Characters / Spider-Man: Neutral Characters

Black Cat

Alter Ego: Felicia Hardy

First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #194 (July, 1979)

Former cat burglar Felicia Hardy became a crime fighter when she became romantically attracted to and involved with Spider-Man. Felicia has the ability to instill "bad luck" around others - this comes in handy when fighting crime!

Cardiac

Alter Ego: Dr. Elias Wirtham

First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #342 (December, 1990)

When his older brother Joshua died of an incurable disease, Elias Wirtham dedicated himself to medicine, intending to save lives in honor of his brother's memory. Later, Wirtham discovered that a pharmaceutical company had developed a drug that could have saved Joshua's life but chose to withhold it as it wouldn't have been profitable to release it at the time. Angered and disgusted that his brother and so many others had died because of corporate greed, Elias subjected himself to experiments that replaced his heart with a beta particle reactor, and fused a Vibranium mesh into his skin. Assuming the costumed guise of Cardiac, he set out to avenge the deaths of innocents at the hands of individuals who were untouchable by the law.

• Anti-Hero: Cardiac can be extremely narrow-minded in his crusade and sometimes shows little concern for people caught in the crossfire. While investigating a corrupt pharmaceutical company, he and the Black Cat were attacked by a quartet of cyborgs. Cardiac kills them and Black Cat castigates him for this, saying that those cyborgs were probably victims of the company themselves and had no choice in even becoming cyborgs.
• Badass Bookworm: Wirtham is an accomplished physician and surgeon and is trained in bio-technics.
• Black and Nerdy: He's African-American and a genius when it comes to medicine, both as a doctor and a scientist.
• Boom Stick: His Beta Staff can fire energy blasts.
• Cyborg: Cardiac's heart has been replaced with a beta particle reactor and his skin and muscle tissue have been grafted with vibranium mesh.
• Genius Bruiser: He's built like a linebacker and is plenty smart.
• Headbutting Heroes: While he is a good man whose heart is in the right place, Cardiac's more extreme methods often put him in conflict with other heroes, particularly Spider-Man.
• Latex Perfection: In order to avoid people noticing his cybernetic enhancements, Elias wears a layer of artificial "pseudoskin" over his re-engineered parts to disguise them.
• Not Quite Flight: The "Hawk-Glider" can link to Cardiac's Beta Staff and allows him to fly for short distances.
• Scary Black Man: His suit makes look him rather intimidating, and even without it he's not particularly friendly looking.

Deadpool

Alter Ego: Wade Wilson

First Appearance: New Mutants #92 (February, 1991)

Wade Wilson is a former test subject of the Weapon X program, where he received his regenerative healing factor through the scientific experiments conducted upon him. Deadpool's powers and personality traits combine to make a wild, mentally unstable, and unpredictable mercenary. Deadpool has been a member of X-Force and the Thunderbolts, and a self-professed member of the X-Men and the Avengers. The "Merc with a Mouth" is infamous for breaking the fourth wall.

Gibbon

Alter Ego: Martin Blank

First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #110 (July, 1972)

The Gibbon's unsuccessful attempts as a criminal and a hero branded him a loser. As a mutant, he retained his powers after "M-Day."

• Alas, Poor Villain: His death in Hunted is quite somber, with Spider-Man mourning him, and he actually appreciates the silence since no one is laughing at him.
• Animal-Themed Superbeing: Originally he was just a guy with simian features, but after he was modified he became an actual humanoid gibbon.
• Berserk Button: He hated being called an ape or a gorilla, possibly due to being mocked for his apelike features in his youth.
• Butt-Monkey: Kind of literally, but the guy goes through a lot of humiliation.
• Ineffectual Sympathetic Villain: The guy had a rather pitiful life, a sorry criminal carrier, and his death was surprisingly sad.
• Mutant: He's a mutant that was born with ape-like features.
• Never Given a Name: The orphanage in which he grew up in never bothered to give him a last name, which is why he chose the last name Blank, he was a blank.
• Ugly Guy, Hot Wife: He was a literal humanoid ape and he was married to the very attractive Princess Python.
• Villainous Friendship: He was actually friends with Maxwell Markham/Grizzly and they even worked together for a time.

Living Brain

First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #8 (January, 1964)

"Whrr—click-ick—ow! Query: Why was unit programmed with pain receptors? Whyyyyy?"

Intended to be the ultimate mobile supercomputer capable of answering almost any question, the Living Brain was brought to Midtown High by its creator for a demonstration of its abilities; two workmen, thinking they could make a fortune by using the Brain to predict the outcomes of sporting events, attempted to steal it, damaging it in the process, and causing it to go haywire until it was shut down by Spider-Man. The Living Brain project was subsequently scrapped, and the prototype was placed in storage, where it fell into disrepair.

Years later, a bullied youth uncovered the Brain, upgraded it, and sicced it on the jocks who had been bullying him. Spider-Man, who was visiting Midtown High as Peter Parker, fought the Brain again, this time defeating it via electrocution. Afterward, the Brain changed hands several times, going from a pair of thieves, to the Beyond Corporation, to the Grandmaster, and finally to Boomerang, who inducted it into his Sinister Six. After defeating the Sinister Six, the Superior Spider-Man confiscated the Brain, and employed it as an assistant up until Peter Parker reclaimed his hijacked body from Doctor Octopus. The restored Peter kept the Brain around as an assistant, not realizing it contained a backup of Doctor Octopus's mind.

• The Bus Came Back: Has a habit of returning after long absences.
• Instant Awesome: Just Add Mecha!: It's become famous among robotics aficionados. When a Doctor Octopus-possesed Peter brought it to Horizon Labs, one of his coworkers called it the "Super Nintendo of robots."
• Non-Indicative Name: Is neither alive, nor does he have a brain inside him. He's just a machine with a minor level of artificial intelligence.
• Super-Powered Robot Meter Maids: Exactly why the Living Brain, a machine created for the sole purpose of answering questions after being fed the appropriate data, needed arms, let alone clubbed ones that were strong enough to rip a door off of its hinges for use as a weapon, is unrevealed.
• Verbal Tic: "Whrr—click-ick".

Molten Man

Alter Ego: Mark Raxton

First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #28 (September, 1965)

Molten Man: Hi. I'm Mark Raxton, Liz Osborn's step-brother.

Ben Urich: You're—you're the Molten Man!

Molten Man: Yeah, that too.

Mark Raxton wanted to get rich. Working hard, he developed a special liquid metal alloy, but his partner, Spencer Smythe, wanted it to be tested more. In a brief scuffle, the container holding the alloy broke, spilling the liquid over Raxton. Instead of poisoning him, his skin absorbed the alloy, making Raxton strong enough to buckle a car hood. While he started off as a criminal, he eventually accepted his transformation, and even reconciled with his sister Liz Allan.

• Big Brother Instinct: After his initial villainous tendencies end, he becomes very protective of Liz.
• Brought Down to Normal: He was finally cured post-One More Day.
• The Brute: When his temper gets the better of him.
• Genius Bruiser: He has both science smarts and superhuman strength
• Heel–Face Turn: Went from being a Jerkass Anti-hero/villain to accepting his change and apologizing to Liz.
• Jerkass: Gave a lot of crap to Liz back in the day. He got better at least.
• Kung Fu-Proof Mook: Spider-Man's webs did not stick to him.
• Made of Iron: Literally.
• Super-Strength: Strong enough to crush a car hood.
• Unskilled, but Strong: For all his smarts he is not a very good fighter. He once tried to throw a punch and a kick at the same time.

Morbius the Living Vampire

Alter Ego: Doctor Michael Morbius

First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #101 (October, 1971)

Once Michael Morbius was a world-renowned bio-chemist, dying of an unknown blood disease and desperately searching for a cure. He found that cure, but, in turn, it afflicted him with a curse far worse than any possible disease; the curse of the blood-sucking night-beast; the curse of the Living Vampire.

Puma

Alter Ego: Thomas Fireheart

First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #256 (September, 1984)

"When the tribe call—Puma must answer!"

Puma is a powerful Native-American Werecat. Puma was raised to fight the Beyonder and became an ally to Spider-Man.

• Badass Native: Fireheart is skilled in martial arts and possesses superhuman powers.
• Birds of a Feather: For a while he was dating the Black Cat.

• Cat Boy: He's a Puma man.
• Heel–Face Revolving Door: Has been a foe and an ally of Spider-Man on different occasions.

• Must Make Amends: After he attacks Spider-Man for a theft he was framed for, Puma sets out to clear his name, and buys The Daily Bugle to help him do it.
• Odd Friendship: With Captain America villains Armadillo and Deadly Nightshade after M.O.D.O.K.'s 11.

• The Chosen One: Back before The Beyonder, who orchestrated the Secret Wars storyline, was retconed into a comparative wimp he was almost Omnipotent and literally nothing else in the Marvel Universe could hurt him except Puma, who was part of a Breeding Cult to produce such an individual. Puma's cosmic power only manifested when Beyonder was around him though.
• Then Let Me Be Evil: After he is framed for a felony regarding a bribe and has his assets frozen he ends up working for M.O.D.O.K. to get his fortune back.
• Too Dumb to Live: Made fun of Thor for holding back in their fight. Had Thor actually stopped holding back Puma would have been a stain on the ground.

The Punisher

Alter Ego: Frank Castle

First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #129 (February, 1974)

When U.S. Marine veteran Frank Castle's family's was murdered for witnessing a mob hit, the man vowed to avenge their deaths and became a one-man army in his personal war against the criminal underworld. With a distinct death's head skull adorning his chest, Frank Castle became the vigilante known as the Punisher.

Razorback

Alter Ego: Buford T. Hollis

First Appearance: Spectacular Spider-Man #12 (November, 1977)

Razorback was a mutant with the innate ability to drive any vehicle instinctively. He was de-powered as a result of M-Day. He employed many gadgets in his crimefighter career.

• Animal-Themed Superbeing: A razorback is a type of wild pig, although his powers have nothing to do with the animal.
• De-power: He was one of the many mutants who lost his powers of M-Day, and so far nothing indicates he has recovered them.
• Fights Like a Normal: His powers didn't give him any edge in fighting, hence his use of gadgets.

Rocket Racer

Alter Ego: Robert Farrell

First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #172 (September, 1977)

Robert Farrell was a misguided youth, stealing to feed his hungry family. After several confrontations with Spider-Man, he has since learned the errors of his ways.

• Anti-Villain: At the end of the day, Robert just wanted to do right by his family. He calmed down quite a bit once he got a fairer shake in life, even joining Silver Sable's Wild Pack. He's later forced back into crime working for MODOK, but it's shown he had no choice.
• Cool Board: His signature weapon is his mechanized skateboard. It can go at super high speeds and even ride straight up walls.
• Gadgeteer Genius: He doesn't have any inborn superpowers. His abilities come from his Powered Armor and super-fast skateboard, all of which he built himself.
• Hand Blasts: His gauntlets are equipped with mini-rocket launchers that he can fire as offensive weapons.
• Megaton Punch: He can increase the strength of his punches by hitting his targets while riding at high speed on his skateboard.
• Powered Armor: This is his main equipment along with his mechanized skateboard.
• We Help the Helpless: Used his equipment to make money as a hired superhero, particularly when working for Silver Sable as part of her Wild Pack.

Silver Sable

Alter Ego: Silver Sablinova

First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #265 (June, 1985)

Paladin: I still can't believe you're doing this as a freebie!

Silver Sable: My father started the Wild Pack to rid the world of Nazi war criminals. I swore to uphold his dream of a free world.

A well-known female mercenary, she's been both an ally and a foe to the webslinger. Joining the Wild Pack at the age of seventeen, Silver Sable served as second-in-command until the death of her father, Ernst Sablinova. Based in Symkaria, a tiny country sharing a border with Latveria, the Wild Pack began offering its services internationally under Silver Sable's leadership. Eventually gaining approval from the Symkaria government, the Wild Pack would become one of the country's largest economic contributors.

Toxin I

Alter Ego: Patrick Mulligan

First Appearance: Venom/Carnage #1 (September, 2004)

I do know where I am headed. I know only that I cannot take the ones I love most with me. I have within me a creature called Toxin. I will try to use it for good. I have left my old life behind. Now, I must model myself on Spider-Man. I must learn to control what I have. Whatever happens, whatever monsters come my way, I must never forget who I am, where I come from. I must do the right thing.

Patrick "Pat" Mulligan was an NYPD police officer who had the misfortune of running across the supervillain Carnage, who had just spawned a baby symbiote. Too weak to kill them, Carnage bonded the infant symbiote to Patrick and left, intending to kill them once he regained his strength. When the symbiote matured, Venom named it Toxin, but when he realized that not only was it more powerful than both himself and Carnage combined but that it was unlikely to aid him in his crusade against Spider-Man, he joined with Carnage in trying to kill it. Pat accepted his bond with the symbiote and joined forces with Spider-Man and Black Cat in defeating them, and on a number of other occasions, leaving his family behind in order to tame the symbiote, eventually succeeding after stopping himself from killing Razorfist, who had killed Pat's father. Pat made a deal with the infantile symbiote: in exchange for complete control of its powers, it could take over his body for two hours a day, provided it didn't commit crimes. Pat was listed as one of the Civil War Initiative's potential recruits, but was ultimately beaten to death in a gutter by Blackheart, who stole the symbiote. The Crime Master later re-stole the symbiote and bonded it to Eddie Brock, who was initially taken over by the symbiote but later made a deal with it to return to his Lethal Protector lifestyle.

Venom

Will O' the Wisp

Alter Ego: Jackson Arvard

First Appearance: ''The Amazing Spider-Man #167 (April, 1977)

Jackson Arvard worked as a scientist in the Roxxon Energy Corporation's electromagnetic research division. Arvard was under constant pressure from his boss, James Melvin, to produce results or lose his job and as a result worked himself to the point of getting little sleep. This ultimately resulted in him getting caught in an accident at work involving a new electromagnetic device he was working on. Arvard discovered that the electromagnetic attraction between his molecules had been weakened, threatening his life.

Desperate, Arvard turned to Dr. Jonas Harrow, the scientist who operated on Hammerhead and gave him his metal skull. Instead, Harrow used a device on Arvard that placed him under the scientist's control and made him perform numerous robberies which led to him becoming in conflict with Spider-Man. With Spider-Man's aid, Arvard freed himself from Harrow's control and used his power of hypnosis to to get Harrow to confess to his crimes.

• Anti-Villain: At least initially. Arvard is less a villain and more a desperate man trying to save his life, with the true villains of the Will O' the Wisp stories being James Melvin, who left Arvard to for dead and only cared about the applications of Arvard's research, and Dr. Jonas Harrow, who was only using him for his own ends. Arvard is more victim than villain.
• Ball of Light Transformation: Arvard can fly by making himself lighter than air and expelling a trail of excess molecules behind him. He gives off so much light when he does this that he looks like an ethereal glowing sphere.
• Brainwashed and Crazy: Jonas Harrow pretended to help Jackson control his abilities, but instead implanted a Mind-Control Device within him, placing Jackson under his control until Spider-Man intervened.
• Charm Person: Arvard can mesmerize people by making the emblem on his chest glow. Anyone who looks at it is instantly under his sway.
• Dropped a Bridge on Him: Attempted but subverted. He was one of the villains poisoned by The Punisher during a wake for Stilt-Man. It was later revealed in She-Hulk's book that they survived.
• Flight: Will O' the Wisp can fly by becoming lighter than air and expelling excess molecules in a single direction behind him, causing him to be propelled forward. When he travels faster than 5 miles per hour, the expenditure of molecular energy causes him to give off so much light that he appears to be an ethereal glowing sphere.
• Heel–Face Revolving Door: While he was a villain, Arvard's quarrel was more with Melvin and Harrow than with Spider-Man, and he was even able to have the two men exposed for their crimes. He later teamed up with Silver Sable and her Wild Pack. Some time later, he was temporarily forced back into Harrow's employ until Ben Reilly helped free him from Harrow's control once again. For some reason, he was also part of the Chameleon's team of "exterminators" who targeted Peter after he he revealed his identity to the public even though Wisp has no real grudge against Spider-Man.
• Intangibility: One of the powers he gained from the accident.
• Light Is Not Good: An Anti-Villain variety. Arvard's moniker refers to a light phenomenon often attributed to ghosts and he takes the form of an eerie glowing sphere when flying.
• Mind Manipulation: He can hypnotize others by emitting a glowing light from his chest emblem.
• Monochromatic Eyes: He has blank white eyes that give him a very creepy look. Especially when he smiles as seen in the image for this section.
• Nigh-Invulnerability: He can also gain increased durability by increasing his density. Between this and his ability to turn intangible, Will O' the Wisp is virtually impervious to harm.
• Nominal Villain: In his initial appearances, Arvard was forced into crime by Jonathan Harrow taking advantage of him.
• Power Incontinence: Initially, Arvard had difficulty maintaining a solid state after the accident, prompting him to turn to Harrow for help. He was cured of this problem by Dr. Maria Madison.
• Super-Strength: By increasing his density for ten minutes, Will O' the Wisp can gain super strength.
• Super-Toughness: He can also use his control over his molecules to make himself denser and stronger.