Categorizing Villains. Who's A-list? Who's B-list?

[Vegeta]

Mysterio is a tricky one, I'd put him on the cusp of A-list. It's an iconic design, but that's because it's rather silly looking. He can be a considerable threat,(he was the inaugural villain when Ben Reilly first took over as Spider-Man) but his most dastardly deeds were in other character's titles (Daredevil, and tricking Old Man Logan into murdering the X-Men). I think if he appears in the next movie (and is well received) I'd move him into A-lister tier.

[KCJ506]

A-list: Green Goblin, Doc Ock, Venom, Kingpin, Hobgoblin(Kingsley) and Lizard
B-list: Electro, Sandman, Mysterio, Vulture, Kraven, Scorpion, Chameleon, Jackal and Morlun
C-list: Hobgoblin(Macendale), Shocker, Rhino, Carnage, Tombstone, Hammerhead, Hydro-Man, Beetle, Tinkerer and Morbius
D-list: Anyone that's not already listed

[Frontier]

Personally, I'd put pretty much all the Lee/Dikto villains in the "A-List" category by virtue of the fact that they're so recognizably and constant as Spider-Man villains, even if you can probably count on one hand the number of major or memorable stories they have aside from Gobby and Doc Ock.

[ngroove]

Personally, I'd put pretty much all the Lee/Dikto villains in the "A-List" category by virtue of the fact that they're so recognizably and constant as Spider-Man villains, even if you can probably count on one hand the number of major or memorable stories they have aside from Gobby and Doc Ock.

Even the Cat?

[Frontier]

Even the Cat?

Well, I said "pretty much," not all .

[Uncanny Mutie]

Why are so many people listing Black Cat as an A-lister?!? Not only has she never crossed my mind personally as an A-list Spidey villain, but also, hasn't she been a Spider-Man ALLY more so than a straight up villain for most of her existence?

If anything, I would give her firm B-list status. And that's being sort of generous, since, as I said, she's usually shown in most forms of media that she appears in as an ally rather than a villain.

[Mister Mets]

Why are so many people listing Black Cat as an A-lister?!? Not only has she never crossed my mind personally as an A-list Spidey villain, but also, hasn't she been a Spider-Man ALLY more so than a straight up villain for most of her existence?

If anything, I would give her firm B-list status. And that's being sort of generous, since, as I said, she's usually shown in most forms of media that she appears in as an ally rather than a villain.

She is a very recognizable antagonist, even if their relationship is often friendly.

[Frontier]

She is a very recognizable antagonist, even if their relationship is often friendly.

She's a recognizable Spider-Man character, but more recognizable as a love interest then as a villain.

Her villain stints have either been short (her initial stories) or not well-handled (Queenpin).

[ngroove]

She's a recognizable Spider-Man character, but more recognizable as a love interest then as a villain.
Her villain stints have either been short (her initial stories) or not well-handled (Queenpin).

There is also other media adaptations over the years, such as portraying Black Cat as a villain in Spectacular Spider-Man or Marvel's Spider-Man, as far back as Spider-Man (1981), or Ultimate Spider-Man and Marvel Adventures: Spider-Man comics.

Even every once-in-a-while in the mainstream comics, after she "straightened" out, 1983, through most of my Spidey reading pre-OMD, she still was on-page seen stealing from private collectors, once-in-a-while.

[Frontier]

There is also other media adaptations over the years, such as portraying Black Cat as a villain in Spectacular Spider-Man or Marvel's Spider-Man, as far back as Spider-Man (1981), or Ultimate Spider-Man and Marvel Adventures: Spider-Man comics.

I mean, even then she wasn't really a villain in Spec. She and Spidey tussled for maybe a few minutes, but in her episodes they mostly worked together.

I blame her villain status in Marvel's Spider-Man on Marvel Animation's no romance policy, so there's not much we can really do with her relationship with Spidey (which is a key part of her character).

She also wasn't in the Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon.

I know she was a villain in one issue of Marvel Adventures book, but I think there was another where she turned out to be a good guy.

Even every once-in-a-while in the mainstream comics, after she "straightened" out, 1983, through most of my Spidey reading pre-OMD, she still was on-page seen stealing from private collectors, once-in-a-while.

I mean, her still thieving doesn't really make her a villain in my opinion. I think she should only count as one if her thieving or actions lead her to a direct antagonism with Spider-Man.

[Mister Mets]

There is also other media adaptations over the years, such as portraying Black Cat as a villain in Spectacular Spider-Man or Marvel's Spider-Man, as far back as Spider-Man (1981), or Ultimate Spider-Man and Marvel Adventures: Spider-Man comics.

Even every once-in-a-while in the mainstream comics, after she "straightened" out, 1983, through most of my Spidey reading pre-OMD, she still was on-page seen stealing from private collectors, once-in-a-while.

Another issue is that characters often return to first appearances, which tend to be high-profile. At the time of her creation, Black Cat had probably been the most significant and popular new villain in a while.

[Uncanny Mutie]

She's a recognizable Spider-Man character, but more recognizable as a love interest then as a villain.

Her villain stints have either been short (her initial stories) or not well-handled (Queenpin).

Exactly. I wouldn't dare call her an A list villain; when done best and the way she has been done most often, she is not really even a villain at all.

[Mister Mets]

Thinking about one villain who you can make a case as A or B, Kraven's gotta be A-list because Kraven's Last Hunt is one of the best Spider-Man stories ever, and he was the big bad in Nick Spencer's first year.

[Snoop Dogg]

Black Cat is like the Lizard. The Lizard is not a villain. He is a member of the supporting cast who can be an antagonist. But he's mostly used as a supporting cast member. I wouldn't include either when ranking.

Kraven is in the highest of tiers, yes. Before KLH, he was a solid B.

[Frontier]

Black Cat is like the Lizard. The Lizard is not a villain. He is a member of the supporting cast who can be an antagonist. But he's mostly used as a supporting cast member. I wouldn't include either when ranking.

Kraven is in the highest of tiers, yes. Before KLH, he was a solid B.

Lizard is a villain. It's Curt Conners who's the good guy and supporting cast member.

Like, every time the Lizard is in control Spider-Man has to fight them.

Not counting the Queenpin era (and let's face it, not many fans want to) the number of Felicia as villain stories can be counted on a few fingers.