Silvermane

Silvermane
Silvermane as depicted inPeter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man#96 (August 1984). Art byAl Milgrom.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	The Amazing Spider-Man#73 (June 1969)
Created by	Stan Lee(writer) John Buscema(artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Silvio Manfredi
Species	Humancyborg
Team affiliations	The Maggia HYDRA
Notable aliases	Supreme Hydra
Abilities	Keen intellect Superhuman strength,stamina, durability, speed, longevity, and senses Use of various handguns

Silvermane(Silvio Manfredi) is asupervillainappearing inAmerican comic bookspublished byMarvel Comics.A notoriouscrime bossand prominent figure in theMaggia,a fictionalorganized crimesyndicate, he is usually depicted as an adversary of thesuperheroSpider-Manand the father ofJoseph Manfredi.Silvermane later became acyborgin an attempt to extend his lifespan.

The character has made appearances in several forms of media outside of comics, including animated series and video games.

Publication history

He first appeared inThe Amazing Spider-Man#73and was created byStan LeeandJohn Buscema.

The character's original storyline was about a mysterious stone tablet coveted by severalSpider-Manvillains. The "Tablet Saga" proved popular, although artistJohn Romita, Sr.said that it was not originally intended as an arc: "We never even thought up Silvermane until the seventh issue [of the story arc], let alone a 'socko' ending."

Fictional character biography

Silvio Manfredi, nicknamed "Silvermane" for his near-white hair, is a professionalcriminaloriginally fromCorleone,Sicilythat started his criminal career as a racketeer in theMaggia,eventually forming his own crime family and becoming a powerful Maggia Don.

In his first appearance, an elderly Silvermane forcedCurt Connorsto make a potion from an ancient clay tablet to grant himself immortality. He first crossed paths with Connors' alter-ego, the Lizard, andSpider-Manduring this scheme. Drinking the serum made Silvermane younger, but its effects caused him to de-age further and further until he was an infant before completely disappearing.Silvermane eventually reappeared, revealing that he had mystically aged to his forties. He started a new career and again quickly rose through the Maggia's ranks until he regained control of his family, the sought to form an alliance withHydra,determined to take over the world as their leader, the Supreme Hydra. He was defeated byDaredevil,Nick Fury,andS.H.I.E.L.D.Silvermane reappeared in New York in an attempt to unite all of New York's gangs under his leadership and take over the criminal underworld, but his plans were complicated by theGreen Goblin,who opposed him. During a confrontation between the Goblin, Silvermane and Spider-Man, Silvermane fell from a great height but survived.

Silvermane has worked with many super-villains, such asHammerhead,and he has also been known to be a rival of theKingpin,even once trying to assassinate the crime lord while he was suffering from amnesia.His former partner, Dominic Tyrone, assumed the identity of theRapierand sought vengeance against Silvermane for betraying him by attempting to take his life.A flashback one-shot focused heavily on Silvermane's lifetime of corruption and crime, going back to his early career in Italy. The framework was reporterBen Urichinvestigating the background of the Maggia. He learned that Silvermane was a legendary criminal figure for decades; mothers would even warn their children to behave or "One-Eye" would get them.

In his old age, Silvermane's injuries caused his youth serum to wear off, rendering him an invalid. Though bedridden, he continued to run his criminal empire untilDaggernearly killed him. Silvermane attempted to prolong his life by transforming himself into acyborg.Kingpin gained control of his cyborg body until Dagger restored his life energy to him.His cyborg body was badly damaged by the firstJack O'Lanternduring a gang war between Hammerhead and the Kingpin.Silvermane used a remote-controlled android doppelganger to battle Spider-Man. This was part of an attempt to boost the power of his remaining organic parts by harvesting new ones from Spider-Man's body. He attempted to drain his nemesis's radioactive blood to power a new, much stronger cyborg body.Silvermane also confrontedDeathlokand thePunisherwhile setting up a major drug operation outside a grammar school.Even though he is no longer technically human, he has continued to remain active in the Maggia.

Silvermane attempted to take part in a meetup of various criminal warlords, during a time when Wilson Fisk had fallen from power. The meeting's goal was to divide up Fisk's territory and assets, but it did not go well. Silvermane was caught in the crossfire between theSecret Empire's forces and the Punisher. This was purely by coincidence as he was simply staying at the same motel as Punisher was. Silvermane used the resources of his personal semi-trailer and the cyborg bodies stored within to battle his way through the attackers and escape.

It was revealed some time later that Silvermane was killed during a shootout withOwl's gang at a New York City scrap yard. He was picked up by a magnet and dropped into a garbage compactor, crushing him to death and leaving his already weakened criminal syndicate without a leader. Months later, he apparently returns along with other deceased members of his gang during the Maggia's losing battle with the forces ofMister Negative.However, this is later revealed to be a ruse orchestrated by a mobster named Carmine: "Silvermane" is actually a lifelike robotic duplicate controlled by a hiredMysterioto give Carmine more influence within the Maggia and position him to take over. The tables are turned on Carmine when Mysterio uses the duplicate to murder him, seemingly as a plot to take over the Maggia himself.

Silvermane's head is shown to still be alive as it was found by a young boy when he traveled into the scrap yard, before then being stolen by theShocker.The head is used as leverage byThe Superior Foes of Spider-Manto take control of the Maggia, but the team members turn on each other when it comes time to decide who will actually be in charge. Shocker protects Silvermane fromPunisher.In return, the crime boss nominates him as his successor to head the Maggia.

Silvermane is among the crime lords competing with Mister Negative in obtaining the Tablet of Life and Destiny to win the favor of Mayor Wilson Fisk.

During the "Gang War"storyline, Silverman andCount Nefariatalk about the upcoming gang war. In a turn of events, Silvermane loses control of his robotic body and attacks Count Nefaria. Then Silvermane's body removes his head as Silvermane recognizes the person responsible for this attack.When Hammerhead's men arrive and confront Madame Masque, Silvermane's head and Count Nefaria are shown in the arms ofShotgunas he throws them to the ground. When Madame Masque states that Hammerhead's men have to follow an oath, Silvermane's head states that Madame Masque is now the new leader of the Maggia.Silvermane's head was present when Shotgun told Madame Masque a status report of the gang wars. Though Silvermane's head was annoyed that he was used as a paperweight.When the Maggia confrontsBeetle,theSinister Syndicate,Digger,and the gangs that are on Beetle's side, Silvermane was seen under a mind-control spell which is the same spell used on Count Nefaria and Shotgun.As the fight in Central Park begins, Silvermane and Count Nefaria are tackled by Digger. Spider-Man and his allies show up as Spider-Woman and Elektra's Daredevil appearance make their way towards Count Nefaria and Silvermane and Count Nefaria.As Mayor Luke Cage arrives withMary Jane Watson'sJackpotappearance andSpider-Boy,a liberated Shotgun shoots off the mind-control sigil on Silvermane and Count Nefaria as Jackpot and She-Hulk subdue them. Mayor Cage and She-Hulk managed to fight and defeat Silvermane.

Powers and abilities

Silvermane was considered to be one of the Maggia's most legendary bosses. He is an excellent unarmed combatant and marksman, as well as a brilliant planner, organizer, and strategist. Themagic potionshe uses temporarily grant him a form ofimmortality,appearing in his early-to-mid 40s.

His preferred weapons are numerous machine guns, especially the Thompson.45 caliber.

Later, Silvermane's brain, vital organs, and head were transplanted into a robotic body, thus increasing his physical attributes to abnormal levels. However, his remaining biological parts needs careful protection because of their extreme vulnerability.

Other versions

House of M

Silvermane appeared in theHouse of Mreality, portrayed as a younger crime boss and one of dozens of mobsters captured by the NYPD's eliteBrotherhoodunit.

Ultimate Marvel

TheUltimate Marvelversion of Silvermane had a brief cameo. WithWilson Fisklying low due to legal problems, Silvermane, his chief rival, decided to work with fellow mobsterHammerheadto remove the Kingpin from power. He told Hammerhead that all he needed was a little "up here" (referring to his intelligence). Hammerhead, however, wasn't interested in sharing power, breaking Silvermane's neck while saying "I think I got enough up here already."Silvermane was also mentioned as a leader of a mob family which included Hammerhead and that he owed a debt toNathaniel Essex.The Ultimate incarnation's real name is shown in theDaily BugleasAllan Silvermane,though this is likely an alias as he is also referred to as Silvio Manfredi.

In other media

Television

Silvermane (left) andTombstoneas depicted inSpider-Man(1994).

• Silvermane appears in theSpider-Man(1981) episode "Wrath of the Sub-Mariner", voiced byPaul Winchell.
• Silvermane appears inSpider-Man(1994), voiced byJeff Coreyas an old man,Townsend Colemanas a young man,Matthew McCurley as a child,and Cannon Young as a baby.This version is a rival crime lord of theKingpinand the father ofAlisa Silver(voiced byLeigh-Allyn Baker). In his most notable appearances in the episodes "Tablet of Time", "Ravages of Time", and "Partners", Silvermane seeks out the titular tablet, an artifact capable of rejuvenating an individual's youth, so he can achieve immortality due to his irregular childhood. After locating it and kidnapping and forcing Dr.Curt Connorsto decipher it, Silvermane uses the tablet, only to be physically reverted into a baby with his adult intellect intact whileHammerheadsteals the Tablet on the Kingpin's behalf. In response, Silvermane and Alisa work withAlistair Smytheto useneogenictechnology to allow Silvermane to switch bodies with Spider-Man. However, theVultureinterferes and takes Spider-Man's place, leading to Silvermane returning to his original age.
• Silvermane appears inThe Spectacular Spider-Man,voiced byMiguel Ferrer.This version is a rival crime lord to Tombstone and the father ofSable Manfrediwho was arrested and incarcerated 12 years prior to the series afterFrederick Foswellexposed his criminal activities to theFBI.Tombstone subsequently took Silvermane's territory while Sable ran his empire's remnants in her father's absence. In the episode "Gangland", Silvermane is released from prison and battles Tombstone andDoctor Octopusfor control of New York's criminal underworld using a hidden hydraulic exoskeleton, only to be defeated by Spider-Man and apprehended by the police. As of the episode "Opening Night", Silvermane was remanded to theVault.
• Silvermane appears inSpider-Man(2017), voiced byNolan North.In his most notable appearance in the episode "Goblin War" Pt. 3, Silvermane became the leader of the Goblin Nation's Cyber Goblins before he is defeated by Spider-Man and theHobgoblin.
• Silvermane appears in theMoon Girl and Devil Dinosaurepisode "Family Matters", voiced byJonathan Banks.This version is the arch-enemy ofTurbowho wants to claim her suit for his own ends. He is ultimately defeated by Turbo andMoon Girl,who trick him into downloading his consciousness into a teddy bear.

Video games

• Silvermane appears in theSNESandSega Genesisbeta versions ofSpider-Man(1995), but was replaced with a robot in the final versions.
• Silvermane appears as a boss in theNintendo DSversion ofSpider-Man: Shattered Dimensions,voiced bySteve Blum.Having survived to the year2099due to his cybernetic body, he attempts to use a fragment of the Tablet of Order and Chaos to become immortal, only to be defeated bySpider-Man 2099.
• Silvermane appears as a playable character inLego Marvel Super Heroes 2,as part of the "Cloak and Dagger"DLC.

Miscellaneous

Silvermane appears in the novelSpider-Man: Forever Young,written byStefan Petrucha.The details of the tablet story are retold, with some elements being updated or changed, such as Silvermane displaying a disdain for personal electronic devices due to their lack of security as well as the Kingpin being left in a coma due to the shock of learning that his son was the masked criminal, the Schemer. The novel picks up two years after the original storyline, with Silvermane now fluctuating between being a child and adult as he attempts to force Curt Connors and Spider-Man to retrieve the tablet and stabilize his condition. Even after Connors's research asserts that the tablet essentially cycles someone through their reincarnations in one lifetime to try to achieve truekarma,Silvermane refuses to accept this and attempts to blackmail Spider-Man to help him after deducing his true identity. Spider-Man eventually confronts Silvermane in the latter's church hideout. The ensuing battle ends with an enraged Silvermane burning the church down to try to kill Spider-Man, though his ultimate fate is left unclear.

External links

• Silvermaneat Marvel.com