Wow, that "Spider-Flunkies" post did better than I expected! Better than the Gwen Stacy post? Better than the Batgirl cover post? Clearly there's some favoritism here. But since you folks are in a spidery mood, let's take the opposite approach to The Web-Head's Rogue Gallery. Here is The Panel Biter's Top 5 Best Spider-Man Villains!
5. Sandman
Of all of Spider-Man's throwaway foes, Sandman is the best. He's not as goofy as Mysterio or as tough as The Rhino, but Flint Marko is literally an elemental. If he was in the right frame of mind he could be one of the strongest beings on Earth! But he's dumb. Well, let's say "challenged". Flint was a career criminal until he was infused with irradiated sand (best description ever) and became The Sandman. At first he was another run-of-the-mill villain, but over time he improved. For a time Sandman was an ally to Spider-Man, a friend to The Thing, and even a temporary member of The Avengers. However, he retreated back into villainy due to his mental health issues which-combined with his powers-gave him multiple personality disorder. Which for a guy who can literally split himself into multiple bodies is "a bad". Then there was the fact that Sandman had a daughter who he committed crimes for, hoping all the stolen cash could help him buy custody of her. Sandman isn't necessarily a bad guy, he just doesn't know how to handle his problems. He was an average Joe given superpowers, just like Spider-Man. The difference was that he didn't have a guiding voice of wisdom to tell him right from wrong. All Sandman had was a criminal record.
4. Kraven
The initial detail that interested me about Kraven was that he doesn't have superpowers. He is an expert tracker and hunter, he ate some "rare medicines" in Africa to enhance his natural strength, speed, and endurance, and he's trained in both military and traditional weaponry. But he can't fly or transform into a lion or anything. He's just a hunter who hunts for the ultimate beast: man. Or "Spider-Man" that is. I'm not one for classic novels, but "The Deadliest Game" by Richard Connell (circa 1924) is one of my favorite pieces of literature and I love the idea of a hunter so bored with traditional animal hunting he sought to kill a human being. Not as a murderer committing a crime, but as a hunter taking the next step in the sport. And THAT is what Kraven is, a hunter seeking a new type of game. This guy sees a human being shooting webs and lifting cars and says, "I want him". Kraven is so engraved in his battle with Spider-Man he seemingly kills Spidey and then dons his costume. Yes, in "Kraven's Last Hunt" Kraven "kills" and becomes Spider-Man. And for him it's like wearing Spider-Man's pelt. And at the end of that story he freaking kills himself because he couldn't kill Spider-Man. That's unnecessarily heavy, but God damn if that doesn't make Kraven a fascinating villain to read.
3. Venom (Eddie Brock)
Now we get into obvious territory. Eddie Brock hated Peter Parker because Peter was a better photographer. The Black Symbiot hated Spider-Man because Spidey refused to let the alien leech off his emotions anymore. When Eddie met Symbie, it was a match made in Hell. Venom is one of Marvel Comic's most iconic villains. Before he was ever a space-faring hero, he was a monster. And when he wasn't trying to devour Spider-Man, he was fighting criminals and justifying it with a twisted sense of heroism. Venom is literally the nightmare version of Spider-Man, the absolute worst of what a character like Spider-Man could be. It's horrifying to see our favorite Web-Slinger battle an actual horror movie monster, but due to what Venom is, it makes sense. Venom is Spider-Man's self-doubt. As a suit, Venom was fueled by Spider-Man's darker emotions: resentment, misery, rage. And Eddie Brock was a man with a troubled past who believed his issues were the fault of everyone else. He took no responsibility for himself. Venom is what he is named after, a poison. He's diseased Spider-Man's life. Not just by fighting him, but by using Peter's personal life against him. Venom is one of the few villains to know who Spider-Man is and who he loves. And that knowledge alone-coupled with what Venom can do-make him a living nightmare.
2. The Green Goblin (Norman Osborn)
Again, obvious. Norman Osborn was one of Peter's idols. Norman Osborn was the father of Peter's best friend. But behind the scenes, Norman was a creature beyond humanity. As The Green Goblin, Norman Osborn terrorized New York City, framed his own son by planting the Green Goblin suit on him, and killed Gwen Stacy. Ignore the fact that Norman slept with Gwen that one time and consider this: for a long time "dead meant dead" at Marvel Comics. So when The Green Goblin threw Peter's girlfriend Gwen Stacy off The Brooklyn Bridge and she died from a web-slung neck-snap, it was a shock to readers everywhere. It was the first time a major character-a love interest, no less-was straight-up murdered. That cemented Norman Osborn as a villain. And when Norman didn't have his bombs and his glider and his creepy suit, he killed the leader of The Skrull Empire, took over SHIELD, and led his own Avengers team. With Venom, Sentry, Bullseye, and other really dangerous people. He had a secret club with Loki and Doctor Doom and Namor. He contractually took Tony Stark's armor and became The Iron Patriot. Norman's role as The Green Goblin has spawned loyal followers and the signs of his return spell terror for Spider-Man. More than just a horrifying villain, The Green Goblin is a hurricane wearing a human body.
1. Doctor Octopus
Yeah, that's right! Doctor Octopus is a better villain than The Green Goblin! Come at me! Doctor Otto Octavius had an overbearing mother and an abusive father, his past littered with failing loves, judging superiors, and people who could not understand his genius. In creating working tentacle arms, Otto could show his genius and use these arms to proceed in his work. After a radioactive explosion in his lab, the arms became fused to his body and his mind began to twist. Still a genius, still resentful of his peers, and still mad with the power of his arms, Doctor Octopus was born. Consistently, Doc Ock was one of Spider-Man's deadliest foes. He used another identity called "The Master Planner" to orchestrate scenarios for Spidey to face, Doc Ock founded The Sinister Six and manipulated it's members. You have to think this too: he doesn't have actual powers either. He only has the arms. So every time Spidey or Captain America or Daredevil beat the tar out of him, he took it. And it almost lead to his death. But here is the kicker, the reason he's the best Spider-Man villain. When Doc Ock was too broken to move, when his arms and his mind were all he had left, he planned one more assault on Spider-Man. He got another Sinister Six crew and just when Spider-Man thought he won-BAM-Doctor Octopus used a piece of technology to trade minds with Spider-Man. Peter Parker died in the body of Doctor Octopus, and Otto Octavius lived once more as The Superior Spider-Man. How many villains have actually killed their enemy hero? The Joker never killed Batman. Neither Lex Luthor nor Doomsday actually killed Superman (healing coma ;D), maybe Doctor Doom and Thanos found ways to kill using cosmic powers, but come on! Doctor Octopus killed Spider-Man, stole his goddamn body, became a better Spider-Man than Peter was, AND he did it all without any Infinity Gems or cosmic forces. No, Doc Ock did this on his own. With his tech, his planning, and his effort. And then to take up the Spider-Man role-to be a superhero-solely to rub it in the face of his dead adversary. Doc-as Peter-would fall in love and allow Peter to return to his body in order to save the person he loved. More than anyone, Doc Ock shows the most capability. He is another twisted look at what Peter could have been. A mad scientist with too much genius, too much power, and too much time. For killing Spider-Man, being the superior Spider-Man, and having a solid history of villainy against Spider-Man, I truly believe Doctor Octopus is the best Spider-Man villain. Oh, and he almost married Aunt May and almost banged Mary Jane.
Thanks for reading!
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