The Villains of Spider-Man 3
by
Matt Hunt
Since the recent release of "Spider-Man 2" on
DVD will give comic-heads another excuse to break out their undersized red-and-blue Underoos, it’s time to weigh in on the next chapter of everyone’s favorite superhero turned movie-studio franchise. Yep, with "Spider-Man 3" right around the corner, legions of devoted fans have hunkered down to fill message boards, chat rooms and rumor mills with the leaked scripts and "inside information" that will no doubt postpone the creation of at least 17 Babylon 5-related zines.
While casual Spidey-Fans are content to live life without arguing the merits of wearing a symbiotic alien costume, hardcore fans will continue the debate over who should be the next big baddie. With the Green Goblin and Doc Ock checked off the list (in "Spider-Man" 1 and 2, respectively), the time is nearing for another villain (or villains) from Spidey’s rogue gallery to get the big screen treatment from Sony. Let’s look at the front runners:
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Green Goblin II[/size]
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Suspect: Harry Osborne AKA Green Goblin II[/size]
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Comic Origin: Once Peter Parker's college roommate and best friend, the son of the original GG, Harry, turned to drugs as a result of the pressures placed on him by his demanding father. After falling off the wagon during an attempted recovery and witnessing Spider-Man kill the original Goblin, Harry snaps just in time to discover Peter's secret identity. With help from both a modified version of the Goblin formula and hallucinations in the form of his psychotic dead father, Harry vows to destroy Spider-Man.
Movie Status: Appears in "Spider-Man" 1 and 2 as Harry Osborne. Last seen discovering his father's costume and cache of weapons.
Comic Status: Died as a result of an unknown side effect of the Goblin formula after blowing up the Osborne mansion in an attempt to kill Spider-Man.
Probability: The end of "Spider-Man 2" makes it a lock that Harry Osborn will show up as a variant of the the Green Goblin much sooner than later in the Spidey franchise. He's the clear favorite for Spider-Man 3.
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Venom[/size]
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Suspect: Eddie Brock AKA Venom[/size]
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Comic Origin: While on a trip to space, Spider-Man is given a black alien costume to replace his badly tattered red and blue threads. After discovering that the costume is actually a parasitic symbiote trying to control him, Spidey seperates himself from the alien at the top of a local church's bell tower with the help of high frequency sound waves. Meanwhile, Journalist Eddie Brock is fired from his job at the Daily Bugle after falsely identifying a villain who Spider-Man later captures. After being disowned by his father, fired from his job, and left by his wife, Brock takes the logical route of climbing to the top of the previously mentioned church tower to pray before committing suicide. After an encounter in the church, the alien and Brock merge together and continuously torment Spider-Man, Mary Jane, and even Aunt May.
Movie Status: Has not yet appeared.
Comic Book Status: After being separated from the symbiote by a powerful alien, Eddie Brock's whereabouts are unknown. The alien symbiote is thought to be in Alaska ... or Hardee's.
Probability: Since the first film, fanboys have been foaming at the mouth for a big screen treatment of the V-man. And the cheap pop of a doppelganger story is money in Sony's pockets. While we may get a glimpse of Eddie Brock or even a brief cameo in "Spider-Man 3," don't count on seeing Venom until after the Goblin storyline wraps up.
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The Lizard[/size]
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Suspect: Dr. Curt Conners AKA The Lizard[/size]
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Comic Origin: After losing his arm during a blast while treating soldiers in the field, Dr. Curt Conners decides to concoct a serum containing reptilian DNA to regrow the lost limb. Why not? Conners is successful in regenerating his arm, with the minor side-effect of turning into a giant mutant lizard when stressed out. The Lizard side of Conners eventually gains its own personality and decides to (*yawn*) take over the world with an army of lizards.
Movie Status: Appears in "Spider-Man 2" as Peter Parker's College professor.
Comic Status: After The Lizard's attempt to enslave the world using tainted water is thwarted by Spider-Man, Connor's estranged wife and kid show up and convince Conners to seek treatment for his condition.
Probability: With Kurt Conners already appearing in "Spider-Man 2," sans hand, as one of Peter Parker's college professors, things look good for a full blown CG treatment of the half-man/half reptile baddie. But unless he's playing second fiddle to the Green Goblin or Venom, don't expect to see this guy until at least sequel number 4.
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Green Goblin[/size]
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Suspect: Norman Osborne AKA Green Goblin[/size]
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Comic Origin: After experimenting with his imprisoned business partner's secret formulas, a near-dead Norman Osborne discovers that he has gained super intelligence and strength. Unfortunately, he also gains a good share of insanity and decides to take control of the criminal underworld under the guise of the Green Goblin.
Movie status: Apparently died in "Spider-Man" after being impaled by his goblin glider. Appears in "Spider-Man 2" as one of Harry's hallucinations. Presumed dead, but...
Comic Status: After being impaled by his own glider, Norman Osborne finds that the formula which gave him his super-abilities also gives him uncanny regenerative abilities. Norman murders a drifter and places his body in the morgue, and then hides out in Europe for seven years before returning to destroy any hopes of continuity the Spidey-verse ever hoped to achieve.
Probability: Don't expect to see the original G outside of hallucination form anytime soon, but if the franchise starts lagging after the top tier villains are gone, a second run for Norman could be just what the spider ordered.
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Electro[/size]
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Suspect: Max Dillon AKA Electro[/size]
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Comic Origin: Technician Max Dillon was repairing a downed power line during a thunderstorm when he was struck by
lightning. Unlike the average 3,700 people in the United States who are turned to toast every year, Dillon gains the ability to manipulate
electricity and has the ultra-original idea of using his newfound skills to perpetrate various criminal activities.
Movie Status: Has not yet appeared
Comic Book Status: After having his powers jacked by agreeing to be fried in an electric chair, Electro was once again stopped by Spider-Man and imprisoned.
Probability: More of a team player than a number 1, Electro would fit in nicely with the addition of another heel a la Two Face/Riddler in "Batman Forever." (*Note: Stuffo does not condone "Batman Forever." It is mentioned for comparative purposes only.)
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Chameleon w/ Kraven the Hunter[/size]
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Suspect: Dmitri Smerdyakov AKA Chameleon[/size]
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Comic Origin: A Russian agent during the cold war, Dmitri Smerdyakov "Kravinoff" used his ability to mimic anyone's face and voice to spy on his American counterparts. After coming to America, the Chameleon used his talents to clambor for the top spot in the New York criminal underworld. In an attempt to stop Spider-Man from meddling in his shady dealings, the Chameleon enlists the aid of Kraven. Kraven, who is also Russian, uses his unmatched skills as a hunter and his exotic elixirs to attempt and destroy Spider-Man.
Movie Status: Has not yet appeared.
Comic Status: After Kraven succeeds in defeating Spider-Man and burying him alive, he takes Spider-Man's identity to prove that he is a better webspinner than Spidey. In his new role, Kraven captures the psychopathic Vermin -- a villain Spidey himself was unable to nab. After this collar, Kraven feels he has proven he is better than the original Spider-Man. Spider-Man is able to crawl out of his makeshift grave, the hunter feels that he has regained his honor and proceeds to release Vermin onto the streets and shoot himself. Since then, the Chameleon has made it his mission to seek vengeance on Spider-Man for the loss of his comrade. Chameleon is currently locked away in an insane asylum.
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Probability: One of the most popular storylines in the Spidey mythos, Kraven's "last hunt" seems primed for the big screen treatment -- just not anytime soon. If the franchise hits 5 or 6 films, this one's as good as wrapped.
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Vulture[/size]
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Suspect: Adrian Toomes AKA Vulture[/size]
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Comic Origin: After discovering that his business partner was cheating him out of profits, old, crotchety jerk Adrian Toomes decides to have an impromptu manager's meeting. During the confrontation with said partner, Toomes discovers that exposure to radiation from an electromagnetic flying harness which he is constructing has given him super-human strength. After using the harness and his newfound strength to ransack and rob his former company, Toomes realizes how easy it is to outwit the New York police department and goes on a major crime spree.
Movie status: Has not yet appeared.
Comic Status: After learning that the radiation from his flying apparatus gave him inoperable cancer, the Vulture enlists the help of Norman Osborne and is given a treatment which reverts him to a much younger (and cancer-free) age. The "new" Vulture updates his flying harness with body armor and weapons and is generally more ill-tempered.
Probability: Unless the franchise gets up to around Spider-Man 6, it isn't likely that we'll see this old bald buzzard flying around.
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Mysterio[/size]
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Suspect: Quintin Beck AKA Mysterio[/size]
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Comic Origin: Hollywood stuntman Quentin Beck decides to branch into special effects and, in an attempt to gain notoriety, attacks Spider-Man as the costumed villain Mysterio. Through his mastery of smoke, mirrors, and various gasses, Mysterio begins a career that will result in numerous thrashings at the hands of both Spider-Man and Daredevil.
Movie Status: Has not yet appeared.
Comic Status: Died of self-inflicted gunshot wound after discovering brain tumor and lung cancer caused by the numerous products which he used in his many years of attacking Spider-Man.
Probability: Slim. Does anyone really need to see someone in a purple and green robe wear a giant glass dome on his head and shoot smoke and gas out of his gloves on the big screen?
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Nick’s Toybox[/size]
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Man-Wolf[/size]
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Suspect: John Jameson AKA Man-Wolf[/size]
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Comic Origin: Daily Bugle owner J. Jonah Jameson's son John is a promising astronaut who, on a double super-secret trip to the moon, finds an alien gem entitled the moonstone which attaches to his throat and causes him to change into a wolf-like beast whenever a full moon is present. Wolfman-like shenanigans ensue.
Movie Stauts: Appears in Spider-Man 2 (pre-wolf) as a promising astronaut and Mary Jane Watson's fiancée.
Comic Status: Having been cured of his transformations by Spider-Man and Curt Conners (sans lizard form), Jameson most recently worked in an asylum for superpowered criminals until he was fired after a mass escape.
Probability: As the lamest character to ever have some relation to the werewolf myth, don't expect to see the Man-Wolf on the silver screen. It's a safe bet that John Jamseon stays unfurred.
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The Walrus[/size]
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Suspect: Hubert Carpenter AKA The Walrus[/size]
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Comic Origin: After his janitor uncle begins experimenting with stolen technology, bumbling idiot Hubert Carpenter is given the proportionate strength of a walrus. Unfortunately, since a walrus is bigger than a man, he is basically slower and weaker than a common walrus. Led down the path of evil by his uncle, The Walrus begins his journey of getting pounded by the likes of "The Fabulous Frog-Man."
Movie Status: Has not yet appeared.
Comic Status: The Walrus goes down for the count after being tapped in the head by Spider-Man. Presumably incarcerated.
Probability: Unless Joel Schumacher is allowed to helm a Spidey-film, no chance
