VILLAINS FOR HIRE
Membership: Purple Man (leader, Zebediah Killgrave), Headhunter (second-in-command), Avalanche (Dominikos Petrakis), Bombshell (Wendy Conrad), Bushmaster (Quincy McIver), Death Stalker, Lady Stilt-Man, Man-Ape (M'Baku), Monster (Brady Briedel), Scourge (actually Paladin), Shocker (Herman Schultz), Tiger Shark (Todd Arliss)
Purpose: Covertly building a criminal empire for Purple Man in New York City
Affiliations: Mole Man (Harvey Elder)
Enemies: Misty Knight's Rival Crew: Puppet Master (leader), Misty Knight (second-in-command), Paladin, Bombshell (defects to VfH), Tiger Shark (defects to VfH), Lady Stilt-Man (defects to VfH), Man-Ape (defects to VfH), Crossfire (William Cross), Speed Demon (James Sanders), Nightshade (Tilda Johnson)
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Purple Man's offices in downtown New York City
First Appearance: Villains for Hire#0.1 (January, 2012)
History:
(Villains for Hire#0.1 - BTS) - The Purple Man and Headhunter joined forces, in the hopes of covertly building a large criminal empire in New York.
(Villains for Hire#0.1) - From their office downtown, Purple Man and Headhunter monitored the situation as Lady Stilt-Man stole Asgardian antiquities and was pursued by Silver Sable and Black Panther (working under Misty Knight as part of Heroes for Hire). Despite being stopped, her loot was taken by unrevealed individuals through underground tunnels, which turned out to be Moloids from Monster Island. Black Panther, aided by Daimon Hellstrom, confronted them. The artifacts were stolen for Sidewinder, who was captured by Paladin. Purple Man decided to repurpose the tunnels for his Villains for Hire operation and called Mole Man to inquire about them.
(Villains for Hire#1) - Working under Purple Man's direction, coordinated actions by Shocker, Avalanche and Death Stalker allowed the team to divert an armored truck, drop it on a barge and kill its guards. The barge was attacked by Bombshell, Tiger Shark and Crossfire. Headhunter called in Scourge as backup, but Nightshade arrived to pick up the rival crew's loot. Avalanche was put into intensive care and the Villains for Hire failed in their mission, leading Purple Man to investigate and target the rival crew.
(Villains for Hire#2) - At the pickup spot for a new job, the rival crew confronted the Villains for Hire, with the stolen material eventually being whisked away by Speed Demon, working for the competition. Headhunter and Purple Man argued over who was leading the rival crew, with her favoring Misty Knight and he disagreed. At The Bar With No Name, Headhunter got Tiger Shark and Bombshell to switch sides, and they gave an address for their employer. At the address, Scourge found Misty Knight, and through the camera on his rifle's scope, the Villains for Hire watched as Misty Knight was confronted by Paladin over her new operation. Knight blasted him with her bionic arm.
(Villains for Hire#3) - The rest of the Villains for Hire (except for Headhunter and Purple Man) joined Scourge while Purple Man deliberated on what to do. The villains assaulted Knight's building, triggering defensive measures, and she called in Crossfire, Man-Ape, Speed Demon and Lady Stilt-Man to help protect her. Tiger Shark revealed to these (except Speed Demon, who had been knocked out) whose orders they were actually following, getting Lady Stilt-Man and Man-Ape to switch sides. Scourge shot Crossfire when he complained about their lack of professionalism. The Villains for Hire captured Misty Knight and Tiger Shark pulled her bionic arm off. Purple Man and Headhunter arrived at the scene to confront the captured Knight, but she revealed she was actually working for Puppet Master.
(Villains for Hire#4) - Puppet Master assumed control of Purple Man's crew, except for Headhunter. Purple Man overloaded them with pheromones, breaking Puppet Master's control. However, Purple Man was drained out in the process and lost his own control over the villains, who revolted. In the resulting free for all, Man-Ape and Bombshell fled the scene, Headhunter cut off Death Stalker's arm and Scourge shot Avalanche. Scourge revealed himself as Paladin and caught Purple Man and Headhunter. The other villains were also arrested, putting an end to Villains for Hire.
Comments: Created by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning & Renato Arlem.
Profile by Cisco.
The identity of the second Death-Stalker is as yet unrevealed.
CLARIFICATIONS:
The Villains for Hire have no known connection to:
images: (without ads)
Villains for Hire#1, cover (main image)
Appearances:
Villains for Hire#0.1 (January, 2012) - Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (writers), Renato Arlem (artist), Bill Rosemann (editor)
Villains for Hire#1 (February, 2012) - Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (writers), Renato Arlem (artist), Bill Rosemann (editor)
Villains for Hire#2 (March, 2012) - Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (writers), Renato Arlem (artist), Bill Rosemann (editor)
Villains for Hire#3 (April, 2012) - Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (writers), Renato Arlem (artist), Bill Rosemann (editor)
Villains for Hire#4 (May, 2012) - Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (writers), Renato Arlem (artist), Bill Rosemann (editor)
First Posted: 02/11/2017
Last updated: 02/11/2017
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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