If Batman Has the Joker, Well
Everyone knows how Batman and the Joker have one of the most iconic rivalries, but what about Spider-Man? Marvel's iconic wall-crawler has several sinister and powerful enemies, but who vexes Peter Parker as much as the Clown Prince of Crime does Bruce Wayne?
The Joker has been around nearly since the Dark Knight first debuted in comics and over the decades, he's forged an antagonistic relationship with Batman that stands out as the definitive superhero/villain dynamic. Spider-Man has just as good a rogues' gallery as the Caped Crusader, but when it comes down to it, who stands above the rest as Peter's greatest enemy?
The Green Goblin is Ultimately Spider-Man's 'Joker'
Venom, Doctor Octopus, and Kraven are Good Enemies, But None Compare to Norman
Spider-Man has been around for the better part of a century, and in that time, he's faced off with literally hundreds of costumed bad guys, all of whom have challenged him in some way. But only a few special foes ever became mainstays in his rogues' gallery, often those who know both sides of Peter Parker's life. For example, Eddie Brock hated Peter for ruining his reputation as a journalist, and after Brock made contact with an alien symbiote that had been exposed to Spider-Man, turning Brock into Spider-Man's dark reflection, Venom.
As powerful as he is, though, Venom never had the scientific know-how to challenge Peter. The same can't be said for Doctor Octopus, whose brilliance far surpasses Spider-Man. Aside from creating powerful weapons and technology to take on his foe, Otto Octavius is intelligent enough to mastermind complicated plots that put Spider-Man through the ringer. Not to mention, Doctor Octopus hijacked Peter's body and lived in it for almost a year, and even had the gall to call himself the 'Superior Spider-Man'.
But as bad as Doctor Octopus has been to Spider-Man (and he's pretty bad), even he can't compare to the villain who has tormented Peter more than any other: The Green Goblin. Norman Osborn's alter ego is as brilliant as he is mad. From framing the hero for murder to getting Gwen Stacy killed, he's lived his life committing one heinous action after another (and that's not even getting into all the things he's done to people who aren't Spider-Man). Norman hasn't just fought Spider-Man, he's gone out of his way to make Peter suffer.
Like the Joker, Green Goblin's Obsession Runs Deep
No Villain Wants to Break Spider-Man As Much As Norman Osborn
What makes Batman and the Joker's dynamic so fascinating and timeless is the latter's utter obsession with the former. The Joker is a chaotic, unpredictable individual, but the one constant in his life is Batman, and he'll do anything to be a part of it (which usually means something horrific). From destroying large parts of Gotham to going after the Bat-Family's members, the Joker is driven to go after Batman, either to corrupt him, to get kicks out of pushing his buttons, or satisfy some twisted, almost romantic feelings.
Now the Green Goblin does not have the same kind of 'love' for Spider-Man that the Joker has for Batman. But Norman is equally obsessed with Peter. Norman has known Peter for years, and he sees a lot of himself in Spider-Man. That spark of interest, combined with the madness brought on by the Goblin formula, has driven the Green Goblin to go after Spider-Man time and time again. While his reasoning for wanting to destroy Peter isn't always consistent, Norman is constantly pushing the hero in ways that other villains simply don't.
Spider-Man has villains that have gone after him, villains that have gone after his family, villains that have ruined his life, and villains that have attacked him on a psychological level. The Green Goblin is simply just only foe that's done all of that and more, from killing Peter's loved ones to destroying Spider-Man's reputation. No other villain wants to break Spider-Man as badly as the Green Goblin does, and frankly, no villain could.
The Green Goblin is Best Positioned to Be Spider-Man's Nemesis
No Other Foe Could Hurt Peter as Badly
The Joker might have just been a random bad guy who set his sights on Batman, but for the Green Goblin, it's a lot more personal. He knows Peter and, more importantly, he knows how to hurt him. One minute, Norman could be seeking redemption for his past sins and just when Spider-Man's ready to believe him, the Green Goblin will inevitably return. No other villain in Peter's life has done as much to Peter as the Green Goblin, who is without the 'Joker' to Spider-Man's 'Batman'.
- Created By
- Stan Lee, Steve Ditko
- First Appearance
- Amazing Fantasy
- Alias
- Peter Parker, Ben Reilly, Otto Octavius, Yu Komori, Kaine Parker, Pavitr Prabhakar, William Braddock, Miles Morales, Kurt Wagner
- Alliance
- Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men, Secret Defenders, Future Foundation, Heroes for Hire, Mighty Avengers, New Avengers, Web-Warriors
- Race
- Human
- Franchise
- Marvel, Spider-Man
