Earlier this month, the short-lived but highly praised TV series The Spectacular Spider-Man was added to Netflix. Fans of the web-slinger were reminded of Greg Weisman's 2008 reimagining of the story of one of Marvel's most popular characters. In just 2 short seasons, The Spectacular Spider-Man introduced some of the web-head's most iconic villains, challenging the hero and his ability to maintain his double life.
From petty criminals to crime lords, to best friends turned enemies, the wall-crawler faces challenges that threaten his life regularly, however, several adversaries have posed a threat to his secret identity as Peter Parker. Although few of his foes know about the 16-year-old crime fighter's double life, many have proven to be a threat to the young do-gooder, often using his loved ones as proxies.
Electro/Maxwell Dillon
Maxwell Dillon has limited control over his powers, often making him a danger to others as well as himself. After a Lab accident at ESU, Dillon found himself in an isolated suit that kept his electricity at bay. Frustrated with his condition, he turns to a life of crime, only to be thwarted by Spider-man at every turn.
While familiar with Peter Parker from his days as an electrician in Doctor Connors' lab, he has no ill will towards the student. Much of this hostility is aimed at the wall-crawler who continuously puts a stop to Electro's crimes. This being said Maxwell is far more interested in killing Spider-man than finding out who he is, making him virtually no threat to Peter Parker so long as his alter-ego is kept a secret.
Lizard/Curt Connors
Dr. Curt Connors is a renowned scientist at ESU spearheading research on cross-species genetics with the help of his wife, his lab assistant Eddie Brock, and two high school interns, Gwen Stacy and Peter Parker. All of this is put at risk when an experimental serum turns him into the Lizard, a primal creature the Doctor could not control.
While the Lizard is not an intentional threat, his proximity to Peter Parker makes him dangerous to the secret hero and his loved ones. It plays to his benefit that the Lizard has nothing to gain from harming or exposing the young student, making the reptile less of a threat compared to more intentional villains.
Molten Man/Mark Allan
Mark Allan is not a villain by choice. Manipulated into undergoing an illegal experiment, Allan was turned into a weapon for the Green Goblin to control. With the click of a button, he is covered in an extremely hot golden metal alloy that burns everything he touches. As Molten Man he is ordered to kill Spider-man in exchange for the remote control that turns his powers off and on.
Molten Man's proximity to Peter and his loved ones has put the web-slinger in some difficult positions. As the brother of Liz Allen, Parker's girlfriend, and the boyfriend of Mary Jane Watson, the Molten Man's predicament makes him dangerous to Peter and Mark's mutual loved ones. The nature of this dynamic makes Mark a circumstantial threat to both Peter and Spider-man.
Tombstone/L. Thompson Lincoln/The Big Man
L. Thompson Lincoln is a socialite, philanthropist, and overall outstanding citizen. The same cannot be said for his alter-ego, better known as The Big Man or Tombstone, the biggest crime boss in New York City. Despite impenetrable skin and enhanced strength, Tombstone's physical abilities are not where his power lies.
As someone with a double life of his own, The Big Man showed little concern over the web-head's secret identity, expressing no interest in gaining leverage over the hero. Controlling or neutralizing Spider-man appealed to Lincoln far more, as confronting the web-slinger himself would put his secret at risk. The double-edged sword of his double life encourages him to keep his hands clean, however, the influence he has within the city both as a crime lord and a socialite makes him untouchable and dangerous to his adversaries. With no proximity to Peter Parker, these factors do not concern the high schooler as much as they do Spider-man.
Black Cat/Felicia Hardy
Felicia Hardy has always had a way with the web-slinger. Consistently getting the better of him with her cat-like acrobatics and agility, the Black Cat has never presented a direct danger to Spider-man. While she doesn't always get away with her mark, the Black Cat has frequently been able to get the drop on the wall-crawler.
The Black Cat's ability to charm Spider-man out of his wits does not make her a threat, however, her access to the web-slinger leaves him particularly exposed to the cat burglar. So long as the Spider stays on the Feline's good side Peter Parker is safe. His only saving grace is that the cat has no interest in the web-slinger's secret identity, allowing him to play hardy's games under the safety of the mask.
Doctor Octopus/ Otto Octavious
Doctor Octopus quickly became one of Spider-man's greatest adversaries once he committed to a life of crime. Organizing the release of the web-slingers greatest foes, Doc Ock created the new sinister 6 in an attempt to hunt and terminate Spider-man as a part of his plan to be the new crime lord of the city.
This emboldened version of Otto Octavious presented a formidable threat to Spider-man and occasionally to Peter Parker as well. Having nearly exposed the vigilante on several occasions, as well as orchestrating the kidnapping of Gwen Stacy, a close friend of Parker's, Doc Ock has been an active danger to Peter Parker. This being said, none of these crimes were performed to harm or expose Parker since The Master Planner never had any interest, or knowledge, of the web-heads secret identity.
Kraven The Hunter/Sergei Kravinoff
Sergei Kravinoff is a skilled hunter with a fascination with hunting Spider-man. With the help of Dr. Miles Warren, Kravinoff was given the traits of lions, cheetahs, and leopards, however, the serum caused a physical mutation, giving him animal-like features. These enhancements to his strength, speed, and sent elevated Kravinoff's ability as a hunter.
Kraven The Hunter's new abilities made him a formidable opponent to Spider-man; however, said abilities proved to be a greater threat to Peter Parker. Kraven's enhanced sent allowed him to track the web-slinger across the city, putting his secret identity in jeopardy. Fortunately for Parker, the enhancements made by Dr. Warren did not give the Hunter were not enough for him to conquer the spider, despite having the combined forces of the Sinister 6 on his side. Although Kravinoff was capable of exposing Peter Parker, the limitations around his powers quickly played to the wall-crawler's advantage.
The Green Goblin/Norman Osborn
With a double life of his own, Norman Osborn's pursuit to control crime as the Green Goblin had put him at constant odds with Spider-man. His access to Peter Parker as the father to his best friend as well as his self-appointed mentor made it harder for the wall-crawler to confront the billionaire's alter-ego without exposing his own secret identity.
Despite manipulating Spider-man into taking out The Goblin's competitors, Osborn failed to capitalize on his advantage over the web-slinger, as he was unaware of who was behind the mask. Unlike Venom, The Green Goblin was not aware of the access he had to his most significant threat. Nevertheless, Peter Parker's relationship with the Osborns put him in a uniquely vulnerable position both as a family friend, as well as, a masked vigilante.
Venom/Eddie Brock
Eddie Brock/Venom went from Peter Parker's childhood friend to a sworn nemesis and from Spider-man's strongest ally to his greatest threat. Hell-bent on destroying the man behind the mask, the symbiote capitalized on Eddie Brock's anger and resentment towards his childhood friend to punish him physically, emotionally, and psychologically.
With the combined knowledge of Eddie Brock and the symbiote, Venom could plot the vigilante's downfall. They could reach any of the web-slinger's loved ones, a sinister privilege few villains have. In addition to this advantage, the biological connection between the symbiote and Spider-man allowed Venom to approach the wall-crawler without triggering his spidey senses, a leg up on the hero that can prove lethal. Out of all the villains the arachnid must face, Venom is the best equipped to harm the man and the spider.