Spider-Man villains

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Promotional artwork for The Amazing Spider-Man #500, featuring Spider-Man's wife, Mary Jane Watson-Parker, and many of his antagonists. Art by J. Scott Campbell & Tim Townsend.
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Promotional artwork for The Amazing Spider-Man #500, featuring Spider-Man's wife, Mary Jane Watson-Parker, and many of his antagonists. Art by J. Scott Campbell & Tim Townsend.

Spider-Man has one of the best-known rogues galleries in comics. While many of Batman's villains tend to be iconic representation of various concepts, and psychosis' (puzzles, comedy, duality, fear, plants, cold, etc.), many of Spider-Man's villains' origins are based in scientific accidents or the misuse of scientific technology, paralleling Spider-Man himself. Likewise, many also have animal-themed costumes or powers. Spider-Man's enemies are some of the best rounded antagonists in comics, with equal emphasis put on both their special abilities and their personalities.

Spider-Man also has a wide range of villains: hapless thugs, mad geniuses, crime bosses, and even extraterrestrial monsters. Due to the nature of the shared universe he inhabits, he has also fought many villains more closely associated with other heroes. However, these are not considered Spider-Man's own enemies.

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[edit] The Burglar

Spider-Man's first enemy was not one of the colorful costumed criminals he became known for. Instead, he was a common criminal. This unnamed small-time crook played an essential role in Spider-Man's origin in Amazing Fantasy #15 (August 1962), by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko.

Spider-Man and the burglar who killed his uncle. From Amazing Fantasy #15, 1962. Written by Stan Lee, art by Steve Ditko.
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Spider-Man and the burglar who killed his uncle. From Amazing Fantasy #15, 1962. Written by Stan Lee, art by Steve Ditko.

Spider-Man originally intends to use his powers for fame and fortune, but one day allows a thief to run past him. Soon after, the same criminal breaks into his house intending to rob it, and when confronted, shoots and kills Peter's Uncle Ben. After chasing the killer to a warehouse and confronting him, Peter learns, to his horror, that he could have prevented the death by using his powers more responsibly.

He reappears in Amazing Spider-Man #170 after serving his term in prison. In #200 (January 1980), it is revealed that he had been seeking a large stash of money that was hidden in the Parker house- which he now seeks to acquire with the aid of Mysterio, the two of them having faked Aunt May's death- but had been destroyed by insects years before. When Spider-Man confronts him again, the burglar is overwhelmed by fear and suffers a fatal heart attack.

He has a daughter named Jessica Carradine, a photographer who has a brief relationship with Spider-Man's clone, Ben Reilly. She believes the murder her father committed was an accident- that the gun Uncle Ben was shot with was his own, which went off by accident during a fight- and that Spider-Man had murdered him. After learning that Ben is Spider-Man, she first threatens to expose him with a photograph she took of him unmasked, but, having witnessed Ben risk his life to save innocent people in a burning skyscraper, decides against it, and gives him the photograph. The burglar's true name has never been revealed, and it has not been established whether Carradine was his surname as well.

[edit] Other continuities

  • In Ultimate Spider-Man, a reimagining of the Spider-Man mythos, the origin story from Amazing Fantasy #15 is reinterpreted over the course of seven issues. Ben Parker's death at the hands of the burglar does not occur until Ultimate Spider-Man #4. The name "Carradine" appears on a list of "known cat burglars," but nothing else is said about it.[issue # needed]
  • In the feature film Spider-Man, a robber carjacks Ben Parker and shoots him, rather than breaking into his house. Peter chases him to a warehouse, where the killer trips and falls from a window to his death. The movie credits list the character as "Carjacker", and he is portrayed by Michael Papajohn. In this version, Spider-Man does not simply choose to let the robber go because "it's not his job", but as a subtle way of getting revenge against the fight promoter who cheated him out of money. However in Spider-Man 3, it's revealed that the carjacker may in fact not be as responsible for Ben's death as assumed.

[edit] Greatest foes

Spider-Man's most renowned rogues include (in order of appearance):

Villain First appearance Description
Chameleon Amazing Spider-Man #1 The first supervillain Spider-Man ever faced, Dmitri Smerdyakov was a Russian spy with a knack for disguises. Being the half-brother of Kraven the Hunter, he also sought to avenge Kraven's death, become the most powerful crime boss in New York City and utterly destroy Spider-Man with his mind games, including creating the impostors of Peter's parents. He faked his death and was recently a member in the Green Goblin's Sinister Twelve.
Vulture Amazing Spider-Man #2 The elderly Adrian Toomes turned to the life of crime after his business partner cheated him. With a self-invented anti-gravity pack, wings for faster flying and a birdlike costume, he became the high-flying, lowdown Vulture. He was briefly transformed into a younger version of himself when he "absorbed" the youth from the android replica of Peter's mother created by the Chameleon, becoming a more challenging foe for Spider-Man. He is a founding member of the Sinister Six.
Doctor Octopus Amazing Spider-Man #3 Dr. Otto Octavius is a respected scientist, one of the world's foremost experts in radiation. He used four mechanical arms in his experiments, which bonded with his nervous system after an explosion. He combines physical power with mad genius. He was a founding member and the leader of the Sinister Six. He was partially responsible for the death of George Stacy, among other things, and even led the Masters of Evil at one point. Octavius even became a victim of Spider-Man's insane clone, Kaine, who murdered him, but he was later resurrected by the Hand. He was incarcerated in Riker's Island but escaped when he heard the Green Goblin escaped. The villain confronted the Goblin at the George Washington Bridge and both were struck by electricity, falling into the New York river. Both of them survived and Ock is currently active.
Sandman Amazing Spider-Man #4 While on the run from the law, the escaped convict William Baker found himself on a remote beach during a nuclear weapon testing. His cells were spliced with sand molecules by the created radiation, and his body became a mass of a sand-like substance. Under the alias Flint Marko, he committed many crimes and fought Spider-Man frequently. He was also a hero for some time, until he was brainwashed into being a criminal again. He is the founding member of the Sinister Six.
Lizard Amazing Spider-Man #6 When he lost his arm during a war, Dr. Curt Connors felt like he lost a half of himself. Obsessed with regaining his lost limb, Connors created a serum from reptilian DNA, in hope of gaining reptile-like regeneration abilities. He did regain his arm, but at a terrible price: he became a humanoid lizard, with a savage personality. In this form, he fought Spider-Man many times, who managed to cure him of his condition almost every time.
Electro Amazing Spider-Man #9 An emotionally stunted man with an inferiority complex, Max Dillon was struck by lightning while working on power lines and discovered thereafter that he has a supernatural control over electricity. Donning a green and yellow lightning themed costume, he has gone on to battle Spider-Man numerous times. Founding member of the Sinister Six. Electro was one of the Green Goblin's Sinister Twelve members and was last seen captured by the Avengers. A little joke was played in the Spider-Man 2: Daily Bugle Stories (a book based on stories written in the Daily Bugle), about a man who wrote to The Daily Bugle, says he was struck by lightning while working on power lines. He said his name was Max Dillon.
Mysterio Amazing Spider-Man #13 A disgraced stuntman and special effects artist named Quentin Beck who donned an extravagant and theatrical costume (notable for its crystal ball like helmet) and sought to discredit and frame Spider-Man using illusions. Mysterio is well known for buying into his own hype, treating every moment as if he is a grand performer on the world's stage. Founding member of the Sinister Six. His student and friend Daniel Berkhart adopted the identity after Quentin Beck's death when he committed suicide when he fought Daredevil. A teleporting mutant named Francis Klum later purchased the Mysterio costume and arsenal from the Kingpin.
Green Goblin Amazing Spider-Man #14 Originally a normal scientist and ambitious businessman, Norman Osborn used an experimental formula which gave him superpowers but also drove him insane. When Spider-Man thwarts his plans to take over as crime boss of New York City, he dedicates himself to utterly destroying Spider-Man's life. Their mutual animosity becomes personal when he kills Gwen Stacy. He is also the mastermind behind the Clone Saga, and the leader of the Sinister Twelve. He is imitated by his son, Harry Osborn, and the Hobgoblin. He has become Spider-Man's most personal enemy (with the possible exception of the burglar) although he has appeared less frequently than some foes.
Kraven the Hunter Amazing Spider-Man #15 Perhaps the most respected big game hunter in the business, Sergei Kravinoff eventually set on a quest to capture the most elusive prey there is - the amazing Spider-Man. After being defeated numerous times by the web-slinger, his quest became an obsession. When he finally did defeat Spider-Man, he felt there was nothing more for him to do, so he committed suicide. He was a founding member of the Sinister Six and when they were formed together again, the Hobgoblin replaced him.
Scorpion Amazing Spider-Man #20 Private investigator Mac Gargan underwent a process which transformed him into a living weapon capable of destroying Spider-Man. Donning a scorpion-based costume, he set out to defeat Peter Parker numerous times. He has recently bonded with the symbiote formerly used by Eddie Brock to become the new Venom and a member of the Sinister Twelve.
Rhino Amazing Spider-Man #41 Aleksei Sytsevich was a poor immigrant from Russia. He participated in an experiment that bonded a super-strong polymer to his skin and gave him enhanced strength, speed, and stamina. He's a dim-witted criminal and usually works as an enforcer for more ambitious criminals. Rhino is one of Spider-Man's most powerful foes in terms of physical strength, but his lack of intelligence often gives Spider-Man the upper hand.
Shocker Amazing Spider-Man #46 A burglar gifted with a head for engineering, Herman Schultz developed a pair of gauntlets capable of throwing incredibly powerful vibrational blasts. He wears a gold and brown quilted costume to protect himself from the vibrations of his gauntlets. Shocker is one of Spider-Man's most pragmatic and business-minded villains, and usually recognizes his own limitations.
Kingpin Amazing Spider-Man #50 Wilson Fisk is the most powerful crime boss in New York City and perhaps the entire east coast, thus becoming a frequent foe of Spider-Man. He allied himself with many supervillains so they can do his bidding, eventually starting a feud with another superhero, Daredevil. Fisk even found out that Daredevil was Matt Murdock and used this information to ruin his life. Murdock is one of Peter's closest friends, so Spider-Man took this very personally and vowed to help Daredevil bring him down.
Jackal Amazing Spider-Man #129 Dr. Miles Warren was an Empire State University biology professor who became infatuated with Peter Parker's girlfriend, Gwen Stacy. After she died, he became a demented geneticist and cloned both Gwen Stacy and Peter Parker. He gained enhanced strength and agility by combining the genetic material of an actual jackal with his own. His genetic tampering would later result in the "Clone Saga" story arc.
Green Goblin (II) Amazing Spider-Man #136 Harry Osborn, Norman's son and Peter Parker's best friend, who eventually dons his father's old costume and continues his mission of hate against Spider-Man. He later dies due to the serum that gave him powers, but not before saving Spider-Man's life.
Hydro-Man Amazing Spider-Man #212 Morris Bench worked on a cargo ship until an accident transformed him into a being of pigmented water, able to control his own liquid body. He has since been a member of the Sinister Twelve.
Hobgoblin Amazing Spider-Man #238 A millionaire fashion designer and criminal named Roderick Kingsley acquired the Green Goblin's weaponry and used them to further his own ambitions. He's currently retired from his identity and that was later adopted by the now deceased mercenary Jason Macendale.
Venom Amazing Spider-Man #299 When Spider-Man rid himself of the alien symbiote costume he wore since the Secret Wars until he got back to Earth, it bonded with reporter Eddie Brock, who hated Spider-Man. The symbiote gave Brock all of Spider-Man's powers, and even more dangerously, the knowledge of his secret identity and protection from his Spider-Sense. Venom had spawned the most dangerous villain, Carnage, who also spawned Toxin and other symbiotes appeared. One time, Venom was cloned and Brock sold the symbiote to an Italian gangster, who died. Currently, the symbiote is now bonded with the Scorpion, who is the third Venom now, and Brock is trying to work his way back through it now.
Carnage Amazing Spider-Man #361 Carnage is the combination of a symbiote spawned from the original Venom symbiote and the serial killer and former cellmate of Eddie Brock, Cletus Kasady. He thrives on murder and chaos and is stronger than Venom and Spider-Man combined. To stop him the first few times, Spider-Man had to resort to calling on Venom for assistance. Carnage also created a son, too, called Toxin and then a whole other group of symbiotes were created. Currently, Carnage is presumed dead.

[edit] List of enemies

[edit] Made-For-TV Villains

These villains don't appear in the comics. They were created for the series. Among those villains are:

  • Arachnoid: He appeared in Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends. Zolton is a chemical scientist who creates a Spider-Serum that will give him Spider-Powers. He impursonates Spider-Man when commiting crimes until he mutates into the Arachnoid: a mutant with the torso of a man and a spider's body from the waist down. This plot was somewhat based of Nephilia's.
  • Baron Von Rantenraven: He appeared in the 1960's Spider-Man cartoon. He invaded New York with WWII Airplanes.
  • Bolton: He appeared in the 1960's Spider-Man cartoon. Bolton is a Martian warrior who can throw thunderbolts. He worked together with Boomer.
  • Boomer: He appeared in the 1960's Spider-Man cartoon. Boomer is a criminal who uses bombs. He worked together with Bolton.
  • Buzz Mason: He appeared in Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends. He is a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who secretly controlled Lightwave into commiting robberies of a device that will enable him to control a satellite called the GUARDSTAR.
  • Charles Cameo: He appeared in the 1960's cartoon. Charles Cameo is former actor who uses disguises to commit crimes. He one time impursonated the Prime Minister of Rutania.
  • Clive: He appeared in the 1960's Spider-Man cartoon. Clive is a movie producer who plans revenge on the movie critics and audiences by creating Blotto.
  • Cyberiad: He appeared in Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends. Nathan Price was Starfire's lover until an accident caused by an attack by AIM caused him to end up as a cyborg called Cyberiad. He attacked the X-Men Mansion and captured it's members one-by-one. His design is based off Fatal Five member Tharok.
  • Desperado: He appeared in the 1960's Spider-Man cartoon. He is a cowboy on a robotic horse.
  • Dr. Atlantean: He appeared in the 1960's Spider-Man cartoon. Dr. Atlantean is a scientist from Atlantis who brought Manhatten underwater. He is a redrawn version of the Radiation Specialist.
  • Dr. Cool: He appeared in the 1960's Spider-Man cartoon. He is a diamond thief who was robbing diamonds while hiding out in a warehouse with a freezer in it.
  • Dr. Magneto: He appeared in the 1960's Spider-Man cartoon. Dr. Matto Magneto is a scientist armed with a gun that can magnetize and de-magnetize objects. He planned revenge upon the world for ridiculing his theories.
  • Dr. Manta: He appeared in the 1960's Spider-Man cartoon and he's a Rocket Robin Hood villain. He used giant, mechanical beetles to enslave an island's inhabitants.
  • Dr. Noah Body: A brilliant scientist who has somehow found a way to make himself invisible. He has only appeared in the 1960's Spider-Man cartoon.
  • Dr. Dumpty: He appeared in the 1960's Spider-Man cartoon. Dr. Humperdink Dumpty is a jewel thief who stole the jewels of actress Rachel Welles when he attacked a parade.
  • Dr. Vespian: He appeared in the 1960's Spider-Man cartoon. He is a scientist who developed a drinkable invisibility serum that he tested on himself and his dog.
  • Dr. Von Schlick: He appeared in the 1960's Spider-Man cartoon. He is an evil scientist who wears a rubber, non-stick costume with petroleum-based bubbles emitted from his fingers. Spider-Man had to use a special webbing to stop him.
  • Dr. Zap: He appeared in the 1960's Spider-Man cartoon. Dr. Zap is an electic-powered Chinese scientist who kidnapped Dr. Irving Caldwell in order to learn the secrets of Dr. Caldwell's levitation helmet.
  • Dr. Zelnar: He appeared in the 2003 Spider-Man cartoon. He developed a drug that would make stupid people intelligent. He tested it on thug twins Jack and Mack and used them to commit crimes.
  • Fantastic Fakir: He appeared in the 1960's Spider-Man cartoon. He is an Arabian Fakir whose flute can create illusions and control animals.
  • Fiddler: He appeared in the 1960's Spider-Man cartoon. Otto is a man who hates rock and roll for it replacing classical music. He used a deadly violin to seek revenge on Cyrus Flintridge.
  • Fifth Avenue Phantom: He is quite possibly the most unremarkable villan from the '67 animated series. He appeared in "The Fifth Avenue Phantom" and "The Dark Terrors".
  • Gadgeteer: He appeared in the 1980's Spider-Man cartoon. Gadgeteer is an evil janitor who takes on this identity to steal Dr. Norton's shrink ray.
  • The Gaines Twins: They appeared in the 2003 Spider-Man cartoon. Roland and Roxanne gaines are twins with mind powers who messed with Spider-Man's mind.
  • Gamesman: He appeared in the 1980's Spider-Man cartoon. The Gamesman plotted to cause havoc in New York by using the arcade games to hypnotize the teenagers there. He unwittingly caused Francis Byte to become Videoman resulting in Gamesman to manipulate him.
  • Harley Clivendon: He appeared in the 1960's Spider-Man cartoon. Harley Clivendon is an Australian who one time hypnotized J. Jonah Jameson with an idol.
  • Herbert Landon:
Main article: Herbert Landon
  • Human Fly Twins: They appeared in the 1960's Spider-Man cartoon. Stan and Lee are former circus acts who reverted to crime.
  • Iceberg: He first appeared in the 1994 Spider-Man cartoon. He was a frozen crimelord that Hobie Brown used to work for before becoming the Prowler.
  • Infinata: He first appeared in the 1960's Spider-Man cartoon and he's a Rocket Robin Hood villain. He's from the Fifth Dimension where he attempted to steal the Universal Encyclopedia from a dying scientist from the destroyed planet Goth.
  • Kotep the Scarlet Sorcerer: He first appeared in the 1960's Spider-Man cartoon. Kotep was an ancient Egyptian sorcerer who was defeated by his opponent and placed in suspended animation until a professor at Peter's school used an incantation to awaken him.
  • Lightwave: She first appeared in Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends. Aurora Dante is Iceman's half-sister who can manipulate and control light. She is an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. until Buzz Mason controlled her into stealing a device that will allow Buzz to control the GUARDSTAR. Lightwave is based off Aurora and Darkstar.
  • Master Vine: He first appeared in the 1960's Spider-Man cartoon. He is a leader of a race of plant people in an alternate dimension.
  • Microman: He first appeared in the 1960's Spider-Man cartoon. Professor Pretories is a diabolical scientist who has a light that can shrink him to a small size.
  • Mirium: She first appeared in the 1994 Spider-Man cartoon. In this series, she is a Vampire Queen and the mother of Blade.
  • Miss Trubble: She appeared in the 1960's Spider-Man cartoon. She had a chest that enabled her to summon living statue versions of Greek Mythology characters and creatures.
  • Mugs Riley: He first appeared in the 1960's Spider-Man cartoon. Mugs Riley is a criminal who escaped from jail and discovered an underground society of Molemen. He used them to commit crimes while disguised as a Moleman.
  • Nephilia: He appeared in the 1980's Spider-Man cartoon. Dr. Bradley Shaw and his assistant Penny plotted to attain Spider-Man's blood into order to duplicate his powers use them for Bradley's own needs. Unfortunately, he ends up becoming Nephilia: a mutate with a man's torso and a spider body from the waist down.
  • Pardo: He first appeared in the 1960's Spider-Man cartoon. Pardo is a sorcerer who can turn into a black cat and rob people in a movie theatre.
  • Parafino: He appeared in the 1960's Spider-Man cartoon. He is the owner of Parafino's Wax Museum. He one time used wax mannequins of Blackbeard the Pirate, Jesse James, and the Executioner of Paris to commit crimes.
  • Plotter: He appared in the 1960's Spider-Man cartoon. Plotter is a criminal mastermind who hires Ox and Cowboy to steal a blueprint for a missile.
  • Professor Gizmo: He appeared in the 1980's Spider-Man cartoon. Professor Gizmo is a master criminal who planed to use Spider-Man to attach an antennae to the large sunken treasure ship, the El Conquistador.
  • Pterodax: Pterodax appeared in the 2003 Spider-Man cartoon. Pterodax is a high-tech mercenary group led by Sergai.
  • Radiation Specialist: He appeared in the 1960's Spider-Man cartoon. The Radiation Specialist took over Manhatten's new and only Nuclear Power Plant and uses a special ray in it to lift Manhattan into the clouds unless the city meets his demands: he is amply paid, granted amnesty from arrest, and permitted to build his own nuclear reactor. He had a radiation gun which gave Spider-Man a disadvantage.
  • Scarf: He appeared in the 1960's Spider-Man cartoon. Scarf is a masked villain who uses illusions.
  • Shikata: She appeared in the 2003 Spider-Man cartoon. Shikata is a martial arts expert and swordsman who uses a sword and incantation to stay young. She wanted to fight Spider-Man to the finish.
  • Sidewinder: He appeared in the 1980's Spider-Man cartoon. Sidewinder is a masked cowboy villain who rides a flying, robot horse. He leads a gang of cowboys who also ride flying, robot horses.
  • Skymaster: He appeared in the 1960's Spider-Man cartoon. Skymaster is a criminal that resides in a blimp. He kidnapped the school's football star Roy Robinson so that he can force his father to reveal the invisibility serum's ingredients.
  • Stuntman: Stuntman appeared in the 1980's Spider-Man cartoon. Jack Riven was the World's Greatest Stuntman until an accident permanently fused him to a mechanical suit of armor a few years ago. He blames Spider-Man for that. Stuntman has two lackey named Larry and Moe who help make up the Triangle of Evil.
  • Super Swami: He appeared in the 1960's Spider-Man cartoon. He is an Oriental-illusionist.
  • Talon: She appeared in the 2003 Spider-Man cartoon. Cheyenne Tate is a high-tech thief whom was a love interest for Harry Osborne. She is somewhat based off Black Cat.
  • Turbo Jet: He appeared in the 2003 Spider-Man cartoon. As Turbo Jet, Wyler acts like a modern-day Robin Hood with the stealing from the rich and giving to the poor while wearing a high-tech suit.
  • Videoman: It appeared in Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends. Electro brought it out of an arcade game to steal components for his Ultra-Transformer, but was defeated by the Spider-Friends. Videoman was released again during a thunderstorm. A teenage video game prodigy named Francis Byte ends up becoming Videoman due to an explosion caused by the Gamesman's plot where Francis learns to become a good superhero. After the Gamesman's defeat, he is now training with the X-Men.


Spider-Man
Publications Main continuity: Amazing Fantasy • The Amazing Spider-Man • Marvel Team-Up
The Sensational Spider-Man (vol. 2) • Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man • Spider-Man Unlimited
Other continuities: Ultimate Spider-Man • Marvel Adventures Spider-Man • Spider-Girl • Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane
Television Spider-Man (1967) • Amazing Spider-Man (1978) • Spider-Man (1981) •Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (1981) • Spider-Man (1994)
Spider-Man Unlimited (1999) • Spider-Man: The New Animated Series (2003) • Untitled Spider-Man Animated Series (2007)
Films Spider-Man (2002) • Spider-Man 2 (2004) • Spider-Man 3 (2007)
Other topics
Spider-Man writers • Spider-Man artists • Spider-Man supporting characters • Spider-Man villains • Spider-Man's powers and equipment • Video games
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