Among all the Spider-Man antagonists that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has brought to life, there’s one who is so unsettling that it’s highly unlikely he will ever appear in a movie. Peter Parker has fought many formidable villains, even some beloved ones in Spider-Man: No Way Home, but the terrifying character called “the Thousand” is almost certain to remain confined to our nightmares rather than being translated onto the big screen.
Marvel’s Spider-Man character boasts a wealth of memorable adversaries, and while some of the most famous ones have been featured in the Spider-Man movies, particularly those within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, they have only begun to explore the vast array of villains that make up Spider-Man’s rogues’ gallery.
Over time, I’ve witnessed Peter Parker take on some truly chilling adversaries – cold-blooded assassins, multidimensional madmen, and even spirits straight from the depths of Hell. Characters like Morlun or Demogoblin might make an appearance in a live-action movie, but there’s one foe who is just too unnerving to be portrayed accurately in a Spider-Man film: the Thousand.
The MCU Could Never Make Spider-Man’s Scariest Enemy, “The Thousand” Work Properly
Spider-Man’s Tangled Web #1-3; “The Coming of the Thousand” Arc; Written By Garth Ennis; Art By John McCrea; Ink By James Hodgkins; Color By Steve Buccellato; Lettering By Wes Abbot
As a passionate film enthusiast, I must say that the three-part series, titled “Spider-Man’s Tangled Web #1-3,” offers an intense tale in Spider-Man’s storied history known as “The Coming of the Thousand.” This gripping narrative introduces a figure from Spider-Man’s past, none other than the old bully from Midtown High, Carl King. For years, I have waited, and finally, King decides it’s time to confront Spider-Man. He makes his move at the Daily Bugle after hours, cornering an employee there. In a chilling reveal, he unmasks himself as a hive-mind of hundreds of spiders that can consume humans from within and wear their skins as disguises.
As Peter’s colleague in disguise, King cleverly leads me into a trap. I unwittingly follow him back to his lair, where under the grotesque distortion of his skin suit, King unveils his true identity as my arch-nemesis. He seeks to intimidate Spider-Man, but his scheme doesn’t work on me.
King manages to subdue Peter using a potent toxin, and in a moment of revelation, he unmasks the truth. King was there when I was bitten by the irradiated spider all those years ago. He deduced that my powers originated from this extraordinary arachnid.
Intriguingly, King confides that he returned to the exhibition building, hoping to be bitten himself. However, when his plan didn’t pan out, he resorted to a gruesome act – consuming the very spider that had granted me my abilities.
In this rephrased version, let’s call it “The Tale of the Thousand,” we have a character named King who undergoes an extraordinary transformation after his encounter with a spider, becoming a collective entity known as the Thousand. This ominous figure then sets its sights on Spider-Man, but luckily our hero manages to break free from captivity and confronts his former tormentor.
In their fierce battle, King appears to have the upper hand over Peter, but when the Thousand strikes a high-voltage transformer during their fight, it inadvertently triggers an electric shock that wipes out most of the spiders controlling him. A single survivor vows revenge, but alas, King’s final spider is squashed on the bustling streets of New York City.
Spider-Man Has Fought Some Truly Sinister Villains, But Nothing Like “The Thousand”
Peter’s Movie History Has More Film-Friendly Antagonists
Spider-Man’s collection of villains is among the most extensive and well-liked in the superhero world. There are numerous adversaries, some of which have yet to make an appearance on the big screen (excluding Sony’s standalone villain films). However, those who have graced the silver screen have undoubtedly left a mark. Consider the Spider-Man trilogy directed by Sam Raimi as an example. These movies showcased impressive portrayals of the Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus. Although not as popular, the depictions of the Sandman and Venom in Spider-Man 3 were also memorable.
In “The Amazing Spider-Man” series, fewer villains were introduced compared to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, yet fans appreciated unique takes on characters like the Lizard and Electro. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has showcased some newcomers among its roster of villains, such as Vulture and Mysterio, along with lesser-known antagonists like the Tinkerer and Shocker who have made appearances in their respective films. Despite “No Way Home” focusing on bringing back classic adversaries instead of creating fresh ones, it underscores the high quality of Spider-Man’s cinematic foes throughout history.
Despite the ominous aura that surrounds Spider-Man’s antagonists, the films haven’t always portrayed them as purely inhuman. They may have been prone to making bad choices, but for the majority (with perhaps a few exceptions like Venom in Spider-Man 3), there was still a human aspect to these villains, however twisted they became. While it’s intriguing to encounter an adversary who is unquestionably evil, it’s more captivating to watch Spider-Man attempt to connect with the humanity of the villains he battles.
The Thousand Goes To A Deeply Dark Place The MCU Doesn’t Want to Go To
Marvel’s Live-Action Spider-Man Is Not Ready to Take On A Killer Hive-Mind
Absolutely, the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Spider-Man has faced some challenging situations, not just solo but also alongside the Avengers. However, there’s a significant contrast between Peter battling a group of formidable villains from various dimensions and facing an old bully who has morphed into a terror straight out of a horror tale. While the MCU films do contain intense and emotional scenes, they aim for a wide audience, so they avoid delving too deeply into disturbing territory (and to be honest, the Thousand is quite unsettling).
Once more, the movies aim to develop their antagonists as multidimensional characters. However, The Thousand is merely an overgrown schoolyard bully who’s failed to grow beyond his adolescence and still views Peter as inferior. It’s challenging to empathize with Carl King in any way due to his apparent sociopathic tendencies. Beyond the disturbing aspects of his powers, this Spider-Man villain seems almost excited when discussing how he acquired his vile abilities, which include feeding on homeless individuals and children.
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), stories like Deadpool and Wolverine, or Daredevil: Born Again are aimed at a more mature audience. However, Marvel Studios intends for Spider-Man to be a film series that the whole family can enjoy. There are numerous villains available for future films without requiring the Thousand. He was an intriguing adversary for Peter once, but it’s unlikely he’ll battle Spider-Man in the MCU. Given how unsettling the Thousand is, perhaps that’s a good thing.
Spider-Man’s Tangled Web #1-3 are available now from Marvel Comics.
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2025-05-03 00:08