Any time a new Spider-Man story releases — be it in comic book, movie, television, or video game form — the world often waits with breathless anticipation. There is nothing like watching the morally pure Peter Parker swing and fumble about New York City while trying to balance a flawed (but relatable) life on the side.
That got me thinking.
With the release of the highly-anticipated Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 for the PlayStation 5, who enhances Spider-Man’s stories the most? I’m talking, of course, about his villains — the people who give flavor, spice, and conflict to an absolutely beloved character’s story. Below is an unscientific rating of the cream of the crop, the finest rogues in a gallery mostly unmatched by any other famous fictional hero.
If you’re perhaps preparing to swing around a virtual New York City again, you’ll appreciate the quick refresher on all-time classics.
15
Mister Negative
Mister Negative’s name is a reference to his looking like a photographic negative when appearing as his alter ego. (Rolls eyes) Yawn. He’s a heavy hitter but not one of the best.
14
Carnage
A still-cool but lesser version of his far more famous symbiote cousin. Like a sequel, that is worse. (So, almost all sequels.)
13
Tombstone
Lonnie Lincoln, a.k.a. “Tombstone,” has been a persistent thorn in our webbed friend’s side for decades. His chalk-white skin appearance is menacing, but there’s a reason he’s usually more of a sideshow than a main event in any good Spider-Man story.
12
Scorpion
An original addition to Spider-Man’s rogue gallery, Mac Gargan’s eponymous (and ridiculously cool) cybernetic scorpion suit has been the subject of many great battles with Peter Parker and Co. Aside from occasional happenings here and there, though, he’s not otherwise all that interesting.
11
Electro
The original incarnation of Max Dillon, a.k.a. “Electro,” is one of the better villain origin stories in Spider-Man history. Before turning to a life of (shocking) crime, Dillon works as a lineman for an electric company when a chance lightning strike changes his life forever.
I repeat. He gets struck by lightning and obtains power from it.
10
Lizard
Peter Parker has no shortage of brilliant-thinking mentors who turn deranged after one unfortunate misstep. A tragic character, Curt Connors, a.k.a. “Lizard,” just wanted to regenerate his right arm with a miracle serum. Needless to say, it did not have the intended effect.
9
Sandman
William Baker, a.k.a. “Sandman,” has one of the saddest stories in the Spider-verse. A boy born without a father in his life, Baker never gets that needed guiding moral compass in life. It turns him to a life of crime and, eventually, leads to an absurd accident at a nuclear power plant that literally transforms his DNA into shape-shifting sand.
Battles with Sandman are kind of silly in practice (see the above photo), but they’re always a spectacle.
8
Rhino
A brute through and through, Aleksei Mikhailovich Sytsevich, a.k.a. “Rhino,” loves nothing more than trying to literally crush our favorite humanoid spider-person. Any Spider-Man clash with Rhino normally leaves behind a trail of chaotic New York City destruction, and they’re always exhilarating to follow.
7
Black Cat
It’s impossible to discern what Felicia Hardy’s, a.k.a. “Black Cat,” intentions are at any given time. She’s a friend of Spider-Man. A love interest who holds a lot of tension with a man whose real identity she doesn’t even know in most stories. A world-class thief, capable of scaling and/or breaking into any building. Hardy is complicated, a classic anti-hero, and is one of the best.
6
Kraven The Hunter
A stereotypical big-game hunter who enjoys hunting “the most dangerous game” (you know, people), Kraven is one of the few Spider-Man villains to truly understand what he’s contending with. He’s also someone who actually succeeds and defeats Spider-Man during one of the highlight tales in the entire character’s lore.
5
Kingpin
A ruthless mob boss, Wilson Grant Fisk, a.k.a. “Kingpin,” is often the powerful person pulling the strings behind many of Spider-Man’s intimidating obstacles. He’s also a listed 6-foot-7, 450-pound human being, ensuring any one-on-one fight with him is tantamount to squaring off with a juggernaut.
4
Mysterio
They don’t make them any more cartoonish or theatrical than Quentin Beck, a.k.a. “Mysterio.” A special effects master and stunt man, Beck eventually channels his production experience into playing some dastardly mind games with our beloved webhead. Mysterio stories in any Spider-Man medium usually stand out for their creativity and outside-the-box delivery.
3
Green Goblin
One of Spider-Man’s genuine archenemies, Norman Osborn is such a towering force specifically because he actually knows Peter Parker’s secret identity and weaponizes that fact. He’s killed Gwen Stacy. He’s buried Aunt May alive. Heck, in some iterations, he’s even killed Peter! By all accounts, he’s an unhinged maniac who deserves zero benefit of the doubt.
2
Venom
Eddie Brock, a.k.a. “Venom,” personifies one essential question: What if Spider-Man was a selfish, embittered narcissist who spares no expense — even peoples’ lives — to get the job done? No matter who the infamous symbiote actually takes hold of — Brock, Peter, what have you — Venom manifests as an embodiment of our darkest impulses. Venom is a remarkable villain not due to his thrilling battles with Spider-Man but because it is easy to imagine such pitch-black darkness within all of our spirits.
1
Doctor Octopus
No one in Spider-Man’s grand pantheon of foes can compare to Otto Octavius, a.k.a. “Doctor Octopus.” In most incarnations, Octavius is a friend and ingenious mentor to Peter Parker — a shining example of what it means to utilize one’s intellect for the greater good. But like many tragic geniuses, Octavius gets consumed by his ambitious projects, eventually coming to believe he is bigger and more important than the common good. This manifests with his iconic robotic octopus arms that morph him into a terrifying and relentless adversary for Peter/Spider-Man.
It’s not a 100 percent hit rate, but most archetypal Spider-Man stories usually feature Octavius in some fashion — especially any of the modern tellings. He is peerless, the perfect foil to the arguably most famous American superhero.
