Maggia is a
fiction
Fiction is any creative work, chiefly any narrative work, portraying individuals, events, or places that are imaginary, or in ways that are imaginary. Fictional portrayals are thus inconsistent with history, fact, or plausibility. In a traditi ...
al international
crime syndicate
Organized crime (or organised crime) is a category of transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals to engage in illegal activity, most commonly for profit. While organized crime is generally th ...
appearing in
American comic book
An American comic book is a thin periodical originating in the United States, on average 32 pages, containing comics. While the form originated in 1933, American comic books first gained popularity after the 1938 publication of ''Action Comics'' ...
s published by
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is an American comic book publishing, publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Co ...
. The organization exists in Marvel's main
shared universe
A shared universe or shared world is a fictional universe from a set of creative works where more than one writer (or other artist) independently contributes a work that can stand alone but fits into the joint development of the storyline, chara ...
, known as
Earth-616
In the fictional Marvel Comics multiverse, Earth-616 is the primary continuity in which most Marvel Comics titles take place.
History of the term
The term was first used in "Rough Justice", a story credited to both Alan Moore and Alan Davis p ...
, as well as other Marvel universes. Its structure is somewhat similar to the real-world
New York Mafia
The Five Families refers to five major New York City organized crime families of the American Mafia, Italian American Mafia formed in 1931 by Salvatore Maranzano following his victory in the Castellammarese War.
Maranzano reorganized the Italian ...
(which is itself rarely mentioned in Marvel publications), but the Maggia differs in that it frequently hires
supervillain
A supervillain or supercriminal is a variant of the villainous stock character that is commonly found in American comic books, usually possessing superhuman abilities. A supervillain is the antithesis of a superhero.
Supervillains are oft ...
s and
mad scientist
The mad scientist (also mad doctor or mad professor) is a stock character of a scientist who is perceived as " mad, bad and dangerous to know" or "insane" owing to a combination of unusual or unsettling personality traits and the unabashedly amb ...
s to work for them. Some of the prominent Maggia members are supervillains themselves, such as
Hammerhead,
Silvermane
Silvermane (Silvio Manfredi) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. A notorious crime boss and prominent figure in the Maggia, a fictional organized crime syndicate, he is usually depicted as an adversary ...
,
Count Nefaria
Count Luchino Nefaria is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Publication history
The character first appears in '' The Avengers'' #13 (February 1965), and was created by Stan Lee and Don Heck.
Fictional ...
and his daughter
Madame Masque
Madame Masque (birth name Giulietta Nefaria but legally renamed Whitney Frost) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. An occasional love interest and enemy of Iron Man and the daughter of Count Nefaria, she ...
. The Maggia has come into conflict with various
superhero
A superhero or superheroine is a stock character that typically possesses ''superpowers'', abilities beyond those of ordinary people, and fits the role of the hero, typically using his or her powers to help the world become a better place, ...
es, including
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, he first appeared in the anthology comic book '' Amazing Fantasy'' #15 (August 1962) in the ...
,
Daredevil
Daredevil may refer to:
* A stunt performer
Arts and media Comics
* Daredevil (Lev Gleason Publications), a fictional 1940s superhero popularized by writer-artist Charles Biro
* Daredevil (Marvel Comics character), a Marvel comic book superher ...
, the
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The team debuted in ''The Fantastic Four'' #1 ( cover dated Nov. 1961), helping usher in a new level of realism in the medium. It was the first ...
, and the
Avengers
Avenger, Avengers, The Avenger, or The Avengers may refer to:
Arts and entertainment In the Marvel Comics universe
* Avengers (comics), a team of superheroes
**Avengers (Marvel Cinematic Universe), a central team of protagonist superheroes of ...
.
Comic creator
Scott Shaw
Scott Shaw (born 23 September 1958 in Los Angeles, California) is an American author, martial artist, and filmmaker.
Career
Scott Shaw is an advanced martial artist. He has written a number of books on the martial arts. Shaw has written a numb ...
believes that the Maggia were created to avoid offending the real-life
Mafia
"Mafia" is an informal term that is used to describe criminal organizations that bear a strong similarity to the original “Mafia”, the Sicilian Mafia and Italian Mafia. The central activity of such an organization would be the arbitration of d ...
, as some comic book distributors had Mafia ties in the 1960s.
Since their debut in comics, the Maggia have been adapted into several forms of media, including television series and video games.
The Maggia appeared in the
second season of the
Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on a series of superhero films produced by Marvel Studios. The films are based on characters that appear in American comic books published by ...
television series ''
Agent Carter'', with the Los Angeles branch led by
Joseph Manfredi portrayed by
Ken Marino
Kenneth Joseph Marino (born December 19, 1968) is an American actor, comedian, director, and screenwriter. He was a cast member on MTV's ''The State'' and has starred in shows such as ''Party Down'', '' Marry Me'', ''Burning Love'', and ''Childre ...
.
Publication history
The Maggia first appeared in ''
The Avengers
Avenger, Avengers, The Avenger, or The Avengers may refer to:
Arts and entertainment In the Marvel Comics universe
* Avengers (comics), a team of superheroes
** Avengers (Marvel Cinematic Universe), a central team of protagonist superheroes o ...
'' #13 (February 1965) and was created by
Stan Lee
Stan Lee (born Stanley Martin Lieber ; December 28, 1922 – November 12, 2018) was an American comic book writer, editor, publisher, and producer. He rose through the ranks of a family-run business called Timely Publications which ...
and
.
Fictional organization history
The Maggia is an international crime syndicate that is the world's most powerful organization dedicated to conventional crime (as opposed to subversive activities). Originating in southern Europe, the Maggia spread throughout non-Communist Europe and the Americas. Its presence in the United States first came to public attention in the 1890s, and the Maggia's widespread bootlegging of illegal liquor during the Prohibition Era has become legendary. Today the Maggia controls most of the illegal gambling, loan-sharking, and narcotics trade in the United States, as well as many legal gambling casinos in
Atlantic City
Atlantic City, often known by its initials A.C., is a coastal resort city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. The city is known for its casinos, Boardwalk (entertainment district), boardwalk, and beaches. In 2020 United States censu ...
,
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...
and
Las Vegas
Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas ...
,
Nevada
Nevada ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, Western region of the United States. It is bordered by Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. N ...
. It also has great influence within various labor unions, and controls politicians on every level of government. Especially in recent years, the Maggia has invested many of its illegal gains into legitimate businesses. However, the Maggia enforces a strict code of secrecy among its members, and does not hesitate to punish betrayals and failures with death. The Maggia is not a monolithic organization but is instead a coalition of many virtually independent groups known as "families." The leading members of each family are usually connected through familial or marital ties. The Maggia also has affiliations with other criminal groups such as the Morgan organization in New York City's Harlem.
With Bruno Karnelli's leadership, the loss of
Silvermane
Silvermane (Silvio Manfredi) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. A notorious crime boss and prominent figure in the Maggia, a fictional organized crime syndicate, he is usually depicted as an adversary ...
, and
Hammerhead siding with
Mister Negative
Mister Negative is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is usually depicted as an enemy of Spider-Man, the Punisher, and Cloak & Dagger. The character was created by Dan Slott and Phil Jime ...
, the Maggia is thrown into chaos until
Mysterio
Mysterio (Quentin Beck) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, the character first appeared in ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #13 (June 1964). He is primarily depicted ...
appears and uses robot duplicates of the dead Maggia members. When the Hawkeyes
Kate Bishop and
Clint Barton
Hawkeye (Clinton Francis "Clint" Barton) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Don Heck, the character first appeared as a supervillain in ''Tales of Suspense ...
attempted to make a difference in the lives of everyday people by fighting organized crime, several New York crime families, including the Maggia, struck back against them.
During the "
Infinity
Infinity is that which is boundless, endless, or larger than any natural number. It is often denoted by the infinity symbol .
Since the time of the ancient Greeks, the philosophical nature of infinity was the subject of many discussions amo ...
" storyline, it was revealed that the Nobili Family are members of the Maggia where some of its members turned out to be descendants of some
Inhumans
The Inhumans are a fictional superhuman race of superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The comic book series has usually focused more specifically on the adventures of the Inhuman Royal Family, and many peop ...
.
Known Maggia families
Several "families" are based in the New York City area. Three of these families have come to pre-eminence:
The Silvermane Family
Its leader is
Silvio "Silvermane" Manfredi, one of the last of the legendary gangsters who came to notoriety during the 1920s and 1930s. This group conducts its activities along traditional Maggia lines, and is heavily involved with the narcotics trade. Silvermane uses unusual scientific means only for the personal goal of staving off his own death, and not for the family's activities. Although Silvermane has a son, Joseph, also known as
Blackwing, his successor as family head will probably be his longtime rival, top Maggia lawyer Caesar "Big C" Cicero. Silvermane initially retained control of his organization after being turned into a cyborg, but most recently his failing health, in both human and cyborg bodies, have left him a figurehead leader at best.
The following characters have been members of the Maggia's Silvermane family:
* Blackie – Rank unknown. First appeared in ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #75.
* Caesar Cicero – The Silvermane Family's
lawyer
A lawyer is a person who practices law. The role of a lawyer varies greatly across different legal jurisdictions. A lawyer can be classified as an advocate, attorney, barrister, canon lawyer, civil law notary, counsel, counselor, solic ...
. First appeared in ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #73.
*
Man Mountain Marko
Man Mountain Marko (Michael Marko) is a fictional supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Marko was and remains an affiliate of numerous organized-crime entities in the Marvel universe, including the Maggia.
H ...
– Silvermane's top lieutenant. First appeared in ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #73.
* Rapier – A one-time friend and partner of Silvermane named Dominic Tyrone, who sought revenge after being betrayed. Rapier used an electro-stun rapier as his main weapon. First appeared in ''The Spectacular Spider-Man Annual'' #2. Killed by
Scourge of the Underworld
The Scourge of the Underworld is the name of a series of fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Writer/editor Mark Gruenwald originally created the Scourge in 1985 as a plot device intended to thin the ...
.
The Hammerhead Family
Dominated by middle-aged Maggia traditionalists, this family first became notorious under unusual circumstances. Perhaps in imitation of the Nefaria family, its leader, known as the "Top Man", outfitted his family hit men with costumes and advanced weaponry. He then gained ownership of the
Baxter Building
The Baxter Building is a fictitious 35-story office building appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The building is depicted in Manhattan, and its five upper floors house the Fantastic Four's headquarters.
Publication hist ...
through questionable means, thinking that doing so would somehow give him legal title to the technology of the building's famed occupants, the
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The team debuted in ''The Fantastic Four'' #1 ( cover dated Nov. 1961), helping usher in a new level of realism in the medium. It was the first ...
. The Fantastic Four defeated and captured the "Top Man", his claims to owning the Baxter Building were dismissed by the courts, and the "Top Man" was reportedly assassinated by order of his own family. The family then sought a new leader who would direct operations along thoroughly traditional lines and chose a newcomer known only as
Hammerhead, an amnesia victim whose new ruthless persona had been shaped by his love for gangster films. Hammerhead uses methods from the Prohibition era, including gang wars, although he will use advanced technology for personal ends, such as the exoskeleton that magnifies his strength. In light of Hammerhead's recent loyalty shift to
Mister Negative
Mister Negative is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is usually depicted as an enemy of Spider-Man, the Punisher, and Cloak & Dagger. The character was created by Dan Slott and Phil Jime ...
, the status of his Maggia family remains undetermined. They very normally ally with
Tombstone and
The Chameleon
The following characters have been members of the Maggia's Hammerhead family:
* Top Man – Former leader of the Hammerhead family. First appeared in ''
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The team debuted in ''The Fantastic Four'' #1 ( cover dated Nov. 1961), helping usher in a new level of realism in the medium. It was the first ...
'' #101 (Aug 1970). Assassinated by an unknown member of his Maggia group.
*
Hammerhead – Second leader of the Hammerhead family. First appeared in ''
The Amazing Spider-Man
''The Amazing Spider-Man'' is an ongoing American comic book series featuring the Marvel Comics superhero Spider-Man as its main protagonist. Being in the Earth 616, mainstream continuity of the franchise, it began publication in 1963 as a bim ...
'' #113 (Oct. 1972).
* Big Rock – Rank unknown. First appeared in ''
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The team debuted in ''The Fantastic Four'' #1 ( cover dated Nov. 1961), helping usher in a new level of realism in the medium. It was the first ...
'' #101 (Aug. 1970).
*
Blackwing (Joseph Manfredi) – Rank unknown. First appeared in ''
Daredevil
Daredevil may refer to:
* A stunt performer
Arts and media Comics
* Daredevil (Lev Gleason Publications), a fictional 1940s superhero popularized by writer-artist Charles Biro
* Daredevil (Marvel Comics character), a Marvel comic book superher ...
'' #118 (Feb. 1975).
*
Eel
Eels are ray-finned fish belonging to the order Anguilliformes (), which consists of eight suborders, 19 families, 111 genera, and about 800 species. Eels undergo considerable development from the early larval stage to the eventual adult stage ...
(Edward Lavell) – One-time employee and representative of the Maggia's Gulf Coast operations. First appeared in ''Power Man and Iron Fist'' #92 (April 1983).
* Gimlet – The Top Man's lieutenant who aspired to become the next Top Man. First appeared in ''
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The team debuted in ''The Fantastic Four'' #1 ( cover dated Nov. 1961), helping usher in a new level of realism in the medium. It was the first ...
'' #101 (Aug. 1970).
The Nefaria Family
This group bears little resemblance to the rest of the Maggia. The Italian nobleman,
Count Luchino Nefaria, a scientific genius, was the world's most powerful Maggia leader until his initial defeat by the Avengers. Afterwards he moved his base of operations to the New York City area, and then imprisoned Washington, D.C. within an impenetrable force-dome and held it for ransom. After his defeat and capture, his daughter Giulietta, also known as Whitney Frost, succeeded him as family head and led an unsuccessful attempt to capture the advanced weaponry of Tony Stark. She was eventually succeeded by a costumed criminal, the Masked Marauder, who demanded complete control of New York City or else he would detonate a nuclear device there. After his capture, the family again apparently came under control of Whitney Frost, by then known as Madame Masque. Contrary to standard Maggia practice, the Nefaria family, principally consisting of men under 40, has employed futuristic weaponry and even robots (like the
Dreadnoughts
The dreadnought (alternatively spelled dreadnaught) was the predominant type of battleship in the early 20th century. The first of the kind, the Royal Navy's , had such an impact when launched in 1906 that similar battleships built after her ...
), as well as costumed super-powered agents (
Unicorn
The unicorn is a legendary creature that has been described since antiquity as a beast with a single large, pointed, spiraling horn projecting from its forehead.
In European literature and art, the unicorn has for the last thousand years o ...
,
Whiplash
Whiplash may refer to:
* The long flexible part of a whip
* Whiplash (medicine), a neck injury
** Whiplash Injury Protection System (WHIPS), in automobiles
Film and television
* ''Whiplash'' (1948 film), a US film noir about a boxer
* ''Whiplas ...
,
Gladiator
A gladiator ( la, gladiator, "swordsman", from , "sword") was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals. Some gla ...
, etc.),
and has launched open attacks on society. Its leader is always known as "Big M". With both Count Nefaria and Madame Masque now pursuing separate agendas, it is not known who, if anyone, currently heads the Nefaria Family.
The following characters have been members of the Maggia's Nefaria family:
*
Count Nefaria
Count Luchino Nefaria is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Publication history
The character first appears in '' The Avengers'' #13 (February 1965), and was created by Stan Lee and Don Heck.
Fictional ...
– Founder of the Nefaria family. First appeared in ''
Avengers
Avenger, Avengers, The Avenger, or The Avengers may refer to:
Arts and entertainment In the Marvel Comics universe
* Avengers (comics), a team of superheroes
**Avengers (Marvel Cinematic Universe), a central team of protagonist superheroes of ...
'' #13 (Feb. 1965)
*
Cyclone
In meteorology, a cyclone () is a large air mass that rotates around a strong center of low atmospheric pressure, counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere as viewed from above (opposite to an anti ...
(André Gerard) – First appeared in ''
Amazing Spider-Man
''The Amazing Spider-Man'' is an ongoing American comic book series featuring the Marvel Comics superhero Spider-Man as its main protagonist. Being in the Earth 616, mainstream continuity of the franchise, it began publication in 1963 as a bim ...
'' #143 (April 1975). Killed by
Scourge of the Underworld
The Scourge of the Underworld is the name of a series of fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Writer/editor Mark Gruenwald originally created the Scourge in 1985 as a plot device intended to thin the ...
.
*
Eel
Eels are ray-finned fish belonging to the order Anguilliformes (), which consists of eight suborders, 19 families, 111 genera, and about 800 species. Eels undergo considerable development from the early larval stage to the eventual adult stage ...
(Leopold Stryke) – Former agent.
[Marvel Graphic Novels and Related Publications: An Annotated Guide to Comics, Prose Novels, Children's Books, Articles, Criticism and Reference Works, 1965–2005]
p.177 First appeared in ''
Strange Tales
''Strange Tales'' is a Marvel Comics comics anthology, anthology series. The title was revived in different forms on multiple occasions. Doctor Strange and Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (feature), Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. made their d ...
'' #112 (Sept. 1963). Killed by
Gladiator
A gladiator ( la, gladiator, "swordsman", from , "sword") was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals. Some gla ...
.
*
Whitney Frost – Head of the Nefaria family. First appeared in ''
Tales of Suspense
''Tales of Suspense'' is the name of an American comic book anthology series and two one-shot comics published by Marvel Comics. The first, which ran from 1959 to 1968, began as a science-fiction anthology that served as a showcase for such arti ...
'' #97 (Jan. 1968).
*
Gladiator
A gladiator ( la, gladiator, "swordsman", from , "sword") was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals. Some gla ...
– Former member. First appeared in ''
Daredevil
Daredevil may refer to:
* A stunt performer
Arts and media Comics
* Daredevil (Lev Gleason Publications), a fictional 1940s superhero popularized by writer-artist Charles Biro
* Daredevil (Marvel Comics character), a Marvel comic book superher ...
'' #18 (July 1966).
* Daniel Lindy – First appeared in ''
Spectacular Spider-Man
''The Spectacular Spider-Man'' is a comic book and magazine series starring Spider-Man and published by Marvel Comics.
Following the success of Spider-Man's original series, ''The Amazing Spider-Man'', Marvel felt the character could support ...
'' #22 (Sept 1978).
*
Masked Marauder
The Masked Marauder is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He briefly served as the central villain of the '' Daredevil'' title.
Publication history
The Masked Marauder first appeared in '' Daredevil ...
(Frank Farnum) – Former leader of the Nefaria family. First appeared in ''
Daredevil
Daredevil may refer to:
* A stunt performer
Arts and media Comics
* Daredevil (Lev Gleason Publications), a fictional 1940s superhero popularized by writer-artist Charles Biro
* Daredevil (Marvel Comics character), a Marvel comic book superher ...
'' #16 (May 1966).
*
Plantman
Plantman is the name of two fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Publication history
The Samuel Smithers version of Plantman first appeared in ''Strange Tales'' #113 and was created by Stan Lee, Jer ...
– Former agent.
First appeared in ''
Strange Tales
''Strange Tales'' is a Marvel Comics comics anthology, anthology series. The title was revived in different forms on multiple occasions. Doctor Strange and Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (feature), Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. made their d ...
'' #113 (Oct 1963).
*
Porcupine
Porcupines are large rodents with coats of sharp spines, or quills, that protect them against predation. The term covers two families of animals: the Old World porcupines of family Hystricidae, and the New World porcupines of family, Erethizont ...
(Alexander Gentry) – Former agent.
First appeared in ''
Tales to Astonish
''Tales to Astonish'' is the name of two American comic book series and a One-shot (comics), one-shot comic published by Marvel Comics.
The primary title bearing that name was published from January 1959 to March 1968. It began as a science-fic ...
'' #48 (Oct. 1963). Died in battle against
Diamondback
Diamondback may refer to:
Animals
* ''Crotalus adamanteus'', the eastern diamondback rattlesnake
* ''Crotalus atrox'', the western diamondback rattlesnake
* Diamondback moth, a European moth that has spread to North America
* Diamondback terrapin ...
.
*
Scarecrow
A scarecrow is a decoy or mannequin, often in the shape of a human. Humanoid scarecrows are usually dressed in old clothes and placed in open fields to discourage birds from disturbing and feeding on recently cast seed and growing crops.Lesley B ...
– Former agent.
First appeared in ''
Tales of Suspense
''Tales of Suspense'' is the name of an American comic book anthology series and two one-shot comics published by Marvel Comics. The first, which ran from 1959 to 1968, began as a science-fiction anthology that served as a showcase for such arti ...
'' #51 (March 1964).
* Tri-Man – An android created by the Masked Marauder that copies the abilities of three low-level crooks. First appeared in ''Daredevil'' #22.
*
Unicorn
The unicorn is a legendary creature that has been described since antiquity as a beast with a single large, pointed, spiraling horn projecting from its forehead.
In European literature and art, the unicorn has for the last thousand years o ...
(Milos Masaryk) – Former agent.
First appeared in ''
Tales of Suspense
''Tales of Suspense'' is the name of an American comic book anthology series and two one-shot comics published by Marvel Comics. The first, which ran from 1959 to 1968, began as a science-fiction anthology that served as a showcase for such arti ...
'' #56 (Aug. 1964).
*
Whiplash
Whiplash may refer to:
* The long flexible part of a whip
* Whiplash (medicine), a neck injury
** Whiplash Injury Protection System (WHIPS), in automobiles
Film and television
* ''Whiplash'' (1948 film), a US film noir about a boxer
* ''Whiplas ...
(Mark Scarlotti) – Former enforcer. First appeared in ''
Tales of Suspense
''Tales of Suspense'' is the name of an American comic book anthology series and two one-shot comics published by Marvel Comics. The first, which ran from 1959 to 1968, began as a science-fiction anthology that served as a showcase for such arti ...
'' #97 (Jan. 1968).
The Costa Family
The Costa Family is associated with the Maggia and was responsible for the death of Frank Castle's family, which led to Castle becoming the Punisher. At one point, they used William "Billy the Beaut" Russo (a.k.a.
Jigsaw
Jigsaw may refer to:
* Jigsaw (tool), a tool used for cutting arbitrary curves
* Jigsaw puzzle, a tiling puzzle that requires the assembly of interlocking pieces
Arts and media Comics
* Jigsaw (Marvel Comics), a supervillain and arch-enemy of ...
) as an enforcer and hitman.
The following members are seen in the Costa Family:
* Luis Allegre – Member of the Costa Family. First appeared in ''Marvel Super Action'' #1. Killed by the Punisher.
* Bruno Costa – Enforcer of the Costa Family and brother of
Frank Costa
Frank Aloysius Costa (3 February 1938 – 2 May 2021) was an Australian businessman. Costa had been a prominent figure in the Geelong region for more than four decades after inheriting Costa Group, the family's produce business, in the late 1 ...
. First appeared in ''Marvel Preview'' #2. Killed by Frank Costa's assassin Audrey.
* Byron Hannigan – Member of the Costa Family. First appeared in ''Marvel Super Action'' #1. Killed by the Punisher.
* Leon Kolsky – Member of the Costa Family. First appeared in ''Marvel Super Action'' #1. He was killed when the Punisher tricked him into firing on an aquarium tank that contained a shark.
* Matt Skinner – Member of the Costa Family. First appeared in ''Marvel Super Action'' #1. Killed by the Punisher.
The Nobili Family
The Nobili Family is a struggling Maggia family. It turns out that some of the members of the Nobili Family are descendants of some Inhumans.
The following members are seen in the Nobili Family.
* Gordon "Gordo" Nobili – The patriarch of the Nobili family. First appeared in ''Thunderbolts'' (vol. 2) #14.
* Carmen Nobili – The son of Gordon Nobili. First appeared in ''Thunderbolts'' (vol. 2) #14. Killed during the fight against the Paguro Family, even when the Thunderbolts interfered.
* Joseph Nobili – The son of Gordon Nobili. First appeared in ''Thunderbolts'' (vol. 2) #14. Killed during the fight against the Paguro Family, even when the Thunderbolts interfered.
The Fortunato Family
The Fortunato Family are strong opposers of Wilson Fisk who came in conflict with Spider-Man.
The following members are seen in the Fortunato Family.
*
Don Fortunato
Vincente Fortunato is fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. An elderly crime boss affiliated with the Maggia and HYDRA, he is usually depicted as an enemy of the superhero Spider-Man, and a competitor ...
– The patriarch of the Fortunato family. First appeared in ''
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, he first appeared in the anthology comic book '' Amazing Fantasy'' #15 (August 1962) in the ...
'' #70.
*
Jimmy-6
Giachomo "Jimmy-6" Fortunato is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is featured in the Marvel Universe and is commonly associated with Spider-Man. He first appeared in the comic, ''Spi ...
(Giacomo Fortunato) – The son of Don Fortunato and his top enforcer. First appeared in ''
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, he first appeared in the anthology comic book '' Amazing Fantasy'' #15 (August 1962) in the ...
'' #70.
*
Angelo Fortunato – The youngest son of Don Fortunato, who briefly became the host for
Venom
Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a sti ...
. First appeared in ''Marvel Knights: Spider-Man'' #7. Killed when he fled from a battle with Spider-Man and was abandoned by the Venom symbiote.
Other Maggia members
The following members do not fall under the category of the other five Maggia families:
* Bobby Peculo – First appeared in ''Punisher: No Escape'' #1. Killed by the
Punisher
The Punisher (Francis "Frank" Castle, born Castiglione) is an antihero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer Gerry Conway and artists John Romita Sr. and Ross Andru. The Punisher made ...
.
*
Bushmaster (John McIver) – First appeared in ''Iron Fist'' #15. He was killed when the process that gave Luke Cage his powers proved to be too much for him.
*
Cyclone
In meteorology, a cyclone () is a large air mass that rotates around a strong center of low atmospheric pressure, counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere as viewed from above (opposite to an anti ...
(Pierre Fresson) – He served as a speaker for the European branches of the Maggia. First appeared in ''Thunderbolts'' #3.
* Eli Rumsford – Enforcer. First appeared in ''
Spectacular Spider-Man
''The Spectacular Spider-Man'' is a comic book and magazine series starring Spider-Man and published by Marvel Comics.
Following the success of Spider-Man's original series, ''The Amazing Spider-Man'', Marvel felt the character could support ...
'' #54 (May 1981)
*
Gideon Mace
Gideon Mace is a fictional villain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Fictional character biography
Colonel Gideon Mace led his men on an unauthorized assault against an enemy village, during which a mine destroyed his ...
– First appeared in ''Heroes for Hire'' #3.
*
Goldbug – One-time employee. First appeared in ''Power Man'' #41.
*
Grim Reaper
Death is frequently imagined as a personified force. In some mythologies, a character known as the Grim Reaper (usually depicted as a berobed skeleton wielding a scythe) causes the victim's death by coming to collect that person's soul. Other b ...
– First appeared in ''Avengers'' #52.
* Guido Carboni – Crime Boss. First appeared in ''Marvel Spotlight'' #20 where he was depicted as a big time crime boss who held operations all across New York. One night, a cat burglar named Monty Walsh attempted to rob him, but Guido and his men shot and killed him as he was trying to escape. Unbeknownst to Guido and his men, Monty was saved by the Uni-Power and became
Captain Universe
Captain Universe is a fictional character, a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. It is the guardian and protector of Eternity. Rather than a character with a single identity, Captain Universe is a persona that h ...
. Guido found his operations falling apart due to Monty's use of the power. Guido was finally confronted by Monty, who planned to kill him and then use the power for his own selfish needs; unfortunately for Monty, the Uni-Power left him because of this and Guido was arrested by the police, raving about how a dead body had superpowers.
* Harry Dumont – First appeared in ''
Spectacular Spider-Man
''The Spectacular Spider-Man'' is a comic book and magazine series starring Spider-Man and published by Marvel Comics.
Following the success of Spider-Man's original series, ''The Amazing Spider-Man'', Marvel felt the character could support ...
'' #54 (May 1981)
* Mind-Master – Ruffio Costa is a crime lord who once kidnapped Robert Mallory's son Keith. First appeared in ''Daredevil Annual'' #4.
*
Mysterio
Mysterio (Quentin Beck) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, the character first appeared in ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #13 (June 1964). He is primarily depicted ...
(Quentin Beck) – First appeared in ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #13.
* Nautilus – An enforcer from Chicago. First appeared in ''Spider-Man Unlimited'' #6.
* Photon (Jason Dean) – First appeared in a crossover story in ''
Nova
A nova (plural novae or novas) is a transient astronomical event that causes the sudden appearance of a bright, apparently "new" star (hence the name "nova", which is Latin for "new") that slowly fades over weeks or months. Causes of the dramati ...
'' #12 and ''Amazing Spider-Man'' #171. He was responsible for murdering Nova's uncle Ralph Rider.
* Razorwind – An enforcer from Chicago. First appeared in ''Spider-Man Unlimited'' #6.
* Shigeru Ichihara – A Maggia member who handled all Maggia activities on the Pacific Rim. First appeared in ''Avengers'' (vol. 3) #31.
* Simon Marshall – A Maggia chemist. First appeared in ''
Cloak and Dagger
"Cloak and dagger" was a fighting style common in the Renaissance involving a knife hidden beneath a cloak. The term later came into use as a metaphor, referring to situations involving intrigue, secrecy, espionage, or mystery.
Overview
In "The ...
'' #1
*
Smuggler
Smuggling is the illegal transportation of objects, substances, information or people, such as out of a house or buildings, into a prison, or across an international border, in violation of applicable laws or other regulations.
There are various ...
– First appeared in ''
Avengers
Avenger, Avengers, The Avenger, or The Avengers may refer to:
Arts and entertainment In the Marvel Comics universe
* Avengers (comics), a team of superheroes
**Avengers (Marvel Cinematic Universe), a central team of protagonist superheroes of ...
'' #21 (Oct. 1965)
* T.B. Smithson – A Maggia member who controls all Maggia activities in Texas. First appeared in ''Avengers'' (vol. 3) #31.
* Tapping Tommy – First appeared in ''Defenders'' #30.
*
Trapster
Trapster (Peter Petruski), also known as Paste-Pot Pete, is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Publication history
The character is one of the first supervillains who became active during the "Silver Ag ...
(Peter Petruski) – First appeared in ''Fantastic Four'' #38. He was a member of the Maggia in ''Thing'' #4.
* Vic Slaughter – Assassin. First appeared in ''Morbius the Living Vampire'' #6.
* Vincent Mangaro – A crime boss who set up a drug-dealing operation in New York. First appeared in ''Punisher: No Escape'' #1. Killed by the
Punisher
The Punisher (Francis "Frank" Castle, born Castiglione) is an antihero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer Gerry Conway and artists John Romita Sr. and Ross Andru. The Punisher made ...
.
Competitors and allies
Various criminals have attempted to unify the American East Coast's independent criminal groups so as to compete with the Maggia's domination of organized crime. Other lesser criminal organizations may in fact cooperate and work for the Maggia, pay street taxes, or manage to operate under the radar of the Maggia.
The most successful competitor of the Maggia has been the
Kingpin, who, at his peak, was more powerful than all of the Maggia families combined.
As noted above, the principal leaders of all three major Maggia families are, to one extent or another, no longer in ideal leadership positions. With the Kingpin presently exiled from the U.S. in the wake of ''Daredevil'' story arcs, the potential for a power vacuum is huge, and the stage is set for a gang war between any and all challengers.
The Spider-Man villain called
Mister Negative
Mister Negative is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is usually depicted as an enemy of Spider-Man, the Punisher, and Cloak & Dagger. The character was created by Dan Slott and Phil Jime ...
plotted to target the Maggia Families, perhaps hoping to take the Kingpin's place. The supervillain
Hood
Hood may refer to:
Covering
Apparel
* Hood (headgear), type of head covering
** Article of Academic dress#Hood, academic dress
** Bondage hood, sex toy
* Hoodie, hooded sweatshirt
Anatomy
* Clitoral hood, a hood of skin surrounding the clitori ...
has also formed a supervillain crime syndicate which enlists various costumed criminals in an attempt to gain control of the underworld.
Other lesser crime bosses include the
Slug
Slug, or land slug, is a common name for any apparently shell-less terrestrial gastropod mollusc. The word ''slug'' is also often used as part of the common name of any gastropod mollusc that has no shell, a very reduced shell, or only a smal ...
(a Miami-based drug kingpin) and the
Owl
Owls are birds from the order Strigiformes (), which includes over 200 species of mostly solitary and nocturnal birds of prey typified by an upright stance, a large, broad head, binocular vision, binaural hearing, sharp talons, and feathers a ...
. Whether they are connected to the Maggia or manage to operate separately is unknown.
Don Fortunato
Vincente Fortunato is fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. An elderly crime boss affiliated with the Maggia and HYDRA, he is usually depicted as an enemy of the superhero Spider-Man, and a competitor ...
once managed to gain control of much of New York City's underworld in the absence of the Kingpin. Although Fortunato seems to run a traditional Mafioso organized crime group, he is actually connected to the Maggia and the terrorist organization known as
HYDRA
Hydra generally refers to:
* Lernaean Hydra, a many-headed serpent in Greek mythology
* ''Hydra'' (genus), a genus of simple freshwater animals belonging to the phylum Cnidaria
Hydra or The Hydra may also refer to:
Astronomy
* Hydra (constel ...
. The original
Mr. Fish
Mr. Fish is the name of two fictional supervillains appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Publication history
The Mortimer Norris version of Mr. Fish first appeared in ''Luke Cage, Power Man'' #29 and was created by Bi ...
was mentioned to have planned to start a Maggia branch in his area.
Although the Maggia organization is, for the most part, analogous in the Marvel Universe to the real-life Italian and Italian-American
Mafia
"Mafia" is an informal term that is used to describe criminal organizations that bear a strong similarity to the original “Mafia”, the Sicilian Mafia and Italian Mafia. The central activity of such an organization would be the arbitration of d ...
or La Cosa Nostra, there exist in the Marvel Universe other Italian crime families that resemble more closely the real Mafia or La Cosa Nostra. Some of these families and organizations have been referred to as "the Mafia" in recent comics, but it is unknown whether or not these families ultimately operate under Marvel's Maggia organization or are a part of a separate, more realistic La Cosa Nostra organization in the Marvel Universe. These more realistic Italian Mafia organizations are often featured in ''Punisher'' comics. As most of these organizations operate on a crew-based street level and specialize in traditional organized crime rather than superpowered organized crime, it is possible they are not connected to the more powerful Maggia. Examples of these organizations include:
* The Angelone Crime Family -
* The Gnucci Crime Family – It was known for the infamous
Ma Gnucci.
* The Pazzo Crime Family -
* The Roman Crime Family -
Other versions
House of M
In the ''
House of M
"House of M" is a 2005 comic book storyline published by Marvel Comics, consisting of a core eight-issue comic book limited series written by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by Olivier Coipel and a number of crossover tie-in books. Its fir ...
'' reality, the Maggia is a criminal organization that was led by Count Nefaria. The Maggia were annihilated by
Magneto
A magneto is an electrical generator that uses permanent magnets to produce periodic pulses of alternating current. Unlike a dynamo, a magneto does not contain a commutator to produce direct current. It is categorized as a form of alternator, ...
's
Sentinels for plotting against him.
In other media
Television
* The Maggia appears in the ''
Iron Man: Armored Adventures''. This version of the group is led by
Count Nefaria
Count Luchino Nefaria is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Publication history
The character first appears in '' The Avengers'' #13 (February 1965), and was created by Stan Lee and Don Heck.
Fictional ...
, with
Black Knight
The black knight is a literary stock character who masks his identity and that of his liege by not displaying heraldry. Black knights are usually portrayed as villainous figures who use this anonymity for misdeeds. They are often contrasted with t ...
,
Unicorn
The unicorn is a legendary creature that has been described since antiquity as a beast with a single large, pointed, spiraling horn projecting from its forehead.
In European literature and art, the unicorn has for the last thousand years o ...
, and
Killer Shrike
Killer Shrike is the name of two fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Publication history
The Simon Maddicks version of Killer Shrike first appeared in ''The Rampaging Hulk'' #1 (Jan. 1977) and was cr ...
serving under him, and are rivals of the
Mandarin
Mandarin or The Mandarin may refer to:
Language
* Mandarin Chinese, branch of Chinese originally spoken in northern parts of the country
** Standard Chinese or Modern Standard Mandarin, the official language of China
** Taiwanese Mandarin, Stand ...
's gang, the Tong.
* A Los Angeles branch of the Maggia appears in
season two Season 2 may refer to:
* ''Season 2'' (Infinite album)
* ''2econd Season
''2econd Season'' is the second and most recent album by Atlanta-based rapper Unk.
Release
It was released on November 4, 2008.
Guest Performers
The album features gu ...
of ''
Agent Carter''. Led by
Joseph Manfredi, an old acquaintance of
Howard Stark
Howard Stark is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is usually depicted as a background character in stories featuring Iron Man and stories featuring Captain America. He is the fou ...
's, they are enlisted by Manfredi's former girlfriend
Whitney Frost to help her in her experiments with
Zero Matter.
Video games
* The Maggia appear in the ''
Iron Man
Iron Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was co-created by writer and editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby. The charact ...
'' film tie-in game. This version of the group is a weapons manufacturing company who used to be partnered with
Stark Industries
Stark Industries, later also known as Stark International, Stark Innovations, Stark Enterprises and Stark Resilient, is a fictional company appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The company is depicted as being owned an ...
. When Tony Stark announces that his company is no longer producing weapons, the Maggia attempt to get revenge, but Iron Man cripples their production capabilities and forces them into bankruptcy. In an article for
IGN
''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...
, game director Jeffrey Tseng explained that adapting the movie script into a game was the perfect opportunity to insert characters and groups from Iron Man's history in order to fill it out. He declared "... we were looking through Iron Man's history to find characters and groups that would resonate with dedicated fans.
heMaggia,
Advanced Idea Mechanics
A.I.M. (Advanced Idea Mechanics) is a fictional criminal organization appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. In most versions, it is depicted as a think tank of brilliant scientists dedicated to overthrowing the world's ...
,
Titanium Man
The Titanium Man is the name of two supervillains appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The original Titanium Man first appeared in ''Tales of Suspense'' #68 (September 1965) and was created by Stan Lee and Don Heck.
Ficti ...
, and other characters in the game all came from this extensive research."
* The Maggia appeared in ''
Marvel: Avengers Alliance''.
* The Maggia appeared in ''
Marvel Heroes''.
Monday Morning Comic Rack: First Impressions of the Marvel Heroes MMO
comicbookherald.com This version of the group is led by the Kingpin.
* The New York branch of the Maggia appears in the ''Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, he first appeared in the anthology comic book '' Amazing Fantasy'' #15 (August 1962) in the ...
'' DLC '' The City That Never Sleeps'', consisting of the Fortunato, Costa, Cicero, Mauchio, and Hammerhead families. Following the Kingpin and Mister Negative
Mister Negative is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is usually depicted as an enemy of Spider-Man, the Punisher, and Cloak & Dagger. The character was created by Dan Slott and Phil Jime ...
's arrests in the main game, the Maggia attempt to occupy the power vacuum and engage each other in a brutal gang war. Eager to end the war quickly, Hammerhead tries to force the other families to submit to him by employing Black Cat
A black cat is a domestic cat with black fur that may be a mixed or specific breed, or a common domestic cat of no particular breed. The Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA) recognizes 22 cat breeds that can come with solid black coats. The Bombay b ...
to steal hard drives containing their collective wealth, but she betrays him and keeps them for herself. Hammerhead seemingly kills her with a bomb, reasoning that he no longer needs the drives, and orders his men to steal advanced technology from Sable International to give them an advantage over the other families. He later kidnaps and attempts to kill the other Maggia crime lords on live television. However, Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, he first appeared in the anthology comic book '' Amazing Fantasy'' #15 (August 1962) in the ...
foils his plan and defeats him. After Hammerhead escapes from police custody and transforms himself into a cyborg, Spider-Man and Sable International's head Silver Sable
Silver is a chemical element with the symbol Ag (from the Latin ', derived from the Proto-Indo-European ''h₂erǵ'': "shiny" or "white") and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it exhibits the highest electrical cond ...
join forces to defeat him once more.
References
External links
Maggia
at Marvel.com
Maggia
at Marvel Wiki
*
Maggia (Earth-58163)
at Marvel Wiki
at MarvelDirectory.com
Maggia
at Comic Vine
{{Wolverine
Fictional organized crime groups
Fictional organizations in Marvel Comics
Fictional gangs
Cultural depictions of the Mafia