Top 10 Spider Man Villains We Need In The MCU
#10: Morbius
The Origins of Morbius
First appearing in 1971 when the Comics Code Authority changed their stance on vampires and other such creatures, Morbius is among Spider-Man's most interesting foes. A Nobel Prize winning scientist, Dr. Michael Morbius is a Greek-born victim of a rare blood condition, who turned himself into a vampire-like superhuman in his quest for a cure. Jared Leto is set to play Morbius in Sony's Marvel Universe, but the character’s skill set that includes accelerated healing, powers of hypnosis, night vision and echolocation could add something dark, mystical, and fun to the MCU – whether that results in Tom Holland's Spider-Man attempting and failing to best him with garlic cloves and crosses, or partnering up with Dr. Strange.
#9: Black Cat
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Due to the romantic baggage and sexual edge she brings with her, Spider-Man's portion of the MCU may not be quite ready for the Black Cat, but maybe audiences are. Frequently rumored to appear in but ultimately cut from previous Spider-Man films, and attached to a long in development Sony outing, Black Cat in the MCU could be the best and worst thing to ever happen to young Peter Parker. Essentially a highly trained, overqualified cat burglar, Black Cat is more grounded than some Spider-foes, while her alter-ego Felicia Hardy's photography skills would mesh or clash well with Peter's traditional career path, all while offering complex feels and hormonal mind clouds along the way.
#8: Sandman
One of the few universally praised highlights of “Spider-Man: 3”, Sandman's return to the big screen could be a boon to the MCU. Debuting in 1963, he is one of the Web-head's oldest villains, complete with an origin story just sci-fi enough to set precedent for less grounded characters like the Fantastic Four. With his sand-based shape-shifting abilities, Sandman could be a perfect fit in an increasingly fantastical MCU, while he's often depicted as being morally complex enough to warrant audience interest. Plus, he's as strong as the Thing, can throw down with the Hulk, and has had membership in both the Sinister Six and the Avengers.
#7: The Kingpin
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Technically, the Kingpin is already in the MCU as the main antagonist of the Netflix “Daredevil” series, but the overlap between the episodic-MCU and the theatrical MCU has never been all that firm, and Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin has not yet made his way onto the big screen. With Kingpin could come a grounded, street level, NYC based, engaging criminal realm for Spider-Man to battle, and perhaps also set the groundwork to pull in some of the better Spider-thugs or even pull elements of the Daredevil-cannon onto the big screen. Additionally, Kingpin is one of the few normal humans who could take Captain America in a fist fight and was an enemy to HYDRA and the Maggia Crime Syndicate.
#6: The Lizard
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Last seen on the big screen in 2012’s “The Amazing Spider-Man,” the Lizard – like Dr. Curt Connors – is worthy of redemption. A variation on the classic Jekyll and Hyde dynamic, the Lizard is ripe with potential. As Dr. Connors, he could be a valuable ally to Peter Parker, especially if Peter follows his traditional path in the sciences – but as the Lizard, he could be a manic, lethal, and unreasonable force capable of pushing the young web-slinger well past his limits. And while we’re on the subject of villains that weren’t given a fair shake by the “Amazing Spider-Man” movies, Rhino and Electro could also benefit from a MCU-style rebrand… maybe as members of the Sinister Six?
#5: Chameleon
Having never previously appeared on the big screen, Chameleon could be an excellent source of criminal mayhem in a post-Thanos MCU. A Russian-born operative and master of disguise, Chameleon – aka Dmitri Smerdyakov – could provide old-school Loki levels of chaos, or drag the MCU along into espionage-based thriller territory, or bring to life comic moments like impersonating Hank Pym in an effort to steal technology. Less of a physical threat to the wall-crawler, that’s never stopped him from wreaking havoc on Peter’s life in the comics, so why not bring him to the big screen?
#4: Kraven the Hunter
Hinted at in “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” for a sequel that never came, planned but cut from “Black Panther”, and rumored to be given a solo vehicle with Sony, Kraven the Hunter seems long overdue to make his cinematic debut. Half-brother of Chameleon, Kraven is a seemingly un-aging hunter, with strict personal principals. Typically, this means he does his killing chemically-aided, but barehanded. One of the original Sinister Six, Kraven's backstory also includes a stint as an Avenger – which might be a tidy way to bring him into the MCU.
#3: Doctor Octopus
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Previously seen in Sam Raimi's “Spider-Man 2”, Doc Oc could be a perfect fit for the often tech-heavy MCU. Debuting in 1963, Dr. Otto Octavius is a brilliant but mentally unhinged scientist turned criminal. Not especially fit, healthy, or strong without his mechanical tentacles, Doc Oc's fragility could be his secret weapon, and would certainly make him a villain unlike any previously seen in the MCU. Sure, we already have a terrific big-screen version of this classic Spidey villain, but who would say no to seeing Tom Holland’s Spider-Man take on Doc Ock?
#2: Green Goblin
Evolution of Green Goblin
Featured in both the Raimi and Webb franchises, comic book films – especially those in the MCU – may finally be ready for a comic accurate Green Goblin. The product of Norman Osborn's quest for increased strength and intelligence, the Goblin is the manifestation of madness. Osborn is already a textbook delusional narcissist, add in the Goblin serum, some high-tech toys, and a man purse full of pumpkin bombs and Spider-Man might just have more trouble on his hands than he can handle. Plus, even if Parker and friends bring the Goblin down... there's always Harry, waiting in his father's shadow.
#1: Venom
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Spider-Man villains are often marked by a streak of mental illness, and motivated by a desire to see the web-slinger dead. The union of Eddie Brock – a failed journalist with a beef against Spider-Man – and an alien symbiote rejected by Peter Parker, Venom is among Spider-Man's most brutal of enemies, and most uneasy of allies. Possessing superhuman strength, shape-shifting and camouflaging abilities, organic webbing, all while circumventing Spidey's spider-sense and knowing the hero's identity from the get-go all make Venom one of the most dangerous foes he could face. If properly set up, the introduction of Venom to the MCU could also open the door to the psychopathic Carnage, or a host of additional symbiotes. Yes, Sony has established their own version of the Lethal Protector, but that doesn’t mean we can’t see Tom Hardy’s Venom, or a new incarnation of the character, at some point in the MCU.
