THE RHINOS
Classification: Armored assault vehicles
Creator: Unknown; the two operators of the Rhinos might have invented, been hired to use, or stolen them.
Users/Possessors: An unidentified man and woman, relationship unknown
Enemies: Iron Man, US military
Aliases: None
First Appearance: "Iron Man in: The Charge of the Rhinos" (Hostess Twinkies advertisement in Amazing Spider-Man I#217 and other June 1981 issues)
Powers/Abilities/Functions: The Rhinos are two large armored battle vehicles built to resemble rhinoceroses; they are impervious to fission rockets, Iron Man's repulsor rays, and presumably other types of weaponry. Each Rhino is equipped with an "electronic fission" weapon which can emit a green flame-like burst of energy; the vehicles' operators see through a one-way red glass enclosure.
History: It is not known how the two Rhino vehicles came to be constructed nor how an unidentified man and woman came to operate them; it is possible that the male operator had a previous career as a criminal and some familiarity with armored vehicles (see Comments).
("Iron Man in: The Charge of the Rhinos")- An unidentified couple drove the Rhinos toward Fort Noxx, intending to raid the gold vaults therein. A military attachment in the area attempted to drive the Rhinos off with fission rockets, to no avail. Iron Man arrived, but his repulsor rays proved equally useless against his opponents' armor plating. Unable to halt the Rhinos, Iron Man decided to distract the operators within, and he rained dozens of Hostess Twinkies upon the Rhinos. Abandoning control of the Rhinos in an attempt to claim the snack cakes, the two operators were captured by the military, and Iron Man departed.
Comments: Created by an unidentified writer and artist.
The male Rhino operator might have been Hy Torque, who earlier led two underlings in an assault on the Van Ness Mansion and might later have been one of the three criminals who comprised the Bank Robbers; it's also possible that Torque's underlings operated the Brawn Tank between their two venture with Torque.
Of all the Hostess villains, only Icemaster has shown up in an Earth-616 title. He could have crossed over to Earth-616 from "Earth-Hostess," but I say leave them on Earth-616 until proven otherwise. Nonetheless, until they do show up in regular continuity, they remain outside regular canon. Surely someone will write a story teaming them all together.---Snood.
This is not true anymore as some Hostess ad villains were mentioned in the Fantastic Four Encyclopedia as natives of Earth-616. And lets not forget about Printout Man in the New Avengers Most Wanted Files. You can get the whole story, and some clever commentary from Seanbaby's The Hostess Page. It might not meet with the Comics Code Authority's approval, so kids, ask your parents before checking that out!---Kyle
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CLARIFICATIONS: Images taken from: Last updated: 04/04/04
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
The Rhinos should not be confused with:
"Iron Man in: The Charge of the Rhinos" panel 1
"Iron Man in: The Charge of the Rhinos" panel 3
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™ and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com