Zodiac appeared after
Norman Osborn temporarily gained control of
S.H.I.E.L.D., claiming to have killed the entire
Zodiac organization to earn his moniker. Enlisting
Death Reaper,
Manslaughter Marsdale,
Whirlwind and the
Clown into his gang, Zodiac waged war against Osborn, feeling Osborn's rise to power insulted him as a villain. Using his team as a major distraction, Zodiac obtained his true goal – the
Zodiac Key! Killing several H.A.M.M.E.R. agents, severely wounding the
Human Torch coupled with murdering hundreds when he blew up the hospital Torch was in, unleashing Red Ronin upon the citizens of New York and assassinating the only person close to uncovering his plans, Zodiac quickly shot up to number one on Osborn's hit list; even if Osborn didn't know exactly who he was looking for.