Those who have watched Spider-Noir must be interested to know the identity of the intimidating villain referred to as Lonnie. He is none other than the renowned Tombstone – Spider-Man’s oldest and most hated villain in comic book history.
Tombstone debuted in Web of Spider-Man #36 in 1987, and he was created by Gerry Conway and Alex Saviuk.
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According to Polygon, Tombstone was originally conceived as an albino gangster with a penchant for violence. His rivalry with Joseph Robertson, a journalist, began when Robertson sought to investigate him while still in high school. Since then, Tombstone has gone on to become one of Marvel’s most menacing street-level villains.
How Tombstone became one of Spider-Man’s deadliest enemies
Initially, Tombstone depended primarily on physical intimidation and his reputation as a crime lord in New York City.
Subsequently, there came a dramatic change when he was exposed to a special Oscorp gas, granting him supernatural powers in the form of superhuman strength and virtually invincible skin.
His fair skin and unbreakable physique finally led to his gaining the moniker “Tombstone.”
Although Tombstone is usually seen as a Spider-Man foe, he is also known to be a nemesis of both Daredevil and The Punisher in Marvel comics.
How ‘Spider-Noir’ changed the character
Tombstone’s latest live-action appearance comes through Spider-Noir on Prime Video, where he is played by Abraham Popoola.
Set in 1930s New York during the Great Depression, the series offers a very different interpretation of the character.
Unlike the comics, Popoola’s version does not use Tombstone’s traditional albinism. Instead, the character’s physical toughness is represented through hardened growths across his body.
In the show, Tombstone first appears during a storyline involving Hooverville settlements and police crackdowns. He later joins forces with Sandman to protect struggling residents, giving the traditionally villainous character a more morally complex role.
According to reports cited by Polygon and Slash Film, Popoola described his version of Tombstone as more grounded and tied to larger social tensions within the story.
Marvel expanding Tombstone across projects
Another major version of Lonnie Lincoln recently appeared in Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, where the character is voiced by Eugene Byrd.
That adaptation portrays Tombstone as a popular high-school student who slowly descends into gang violence before eventually transforming into the infamous crime boss.
Reports also suggest Tombstone could appear in the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
According to entertainment reports cited by Polygon, rapper and actor Marvin Jones III, also known as Krondon, is expected to portray the live-action version.
Jones previously voiced Tombstone in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
Rumours surrounding the upcoming film suggest several Spider-Man villains may appear together as part of a larger criminal underworld storyline involving New York City.
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Why Tombstone is trending again
Tombstone has been brought back into popularity due to Marvel's increased interest in creating more realistic versions of Spider-Man, rather than those dealing with cosmic threats.
In contrast to the villains that exist across different universes and who seek to destroy the entire universe, Tombstone is a villain who symbolizes the danger of organized crime.
Given that Spider-Noir has taken off and there have been reports that more Spider-Man projects are being developed, Tombstone has emerged as one of the most popular Marvel villains.
