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Quote1 He honestly thought I would kill him... His own fears and hates destroyed him! I should feel relieved, but I don't—his death won't bring back Uncle Ben! Quote2
Spider-Man after the death of the Burglar.[src]

History

The Burglar had been the cellmate of the infamous depression era gangster Dutch Mallone. In the 1930s Mallone lived in New York City's Forest Hills neighborhood in the very same house that was now inhabited by Ben Parker and his family. Eventually, Mallone was captured at the same house by a force of Treasury agents led by the celebrated “untouchable” Eliot Ness and was convicted on tax evasion charges. It was long rumored that Mallone had hidden millions of dollars away somewhere. Mallone was sent from one prison to another, and finally, as an elderly man, he became the cellmate of the burglar. The Burglar heard Mallone talking in his sleep about where he hid the money. It was somewhere in his old house in Forest Hills. Unknown to the Burglar, however, the money was hidden in a box behind a wall in the House, but had long ago been devoured by silverfish.

The Burglar next appeared in the hallway of a Manhattan television studio just as young Peter Parker (still dressed as Spider-Man) stepped out of his dressing room. The Burglar had robbed the studio's office and was being chased by security guard Baxter Bigelow, who yelled at Spider-Man to trip the crook up before he could get to the elevator. Spider-Man refused to help, allowing the Burglar to make it into the elevator and escape.

One night, a few weeks after the Burglar and Spider-Man had crossed paths in the television studio, the Burglar broke into the Parker home while Peter was away making a personal appearance as Spider-Man. The Burglar took the Parkers by surprise and held Ben and May Parker at gunpoint. Saying that he needed her to show him around so he could find something, the Burglar grabbed May. Furious, Ben ordered the Burglar to unhand May and angrily reached toward him. Frightened, the Burglar shot Ben and fled. Ben Parker died.

Returning home, Peter Parker was told by policeman Bernard O'Brien that a burglar had killed his uncle and was now trapped by the police in the Acme warehouse at the waterfront. Infuriated, Peter donned his Spider-Man costume, went to the warehouse, and captured the Burglar. Upon seeing the Burglar's face, Spider-Man realized to his horror that it was the same thief he had let escape at the television studio. Had he captured the Burglar then, Spider-Man told himself, his beloved uncle Ben would still be alive.[2]

Spider-Man turned the Burglar over to police. Years later, the burglar made a second attempt to find Mallone's treasure, held May Parker prisoner, and threatened to kill her if she didn't aid him. Spider-Man defeated the Burglar, who died of a heart attack brought on by his sheer terror of Spider-Man.[3]

Attributes

Power Grid[5]
:Category:Power Grid/Fighting Skills/Normal:Category:Power Grid/Energy Projection/None:Category:Power Grid/Durability/Normal:Category:Power Grid/Speed/Normal:Category:Power Grid/Strength/Normal:Category:Power Grid/Intelligence/Normal

Paraphernalia

Weapons

Handgun: The Burglar normally carried an ordinary handgun.

See Also

Links and References

References

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