The Kingpin betrays Smythe after the event's of Sins of the Fathers Chapter 7: The Man Without Fear (1996), which he blamed on Smythe's "incompetence".
Smythe becomes the ultimate spider slayer after the Kingpin gets Herbert Landon to alter Smythe's DNA with his mutation and replace him as the Kingpin's lieutenant. This is the first time landon is seen following his mutation in Neogenic Nightmare Chapter 5: Mutants Revenge (1995)