Marvel Studios/Marvel ComicsThere are only three certainties in life: death, taxes, and Dexerto reporting on Spider-Man 4 villain rumors.
Yes, we’ve taken a break from reporting on the goings on at Lumon, peddling the latest gossip from Hope Valley, and breaking down whatever the hell Yellowstone’s about (I want to say cowboys running a train station?) to talk once again about Marvel movies.
What spurred this? Well, there have been a lot of discussions about which Spider-Man villain will have to face Peter Parker in the upcoming Marvel movie, and a new front-runner has emerged.
According to rumors and the scooper Daniel RPK (so take this with a pinch of salt), the Wallcrawler may be battling none other than Spider Queen, and I know exactly what you’re thinking: “Who?”
Who’s Spider Queen?
If you’ve never cracked open a comic book, it’s unlikely you’ve heard of Spider Queen, aka Adriana Soria. She’s a D-List villain on a level with other baddies like Swarm, Stunner, and Digger (if you knew any of those characters, then congratulations, you’ve wasted your life) who has a myriad of weird and wonderful powers.
Basically, she’s got “vestigial insect DNA” (I know spiders are arachnids, but her creators clearly didn’t) that grants her super strength, insect manipulation, and the ability to turn people into insect-human hybrids.
Sadly, there’s a reason you’ve probably never heard of Adriana; she’s only ever been involved in two Spider-Man stories, one of which is one of Spidey’s best modern tales… and the other? Well, it’s a bit of a mess. So, if Spider-Man 4 is going to include her, I’m both excited and a little worried.
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The good
Marvel ComicsLet’s start with the good, though. If Adriana is the villain, then this new Spider-Man movie may be an adaptation of Spider-Island. This exciting arc saw everyone on Manhattan Island get spider powers courtesy of Spider Queen’s spider virus (well, she had help from the Jackal, but bringing him into the MCU is a whole other can of worms). The Queen then used her increasing powers to forcibly turn everyone on the island into giant spider monsters, which she intended to use to conquer the world.
It was just as silly as it sounds and perfectly in keeping with the over-the-top stories we’ve come to expect from comics. Arguably, though, what made this arc so good was that several of Peter’s old enemies and allies got spider powers (something that did irritate Spidey,) and I think there’s real cinematic potential there.
Imagine if we got a Doctor Strange or even Captain America making an appearance, but they had Pete’s powers instead of relying on magic or vibranium wings. It could make for a few fun visuals and set pieces. More than that, though, this story was remarkable because it reminded us that even though anyone could have Peter’s great power, not everyone understands the responsibility that comes with it (basically, about half the city uses their powers to cause chaos and the other half are too hesitant to help save the day).
And let’s be honest: Pete needs a win after the No Way Home events. He’s lost what little family he had, his friends have forgotten him, and the love of his life doesn’t know him from Adam (whoever Adam is). Letting Peter save the city he loves and reaffirm his identity as Spider-Man could be just what the old Web-Head needs after his disastrous last adventure.
The bad
Marvel ComicsSpeaking of disastrous adventures, it’s time to talk about the other Spider Queen story. This terrible tale takes place in the Spectacular Spider-Man Vol 2 #15-20, where Peter confronts the Queen while the Avengers are busy being torn apart by Wanda Maximoff.
During the story, Peter finds himself slowly mutating – courtesy of the Queen – into a Man-Spider. Despite his slow and terrifying transformation, Peter manages to stop Adriana’s evil scheme (she was going to wipe out human life in New York), but in the end, he turns into a giant spider… a spider that’s pregnant.
The spider that was once our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man then dies, giving birth to a brand new Peter Parker. Yes really. Now I know what you’re thinking. That sounds a bit bleak for a Spider-Man movie, and you’re right. Hell, it was too much for a lot of comic readers at the time, and the arc has essentially been forgotten by everyone at Marvel.
After all, Spidey is an icon and is beloved by people worldwide. No one wants to see him go through a horrific Seth Brundle-style transformation (well, most people don’t…I don’t know about our dep ed Cameron Frew), especially when the MCU version of the Wallcrawler has already gone through so much.
If the Spider-Man 4 crew is thinking of adapting this story, then there really is no hope for the MCU, but let’s be honest for a second. The chances of anyone at Marvel and Disney thinking making a Spider-Man horror movie is a good idea are infinitesimally small; it’s the people at Sony who thought Madame Web was worth making that you’ve got to worry about.
Looking for more hot takes? Check out our list of the best superhero movies, or if you want to know more about the future of the MCU, we have articles breaking down everything you need to know about Thunderbolts, Fantastic Four: First Steps, and even Avengers Doomsday.