Vince Martell was an architect who owned an architectural company. He was forced to buy building materials from companies with connections to organized crime. The Maggia would have arranged for his company to lose contracts if he didn't obey orders. The building materials proved substandard and several people were killed by accidents involving his buildings. Martell testified against the Maggia and joined the witness protection program under the alias Vic Martinelli.

Martinelli was eventually hired by Williams Innovations, the company owned by Simon Williams (later known as Wonder Man). When the company was absorbed by Stark International, owned by Tony Stark, Martinelli later became Chief of Securtiy. When Martinelli was pictured in a public relations photo for S.I., the Maggia was able to send Blacklash to kill him. Iron Man prevented the assassination and defeated Blacklash. Martinelli stayed with the company after it was taken over by Obadiah Stane.