It is an often overlooked fact that many superheroes best known as members of The Avengers are reformed supervillains. Indeed, Captain America led a team made up entirely of criminals trying to make amends early in the team’s history. Sadly, not every bad guy looking to break good manages to stay on the straight and narrow. Such is the case with one of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, whose efforts at redemption seem to have come to a close.
The former Avenger’s fall from grace was confirmed in Black Cat #4. Written by G. Willow Wilson, with art by Gleb Melnikov, the series centers around Felicia Hardy and her own heel-face turn. This was prompted by her realization that Peter Parker was missing and had been replaced by a more violent Spider-Man. With petty crime on the rise in Manhattan, the cat-burglar decided to make an honest effort at being a superhero.
This effort subsequently brings her into conflict with Tombstone, who is currently the head crime-boss in Manhattan. Luckily for Black Cat, Tombstone is comparatively reasonable and seems to buy her story that she’s playing hero to take down her competitors. However, he can’t chance anyone disrupting his latest scheme. To that end, Tombstone hands Black Cat over to a former Avenger he took on as hired muscle, ordering him to watch her until his business is concluded.
What former Avengers member returned to crime?
The former Avenger is William Baker, a.k.a. Sandman. Black Cat is surprised that he is working for Tombstone, saying she thought he was trying to reform. Sandman confirms he had been trying, but being a reformed supervillain just wasn’t paying the bills. While relatable, this excuse is only the latest setback in Sandman’s long road to redemption.
First appearing as a Spider-Man villain, Sandman was also a founding member of the Sinister Six. He was also part of the Frightful Four, who menace the Fantastic Four. However, he eventually came to question his life choices. With the encouragement of Spider-Man and The Thing, Baker mended his ways and was recruited into Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in 1990’s Avengers #329.
Unfortunately, the Frightful Four leader Wizard used his technology to brainwash Sandman into breaking bad again. Shockingly, none of his teammates or friends in the hero community questioned this sudden change of heart. Subsequently, Sandman developed a split personality, with his good and evil sides sometimes separating and fighting. He was also occasionally pressured into villainy for the sake of his daughter, who was introduced into the comics after Spider-Man 3 gave its version of Sandman a daughter.
When he was last seen in the 2024’s Amazing Spider-Man #45, Sandman was seeking treatment for dissociative identity disorder. He had taken to referring to his good side as William Baker and his bad side by his old alias of Flint Marko. Unfortunately, his appearance in Black Cat #4 suggests that either Flint Marko won out or William Blake gave up on being good after so many setbacks.
Black Cat #4 is now available at comic shops everywhere.
