Spider-Man Symbolism: What 10 Famous Villains Really Mean

4. Doctor Octopus - An Actual Eight-Limbed Character

Spider-Man may not actually have eight legs like an actual spider and, as a result, can walk amongst ordinary humans in the guise of Peter Parker but he is still aware of the fact that many people view him as a freak. As a result, looking at one of his arch-enemies - Doctor Octopus AKA Otto Octavius - is somewhat like looking in an exaggerated mirror for the superhero. Doctor Octopus gained his four extra limbs after using four mechanical arms in his experiments which bonded with his nervous system after an explosion. His actual eight-limbed nature, his advanced years and his mad scientific genius essentially makes him an overall exaggeration version of Peter Parker (which is somewhat ironic given that, in recent comics, he has actually become Peter Parker by virtue of a mind-swapping process).