Wild Pack
Though Silver Sable has operated as a solo heroine/mercenary, more often than not she leads a team of highly trained team operatives into battle. During her original appearances in the Spider-Man titles, these operatives were basically mooks who dressed the same and had little distinct personalities. However, Silver Sable later got her own title "Silver Sable and the Wild Pack" where her operatives gained names, distinct appearances, etc. The following is a list of the characters who were a part of that title.
- Ragtag Bunch of Misfits: The Wild Pack's "A-Team" is basically made of this. There's ex-KKK bodyguard Doug Powell, ex-assassin Amy Chen, the ex-Spider-Man villain the Sandman... pretty much everyone besides Sable herself is an ex-con of one stripe or another.
Founders
Ernst Sablinova
Notable Aliases: Silver Sable
First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #265 (June, 1985)
Father of Silver Sablinova (aka Silver Sable), Ernst Sablinova was the founder of the Wild Pack in its original mission to hunt down Nazi war criminals. He worked with the Symkaria government to do this.
- Badass in a Nice Suit: Wore a white and silver suit.
- Badass Normal: Expertly trained soldier, capable with firearms and hand-to-hand combat.
- Color Character: Silver Sable, just like his daughter.
Fritz Sablinova
Notable Aliases: Ernst Sablinova
First Appearance: Silver Sable and the Wild Pack #8 (January, 1993)
Fritz Sablinova was Ernst Sablinova’s brother. Possibly his twin, given their astounding physical resemblance. They both operated the Wild Pack – Fritz as the tactician, and Ernst as the field leader. They occasionally used their similar features and acting ability so that Ernst Sablinova could be at two places at once.
Current Members
Silver Sable
Silver Sable
Alter Ego: Silver Sablinova
First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #265 (June 1985)
Silver Sable is a well-known female mercenary in Marvel Comics. Originally appearing in Spider-Man's series, she's been both an ally and a foe to the web-slinger. She first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #265 (June, 1985), created by Tom DeFalco, Ron Frenz, and Josef Rubinstein.
Joining the Wild Pack at the age of 17, Silver Sable served as second-in-command until the death of her father, Ernst Sablinova. Based in Symkaria, a tiny country sharing a border with Latveria, the Wild Pack began offering its services internationally under Silver Sable's leadership. Eventually gaining approval from the Symkaria government, the Wild Pack would become one of the country's largest economic contributors.
As the Wild Pack often takes on contracts to capture various supervillains, Sable and the Wild Pack have crossed paths with other heroes in the Marvel Universe a fair number of times, particularly Spider-Man. Though more stand-up heroes like Spider-Man and Captain America tend to dislike her callous demeanor and mercenary ways, she usually remains a trustworthy (if unpredictable) ally of justice, and more financially-minded characters like Paladin or Sandman have no problems working with her, or even for her.
Sable was apparently killed in the Ends of the Earth storyline in Amazing Spider-Man, sacrificing herself to help prevent Doctor Octopus from conquering the world, but she later reappeared alive.
Silver Sable has appeared in the following works:
Comics
- Silver Sable & the Wild Pack (1992-1995)
- Sable and Fortune (2006)
Film
- Silver and Black, was a planned live-action film featuring both Silver Sable and Black Cat, produced by Sony with no involvement from Marvel Studios, and no connection to the Marvel Cinematic Universe despite the integration of Spider-Man. In August 2018, Sony canceled the film and replaced it with two solo films, focusing on each of the title characters.
Video Games
- Ultimate Spider-Man, voiced by Jennifer Hale
- Spider-Man: Battle for New York, voiced by Jennifer Hale
- Spider-Man: Friend or Foe, voiced by Jennifer Hale
- The Punisher: No Mercy
- Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, voiced by Jennifer Hale
- Marvel Heroes
- Spider-Man Unlimited,voiced by Mary Elizabeth McGlynn
- Avengers Academy, voiced by Morgan Berry
- Spider-Man (PS4), voiced by Nichole Elise
Western Animation
- Spider-Man: The Animated Series, voiced by Mira Furlan
- Spider-Man: The New Animated Series, voiced by Virginia Madsen
- The Spectacular Spider-Man, voiced by Nikki Cox
- Marvel's Spider-Man, voiced by April Stewart
Silver Sable provides examples of the following tropes:
- 10-Minute Retirement: Towards the end of her solo series, after she'd avenged her mother and rescued her father, but at the cost of killing someone in cold blood.
- Action Girl: Silver Sable is an extraordinary hand-to-hand combatant and martial artist, an expert marksman, swordsman, and an accomplished gymnast. She is remarkably agile and has exceptional strength, speed, durability, and reflexes.
- Adaptational Villainy: In the comics, she's a Mercenary and an Anti-Hero. In The Spectacular Spider-Man, she is a Mafia Princess and the daughter of the villain Silvermane, becoming a more butt-kicking version of Spider-Man: The Animated Series Alicia Silver. Though
Word of God did hint at a Heel–Face Turn had the show not been Screwed by the Lawyers. - Alliterative Name: Silver Sable & her real name, Silver Sablinova.
- Assassin Outclassin': Attempts have been made on her life several times by her ex-husband, the Foreigner; she, in turn, has made several attempts on his. Apparently, they both consider this some sort of "game".
- Badass Normal: She has no superpowers. It doesn't stop her from kicking all kinds of ass.
- Berserk Button: Do not kill a mother in front of her child when she's around. Shown best in her earliest appearance, where she hunts down a gang without being paid simply because such a thing had happened in front of her.
- Byronic Hero: She fits almost every requirement for it.
- Charles Atlas Superpower: Shown numerous times, though particularly evident in her fight with the Punisher. He's much larger and more muscular than she is, but he points out that she hits just as hard.
- Color Animal Codename: A silver (which is actually her real name, as mentioned above) sable, an animal related to otters and weasels that can be found throughout Northeastern Europe and Central Asia.
- Color Motif: Everything she has ever been seen wearing, including street clothes, evening gowns, party dresses, and even workout clothes, are silver or white. (Her platinum-blonde hair is natural, but one story suggested it was originally black, but turned prematurely grey from stress before she was even legal age.)
- Combat Compliment: While fighting Black Widow in Marvel Comics Presents #53 (see Let's You and Him Fight below), the two complement each other's moves.
- Combat Stilettos: She initially wore flat-soled boots, but began wearing higher and higher heels in the '90s and beyond.
- Dark and Troubled Past: Pretty brutal. Mom killed by surviving members of the Third Reich; father captured by the same bastards (though she did eventually rescue him); first love turned out to be a spy more than willing to kill her...
- Dating Catwoman: Has quite a bit of sex with Kurt Wagner in Uncanny Spider-Man and under her breathe she admits she's fallen for him.
- Defrosting Ice Queen: Starts off hard and relatively emotionless, but slowly begins to allow her feelings to show through. It's most evident if you look at her early interactions with Spider-Man compared to her later ones.
- Disease Bleach: Her hair color is the direct result of the Training from Hell she received as a teenager.
- Drill Sergeant Nasty: Especially with new recruits, usually engaging them in personal combat to see how worthy they are.
- Emotionless Girl: At least she tries to be one. Spider-Man, among others, knows it's a façade. ("There's a whole lot of hurt in that woman," he once mentioned.)
- Form-Fitting Wardrobe: She usually wears a white Spy Catsuit.
- Good Wears White: Silver is an antihero who typically wears white and silver.
- Groin Attack: Certainly not above one every once in a while.
- Jet Pack: Silver has occasionally been seen using a jet pack for transportation.
- Let's You and Him Fight: In Marvel Comics Presents #53, Silver Sable and Black Widow clash over custody of a French criminal named Yves Chevrier. Black Widow has been hired by several agencies to capture Chevier for gun-running, fraud, drug dealing, and grand larceny. Silver Sable is after Chevrier for aiding a Nazi criminal named Heinrich Edelhardt who later killed Silver's agents when they tried to apprehend him. Their fight is rather brief and they immediately turn their attention back to Chevrier when he tries to escape.
- Light Is Good: She wears white and silver, and is a hero.
- Made of Iron: Shown particularly well in her fight with the Sabertooth in a late 80s story. He's savage and tears into her with his claws, but she still manages to win by dropping a wall on him.
- Mexican Standoff: Engaged in one with The Punisher during her solo series.
- Ms. Fanservice: Her skintight suit highlights a lot of her sexy figure.
- My Greatest Failure: Blames herself for the events that led to both her mother's death and her father's kidnapping by neo-Nazis. Later, she suffered extreme guilt when she killed the man responsible for both in cold blood.
- No Range Like Point-Blank Range: Sable once knocked the Immune to Bullets Luke Cage to the ground and, before he could get up, held her pistol a fraction of an inch from his eyeball, and said that—-at this range—-she was willing to bet that his eye was not as invulnerable as the rest of him, and then asked if he was willing to bet she was wrong.
- No Sense of Humor: As usually remarked on by Spider-Man.
- Not Quite Dead: She was seemingly killed by Rhino in Ends of the Earth sacrificing herself to help prevent Doctor Octopus from conquering the world. Later, she showed up alive; having escaped Rhino thanks to a special suit she'd been wearing.
- Pet the Dog: Gets her moments now and again. She really does care for her employees, and not just as investments. She also very vocally supports Spider-Man, remarking to Black Widow that he doesn't get half the respect or credit he deserves and declaring him a hero she would follow to the ends of the earth to the international hero community.
- Pregnancy Scare: After sleeping with her ex. It turned out to be an ordinary glitch in her cycle.
- Prison Episode: Toward the end of her solo series. The CIA was responsible, having become upset that Silver refused to work for them.
- Private Military Contractors: She is essentially a noble of a micronation (with nearly as much clout as the King and she lives in a castle) who employs her mercenary group Wild Pack as a way to support her nation. She also takes many jobs on her own and has employed superheroes such as Spider-Man from time to time.
- Screw the Money, I Have Rules!: Her company may have money as its first priority, but she has a thing about killing in cold blood and she refuses to do assassination jobs for any client. This becomes kind of a problem when she repeatedly turns down the CIA on that front.
- Screw the Rules, I Have Money!: Despite her miserly ways, she's never hesitated to throw around money when she thought it would help her. The Daily Bugle often ends up on the receiving end of her windfalls, much to J. Jonah Jameson's ire.
- The Scrooge: Displays shades of this every now and then; during her first team-up with Spider-Man, she expressed concern when it looked like he was about to die because she feared his heirs suing her.
- She-Fu: Not as often as other female characters of the era, since she's usually packing lots and lots of heat, but dives into it now and again.
- Ship Tease: On at least one occasion with Spider-Man in the main books, though it's more prominent in the What If story where Spider-Man marries the Black Cat. Again in Ends of The Earth.
- Smooch of Victory: After Spidey saved her and a Symkirian pride parade from a bomb, she thanked him with a kiss.
- Steven Ulysses Perhero: Her parents must have been prophets. The name is even quite fitting, describing her beauty, strength, and cold lack of emotion in two words.
- Supreme Chef: Revealed to be one in a What If? scenario where she and Spider-Man fell in love.
- Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: This often comes up when she has to work with the Marvel Universe's more upstanding heroes. Arguably taken to its peak in the "For Love Nor Money" Bat Family Crossover, where she had to work with the fairly-upstanding Luke Cage and the wisecracking, almost Nominal Hero Terror.
- Unresolved Sexual Tension: While never an Official Love Interest of Spider-Man's, the subtext has been there. The Watcher teased them becoming an Official Couple in a What If storyline and then, years down the line, Dan Slott would play this up whenever she appeared, reinforcing Sable have more than a soft spot for Spidey than she generally displays.
- Unstoppable Rage: When someone gets her very, very mad, watch out.
- Walking Armory: Silver has access to and has been trained in a multitude of weapons such as swords, knives, tasers, and the chai, a throwing weapon of her own design.
- "Well Done, Son" Guy: Her father was her everything when she was a young woman.
- Working the Same Case: How a lot of her team-ups with other heroes in the Marvel Universe happen, though it's a bit of a subversion of the trope because she often hires other heroes onto her cases, rather than just bumping into them by happenstance.
Foxtrot
First Appearance: Amazing Spider-Man Vol 4 #27 (July, 2017)
- Cool Shades: Wears a pair of red shades.
Juliet
First Appearance: Amazing Spider-Man Vol 4 #27 (July, 2017)
- Tomboy and Girly Girl: The Girly Girl to X-Ray's Tomboy.
Romeo
First Appearance: Amazing Spider-Man Vol 4 #27 (July, 2017)
Tango
First Appearance: Amazing Spider-Man Vol 4 #27 (July, 2017)
X-Ray
First Appearance: Amazing Spider-Man Vol 4 #27 (July, 2017)
- Tomboy and Girly Girl: The Tomboy to Juliet's Girly Girl.
Wild Pack A-Team
The Wild Pack's A-Team is composed of Silver Sable's best operatives. Many of them have shady pasts and, while Sable is not afraid to berate them when they fail her, they are all highly loyal to her and she to them.
Raul Quentino
First Appearance: Silver Sable and the Wild Pack #2 (July, 1992)
Raul Quentino was originally a street thug that went by the name "G-Wiz." He would later reform and use his extensive skills as a member of the Wild Pack's A-Team.
- Ace Pilot: If someone's flying the Wild Pack's jet, ten to one it's Quentino.
- BFG: Carries and invents these for the other Wild Pack members.
- Black and Nerdy: Sort of. While being a complete badass is a requirement for being in the Wild Pack, Quentino is quite intelligent and loves technology.
- Handicapped Badass: After taking a shot to the gut, he was left needing to be in a wheelchair. That doesn't mean he still can't kick ass.
- Last-Name Basis: Like most members of the Pack, he is referred to as "Quentino" more often than not. Typically referred to as Raul only in tender moments.
- Secretly Dying: Has an incurable disease and hid it from Sable for a long time, fearing that she would not let him join her team if she knew. She turns out to be supportive when she finds out.
- The Smart Guy: Of the A-Team. He's a tech wiz and often maintains/creates the team's equipment.
Amelia Chen
First Appearance: Silver Sable and the Wild Pack #2 (July, 1992)
Amelia "Amy" Chen was a young Asian woman whose parents were killed in Vietnam and she was sold into slavery. She killed her slaver and went on to join a group of female assassins under the employ of Silver Sable's ex-husband, the Foreigner. She eventually left the group and joined the Wild Pack. She is also solely into women and refers to Silver Sable as "M'lady."
- Action Girl: Duh. She kicks just about as much ass as Sable herself.
- Amazon Chaser: Highly attracted to women who can fight and fight well as seen by her past relationship with a member of her assassin group and her crush on Silver Sable.
- Bodyguarding a Badass: Does this more than her other teammates when it comes to Silver Sable.
- Katanas Are Just Better: Again, seems to follow this rule.
- Last-Name Basis: Like the other members of the team, she is typically referred to by her last name of "Chen."
- Lipstick Lesbian: While she has short hair and fights with the best of them, Chen is ultimately this.
- The Smurfette Principle: Technically the only female on the A-Team, if one doesn't count Silver Sable. Doesn't stop her teammates from respecting her or her pulling her weight.
Doug Powell
First Appearance: Silver Sable and the Wild Pack #1 (June, 1992)
Doug Powell is a Southern man who joins the A-Team and the Wild Pack early on. Originally the bodyguard of a Ku Klux Klan grand wizard, he was chosen for the Wild Pack for his incredible stamina and fighting ability.
- Amazon Chaser: He frequently hits on Silver Sable early on in the series and it's implied he likes women like her.
- Bash Brothers: With the other male members of the Wild Pack, particularly Crippler and occasionally Battlestar (much to his chagrin).
- Big Brother Instinct: Has this toward his cousin, Samantha, when she joins Sable International.
- Cowboy: Dresses like this when he's not wearing his Wild Pack uniform.
- Funetik Aksent: Doug has a prominent Southern accent, saying words like "Ah" in place of "I" or "Heah" in place of "Here" etc.
- Politically Incorrect Hero: While "hero" is used loosely, Doug is this. He's racist toward his teammates Battlestar and Larry Arnold (both are black men).
- Straw Misogynist: Doug is definitely this, though it's played down in comparison to his racism. Probably because he's on a team with an action girl like Chen and his boss is the definition of the trope as well.
- Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: With Battlestar and, to a lesser extent, Larry Arnold due to his racism. He tries to downplay it later in the series though.
- The Charmer: Likes to think he's this. Usually trying to prove it gets him in trouble.
- The Leader: Often leads the charge for the Wild Pack, though he's often led by Silver Sable herself.
Crippler
Alter Ego: Carl Striklan
First Appearance: Daredevil Annual #7 (May, 1991)
Carl Striklan, known as the Crippler, was a U.S. Marine who later joined HYDRA. After leaving the organization he briefly became a vigilante before joining Silver Sable's Wild Pack.
- Bash Brothers: With Powell and the other male members of the Wild Pack.
- Combat Sado Masochist: Likes hurting others and doesn't mind getting hurt in return.
- Names to Run Away from Really Fast: Crippler. 'Nuff said.
- Out of Focus: Compared to the other members of the Wild Pack. He's just sort of there.
- Sadist: Enjoys hurting others, though you could probably tell from his name alone.
Larry Arnold
First Appearance: Silver Sable and the Wild Pack #21 (February, 1994)
Larry Arnold was a gang member living in California and a friend of Quentino's in his youth. After Quentino was injured saving his life, he agreed to join the Wild Pack as a favor to his old friend.
- Foil: He's this to Battlestar. Both are black men who are frequently the target of racism. Arnold reacts with anger and violence, while Battlestar has learned how to channel his feelings into something constructive.
Sandman
Alter Ego: William Baker
First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #4 (September 1963)
The Sandman was originally a foe of Spider-Man going by the alias Flint Marko. After going straight, he saved the lives of both Silver Sable and Spider-Man from the Sinister Syndicate and was thereby offered a job with Sable International.
Battlestar
Alter Ego: Lemar Hoskins
First Appearance: Captain America #323 (November, 1986) note ; Captain America #333 (September, 1987) note ; Captain America #334 (October, 1987) note ; Captain America #341 (May, 1988) note
Lemar Hoskins is the fifth Bucky (sidekick to Captain America). Fans were outraged that a fully grown adult would not only take on the name of a sidekick to another character but also because "buck" is a racially insensitive term. Creator Mark Grunewald eventually changed his name in response to these complaints and he became more of a partner to Cap under the name Battlestar. Lemar would later go on to work for Silver Sable International.
Silver Sable International Support
In addition to her field operatives, Silver Sable International has a few individuals who act on the more bureaucratic side of things.
Mortimer
First Appearance: Amazing Spider-Man #265 (June, 1985)
Mortimer or "Uncle Morty" is Silver Sable's uncle on her mother's side and her personal assistant. He makes important phone calls and tries to assist his niece however he can. He is also the character usually tasked with giving Sable bad news.
- Beleaguered Assistant: Is this to Silver Sable. She frequently yells at him or walks away in the middle of their conversations.
- Like a Son to Me: Silver Sable is like a daughter to him and he frequently tries to advise her on her personal and professional life, though she doesn't usually listen.
Lorna Kleinfeldt
First Appearance: Silver Sable and the Wild Pack #1 (June, 1992)
Lorna Kleinfeldt is an old friend of Sable's father, Ernst, whose father was a Nazi. After Ernst killed him, Lorna went to work for him since she believed in his cause. She is the manager of Silver Sable International and, well, a bit scary.
- Action Girl: She still works out and WILL kick your ass if you disrespect her or Silver Sable, even if she's pushing 60.
- All Amazons Want Hercules: Is obviously attracted to men who can kick butt and has had dalliances with men in the Wild Pack before.
- Bad Boss: Like Sable herself, Lorna is frequently seen yelling at her employees.
- Funetik Aksent: Speaks with a heavy German accent.
Samantha Powell
First Appearance: Silver Sable and the Wild Pack #15 (August, 1993)
Sam Powell is the Public Relations representative for Silver Sable & the Wild Pack. She's also Doug Powell's cousin.
- Clashing Cousins: She and her cousin Doug don't like each other.
Anna Sablinova
First Appearance: Silver Sable and the Wild Pack #1 (June, 1992)
Anna is Silver Sable's cousin, though she is usually referred to as her niece due to their age difference. Starts off as a somewhat bratty and entitled young girl who nevertheless has a deep respect for her country and her cousin. While not a member of Sable International proper, she does show up now and then.
- Action Girl: Shaping up to be one. Must run in the family.
Outlaws
The Outlaws were a short-lived group led by Spider-Man and employed by Silver Sable. The roster consisted mostly of reformed Super-villains. The team last joined forces to fight the Avengers.
Prowler
Alter Ego: Hobie Brown
First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #78
Puma
Alter Ego: Thomas Fireheart
First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #256 (September 1984)
Rocket Racer
Alter Ego: Robert Farrell
First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #172 (September 1977)
Sandman
Alter Ego: William Baker
First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #4 (September 1963)
Will o' the Wisp
Alter Ego: Jackson Arvad
First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #167 (April 1977)
Intruders
The Intruders is a group formed by Silver Sable after the Outlaws disbanded.
Fin
First Appearance: Marc Spector: Moon Knight #15 (June, 1990)
- Affirmative-Action Legacy: The original Fin was white, but he's black.
- Those Two Guys: With Man-Eater while at the Garrison (Vermont's super-team).
Lightbright
Alter Ego Obax Majid
First Appearance: Silver Sable and the Wild Pack #16 (September, 1993)
A Somalian mutant terrorist who defects and joins the Intruders after helping them take down a HYDRA attack.
- Action Girl
- The Bus Came Back: After not appearing in a comic after Silver Sable's solo comic was cancelled, she made a few cameos in Civil War (2006).
- Depending on the Artist: Her costume is sometimes depicted as blue, but other times as black. Her hair keeps going back and forth between being black or a very dark brown.
- Leotard of Power: She wears a blue (or is it black?) leotard with a big yellow star at the center.
- Playing with Fire: Her mutant powers involve using heat and radiation.
- Rescue Romance: She falls in love with Battlestar after he shields her from an attack from Baron Strucker.
- Stripperiffic: Her costume is very revealing.
- Thong of Shielding: Her leotard is often drawn like this.
Man-Eater
Alter Ego Malcolm Gregory "Greg" Murphy
First Appearance: Silver Sable and the Wild Pack #8 (January, 1993)
- Alliterative Name: Malcolm Murphy.
- Cat Folk: Turned into a human-tiger hybrid, with the memories and instincts of both.
- Panthera Awesome: A humanoid tiger.
- Those Two Guys: With Fin while at the Garrison (Vermont's super-team).
- Was Once a Man: He was a regular archeologist until he was turned into a human-tiger hybrid by a Hydra splinter cell.
Sandman
Alter Ego: William Baker
First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #4 (September 1963)
Freelance Operatives
Hawkeye
Alter Ego: Clinton "Clint" Barton
Notable Aliases: Goliath; Golden Archer; Ronin
First Appearance: Tales of Suspense #57 (September 1964) note / Avengers #63 (April 1969) note / Captain America #179 (November 1974) note / New Avengers #27 (April 2007) note
Madcap
Notable Aliases: Deadpool
First Appearance: Captain America Vol. 1, #307 (July, 1985)
Le Peregrine
Alter Ego Alain Racine
First Appearance: Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions #1 (June, 1982)
- Animal-Themed Superbeing: The Peregrine falcon.
- Flight: Peregrine's flight suit enables him to fly at roughly 130 miles per hour.
