Spider-Man's Most Underrated Villain: Why Tombstone Deserves a Big Moment
Spider-Man's rogues' gallery is a treasure trove of villains, each with their own unique charm and complexity. While the likes of Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus often take center stage, there's one villain who has been quietly building momentum across movies, TV, and video games: Tombstone. This hulking Black albino man with pointed teeth has been a minor player in the Spider-Man universe for decades, but now he's ready for his close-up. In this article, I'll explore why Tombstone is the next big thing in the Spider-Man universe, and why his rise to prominence is long overdue.
The Rise of Tombstone
Tombstone, or Alonzo Thompson "Lonnie" Lincoln, has been a fixture in the Spider-Man universe since his introduction in a 1988 issue of "Web of Spider-Man." However, it was the animated series "The Spectacular Spider-Man" that truly recognized his potential as a main villain. Keith David's voice acting brought Tombstone to life as a smart, calculating crime boss who posed as a benevolent philanthropist. This version of Tombstone was a master manipulator, using Norman Osborn to create super-villains to distract Spider-Man from his crimes.
A decade later, the release of Sony's "Spider-Man" game gave Tombstone another chance to shine. In this iteration, he was a bike gang leader with ties to major criminal enterprises throughout New York City. He returns in "Spider-Man 2," released from prison, reformed, and now working as a mechanic and atoning for his past crimes. This version of Tombstone is a tragic figure, a man who sees no choice in life but to turn to crime.
The best portrayal of Tombstone so far is in the "Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man" cartoon. Here, Lonnie Lincoln gets a Flash Thompson-style makeover as a potential jock antagonist to Peter before becoming a close friend to the web-slinger. Unfortunately, he is forced to join a gang to stop his younger brother from joining them. This version of Tombstone is a victim of circumstance, a man who is forced into a life of crime due to an accidental gas leak.
Tombstone: The Next Big Spider-Man Villain
Tombstone is at his best when he's a tragic figure, a man who sees no choice in life but to turn to crime. This makes him a memorable and compelling villain, a good choice for a main villain in the near future. While it hasn't been confirmed, it's been reported that Marvin Jones III will play Tombstone in "Spider-Man: Brand New Day." Given the inclusion of The Hand in the movie (a group Tombstone is affiliated with in the comics), it's very reasonable to think Tombstone will be one of the main villains of the film.
What makes Tombstone such a compelling villain is that he lives in that comfortable middle ground of grounded, street-level villains. He's not a super-powerful villain like Venom, or even a high-tech genius like Doc Ock. But he's not such a small-time crook as, say, Big Man. Instead, Tombstone presents a more human problem for Spider-Man, one that hits at his values and ideals even more than his powers do.
The same way Vulture became the perfect villain for the new version of the web-slinger in "Spider-Man: Homecoming," a man taking advantage of a situation to provide for his family and employees, Tombstone can be portrayed in a way that's sympathetic while still presenting a threat. He doesn't have to be a member of the Sinister Six; he doesn't have to be an Avengers-level threat, but a foil to your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.
That's the key here: to have a villain who challenges Spider-Man and his role as a neighborhood protector. A villain like Tombstone that's a victim of circumstance, but still poses a great street-level threat, can be a fantastic challenge for Spider-Man now that he's established as a superhero. In my opinion, Tombstone is the next big thing in the Spider-Man universe, and his rise to prominence is long overdue.
