It’s interesting to learn how many superheroes first appeared in Spider-Man comics. Spider-Man debuted in Amazing Fantasy #15 and immediately crossed paths with the Fantastic Four. As he grew into one of the most beloved comic book characters – from both Marvel and DC – his comic became a great way for Marvel to introduce new heroes. This led to several popular characters being spun off from the title, including some unexpected ones.
Here’s a look at some of the best heroes who first appeared in Spider-Man’s own comic book series – including characters who became key allies and even a major villain who later became a hero.
7) Silver Sable
Silver Sable first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #265. Her mother was killed by a Nazi criminal, an event that tragically turned her hair silver. Driven by this loss, she insisted her father train her to take over his organization, which hunted Nazis and had grown into a powerful corporation. She crossed paths with Spider-Man while in New York City pursuing Black Fox, a notorious international jewel thief.
Spider-Man initially complicated Silver Sable’s operation, but she came to respect him after he assisted in retrieving the stolen jewels. Following this, Silver Sable established herself as a prominent hero, first leading the Outlaws—a team of former criminals—and later commanding the Wild Pack, an international task force.
6) Morbius
Morbius first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #101. Introducing him in a story featuring the villain Lizard was a smart move. Morbius unintentionally transformed himself into a vampire while attempting to treat a personal illness – a similar motivation to what drove Curt Conners to become the Lizard. This shared background made their stories connect well and allowed Spider-Man to better understand Morbius when they met.
Morbius first appeared in Spider-Man comics and has since become a significant monster character in the Marvel Universe. He’s been a member of the Legion of Monsters and has starred in multiple solo comic series. While he still has ties to Spider-Man, he’s now recognized as much more than just a supporting character in those comics.
5) Cloak & Dagger
Cloak and Dagger first appeared in Marvel Comics’ Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #64 in 1981. They were introduced as teenage runaways with superpowers, but also as vigilantes driven by a desire for revenge. Both had been kidnapped and experimented on, which gave them their abilities. Spider-Man took them under his wing, helping them to channel their pain and become heroes instead of simply seeking vengeance.
After first appearing alongside Spider-Man, Cloak and Dagger established themselves as independent heroes, teaming up with groups like the X-Men and Power Pack. Today, they’re just as well-known and celebrated as they were during their original appearances in Spider-Man comics.
4) Norman Osborn
Norman Osborn started as a classic Spider-Man enemy. As the Green Goblin, he was one of Spider-Man’s most notorious foes, responsible for the death of Gwen Stacy and repeatedly threatening Spider-Man’s life. But he evolved into a major villain for many Marvel heroes when he took control of HAMMER after the Secret Invasion event.
Norman Osborn’s life has taken an unexpected turn since the Sin-Eater incident, transforming him from a villain into a hero. He’s now working alongside Spider-Man, and even temporarily stepped into the role of Spider-Man when the original hero went missing. Considering his origins in the Spider-Man comics, Osborn’s journey has been remarkable.
3) Black Cat
I’ve always been fascinated by Black Cat! She’s definitely one of Spider-Man’s most interesting allies, and they’ve had a pretty intense connection over the years – they’ve even dated a couple of times. Honestly, some fans, including me, think they might be a better match than Mary Jane. I first discovered her when I was reading old issues of Amazing Spider-Man – she debuted as this really cool cat burglar with the power to control luck, and things just got complicated (and exciting!) between her and Spidey right away.
She’s evolved beyond being just a sidekick to Spider-Man. She played a major role in the ‘King in Black’ event, collaborating with Doctor Strange on several occasions. More recently, in 2025, she was central to a Fantastic Four story arc and formed a friendship with Susan Storm Richards.
2) Punisher
The Punisher is arguably the most famous and significant Marvel Comics character to first appear in a Spider-Man comic. He was introduced in Amazing Spider-Man #129, where a villain named Jackyl manipulated him into believing Spider-Man was a criminal, leading him to attack the hero. This sparked a long and complex rivalry between the two, but eventually, the Punisher moved on to appear in his own comics.
I remember when the Punisher first started popping up – mostly as a guest star in Daredevil, which was cool. But it wasn’t until he got his own comic series that he really blew up. Those books, especially the ones by Garth Ennis, totally redefined him. He became one of Marvel’s biggest antiheroes, and honestly, he’s stayed that way ever since. Ennis really nailed the character, and it’s why so many of us still love the Punisher today.
1) Venom
As a longtime comic book reader, I’ve always found the connection between Venom and Spider-Man fascinating. Venom is unique – he’s really the only major Spider-Man villain who originated in those pages and stayed inextricably linked to Peter Parker. It all started with that incredible black costume in Amazing Spider-Man #252, and then when Spidey rejected it, it found a new host in Eddie Brock, birthing the Venom we know and love in Amazing Spider-Man #299. Since then, Venom has exploded in popularity and become a huge star in the Marvel Universe.
After leaving New York to escape Spider-Man, Venom actually became incredibly popular in California. He’s been featured in major Marvel events like King in Black and the recent Venom War. While he’s often distanced himself from Spider-Man, he’s still shared connections with various hosts, including Scorpion, Flash Thompson, and even Mary Jane Watson.
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2025-11-30 00:13