Richard "Rick" Deacon, alias the Human Fly had been in prison and his parole officer had sworn he had gone straight until he kidnapped an old man and heiress. While holding these hostages, kidnapper Rick Deacon was confronted by Spider-Man and shot by the Police. Wounded, he stumbled to Harlan Stillwell's Laboratory where he overheard J. Jonah Jameson asking Stillwell to create a new super hero. During his criminal career as the Fly he fought Spider-Man, the Black Cat, Spider-Woman and the Moon Knight.