Slingers were a group of fictional superheroes in the Marvel Comic universe, who appeared in an eponymous comic book. They were four teenage superheroes who had been inspired by Spider-Man. The group first appeared in Slingers #0, a free promotional comic book included in an issue of Wizard. Slingers #1 used a controversial sales gimmick: four versions of the first issue were produced, each telling a third of the first issue's story from the point of view of one of the four team members. The gimmick, and the series, failed to sustain either sales or reader interest, and the series was cancelled with issue #12.
The team's four members used costumes and codenames that had been used by Spider-Man during the "Identity Crisis" crossover. During "Identity Crisis", Spider-Man was wanted for murder with a million-dollar reward posted for his capture; instead of his normal costumed identity, he adopted four other costumes and created a different crimefighting persona for each suit. After this crisis had ended, he discarded the four costumes, and they subsequently disappeared, reappearing in the possession of the Golden Age superhero called the Black Marvel . The Marvel gave the costumes to four youths, and trained them to become heroes.
Aside from brief cameos in New Warriors and Contest of Champions II, the team made no appearances elsewhere, and in their own series only received a few brief appearances by their inspiration, Spider-Man. When it was revealed that the Black Marvel had received the costumes through a deal with the demon Mephisto, the Slingers broke from him, them returned to free his soul from Mephisto. The Black Marvel died, free from Mephisto's grasp, and the team apparently disbanded.
The four members of the Slingers were:
- Dusk, who died in Slingers #0 and mysteriously returned from the dead in Slingers #1.
- Hornet, who wore a suit of flight-capable powered armor. After the group dissolved, he apparently became affiliated with the government agency SHIELD, only to be killed by a brainwashed Wolverine.
- Prodigy
- Ricochet (Johnny Gallo), a mutant with superhuman agility and a "danger sense" like Spider-Man's Spider-Sense; he also used throwing discs in combat. After the group dissolved, he joined the Los Angeles-based "teenage superhero recovery group" called Excelsior.
Issues
- Slingers #0 - "Wizard Giveaway" Ricochet, Hornet, Prodigy on first night out. Dusk committed suicide to keep others from throwing her out.
- Slingers #1 - "Variant" Ricochet saved girlfriend Kathy from mugging. Hornet prevents Mac Garrity from killing himself. Hornet stopped de-railed train. Prodigy, Ricochet, Prodigy met with Black Marvel. Dusk rose out of the morgue, secretly helped others stop de-railed train.
- Slingers #2 - "Terror On The Tracks": Prodigy sent Hornet and Ricochet to investigate Grand Royale Hotel and abandoned them after being discovered by Jimmy Eyes. Dusk visited parents' house.
- Slingers #3- "With Friends Like These...": Dusk saved Hornet from being buried alive; confronted him at his dorm contended with Spider-Man; investigated history of the Royale Hotel
- Slingers #4 - "The Black Marvel Strikes": Ricochet with Hornet, confronted Prodigy at Grand Royale Hotel; thrown from roof in battle, but saved by Dusk, encountered Spider-Man at scene of her death.
- Slingers #5- "Goodbye To The Golden Age": Dusk with Ricochet, Hornet and Prodigy helped save people from fire at Grand Royale Hotel. Prodigy learnt Black Marvel's true motivations.
- Slingers #6- "Truth, Consequences, Dares & Dysfunction": Dusk, Ricochet and Hornet origin recounted. Ricochet took dive from building as part of dare with Dusk. Prodigy origin depicted; revealed to have survived fire.
- Slingers #7 - "Revenge Of The Griz" (Part 1): Hornet captured by the Griz and his giant rats. Ricochet alongside Dusk, fought the Griz. Prodigy returned home.
- Slingers #8- "Revenge Of The Griz" (Part 2): Ricochet built the Ricochet-Mobile; Ricochet-Mobile lost saving Hornet from the Griz with Dusk. Prodigy while battling criminals nearly killed a by-stander.
- Slingers #9- "Loose Ends And Lost Boys": Ricochet death of mother depicted; learnt Nanny & Orphan-Maker were responsible for her death; saved father from Orphan-Maker, revealing his identity to him; learnt Prodigy was alive. Hornet practiced with Ricochet in central park. Dusk watched Ricochet and Hornet practice.
- Slingers #10- "Raising Hell's Children" (Part 1): Ricochet Lenient black marvel had died and revealed to Hornet and Dusk that Prodigy was alive;
- Slingers #11- "Raising Hell's Children" (Part 2): Hornet, Ricochet, Dusk escaped torment by Mephisto. Prodigy with aid of Ricochet, overcame torment by Mephisto
- Slingers #12- "Raising Hell's Children" (Part 3): Hornet abandoned Hornet armor to save the Black Marvel's soul, Ricochet abandoned Ricochet identity to save Black Marvel's soul, Prodigy abandoned Prodigy costume to save Black Marvel's soul. Dusk rejected offer to serve Mephisto; helped others save Black Marvel's soul.
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