Highlights
- Spider-Man has been bested multiple times by lesser-known villains like Judas Traveller, Jester & Jack O’Lantern, and Baron Zemo.
- Squirrel Girl, often underestimated, has defeated some of Marvel’s most powerful characters, including Spider-Man.
- J. Jonah Jameson and the Daily Bugle consistently portray Spider-Man as a menace, winning the battle of public perception against the hero.
Spider-Man is arguably the most popular Marvel superhero. Since his creation in 1962, the web-slinger has been one of the main players in the comic world. Spawning multiple movies, TV series and video games, there is a Spider-Man story for everyone and a foe for every Spider-Man.
5 Most Powerful Spider-Man Gadgets In The Comics
In the Marvel Comics, Spider-Man knows that a few extra gadgets are key to using his powers to their full potential.
With the powers of a spider, Peter Parker has thought, and won, some strong players in the Marvel universe, but there are the rare times that ‘the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man’ has been beaten by someone that he perhaps shouldn’t have been.
5 Judas Traveller
Professional Spider-Man Provoker
- First Appearance: Web of Spider-Man #117 (August, 1994)
- Creators: Terry Kavanagh, Steven Butler
Casual fans may not know the name of Judas Traveller but the mysterious telepath has tangled with Spider-Man on a few occasions over the years and has even bested him on more than one occasion. Traveller may not have the appearance of a ghastly villain, but his powers and lifespan makes him one to fear, especially with the role he played during the Clone Saga.
Set on to Spider-Man by Norman Osborn, Traveller is a mutant with psychological powers and was a significant player during the ‘clone saga’. After taking over Ravencroft, the Criminal insane asylum, he learned of the hatred of Spider-Man and then teleported the staff away, threatening to kill or release the inmates to entice Spider-Man. Traveller captured Parker, tortured and read his mind. With the help of Spider-Man’s clone Ben Reilly they eventually escaped, but so did Traveller, vowing to always watch over them.
4 Jester & Jack O’Lantern
Ambushed Spider-Man During Civil War’s Storyline
- First Appearance: Jester – Daredevil #42 (May, 1968) Jack O’Lantern – Venom (Vol. 2) #1 (March, 2011)
- Creators: Stan Lee, Gene Colan (Jester) / Rick Remender, Tony Moore (Jack O’Lantern)
During the famous comic arc, ‘Civil War’ lesser-known villains Jester & Jack O’Lantern managed to get one over on ol’ webhead and if not for the Punisher’s intervention, it could have been much worse.
Marvel: Spider-Man’s Best Friends, Ranked
Spider-Man has developed some brilliant friendships with some iconic Marvel characters over the decades.
When Peter realized that Iron Man was spying on him with his Iron Spider armor, he swapped sides to join Captain America, prompting Stark to send Jester and Jack O’Lantern to teach him a lesson and surprisingly it worked. They caught Spider-Man off guard and caused some real damage.
3 Baron Zemo
Zemo Drugs Spider-Man
- First Appearance: Captain America #168 (September, 1973)
- Creators: Roy Thomas, Tony Isabella, Sal Buscema
Although normally a foe of Captain America, Baron Helmut Zero has tangled with various other Marvel heroes, including Spider-Man. Spider-Man tried to stop one of Zemo’s various schemes, he got the edge over the hero from Queens.
Marvel: 10 Great Crossover Events
These crossover events brought together huge, varied casts of Marvel heroes to take on some of their toughest challenges ever.
Zemo injected Spider-Man with a drug that shut down his nervous system and he was without his webbing, Zemo also had the aid of Herr Wulf. Spidey eventually got the edge when he transformed into the Savage Spider-Man, but nonetheless, the German villain got the win over him first. It’s a surprising win, because a villain like Zemo shouldn’t be anywhere near a hero like Spidey.
2 Squirrel Girl
Bested In An Off-Page Fist Fight
- First Appearance: Marvel Super-Heroes (Vol. 2) #8 (November, 1991)
- Creators: Will Murray, Steve Ditko
Casual fans may see the name Squirrel Girl and think she is weak, but she is far from it, Doreen Green has taken on the whole Marvel universe and won, even beating Thanos in a one-on-one battle.
With a tagline of ‘unbeatable’ even Spider-Man enters her list of victories, in ‘2016’s ‘The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Beats Up the Marvel Universe‘ she does just that, and poor Peter Parker was no match for the might of Squirrel Girl. Although the fight was shown off-screen, the fact she beat Thanos, Dr Doom Galactus, and Spider-Man would have been no match.
1 J. Jonah Jameson & The Daily Bugle
In Print, It’s Liable
- First Appearance: Amazing Spider-Man #1 (December, 1962)
- Creators: Stan Lee, Steve Ditko
Throughout Spider-Man’s long history, he has encountered many foes, but one stands above them all; J. Jonah Jameson. No matter how many times Parker has saved the day, Jameson and his newspaper, the Daily Bugle, always paint him as the villain in an attempt to turn the public against Spider-Man as a menace, and not a hero.
Spider-Man has never won a battle with Jameson, even if it was never a physical battle, the Daily Bugle will never see Spidey as a hero and, ergo, always beat Spider-Man. Parker could never confront Jameson to protect his identity, so it is a battle that he must always lose. It’s always ridiculous to see the lengths that ole Jonah will go to in an attempt to smear Spider-Man’s name, but sometimes, even Spider-Man is bested by the harsh words that Jonah spouts on paper.
