We are ranking the top 10 Spider-Man villains of all time! With great power comes great responsibility, and unfortunately for Spidey, that means taking on all manner of crazy bad guys who want to rob a bank, destroy the city, or just straight up murder people.
Spider-Man has a wide variety of villains, one of the most iconic and well-balanced in comics. The classics are other creatures of the animal kingdom like Rhino, Scorpion, and Doctor Octopus. He also battles elements of nature in Electro, Hydro-Man, and Sandman. A slew of bad guys with a horror-bent also exist in the form of Venom, Green Goblin, and Morbius. And sometimes he just takes on crime itself a la the Kingpin.
But what makes a Spider-Man villain great? Is it the scope of their schemes, how cool their powers are, or how dramatically they’ve affected Spider-Man’s life? We like to think it’s a combination of all three, but the one who takes #1 will also have that special X-factor that makes their villany stand above the rest.
Keith – The Rhino
Aleksei Sytsevich was just another thug in the Russian Mafia, grasping at dreams of easy money, and headed for a short brutal life. Seduced by promises of wealth and power, Aleksei underwent a life-threatening series of chemical and radiation treatments throughout several months to transform him into an agent with superhuman strength for a collective of professional spies. In part, this was to support his family. Aleksei’s powerful armor, permanently bonded to his form, was modeled after the hide of a rhinoceros. Two scientists named Igor and Georgi chose this form, both for its visual impact and in recognition of the fact that the rhino was the result of countless generations of evolution towards the ultimate form for armored assault. They selected Aleksei for his muscular physique and low intelligence, which they believed would insure his loyalty.
David – Burglar that killed Uncle Ben
He is best known as the first criminal faced by Spider-Man, and as the killer of the hero’s uncle and surrogate father figure, Ben Parker. The Burglar first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15 (August 1962), making him directly responsible for Ben Parker’s death and Spider-Man’s turn to superheroics. The Burglar’s name was never revealed in the comics. He was completely unnamed in Amazing Fantasy #15, and it was only in 1996, 15 years after his second and final appearance in the comics, and the introduction of his estranged daughter Jessica, that the possibility arose that he might share her last name of Carradine. However, it remains unconfirmed whether this is the Burglar’s surname, as his daughter may be using her mother’s maiden name, or that of her adoptive parents.
Keith – Hydro-Man
Morris Bench, a crewman on a cargo ship, was accidentally knocked overboard by Spider-Man while a powerful experimental generator was being lowered into the ocean for testing. Exposed to the energy conversion process of the generator while being bombarded with volcanic gases, Bench’s cellular structure was altered. When he was rescued from the depths, his body began exuding great quantities of a watery substance, which Bench first thought was perspiration. Annoyed by the incessant dripping, Bench went to a local pub to stir up trouble. Finding none, he was astonished to learn that he could convert his entire physical form into a watery liquid. Soon after discovering his powers, Hydro-Man set out to find those he held responsible for his condition in order to make them pay. He eventually encountered Spider-Man, and on their second altercation, was defeated when Spider-Man managed to splatter the nucleus of his body sufficiently far enough apart that Hydro-Man could not reform himself before evaporating.
David – Mysterio
Quentin Beck was born in Riverside, California. Before becoming Mysterio, Beck was a special-effects wizard who worked for a major studio and had dreams to make a name for himself in the film industry. Beck began his career as a movie stuntman in Hollywood, then became interested in special effects. He became one of the most accomplished special effects designers in the industry, but due to lack of recognition, he wanted to become an actor. However, he lacked the looks and talent to be a star and the patience to be a director, and saw his career in special-effects to be a dead-end job. When a friend of his jokingly suggested that the quickest way to become famous was to take out a costumed hero, Beck realized that his expertise in illusions could make him an effective super-villain. Choosing Spider-Man, then a relatively weak and inexperienced target, Beck prepared his resources for a few months before attempting to eliminate the wall-crawler[. Mysterio, his chosen identity, became one of Spider-Man’s most elusive and persistent foes.
Keith – The Lizard
After losing his arm in an explosion, Dr. Curtis Connors devoted his life to creating a serum to regenerate lost limbs. Using DNA from reptiles, who naturally regrew lost limbs, Connors created a serum he was sure would work. Using himself as the first test subject, Connors injected himself with a dose of the formula, and was ecstatic when his arm began to regenerate. However, the reptilian DNA his serum was based on mixed with, and altered, his own DNA, and turned him into a vicious creature known as The Lizard. While Connors was eventually “cured” by Spider-Man and returned to his human appearance, in times of anger, stress or sadness, Connors body often reverts back into his reptilian form. More recently, his Lizard alter-ego took over his body, also “evolving”, not being able to turn into a human any more.
David – The Kingpin
A man of great size, and even greater wealth, Wilson Fisk is one of the mainstays of the criminal underworld. Unanimously recognized as The Kingpin of Crime, Fisk controls nearly all organized crime families on the East Coast that are not Maggia-affiliated. As such, Fisk has run afoul of the majority of heroes in that region.
While possessing tremendous physical strength and resiliency, the power Fisk wields through his numerous gangs and criminal employees is even more daunting. An intelligent man, Fisk makes sure to never place himself in a situation in which the law can prove his responsibility for crimes, using middlemen and hired crooks to do his bidding.
While he does not discriminate in who he clashes with in his never-ending power quest, the three most common foils to his plans are Spider-Man, Daredevil and The Punisher.
Keith – The Scorpion
Former private investigator Mac Gargan was hired by J. Jonah Jameson to find out how Peter Parker was able to get incredible pictures of Spider-Man. Gargan’s efforts to locate Peter in order to find out the truth triggered Parker’s spider sense, making him easily avoidable every time. Frustrated, Jameson decided to pay $10,000 to Gargan to be the subject of an experiment. The experiment, created by Dr. Farley Stillwell, a researcher in animal mutation, which endowed the subject with the characteristic of another animal. Unfortunately the process resulted in the loss of Gargan’s sanity, and the creation of the super-powered criminal menace known as the Scorpion. Over the years Scorpion fought and was bested by Spider-Man many times. Most of these confrontations were the result of Spider-Man stepping in on an attempt on the life of Jameson, who Gargan hated even more than Spider-Man.
David – Kraven The Hunter
Born into an aristocracy that had come to an end, Sergei Kravinoff (Russian: ?????? Kravinoff), also known as Kraven, became one of the world’s greatest hunters to fulfill his sense of lost nobility, but it began to bore him. Kraven’s associate (later revealed to be his half-brother) proposed to Kraven he hunt Spider-Man, and thus gave Kraven new purpose in life. Kraven gained power by drinking rare and exotic jungle elixirs given to him by his voodoo priestess lover — Calypso. These elixirs gave him the strength and speed of a savage beast, all the better to catch Spider-Man with. Despite being assisted by the Chameleon, his scheme failed and he was deported from the U.S. He returned soon, however, first alongside the Chameleon (where he was caught by Iron Man, and as a member of the Sinister Six, but he was defeated once more and put in prison. When he kidnapped Dr. David Malraux who had developed a psychomotor response procedure by which Kraven hoped to increase his neural responses, he clashed with and was defeated by Tigra. Unlike other hunters, he typically disdained the use of guns or bow and arrows preferring to take down large dangerous animals with his bare hands even though he often made elaborate preparations to weaken a quarry before hand. He also used a mystical serum to increase his strength to superhuman levels, but even without the serum he was a threat to the wall-crawler. However, Kraven’s continual underestimation of the superhero’s resourcefulness made him a frustrating quarry.
Keith – Sandman
New York native William Baker, often known on the streets as Flint Marko, was a common criminal who spent most of his early life drifting in and out of street gangs and correctional facilities. While on the run from the FBI in Georgia, Baker took a moment to relax on a beach. When the steam system of a nearby nuclear test reactor exploded, it dumped massive doses of radiation on the beach, as well as Baker. After regaining consciousness, Baker discovered that his body had bonded with the sand around him, and he could form himself into almost anything he desired. With his new found power, Baker began a super-powered lifestyle that has brought him head to head with the likes of Spider-Man, The Fantastic Four and The Incredible Hulk, and placed him in the ranks of The Sinister Six, The Frightful Four and even The Avengers.
David – Carnage
Cletus Kasady was a severely mentally unstable serial killer who briefly shared a cell with Eddie Brock. When Eddie broke out, he left a part of his Symbiote behind, and Carnage was born. Using the abilities of his new symbiote, Cletus created a long history of slaughtering people and being put in jail for it. Many of his adventures involved Venom and Spider-Man, whom he believed to be his mortal enemies. During one such stint in the Raft, a mass breakout occurred, and The Sentry was activated by Tony Stark. Carnage was flown into orbit and ripped in half, seemingly being killed. Years later, in an attempt to recover Kasady’s symbiote, his body was captured, and he was found to be alive. Given cybernetic implants for legs, Cletus eventually recovered his symbiote as well and remains at large. The name “Carnage” may also refer to the Carnage Symbiote, the spawn of the Venom Symbiote, which bonded to Kasady while he was serving eleven life sentences in prison. Because symbiotes do not exclusively bond to one being, a number of people have worn the symbiote over the years, taking along with it the name “Carnage”. These hosts can be found in the Others section. The Alternate versions listed below are those of Cletus Kasady.
Keith – Electro
Maxwell Dillon was born in Endicott, New York, the son of Jonathan and Anita Dillon. His father was often fired from jobs making them move a lot. One day his father walked out on them and his mother became overprotective. When he wanted to leave home to go to college, his mother was against the idea and told him if he was interested in learning about electricity that he should work for the local electric company. His mother died when Dillon was twenty-four while he was working at the electric company. There he became one of the best linemen. He also met and married a fellow co-worker Norma Lynn, but she left him when she realized he wasn’t ambitious enough to become an engineer and he stayed a lineman. One day another lineman got in trouble and Dillon agreed to save him, for a fee. In the process he gained super powers when he was struck by lightning while in contact with power lines still connected to their spool. The unusually configured magnetic field generated by the wound spool of cable and live, high-tension wires induced a body-wide mutagenic change to his nervous system. Dillon found himself transformed into a living electrical capacitor, powered by the micro-fine rhythmic muscle contractions that normally regulate body temperature. Generally, Dillon’s criminal actions were governed by his selfish love of money. Adopting the gaudy garb of a so-called super-villain, the deranged Dillon sought to use his newfound power for personal gain. Electro’s first and most frequent nemesis was the wisecracking, web-slinging super hero known as Spider-Man. The Daily Bugle publisher J. Jonah Jameson was convinced that Spider-Man and Electro were the same man, until Spidey defeated Electro by wearing rubber gloves and shoes.He next battled Daredevil when he attempted to break in the Baxter Building, headquarters of the Fantastic Four.
David – Venom
When referring to Venom in the main Marvel universe, you are likely referring to conflicted anti-hero Eddie Brock, the second recipient of the Venom Symbiote after Peter Parker.
You may also be referring to the Venom Symbiote itself, a symbiotic organism from another planet who feeds on adrenaline and grants spider-like powers to its owner.
Because symbiotes do not exclusively bond to one being, a number of people have worn the symbiote over the years, taking along with it the “Venom” name. Notable among them are Army Corporal Flash Thompson, currently using the organism as an agent of the United States government, and career criminal Mac Gargan, operating with the Symbiote as a member of the Thunderbolts and the Dark Avengers.
Keith – Green Goblin
Norman Osborn was just a child when he first became obsessed with acquiring wealth and power. His father, a failed business inventor who claimed that he was swindled out of his inventions and personal fortune, took out his rage on Norman. Norman realized that he could not depend on his father for financial security, so he began working after school and saving every cent he earned. He would not allow himself to become a failure like his father. Norman studied chemistry and electrical engineering in college, and took a number of courses in business administration. One of his teachers, Professor Mendel Stromm, became good friends and later formed a business partnership with Norman. Since Norman put up the bulk of the financing, they called their company Osborn Chemical (or Oscorp). Norman married his college sweetheart and they had a son. Unfortunately, his wife became ill. After she died, Norman buried himself in his work and rarely had time for his son. As the brilliant co-owner of the chemical manufacturer Oscorp, Norman Osborn, loving wealth and power, decided to take control and had his partner Stromm arrested when he found he was committing embezzlement, granting him complete control over the company and making Norman the official CEO of Oscorp. While going through Stromm’s notes, he found a secret formula that would make him superhumanly powerful. However, his son Harry, tired of always being ignored and rejected by his father, switched the chemicals in the serum, which turned it green and caused it to explode in his face. Later, at the hospital, Norman found himself thinking more clearly than ever before, not knowing that he would slowly become insane. Attempting to achieve power beyond his wildest dreams, Norman planned to become the most powerful gang-lord of all by uniting all the independent gangs under his leadership in an attempt to gain control over all of New York’s crime. To prove his power and establish his reputation, he decided to choose Spider-Man as his victim of choice, and sent two criminals, the Headsman and Scorcher, after Spider-Man. The two were soundly defeated, and then Norman decided to take matters into his own hands. Remembering a giant green goblin monster from childhood nightmares, he created a costume that reflected that monster, and he became the original Green Goblin.
David – Dr. Octopus
Born in Schenectady, New York, to a lower-class family, only child Otto Octavius was to be raised by his overbearing mother and his abusive father. During his youth, Otto would often receive beatings at home, or school. His father would roar at Otto to use violence when dealing with bullies whilst his mother, on the other hand, always put Otto off using violence. Sometimes Otto’s father would beat him during rages, earning Otto’s hatred. Later, his father was killed in a construction accident during Otto’s first year of college, his mother used her husband’s early death to manipulate Otto into studying more. Otto’s hard work paid off when he graduated at the top of his class and became a researcher at the Atomic research a reclusive in school. Now an adult, Otto Octavius managed to get a job at the U.S. Atomic Research Center. To help manipulate radioactive substances from a safe distance, Otto constructed a chest harness controlling four mechanical, tentacle-like arms – earning him the nickname Doctor Octopus. At work, had fallen in love with a fellow researcher, Mary Anders, but when Otto pronounced his intentions to marry her, his mother was against it, saying nobody was good enough for her son, causing him to break off his engagement. When Otto discovered his mother dating behind his back, he blew up in rage at her. During the argument, Mary died of a heart attack, leaving Otto without a mother and with bitter feelings. Consumed with guilt, Otto couldn’t fully focus during work, and volatile liquids exploded – bombarding the scientist with radiation. The substances left him capable of mentally controlling the arms, but the accident also caused irreversible brain damage – transforming the respected scientist into a megalomaniacal superhuman criminal.
Keith – Dr. Octopus
Born in Schenectady, New York, to a lower-class family, only child Otto Octavius was to be raised by his overbearing mother and his abusive father. During his youth, Otto would often receive beatings at home, or school. His father would roar at Otto to use violence when dealing with bullies whilst his mother, on the other hand, always put Otto off using violence. Sometimes Otto’s father would beat him during rages, earning Otto’s hatred. Later, his father was killed in a construction accident during Otto’s first year of college, his mother used her husband’s early death to manipulate Otto into studying more. Otto’s hard work paid off when he graduated at the top of his class and became a researcher at the Atomic research a reclusive in school. Now an adult, Otto Octavius managed to get a job at the U.S. Atomic Research Center. To help manipulate radioactive substances from a safe distance, Otto constructed a chest harness controlling four mechanical, tentacle-like arms – earning him the nickname Doctor Octopus. At work, had fallen in love with a fellow researcher, Mary Anders, but when Otto pronounced his intentions to marry her, his mother was against it, saying nobody was good enough for her son, causing him to break off his engagement. When Otto discovered his mother dating behind his back, he blew up in rage at her. During the argument, Mary died of a heart attack, leaving Otto without a mother and with bitter feelings. Consumed with guilt, Otto couldn’t fully focus during work, and volatile liquids exploded – bombarding the scientist with radiation. The substances left him capable of mentally controlling the arms, but the accident also caused irreversible brain damage – transforming the respected scientist into a megalomaniacal superhuman criminal.
David – John Jonah Jameson
Jameson began his journalistic career by becoming a part-time reporter for New York City’s Daily Bugle while he was still in high school. In fact, before Jameson worked at the Bugle, another man named Jameson, who bore a strong facial resemblance to the younger Jameson, had worked there. This man, who had on separate incidents almost snapped a picture of the unmasked Captain America and sent correspondent C. Thomas Sites on a story covering Nick Fury and His Howling Commandos, later served as editor or publisher while reporters such as Scoop Daly had worked at the Bugle, and served as publisher when the Daily Bugle exposed the disappearance of the original Captain America, which the government denied. This earlier Jameson’ connection to J. Jonah Jameson remains unclear; many think he was the younger Jameson’s father. In any event, J. Jonah Jameson had a long career as a reporter, including time spent as a war correspondent. At some point in his career, Jameson uncovered the secret details of some of the Invaders’ missions. (Since Jameson was at oldest, a boy during World War II, he must have uncovered previously unreleased intelligence files). Eventually Jameson purchased then financially floundering Daily Bugle, with money obtained from his personal assets and large inheritance. Hence, the Bugle was now owned by Jameson’s own company, Jameson Publications. Jameson served as the newspaper’s publisher and editor in chief, and revitalized the photograph-dominated tabloid format. In 1968 Jameson’s company purchased the Goodman Building on 39th Street and Second Avenue in Manhattan and moved its entire editorial and publishing facilities there. The building became known as the Daily Bugle Building. Jameson’s wife Joan died at some point under unrevealed circumstances. She and her husband had only one child, John, who became an astronaut for NASA.
Keith – Carnage
Cletus Kasady was a severely mentally unstable serial killer who briefly shared a cell with Eddie Brock. When Eddie broke out, he left a part of his Symbiote behind, and Carnage was born. Using the abilities of his new symbiote, Cletus created a long history of slaughtering people and being put in jail for it. Many of his adventures involved Venom and Spider-Man, whom he believed to be his mortal enemies. During one such stint in the Raft, a mass breakout occurred, and The Sentry was activated by Tony Stark. Carnage was flown into orbit and ripped in half, seemingly being killed. Years later, in an attempt to recover Kasady’s symbiote, his body was captured, and he was found to be alive. Given cybernetic implants for legs, Cletus eventually recovered his symbiote as well and remains at large. The name “Carnage” may also refer to the Carnage Symbiote, the spawn of the Venom Symbiote, which bonded to Kasady while he was serving eleven life sentences in prison. Because symbiotes do not exclusively bond to one being, a number of people have worn the symbiote over the years, taking along with it the name “Carnage”. These hosts can be found in the Others section. The Alternate versions listed below are those of Cletus Kasady.
David – Green Goblin
Norman Osborn was just a child when he first became obsessed with acquiring wealth and power. His father, a failed business inventor who claimed that he was swindled out of his inventions and personal fortune, took out his rage on Norman. Norman realized that he could not depend on his father for financial security, so he began working after school and saving every cent he earned. He would not allow himself to become a failure like his father. Norman studied chemistry and electrical engineering in college, and took a number of courses in business administration. One of his teachers, Professor Mendel Stromm, became good friends and later formed a business partnership with Norman. Since Norman put up the bulk of the financing, they called their company Osborn Chemical (or Oscorp). Norman married his college sweetheart and they had a son. Unfortunately, his wife became ill. After she died, Norman buried himself in his work and rarely had time for his son. As the brilliant co-owner of the chemical manufacturer Oscorp, Norman Osborn, loving wealth and power, decided to take control and had his partner Stromm arrested when he found he was committing embezzlement, granting him complete control over the company and making Norman the official CEO of Oscorp. While going through Stromm’s notes, he found a secret formula that would make him superhumanly powerful. However, his son Harry, tired of always being ignored and rejected by his father, switched the chemicals in the serum, which turned it green and caused it to explode in his face. Later, at the hospital, Norman found himself thinking more clearly than ever before, not knowing that he would slowly become insane. Attempting to achieve power beyond his wildest dreams, Norman planned to become the most powerful gang-lord of all by uniting all the independent gangs under his leadership in an attempt to gain control over all of New York’s crime. To prove his power and establish his reputation, he decided to choose Spider-Man as his victim of choice, and sent two criminals, the Headsman and Scorcher, after Spider-Man. The two were soundly defeated, and then Norman decided to take matters into his own hands. Remembering a giant green goblin monster from childhood nightmares, he created a costume that reflected that monster, and he became the original Green Goblin.
Keith – Venom
When referring to Venom in the main Marvel universe, you are likely referring to conflicted anti-hero Eddie Brock, the second recipient of the Venom Symbiote after Peter Parker.
You may also be referring to the Venom Symbiote itself, a symbiotic organism from another planet who feeds on adrenaline and grants spider-like powers to its owner.
Because symbiotes do not exclusively bond to one being, a number of people have worn the symbiote over the years, taking along with it the “Venom” name. Notable among them are Army Corporal Flash Thompson, currently using the organism as an agent of the United States government, and career criminal Mac Gargan, operating with the Symbiote as a member of the Thunderbolts and the Dark Avengers.
David – Joe Quesada
Dishonorable Mentions: J Michael Straczynski, Axel Alonso, Daniel Ketchum
Three words: One More Day.
In January 2000, Bill Jemas became the head of Marvel. As part of a campaign to revitalize and shake off the effects of bankruptcy, in August 2000 he sacked Bob Harras and installed Quesada as editor in chief. Rather than letting Marvel rest on its past glories, Jemas and Quesada brought in new talent and new ideas. The campaign worked; sales went up 75% in their first year and continued to rise. Quesada and Jemas presided over the introduction of the Ultimates line. Forty years of continuity had made it difficult to attract new readers. Their solution was to use the same classic characters but give them fresh starts, at once dropping the continuity baggage and updating the characters for a younger audience. Like the Knights, the Ultimates became a hit. During this time, they began repackaging comics as trade paperbacks and placing them in mainstream bookstores. Other projects created controversy. For instance, Wolverine had always lacked a complete origin, and that mystery contributed to his appeal. Quesada and Jemas commissioned a miniseries, aptly and simply titled Origin, to gave Wolverine a father and a childhood. After so much time and speculation, no story could meet the expectations for it; on the other hand, it gave this immensely popular character a new depth. Another project, the Max line, broke from the Comics Code Authority to offer adult content. In 2005, Quesada commissioned the Decimation event, which rid all but 198 mutants of their powers. Although this was a creative move due to the sheer amount of mutants, further controversy occurred. Two years later he commissioned One More Day, which is now one of the most controversial Marvel stories of all time. He also created the idea of the Red Hulk. Jemas became chief operating officer of Marvel Entertainment Group in 2002, while Quesada stayed in place. Any doubt that Jemas had “carried” Quesada vanished. He steered a difficult path between attracting new readers and alienating current readers, who are always quick to complain about changes to “their” comics. Disagreements with distributors, competition from other media, and a large lingering debt also made his job difficult. On the other hand, his unmistakable love for comics, enthusiasm for his job, and sure artistic judgment restored a measure of respect for Marvel that it had lost in the 1990s. As an editor, Quesada made some policy shifts, with (as always) mixed reactions. The few Marvel characters who smoked could no longer do so, probably a reaction to his father’s battle with lung cancer, as well as a desire to provide good role models for children. Other changes included restoration of issue numbering (e.g. Amazing Spider-Man went from volume 2 #58 to volume 1 #500), a prohibition on character deaths, and the discontinuation of footnotes. Over the years, Quesada continued the practices that had made him a major figure in the industry. He recruited the best talent he could find and gave them as much latitude as possible. Equally as importantly, he stayed in touch with fans and listened to their concerns and ideas.
Whats on your list? Did we match up to yours? Did you like our list? Who would you change up? Let us know below!
A full justification for each entry can be heard on the podcast.