10 Spider-Man Stories Where the Villain Wins

Spider-Man is one of the most persevering superheroes in the business. Over his 60 years of publication, he has suffered so much loss, from the deaths of loved ones like Uncle Ben and Gwen Stacy to major status quo shifts after he acquired the symbiote in Secret Wars or met Ben Reilly, the Scarlet Spider, in the infamous Clone Saga.

While Spider-Man is one of Marvel’s greatest heroes, saving the world hundreds of times, he’s also been beaten down nearly as often. Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, the Jackal and most of Spider-Man’s rogues are cunning, brilliant, and vengeful––the perfect ingredients for villainous success, leading to many memorable and impactful victories that usually also saw Spider-Man’s downfall.

10 The Jackal Ruined Peter Parker & Ben Reilly’s Lives

If the Jackal’s goal was to sow chaos into Peter Parker’s life, he definitely achieved it. Beginning in the Original Clone Saga with the creation of Ben Reilly, the Jackal (and Norman Osborn, by extension) made Peter Parker believe that he was a clone, that his memories were false, and, therefore, his life meant less.

The Clone Saga was a publisher’s nightmare, and readers didn’t enjoy it either. Spread across half a dozen comic titles, the plot was overstuffed, and twists were thrown in for shock value. Regardless of the story quality, the Jackal won by destroying Spider-Man’s psyche and creating events that led to Scarlet Spider’s death.

9 The Juggernaut Reached Madame Web

Nothing can stop the Juggernaut. Spider-Man learned that the hard way. Juggernaut invades Madame Web’s home and pulls her from her futuristic chair, nearly killing her. Juggernaut succeeded in his mission, and no one could have stopped him. However, Spider-Man certainly tried.

In the second part of this story, Spider-Man actually did stop the Juggernaut, encasing the behemoth X-Men villain beneath concrete after an exploding fuel truck and collapsing building failed to slow him down. Though Spider-man did stop Juggernaut, the villain had already succeeded in stopping Madame Web.

8 Doctor Octopus Defeated Spider-Man

Stan Lee and company usually contained their Amazing Spider-Man adventures to an issue or two. “The Final Chapter” was the longest Spider-Man comic arc until “Doc Ock Wins!” dropped. Spread across five issues, Doctor Octopus proved he was the best Spider-Man villain of Marvel’s Silver Age.

After Spider-Man lost his memories, Doctor Octopus manipulated him into believing they were allies and partners in crime. J. Jonah Jameson felt vindicated seeing Spider-Man and Doc Ock tearing through New York City together. This Amazing Spider-Man arc was later adapted into a two-part episode in Spider-Man: The Animated Series.

7 Norman Osborn Took Over The Marvel Universe

Norman Osborn hammered the final nail in the Skrulls’ coffin during Secret Invasion. Afterward, taking advantage of the superhuman Civil War that drove Captain America, Iron Man, and the Avengers apart, Osborn started his own team of Dark Avengers filled with Marvel villains standing in for the heroes.

Venom was disguised as the black-suited Spider-Man and Norman Osborn donned old Iron Man armor to become the Iron Patriot. Dark Reign was an incredible period for Marvel Comics, and Norman Osborn had come out victorious and would lord over Marvel’s heroes for many months.

6 The Return of the Green Goblin

The Spider-Man: The Osborn Journals one-shot is a highlight reel for Norman Osborn and the Green Goblin. Norman remembers his greatest victory––killing Gwen Stacy and ruining Peter Parker’s life. Though the Green Goblin doesn’t “win” directly in The Osborn Journals, the character takes a major step forward.

Through flashbacks, readers learn that Norman Osborn secretly orchestrated the bulk of the Clone Saga. In the final pages of The Osborn Journals, Norman Osborn rises, reclaims the Green Goblin mantle, and prepares to announce himself to Ben Reilly and Peter Parker––to destroy Spider-Man once and for all. That’s a win for Norman’s ego and confidence, and he actually does successfully kill one Spider-Man.

5 The Inheritors Hunt Every Spider-Man, Spider-Woman & Spider-Ham

By the end of the Spider-Verse comic event, the Spider-Army, led by Peter Parker from Earth-616 and the Superior Spider-Man, defeated the Inheritors and trapped them on a radiated world. However, the Inheritors struck many blows to the Spider-Verse and the Web of Life and Destiny.

Whether they’re aware of it or not, the Inheritors placed one of their own at the center of the multiverse, controlling the Web as the Master Weaver. With so many dead Spider-Men and Women and so many bellies full of Spider-Totem energy, the Inheritors won thousands of small battles in a war they ultimately lost.

4 Spider-Man’s Infamous Deal With Mephisto

Desperate to save his Aunt May’s life and reverse the mistakes he’d made during Civil War and “Back in Black,” Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson reluctantly made a deal with Mephisto that destroyed their marriage and ultimately separated them. Marvel fans are still feeling the effects of “One More Day.”

Mephisto won. He manipulated the Marvel Universe, claimed one of the strongest loves in Marvel Comics, and tortured Spider-Man with the daughter he and Mary Jane would never have. The relevance of that daughter who would never be born would be retconned later in Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 5).

3 Mephisto Stopped A Future With Spider-Girl

Years after Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson struck that infamous deal with Mephisto that erased their marriage––and essentially their romantic relationship––Mephisto returned in Nick Spencer’s Amazing Spider-Man run, orchestrating events from Marvel’s Hell, creating Kindred, a culmination of the sins of Peter, Norman and Harry Osborn’s pasts.

At the end of “Last Remains,” Spider-Man defeated Kindred, Norman Osborn was absolved of his sins, and it seemed like Peter and MJ might actually end up together. However, Mephisto still won. One of the last panels revealed that a future Mayday Parker, a.k.a. Spider-Girl, will defeat Marvel’s deal-making devil. As long as Mayday doesn’t exist, Mephisto will be safe.

2 The Green Goblin Killed Gwen Stacy

Spider-Man’s villains are multi-faceted, each with their own agendas and goals. Norman Osborn’s goal seems to be making Peter Parker’s life miserable. The Green Goblin certainly achieved that at the end of the “Turning Point” story in Amazing Spider-Man #121.

Gwen Stacy was dead, and Spider-Man was in an uncontrollable rage, coming very close to killing the Green Goblin with his bare hands. While this was a win for Green Goblin, it was one of the most famous, heartbreaking losses for Spider-Man that matured the comic series moving forward.

1 Doctor Octopus Became The Superior Spider-Man

Perhaps the most famous and beloved case of a villain defeating Spider-Man came in the issues leading up to Amazing Spider-Man #700. A shocking panel revealed that Doctor Octopus had trapped Peter Parker’s mind in his dying body, claiming Spider-Man’s body and spider powers for himself.

While the Superior Spider-Man series was fantastic–and Peter reclaimed his body in the end–the “Dying Wish” arc at the end of Amazing Spider-Man was harrowing and chilling, presenting one of Peter’s greatest struggles to switch bodies back. Tragically, Peter actually dies, and Doc Ock “wins,” endowed with a sense of power and responsibility.