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Who Will Be in the Sinister Six?

The Sinister Six are a recurring team of supervillains who oppose Spider-Man. The roster and number of members has changed many times in the comics and cartoons, but yet to appear in a film. Ever persistent rumours claim that Spider-Man: Far From Home will finally feature the Sinister Six. Well, the ending of Spider-Man: Homecoming hinted at the dream team being formed. Adrian Toomes (Michael Keaton), in jail, is approached by his former associate Mac Gargan (Michael Mando). Gargan offers to get payback on Spider-Man, if Adrian hands over his name. Toomes, an honourable man, refuses to give up Spider-Man’s identity and walks away. But, since Keaton is back for the sequel, his silence may be compromised. Could the Sinister Six be coming together after all?

Another question is will Sony’s new cinematic plans involve a future film starring the Sinister Six? A Kraven the Hunter film has been confirmed amongst a dozen or so planned projects for Sony’s new escapade. I am hoping Venom is good, but if not, it’ll be a turkey shoot for naysayers. Then there’s also the issue of making these movies based around characters related to Spider-Man, and not using the titular hero. Miles Morales is an option. How about ditch the live action films and instead do animated series starting with the Spider-Verse movie.

Before we start imagining which candidates could join the Sinister Six, let’s go through a brief history of the team. The Sinister Six first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 in 1964. The team consisted of their classic line-up: Doc Ock, the Vulture, Sandman, Electro, Mysterio, and Kraven the Hunter. The team is somewhat doomed from the start, since they all agree to fight Spider-Man individually, instead of as a group. Heck, even Spider-Man points out this in the story. The group would return many times throughout the comic books, in different forms with various members. At least every member of Spider-Man’s rogues gallery have been in the roster once or twice.

Ultimate Spider-Man had the team, initially made up for the Green Goblin, Doc Ock, Kraven, Sandman, Electro, and Spider-Man. He thought Aunt May had been kidnapped, but when S.H.I.E.L.D. told him otherwise, he turned on the group. The group returned in the famed “The Death of Spider-Man” storyline.

The Sinister Six have appeared in most animated series. They were in the 1990s animated series as the “Insidious Six”, since the worm “sinister” was censored by Fox for some reason. Further versions appeared in Spectacular Spider-Man, Ultimate Spider-Man, and Marvel’s Spider-Man.

Heck, even the Broadway music Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark featured a peculiar version of the team. The Green Goblin uses fellow scientists as lab rats, creating his own line-up during the song “A Freak Like Me Needs Company”. The group included Swarm, the Lizard, Electro, Kraven, Carnage, and…Swiss Miss(?)

And, then we come to The Amazing Spider-Man 2. The film, in its urgency to build a universe with nothing in it, set up the Sinister Six. Admittedly I was somewhat excited back then. OsCorp had a hidden special projects division, conveniently with six different vaults in it. Harry Osborn became the Green Goblin and sought to use the tech within to get revenge on Peter Parker. As hinted in the end credits, the group was to include the Goblin, Doc Ock, Vulture, Rhino, Mysterio, and Kraven. Of course, we all know what happened after that, and Spider-Man joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

So, which villains might be joining the Sinister Six if they are to appear in the MCU?

The Vulture

First and foremost, is Adrian Toombs aka The Vulture. Michael Keaton’s performance was one of the better parts of Spider-Man: Homecoming, and the Vulture is one of the best MCU villains. He wasn’t an outright evil villain and was just doing what he thought was necessary to feed his family, thanks to Stark’s goon squad taking work away. He was also either unaware of, or just ignorant to the dangers of the Chitauri tech he was messing with. Vulture’s actions to protect Peter’s identity was great, since he saved his life. But, his honour may be compromised in Far From Home, and he may give up the ghost, and Spider-Man’s identity. Revenge doesn’t really seem like a motivator for Vulture, but Spider-Man (and his own actions) did drive his family away.

The Scorpion

Next up, we have Mac Gargan, aka The Scorpion. Gargan didn’t have much of a role in Homecoming, and pops up at the end to offer the Vulture a spot in his new boy band. Gargan comes off as quite violent, which is suitable for his character. In the comics, Gargan becomes the Scorpion when infused with scorpion DNA, funded by J. Jonah Jameson. I doubt that’ll happen here. In Ultimate Spider-Man, the Scorpion is a Mexican criminal, which may be the direction for the character here. How he’ll get his suit and powers remain to be seen, but he might get it from the next member in the team.

Tinkerer

Hey, you forgot this guy was still on the loose, right? Phineas Mason aka Tinkerer (Michael Chernus) was the tech guy for Vulture’s gang, designing their equipment. He’s made weapons from the Dark Elves, the Chitauri, Ultron, Stark Industries, and S.H.I.E.L.D. If he returns for any sequels, he could serve as the evil counterpart to Ned, acting as mission control for the Sinister Six. I’m not sure if Tinkerer would work well as a main player, since he works better outside the battlefield. I can also imagine him designing the technology for other members of the group.

Shocker

We don’t really know what happened to Herman Schultz aka Shocker (Bokeem Woodbine). He got defeated by Spider-Man, and then he disappears. Probably hanging out with the Hulk villains. He probably got jailed and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him team up with Scorpion. I’d like to see Shocker have more of a role in the next Spider-Man movie, and the character has been a member of the Sinister Six several times in the past. Plus, I’d like to see homage to the scene in the 1990s animated series where Shocker runs for his life from a psychotic, symbiote-influenced Spider-Man. It won’t happen, but it’d be hilarious hearing Tom Holland screaming his lines like a wacko.

Mysterio

The latest addition to the MCU, Jake Gyllenhaal was confirmed to be playing Mysterio, the master of illusions, in Far From Home. Everyone’s favourite fishbowl-wearing illusionist will bring a new challenge for Spider-Man, and will be different from past villains. Rather than relying on pure technological, he uses movie special effects and creativity to outwit his enemies. It’ll be a battle of wits between Spidey and Mysterio. He would make a great addition, and any original members of the Sinister Six making an appearance is even better.

Chameleon

This one is pure speculation. Numan Acar has been cast as a character named “Dimitri”. The most notable Spider-Man related character named Dimitri is the Chameleon. A master of disguise, the Chameleon can copycat a person perfectly with lifelike rubber masks and a talent for method acting. The Chameleon is the half-brother of Kraven, and has the honour of being Spider-Man’s first enemy in The Amazing Spider-Man. Chameleon and Mysterio’s talents are similar, but they are both distinct to work well together. The 1990s series has Chameleon’s powers based in an illusion-based belt. Oh, and he was the stepson of the Red Skull or something like that.

Hydro-Man

Now I’d say this one is a bit of a stretch. Tom Holland recently posted a video from the set of Far From Home to promote/support one of his charities. As he does this, one of his stuntmen in the background is blown off his feet by a huge blast of water. People immediately speculated that Hydro-Man was to appear in the film. Morris Bench aka Hydro-Man can manipulate and become water, and would certainly be an unexpected character to appear. He’s not exactly an A-list villain. Hydro-Man has been in the Sinister Six several times, most notably in the Spider-Man attraction over at Universal Studios Orlando. It’ll create a real splash with audiences, and they’ll be like “Water way to go”. The gloriousness of tacky puns.

Who do you wish to see in the roster of the Sinister Six? Should the team even appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Leave a comment below or on our Twitter feed.

About the author

Mark Russell