What if I told you that Spider-man has the most entertaining villains in comics?
I can hear you yelling out, “what about Batman!” and yes, Batman is up there as well.
There’s something about Spider-man villains that makes it hard to look away when they’re on the page.
Here are the top 20 best Spider-man villains from the comics, ranked from entertaining to the most entertaining.
20. Scorpion (Mac Gargan)
The Scorpion just stung the spider.
What’s the only bug more venomous than a spider? A scorpion.
The Scorpion is a criminal for hire who will do anything for money. That includes killing Spider-man.
Notable Feats & Facts
- The Scorpion’s genetics are spliced with scorpion DNA
- Mac Gargan, at one point, was also affected by the venom symbiote.
Check Him Out:
How Strong is Scorpion - Mac Gargan
19. The Shocker (Herman Schultz)
The old-school Shocker costume looks both lame and classic at the same time.
The Shocker is a hired gun who uses his electric gauntlets to knock away anyone in his way. Usually, that means Spider-man.
The Shocker is often depicted as an easy foe to take down, but that doesn’t make it any less fun to watch.
Notable Feats & Facts
- The Shocker’s vibrio shock gauntlets he uses are called “vibro-smashers.”
- Herman dropped out of High School and managed to become a brilliant engineer.
Check Him Out:
How STRONG is The Shocker - Herman Schultz
18. Tombstone (Alonzo Thompson Lincoln)
That’s a face you don’t want to mess with.
A crime boss is always entertaining, especially one like Tombstone, with his sharp filed teeth and striking demeanor.
Tombstone deserves a spot on this list for how he looks alone.
Notable Feats & Facts
- Alonzo was deemed “Tombstone” for the number of lives that he had taken.
- Tombstone became Kingpin’s top hitman.
Check Him Out:
The Origin of Tombstone
17. Morbius The Living Vamnpire (Michael Morbius)
He’s way cooler in the comics than he was in the movie.
Michael Morbius is a biochemist who was transformed into a vampire-like creature after an experiment went wrong.
Morbius' primary motive is to cure himself of his vampiric condition. He's willing to kill anyone who stands in his way.
Notable Feats & Facts
- As a pseudo-vampire, Morbius has a ton of powers, including heightened senses, super speed, super strength, flight & hypnotism.
- Morbius is not just a villain for Spider-man but also the half-vampire Blade.
Check Him Out:
Marvel Comics: Morbius Explained | Comics Explained
16. Hobgoblin (Ned Leeds)
A true Halloween Nightmare.
The Hobgoblin is a master manipulator with an arsenal of weapons and gadgets. Driven by psychosis, nothing will stop The Hobgoblin from destroying the wall-crawler.
The Hobgoblin may look like a Green Goblin rip-off, but many would say Hobgoblin’s look is even cooler.
Notable Feats & Facts
- Many people have used the alias of Hobgoblin—eight different people, including Norman Osborn himself.
- Hobgoblin has arguably the coolest weapons of any villain — Jack O’Lanterns bombs, throwing blades in the shape of bats, and in some incarnations, a flaming sword.
Check Him Out:
History and Origin of Marvel's HOBGOBLIN!
15. Electro (Maxwell Dillon)
Never judge a supervillain by their weird costume.
Unlike The Shocker, Electro is made of electricity itself. That makes Electro tough to touch, much less defeat.
Electro has been known to cause massive destruction with his electric powers, making him one of the most dangerous villains in comic books.
Notable Feats & Facts
- Electro doesn’t just control electricity – he’s a living electric capacitor. Basically a walking lightning bolt.
- Electro almost killed Spider-man in their first encounter.
Check Him Out:
Supervillain Origins: Electro
14. Black Cat (Felicia Hardy)
More than a Catwoman clone
When first introduced, the Black Cat is a formidable villain, despite not having any actual superpowers. Felicia ran circles around Spider-man with her skills in combat, acrobatic abilities, and knowledge of the thief trade.
Eventually, Black Cat became an ally and dated Spider-man off and on.
Notable Feats & Facts
- Black Cat’s earrings are linked to her brain, giving her enhanced agility.
- Black cat is the best burglar in all of Marvel comics.
Check Her Out:
Top 10 Black Cat Surprising Facts.
13. Rhino (Aleksei Mikhailovich)
The best brute in the biz.
The Rhino is an unstoppable force who won't stop until he gets what he wants. He often works with other villains in his pursuit of squashing our hero.
The Rhino's dimwitted nature is one of the main reasons why he's so entertaining.
Notable Feats & Facts
- Aleksei’s Rhino suit sports a thick, unbreakable hide and razor-sharp horns.
- Rhino’s popularity has landed him on almost a dozen different team affiliations, including Sinister Six, Thunderbolts, and even S.H.I.E.L.D.
Check Him Out:
The Origin of The Rhino
12. Lizard (Curt Connors)
Hard to believe this guy’s a professor.
The Lizard is a modern-day Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde story.
Dr. Curtis Connors was once a respected scientist who developed a serum to regenerate his lost limb. The experiment failed and transformed him into a human Lizard.
Spider-man vs. The Lizard is a classic story that every fan of comics should read.
Notable Feats & Facts
- The Lizard also has the ability to telepathically control other reptiles.
- The Lizard’s tail is six feet long.
Check Him Out:
The Origin of the Lizard. Curt Connors - History of the Marvel Universe
11. Vulture (Adrian Toomes)
The Vulture proves that age is just a number.
The Vulture is not just a guy in a flying vulture suit – he’s also a genius-level intellect which gives him an edge in battle.
The Vulture is a classic villain who wants three things: power, wealth, and Spider-man dead.
Notable Feats & Facts
- Using one of his devices, The Vulture managed to restore his youth by draining Spider-man of his, temporarily.
- The vulture killed Aunt May’s fiancé before they could get married.
Check Him Out:
Marvel Comics: The Vulture Explained I Comics Explained
10. Mysterio (Quentin Beck)
Ol’ fishbowl head.
Who knows more about entertainment than an ex-special effects artist?
By far one of the coolest villains in Spider-man history, Mysterio uses illusions and tricks to gain the upper hand against Spider-man.
Notable Feats & Facts
- Mysterio manages to be one of Spider-man’s most dangerous foes despite not having any powers. He’s simply just a special effects artist.
- Mysterio is responsible for the death of Karen Page in the Daredevil comics series after he hires Bullseye to kill her to drive Daredevil mad.
Check Him Out:
The Origin and History of Mysterio
9. Sandman (Flint Marko)
Who knew sand could be so deadly?
The Sandman is a master of metamorphosis and can turn his body into sand. He has the power to create, control and shape sand into any form he desires. This sand manipulation makes him one of Spider-man’s toughest enemies. He is also a master at hand-to-hand combat, making him a formidable foe.
The Sandman has been around since 1963 and has been one of Spider-man’s main villains for decades.
Notable Feats & Facts
- Sandman once stole a suit that enhanced his abilities. Sandman got close to beating the Fantastic Four by himself with this suit.
- Due to Sandman’s molecular structure, he’s essentially unkillable.
Check Him Out:
Supervillain Origins: Sandman
8. Carnage (Cletus Kasady)
This guy might have the biggest kill count on this list.
Cletus Kasady is a serial killer with a bloodlust like none other. This bloodlust is amplified when a red symbiote gives him the power to create razor-sharp weapons and makes him impossible to kill.
Carnage’s motivation for destruction and chaos often stems from a desire to prove that he is the strongest villain in the Spider-man comics.
Notable Feats & Facts
- Due to Carnage’s unique physiological cell structure, he has a heightened sense that can rival Peter’s spider-sense.
- The “Maximum Carnage” storyline featuring Carnage was one of the most popular Spider-man stories in the ’90s.
Check Him Out:
The Origin of Carnage (Spider-Man & Venom vs Carnage)
7. Kraven The Hunter
I’m going to go ahead and assume that he’s wearing real fur.
Born Sergei Kravinoff, Kraven is a big-game hunter who has criminal connections. He possesses an arsenal of weapons such as knives, whips, and crossbows.
Kraven's ultimate goal is to prove himself as the greatest hunter in the world by hanging Spider-man's head on his wall.
Notable Feats & Facts
- Kraven hasn’t just hunted Spider-man. He also hunted The Hulk.
- Kraven, at one point, was in the Avengers.
Check Him Out:
The Comic Book History of Kraven the Hunter
6. Kingpin (Wilson Fisk)
Kingpin, about to squash an annoying bug.
Kingpin remains a classic and powerful villain who always appears as one of Spiderman's greatest foes.
Kingpin is driven by a desire to be the most powerful crime boss in New York City. He's willing to do anything it takes to become the king of the underground, including smashing Spider-man (and Daredevil) to pieces.
Notable Feats & Facts
- Kingpin looks overweight but is basically all muscle.
- In the newer comics, The Kingpin was elected as the Mayor of New York.
Check Him Out:
The Origin of the Kingpin
5. J Jonah Jameson
I mean, how could I not put this guy on the list?
J Jonah Jameson is Peter Parker's boss at the Daily Bugle. Jameson is not a traditional supervillain, but his antagonism toward Spider-Man is almost unparalleled.
J Jonah Jameson is motivated by his desire to discredit and vilify Spider-man. He has a deep-seated hatred of superheroes in general and actively seeks ways to ensure they are not seen as positive role models.
When it comes to entertainment, it's hard to get more entertaining than J Jonah Jameson.
Notable Feats & Facts
- Jameson hired Peter Parker at the Daily Bugle because he learned about Uncle Ben’s death and wanted to help him out.
- J Jonah Jameson was also the Mayor of New York at one point.
Check Him Out:
The History of J. Jonah Jameson
4. Harry Osborn
Not much of a best friend sometimes.
Harry Osborn starts off as the son of Norman Osborn and Peter Parker’s best friend. But just like many people in Peter Parker’s life, Harry turned into a villain. Not just any villain, but a version of The Green Goblin.
The personal conflict of Peter Parker’s best friend becoming his arch-enemy makes Harry Osborn one of the best villains of all time.
Notable Feats & Facts
- Norman Osborn once had his death faked with the help of Mysterio.
- When Harry and Mary Jane were dating, she had to break up with him due to his drug problem.
Check Him Out:
The Death of Harry Osborn Spectacular Spider-Man #200
3. Doctor Octopus (Otto Octavius)
It’s tough to find a more classic villain than Doc Ock.
Doctor Otto Octavius was a brilliant scientist who believed in utilizing science to help the world. But after fusing a harness with four mechanical tentacles to his back, Otto lost his mind and became Spider-man's most cunning villain.
Doc Oct is one of the best examples of why the Spider-man series has some of the greatest villains in comics.
Notable Feats & Facts
- Doc Ock almost married Aunt May.
- One of Doc Ock’s more impressive feats is taking over Peter Parker’s mind for a long stint as the Superior Spider-man.
Check Him Out:
Worst Things Doctor Octopus Has Done!
2. Venom (Eddie Brock)
Just imagine the breath.
Eddie Brock started off as a human rival for Peter Parker. Then one day, a black symbiote from another planet attached itself to him, transforming him into a vicious killer that Spider-man has to take down.
Venom's motivations are often depicted as a mixture of vengeance, hatred, and an uncontrollable urge to harm Spider-man.
Venom has been around for over 30 years and has gone back and forth as an anti-hero and villain. Venom is one of the most popular characters in the Marvel universe.
Notable Feats & Facts
- The first person to be a host to the Venom symbiote was Peter Parker himself.
- Venom can cancel out Spider-man’s spider-sense.
Check Him Out:
10 Worst Things Venom Has Ever Done To Spider-Man
1. The Green Goblin (Norman Osborn)
Again, just imagine the breath.
Superman has Lex Luther. Batman has The Joker.
Spider-man has The Green Goblin.
The Green Goblin, also known as Norman Osborn, is one of Spider-Man's most iconic villains.
Norman Osborn, the father of Peter's best friend, was a wealthy industrialist who sought power. But after a science experience gone wrong, Norman became The Green Goblin, a crazed villain who seeks to destroy – and have fun doing it.
You can't get more entertaining and iconic than the original Green Goblin when it comes to Spider-man's villains.
Notable Feats & Facts
- At one point, Norman became a superhero named the Iron Patriot and was the leader of the Avengers for a short period of time.
- The Green Goblin is responsible for the most famous moment in all of Spider-man comics – the death of Gwen Stacy.
Check Him Out:
10 Worst Things Green Goblin Has Done To Spider-Man
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