcon<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Gargan was released from a federal penitentiary on good behavior, but soon robbed a bank. Spider-Man clashed with the Scorpion, who left him for dead in a construction site\u2019s concrete vat; Spider-Man, however, survived. In Monticello, New York, the Scorpion failed to take over territory from gangster Constanzo Santonio, claiming to kill Spider-Man though the wall-crawler was seen on TV. Running from the gangsters, the Scorpion was recruited by Dr. Miles Warren, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/jackal\"><u>Jackal<\/u><\/a>, to find Spider-Man at a Midtown Manhattan hospital (where his aunt, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/aunt-may-may-parker\"><u>May Parker<\/u><\/a>, was recovering). After finding the stolen money in the Scorpion\u2019s apartment, Spider-Man visited his ailing aunt. The Scorpion manhandled bed-ridden May for Spider-Man\u2019s location, but Spider-Man quickly directed the fight outside, and saved the Scorpion from falling on the condition that he apologize to the angry May before the police took him away.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Eventually escaping prison, the Scorpion\u2019s sanity deteriorated as he believed himself trapped in his costume. The Scorpion purchased weapons manufacturer Kerwin Korman\u2019s Brooklyn lab where he attempted to immerse an abducted Jameson in acid; Carol Danvers, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/captain-marvel-carol-danvers\"><u>Ms. Marvel<\/u><\/a>, rescued Jameson after throwing the Scorpion into the acid. The Scorpion was taken captive by Advanced Idea Mechanics (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/teams-and-groups\/a-i-m\"><u>A.I.M.<\/u><\/a>) agents, but escaped and rampaged, mad with pain from his burns. A rematch with Ms. Marvel was interrupted by Korman, AKA the Destructor, leaving the Scorpion to flee to New York\u2019s sewers, locating Stillwell\u2019s laboratory. Unable to remove his powers, he instead painfully repeated Stillwell\u2019s procedure, healing his acid burns, and apparently making him stronger, but more mentally unstable. Spider-Man subdued and unmasked Scorpion at the Daily Bugle, proving that the suit could be removed. By feigning mental incompetence, Gargan was placed in a mental institution.&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Escaping, he once again targeted Jameson, but was thwarted by Captain America and Spider-Man. The Scorpion was freed from prison by agents Egghead and recruited into his Masters of Evil alongside Moonstone and Whirlwind, but was swiftly defeated by the Avengers and imprisoned anew.&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>When Roderick Kingsley, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/hobgoblin-roderick-kingsley\"><u>Hobgoblin<\/u><\/a>, blackmailed Jameson about his role in creating Scorpion, Jameson revealed the truth in a public confession within the Daily Bugle and stepped down from the newspaper. Whether Scorpion knew of this confession or not, the Scorpion again escaped and tried to ruin Jameson\u2019s upcoming wedding by kidnapping his son, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/john-jameson\"><u>John<\/u><\/a>, and bride-to-be Marla Madison. Spider-Man once more defended Jameson, rescued his loved ones and defeated the Scorpion.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Again at large, the Scorpion obtained his second costume design from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/justin-hammer\"><u>Justin Hammer<\/u><\/a>\u2014including a more powerful spiked tail\u2014in exchange for kidnapping General Chester Musgrave for illegal business dealings in Europe. Though the Scorpion defeated Spider-Man and captured Musgrave, hearing how the Daily Bugle would profit from the headlines of the&nbsp;kidnapping enraged him enough to renege on his deal with Hammer and demand Jameson take the place of the general; Jameson did not respond. Hammer retaliated against his rogue agent, sending Aleksei Sytsevich, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/rhino-aleksei-sytsevich\"><u>Rhino<\/u><\/a>, and Mark Scarlotti, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/whiplash-mark-scarlotti\"><u>Blacklash<\/u><\/a>, after the Scorpion. While Spider-Man rescued Musgrave (pursued by Blacklash), the Rhino crushed the Scorpion and pulled out his tail before fleeing.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Under the ancient evil <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/llan-the-sorcerer\"><u>Llan the Sorcerer<\/u><\/a>\u2019s influence, Scorpion and other Super Villains were lured to Canada, supposedly fleeing the United States over the threat of passage of the Super-Powers Registration Act (a failed precursor to the enacted Superhuman Registration Act). Llan planned to build a small army to instigate combat, which provided him mystical energy to free the Forces of Darkness. The Tinkerer supplied the Scorpion with a simplified costume similar to Justin Hammer\u2019s. In Winnipeg, the Scorpion went on a killing spree until confronted by Diamond Lil. The Scorpion, joined by Leland Owlsley, AKA Owl, Nekra Sinclair, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/nekra\"><u>Nekra<\/u><\/a>, and Cleo Nefertiti, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/asp-cleo-nefertiti\"><u>Asp<\/u><\/a>, warred against <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/teams-and-groups\/alpha-flight\"><u>Alpha Flight<\/u><\/a> and Gamma Flight until Jane St. Ives, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/nemesis-jane-st-ives\"><u>Nemesis<\/u><\/a>, cut off part of Scorpion\u2019s tail and Ananym, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/witchfire\"><u>Witchfire<\/u><\/a>, severed Llan\u2019s control over his army, causing the villains to collapse.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>After Spider-Man accepted power removal from \u201cDr. Turner\u201d (secretly Dmitri Kravinoff, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/chameleon\"><u>Chameleon<\/u><\/a>) in hopes of retiring, the Chameleon hired Scorpion to kill Spider-Man. With a new costume the Chameleon purchased from Hammer, the Scorpion kidnapped Jameson, demanding Spider-Man take Jameson\u2019s place. The Black Cat shorted out Scorpion\u2019s tail and helped the powerless Spider-Man free Jameson. The Scorpion\u2019s mention of Turner led Spider-Man to investigate, leading to a battle with Scorpion and Chameleon\u2019s agents, and Spider-Man recovered his powers, though Black Cat lost hers; all of the villains except the Chameleon were captured. Free again, the Scorpion got an updated costume from the Tinkerer, now able to electrify his tail. He assaulted Spider-Man and Black Cat, but electrocuted himself by impaling his tail into an amoeboid Spider-Slayer robot attacking Spider-Man.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>The Scorpion befriended mentally ill millionaire Phillip Cussler Sr. while wandering despondently through Manhattan\u2019s sewers. The Scorpion and Cussler partnered to sabotage and rob Cussler\u2019s son, Philip Jr., who had taken ownership of his father\u2019s china shops. After Spider-Man accidentally knocked out Cussler Sr., hospitalizing the old man, Gargan considered quitting crime and living in Cussler\u2019s underground hideaway. Spider-Man located the costume-less Gargan, and beat him until halted by a sentient slime living in the sewers, allowing Gargan to escape.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Earning biological enhancements and a third suit with a poisonous stinger, the Scorpion served corrupt corporation <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/teams-and-groups\/roxxon\"><u>Roxxon Oil<\/u><\/a>, which hoped to take over Rand\/Meachum to create or augment super-powered agents. Holding Jameson hostage to suppress an expose\u0301 on Rand\/Meachum, the Scorpion was defeated by Spider-Man (Peter Parker\u2019s clone, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/scarlet-spider-ben-reilly\"><u>Ben Reilly<\/u><\/a>), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/luke-cage\"><u>Luke Cage<\/u><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/misty-knight\"><u>Misty Knight<\/u><\/a> and Danny Rand, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/iron-fist-danny-rand\"><u>Iron Fist<\/u><\/a>. The Scorpion was seemingly killed remotely by neurotoxins rigged into his costume, but was revived and escaped while being driven away by police. The Scorpion resurfaced at a press conference announcing his conversion from criminal to patriotic mercenary through Roxxon\u2019s \u201cRehabilitation Therapy.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Marla Madison, working with the Justice Department, staged a lecture to draw out the Scorpion. Taking the bait, the Scorpion and Carlos Lamerto, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/black-tarantula\"><u>Black Tarantula<\/u><\/a>\u2019s men kidnapped Jameson and Marla to Roxxon\u2019s secret facility on Tarantula\u2019s land in Bolivia. The Scorpion stung Jameson to coerce Marla into leading a bio-engineering research team to make superhuman agents. Spider-Man (once again Peter Parker), who had stowed aboard the Tarantula\u2019s plane, attacked the Scorpion, stinging him with his own tail. Marla alerted the authorities, who provided antidotes to the Scorpion\u2019s stings and launched a federal indictment against Roxxon.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>An unrevealed benefactor freed the Scorpion from prison, brainwashing him to serve as a mercenary and providing a powerful fourth costume. Tasked to find Peter Parker at his new job at Tricorp, he brushed aside new \u201cSpider-Man\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/spider-woman-mattie-franklin\"><u>Mattie Franklin<\/u><\/a>, until Peter electrocuted the Scorpion. Oil baron Buck Masterson hired the Scorpion to battle Spider-Man as part of a group of four wealthy businessmen wagering on the outcome of local Super Hero fights. Teamed with robot XP-2000, the Scorpion (in a modified second costume) was defeated. Later, the Scorpion and assassin Delilah formed the short-lived \u201cSpider-Man Revenge League.\u201d After failing to recruit Katrina van Horne, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/man-killer\"><u>Man-Killer<\/u><\/a>, and Daniel Axum, the sole Squad members were once again left to the police by Spider-Man.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Norman Osborn then offered the Scorpion increased strength, an improved costume and Spider-Man\u2019s secret identity. In exchange, if Osborn were ever to be arrested or publicly exposed by Spider-Man, Gargan was to retaliate by kidnapping May Parker. Accepting Osborn\u2019s terms, Gargan was augmented, though somewhat disfigured by the operations. After Spider-Man was instrumental in Osborn\u2019s arrest, Gargan secretly buried May alive to coerce Spider-Man into liberating Osborn. Shortly thereafter, the Venom symbiote bonded with Gargan and he joined with the Sinister Twelve, but Spider-Man pulled an abandoned building down on him and he was again incarcerated.&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Escaping prison, Gargan was transported into outer space on the restored Battleworld with other super-powered individuals. Instructed to eliminate his competition by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/stranger\"><u>Stranger<\/u><\/a> (posing as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/beyonder\"><u>Beyonder<\/u><\/a>) with promises of all that he desired, Venom seemingly killed Spider-Man (actually a Space Phantom) and abandoned the team. Later, as the team traveled to Limbo to capture the Space Phantom, Venom destroyed the equipment of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/teams-and-groups\/skrulls\">Skrull<\/a> impersonating <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/hank-pym\"><u>Hank Pym<\/u><\/a>, trapping them. The team escaped Limbo, while \u201cPym\u201d tricked the Stranger into ending the Battleworld experiments. After Greg Willis, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/gravity\"><u>Gravity<\/u><\/a>, sacrificed himself, pushing his powers to the limits to hold the disintegrating Battleworld together while creating a gravity tube for the team's escape, Venom and the others returned home.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>After passage of the Superhuman Registration Act, Venom was invited to join the Thunderbolts under Director Norman Osborn, controlled via batrachotoxin poison traps in his handcuffs and implantation of a nanotech control net that would deliver an electric shock upon disobedience. As a Thunderbolt, tasked to detain rogue unregistered super heroes, Venom received unprecedented public acceptance with intense marketing and merchandising. In his first missions, he was restrained from biting during Jack Harrison, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/jack-flag\"><u>Jack Flag<\/u><\/a>\u2019s arrest, but on another assignment, Venom ate the Ichigo Uzimaki, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/steel-spider\"><u>Steel Spider<\/u><\/a>\u2019s arm. After helping to arrest the Jury, four psychics (Caprice, Eric Gelden, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/mind-wave-erik-gelden\"><u>Mindwave<\/u><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/mirage-marge\"><u>Mirage<\/u><\/a>, and Bluestreak) allowed themselves to be captured by the Thunderbolts, driving the Thunderbolts insane from within Thunderbolt Mountain. Venom ate several guards before Andreas Strucker, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/swordsman-andreas-strucker\"><u>Swordsman<\/u><\/a>, impaled him; while the symbiote helped heal Gargan, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/bullseye\"><u>Bullseye<\/u><\/a> killed all the imprisoned psychics.&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Gargan was coerced to secretly meet with Whirlwind, Mr. Hyde, Fred Myers, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/boomerang\"><u>Boomerang<\/u><\/a>, and Todd Arliss, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/tiger-shark\"><u>Tiger Shark<\/u><\/a>. The four offered Gargan his freedom from the Thunderbolts if he delivered Osborn to them. If he refused, the team threatened to tell Osborn about Gargan\u2019s theft from Osborn years before. Gargan told Osborn everything, and returned to the four villains feigning his acquiescence. Osborn and Venom defeated the four in a surprise attack. For his loyalty, Venom was offered a day each month free from the nanochain. Following Scorpion\u2019s eating Swarm\u2018s skeleton, a worldwide alien Skrull invasion erupted. In Washington, D.C., Venom was unleashed, viciously battling the Skrull armies before heading to New York\u2019s Central Park, where Earth\u2019s heroes and villains joined forces against the Skrulls. Killing the Skrull queen, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/queen-veranke\"><u>Veranke<\/u><\/a>, Osborn became celebrated around the world. While in New York, the Venom symbiote was drawn to visit its former host, Eddie Brock, healed of his cancer and transformed into Anti-Venom. As the two clashed, Anti-Venom\u2019s touch severely injured the symbiote. Osborn, using the hyper-evolving Freak, healed Venom contained within his Sinister Twelve Scorpion costume to briefly battle Spider-Man and Anti-Venom.&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>With Osborn leading S.H.I.E.L.D. (renamed HAMMER), the Thunderbolts officially disbanded, while Gargan secretly became \u201cSpider-Man\u201d for Osborn\u2019s Avengers team. Gargan toyed with newly elected mayor, J. Jonah Jameson, leaving a dead prostitute on his bed, and (as \u201cKilgore Trout\u201d) inciting two rival New York gangs to war, while (as Spider-Man) assigned to help Jonah maintain order. A motley band of mostly Gargan\u2019s victims formed under Dr. Shep Gunderson, AKA Redeemer, to supposedly reform Venom. Instead, Venom ravaged the team. The now limbless Redeemer sent photos of \u201cSpider-Man\u2019s\u201d horrific deeds to Mayor Jameson, prompting Osborn to dispatch Bullseye and Akihiro, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/daken\"><u>Daken<\/u><\/a>, to kill Venom. However, \u201cSpider-Man\u201d publicly defeated the two assassins, both gang leaders and the Redeemer\u2019s team, earning public adulation, and changing Osborn\u2019s mind. Taking behavior medication, Venom\u2019s position on the Avengers remained tenuous. He participated in Osborn\u2019s siege of Asgard and devoured Asgardians, though New Avengers\u2019 members Spider-Man and Carol Danvers, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/captain-marvel-carol-danvers\"><u>Ms. Marvel<\/u><\/a>, pulled the symbiote apart from Gargan to stop him.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Incarcerated at the Raft, Gargan was separated from the symbiote because it conflicted with his original genetic mutation. He was then liberated from the Raft by Alistair Smythe, AKA Spider-Slayer, and outfitted with a fifth Scorpion suit. Smythe desired revenge on Jameson and invited Scorpion along. They joined with Super Villain Fly-Grl and other minions and attacked the now Mayor J. Jonah Jameson and his wife Marla, and held them for ransom. Though Spider-Slayer killed Marla, both Spider-Slayer and Scorpion were defeated by Spider-Man and the New Avengers, and arrested again.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>In a scheme to save Dr. Otto Octavius, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/doctor-octopus-otto-octavius\"><u>Doctor Octopus<\/u><\/a>\u2019 dying body, who was inhabited by Spider-Man, Scorpion got involved alongside Morris Bench, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/hydro-man\"><u>Hydro-Man<\/u><\/a> but is thwarted accidentally by Doctor Octopus in Spider-Man\u2019s body who instinctively punched Scorpion so hard in his jaw that it breaks away from his head. His jaw was later replaced with metal and he is once again approached by Smythe to kill Spider-Man and go after Mayor Jameson.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Later, Scorpion encountered Miguel O\u2019Hara, AKA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/spider-man-2099-miguel-o-hara\"><u>Spider-Man 2099<\/u><\/a>, and mistaking him for his Spider-Man, he attacked him with robotic Spider-Slayers until Spider-Man 2099 projected a hologram over Scorpion, tricking the Spider-Slayers into attacking Scorpion. Though, Scorpion survives the attack.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>When Scorpion worked for Black Cat\u2019s gang, he became suspicious of Lee Price, a man involved in their black market sale. Scorpion donned a sixth iteration of the Scorpion armor and, in feigning an alliance with Price, he attacked him. Though Price had the Venom Symbiote and while he nearly killed Scorpion, Spider-Man intervened thinking this Venom was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marvel.com\/characters\/flash-thompson\"><u>Flash Thompson<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Scorpion later joined the Savage Six.<\/p>\r\n"}}],"rail_components":[{"component_type":"ad_component","adTagOverride":null,"adTargeting":null,"theme":"dark","section_color":"light"}],"ab_test_name":null,"ab_test_group":null,"moderation_state":"published"},{"id":"1554571","component_type":"promo_component","background_subtype":"0","variant":"featured","title":"Unlock the Universe","description":"Get instant access to 30,000+ digital comics on the web & mobile devices, exclusive deals, and more member-only benefits with Marvel Unlimited!","theme":"dark","eyebrow":"Marvel Unlimited","legal":"Auto-renewal and other terms apply. 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