13 greatest Spider-Man villains ranked from worst to best
9. Mysterio
Continuing with the thread of villains who didn’t have any superpowers but still managed to be a threat to Spider-Man, we need to talk about Mysterio. Quentin Beck was a movie fanatic who had a fascination for special and practical effects. After failing to get recognition for his work, Quentin decided it was time to play in the big leagues and used his mastery of illusions to try and become one of Spider-Man’s greatest adversaries.
Well, Quentin, mission complete.
Mysterio has gained supernatural powers in many different stories, leveling the playfield when fighting Spider-Man. However, he isn’t a villain that’s recognized for his strength or fighting skills. Instead, Mysterio is at his best when using his intellect to create traps and illusions to catch his prey. His special effects have managed to get the best out of Spider-Man, even when the wall-crawler tries to make use of his Spider-Sense to escape them. That’s how good Quentin is.
As a testament to his popularity, Mysterio has been a consistent (and founding) member of the Sinister Six. Additionally, his unique set of abilities gave him the spot as the main antagonist in Spider-Man: Far From Home. Jake Gyllenhaal played Quentin Beck to perfection, and his illusions were a highlight of the entire film. It’s a shame he was ultimately killed in the movie’s third act, as we would love to see more of him on the big screen.
Finally, it’s also worth pointing out that Mysterio has faced other superheroes, such as Wolverine. Quentin Beck tricked Logan into killing all the X-Men in the Old Man Logan comic book run, setting in motion one of the most iconic superhero stories ever told. That goes to prove Mysterio is one of the trickiest villains to fight, and we can’t wait to see where his apparitions… well, appear next.
First appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #13 (1964)
Notable appearances:
- Jon Watts’ Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
- Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions videogame (2010)