Summary
There is already a lot of excitement building forSpider-Man 4, which will bring everyone’s favorite web-slinger back to the big screen. However, details about the movie are currently scarce, including who will become Peter Parker’s antagonist to try and overcome.
WhileMarvelhas many options available from theSpider-Mancomics or within the wider Marvel Cinematic Universe,Spider-Man 4could be the ideal time to tie up a significant loose end previously teased inSpider-Man: Homecomingin the form of Scorpion.
At the end ofSpider-Man:Homecoming, it is heavily teased that Mac Gargan is turning into Scorpion, one of the most iconic Spider-Man villains. However, that story was then dropped and not followed up on. However, considering how big of a character Scorpion is, having him be the villain inSpider-Man 4would tie up that situation, bring the character of Gargan back, and create a great battle for Spider-Man.
How Did Marvel Tease Scorpion?
Scorpion hasn’t been officially shown inhis true villainous form, as audiences know him from the comics, but Mac Gargan has been introduced into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In various scenes, the character was part ofSpider-Man: Homecomingand even featured a scorpion tattoo on his neck, but he didn’t fully showcase what people hoped he would become.
However, during the forgotten post-credits scene of that movie, Marvel certainly set up Scorpion to become a featured character. He bumps into the Vulture in prison and makes it clear he wants revenge on Spider-Man, which is a story that can be easily followed up. Gargan demands to knowthe true identity of Spider-Man, which is information that the Vulture is aware of, but he neglects to tell him. But that doesn’t mean that Michael Keaton’s character doesn’t share it with him at a later date.
The scene piqued people’s curiosity at the time because it felt like an obvious next step in the overall storyline that Spider-Man was part of, but it was ultimately not followed up on. Spider-Man has since gone on to fight various other villains in his movies and with the Avengers, yet this loose end can still be picked up. Given that the character has a clear backstory and a link to Spider-Man, it would be straightforward to make Scorpion a featured villain inSpider-Man 4.
Why He Should Be The Villain In Spider-Man 4
The past couple ofSpider-Manmovies have had extremely grand stakes and have featured storylines that impact the wider MCU, which is why there’s a good chanceSpider-Man 4will take a more simple approach and go back to a street-level fight. The character will be forced to go back to the basics due to the events ofSpider-Man: No Way Home. He no longer has access to Stark tech or the funding that comes with that, which means it will be like going back to the beginning for Spider-Man, allowing Marvel to slightly lower the odds involved in this movie tomake the character more grounded.
For Parker, a lot of his focus will be on trying to make those he knows and loves remember him, but at the same time, seeing him battle Scorpion would add plenty of excitement to the movie. It would increase the stakes in everything that happens while linking to the pastSpider-Manfilms, rewarding fans for their commitment and viewership, which is something that Marvel always does brilliantly.
How Could Marvel Set Up Scorpion’s Return?
One way to get Scorpion back into the MCU could be via Kingpin, who is another character that fans want to see Spider-Man interact with. He made it clear inEcho’spost-credits scene that he wants to target all of New York City’s various superheroes, and Spider-Man is likely going to be top of that list. That could lead to Daredevil making an appearance, but it could also be how Scorpion returns.
Seeing Kingpin use his influence and power to break Scorpion out of jail for his own master plan in a bid to take Spider-Man down would be an interesting twist. It would give Marvel multiple villains to use while ensuring the movie is grounded in New York City rather thanfocusing on multiverse problems. Spider-Man can return to fighting grander enemies once he’s got his life and powers back on track, but seeing him return to being slightly more vulnerable will be a positive.
Scorpion is an excellent character to use for amore grounded and reality-basedSpider-Manfilmwhile still providing a genuine threat to Spider-Man’s safety. While there have been many years since Scorpion was last teased, it would only take a few scenes inSpider-Man 4to remind everyone of the history between the characters. Having a villain from his past could also work as a trigger to help other people remember their previous connections to Peter Parker, which could be a storyline device to bring him back together with former friends.
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is one of the biggest names in entertainment today. The superhero first appeared in the Marvel comic Amazing Fantasy #15 before becoming a leading figure in the Marvel comic-book universe.Spider-Man has also featured in numerous films and a plethora of video games, most notably Insomniac Games' Spider-Man (2018) and Spider-Man: Miles Morales.
