The 20 greatest (and 10 worst) Spider-Man villains of all time
By Mike McNulty
9th Best Villain: Mysterio
Ever watch both Now You See Me movies? The ones with Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, and Woody Harrelson about a team of magicians who commit seemingly impossible crimes using well-crafted illusions, sleight of hand, hypnosis, and special effects? Mere amateurs compared to this bubble-headed Houdini of crime. And he’s been doing this for fifty-three years ever since Amazing Spider-Man vol. 1 #13.
Initially a stuntman and special effects artist who couldn’t make it as an actor, Quentin Beck began his costumed career…as a superhero. Or rather, he committed crimes while impersonating Spider-Man, then try to capture Spider-Man whom he just framed as Mysterio to collect the reward money. It almost worked, until Spider-Man tricked Mysterio into confessing his crimes on tape.
Since then, Mysterio has pulled one elaborate crime after another, either as a solo act or as a member of the Sinister Six. Along with smoke, mirrors, disguises, robots, and holograms, he also disperses from hidden air jets a hallucinogenic fog which inhibits Spider-Man’s spider-sense. He’s successfully faked other people’s deaths, including his own, several times. This allows for other characters like Daniel Berkhart and Francis Klum to take up his mantle. Beck also once crossed over into the Ultimate Marvel universe and became that world’s Mysterio, too.
All this just goes to show what makes Mysterio such as fun villain. Nothing is simple or predictable when he’s around. Moreover, almost everything he does can easily be explained away by saying “it was just an illusion.” Besides, how can you not like him having a crystal ball for mask?