Before the release of Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse (2023), there are a few Spider-Men and villains you need to know about:
Spider-Gwen:
Spider-Gwen made her debut in "Edge of Spider-Verse" issue #2, and her real name is Gwen Stacy.
In fact, Gwen Stacy from the main universe made her debut as early as "The Amazing Spider-Man" issue #31 in 1965, where she was one of Peter Parker's former girlfriends. During a battle between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin, Gwen fell from a great height, and Peter quickly shot out his webbing in an attempt to save her. However, due to the force of the fall, Gwen's neck snapped upon being caught by the web, resulting in her tragic demise.
In contrast, the Gwen Stacy from Earth-65 has a completely different origin story. In this universe, Gwen is accidentally bitten by a radioactive spider, gaining spider-like powers and becoming the vigilante superheroine Spider-Woman in the city of New York.
In this universe, a long-suffering Peter Parker, yearning to be more like Spider-Woman, conducts genetic experiments on himself, only to transform into The Lizard. Unfortunately, the unleashed Peter meets his demise during a fateful battle with Gwen Stacy.
Spider-Ham
Making his debut in the Marvel Tails comic in 1983, we have the one and only Peter Porker, known by his heroic alias Spider-Ham.
Originally just a tiny spider belonging to the brilliant scientist pig May Porker, Peter's life took a bizarre turn when May, in a fit of scientific frenzy, accidentally bit him, resulting in Peter transforming into a pig himself while retaining his spider abilities. Thus, the extraordinary Spider-Ham was born.
Spider-Ham hails from the parallel universe known as Earth-8311, a world where all characters take on animal forms. Prepare to be amused by the likes of Captain Americat, Iron Mouse, Hulk-Bunny, Black Panda, Ant Ant, and Mary Jane Waterbuffalo. It's a delightful twist on the familiar Marvel universe, filled with whimsical animal heroes and villains.
As Spider-Ham bids us farewell, he leaves us with a memorable phrase, "That's all folks." This iconic line, which originated in the 1930s Looney Tunes cartoons, is fittingly uttered by a pig. It's a clever nod to the roots of animation and adds a touch of nostalgia to Spider-Ham's departure.
Spider-Man Noir
Spider-Man Noir makes his debut in a solo comic series back in 2009, this enigmatic hero takes us to Earth-90214, where we encounter a different incarnation of Peter Parker. Spider-Man Noir presents a darker and grittier version of the beloved web-slinger, as he navigates a noir-inspired world with its own unique challenges and mysteries.
Within the pages of this comic world, the timeline is intricately woven into the bleak era of the Great Depression in 1933 America. At this time, the nation was under the grip of powerful forces and corporate entities, leaving the lower classes oppressed and marginalized. It is against this backdrop that we witness the tragic loss of Peter's uncle, brutally murdered by the henchmen of Norman Osborn, also known as the Green Goblin.
Motivated by youthful idealism and a fiery spirit, Peter embarks on a path that intertwines with the realm of journalism. For him, journalism becomes a weapon against evil and a means to protect the vulnerable. In a society plagued by corruption and injustice, Peter embraces his newfound role, determined to strike a blow against criminality and champion the cause of the underprivileged.
Later, after Peter Parker was bitten by a venomous spider that emerged from a decrepit statue, he fell into a state of unconsciousness, only to find himself immersed in a vivid dream where he encountered the mystical Spider-God known as Anansi. As he awoke from this ethereal slumber, Peter discovered that he had acquired mysterious spider-like abilities. From that moment forward, armed with a revolver as his weapon of choice, he transformed into the menacing and feared Spider-Man Noir, striking terror into the hearts of criminals.
Peni Parker
Hailing from Earth-14512, Peni Parker, a Japanese-American hybrid, bursts onto the scene with her awe-inspiring Spider-Man mech suit known as SP//dr. This formidable arachnid-powered contraption made its debut in the pages of Edge of Spider-Verse issue #5 back in 2014.
At the tender age of 9, Peni found herself facing a heartbreaking tragedy when her father, the valiant pilot of SP//dr, met his untimely demise. Left to grapple with grief and a legacy to uphold, Peni turned to her trusted mentors, her uncle and aunt, both esteemed scientists in their own right.
With their invaluable guidance and unwavering support, Peni stepped into her father's formidable shoes, inheriting the awe-inspiring mech suit that had become synonymous with heroism. Embracing her newfound destiny, she emerged as a beacon of hope and a guardian of New York City.
Peter Parker (Earth-616)
In the movie, it is mentioned that Peter Parker from an alternate universe experienced a tumultuous breakup with Mary Jane due to his reluctance to have children. However, the complexity of their relationship in the comics goes even deeper. Following Peter's decision to publicly reveal his secret identity as Spider-Man during the Civil War, tragedy struck when Aunt May fell victim to an assassin's bullet. Desperate to save his aunt's life, Peter and Mary made a fateful pact with the demon Mephisto, sacrificing their marriage in exchange for Aunt May's survival. As a result of this altered history, Peter and Mary Jane's union was erased from the timeline.
Peter also alludes to Aunt May's death, which, in actuality, has occurred multiple times in the comics. In The Amazing Spider-Man issue #400, Aunt May passed away from a stroke. Before her departure, she revealed to Peter that she had long been aware of his secret identity as Spider-Man, only for it to be revealed later that the Aunt May who died was actually an imposter posing as her.
Kingpin
Wilson Fisk, better known as Kingpin, made his debut in The Amazing Spider-Man issue #50 in 1967, though he is primarily known as a nemesis of Daredevil. Kingpin is the notorious kingpin of the New York City underworld, boasting exceptional intelligence and unparalleled combat skills.
In the movie, Kingpin engages in a fierce battle with Spider-Man, only to be interrupted by his wife, Vanessa, who discovers their altercation. This leads Vanessa to leave home with their son and tragically meet her demise in a car accident. Consequently, Kingpin is too consumed by grief to focus on eliminating Spider-Man. In the comics, it was Vanessa who intervened and prevented Kingpin from delivering a fatal blow to Spider-Man, thereby sparing the hero's life.
While Kingpin deeply loves his wife and son, their relationship in the comics is fraught with conflict. Their son, Richard, constantly opposes his father, even attempting to assassinate him. Ultimately, Vanessa is forced to fatally shoot their son, and she herself meets her demise at the hands of her husband, Kingpin.
The Prowler
Miles' uncle, Aaron Davis, has a hidden identity as the villain known as The Prowler. In the comics, the moniker of the Prowler has been held by several characters until Aaron Davis first appeared as the Prowler in the 2011 series "Ultimate Comics Spider-Man."
Originally, in The Amazing Spider-Man issue #78 in 1969, the Prowler was a criminal named Hobie Brown who eventually turned over a new leaf and became an ally of Spider-Man.
Doctor Octopus
Dr. Olivia Octavius, a scientist at Alchemax Corporation, has a hidden identity as Doctor Octopus in the movie. In the comics, this character is a middle-aged, overweight man named Otto Octavius, who is one of Spider-Man's most formidable enemies.
In the comics, Otto once swapped bodies with Peter Parker before his death. Influenced by Peter's sense of justice, Otto experienced the responsibilities of being Spider-Man and became the new hero known as the Superior Spider-Man. Otto also used Peter's body to form new relationships, earn a doctoral degree, establish Parker Industries, and reach the peak of his life. However, during a crisis, Otto realized that Peter Parker was the true Spider-Man and chose to sacrifice himself, returning Peter's body to him.
Green Goblin
Green Goblin, one of Spider-Man's infamous villains, is the alter ego of Norman Osborn, the CEO of Osborn Industries. Through experiments on his own body, Norman gained enhanced abilities but also developed a savage alter ego. Equipped with advanced technology, he transformed into the formidable Green Goblin.
In the movie, the Green Goblin undergoes a transformation into a gigantic monster resembling the Hulk, drawing inspiration from the appearance seen in the Ultimate Marvel comic universe.
Scorpion:
In the comics, the character known as Scorpion, whose real name is Mac Gargan, becomes entangled in an experiment aimed at countering Spider-Man. As a result, he acquires a cutting-edge Scorpion battle suit. This character made a brief appearance in Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), portrayed by Michael Mando.
Tombstone:
Tombstone, also known as Lonnie Thompson Lincoln, is the formidable bodyguard of Wilson Fisk. He suffers from albinism, giving him a distinctive appearance resembling that of Frankenstein. With superhuman strength and invulnerability, Tombstone stands as one of the adversaries of both Spider-Man and Daredevil.
The Rose:
Although not featured in the movie, "The Rose" (Richard Fisk) can be spotted on the villain relationship chart in Spider-Man's underground base. In the comics, Richard Fisk is the son of Wilson Fisk, but in this universe, the true identity of The Rose remains unknown.
Spider Suits
Peter Parker's underground base houses several special suits with distinct features.
1 Dusk's suit: Featured in Spider-Man issue #90, this unique black suit was acquired by Spider-Man when he accidentally crossed into the antimatter dimension. He obtained it from the rebel leader known as Dusk, ultimately using the suit to secure victory for the rebels and bring it back home.
2 Electro-Proof Suit: Introduced in Amazing Spider-Man issue #425, this suit was specifically designed by Spider-Man to combat Electro's electrical powers.
3 Advanced Suit: This original suit was created for the PS4 game "Marvel's Spider-Man" In the game, Otto Octavius mistakenly believes that Peter is working as Spider-Man's tailor and makes some improvements to his worn-out suit, resulting in the creation of the Advanced Suit.
4 Iron Spider Suit: First appearing in Amazing Spider-Man issue #529, this suit was crafted by Tony Stark for Spider-Man before the Civil War. The movie version of the Iron Spider Suit, which prominently features the iconic blue coloration, appeared in Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) and Avengers: Infinity War (2018).
5 Secret War Suit: Originating from the 2004 comic book miniseries "Secret War" (not to be confused with the 2015 event), this black suit was worn by Spider-Man during a mission orchestrated by Nick Fury to infiltrate Latveria and overthrow its government. While the full appearance of this suit is rare in the comics, it can be glimpsed on covers and concept art.
6 Red Spider Suit: This all-red suit may be inspired by Exiles issue #12, but in the comics, it represents the symbiote Spider-Man of Earth-15, where Peter Parker has a symbiotic bond and exhibits a bloodthirsty nature, similar to the villain Carnage. Some interpretations suggest it could be based on the Scarlet Spider from Earth-982 (MC2), a female character named Felicity Hardy, the daughter of Flash Thompson and Black Cat.
7 Stealth Suit (also known as "Big Time" Suit): Debuting in Amazing Spider-Man issue #650, this suit was specifically crafted by Spider-Man to combat the Hobgoblin. Its key feature is the ability to manipulate light and sound, enabling stealth capabilities. The suit can also change colors, including red, blue, and green.
8 MK II Suit (also known as "Bullet-Proof Suit"): First appearing in Amazing Spider-Man issue #656, this suit was designed to compensate for Peter's loss of his Spider-Sense, making him vulnerable to bullets.
9 MK I Suit: First appearing in Web of Spider-Man issue #100, the MK I Suit was made of metal and had bulletproof properties. However, it hindered Spider-Man's agility, and it was eventually destroyed by sulfuric acid during a major battle.
10 Spider-Man with Cape: Derived from the "What If?" series, specifically issue #19 titled "What If Spider-Man Didn't Become a Crime Fighter?" this story explores an alternate reality where Peter Parker prevents the burglar from killing his Uncle Ben, leading him down a path of fame and showmanship rather than becoming a superhero. The cover of this issue features Spider-Man wearing a cape while appearing on a television program.
With all these suits introduced, did you discover anything new? Are you looking forward to Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse? Feel free to follow me and leave a comment, sharing your favorite version of Spider-Man.
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