Insomniac hit it out of the park with Marvel's Spider-Man, and proved its success was no fluke with Spider-Man: Miles Morales. One secret to the games' success is how well the developer handled the human aspects of Spidey's villains, which include some of the best rogues in superhero comics. Looking ahead to the future, one can't help but wonder what foes the webheads will be facing in the next Spider-Man title.
The best villains in Marvel's Spider-Man are those who blend unique boss mechanics with emotional storytelling. But there are many other factors to keep in mind. Insomniac is doing something distinctly new with the Spider-Man mythos, and seem eager to subvert fans' expectations. And a truly compelling main antagonist needs to introduce some unique henchmen to spice up the usual assortment of criminal thugs and high-tech mercs, as per Mister Negative's Demons.
Despite that multifaceted criteria, Spider-Man 2 still has a ton of options that fit the bill, making it difficult to predict exactly where the sequel will go. But the first two titles drop some clues as to where the franchise may be headed next.
Who Will Become Green Goblin?
Green Goblin is to Spidey as Joker is to Batman. He is Spider-Man's greatest foe, and an appearance is inevitable—at some point. Unlike most takes on Spider-Man, where Goblin appears near the beginning of Peter's career, the green, glider-borne mad-bomber has yet to make an appearance in New York, even though Norman Osborn—the first, and best-known incarnation of Green Goblin—is present and accounted for. So it is possible that Insomniac is playing a long game, and won't reveal Peter's arch-nemesis until later down the line. But Green Goblin's appearance in Spider-Man 2 is just as plausible.
The only question is: who will don the mask? Osborn is more of a cerebral and institutional threat in Marvel's Spider-Man, and even though he has plenty of super-science know-how, the less-physical portrayal of the character is a refreshing change. The next most common person to don the Goblin suit and glider is Harry Osborn, Peter's best friend from high school.
Norman is always an avaricious megalomaniac, even when completely sane, and in most fiction, he becomes increasingly unhinged as he deals with his divergent Goblin personality. But that is a story that has been told before, making Harry a more interesting potential Goblin. There is a lot of potential for poignant storytelling with Harry torn between his father's orders, his own conscience, and his friendship with Peter.
But it seems like Insomniac has different plans for Harry.
Symbiote City
Toward the end of Marvel's Spider-Man, fans get a glimpse of Norman gazing at Harry, who is suspended in green fluid—and inky black webbing. While it's possible this substance is derived from the super-spiders that gave Pete and Miles their powers, it seems far more likely that we are looking at a symbiote. If this is true, Harry Osborne would don the mantle of Venom—something that has never happened in Spider-Man comics. Venom is a beloved villain-turned-antihero, and the character would dovetail surprisingly well with Harry, who has always been portrayed as a good guy at heart who gets in over his head. And if Harry is Venom, that creates an opportunity for Flash Thompson and Eddie brock to don different mantels, should they be included.
Another interesting take, however, would be to have Peter get infected with the symbiote. At first, this could give Peter new powers that will help him keep pace with Miles' spider venom moves, injecting some fresh mechanics into the game. At the very least, an alien suit with souped-up powers is essential. But it would be amazing if the original Spider-Man eventually succumbs to the symbiote's insidious desires, and Miles is forced to beat some sense into him in a boss battle. This fight could play out like Marvel's Spider-Man's Taskmaster battle on steroids, dueling an enemy who has all the same tricks and powers that the player has.
It's also possible that Insomniac will beggar off on symbiotes until the third title is released, and hit Manhattan with a storm of symbiotes, including Carnage. Like Goblin, however, Venom is sure to put in an appearance eventually, as Insomniac expressed interest in the character when Sony purchased the studio.
Someone New
Even though he is now a well-established character with his own dedicated fanbase, Miles is still often overshadowed by Peter Parker. Few things lend a hero more street cred than an arch-nemesis to call their own, and it would be wonderful to see Insomniac give Miles a few bad guys of his own to tackle. And, failing a fresh addition, Insomniac could re-attribute an untouched villain, say, Sandman, and have him develop a unique connection with Miles, rather than Peter. Also, fighting off a shapeshifting boss sounds incredibly fun.
Other Options
There are a staggering number of other options as well, but a few can be easily eliminated. Curt Connors, who later becomes the Lizard, is an unlikely entry, as his story would be too similar Doctor Octavius' tragic tale. A unique take on Mile's rogue, the Prowler, as seen in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which Miles Morales references, would be very cool, but seems difficult to pull off in a way that would tell the story from a fresh angle.
There are also plenty of B, C, and even D-list villains who could put in an appearance. Kraven the Hunter could be an interesting side-quest villain, similar to Taskmaster in Spider-Man, but he is unlikely to have a starring role. Mysterio is in the same boat, and his optical illusion powers could enable a trippy fight similar to Scorpion's hallucinogenic poison. He could even trick Peter and Miles into doing his bidding.
Some characters, like Silver Sable, and Wraith—Yuri Watanabe, NYPD detective-turned-deadly vigilante—are also likely to return in the sequel. Hopefully Insomniac will favor fresh foes over reprisals, however.
Marvel's Spider-Man and Spider-Man: Miles Morales are available now on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. A sequel has yet to be announced.