The Rhino (Aleksei Sytsevich; Russian: Алексей Сицевич) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He was created by writer Stan Lee and artist John Romita Sr., and first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #41 (Oct. 1966).[3] The character is a Russian thug who underwent an experimental procedure that gave him an artificial skin covering and superhuman strength. Rebelling against the scientists responsible for his transformation, Rhino used his newfound powers to become a successful criminal, and soon clashed with superheroes like Spider-Man and the Hulk. The character is typically portrayed as a dimwitted brute, capable of great destruction, but ultimately easily deceived.
Described by writer Mike Conroy as "famously one of Spider-Man's dimmest villains",[4] the Rhino debuted in The Amazing Spider-Man #41–43 (Oct.–Dec. 1966) as a thug for hire working for an Eastern Bloc country.[5] He volunteers to participate in an experiment that bonds a super-strong polymer to his skin, as well as augmenting his strength and speed. The character returned in The Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) #104 (June 1968), and although he apparently died at the end of the story, he was revived in The Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) #124 (Feb. 1970), becoming a perennial opponent of both Spider-Man and the Hulk.
The character achieved significant exposure in the 1980s and 1990s, appearing in both a solo capacity and as a villain for hire in over 12 titles. Significant appearances included starring in the limited seriesDeadly Foes of Spider-Man #1–4 (May–Aug. 1991); the "Flowers for Rhino" storyline in Spider-Man's Tangled Web #5–6 (Oct.–Nov. 2001), which is told from the character's perspective; and Punisher War Journal (vol. 2) #13–15 (Jan.–March 2008), in which Rhino begins to rethink his lifestyle. He has also been a member of multiple supervillain teams, including the Emissaries of Evil, the Sinister Syndicate, and the Sinister Six.
Fictional character biography
Origin and early villainy
Aleksei Sytsevich was a low-ranking member of the Russian mafia who willingly underwent a series of chemical and radiation treatments meant to give him an artificial skin covering that would grant superhuman strength. After successfully completing the treatment, Sytsevich rebelled against the Eastern Bloc agents who gave him these powers and sought to use him as a weapon, destroying their laboratory. He was subsequently hired to kidnap ColonelJohn Jameson and obtain the extraterrestrial spores to which Jameson was exposed during a space mission, but Sytsevich was defeated by the superhero Spider-Man and taken to prison.[6]
After serving his sentence, the Rhino was approached by the same scientists for more augmentation. This time, they used the same gamma radiation that granted the Hulk his abilities to further increase the Rhino's strength. They also equipped him with a more durable, acid-proof suit that would further increase his abilities. As repayment, the Rhino agreed to find and kidnap Bruce Banner, the Hulk's human alter ego, for his knowledge of gamma radiation. Despite the Rhino's training and equipment, he was easily defeated by the Hulk, who placed him in a coma.[7]
Months later, the Rhino was revived by the Leader, who planned to interrupt Banner's wedding to Betty Ross. The Leader intended to transform Banner into the Hulk, and wanted the Rhino to protect him from the ensuing rampage. At the wedding, the Rhino betrays the Leader and attacks Banner the moment he transforms.[8] In the resulting chaos, the Rhino is once again comatose, and the Leader briefly takes mental control of Sytsevich's body to combat the Hulk.[9] The Leader abandons the Rhino and the Hulk on an alien world, and returns home in a rocket, which crashes on arrival.
Samson took the Rhino to Project P.E.G.A.S.U.S., where he was part of a failed prison break involving Moonstone, Blackout, and Electro.[13] While being transferred to another facility, the Miracle Man attempted to free the Rhino, who wanted to stay in P.E.G.A.S.U.S. for medical treatment. The rocket crash had permanently affixed the Rhino's costume to his body, and he wanted it separated. He and the Thing successfully stopped Miracle Man, and took the Rhino to a medical facility within P.E.G.A.S.U.S.[14]
When the treatments fail to return the Rhino to normal, he escapes P.E.G.A.S.U.S. and joins the Sinister Syndicate, fighting Spider-Man on multiple occasions.[15] After the team falls apart, the Rhino is hired by the Kingpin under the belief that he can raise the money for more surgery. When he hears the Kingpin tell a group of scientists not to remove the Rhino suit, Sytsevich kidnaps one of their children until they complete the procedure. Sytsevich then requests a removable suit from Justin Hammer, allowing him to continue his life of crime.[16]
Hulk in the bandaged disguise of "Bob Danner" played baseball for the Florida Pistols when they competed against the Miami Emperors. One player on the Miami Emperors turns out to be Rhino under the alias of "Alex O'Hirn". A fight soon happened between both teams where the baseball players soon left the field when they found out how strong "Bob Danner" and "Alex O'Hirn" are.[17]
Rhino was among the villains who accompany Klaw in his invasion of Wakanda. It took the Wakandan Air Force to subdue Rhino.[18]
Civil War and aftermath
When the Rhino accidentally kills a security guard during a bank robbery, he is humiliated by the Punisher, and captured by Alyosha Kravinoff, the son of Kraven the Hunter. The Punisher rescues the Rhino from Kravinoff's superhuman zoo, and he is convinced to make amends. The Rhino sends a letter and money to the security guard's widow,[19] and aids the Punisher on a case.[20] Later, the Rhino persuades the Punisher not to kill Michael Watts, the third Stilt-Man.[21]
During The Gauntlet storyline, the Rhino gives up his life of crime, surrendering himself to the police. S.H.I.E.L.D. removes his Rhino suit and sentences him to 25 years on Ryker's Island. He is released early on good behavior, and upon release, he meets Doctor Tramma, who wants to reinvent the Rhino. Sytsevich declines, and Tramma creates a new Rhino. At Spider-Man's persuasion, Sytsevich refuses to fight the new Rhino.[22] That promise is broken when Sytsevich's wife Oksana is killed, and a grief-stricken Sytsevich kills the new Rhino.[23]
Doctor Octopus recruits the Rhino for his iteration of the Sinister Six.[24] During the Ends of the Earth storyline, the Rhino tells Spider-Man that the loss of his wife has changed him, and he is prepared to die. When Doctor Octopus self-destructs his own lair, the Rhino pins Silver Sable to the floor of a flooding corridor, knowing that Spider-Man will blame himself for his fellow hero's death.[25] He is presumed drowned, and while in Doctor Octopus' dying body, Spider-Man meets Oksana and the Rhino in the afterlife.[26]
All-New, All-Different Marvel
As part of the lead-up to the Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy storyline, the Rhino resurfaces, having survived his apparent demise. The Jackal finds Sytsevich in hiding in Tahuexco, Guatemala, where he persuades the Rhino to do his bidding with the promise of a revived Oksana.[27] When Doctor Octopus activates a virus in all of the Jackal's clones that causes them to rapidly decay, Oksana turns to dust, and the Rhino goes on a grief-stricken rampage.[28] Spider-Man calms him by convincing him to move forward for his wife's sake, and the two agree to see each other once in a while to help the other with their pain.[29]
In a prelude to the "Hunted" storyline, the Rhino is among the animal-themed characters captured by the Taskmaster and the Black Ant on behalf of Kraven the Hunter. He is among those who Arcade publicly reveals as the Savage Six.[30]
During the "King in Black" storyline, Rhino is among the villains recruited by Mayor Wilson Fisk to be part of his Thunderbolts at the time of Knull's invasion. Following the deaths of Ampere and Snakehead, Taskmaster couldn't bring himself to prevent Rhino from walking away.[31]
During the "Sinister War" storyline, Rhino accompanied the Savage Six into attacking the premiere of the movie which Mysterio was involved in. This led up to the Savage Six also fighting the Sinister Six.[32]
During the "Devil's Reign" storyline, Rhino appears as a member of Mayor Wilson Fisk's latest incarnation of the Thunderbolts when Mayor Fisk passes a law that forbids superhero activities. He assisted Agony, Electro II, and U.S. Agent in taking down Moon Knight.[33] In truth, Rhino did not sign up to dispose underage superheroes after learning the Kamala's Law incidents in Outlawed and its conclusion in Killer App, so he secretly helps the Champions by giving them the Thunderbolts badge due to Fisk's patrol system becoming even tighter with Doctor Octopus' Octobots and many innocent people being unsaved.[34] It was because of Rhino declaring himself out of the Thunderbolts because of this reason that caused Mayor Fisk to bring in Abomination as a replacement.[35][36]
Orchis later subjected Rhino to the same mind-control device that they used on Nightcrawler. He went on a rampage until he fought Nightcrawler's Spinnenmann appearance. Despite interference from Silver Sable and the Wild Pack, Spinnenmann defeated Rhino.[37]
Powers, abilities, and equipment
A series of mutagenic chemical and radiation treatments provide the Rhino with superhuman strength, stamina, durability, and speed, all which were further augmented by gamma rays. His incredible speed allows him to run at high velocities, especially over short distances. Sytsevich frequently "charges" his opponents in this manner, enabling him to cause great harm to most enemies in the surrounding area. He is, however, notorious for his lack of agility and slow reaction time, which makes it difficult for him to change direction when running at high speeds. As such, his fighting style is focused more on melee attacks.[38]
Rhino suit
Sytsevich possesses a thick polymer suit that resembles the physique of a rhinoceros, including two horns, and covers everything but his face. The suit is resistant to damage and extreme temperatures and these horns are capable of penetrating two-inch plate steel. His first, cruder suit was originally bonded to his skin during a rocket crash and he went through several attempts to remove it.
After the first suit's destruction, Justin Hammer created a second, removable iteration with improved strength and durability.
Other characters named Rhino
Doctor Tramma's Rhino
When Aleksei Sytsevich declines Doctor Tramma's offer to return to the Rhino role, Tramma finds another subject and equips him with a high-tech suit that was supposed to be given to Sytsevich. The second Rhino comes after Sytsevich, feeling that he had to destroy the original Rhino if he was going to ascend. Spider-Man defeats the second Rhino, who then escapes.[22]
While lifting a makeshift dumbbell made out of a pole and two trucks, the second Rhino is called up by a mysterious person telling him where he can find Sytsevich. Rhino attacks Aleksei at one of J. Jonah Jameson's press meetings. Aleksei lies to the second Rhino, agreeing to fight him in his Rhino suit, but instead goes into hiding with his wife Oksana. Before they arrive at their safehouse, however, the second Rhino attacks again, and Oksana dies as a result. Aleksei dons his old Rhino suit, which is strong enough to destroy the new Rhino's, and kills the unnamed wearer.[23]
Ryan O'Smith
A man named Ryan O'Smith was experimented on by an unnamed mad scientist where the experiment gave him flight and wanted to be a superhero. When he wanted to be a heroic Rhino after meeting Spider-Man, he would be targeted by the original Rhino which led to Ryan and Spider-Man defeating Rhino.[39]
Reception
In 2020, CBR.com ranked Rhino 2nd in their "10 Most Powerful Members of the Sinister Syndicate" list.[40]
In 2022, Screen Rant ranked Rhino 8th in their "10 Most Powerful Silk Villains In Marvel Comics" list.[41]
Other versions
Age of Apocalypse
An alternate universe variant of the Rhino from Earth-295 appears in Age of Apocalypse. This version is a rhinoceros-like Inhuman.[42]
An alternate universe variant of the Rhino from Earth-001 appears in Spider-Verse as a member of Verna's Hounds.[50][51]
Marvel Mangaverse
An alternate universe variant of the Rhino from Earth-2301 appears in Marvel Mangaverse. This version is a member of the Kishi Kuri clan.[52]
Spider-Gwen
An alternate universe variant of Aleksei Sytsevich from Earth-65 appears in Spider-Gwen. This version is a mercenary.[53]
Old Man Logan
An alternate universe variant of the Rhino from Earth-807128 appears in Old Man Logan.[54]
Ultimate Marvel
An alternate universe variant of the Rhino from Earth-1610 appears in Ultimate Marvel. This version is Alex O'Hirn, a scientist who uses a suit of armor known as R.H.I.N.O. (Robotism Heuristic Intelligence Navigable Operative), stolen from the United States military.[55][56]
The Alex O'Hirn incarnation of the Rhino appears in The Spectacular Spider-Man, voiced by Clancy Brown.[57] This version was originally a thug working under Tombstone and as Flint Marko's partner in crime who was used as a guinea pig in Norman Osborn's illegal experiments and infused with Dr. Otto Octavius' titanium resin armor. Christening himself the Rhino, O'Hirn's armor makes him physically powerful, but it obstructs his pores, forcing him to periodically re-hydrate. Following his first fight with Spider-Man, the Rhino goes on to join two incarnations of the Sinister Six before he is eventually captured.
The Alex O'Hirn incarnation of the Rhino appears in Ultimate Spider-Man (2012), voiced by Max Mittelman and Daryl Sabara respectively.[57] This version is a teenager and student of Midtown High School whose powers are derived from a serum created by Doctor Octopus that allows him to transform into an anthropomorphic rhinoceros. He later joins the Sinister Six until Spider-Man eventually persuades him to join the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy and use his powers for good.
The Aleksei Sytsevich incarnation of the Rhino appears in Spider-Man (2017), voiced primarily by Matthew Mercer,[58] and briefly voiced by Ben Pronsky in "Dead Man's Party".[57][59] This version is a student at Horizon High who is secretly injected with rhino serum by Raymond Warren. Additionally, while in his Rhino form, Sytsevich has poor eyesight like an actual rhinoceros.
Giamatti confirmed that the Rhino was planned to return in a third The Amazing Spider-Man film before the franchise was cancelled.[66]
Two alternate universe-displaced incarnations of the Rhino make non-speaking cameo appearances in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse as prisoners of the Spider-Society, one being from Earth-67.[67]
The Rhino appears as a boss in Spider-Man 3, voiced by Steve Blum.[57] This version has a condition that causes his skin to resemble an actual rhinoceros and wears a helmet resembling that of his traditional costume. [citation needed]
The Rhino appears in the Nintendo DS version of Spider-Man: Edge of Time, voiced again by Fred Tatasciore.[57] This version takes Anti-Venom's place as the one who is inadvertently fused with Alchemax scientist Walker Sloan and Doctor Octopus to become the monstrous Atrocity (also voiced by Tatasciore).
The Aleksei Sytsevich incarnation of the Rhino appears as a boss in The Amazing Spider-Man, voiced again by Fred Tatasciore.[71] This version is a genetic hybrid of Sytsevich and a rhinoceros created by a corrupt Oscorp scientist using gene-splicing technology with the intention of selling it to a Russian crime syndicate as a living weapon.[72] Additionally, the Rhino appears as a playable character in the Rhino ChallengeDLC pack.[73]
The Aleksei Sytsevich incarnation of the Rhino appears as a boss in the mobile version of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 film tie-in game, voiced again by Robin Atkin Downes.[75] This version is initially a small-time criminal before donning rhinoceros-themed armor. Additionally, the Rhino armor from the film also appears as an Easter egg in the other versions of the game.
The Aleksei Sytsevich incarnation of the Rhino appears in Insomniac's Spider-Man series, voiced once again by Fred Tatasciore.[57] This version is a former enforcer for the Russian Mob clad in an experimental and irremovable rhinoceros-themed combat suit that increases his strength. Within the games' continuity, Spider-Man has been a superhero for eight years and is well-familiar with the Rhino, having fought him several times in the past.
The Rhino first appears as a boss in Spider-Man (2018).[76] He is initially imprisoned in the Raft before Doctor Octopus breaks him out and recruits him into his Sinister Six in exchange for the latter removing his armor. After defeating Spider-Man, the Sinister Six split up to attack various Oscorp properties, with the Rhino being sent to attack the company's welfare centers. He is later joined in this endeavor by the Scorpion and reluctantly works with him until they are both defeated by Spider-Man and returned to police custody.
The Rhino returns as a boss in Spider-Man: Miles Morales.[77] Following a failed escape attempt amidst a prison transfer to the Raft, he is defeated by the new Spider-Man and ends up in Roxxon's custody. After receiving new armor that is more resistant to Spider-Man's bio-electric abilities, the company recruits him to capture Spider-Man and the Tinkerer, only to be defeated by the pair and severely wounded by the latter.
Miscellaneous
The Rhino appears in Spider-Man: The Darkest Hours, by Jim Butcher. After being forced to ally with Spider-Man against Morlun's family, the two foes gain a deeper respect for one another.
The Rhino received several action figures in Toy Biz's Spider-Man: The Animated Series tie-in line, Spider-Man Classics line, and Marvel Legends series. The Spider-Man Classics figure was later repainted and reissued by Hasbro.
The Rhino received a mini-bust from Art Asylum as part of their Rogues Gallery collection.
The Rhino received a bust and statue from Bowen Designs.
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