10 Disturbing Spider-Man Villains

Unlike the majority of the villains in this list, Rhino is actually a very well-known criminal. However, it's well worth mentioning this more famous enemy of Spider-Man for one reason: he's secretly a really messed up character.

Now, with enemies like the Green Goblin or the Lizard, you're always aware that they're more than a little disturbing - as it's generally the focus of their time on the page. Since Rhino is generally just a big dumb goon for Spidey to beat up, he doesn't get this same kind of focus, which means it's really easy to miss certain aspects of his character, and their awful implications.

Said implications are best shown in a short story known as 'Flowers for Rhino', playing off the title of a similar story found in the book 'Flowers for Algenon'.

In it, we discover that Rhino desperately wants to leave his life of crime, but he finds himself impeded by his lack of smarts. After trying an experimental surgery to make him smarter, however, he discovers he still finds the world cruel, and almost commits suicide before having the surgery reversed and his memory of these events erased.

In essence, Rhino is a disturbing villain because he doesn't want to be one - and yet he finds himself forced into the role again and again.