Meet the Antagonists of ‘Spider-Noir’: A Guide to Its Noir-Style Villains

(SeaPRwire) –   Spider-Noir is a delightful addition to the Spider-Man canon, not just because it draws so heavily from classic Hollywood noir, but also because it reimagines Spider-Man’s world through that very lens. The webslinger’s once-friendly neighborhood is transformed into a perilous post-Depression era setting, and Spider-Noir introduces fresh characters—even replacing Peter Parker with another Spider-Man variant, Ben Reilly (portrayed by Nicolas Cage)—to fit seamlessly into this universe.

The villain lineup surrounding “The Spider” also receives a noir-infused revamp. While some names might ring a bell for Spider-Man fans, Spider-Noir opts for more obscure picks instead of the usual classic villains. Instead of icons like Green Goblin or Kingpin, the series pulls lesser-known characters from the shadows, turning them into the sort of menacing figures you’d encounter in a gritty 1930s pulp novel. This approach clearly pays off for the show, even if the connections to their original counterparts aren’t immediately apparent. For those who need a quick overview, here’s a breakdown of the noir-themed villain variants in Spider-Noir.

Silvermane

Most Spider-Man tales usually turn to Wilson Fisk (aka Kingpin) when a crime boss is needed, but Spider-Noir took a different path by bringing Silvermane to live-action. In the comics, the villain Silvio Manfredi (better known as Silvermane) made his debut in The Amazing Spider-Man #73 in 1969. He was a typical mafia boss, heading up Marvel’s version of the Italian mafia, called the “maggia.” Beyond his fixation on immortality— which led him on various fruitless quests for youth serums and even a brief stint as a cyborg— the comic book Silvermane has no supernatural traits. The same holds true for Spider-Noir’s Silvermane (played by Brendan Gleeson). The series has adjusted the character to honor the Irish crime bosses seen in films: though he has no superpowers, Gleeson gives him the charm and command necessary to strike fear in the right places.

Flint Marko

Flint Marko is perhaps the most well-known Spider-Man villain featured in Spider-Noir. Also called Sandman, Flint has plagued Spider-Man across comics, animated series, and live-action films. In the comics, he gets the power to transform into and control sand after being exposed to high levels of radiation; he can then manipulate and absorb sand, changing his body’s density and adjusting his size. Spider-Noir takes a more realistic approach to its Flint. He’s one of several soldiers captured behind enemy lines in WWI, and he gained his powers after enduring multiple painful experiments. Now, he works as Silvermane’s hired enforcer, alongside some of his fellow ex-soldiers.

Lonnie Lincoln

Similar to Sandman, Lonnie Lincoln (aka Tombstone, played by Abraham Popoola) has a rich history in Marvel comics. Since his 1987 debut, he’s been a long-standing foe of Spider-Man — and of Daily Bugle reporter Robbie Robertson. Shunned because of his albinism, Lonnie worked mainly as an enforcer until he was exposed to the chemical Diox-3, which made his skin as tough as concrete. Spider-Noir makes minor changes to his backstory but keeps his tense dynamic with Robbie (Lamorne Morris). In the series, he’s another prisoner of war who got his invulnerable powers from experiments by German scientists. While he considers working for Silvermane, his bond with Robbie reveals that he has more goodness in him than he lets on.

Dirk Leyden

When Dirk Leyden (Andrew Lewis Caldwell) first shows up in Spider-Noir, it’s easy to confuse him with Electro, another Spider-Man villain who can channel electricity through his body. In reality, he’s a lesser-known villain named Megawatt: his only comic appearance was in Spider-Man Unlimited #2, so his origins are somewhat unclear. His live-action debut in Spider-Noir also gives us the only origin story we have for the character. Like Flint and Lonnie, he got his powers from experiments; he briefly causes chaos as a jewel thief before joining Silvermane’s team of enhanced guards.

While Flint has a notable fight with The Spider early in the season and Silvermane looms as a constant threat, Dirk becomes a surprisingly tough villain as Spider-Noir’s mystery unfolds. Using a character that hasn’t been seen in over three decades is a clever move, and it’s one of the many decisions that make Spider-Noir stand out from other Spider-Verse stories.

Spider-Noir is currently streaming on Prime Video.