ABDUL

Real Name: Abdul (last name unrevealed)

Identity/Class: Human (Saudi Arabian)

Occupation: Intelligence operative

Group Membership: (possibly) General Intelligence Directorate

Affiliations: Rachel, Rayder, Spider-Man (Peter Parker)

Enemies: Robot-Master (Mendel Stromm robot)

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Saudi Arabia

First Appearance: Spectacular Spider-Man II#68 (July, 1982)

Powers/Abilities: Abdul is an experienced intelligence agent and a very capable hand-to-hand combatant. His particular specialty is munitions and he is an expert at setting explosive charges. He carries a pistol, plastic explosives and detonators.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 6'0")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 176 lbs.)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Dark brown

History:
(Spectacular Spider-Man II#68 (fb) - BTS) - After a robot designed by Mendel Stromm made a terrorist attack on a mosque in Saudi Arabia, Abdul was assigned to investigate. He eventually partnered with Israel's Agent Rachel and FBI agent Rayder as the trail of robots led them to the United States. Although they were certain the robots had been designed by Mendel Stromm, Stromm was known to be deceased.

(Spectacular Spider-Man II#68) - Abdul, Rachel and Rayder went to investigate the crypt where Mendel Stromm's body lay but they were blocked by a bald man (unknown to them, a robot duplicate of Stromm himself and the entity responsible for the robot attacks). When Abdul drew his pistol to force the man to step aside, Peter Parker intervened, thinking he was preventing the trio from accosting an innocent man. Peter began fighting the agents, easily overpowering them with his superhuman abilities. Finally, Rachel used gas to briefly stun him so that they could exit the cemetery. While fleeing, Rayder dropped his wallet with his FBI shield.

Spider-Man followed the address in Rayder's wallet to his office, where he found Abdul, Rayder and Rachel under attack by one of Stromm's robots. Abdul and Rayder were already knocked unconscious but Spider-Man fought the robot long enough for Rachel to use one of Stromm's blaster weapons to render the robot inoperable. After Abdul and Rayder revived, the trio explained their mission to Spider-Man and the four resolved to investigate Stromm's crypt together.

Spider-Man used his superhuman strength to force the crypt open and discovered there was a metal panel in the floor of the crypt. Abdul took out plastic explosives to blast the panel open but once he set the charge, a steel door suddenly came down, trapping them inside the tiny space with the explosive. With no time to prevent the explosion, Spider-Man covered the bomb with webbing to shield them from the blast. The explosion tore open the panel and stunned Abdul, Rachel and Rayder unconscious.

Spider-Man then fought the Robot-Master, who proved to be a robot duplicate of Mendel Stromm that possessed his intellect and had been selling his robotic creations to terrorists. Spider-Man flung the Robot-Master through the ceiling of the underground chamber. Abdul, Rachel and Rayder awoke in time to exit the crypt and see the remains of the Robot-Master robot as he collapsed in the cemetery. Spider-Man added the message "dead again" in webbing beneath Stromm's name on his crypt.

Comments: Created by Bill Mantlo, Luke McDonnell and Jim Mooney.

    Abdul's agency was not identified but the General Intelligence Directorate are the foreign intelligence agency of Saudi Arabia so it seems like a good assumption.

    As we know now, the real Mendel Stromm wasn't really dead and would later return as Gaunt (albeit only because the Spider-Man office was in such disarray - Gaunt was originally supposed to be Harry Osborn).

    Why three agents of completely different agencies all wore matching spandex outfits is beyond me. Maybe Interpol is a little more flashy in the Marvel Universe? Or maybe they were supposed to be S.H.I.E.L.D. agents but it got nixed for some reason?

   This profile was completed on 12/15/2022, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 25th anniversary's celebratory event.

Profile by Prime Eternal.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Abdul should not be confused with:

Rachel

Rachel was an Israeli agent (likely serving in Mossad) who joined Abdul and Rayder as they investigated the international terrorist acts seemingly caused by Mendel Stromm. Rachel was assigned to investigate Stromm after robot drones designed by Stromm were used in attacks on Israel. Pooling resources with Saudi Arabia's Abdul and the USA's Rayder, she joined the other two agents in the United States to investigate whether Mendel Stromm was truly dead. They were prevented from entering Stromm's crypt by a robot duplicate of Stromm and by the unwitting Peter Parker, who thought the trio were accosting an unarmed man. Subsequently, the Stromm robot sent a robot to kill Rachel, Abdul and Rayder but Spider-Man came to their assistance and fended off the robot long enough for Rachel to disable it using one of Stromm's own hand weapons. Spider-Man then aided the trio in breaking into Stromm's crypt but when Abdul set an explosive charge to break into the crypt's hidden chamber, the room was suddenly sealed by the Stromm robot. Spider-Man attempted to shield the others from the blast but the force of the explosion stunned them unconscious. When they awoke, they found Spider-Man had defeated the Stromm robot and his fellow robots and exited the crypt just in time to see the Stromm robot collapse, smashed inoperable by Spider-Man.

Rachel carried a compact which could emit gas; the gas was potent enough to make Spider-Man dizzy for a few moments.



--Spectacular Spider-Man II#68
Rayder

Rayder was an agent of the FBI who partnered with Abdul and Rachel in investigating the international terrorist acts seemingly caused by Mendel Stromm. Rayder, Abdul and Rachel investigated the cemetery where Stromm was buried to determine whether he was truly dead. They were prevented from entering the tomb by a robot duplicate of Stromm and by the unwitting Peter Parker, who thought the trio were accosting an unarmed man. Subsequently, the Stromm robot sent a robot to kill Rachel, Abdul and Rayder but Spider-Man came to their assistance and fended off the robot long enough for Rachel to disable it. Spider-Man then aided the trio in breaking into Stromm's crypt but when Abdul set an explosive charge to break into the crypt's hidden chamber, the room was suddenly sealed by the Stromm robot. Spider-Man attempted to shield the others from the blast but the force of the explosion stunned them unconscious. When they awoke, they found Spider-Man had defeated the Stromm robot and his fellow robots and exited the crypt just in time to see the Stromm robot collapse, smashed inoperable by Spider-Man.



--Spectacular Spider-Man II#68

images: (without ads)
Spectacular Spider-man II#68, page 14, panel 3 (Abdul, main)
Spectacular Spider-man II#68, page 14, panel 4 (Abdul, face)
Spectacular Spider-man II#68, page 11, panel 1 (Rachel)
Spectacular Spider-man II#68, page 13, panel 3 (Rayder)

Appearances:
Spectacular Spider-Man II#68 (July, 1982) - Bill Mantlo (script), Luke McDonnell (pencils), Jim Mooney (inks), Tom DeFalco (editor)

First posted: 09/03/2026
Last updated: 04/16/2026

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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