It is argued by many that Spider-Man has the best rogues gallery in all of comics. As a Spidey fan myself, I would certainly agree. Spider-Man's villains are truly unique, different and exciting. What I love about the MCU Spider-Man movies is their attention to villains we have not yet seen on screen, such as The Vulture, Shocker and, of course, Mysterio. We are two movies in to Marvel's iteration of the character, and I think it is safe to say Marvel is doing a good job with Spidey. However, with more films on the way, I thought it would be fun to look at six classic Spider-Man foes destined for the big screen.
6. Tombstone
First Appearance: Web of Spider-Man #36
Let's kick things off with a bang! Growing up on the 90s animated series, Tombstone was always a favorite of mine. He is mean, funny and a truly different kind of Spider-Man antagonist. Unlike Doctor Octopus or The Lizard, Tombstone is not a sympathetic baddie, he is a crime boss, and a good one at that. With the MCU version of Spider-Man being a character who is still rather low-key, I feel like Tombstone would work perfectly as a side-villain in a forthcoming sequel. In recent years, the character has been featured in a ton of Marvel media including Marvel's Spider-Man on the PS4, as well as Sony's animated masterpiece, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
5. Chameleon
First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #1
Spider-Man just went up against the Master of Illusion in Mysterio, but can he survive the Master of Disguise? Well, I am not sure yet, as The Chameleon has never been in a Spider-Man movie! Honestly, this one really surprises me. Chameleon is one of the most iconic and beloved Spider-Man villains, hell, he debuts in the first standalone Spider-Man comic, surely that warrants some respect? With Spider-Man being on the hunt in the next MCU, could Chameleon play a role in it? I am not too sure, that is a question for Kevin Feige. Considering Feige's love for the source material, I could see the character debuting on-screen within the next few years.
4. Black Cat
First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #194
Oh, poor Black Cat. Personally, I think the character just has bad luck. First, Sam Raimi wanted Anne Hathaway to play the role in Spider-Man 4 before its cancellation, then Felicity Jones appeared as Felicia Hardy in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, which led to a complete reboot, and then her standalone movie at Sony was canceled altogether. It really leads you to think: Is Black Cat a cursed character? I sure as hell hope not! Despite never properly appearing on screen, Black Cat remains a super-popular character in the Spider-Man mythos. She has appeared in just about every Spider-Man video game since 2004 and continues to appear in various animated projects. With Tom Holland's Spider-Man growing up and approaching his college years, I think we could see a little fling between his Spider-Man and Black Cat in the next trilogy.
3. The Hobgoblin
First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #238
Another character who is solely on here because of the fantastic 90s interpretation is the Hobgoblin. While the Spider-Man movies have mostly focused on the Green Goblin, the Hobgoblin offers something different. In the MCU, Peter Parker's best friend is none other than Ned Leeds, who, in the comics, was brainwashed by Rodrick Kingsley into doing his sinister bidding. The character is a fan-favorite, and to not include him at some point in the MCU, or Sony spin-off movies would be nothing short of a damn shame. Here's hoping Kevin Feige reads this article and does what needs to be done.
2. The Scorpion
First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #20
Okay, this one is cheating. Sure, while Mac Gargan made his cinematic debut in Spider-Man: Homecoming, the Scorpion has yet to appear in live-action on the big screen, although, I think that's about to change. Following the conclusion of Spider-Man: Far From Home, New York knows that Spider-Man and Peter Parker are one and the same. With the arrival of J.K. Simmons' J. Jonah Jameson, and his hatred for the Wallcrawler, could we see Gargan suit up as Jameson's Scorpion in the untitled third film? It certainly seems likely. If I were a betting man (which, as an investor, I am) I would put some cash on The Amazing Spider-Man #20.
1. Kraven The Hunter
First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #15
I mean, who else would be number one? Kraven the Hunter is without a doubt my favorite Spider-Man villain not yet seen on the big screen. He is simply a badass and has one of (if not the) best storylines in all of comics. Sony Pictures have been developing a standalone project for the character which is rumored to feature Spider-Man, but I personally think he will be the main villain in Marvel's Spider-Man 3. If you think about it, it makes a hell of a lot of sense. Peter Parker is on the run, and who better than the world's greatest hunter to track him down? The movie basically writes itself, don't you think? A few months ago, I picked up a 7.0 copy of the character's debut, signed by Stan Lee... So, yeah. I'm hoping his cinematic debut comes sooner, rather than later.
Alas, that brings this list to a close. Of course, this is just my list of six classic Spider-Man foes destined for the big screen, and I am super curious as to which Spider-Man baddies you guys would like to see in an upcoming sequel or standalone project. With Man-Wolf and Solo receiving spin-off films, who knows who could be next?
