When Sony first announced that it was developing aPS4-exclusive Spider-Man game, it sent the industry wild. For a lot of people, there hadn’t been a truly great Spider-Man game since Treyarch’sSpider-Man 2in 2004, and following the success of theBatman: Arkhamseries, it was about time that Marvel’s web-headed hero was given the treatment he deserves on the new consoles.
Developed by Insomniac Gamesprior to its acquisition by Sony,Marvel’s Spider-Manfound groundbreaking levels of success both critically and commercially having sold 13.2 million copies as of July 2019 and becoming the best selling superhero game of all time. Although, one area that did receive quite a lot of criticism was the number of villains and boss battles, something that theBatman: Arkhamhas always been praised for. That’s something that could be improved when the sequel rolls around, so here’s list of villains from Spider-Man’s rogues gallery that Insomniac Games add toMarvel’s Spider-Man 2.
Green Goblin
Let’s get the really obvious one right out of the way and talk about the Green Goblin. Not only is the Green Goblin the most notorious of all of Spider-Man’s rogue’s gallery, but Insomniac Games did a really great job at setting up the character of Norman Osborn inMarvel’s Spider-Manby giving him a prominent role in power as the Mayor of New York City.
Firstappearing inThe Amazing Spider-Man#14 in 1964, Norman Osborn is the CEO of Oscorp, the father of Peter’s best friend Harry Osborn, and has frequently been a mentor for Peter both professionally and as a father figure following the death of Uncle Ben. Green Goblin possesses super strength, increased speed, and increased reflexes, and uses a variety of gadgets in combat from the Goblin Glider to Pumpkin Bombs.
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Kraven the Hunter
Whether it’s movies or games, fans have been begging to seeSpider-Man take on Kraven the Hunterin a proper capacity outside of the comics for years now. Best known for the 1987 storyline ‘Kraven’s Last Hunt,’ Kraven is a Soviet immigrant that’s determined to capture Spider-Man and prove that he’s the greatest hunter in the world.
Despite his absence inMarvel’s Spider-Man, Kraven is one of thefounding members of the Sinister Sixand has a long history with some of Spider-Man’s most formidable foes. His powers include superhuman strength, enhanced senses including sight, hearing, and smell, that help him track his prey. Kraven’s body can also withstand injuries that a normal human couldn’t due to a potion he takes that has changed his healing and aging process.
Chameleon
There’s no way that Kraven the Hunter could befeatured inMarvel’s Spider-Man 2without Chameleon making some sort of appearance. Known as the “Master of Disguise,” Dmitri Smerdyakov is the half-brother of Kraven the Hunter and was the very first super villain to face off against Peter Parker inThe Amazing Spider-Man #1.
With the ability to disguise himself as anyone, Chameleon’s appearance in the sequel could perfectly tie-in with the third Spider-Man film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Dmitri played a recurring role throughoutSpider-Man: Far From Home. If director Jon Watts proceeds with his expressed interest to involve Kraven the Hunter in the sequel, his half-brother already knows Spider-Man pretty well.
Ghost
Primarily known as an Iron Man villain, Ghost has ties to a number of Marvel superheroes, Norman Osborn, the Thunderbolts, and has faced off with Spider-Man on multiple occasions including inSpider-Man: The Animated Seriesand the 2014 run ofThe Amazing Spider-Man.Ghost even appeared in the MCUas the antagonist in 2018’sAnt-Man and the Wasp, played by Hannah John-Kamen.
Decked out in his own battle-armor, Ghost uses tech that allows him to phase through the environment or make himself or other objects invisible. Ghost is also a brilliant inventor and hacker with additional tech that can hack or reprogram almost any electronic device. Sounds like a pretty strong side-mission villain that could easily work with Norman Osborn’s transition into the Green Goblin.
Hobgoblin
Initially created to avoid having to bring Norman Osborn back from the dead and to prevent Green Goblin fatigue, the Hobgoblin mantle has been used by a hefty number of characters from billionaires to petty thugs, and most notably by Ned Leeds, a reporter at the Daily Bugle and Peter Parker’s best friend in the MCU.
Hobgoblin’s powers and abilities vary depending on the story and character, yet the most common portrayal is almost identical to the Green Goblin and was created using an altered version of the Goblin formula. Hobgoblin is an incredibly malleable character that needs to be given some time in the limelight and used to his full potential. With so many identities, he can fit many different roles and stories, including an adaption of the Ned Leeds character that could appear as anantagonist to Mary Jane.
Morbius
With the release of Sony’s soloMorbiusfilm only a few months away and the fact theMorbius trailer includes aSpider-ManPS4 screenshot, it seems almost inevitable that the Living Vampire appears in the game in some capacity. After all, Sony is all about the Spider-Verse.
Michael Morbius is an award-winning biochemist that is turned into a living vampire after attempting to cure a rare blood disorder using vampire bat DNA and electroshock therapy. Described as a “pseudo-vampire,” Morbius needs to feed on blood to survive and shares a number of similarities with vampires including fangs, superhuman strength, speed, healing abilities, and an aversion to sunlight.
The Elementals
Spider-Man: Far From Homeintroduced an alternate version of the Elementals, a supervillain group in Marvel Comics with the ability to control the world’s natural forces including Air, Earth, Fire, and Water. Following the trend of predicting Norman Osborn’s eventual transition into the Green Goblin, theFar From Hometake on the Elementals works perfectly in conjunction with theDark Reignstory.
Insomniac could introduce the Elementals as a supervillain group consisting of Sandman, Hydro-Man, Molten-Man, and Cyclone, and have them wreak havoc on New York City after being researched (amongst other supervillains like Taskmaster or Ghost) and recruited by Norman Osborn. That would be one interesting boss fight or at least a greatside story forSpider-Man 2DLC.
Taskmaster
It’s true, Taskmaster did appear as a side-villain inMarvel’s Spider-Man, but with an upcoming appearance in bothMarvel’s Avengersand theBlack Widowsolo film, now is the time to capitalize on the characters growing popularity. Taskmaster is a powerful mercenary with the ability to learn and mimic the fighting style of anyone that he faces in combat, eventually being able to predict his foes moves and overcome them.
Taskmaster is one of those unique villainswhose abilities are limitless when it comes to gameplay and that’s something Insomniac can’t throw away as a one-time use side-mission villain. Hired inMarvel’s Spider-Manby a mysterious organization to see if Spider-Man was worth recruiting and disappearing at the end of the boss fight, his story is far from over.
Jackal
The Jackal is a fascinating villain for Spider-Man to face, not because of his identity or origin but for his powers and abilities and how they can affect the life of Peter Parker. Despite being one of the most polarizing storylines in Spider-Man history, genetics and cloning genius Miles Warren a.k.a. the Jackal is the main villain behind the Clone Saga, creating a clone of Peter than eventually became the Scarlett Spider.
The Jackal was obsessed with Gwen Stacy and blamed Spider-Man as the reason for her death, creating clones of them both, as well the loved ones of many supervillains including Wilson Fisk’s wife Vanessa in the Dead No More storyline. While Jackal could use the loved ones of villains like Kingpin to unite the Sinister Six once again, he could also attack Spider-Man by emotionally destroying Peter Parker using a clone of Uncle Ben or even his parents.
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Venom
Like Green Goblin or Doc Ock,Venom is one villain that needs no introduction. While there have been multiple people to take on the mantle, Venom is actually best known under two different aliases, Daily Bugle reporter Eddie Brock, and Peter Parker’s high-school bully, Flash Thompson. Originally bonding to Peter Parker, the Venom symbiote attaches and takes control of its host, developing characteristics and abilities of Spider-Man including the white spider symbol on the chest which it passed onto all future hosts.
In an ideal dream scenario, Insomniac Games could introduce Venom inMarvel’s Spider-Man 2to make up for the missing black symbiote costume in the first game and turn him into an endgame villain as Eddie Brock by the end of the story. That could be extended to the next game in the trilogy where Venom transitions into an antihero and teams up with Spider-Man to help stop Carnage inMarvel’s Spider-Man 3.
The release ofMarvel’sSpider-Man 2on PS5 is inevitableconsidering the overall success of the game, the never-ending popularity of the character, and the fact that Insomniac Games is now officially a first-party PlayStation developer. Insomniac did a fantastic job with the first game, and despite the fact thatMarvel’s Spider-Mancould do more with his rogue gallery, the groundwork has been laid to make an even better game the second time à laAssassin’s Creed 2,Uncharted 2, andMass Effect 2.
Marvel’s Spider-Manis out now for PS4.
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