Spider-Man's Most Despised Movie Villain is Becoming A Hero
Warning: contains spoilers for Devil's Reign #4!
One of the most hated and frequently-ridiculed villains in Spider-Man lore is finally turning over a new leaf. The Rhino is a classic addition to the Spider-Man rogues gallery, maintaining an animal-based theme and encountering Peter Parker multiple times throughout comics history. Devil's Reign #4 finally shows the Rhino's journey from villain to hero, but the character must rise above his C-list villain status...especially in the wake of his less-than-stellar debut in 2014's The Amazing Spider-Man 2.
Before becoming the Rhino, Aleksei Sytsevich was a lowly member of the Russian Mafia who was granted a suit with phenomenal strength and durability. He rebelled against his sinister Soviet superiors, and began a life of crime. Over time, the Rhino's suit would be permanently bonded to Sytsevich, causing considerable consternation. Aleksei is perhaps best known for his incredibly brief appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, in which the Rhino barely factors into the plot and only appears in his armored form in the last few minutes of the film. He was little more than a joke character, but Devil's Reign grants the Rhino some much-needed depth.
Related: Marvel Brings A Spider-Man Movie Meme Into The Comics
In Marvel's Devil's Reign crossover event, the Kingpin Wilson Fisk has used his power as Mayor of New York to effectively outlaw superhero activities within the city. The Thunderbolts — villains whom the Kingpin employs, and assisted by drones — are tasked with arresting all superheroes who fail to obey the law. But during a fight between the Champions (Ms Marvel's superhero team), and the drones, the Rhino gives the heroes all Thunderbolts badges, which force the drones to
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