25 Spider-Man Villains Who Should be in the Movies

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was certainly filled with (some might say too many) villains. The film featured Harry Osborn, the Rhino, and Electro, with almost every second of the movie presenting a classic Spidey Marvel villain doing something dastardly to poor Peter Parker. As many villains that were actually in the film, even more were hinted at. We saw teases of the Vulture, Dr. Octopus, Kraven the Hunter, and Mysterio. We also got to experience the film debuts of the future creator of the Spider Slayers, Spencer Smythe, and the beautiful Felicia Hardy, the woman who will one day don the fur color and claws of the Black Cat.

Between these teases, the Lizard from Mark Webb’s first film, and the Sam Raimi trilogy, a fan would think that Hollywood has covered all the great Spider-Man villains. Well, that fan would be wrong, as there are plenty more to go. So here is a look at the evildoers that Mark Webb and Sony could look to provide future menace for the Amazing Spider-Man franchise, bad guys who have yet to appear in any of the Raimi movies or the new series, and that weren't even teased in The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

Just a note, we didn’t forget Venom, it has been well documented that a Venom film is in production co-written by Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci and directed by Kurtzman. If Sony is going to keep up the Spidey movie pace like they claim, they are going to need more villains...and here are some of the best.

25. Stegron, the Dinosaur Man
First appearance: Marvel Team-Up (1st series) #19 (1974)
Created by Len Wein and Gil Kane

With ties to the Lizard, Stegron might be obscure, but he could be an intriguing possibility for a future Spidey film. Who wouldn’t want to see Spider-Man fight dinosaurs? Stegron controls dinosaurs, which if you think about it, might be the most useless power ever. Let’s say Oscorp creates dinosaurs and then creates Stegron. It could happen right? There’s some strange things going on behind Oscorp walls. A Stegron versus Lizard battle could be a modern day Godzilla versus Gamera type situation, and let’s not pretend that Spidey fighting a T-Rex wouldn't make the five year old in all of us hyperventilate with excitement.

24. Videoman
First Appearance: Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends, Season 1, Episode 7 (1981)

Yeah, Videoman. To any child of the 80s, Videoman was as integral a part of the world of Spider-Man as the Green Goblin or Doctor Octopus. Videoman was introduced in the first season of Spider-Man and his Amazing Friendsand he trapped our intrepid heroes in a stand up arcade console. He was originally created by Electro, so there you go; Videoman already has ties to the villain that thrilled audiences in the most recent installment of the franchise. 

Max Dillon was a lonely dude, he seemed the type to play endless hours of Animal Crossing or what have you. Maybe he zapped his Xbox or something and boom, Videoman. Listen, in the 80s, there wasn’t a comic film every two months, or a bunch of TV shows featuring our beloved comic icons. We took what we had, and what we had was Videoman, and we loved him.

23. Man Wolf
First appearance: (as John Jameson) The Amazing Spider-Man #1 (1963)
Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko

Poor John Jameson was sort of wasted in his first and only film appearance in Spider-Man 2. The son of J. Jonah Jameson was cuckolded and left at the altar by Mary Jane and then never heard from again. An American hero and astronaut deserves better, especially one that has a tendency to transform into a werewolf. J.J.J. is now clearly part of Sony’s new Spider-verse so it would be a simple matter to introduce his son, a character that Spidey rescued in his very first issue back in 1963.

When Jameson is exposed to the Godstone during a space mission, he was transformed into the Man Wolf. At first, Man Wolf was a fairly typical werewolf, but then he took to the cosmos and found that in space; he could control the wolf and became a galactic champion called Stargod. Yes, he was like Flash Gordon, but a werewolf, how is Sony not all over that for a spinoff movie?

22. The Prowler
First appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #78 (1969)
Created by Stan Lee and John Buscema

When young prodigy Hobie Brown lost his job, he grew disenfranchised with the system and created the Prowler armor to stick it to the man. When Spidey was believed to be part of the death of Captain Stacy, the Prowler decided to bring the wanted wall crawler to justice. The death of both Stacys have occurred in the Amazing Spider-Man films, so it wouldn’t be a stretch to have Spidey connected to both tragedies.

Armored heroes are certainly popular, and the Prowler is the closest thing Sony has to an Iron Man. Prowler and Spidey end up becoming pals, so if Mark Webb and company ever want to introduce any of the Spider Armors into the cinematic universe, inventor Hobie Brown can be a way to go. The Prowler is one of the richest but least talked about latter day Stan Lee characters, and it’s about time such a cool anti-hero has his day.

21. Speed Demon
First appearance: (as the Whizzer) Avengers #70 (1969) (as Speed Demon) Amazing Spider-Man #222 (1981)
Created by Roy Thomas and Sal Buscema

The Flash is coming to television while Quicksilver is going to appear in two, count 'em two, film franchises in the next year. As all this proves, everyone loves a speedster and with the comic’s heroic runners present and accounted for across all platforms of media, maybe it’s time fans get to experience a faster than light d-bag. Recently, in the pages of The Superior Foes of Spider-Man (and if you’re not reading this title, what’s wrong with you?), the Speed Demon stole a puppy. At super speed. He’s a dick. And if featured in a future Spider-Man film he can be a high profile dick. Who wouldn’t want to see Andrew Garfield kick Speed Demon’s puppy stealing ass?

20. Swarm
First appearance: Champions #14 (1977)
Created by Bill Mantlo and John Byrne

He’s a Nazi made of bees, what else do you need to know? Who can forget his signature cry of “SWWWWARRRRMMMM” from his appearance on Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends? Swarm could be another Oscorp experiment gone horribly wrong. I mean really wrong. I mean Nazi made of angry bees wrong. In a cloak.

19. Big Wheel
First appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #182 (1978)
Created by Marv Wolfman, Ross Andru, and Mike Esposito

Of all the villains that have not yet appeared in a Spider film, none are more worthy… no, I can’t DAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Big Wheel, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, what an ass. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA I’d like to buy a vowel HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Look at this schmuck HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Ok, moving on.

The real 19. Hydro Man
First appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #212 (1981)
Created by Dennis O'Neil and John Romita, Jr.

Seriously, this list could almost be called the top 25 villains created by John Romita Sr and Jr...jeez, what a creative force of nature that family is. Anyway, we got to see Sandman featured in Spider-Man 3, and while that isn’t the best Spidey movie of the bunch, the Sandman scenes were really powerful and visually stunning. If Sony were to bring Sandman back, why not make it a duo with Hydro Man? If you think about it, Hydro Man has a pretty terrifying power, the ability to drown anyone, anywhere, or sneak into any facility through a faucet or a, eww, toilet.

The comics never really gave Hydro Man his due, but let’s all be honest, the second you saw the water aliens in The Abyssback in the day, you thought of old Hydro Man. And who can forget, Amazing Spider-Man#217 (1981), where Hydro Man and Sandman bonded to form the gigantic Mud Thing, an event so traumatic, it led to Sandman reforming, another seminal Spider event that would make good film fodder. And think of the Poland Spring endorsement deals!

18. Spider Queen
First Appearance: The Spectacular Spider-Man Vol 2 #15 (2004)
Created by Paul Jenkins and Michael Ryan

Lots of classic villains on this list, but other than Morlun, there’s not a great deal of modern baddies. Well, the Spider Queen is certainly deserving of consideration. The Queen was originally the first female Marine to go into combat in World War II, when she was exposed to radiation from an atomic bomb test; her “insect gene” is activated. She wants to transform the world’s population into arachnid hybrids like her, and was the big bad in Dan Slott’s fantastic Spider-Island event. Yes Sony, we want to see a Spider Islandmovie. It isn’t really necessary to add the WWII elements, although they are very cool, just expose the future Queen to Parker’s blood at Oscorp, and boom, instant arch villain.

17. Jack O’Lantern
First appearance: Machine Man #19 (1981)
Created by Tom DeFalco and Steve Ditko

Another heir to Green Goblin legacy, the villain known as Jack O’Lantern started out as something of a joke. There have been a number of Jacks over the years, and they have gotten more deadly as time has marched on. The original Jack, Jason Macendale took up the legacy of the Hobgoblin, but it’s the newest Jack O’Lantern introduced in the pages of Venom that has become one of the most horrific new villains in the Marvel Universe.

If Sony needs another villain, or if the Venomfilm doesn’t go the Carnage route yet, Jack O’Lantern could be a perfect threat for the newly minted Venom to go up against. As a child, this new, unnamed Jack O’Lantern murdered his own parents under orders from the Crime Master and claims to have killed all the former wearers of the Jack O’Lantern suit. Ties to the Goblin legend and ties to Venom, and a cold blooded psychotic freak, this often overlooked spook show has all the makings of an A-list film villain.

16. Hammerhead
First appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #113 (1972)
Created by Gerry Conway and John Romita, Sr.

Spidey’s war with organized crime is on hold while he deals with Oscorp and their future cadre of enhanced killers, but crime is still rampant and the tattooed killer is still out there. Maybe the Rhino and his crew were stealing that plutonium for Hammerhead in ASM2, a mobster with a very deep history with the Russian mob? Hammerhead is the most Dick Tracy-esque of all Marvel villains, and might be a bit anachronistic for the big screen, or he might be the exact thing future Spidey films need to be different. How many hi-tech villains can one franchise have? Maybe we need a little old school evil, and this cigar chomping old school yegg fits the bill.

15. Tarantula
First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #134 (1974)
Created by Gerry Conway and Ross Andru

What’s cooler than a mustachioed mercenary with pointy shoes? Pretty much nothing really, am I right? Tarantula was one of the cooler Spidey villains introduced in the '70s and would fit into the animal themed villains prevalent in the new franchise. In the pages of the comics, Tarantula transforms into a Man Spider, and we all know how much Hollywood likes its giant beasties. C’mon, it’s a dude with a bandana mask and stabby boots, how is that not marketable?

14. The Beetle
First appearance: Strange Tales #123 (1964)
Created by Stan Lee and Carl Burgos

The original Beetle was created by Carl Burgos, the creator of Marvel’s Original super-hero the Golden Age Human Torch. That’s some cool stuff right there. Anyway, the Beetle is a unique visual with his odd extendy fingers, his unique helmet and his funky wings. The original Beetle armor would have a really cool retro vibe if put in the film, or Sony can go the route of the Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon by making the Beetle a silent, armored killer. Whatever way they go, as all Thunderboltfans know, Abner Jenkins becomes more than a one note villain when he turns to the side of the angels while a member of the T-Bolts, and that little added wrinkle could be just the edge the Beetle needs to be a pretty compelling move villain.

[related article: The Potential Villains of The Amazing Spider-Man 3 and The Sinister Six]

13. Shocker
First appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #46 (1967)
Created by Stan Lee and John Romita, Sr.

No, it’s not true that Stan Lee was original going to call this guy the Vibrator. The Shocker has always been kind of a loser; actually he was always kind of more like movie version of Electro than the classic Electro was. With his vibro shock harness and a persecution complex, the Shocker can be dangerous, but he has always been played for laughs after his initial appearances. The films could certainly use more cannon fodder villains, or maybe there is a story there for a villain who has always been second rate.

Marvel’s portrayal of the Shocker in Superior Foes of Spider-Man (there’s that book again, think maybe you should check it out, hmm?), has added some fantastic comedic elements and some depth to a former one note character. And you got to love that costume. A classic Romita design if there ever was one. Maybe if he was called the Vibrator he would have gotten more respect, or at least an interesting licensing deal in the adult toy market...and I don’t mean high end action figures.

12. Sin Eater
First appearance: Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #107 (1985)
Created by Peter David and Rich Buckler

When Sin Eater arrived on the scene in the early 80s, things got very real for Spider-Man and his world. The Death of Jean Dewolffwas the first major work by legendary writer Peter David and it remains one of the most intense, grounded, and violent Spider-Man stories of all time. Any true Spider-Fan should be giddy with anticipation at the prospects of seeing the Sin Eater on the big screen.

It can be argued that the Sin Eater saga was when Spidey grew up and the saga also started Eddie Brock on his dark path as the photojournalist wrongly accused the wrong man of being the Sin Eater. Any movie focused on Sin Eater would be a departure for the Spidey films, but it would certainly make Sony’s flagship hero standout from the crowded super-hero pack.

11. Vermin
First appearance: Captain America #272 (1982)
Created by J. M. DeMatteis and Mike Zeck

The current Spider-films certainly like their human/animal hybrids, and there are none of those combos more horrifically disturbing than Eddie Whelan, the creature known as Vermin. In the comics, Vermin was created by none other than Armin Zola, and while that particular immoral super scientist is currently locked inside of a Disney errr...I mean HYDRA computer, there is no reason that poor Eddie can’t be just another victim of an Oscorp experiment.

In fact, Jamie Foxx’s Electro also kind of reminded me of Vermin, not in terms of powers, but in terms of motivation. Vermin was the perpetual victim, a misunderstood and tormented creature suddenly given unspeakable power. Like Curt Conners’ ability to control lizards, Vermin can control rats and stray dogs, so there is film precedent for Vermin’s abilities. Vermin also ties into the classic Kraven’s Last Hunt storyline, and wouldn’t we all like to see that story adapted to the screen with Vermin along for the ride!

10. Tombstone
First appearance: Web of Spider-Man #36 (1988)
Created by Gerry Conway and Alex Saviuk

Lonnie Lincoln, albino gangster and cold-blooded killer, has been one of Spidey’s most enduring street level foes. In fact, when Daredevil absconded with Kingpin, Tombstone took over as head gangster of Spidey’s world. Tombstone is an incredible visual and is a very different animal than the science freaks Spidey has been fighting in the recent set of films. The comic Tombstone has a deep connection to Daily Bugle editor in chief Robbie Robertson, so once the Bugle crew is introduced in earnest; it could also be time to introduce the iciest gangster in Spidey history, the stone cold killer, Tombstone.

9. Carrion
First appearance: Spectacular Spider-Man #25 (1978)
Created by Bill Mantlo, Jim Mooney, and Frank Springer

Whoa Nellie, is this a complicated one. Carrion started out as the rotting clone of Miles Warren (more on him in a bi) but the Carrion persona ended up being wielded by two other sick and twisted individuals. A future film could jettison all that and just focus on the villain’s horrific power set, the ability to turn organic matter to dust, telepathy, levitation, telekinesis, and intangibility.  

No matter who wielded the power, Carrion was a freak of science, a lab-created nightmare and could be Harry Osborn’s ultimate weapon against Peter Parker or a master villain in his own right. Carrion was also a running buddy of Carnage and could fit into any saga that utilizes that particular maniac, like teaming John Wayne Gacy and Jeffry Dahmer, but with really, really scary super-powers.

8. Morlun
First appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #30 (2001)
Created by J. Michael Straczynski and John Romita, Jr

Not every idea J. Michael Straczynski presented in his run on Amazing Spider-Man was gold (Gwen and Norman Osborn having an affair my webbed butt), but the introduction of the villainous Morlun was the stuff of legend. When Morlun appears, fans get the feeling that Spidey cannot win; he is the ultimate test for Peter and one that Peter has barely survived. Morlun is the devourer of those with Spider powers, an ancient evil that does not rest.

To Morlun, the ol' Web-Head is a totem, a being that carries an animal spirit, and to Morlun, these beings are dangerous and must be destroyed. As we all know, there are plenty of totemistic beings in the Spider film universe, which could be just what Morlun needs to make his big screen debut. Morlun would up the ante for Peter, a foe that really tests Peter’s power and will. Plus, Morlun rocks an ascot, so you know he’s badass.

7. The Jackal
First appearance (As Miles Warren) The Amazing Spider-Man #31 (1965) (As the Jackal) The Amazing Spider-Man #129 (1974)
Created by (Miles Warren) Stan Lee and Steve Ditko (Jackal) Gerry Conway and Ross Andru

We all love Emma Stone, and there’s a way to bring the actress back, a convoluted way, but a way nonetheless. The mad geneticist Miles Warren, a former professor of Gwen and Peter, cloned poor Gwen, kicking off a cycle of torture for Peter Parker that ended with one of the most infamous stories of all time, The Clone Saga.

The Jackal was in love with Gwen and couldn’t live without her; he blamed Peter for her death and created a clone of Gwen and later, a clone of Spider-Man himself. Actually, with Gwen’s science and academic background and the marketing potential of bringing Emma Stone back, this story of the Jackal could be rather intriguing to Sony. Once Mary Jane is introduced into the fold, wouldn’t a clone of Gwen be just the right things to screw everything up for poor Peter?

6. Chameleon
First appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #1 (1963)
Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko

He was the first costumed villain Spider-Man ever faced. He too could fit into the whole animal villain hybrid thing featured in Sony’s current Spidey series, and he fits right into the themes of conspiracy and paranoia that have been prevalent in the last two Spider-man films. He’s the Chameleon, and that may have been his mask in the latest round of Spidey 2 easter eggs (although we’re banking on that it’s Mysterio).

Chameleon has deep familial ties with Kraven the Hunter who Marc Webb seems to like as a potential villain for The Amazing Spider-Man 3. Whether with Kraven or solo, the Chameleon is one of Spidey’s deadliest foes because he could literally be anyone. The first Spider-Man villain definitely deserves some film love, and his power set would bring some unique challenges to the big screen.

5. Morbius, the Living Vampire
First appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #101 (1971)
Created by Roy Thomas and Gil Kane

We saw his name in the latest film and we were shuddering with the prospect of Morbius coming to the big screen. One quick experiment utilizing bats at Oscorp and boom, Sony has Marvel’s first big screen vampire. Morbius has starred in a number of comic series over the years, and if done just right, the science vampire could carry a potential franchise of his own.

Morbius was once dying of a rare blood disease, but found himself transformed into a bat-like creature of the night when he tries to devise a cure for his ailment. This tale of life and death has enough drama to carry a film and present Spider-Man with a very different, very tragic sort of foe. A post modern, high tech vampire, now that’s a concept that deserves its time in the sun. This vampire don’t sparkle, he just kicks acres of ass, and it’s time mainstream Spidey fans get to experience the Living Vampire.

4. Hobgoblin
First appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #238 (1983)
Created by Roger Stern and John Romita, Jr.

Spider-Man’s greatest foe of the post Bronze Age era. Many different men have worn the mask of the Hobgoblin to bedevil Peter Parker for decades. Whether it was the original Hobgoblin Roderick Kingsley or the arrogant scoundrel Phil Ulrich of the modern era, the image of the Hobgoblin has always caused Spidey fans’ hearts to skip a beat. After the unthinkable act committed by Harry Osborne as the Green Goblin in the latest movie (hands up if got freaked when you saw poor Gwen’s green jacket), the  vile legacy of the Goblin is secure, and the Hobgoblin has always been the next step in that heritage of evil.

Sony is in this for the long game, and could feature different men behind the Hobgoblin mask or have Harry take up the legacy at some future date as his Goblin powers evolve. Seriously, who can forget the cover of Hobgoblin’s first appearance? The villain ripping an effigy of Spider-Man in half is burned into the brains of Spider-fans forever. Not many villains secure their legacy on their first cover appearance alone, but Hobgoblin did and it's time that legacy extended to other media.

3. The Scorpion
First appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #19 (1964)
Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko

Possibly the longest running and most important Spidey villain not yet featured in a film, the Scorpion has deep ties to Spidey, Venom, and the freshly sort-of introduced J. Jonah Jameson. Max Gargan was a salty dude, a skell that was hired by Jameson to at first track Peter Parker and then, to be grafted into the Scorpion battle suit, a suit which he got trapped in, making him into a freak and a bitter killer. The hate filled Gargan dedicated his life to destroying both Spidey and Jameson.

The insect motif, the quest for vengeance, the obsession, all these aspects of the Scorpion would make Gargan a perfect screen villain. Gargan later became bonded to the Venom suit, so the villain can potentially start in a Spidey sequel and continue into Venom’s franchise, taking multiple villainous identities. C’mon Sony, the Scorpion is a no brainer and can fill out more than one dance card.

2. Carnage
First appearance (as Cletus Kasady) The Amazing Spider-Man #344 (1991)
Created by David Michelinie, Erik Larsen, and Mark Bagley

Just the words “Maximum Carnage” alone would send children of the Chromium Age into a tizzy. You can all but bank on the fact that Carnage will be the heavy in the aforementioned Venomfilm, but maybe serial killer Cletus Kasady can be introduced in a future Spidey film before being bonded with his symbiote in Venom.

It would be hard to do Carnage justice in a PG-13 movie as he is more of a Freddy Krueger type than a classic Marvel villain. Carnage is sometimes maligned as being an empty one-note villain, but there can be no arguing that he is one of the most popular Spider-Man villains created in the last 25 years...plus, he has a cadre of maniacs and monsters that can also be used to bedevil Spider-Man. With Carnage can come Shriek, the Spider Doppelganger, Carrion, and other assorted maniacs and nightmares. 

1. Kingpin
First appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #50 (1967)
Created by Stan Lee and John Romita, Sr.

This might be legally tricky, but after the whole Oscorp/ Sinister Six thing comes to head in the next film, Spidey will need a new type of enemy. Peter Parker is still searching for the man with the tattoo that killed Uncle Ben. What if that killer worked for Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin of Crime? Spider-Man has a rich history of fighting street level crime that equals his history fighting fantastic hi-tech, costumed foes. The Kingpin can bring in a whole range of super mobsters and assassins and provide enough fodder for a second Spidey trilogy.

The Kingpin is the logical villain in Marvel’s Netflix Daredevilshow, but if the character exists in that odd two studio nether realm like Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, than he is a must for feature consideration. It’s only fair, after all, Kingpin started out a Spidey villain before becoming an integral part of Daredevil’s world, and that history between mob boss and web spinner is worthy of exploration.

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