Despite Spidey coming back to Marvel and leading to the massive success of Spider-Man: Homecoming, Sony Pictures is still dead set on exercising their rights to around 900 Marvel Comics characters. Earlier this year, the entertainment world was thrown for a loop when the studio announced plans to make a Venom film that appears to exist outside of the current MCU and Spider-Man universe. Even more perplexing, they’ll also pair Black Cat and Silver Sable together for an anti-hero buddy film simply titled Silver & Black.

Though Black Cat is fairly well-known as a Spider-Man antagonist and occasional love interest, Silver Sable is a bit more obscure. Even for comic fans, she hasn’t been a very prominent character since her heyday in the ‘90s. Still, Sony hopes director Gina Prince-Bythewood and the story of two damaged women walking the hero/villain line can bring something new to the superhero genre.

While casting and story details haven’t officially emerged, this week brought a flurry of reports about the plethora of other Marvel characters that will appear in the film. While a handful of them will be supporting heroes, the biggest news is that five supervillains from this rundown will be adapted for the new movie. One of them even has potential ties to Homecoming, further hinting at a connection between the spinoffs and the MCU. And while this news ignited fierce debate among comic fans, the average moviegoer may be less aware of these villains’ history.

Tombstone

Tombstone fighting Spider-Man

New York crime boss Lonnie Lincoln is said to have a small but memorable role in Silver & Black. Better known as Tombstone, Lincoln will have a beef with Black Cat after she burglarizes the intimidating gangster. Though we’ve been hoping he’d have a bigger role in a future Spider-Man film, fans will be happy to learn Tombstone will keep his comic book appearance.

Tombstone first appeared in 1988’s Web of Spider-Man #36 as a mob enforcer and brutal killer. Born an albino, Lincoln spent his childhood in Harlem grooming himself to be a future crime boss. His tale even intersected with eventual Daily Bugle reporter Robbie Robertson, who nixed a story about Lincoln’s racketeering after being threatened by him.

As time went on, Robbie would become a reporter and colleague of Peter Parker’s while Lincoln would remake himself as Tombstone, even filing his teeth into points as a means of intimidation. As he climbed the criminal ladder, he also augmented his body to give himself ultra-durable skin and super-strength. As such, he’s a villain who walks the grounded/fantastical line, and one who would be perfect in the MCU or on Netflix. Hopefully, his time in Silver & Black not only does him justice but doesn’t rule him out for future use in a Marvel project.

Scorpion

Mac Gargan aka Scorpion

More than any other character that’s set to appear in Silver & Black, Scorpion seems destined to show up in a future Spider-Man film. Not only is he one of Spidey’s most stalwart rogues, but Mac Gargan appears in Homecoming, complete with a scorpion neck tattoo. While his part is small, his interaction with Vulture during the mid-credits scene heavily hints he’ll be returning to the MCU.

It’s unknown if the version of the character we meet in Silver & Black will be played by Michael Mando or even be Mac Gargan, but if he is, then the MCU and Sony spinoffs may be much more connected than we’ve been led to believe. Either way, it looks like Scorpion’s most iconic attributes will be on display in Sony’s film.

Gargan first appeared in 1964’s The Amazing Spider-Man #18 as a PI hired by J. Jonah Jameson to dig up dirt on Peter Parker and Spider-Man. After failing, the next issue saw JJJ using an experimental serum and exoskeleton to turn Gargan into the Scorpion. With almost all of Spidey’s powers and armor complete with a weaponized tail in place of web shooters, Scorpion has naturally been causing Spidey trouble for decades. Gargan has even served as Venom for a time, something we could easily see happen in Sony’s universe.

According to the report about Silver & Black, Scorpion’s role will be small but he’ll appear a number of times in the film—including a huge battle at the end. He’ll also be featured in his signature suit, complete with tail, thanks to the mind of the movie’s big bad.

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Dr. Mendel Stromm / Gaunt

Serving as the chief antagonist of the film, Dr. Mendel Stromm will be the one who outfits Mac Gargan with his Scorpion suit. A noted chemist and roboticist, his experiments on the Symkarian people will bring the wrath of Silver Sable—herself a native of Symkaria—down on him. Unfortunately for the mercenary, he’ll not only possess his comic book genius, but his mastery of cybernetics.

Stromm first appeared in 1966’s The Amazing Spider-Man #37. Introduced as a scientist for OsCorp and the man who helped create the Green Goblin formula, Norman Osborn eventually ousts Stromm and gets him sent to jail for embezzling money. Once he’s out, he sends some killer robots after Osborn in an attempt to kill him. During the ensuing battle with Spider-Man, however, he has a heart attack and seemingly dies.

It’d be almost two decades before the character would return when 1982’s Spectacular Spider-Man #68 revealed the good doctor had planned for his death by putting his consciousness into a construct dubbed Robot Master. Just like the first time, Spidey quickly dispatched the villain, but he wasn’t gone for good.

He’d return once again in 1996’s Spectacular Spider-Man #233 in his original body, which apparently survived his initial heart attack due to the Green Goblin formula. Augmented with cybernetics this time, he returned with enhanced strength and regenerative powers. Going by the name Gaunt, he’d continue plaguing Spider-Man over the years, even becoming a deadly AI virus at one point.

Silver & Black won’t be his only appearance in a movie, either. The early version of the character appeared in the first Spider-Man film as the scientist behind Osborn’s Goblin formula. Unfortunately, the transformation of his boss leads to Stromm being killed—and unlike in the comics, he stays dead. Silver & Black looks to give him more exposure, making him a criminal mastermind and the force behind outfitting a number of supervillains. Given that, there’s a chance the character could continue popping up in various Sony spinoff films as the go-to supervillain technologist, much like The Tinkerer from Homecoming could be in future MCU movies.

Tarantula

Along with Scorpion, Stromm will be outfitting another criminal with an exo-suit and an arachnid persona. Anton Miguel Rodriguez is a South American terrorist and crime boss who adopts the persona of Tarantula in the comics. First appearing in 1974’s The Amazing Spider-Man #134, Tarantula is a superb athlete and fighter who augments his skills with blades in his boots and gloves generally tipped with venom (the poison). He’s a colorful yet fairly grounded rogue who is the perfect small addition to a superhero film.

While he’s unlikely to have his full comic costume, he’ll apparently have his foot blades thanks to Stromm’s upgrades. Like Scorpion, he won’t be a big presence, but will likely cause trouble for Silver and Black much like the two Shockers did for Spidey in Homecoming.

Chameleon

The final Marvel villain rumored to appear in Silver & Black is the Chameleon. A Russian spy known as Dmitri Smerdyakov, Chameleon is the ultimate master of disguise. Known for changes his faces, he’s also adept at mimicking mannerism and voices. As such, he’s the type of rogue we’d love to see get his own Sony spinoff film. For now, however, he’ll be an informant of Stromm’s in the movie. Hopefully, he’ll at least get to show off his infamous skills.

Debuting in 1963’s The Amazing Spider-Man #1, Chameleon is the first villain Spidey faced in his solo comic. Like Stromm and Scorpion, he was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko and has been bothering the wall crawler ever since. Though never a big, flashy villain, he’s caused lots of trouble in Spidey’s life—especially when he imitates the hero. He’s also associated with a number of supervillain groups like the Sinister Six.

There have long been rumors that Sony is planning on making a film focusing on the evil team, so perhaps the introduction of characters like Scorpion and Chameleon is their way of laying that foundation. Then again, Marvel did the same thing by putting Vulture, Shocker, and Scorpion in Homecoming, so it’s anyone’s guess as to what the future holds. With Silver & Black said to be shooting soon and San Diego Comic-Con happening this weekend, hopefully, we’ll know a lot more about the new Sony film before too long.

Next: Villains Who Could Appear in Spider-Homecoming Sequel

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