Summary
Marvel characters are typically seen as being lighter in nature than in DC’s mythology and that’s for good reason. So far in the series,Marvel’s Spider-Manhas depicted a few iconic supervillains as empathetic characters who have sought redemption for their past crimes and seem to be accepted back into society without skepticism or fear on the public’s part:
Tombstone’s rehabilitation in particular came out of left field inMarvel’s Spider-Man 2, and few villains are left alive to seek redemption after Kraven made his stamp on New York City and was murdered promptly himself. However, Martin Li was kept around and held captive by Kraven so that Insomniac could pit him against a closure-bereft Miles Morales in a gladiator arena. Miles doesn’t forgive Li by the end of the game, for better or for worse, and meanwhile Mr. Negative is still one of the onlyMarvel’s Spider-Manantagonists who has legitimately earned and deserved redemption, at least from what’s shown of him in-game.
Marvel’s Spider-Man’s Mr. Negative is Tormented and Tragic
Otto Octavius’ Doctor Octopuswas a phenomenally written final antagonist inMarvel’s Spider-Man. That said, it’s unfortunate that the villain who upholds most of the game’s narrative, Martin Li’s Mr. Negative, is more or less tossed aside once Otto reveals himself as a maniacal schemer.
Li and his Inner Demons giveMarvel’s Spider-Mana ton of authenticityand getting to know Li before he formally becomes Mr. Negative allows players to see that there truly is an empathetic and earnest person inside of someone so enraged and traumatized. Li’s hatred for Norman Osborn doesn’t have a clear explanation at the beginning of the game, but it’s interesting to see him pointing his energy-based abilities toward Norman since it suggests that he’s already established as an antagonist before there’s any inclination that he could become the Green Goblin, which he still has yet to in the franchise.
Seeing Li as a philanthropic individual who cherishes those he works with, including Peter Parker’s Aunt May, could’ve been a clever disguise for a murderous villain, but that’s genuinely the personality Li has and demonstrates otherwise. The only reason he seems to agree to aid Otto in his Sinister Six is because he trusts him and knows Otto has a similar hatred for Norman, though evidently this results in Otto unleashing Devil’s Breath and killing many at his beloved FEAST organization—May included again.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Redeems Martin Li, But Not for Miles Morales
Li never got the redemption he arguably deserved and that carries intoMarvel’s Spider-Man 2’s story where he is antagonistic toward Miles’ Spider-Man until he learns hiscity hall attack resulted in the murder of Miles’ father.
From that point onward, Li is introspective and humble before Miles and even goes out of his way to find Peter to tell him that Miles needs his help. Then, Li even goes into Peter’s subconscious to free him from the malignant symbiote hive-mind that affects him,sapping all of his power into Peter to create the Anti-Venom symbiote.
It’s unclear if Li’s powers are legitimately exhausted or if he could get them back in the future, but not knowing if spending all of his power would kill him or not was a brave act of self-sacrifice. Li’s never been under the impression that what he was hoping to achieve through violence wasn’t horrible in some way, and because he is one of the few previously antagonistic characters whom Kraven was unable to kill it would be excellent to see him return in aMarvel’s Spider-Man 3, where he could hopefully earn Miles’ forgiveness somehow.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Spider-Men Peter Parker and Miles Morales face the ultimate test of strength inside and outside the mask as they fight to save the city, each other and the ones they love, from the monstrous Venom and the dangerous new symbiote threat.Explore an expansive Marvel’s New York with faster web-swinging and the all-new Web Wings, quickly switching between Peter and Miles to experience different stories, epic new abilities and high-tech gear.Wield Peter’s symbiote abilities and Miles’ explosive bio-electric powers in battle against new and iconic Marvel Super Villains – including an original take on a symbiote-infused Venom, the ruthless Kraven the Hunter, the volatile Lizard, and more from the Marvel Rogues’ Gallery.
