My 10 Favourite Spider-Man Villains
2023 is a great year for Spider-Man fans. Across the Spider-Verse was a major hit in June, and Insomniac’s Spider-Man 2 releases on PlayStation 5 tomorrow! It’s a particularly great year if, like myself, you’re a fan of Spider-Man villains. The Spot wasn’t a household name, but Across the Spider-Verse turned them into an intensely sinister threat, and Spider-Man 2 features Venom, Lizard and Kraven the Hunter. My excitement for Spider-Man 2 has made me think about what makes Spider-Man villains so captivating.
Spider-Man is an important character for me, to the point where I can’t adequately convey how much they mean to me. I can’t remember a time when Spider-Man wasn’t in my life. I spent hours as a child rewatching Sam Raimi’s films on VHS, and woke up early at weekends to catch re-runs of animated shows. I’ve watched every Spider-Man film countless times, and spent years reading as many Spider-Man comic books as I can. I’ve developed a strong passion for all parts of the Spider-Man mythos, including one of the most important: the villains.
I’ve always been more interested in villains. They’re often (although not always) better written. Heroes largely exist to dress up and fight evil. By comparison, villains have a well-defined purpose, and clear goals and values. Spider-Man’s rogues are no exception. These colourful lunatics who boast extraordinary powers and terrorise the streets of New York. They don’t wallow in their tragedy, and instead turn freak accidents and technological mishaps into their greatest assets. Even while slipping further into the depths of depravity, they never lose their sense of showmanship, and never let defeat stop them from scheming. They’re multifaceted, often sympathetic, and some of the best comic book villains.
Considering Spider-Man is currently thriving across mediums, I’ve compiled a list of my 10 favourite Spider-Man villains. It was a tough task, based on my passion for Spider-Man, and the fact his villains are fantastically written in comic books, films, TV shows and video games. Given some of the high-profile names who didn’t make the list (Electro, Scorpion, Rhino, The Chameleon etc) it illustrates how difficult this was. So, without further ado, here’s my 10 favourite Spider-Man villains!
10. Vulture
Don’t let the dated costume fool you. Vulture is intelligent, skilled, and equipped with deadly technology. He’s also ruthless and unstable. In his first appearance (‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ issue #2) he spots Spider-Man, picks him up, and unceremoniously drops him into a water tower. No questions asked, no monologue, no nonsense - straight to attempted murder. Classic Vulture. There’s also something oddly captivating about Vulture being an older villain. It’s impressive and batshit crazy for an older man to strap himself into a winged mech suit and go toe to toe with Spider-Man, and yet he ranks as one of Spidey’s most dangerous villains.
9. Sandman
Sandman presented a different challenge in the early days of Spider-Man. Other villains could easily be bested through trading punches or with creative web shooter activity. Neither of those work on Sandman. Spider-Man is forced to use his intellect to win the fight, and outsmart Sandman rather than overpower him. Even now, Sandman’s shapeshifting abilities offer ample room for creative storytelling. Also, they’re often depicted as conflicted and strangely sympathetic. Audiences often care less about the man made of sand, and more about the crook in the stripy t-shirt.
8. Venom
Venom holds a mirror to Peter Parker, providing a darker, twisted reflection. Beyond their literal skewed image of Spider-Man, Venom exhibits similar abilities, along with unique powers and a violent, unpredictable personality. Venom isn’t simply a monster, because there’s always a troubled individual buried underneath the alien goop. Knowing Peter Parker had his own struggles with the symbiote, and seeing how vicious and cold it makes someone, events take a dark turn whenever Venom is around. Until a recent comic book series by Donny Cates, I never understood Venom. However, the more I’ve read, the more I’ve grown to appreciate them as a villain and a complicated anti-hero.
7. The Prowler (Aaron Davis)
I don’t subscribe to the ludicrous “one true Spider-Man” school of thought. Miles Morales is Spider-Man, so his villains count. Prowler is a great villain. He has dangerous tech, a terrifying costume design and a cold-blooded attitude. This particular version of Prowler achieves a strong emotional impact due to their familial connection with Miles. The way he treats Miles is diabolical, and his dying words in the comic books cause Miles to give up being Spider-Man for an entire year. In any continuity, Aaron Davis is a troubled man, constantly fighting between survival and doing the right thing. Projects like Into the Spider-Verse depict Prowler in a sympathetic light, but in the comic books he has a sinister, haunting presence.
6. Black Cat
Beyond their impressive abilities and expertise, Black Cat is a strange enigma. Similar to the dynamic of Daredevil and Elektra, Peter is drawn to Felicia Hardy for inexplicable reasons. Even though she’s a criminal, and her attempts to lead a better life never stick, there’s a bizarre chemistry between them. It’s always tricky when Spider-Man faces Black Cat. His thoughts become twisted, as he wants to be a hero, but also cares deeply about the person underneath the cat costume (that’s not a sex joke, keep your minds clean). Whether she’s fighting against Spider-Man or seemingly working with him, we can never quite trust Black Cat, and her changeable behaviour keeps audiences hooked.
5. Lizard
I used to be cynical about Lizard. His boss fight on the ‘Spider-Man’ Gameboy Color game (2000) was difficult for young Adam to overcome. But also, for a long time I didn’t understand them. Thankfully, the more comic books I’ve read, the more I’ve grown to appreciate and pity Lizard. Beyond their iconic physical appearance, Lizard is interesting because he exemplifies internal struggle and the duality of man. He hasn’t simply strayed from the path and turned evil. Deep down, Doctor Conners wants to help people and he can help people, but his demons prevent him from reaching his true potential, which is a tragedy.
4. Kraven the Hunter
When I was a child, I was absolutely terrified of Kraven. I have a vague memory of an animated episode where Spidey continuously gets his butt handed to him by Kraven. As a child, Spider-Man being beaten was pretty much the scariest thing that could happen. Growing up I’ve reached a new conclusion: Kraven is even scarier than I realised. His skills as a hunter are matched only by his drive to defeat Spider-Man and prove himself as the greatest. That’s what I find most unsettling. He respects Spider-Man as an adversary, and yet he’s dedicated his life to defeating him for his own twisted sense of glory. For the perfect Kraven story, I’d recommend ‘Kraven’s Last Hunt’ by J.M. Dematteis. It’s an insightful look into the mind of Kraven, and an iconic character study of a complicated villain.
3. Mysterio
The complete Spider-Man villain package. A fantastic costume designed by Steve Ditko, unique abilities and technology, and a mind which is gifted yet volatile. What separates Mysterio from other villains is the fact he doesn’t simply attack Spider-Man’s body, but instead aims for his mind and emotions. Mysterio’s methods are ruthless, highly effective and increasingly creative. They overwhelm the senses, make Spider-Man question what’s real, and illicit a strong emotional response. To see the sinister combination of Mysterio’s twisted cunning and his desire to inflict pain, look no further than Kevin Smith’s ‘Daredevil: Guardian Devil.’ Switching lanes to sucker punch a hero who won’t see it coming is a clever strategy, but is also cruel beyond belief.
2. Kingpin
Not just a fantastic Spider-Man villain, but one of my favourite Marvel villains. Both a Kingpin of crime and a legitimate part of the establishment. He’s a well-connected and resourceful mastermind. His power comes from his control and influence. The first season of Daredevil perfectly displayed this, with people afraid to even say the name “Wilson Fisk.” Going after Kingpin isn’t just about taking down an individual; it means attacking a vast network. He personifies destruction in his actions, words and schemes. He can sit comfortably in his tower as someone’s entire life is dismantled, like in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’, or he can kill someone with one smash of his giant fists, like in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Although he’s a level-headed businessman, he’s also easily angered, and often responds with violent outbursts of rage.
More than anything, Kingpin’s mind is his most terrifying asset. He has a huge criminal empire which he rules with an iron fist, has been an antagonist to various characters, and has even had a comic book crossover event which saw various Marvel heroes band together to take him down (see Chip Zdarsky’s ‘Devil’s Reign’). He’s a diabolical schemer who survives at any cost, and always reaches higher positions of power. He’s like a weed in the Marvel universe; you can never get rid of him because he always returns, greater in size and with even more thorns.
1. Doctor Octopus
The best of the best. Not only my favourite Spider-Man villain, but one of my favourite villains in all of pop culture. Boasting an iconic costume design from the mind of Steve Ditko, utilising science fiction technology to completely change the mind and body of Doctor Otto Octavius. His sense of theatricality is matched by his genius intellect, cruel nature, and a desire for superiority. He challenges Spider-Man intellectually. Peter Parker is a clever kid, but not all of his villains are. It presents a difficult challenge when Spidey fights someone who can overpower him and outsmart him.
The dynamic between Doc Ock and Spider-Man is fascinating. On one hand, Otto Octavius and Peter Parker share similarities. They’re social outcasts who are gifted in various ways, and both have brilliant scientific minds. It’s why in some universes, like Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2 and Insomniac’s Spider-Man, Otto is a friend and mentor to Peter. On the other hand, Doc Ock and Spider-Man clash completely in terms of values and methods. Their relationship is by no means simple. From Doc Ock’s perspective, what they share is a rivalry with respect. He despises Spider-Man and wants to defeat him, but also strangely likes and admires him.
Many villains have a set routine, but Doc Ock keeps things fresh, going bigger and weirder with each scheme. In his first appearance he nearly destroyed New York City. He formed the Sinister Six. He unmasked Spider-Man in front of his peers. He played a key role in the death of Captain George Stacy. However, Doc Ock’s greatest moment is his grand endgame scheme. A dying Octavius concocts a ludicrous plan to switch bodies with Peter Parker. Doc Ock’s consciousness lives on in Peter’s body and the consciousness of Peter “dies.” Already that’s a cruel fate, but Otto then became the ‘Superior Spider-Man.’ It’s the ultimate insult; defeating and replacing Spider-Man in order to earn redemption, master both sides of Peter Parker’s life, and become a better Spider-Man than Peter ever could.
“Complicated” is a word which can describe many villains. In the case of Doc Ock, it’s an understatement. He’s pompous and arrogant, yet incredibly self-conscious. It’s a spectacular contradiction. He constantly thinks of ways to prove his superiority and he’s the cleverest person in the room, but he’s consistently proven wrong. And despite his confidence, there’s a sense of fragility and sadness. Otto could find happiness and fulfilment, as seen during the ‘Superior Spider-Man’ era. However, he’s gripped by internal struggles. It’s a perfect example of a tragic villain; someone who has the capacity to be brilliant and help people, but life has other plans.
Now, let’s address the elephant in the room: “where’s Green Goblin?” Unfortunately, Green Goblin is a little vanilla for my taste. In the vast sea of Spider-Man’s rogues gallery, Green Goblin is low hanging fruit. He’s also been over-used in comic book continuity, and it currently feels like no one knows what to do with him but they’re keeping him around out of obligation. I won’t deny Green Goblin is an iconic villain, and features in many great stories, but they’re not one of my favourites right now.
There’s no easy way to summarise an article about villains. These aren’t characters anyone roots for and we don’t condone their actions, but we’re fascinated by them. Their complexities, their motivations, their efforts to achieve happiness - these are all reasons to engage in new Spider-Man content. In some ways, these aren’t just villains; they’re some of Spider-Man’s closest friends. The people he spends the most time with, who he understands best, and who he hopes deep down will one day find better lives. But until then, he’ll keep suiting up. Listening to a battered old police radio, which indirectly tells him he’s about to spend time with an old friend. The audience will be there too, sat in a cinema or perched with a comic book in their hands, forever waiting to see what happens next.
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