Marvel Unveils Terrifying Redesign Of Iconic MCU Character

Published Oct 8, 2026, 10:26 PM EDT Jared is a writer, editor, and Communications Studies graduate who loves popular nerd culture (almost anything to do with Marvel, DC, Star Wars, or The Lord of the Rings) and the interactive storytelling medium. Jared's first console was the PS1, wherein he fell for Spider-Man, Spyro the Dragon, and Crash Bandicoot. Sign in to your ScreenRant account The last time most Marvel fans and general audiences saw Quentin Beck’s Mysterio was in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing in a post-credits scene where he not only shared with the world that Spider-Man’s true identity was Peter Parker but also framed Peter for his death. It’s unknown to this day whether or not Mysterio is actually dead—his lackeys could’ve fabricated and distributed the video to the Daily Bugle either way—yet it’d be a shame if we never saw Jake Gyllenhaal’s Mysterio ever again. Gyllenhaal’s casting was an interesting choice because the actor is incredibly handsome, and Marvel Comics’ Mysterio is not, traditionally. In fact, Mysterio has rarely ever had a distinct or memorable look in the odd occurrences when he’s not wearing his glistening fish bowl helmet. That said, Mysterio had another new appearance recently, and the classic Spider-Man villain has never looked scarier, nor has a diabolical scheme of his ever dealt such a vicious blow. Mysterio Crowns Himself As Spider-Man’s Most Horrific Villain Mysterio tricks Spider-Man into believing that Gwen Stacy is alive in “Still Standing,” Noah Hawley, Patrick Gleason, Marcio Menyz, Erick Arciniega, and Joe Caramagna’s special guest anniversary story in The Amazing Spider-Man #1000. In this appearance, though, an elderly Quentin has shed the campiness of his bombastic costume and is instead an elderly man who is creepily observing an old-age Peter Parker in broad daylight among other nursing home residents, much less hauntingly peering at Peter from the concealment of darkness. It’s a mystery who this frightening senior citizen is until Peter’s grandson deduces that the man whose hair has fully receded to the back and sides of his head and wears a nail-bitingly familiar amulet is indeed Mysterio. By the time that this is resolved, Quentin admits that it “rattled” him to do what he did to Peter and see the “anguish” he experienced as a result, despite wanting to “return the favor” for Spider-Man ruining his life—a sentiment that isn’t necessarily easy to sympathize with due to Mysterio having been a super-criminal, but alas. ‘Still Standing’ Is As Sad As It Is Mysterious This special guest anniversary story actually becomes quite sweet once the illusion is dispelled, with Quentin and Peter having a heart-to-heart regarding their shared history. Quentin himself is dying, saying, “The doctors are optimistic in the way doctors are when they’ve run out of options.” What’s depressing and brilliant about this whole ordeal is that Mysterio’s final attack on Spider-Man is causing an old man to believe that he’s senile or suffering from dementia, while cruelly making him think his long-lost lover is not only back somehow, but also in peril. Quentin then gives Peter the ultimate gift of closure, regardless of whether or not she’s real and there to hear it, by conjuring Gwen from Peter’s memory and allowing them to talk once more—a final goodbye. The cherry atop this airy, moist cupcake is that readers get a fantastic new Spider-Man costume design out of it, worn by none other than Peter’s grandson in the hypothetical Marvel future where this special guest anniversary story takes place. The Amazing Spider-Man #1000 is out now. Movie(s) Spider-Man, Spider-Man Strikes Back, Spider-Man: The Dragon's Challenge, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 3, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, Spider-Man: Far from Home, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse TV Show(s) Spider-Man, Spider-Man, Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, Spider-Man: The Animated Series, Spider-Man Unlimited, Spider-Man: The New Animated Series, The Spectacular Spider-Man, Ultimate Spider-Man, Spider-Man, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Spider-Noir Comic The Amazing Spider-Man First Film Spider-Man First TV Show Spider-Man Genres Superhero, Action, Adventure, Science Fiction, Drama, Coming-of-Age Cast Tom Holland, Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, Shameik Moore, Zendaya, Kirsten Dunst, Emma Stone, Marisa Tomei, Rosemary Harris, Sally Field, Jacob Batalon, J.K. Simmons, Willem Dafoe, Alfred Molina, Michael Keaton, Jamie Foxx, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jon Favreau, Tony Revolori, Laura Harrier, Angourie Rice, Benedict Cumberbatch, Nicholas Hammond Director Sam Raimi, Marc Webb, Jon Watts, Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman, Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson Writers Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, Brian Michael Bendis, jonathan hickman, Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller Created by Stan Lee, Steve Ditko