10 Forgotten Spider-Man Characters We Need in 2026

Image via Marvel Comics Published Aug 2, 2026, 7:44 AM EDT Eddie Possehl is a dynamic and driven writer/director with a passion for the written word and all things film, television, comics, and games. His passion for storytelling led him to establish his own production company in hopes of achieving his dreams. His dedication to his craft has attracted renowned talent like Yuri Lowenthal to collaborate with him on his projects. As he grows and improves, Eddie is a shining example of a self-starter. Sign in to your Collider account A constant comic book presence since 1962, the one and only Amazing Spider-Man has gone on plenty of adventures and met a boatload of characters. With this in mind, it's clear that not every single character he meets is a prominent one. Indeed, plenty of villains and side characters over the years have become quite obscure since their first appearance. Obscurity doesn't mean that a character doesn't deserve to be around, though. In fact, many characters from Spidey's comic book mythology deserve a comeback of some sort in 2026, especially now that Spider-Man: Brand New Day is out. Whether they're a former love interest of Peter Parker, a villain, or a classic supporting character, a few characters could benefit either the current main comic—Amazing Spider-Man (2025)—or the MCU by returning to Pete's life. Mindworm (William Turner) Image via Marvel Comics First appearing in Amazing Spider-Man #138 (1974), Mindworm, aka William Turner, is a super underrated Spider-Man villain. With the mutant powers to do some pretty typical telepathic feats, he can also rob his victims of their emotional energy. While he may look goofy—fitted with a gigantic head—his backstory is beyond tragic and compelling, making him more than just another silly villain. When he was young, he unintentionally drained his mother to death and, in turn, caused his father to run into traffic in a panic. This traumatic event led to him being thrown into an orphanage where he was continuously bullied for his looks. With the right writer behind him, Mindworm could jump into a modern Spider-Man story and be turned into a mainstay villain, regardless of whether it's in comics, video games, movies, or television. Sally Avril Image via Marvel Comics When Peter Parker was in high school, he had quite a large cast of supporting characters, and one who has not been too present is Sally Avril. This young woman was part of the same friend group as Flash Thompson and Liz Allan. Unfortunately, she was killed in a horrific car accident while trying to be the superhero Bluebird. While this may not seem like a factor that makes her very important, it's her recent inclusion in the "Clone Conspiracy" story arc that makes her a bit more impactful. When the Jackal—Ben Reilly this time—got back up to his clone shenanigans in 2016, he brought back Sally from the dead via cloning as part of a group of resurrected Spidey allies to try and get him on Jackal's side. While many of the clones in this plot end up dying, Sally survived and disappeared. She could make a comeback at any point and completely shift things up for Peter's personal life, especially with people who remember her dying and didn't know that she came back from the dead. Jack O'Lantern (Multiple People) Image via Marvel Comics Spider-Man stories have had plenty of instances where his writers have tried to bring in Green Goblin-esque characters, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're bad. There have been the likes of Hobgoblin, but another very underrated one is Jack O'Lantern. The mantle has been held by a few people over the years, most of whom have died, so he could easily return if any writer wanted to bring him back and evolve him beyond just being a pseudo-Goblin. Sure, he could make a return in the comic books—that'd be easy, given the rules of the comic industry—but a very good use of him would be in a villain montage in any of the MCU movies. Tom Holland's Peter Parker has fought a Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe) already, but if Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment wanted a Goblin-like figure that is actually from this Peter's universe, they could really switch things up by making it Jack O'Lantern and subverting the fans' expectations. Hypno-Hustler (Antoine Delsoin) Image via Marvel Comics Some may not remember that there was an era in which Sony Pictures Entertainment announced their plans to make a solo villain film featuring Hypno-Hustler, starring none other than Donald Glover. While this project is effectively dead, Hypno-Hustler doesn't have to be. Last time readers saw him in Marvel Comics, he was attending a former-villain support group called Vil-Anon and hanging out with another minor villain, Rocket Racer. The Wall-Crawler has had plenty of villains over the years who have been reformed on multiple occasions, and some have even become full-on heroes. There's no question that this could most definitely be a potential future for Hypno-Hustler. That or he could make an appearance in a future MCU project—even though Donald Glover couldn't play him due to him being this universe's Aaron Davis—since Sony clearly has interest in him already. Rocket Racer (Robert Farrell) Image via Marvel Comics Speaking of Rocket Racer, this enemy of the Web-Slinger is incredibly fun. He doesn't have many speedster foes, so seeing one in action is always a fun time. It's always entertaining to see how Spidey combats a villain he's not necessarily used to. Furthermore, Rocket Racer's gimmick is quite special: he has a fast rocket skateboard that gives the red-clad superhero a run for his money. He's not just fast, though. His suit also makes him absurdly durable (going that fast, he needs it) and able to shoot micro rockets out of his gloves. Much like Hypno-Hustler, Robert Farrell has moved on with his villain life, for now, and is now working at Briggs Chemical LLC. He sees himself more as an engineer now than a hero, but he could most certainly come back to help Spidey out by making him some technology in a time of need. He's got a complex story that is compelling and could be made even more so by a good writer. Collider Exclusive · Marvel Personality Quiz Which MCU Hero Are You? Spider-Man · Daredevil · Iron Man · Punisher · Thor · Cap Six heroes. One destiny. Answer 10 questions to discover which Marvel Cinematic Universe hero shares your personality, values, and fighting spirit. Will you swing, fly, or thunder your way to glory? 🕷️Spider-Man 😈Daredevil 🤖Iron Man 💀Punisher ⚡Thor 🛡️Cap FIND YOUR HERO → 01 What drives you to do what's right? Choose the answer that feels most like you. AWith great power comes great responsibility — I protect those who can't protect themselves. BMy faith and my conscience — I believe justice must be served, even in the dark. CLegacy and ego, honestly — but I've learned that others depend on me now. DThe system failed. Someone has to make sure the guilty actually pay. EDuty to the innocent and honour to my name — I was born to protect realms. FThe values I was raised with — freedom, decency, and never backing down from a bully. NEXT QUESTION → 02 It's 2 AM. Where are you? Your answer says more about you than you'd think. ASwinging between skyscrapers, keeping an eye on the neighbourhood. BRunning rooftops in Hell's Kitchen, listening for trouble. CIn my lab, upgrading my suit with a cold cup of coffee nearby. DStaking out a target I've been tracking for three weeks. ESomewhere between the stars, or at a feast that got out of hand. FOn a morning run — I was up at 4, actually. Couldn't sleep. NEXT QUESTION → 03 How do you handle a villain who keeps escaping justice? Every hero has a method. What's yours? AWeb them up and leave them for the police — again. BBuild an airtight case and dismantle their entire operation from the inside. CDeploy a containment system I designed specifically for them. Tech wins. DMake sure they don't escape a third time. Permanently. EChallenge them to single combat. Honour demands a decisive end. FRally allies, adapt the plan, and bring them in — by the book, even if it's hard. NEXT QUESTION → 04 How do you feel about keeping a secret identity? The mask — or the lack of one — says everything. AEssential — my loved ones would be in danger if anyone found out who I am. BCritical — the mask protects my mission as much as my face. COverrated — I announced myself to the world and I'd do it again. DI'm a ghost. The less people know about me, the better. EMy name is known across the Nine Realms. There's no hiding it. FI don't hide — but I understand why some need to. Transparency builds trust. NEXT QUESTION → 05 You've lost someone important because of your heroism. How do you carry that? Every hero pays a price. The question is how they pay it. AWith guilt that never fully goes away — it pushes me to do better, every single day. BI channel it into purpose — their memory is the reason I keep fighting. CI buried myself in work for years. I'm only recently learning to face it. DIt transformed me completely. I'm not the same person I was before. EWith warrior's grief — I honour them by fighting with everything I have. FI keep moving forward. Stopping means letting the loss win. NEXT QUESTION → 06 What's your role when working with a team? Who you are under pressure is who you actually are. AThe enthusiastic wildcard who somehow makes it work — and keeps the mood up. BThe strategist who works best alone but shows up when it matters most. CThe one who funds it, equips it, and occasionally takes over the whole operation. DI don't do teams. I'm more effective operating solo, on my terms. EThe heavy hitter — I crash in, draw fire, and turn the tide of battle. FThe leader — I earn trust, build the plan, and make sure no one gets left behind. NEXT QUESTION → 07 Where do you draw the line between justice and revenge? The answer defines what kind of hero you really are. AClearly — I don't kill, and I wrestle with that line constantly. BI try to hold the line, but I've come terrifyingly close to crossing it. CPractically — I do what's necessary to protect people, including hard calls. DI crossed that line long ago. What I do is justice — the system just won't admit it. EIn battle, victory is justice. Mercy is earned — not automatic. FFirmly. The moment we abandon our principles, we become what we fight against. NEXT QUESTION → 08 When you're not saving the world, what does life look like? The person behind the mask is always the more interesting story. ATrying to juggle school, a part-time job, and not failing my friends. BWorking as a lawyer by day, fighting for justice in court and on the streets. CRunning a global company, attending galas, and pretending I'm sleeping enough. DQuiet. Isolated. Surviving with a clear mission and no distractions. ENavigating a bizarre and fascinating mortal world — coffee is extraordinary. FAdapting to a world decades ahead of everything I knew. Quietly, stubbornly. NEXT QUESTION → 09 What keeps you up at night? Fear is useful data — if you're honest about what you're actually afraid of. AThe people I couldn't save — and the ones I might not reach in time tomorrow. BWhether the monster I fight every night is starting to live inside me too. CThe threats I can see coming and whether my tech is actually good enough. DNothing. Silence is the only peace I get. I've made my choices. EWhether I'm truly worthy — of the hammer, of the throne, of the people I protect. FA world where no one stands up anymore. Where good people do nothing. NEXT QUESTION → 10 The battle is lost. You're outnumbered, outgunned, and exhausted. What do you do? This is your tiebreaker — choose carefully. ACrack a joke to buy a second, then find the one web shot that changes everything. BBlock out everything except the sound of the next threat — and keep going. CActivate the emergency protocol I built for exactly this scenario. Always have a plan. DI don't accept that it's lost. I keep fighting until I physically cannot anymore. ECall the lightning. All of it. The storm answers to me. FPick up the shield. Stand up. Because as long as I can stand, it's not over. REVEAL MY HERO → Your Hero Has Been Identified Your MCU Hero Is…Based on your answers, the Marvel hero who matches your spirit, values, and instincts has been revealed. 🕷️ Spider-ManYou carry the weight of the world on shoulders that are younger than they should have to be — funny, loyal, and endlessly self-sacrificing. You do the right thing not because it's easy, but because no one else will. You understand that responsibility isn't a burden you choose — it's one that finds you. Whether it's a neighbourhood mugging or a multiverse crisis, you show up. Peter Parker's lesson — that great power demands great responsibility — isn't a slogan to you. It's the code you live by, even when it costs you everything. 😈 DaredevilYou fight in the shadows between law and chaos, guided by a fierce moral compass that refuses to let the guilty walk free. You use every tool available — your mind, your body, your faith — to protect those the system overlooks. You've looked into the darkness and chosen not to become it, though the line has never been easy. Matt Murdock's duality — champion in the courtroom, devil in the alley — mirrors your own. Relentless, conflicted, and unwilling to stop. That is exactly you. 🤖 Iron ManBrilliant, driven, and occasionally insufferable — but always the person who solves the unsolvable problem. You lead with your mind and back it up with resources, innovation, and a stubbornness that borders on heroic. You started out looking out for yourself, but somewhere along the way the world became your responsibility. Tony Stark's arc — from ego to sacrifice — is your arc too. You build, you plan, and when the moment comes, you're willing to give everything. Because in the end, you're Iron Man. 💀 The PunisherYou've been through fire that would break most people — and it did change you, completely. What's left is unyielding, relentless, and operating by a code forged in grief. You don't ask for forgiveness, and you don't expect gratitude. You see a corrupt, broken world and you've decided to do something about it, consequences be damned. Frank Castle's war is born from love twisted by loss — and so is yours. Uncompromising and unflinching — the world may not agree with your methods, but your conviction is absolute. ⚡ ThorPowerful, proud, and on a lifelong journey to become worthy of the legend you carry. You lead with strength but have learned — sometimes painfully — that true greatness comes from humility and growth. You're larger than life, yet more vulnerable than you let on. Thor's story is one of transformation: from arrogant prince to worthy king, from isolated warrior to beloved protector. You bring the storm when it's needed — and the warmth when it matters just as much. 🛡️ Captain AmericaYou believe in something bigger than yourself — and you fight for it even when the world has moved on and nobody else will. You don't bully the small guy, and you never stop when it gets hard. Steve Rogers didn't become a hero when he got the serum — he was always one. So were you. Your strength isn't in your fists; it's in your refusal to compromise what's right, no matter the cost. In a world full of people taking the easy road, you're the one who picks up the shield and stands up — every single time. ↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ Big Wheel (Multiple People) Image via Marvel Comics One of Spider-Man's most infamous villains is none other than Big Wheel, thanks to how absurdly ridiculous he is. The concept of a giant wheel rampaging through the streets of New York City is ludicrous, but that's exactly why people love him so much. Anytime he can appear and make the readers laugh, they always appreciate it. Despite how goofy he can be, Big Wheel still does pose a genuine threat to the Wall-Crawler. Having a giant wheel crash into and through buildings is truly dangerous and destructive, and his size can make him a truly difficult foe to face, at times. Seeing him come back in a non-joke-fueled and actually dangerous manner could turn this foe into a badass. Puma (Thomas Fireheart) Image via Marvel Comics While Big Wheel is quite well-known in the community, the character of Thomas Fireheart, aka Puma, is not as recognized. It's quite a shame, because he's got a great character arc and is incredibly entertaining when he comes around. With the power to transform into a mountain lion-like beast, he poses a true threat to Spidey on a physical level. But Puma isn't much of a villain, even when he does find himself fighting Spider-Man. One could consider them more as rivals, at times. Such a dynamic is somewhat lacking for Spider-Man right now, so why not bring Puma back and add a whole new complicated relationship into the hero's current day-to-day life as a superhero? Glory Grant Image via Sony Pictures Releasing Peter Parker's time at The Daily Bugle is a highlight in his career as a Marvel superhero. One of the many characters involved there who has been relatively forgotten is Glory Grant. While she didn't start her time in the Spider-Man mythology there—instead living down the hall from Peter Parker and working as a model—the last time comic book readers saw her, she was working there as Senior National Desk Editor. With there being a presence of The Daily Bugle in the MCU, Glory could most certainly make an appearance as J. Jonah Jameson's secretary (which is where she started her career there) and eventually become an ally to Pete. When it comes to working at the Bugle, Peter's always needed all the help he could get, thanks to the wonderful attitude of Jameson. Clash (Clayton Cole) Image via Marvel Comics A more recent villain introduced to the Marvel Comics universe, Clash is a character many casual fans may not know. However, he's a great commentary on "super fans" and how slippery a slope it is to be obsessed with someone. With a genius intellect, Clayton Cole used his obsession with Spider-Man to create a suit like his and craft weaponry that uses sonic waves. While Spidey took him down, Clash would re-enter his life in his adult years as both a villain and rehabilitated hero (for a short time). While Clash was most recently arrested during a conflict with Ironheart, there's no question that he could return after escaping from prison and enter the Web-Slinger's life once more. Cardiac (Elias Wirtham) Image via Marvel Comics One of the more unique characters in the Web-Slinger's adversary gallery is Cardiac, AKA Elias Wirtham. This guy is an anti-hero/vigilante who, while trying to do good, clashes with Spidey when it comes to legality and ethics. He targeted immoral and corrupt corporations, but this surgeon and physician was willing to kill people to do it. Cardiac's more ruthless approach forced Spider-Man to protect corrupt businessmen in the name of not killing, which provided a really interesting conflict. Currently, in the Marvel Comics main continuity, Cardiac was last seen teaming up with other medical-based heroes like Doctor Strange, Jane Foster, Night Nurse, and more. So, clearly, he's still intent on doing good and could become a great ally for Peter if he came back into his life. Spider-Man: Brand New Day Release Date July 31, 2026 Cast Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Mark Ruffalo, Jon Bernthal, Marvin 'Krondon' Jones III, Michael Mando, Tramell Tillman, Liza Colón-Zayas, Sadie Sink, Melanie Scrofano Runtime 145 Minutes Director Destin Daniel Cretton Writers Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Steve Ditko, Stan Lee