Yep, definitely life.
The "real" answer is definitely Goblin/Osborn, though.
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Who is Spider-man's nemesis?
- Thread starter alexi52
- Start date
The "real" answer is definitely Goblin/Osborn, though.
For a time he really was one of the best villains. The character just became a victim of its own success with oversaturation during the 90's. When Venom was first introduced in the 80's his unique insight into Peter's life through the symbiote's memories along with their innate ability to bypass his spider sense, it allowed them to write stories that were unlike anything that had been seen in a Spider-Man comic before with how he stalks Peter like a slasher villain. It made for some great tense moments like Peter visiting Aunt May and is shocked to see Brock hanging out with her blissfully unaware of what's really going on.
Just because Bane uses Venom doesn't mean Venom = Bane.
I'd say Bane equates more with Kraven. Compare Kraven's Last Hunt with, umm, Bane's First Hunt--Knightfall.
Doc Ock is Spidey's nemesis, Norman is Peter's and yes there is a difference.
And as someone who never liked the Goblin being resurrected and that he should have stayed dead I do honestly feel the way Spencer is writing and using him right now almost justifies it...almost.
And as someone who never liked the Goblin being resurrected and that he should have stayed dead I do honestly feel the way Spencer is writing and using him right now almost justifies it...almost.
Yeah, Ock really started off strong, but I think future writers didn't have the same appreciation for him, so he became the "we need a tech villain" guy.
Norman's definitely a less obvious foil, but he presents interesting conflict - being "the little guy" is integral to Pete's character, and Pete vs Norman is "the little guy" versus "the big guy" made manifest. Pete's just a scrappy poor kid, while Norman's a rich industrialist. Spider-Man turns highschool science projects into armaments, Goblin uses military tech to torment a child.
Anyway, I change my vote to White Rabbit.
I was thinking more that they were big in the 90s and seemed to have a different kind of personal grudge.
Read through Amazing last year and you're right it was an interesting dynamic when he was first introduced. But it didn't last long and then he went to live on that island.
1. Green Goblin - The Nemesis. Strongest personal; relationship and most personally impactful attacks.
2. Doctor Octopus - The Heavy. Has had some of the biggest reaching schemes, and formed the Sinister Six.
3. Venom - The Doppleganger. Largely ranks high because he's a dark mirror of Spider-Man. Personal stakes aren't as high as with Norman, citywide stakes aren't as high as with Otto.
Honorable Mention: Kingpin - Really more of a Daredevil villain, but also has a history as a top-tier Spider-Man nemesis. Took on the Nemesis role in the 90s animated series when Green Goblin was dead in the comics and Hobgoblin was the active Goblin.
2. Doctor Octopus - The Heavy. Has had some of the biggest reaching schemes, and formed the Sinister Six.
3. Venom - The Doppleganger. Largely ranks high because he's a dark mirror of Spider-Man. Personal stakes aren't as high as with Norman, citywide stakes aren't as high as with Otto.
Honorable Mention: Kingpin - Really more of a Daredevil villain, but also has a history as a top-tier Spider-Man nemesis. Took on the Nemesis role in the 90s animated series when Green Goblin was dead in the comics and Hobgoblin was the active Goblin.
It was Doc Ock for the longest time, then Green Goblin killed Gwen Stacey...but Osborn also died and was absent for a decade or two while other Goblins emerged, so Doc Ock still kind of filled the nemesis slot but not as tightly.
Then Osborn came back to life and took the title for good.
Then Osborn came back to life and took the title for good.
This. It's been Norman ever since he killed Gwen. Doc Ock is second, but no one can get to Peter quite like Norman can. At this point it is truly personal between those two
Spider-man doesn't have the rogues gallery that someone like Batman does (who does, though). Peter's greatest enemy is always himself, and the cost of his personal relationships at the expense of using his powers to save others. That's the conceit that's set up in the very first issue and still the defining battle that makes Spider-man so good. He isn't there to fight Thanos, he's there to stop a robbery at his local bodega on his way to dinner and his tardiness will escalate existing tensions. That's Spider-man, and you don't need an arch nemesis to tell those stories.
Venom is quite easily the most popular out of the 3, but he aint SM's nemesis, most of the time it isn't even an antagonist to Peter.
You all laugh at the people saying quesada but the amount of suffering and sabotage spidey goes through from various editors and publishers living their midlife crises through him makes all his villains look like old friends by comparison. The unnatural angles they will bend at to avoid letting peter have any kind of stable job or relationship is unfathomable, non-euclidian.
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It's Osborn and it's not even close. He hates him in a way that he hates no other villain. Osborn has caused serious lasting damages to Peter that he has never recovered from like Gwen and Peter as shown in the recent arc is so tired of his shit he's willing to let him die.
At first it was Dr. Octopus, all the way up until Osborn killed Gwen...and then it was still Doc Ock because Norman promptly died right after the Gwen thing. It wasn't until the Clone Saga that Norman came back but when he did, he took the top spot immediately, and even with Superior Spider-Man Norman's still up in the top spot.
Venom wasn't really ever an option for it, and that's because Venom was too popular. It didn't take long after his debut for him to get his own book, and become an anti-hero/lethal protector, which is why we got Carnage as a replacement who could be super evil all the time.
Venom wasn't really ever an option for it, and that's because Venom was too popular. It didn't take long after his debut for him to get his own book, and become an anti-hero/lethal protector, which is why we got Carnage as a replacement who could be super evil all the time.
I would say Spidey absolutely has a top-tier roster of villains. He's up there with Batman, probably a close #2 behind Batman's #1, then it's a big drop to anyone else after them.
Funny enough I purchased a Marvel Legends figure of her today.Yeah, Ock really started off strong, but I think future writers didn't have the same appreciation for him, so he became the "we need a tech villain" guy.
Norman's definitely a less obvious foil, but he presents interesting conflict - being "the little guy" is integral to Pete's character, and Pete vs Norman is "the little guy" versus "the big guy" made manifest. Pete's just a scrappy poor kid, while Norman's a rich industrialist. Spider-Man turns highschool science projects into armaments, Goblin uses military tech to torment a child.
Anyway, I change my vote to White Rabbit.
She is one of my partner's and mine favorite Spidey minor villains.
The Fantastic Four have Dr. Doom and Galactus. (And then they have a lot of villains nobody cares about, but Doom and Galactus are so strong they carry the FF's rogues gallery by themselves.)
My head says Green Goblin, my heart says Doc Ock.
Doc Ock's been in the best movies and games at least.
Doc Ock's been in the best movies and games at least.
Goblin, feels like the one that's done the most damage and stuck around the most.
Venom is sidetracked by Marvel trying to make him a hero every now and then.
Venom is sidetracked by Marvel trying to make him a hero every now and then.
