Rhino (Marvel)

Rhino appeared in 1966 Marvel Comics called Amazing Spider-Man.

Aleksei Sytsevich (Russian: Алексе́й Сицевич) (Pronounced: Ah-lex-ee Sit-seh-vich) was just another thug in the Russian Mafia, grasping at dreams of easy money, and headed for a short brutal life. Seduced by promises of wealth and power, Aleksei underwent a life-threatening series of chemical and radiation treatments throughout several months to transform him into an agent with superhuman strength for a collective of professional spies. In part, this was to support his family.

Aleksei's powerful armor, permanently bonded to his form, was modeled after the hide of a rhinoceros. Two scientists named Igor and Georgi chose this form, both for its visual impact and in recognition of the fact that the rhino was the result of countless generations of evolution towards the ultimate form for armored assault. They selected Aleksei for his muscular physique and low intelligence, which they believed would ensure his loyalty.

Given the code-name Rhino, his first mission was to kidnap astronaut John Jameson, son of Daily Bugle publisher J. Jonah Jameson, and sell him to the highest bidder. He received intensive sub-hypnotic training in American English, and false citizenship papers bearing the name Alex O'Hirn. Feeling cocky, he turned on his benefactors, destroying their headquarters, and attempted to abduct Jameson under his own initiative. As the Rhino made his way towards New York City, Spider-Man began to formulate how to defeat this apparently unstoppable foe, and discovered two key factors: 1) Once he began charging, the Rhino couldn't change directions or easily halt his advance, and 2) Aleksei was rather dumb. Spider-Man deduced that if he could avoid a direct hit from the Rhino's horn, his superior tactical skills and agility would always leave him the final victor in any fair fight.{Spider-Man defeated the Rhino, sending the villain to a special state correctional hospital where he was kept under heavy sedation.

After a few weeks, the Rhino broke out of the hospital and escaped, seeking revenge on Spider-Man, who defeated him, this time using a specially-formulated version of his web fluid, devised with the aid of Dr. Curt Connors, that contained encapsulated acid pellets whose containers dissolved upon contact with air. The special webbing rendered the Rhino's costume weak and brittle, which deprived him of needed impact resistance. The Rhino was recaptured, tried, and convicted.

The Rhino served a commuted sentence and was discharged; when he was released, the spies who had transformed him, apparently showing no sign of malice towards his betrayal, approached him with the offer to strengthen him using a gamma-ray process. They had also devised an improved, acid-resistant material rhinoceros suit. Having no other prospects of gainful employment, the Rhino accepted the offer. The new series of radiation treatments were successful and doubled the Rhino's previous strength level.

The augmented Rhino's first mission was to abduct Dr. Bruce Banner, an authority on biochemical gamma-ray experimentation, (also known as the Hulk). The spies planned to coerce Banner into developing an army of gamma-ray treated superhuman assassins. When the Rhino tried to abduct Banner, Banner transformed into the Hulk and overpowered the Rhino. Again, the Rhino was sent to a state facility under heavy sedation and high security.

The Rhino's battle with the Hulk came to the attention of the Leader, one of the Hulk's foremost enemies, who decided that further gamma-ray treatments would give the Rhino enough power to overcome the Hulk. The Leader freed the Rhino from the state facility, and further increased his strength by gamma-ray bombardments. The Leader then dispatched the Rhino to crash the wedding of Bruce Banner and Betty Ross. Succeeding in interrupting the wedding, the Rhino engaged in battle with the Hulk. When the Leader accidentally shot him with a radiation blast intended for the Hulk, the Rhino turned on the Leader and caused the Leader's escape module to explode.

The Rhino was left comatose, but otherwise unharmed, and taken to a state hospital. The Leader used his mental energies to revive him, and re-outfitted him to battle the Hulk once again - this time with the Leader's mind controlling his every move. When the Leader released the Rhino, Aleksei was aboard a space shuttle battling the Hulk. The fight continued until the shuttle crash landed on the High Evolutionary's artificial planet on the opposite side of the sun called Counter-Earth.

While the ship automatically repaired its damage, the Leader telemetrically signaled for its return; the Hulk fought his way back on, with the Rhino in tow. When the ship crash landed back on Earth, the Rhino was buried in the wreckage for some time until he revived.

Rhino was later hunted down by Taskmaster and Black Ant, during his attempt at escaping he encountered Spider-Man and the two teamed up to fight the villains. Unfortunately, when Black Ant shot down a restaurant, Spider-Man abandoned Rhino in order to save someone, which caused Aleksei to be captured by the Taskmaster and Black Ant, blaming Spider-Man as he was taken by the villains.

He was put along with King Cobra, Scorpion, Stegron the Dinosaur Man, Tarantula and Vulture as part of the Savage Six that Arcade displayed at a meeting with a bunch of millionaire would-be hunters. Aleksei was then imprisoned in Central Park along with others animal-inspired criminals as part of a ploy by Kraven the Hunter.

As the criminals were hunted down by the Hunterbots, Rhino was convinced by Vulture's story about Gibbon heroically sacrificing himself to allow him to find a weak point in robots. Spider-Man, who was also imprisoned in Central Park, tried to convince the prisoners that Toomes was lying but Rhino didn't believed him due to his previous betrayal, joining the Vulture's revolt against their captors. After Kraven shut down the Great Hunt and liberated his prisoners, Rhino decided to remain as part of the Savage Six.

Powers and Abilities[]

Gamma Ray Bombardment: All of Rhino's superhuman attributes are the result of treatments involving gamma radiation. The controlled bombardment fortified his cellular structure and added several hundred pounds of muscle and bone tissue to his body. Over the years, he has repeated the procedure for the purpose of increasing his powers and there has been a dramatic increase in his strength when compared to his initial gamma ray treatment.
Superhuman Strength: The Rhino possesses extreme superhuman strength. The Rhino is able to lift approximately 75 tons. When Rhino attempted to drown Silver Sable and himself in a room of rising water, he was shown being capable of resisting Spider-Man's attempts at loosening his grip. Rhino was capable of destroying the armour of the successor Rhino with ease. Rhino has also shown to be able to match up to even the Hulk's strength and stagger him with his blows.
Superhuman Speed: The Rhino can, despite his large size, run and or exercise at top-notch speeds, being capable of catching up with a moving train. Hence he can, while charging or ramming, appear at his destination rather quickly, although he can't move nearly as fast as speedsters.
Superhuman Stamina: The Rhino's enhanced musculature is much more efficient than that of a normal human and generates considerably less fatigue toxins during physical activity. At his peak, he can exert himself physically for at least up to 24 hours before the build up of fatigue toxins in his blood starts to impair his performance. On one occasion, Aleksei managed to battle the Hulk for several days straight on the outer hull of a spaceship in orbit around the sun.
Superhuman Durability: Even without his suit, the Rhino's body is highly resistant to physical injury. He can withstand high caliber bullets, exposure to temperature extremes, falls from great heights and even light anti-tank weaponry without sustaining injury. The Rhino's costume grants him a high degree of resistance to physical injury. It is highly impervious to damage, able to resist explosions equivalent to 1 ton of TNT, the impact of small anti-tank weaponry, and temperature extremes between -50˚ and 1,000˚ F without cracking or melting. It is acid resistant and removable. The suit boosts his strength, features a bulletproof polymer mat rhino-like hide and two horns capable of penetrating 2-inch plate steel.

Though he has had little formal training, the Rhino's sheer strength and resistance to injury render him a formidable hand-to-hand combatant. He uses street fighting techniques that allow him to make full use of those attributes. His skill in battle is proficient enough to fight against the Hulk for days on end.

Arsenal[]

Rhino Armor: The Rhino wears a special suit modularly aligned and composed of a thick polymer mat similar in appearance to the skin of an actual rhino. The suit works in conjunction with his gamma-based powers and increases his strength and durability beyond their original gamma-induced levels. The Rhino's costume grants him a high degree of resistance to physical injury. It is highly impervious to damage, able to resist explosions equivalent to 1 ton of TNT, the impact of small anti-tank weaponry, and temperature extremes between -50˚ and 1,000˚ F without cracking or melting. It is acid resistant and removable. The suit boosts his strength, features a bulletproof polymer mat rhino-like hide and two horns capable of penetrating 2-inch plate steel.

Weakness[]

Once charging, he cannot change direction or easily halt his advance. The Rhino also possesses below average intelligence.