MovieChat Forums > The Spectacular Spider-Man (2008) Discussion > Tombstone

Tombstone

posted 12 years ago by Cold_In_Space
7 replies | jump to latest

I'm currently re-watching TSSM and Tombstone's awesome portrayal still stands out. I love what they've done with him in the series, he's basically like Mr. Freeze was for Batman TAS and Kingpin for Spidey TAS, combined.

The Green Goblin is still Spidey's number one villain in this, and I'm not forgetting The Master Planner or Venom, but Tombstone's the coolest for me.

In fact, I liked all of the villains, from Vulture to Molten Man. The only one I wasn't especially pleased with was Kraven, but then again I'm not a big fan of his.

- Gothamite #4

I've learned that it's OK to be flawed - Winona Ryder

[–] Scrite 12 years ago

Tombstone was great. I do wish that Keith David would have voiced him throughout the entire series rather than just for the first episode.

Kraven was the worst supervillain by far and his episode was probably the worst as well. The main problem is that Kraven always was a C (or perhaps even a D?) villain in the comic book. The only time he ever got a chance to shine was in Kraven's Last Hunt. That comic book established him as an A villain and killed him off. (I have heard that he has been brought back but I haven't read about it due to my boycott of the post One More Day comics and I really don't want to either for that matter.)

I thought that Molten Man worked great in this series and I never liked him one bit in the comics. The episode was great as well with it's non-linear narrative and dialogue such as:

"It's a lock!"
It's always a lock with you Mark, stop gambling you're life away!"

When the choice is between a American and a Russian film, always choose the latter.

[–] Cold_In_Space 12 years ago

I didn't even know about Molten Man prior to TSSM, I think they did a great job with him.

I know I've said it before but 26 episodes seem so few for such a great show... re-watching was great fun but at the same time I was mad knowing they killed it and there's nothing after The Final Curtain

- Gothamite #4

I've learned that it's OK to be flawed - Winona Ryder

[–] Scrite 12 years ago

Molten Man was always a D villain in the comics. He was Mark Raxton, Liz Allan's stepbrother in the comics.

The idea to pair him up with Mary Jane comes from the Ultimate Universe. Ultimate Mark Raxton is a guitarist in a punk band called Molten Man and he ends up taking Mary Jane out on a date during one of the X time periods were she and Peter have broken up... (Bendis soap opera hurrah!) Mary Jane is not a particular good date though since she spends all evening hinting that she want's to get back with Peter.

When the choice is between a American and a Russian film, always choose the latter.

[–] Cold_In_Space 12 years ago

Thanks for the info on Molten Man.

Back to Tombstone, I'm actually relieved they used him as a replacement of sorts for the Kingpin, I mean, I liked old Fisk, but I think I'd seen more than enough of him in the 90's show

- Gothamite #4

I've learned that it's OK to be flawed - Winona Ryder

[–] Scrite 12 years ago

You are very correct about that. They wanted to use the Kingpin but lacked the license due to the fact that the Marvel characters are split between X companies. (or they were at the time, Disney has started to reclaim them.) They used Tombstone as a stand in for the Kingpin and it's highly noticeable.

The way he controls the crime in the city, the way he can beat Spider-Man in hand to hand combat despite the fact that he looks weak, the way that he masquerades a a legitimate businessman etc.

I do prefer Tombstone as well, I might be damaged from the fact that I love Frank Miller's 80's work but I think that Kingpin fits much better as a Daredevil villain, I never liked him and his battles with Spider-Man in the 60-70s. The first time I found him interesting as a character was when Frank Miller started to use him as Daredevil's main antagonist. I can highly recommend Miller's run and Daredevil: Born Again if you want to see the Kingpin done right.

Tombstone is on the other hand a fitting Spider-Man villain. He was created by Gerry Conway (which should say it all) and his aim has always been to be an antagonist to Peter. The Tombstone in the show is nothing like the one in the comic (see above) but it worked out great. Hammerhead filled the enforcer spot nicely.

When the choice is between a American and a Russian film, always choose the latter.

[–] KCJ506 12 years ago

I don't care for Kraven that much, but I wouldn't excactly call him C/D list. As he's part of the original Sinister Six. Any villain that's a part of that is big time. So he's B-list at best.

Sick of threads "Megan Fox should play this!"

[–] Scrite 12 years ago

I guess you have a point, he has sure been around for a long time but I can't say that I ever found him the slightest bit interesting before Kraven's Last Hunt. He was great compared to villains like Kangaroo and similar but could not hold a candle against the A and B list villains. But yeah, I guess B is a more fair category to place him in.

When the choice is between a American and a Russian film, always choose the latter.