Death Sponsors

The Death Sponsors is a team that works for a pirate network in Mojoworld and led by a Spineless One that steals the airwaves for signal supremacy from Mojo. The team consist of Sweep-Zweak, Deadair, Lead-In, Cancellator and Timeslot. The Death Sponsors are considered the Mergers and Acquisitions Department for that pirate network that has established a solid demographic audience on a counter-programming basis against Mojo with the use of bootleg transmissions. The Death Sponsors easily dispatch a bunch of rebels sent by Mojo to destroy their citadel spire and their competition. The Spineless One informs the Death Sponsors that three potential ratings bonanzas have been left on Earth: the original time-dancer, Spiral, the Fallen Messiah and the geneticist Arize. Any of the three would benefit their network and would help successfully overthrow their network rival, Mojo. The Death Sponsors travel to Earth and decide to go after Arize. Deadair is able to tune into the broadcast signal to Arize's location so Timeslot teleports them to Xavier's Mansion where the X-Men are protecting the Death Sponsor's target. A fierce battle takes place between the two teams and the Death Sponsors appear to gain the upper hand when Sweep-Zweak uses his energy disruption powers to cut off the X-Men's access to their mutant abilities. Timeslot performs a cyberlink which allows him to teleport his teammates through a electronic mind-link but that link is disrupted when Bishop shoots the teleporter during midport. Arize remains on Earth while the rest of the Death Sponsors teleport back to Mojoworld. The current whereabouts of the Death Sponsors are unknown.

Creation

The Death Sponsors were created by Fabian Nicieza and Jae Lee in 1992 and first appeared in Uncanny X-Men Annual # 16.