After seeing Spider-Man: Homecoming, opinions are that Micheal Keaton’s performance as Adrian Toomes aka The Vulture was one of the highlights in the movie which stands as the third Spider-Man reboot and the sixth Spider-Man movie released. In my opinion, The Vulture was the best Spider-Man villain we’ve seen since Doctor Octopus played by Alfred Molina in Spider-Man 2. So that got me thinking about the rich and diverse rogues’ gallery that Spider-Man has developed over the years. In Homecoming alone, we were introduced to The Vulture, The Shocker, The Tinkerer, The Scorpion and two other villains implied or hinted at during the movie. So since a movie’s hero is only as good as its villain or villains if you’re feeling ambitious, here is my list (in no particular order) for top 10 Spidey villains who would be great adversaries for our high school webhead.

1. Mysterio

Quentin Beck was a special effects expert who wanted to take center stage and used his expertise on creating illusions to become Mysterio. After failing to frame Spider-Man and make a name for himself as a hero, Mysterio became one of Spider-Man’s earliest foes and was an original member of the Sinister Six. He has also appeared in the cartoons and was supposed to be a villain in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 4. With modern day CGI technology and a little modernization of the outfit (cough cough Ultimate universe), I can imagine Spider-Man battling this foe who makes what you see and believe a dangerous liability. If you pay attention in Homecoming, you can see the Tinkerer fiddling with one of Mysterio’s holo-cubes during a scene. So perhaps we will see ol’ fishbowl head after all.

2. Michael Morbius

I recall reading on Comic Book.com that suggested since establishing Iron Man as Peter’s mentor in Homecoming helped the movie succeed, Marvel and director Jon Watts was considering including vampire hunter Blade in one of the sequels. If the Daywalker is heading to New York, Micheal Morbius would be the ideal villain for this Marvel Two-In-One. Michael Morbius was a scientist who was using experimental procedures in an attempt to cure his rare blood disease. Unfortunately an experiment involving vampire bat DNA failed mutating Morbius into a creature similar to a vampire but one created by science instead of the supernatural. Morbius would clash repeatedly with Spider-Man in the comics and cartoons over a misunderstanding that Spidey’s irradiated blood could cure his disease. If Morbius starts turning the citizens of the Big Apple into bloodsuckers, it would more than likely attract the attention of Blade and possibly other Marvel heroes. If anything, the image of Blade and Spider-Man teaming up is a buddy cop movie of terrifying hilarity.

3. Chameleon

Dmitri Smerdyakov took his uncanny ability to impersonate people to another level by becoming an industrial spy. One of Spider-Man’s first villains, he attempted to entrap and frame Spider-Man while stealing secrets to sell for Communist countries. It was the Chameleon who invited his half-brother Sergei Kravinoff aka Kraven the Hunter to help him defeat the wall-crawler, sparking a competition between them. Chameleon would return repeatedly specializing in corporate espionage and other criminal activities. With his ability to mimic a person’s language, mannerisms and behavior to the extent of fooling close family and friends, he would be the perfect villain to spread seeds of doubt and distrust in current hero’s early years. How can you confide in anyone if you can’t even trust if they are who they are?

4. Kraven the Hunter

Sergei Kravinoff was a big game hunter who became addicted to the hunt especially with the help of special potions which increased his strength and speed to superhuman levels. When he accepted an invitation by his half-brother, the Chameleon, to help him destroy Spider-Man, he couldn’t resist the call of the hunt. The hero was able to defeat the hunter and Kraven’s been trying to complete his hunt ever since either solo or in the company of other villains like the Sinister Six. With the constant presence of reality movie stars, Kraven’s backstory could be made to match that and even with his specific powers, one can draw parallels between Kraven and the impact The Stalker had on Terry McGuiness in Batman Beyond. If there is any doubt to his ability to be a worthy villain, Kraven’s Last Hunt proved how dangerous a hunter can be regardless of the jungle.

5. Hammerhead

Originally a mobster left for dead, he found a new identity inspired by 1920s gangster movies and a repaired noggin covered in adamantium giving it a square but indestructible power. With a new nickname to match his skillset, Hammerhead sought to establish himself in the criminal underworld working with crime families like the Maggia or even the Kingpin. Even though he’s content working as a lieutenant or soldier, Hammerhead is always interested in moving up in the world and has become a reoccurring Spider-Man villain. With no current dominant crime boss in Spider-Man’s world, Hammerhead may be a great introduction to that deeper level of criminal activity or be a precursor to Kingpin should he appear in other franchises.

6. Tombstone

Lonnie Lincoln took his status as an Albino African American and turned a weakness in the eyes of his bullies into a characteristic to be feared. Sharpening his teeth to razor points and adding considerable strength to his imposing height, Lonnie became an enforcer for local gangs nicknamed Tombstone regarding the usual fate of his victims. His reputation would advance him to become a hitman for the Kingpin. Should future movies introduce the Daily Bugle and its staff, Lonnie’s back story with Editor in Chief Joe “Robbie” Robertson would an excellent connection to build upon. As Spider-Man’s foes could get more and more powerful, Tombstone would be an excellent and dangerous villian to Spider-Man considering he has beaten the Spider within an inch of his life more than once.

7. The Spider-Slayers

J. Jonah Jameson is known for using the Daily Bugle to voice his distrust and suspicion to Spider-Man but there are times he or his subscribers took his crusade too far. Jonah’s funding made the procedure that turned Mac Gargan into the Scorpion possible but his words also inspired an inventor named Spencer Smythe. Convinced that Spider-Man was a menace, he built a series of robots he called Spider-Slayers to capture Spider-Man which were funded by Jonah himself. The inventor and his investor would end their arrangement when it was discovered later robots were programmed to kill the hero instead of subdue him. Even without Jonah’s backing, Smythe continued to build until his obsession literally killed him from radiation poisoning. If Jonah is introduced in later sequels, this would be an excellent example of his campaign going too far and who wouldn’t like to see Spider-Man fighting giant robots programmed to destroy him?

8. Hobgoblin

I know, I know, how many Goblins can we see on the big screen? In the current universe, I think we can give the Green Goblin a rest and concentrate on his orange and blue counterpart for once. A persistent Spider-Man villain and Sinister Six member, Hobgoblin has all the weapons, technology and powers of the original Green Goblin but without the crippling insanity. He merely attempts to destroy Spider-Man because it’s bad for business and most important of all, Hobgoblin can be anybody. The almost comical pattern of people revealed to be the Hobgoblin and yet the character continues to clash Spider-Man is a perfect mystery that could be an unexpected twist in Spider-Man’s world. How can you be sure you got the right guy when the original person whether Robert Kingsley or Jason Macendale could be somewhere else preparing for the next battle?

9. The Spot

Dr. Johnathan Ohnn was a scientist working for the Kingpin attempting to recreate the dimensional abilities of another Marvel hero, The Cloak. He accidentally accessed another dimension that was part light and part dark energy and when he returned, his body was covered with dark circles which were access points to other dimensions. He could use these portals to transport himself and others anywhere or to attack from random vantage points against enemies like Spider-Man or Daredevil. While The Spot isn’t a major Spider-Man villain or one with a decent name, his powers could make for some extremely entertaining fight scenes fought in different places or dimensions much like the fight scenes near the end of Thor 2. Even if he isn’t a main villain, it would be entertaining seeing what jokes Spider-Man could make when the villain announces himself pre-battle.

10. Mr. Negative

Although he isn’t as old as many of these villains, Martin Li aka Mr. Negative’s duality and powers could make for an excellent Spider villain. Martin Li is a rich philanthropist with a charitable side who appears to be a kind and generous man. In his other life, he is the Chinatown Kingpin of Crime with the strength, reflexes, mind and weapons to challenge anyone who says otherwise. Not only does he have his own masked lackeys called his Inner Demons but Li’s very touch can either heal or corrupt a person upon contact. It would not be difficult imagining Peter Parker getting to know Martin while battling Mr. Negative and his forces and never realizing they’re both the same person. Considering how influential MCU businessmen have a habit of becoming involved in the superhero world, Mr. Negative would most like fit in with other well-dressed criminals.

Honorable Mention: Any of the Spider-Man villains from Spider-Man 3 to Homecoming. I see no reason why Sandman, Lizard, Rhino, or Electro could not be remade into more faithful versions of these characters. They all have their own unique powers and have decades of backstories and story arcs to take inspiration or amalgamate. Sandman is a criminal with a powerful skill set but preferred to keep his lifestyle hidden from his mother. Electro is a power hungry dynamo who has had considerable difficulty controlling his powers. The Rhino is a thoughtless thug whose size, speed and strength has surprised Spider-Man more than once. The Lizard was a doctor trying to gain something lost but now must constantly struggle to maintain his very humanity against a monster of his own creation. If there can be three different Spider-Men in the span of seventeen years, why can’t there be different versions of the same villain?

Well that’s my list and hopefully we might get to see some of these villains on the big screen battling our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man or other Marvel heroes in the near future. Thanks for reading and until next time, true believers!

*Update: Chameleon and Tombstone have been listed to appear in the 2019 Silver Sable & Black Cat from Sony according to Comic Book.com.

For more Spider-Man greatness try the Spider-Man Themed Cocktail “The Web-Slinger” From Secret of the Booze.