10 Generic Spider-Man Villains Who Desperately Need a Modern Makeover

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Spider-Man has some of the most iconic villains in comic books and media, with many characters having numerous adaptations. From Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus to The Lizard and Mysterio, these bad guys are as iconic as the Web-Slinger himself. Still, some enemies of Peter Parker’s have never quite worked, and they’re desperately in need of a modern redux.

Spider-Man’s rogues gallery is full of less-than-threatening foes, from living vampires to guileless gibbons. Some characters haven’t gotten the focus they deserve, while others need to be radically altered. By implementing the necessary changes (both narratively and visually), these enemies can go from forgotten to fearsome overnight.

10

Gibbon Is Based On the Least Intimidating Primate

First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #110 by Stan Lee and John Romita, Sr.

The Gibbon was one of the more tragic Spider-Man villains, as he was a mutant whose animalistic appearance (which only increased as time went on) made him a circus freak at best and a reviled outcast at most. He looked up to Spider-Man and even tried to emulate the Wall-Crawler, but he sadly fell under the sway of Kraven the Hunter and attacked his idol. Since then, he’s mostly been a forgotten villain and was even killed off in a particularly saddening way.

Resurrecting Martin Blank/Gibbon or introducing a new version is needed to redeem the somewhat silly foe, and the next step involves making him far more ferocious. He’s based on a fairly small and arguably harmless primate, albeit a species known for its bite. This could be used in a more bestial, savage design for Gibbon, with even Spidey fearing the jaws of the brutal, inhuman man-beast.

9

Big Wheel Is a Well-Rounded Joke

First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #182 by Marv Wolfman and Ross Andru

Big Wheel is one of the most infamous Spider-Man villains but for all the wrong reasons. Jackson Weele is an inventor known for operating gigantic robotic wheels equipped with various gadgets. This idea is interesting, but the villain’s laughable name and cartoonish nature make it hard to take seriously.

The best way to redeem Big Wheel is to make him cool, turning his titular contraption into a true death machine. If nothing else, said wheel could be imagined from a toyetic perspective, emphasizing a design that fans would actually want to collect. Different designs and “models” for the wheel would enhance this, and each being a challenge for Spider-Man would be a welcome change from his joke status.

8

The Tinkerer Needs to Be the Temu of Weapons

First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #2 by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko

The Tinkerer may look like a doddering old man, but he’s a genius who can turn basic gadgets into deadly weapons. His home, as originally portrayed, was merely a suburban residence, making the danger he represented disturbing in a mundane way. Though this made for a rather petty enemy, he has the potential to turn his twilight years into a goldmine for his customers.

The Tinkerer should be an underground equivalent to Tony Stark, supplying advanced weapons made from cheap, everyday parts. This would allow him to amass money and jobs, all while keeping a low profile. As a result, his overlooked status would be of great benefit, with no one suspecting that the villains of the Marvel Universe have a steady supply of weaponry thanks to an innocuous-looking old man.

7

Mendel Stromm Deserves to Be a Bigger Deal

First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #37 by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko

Mendel Stromm began as an associate of Norman Osborn, a.k.a. the Green Goblin. He later took on the villainous name of Robot Master, and years after his death, he was revived as the cyborg Gaunt. The latter development came as part of the infamous “Clone Saga,” but his return has never been taken advantage of.

Mendel Stromm’s robotic body has a lot of potential, especially given that Stromm was already a genius before gaining it. He could continue to vex Spider-Man and technology-based heroes such as Iron Man or even the brutal cyborg Deathlok. There’s arguably even a path for him to have his own company again, exploring transhumanism and how robotics can grant people a new lease on life. At the same time, he could showcase a grotesque degree of body horror, making him a particularly disgusting foe.

6

Molten Man Is the Most Overlooked Spider-Man Villain

First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #28 by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko

Molten Man has rarely been adapted, and when it happens, it’s mostly just as someone to be punched or attacked. The elemental villain doesn’t have much in the way of great stories, and his backstory is essentially just a retread of the more popular Sandman. Add in a less-than-interesting design, and it’s no wonder Molten Man’s fire burned out so quickly.

A great way to boost Molten Man’s presence would be for him to be portrayed as the veritable “leader” of the elemental trio, including Sandman and Hydro-Man. Better yet, a new design is a must, with his skin perhaps taking on a metallic yet still burned and almost rotten appearance when he uses his powers. Likewise, a tragic angle could be added that makes his powers stronger and more painful than ever. It would all certainly be a big improvement over what he has so far, making him one of the hottest Marvel villains.

5

The Enforcers Aren’t Much of a Threat Anymore

First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #10 by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko

Usually seen as hired help for other villains, the Enforcers are a trio of mooks with little ambition or power. They vexed Spider-Man in his early years when Peter Parker barely had a handle on the whole superhero thing, so it made sense that they posed something of a threat. Now, however, they’re mostly forgotten, and when they do appear, it’s mostly as an afterthought.

One major way the Enforcers stand out is to give them more and better equipment, as they might even have protocols for facing Spider-Man. Tired of being the butt of jokes, they would plan and strategize specifically to deal with superhuman interlopers. This would allow them and any gang that rallies around them to defend themselves and be far from helpless against the superheroes of the Marvel Universe.

4

The Spider-Slayers Should Make a Homicidal Comeback

First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #25 by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko

The Spider-Slayers were once Spidey’s equivalent to the Sentinels, with these robots meant to hunt down and kill the Web-Slinger. Even J. Jonah Jameson got in on the action, essentially piloting/controlling one of the robots. However, they haven’t been relevant for years, though there might be a dark and twisted way to bring them back into prominence.

Many fans have noted that there are too many Spider-Heroes at the moment, and the best way to eliminate this problem is to bring back the Spider-Slayers. These robots could take out or at least cripple some of these characters by way of depowering them, leaving New York without an illogically large number of Spider-Characters. It would showcase their inherent danger while making them more important – and liked – than ever. It would also help if they had cooler designs, with each Spider-Slayer built to take down certain heroes.

3

The Symbiotes are In Desperate Need of Simplification

First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #252 by Roger Stern, Tom DeFalco, Mike Zeck and David Michelinie

Starting merely as a black alien suit for Spider-Man, the idea of Venom and the symbiotes has evolved far beyond this scope. This has been both a blessing and a curse, with Eddie Brock/Venom receiving more depth and development than ever. Unfortunately, this has had the opposite effect on the lore, and things have gone too far in the opposite direction.

Symbiotes have gotten too complex, with the mythology behind Knull and other aspects being far too cosmic and meandering. With Knull dead, it might be best if these elements are wiped away, allowing the symbiotes to return to a more relatable and grounded tone. Likewise, killing off a number of the symbiotes and making the bonds of the remaining aliens more gruesome could aid this pursuit.

First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #113 by Gerry Conway and John Romita Sr.

Hammerhead was a very clear Italian mobster stereotype since his debut, and given that he first appeared in the 1970s, this felt more culturally relevant back then. While he’s physically a threat to some extent, he’s more of a cartoonish foe from a bygone era. This could be used to fix his character, making him more dangerous and ruthless than ever.

Hammerhead could ditch the ridiculous striped suits in favor of even more “professional” attire and try to become a legitimate businessman. Likewise, he might have other parts of his body and skeleton augmented with a steel alloy, making him tough for even Spider-Man to take down. Add an air of respectability, and he would be far more than just another mafia hood, allowing him to operate above and within the law.

First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #101 by Roy Thomas and Gil Kane

Morbius was always a minor enemy of Spider-Man because he wasn’t a villain for long. He soon transitioned into an antihero and is as much of a Spider-Man character as one of the supernatural Midnight Sons. Unfortunately, he’s now a bit marred due to an infamous Sony Spider-Man Universe movie from 2022, making him something of a joke alongside the film’s memes.

The best way to “fix” Morbius is to focus on his grisly antihero status while ditching the outdated Bronze Age vampire jumpsuit and emphasizing his horror elements. The character starred in the excellent Vampire Tales magazine anthologies, and putting him in new black-and-white horror adventures would be a good way to make his stories more than just generic superhero fare. This would hearken to his roots while pushing the character forward, again turning a meme king into a scream king.

“}]] Some Spider-Man foes are nowhere near the level of Green Goblin or Doc Ock, but a few adjustments can give these villains a lot more potential.  Read More