Mysterio has just revealed exactly why Spider-Man is the most annoying hero of them all – and exactly why fighting him is so frustrating for supervillains. Mysterio is a devilishly intelligent supervillain, known for his intricate illusions, but even this master manipulator has trouble fighting the web-slinging wall-crawler. He actually tells Mary Jane his exact thoughts on the matter in The Amazing Mary Jane, in which the two are actively working together… on a film.
In the story, Mary Jane is the lead actor in a supervillain biopic of Mysterio when she discovers that the director Cage McKnight is actually Quentin Beck – Mysterio – in disguise. He wants to tell his life story as a supervillain correctly, even if that means hiring villains and finding funding through illicit means. When the production is attacked by actual supervillains and key actors quit, the lead has a radical idea: Quentin will play Mysterio and Mary Jane will replace Spider-Man (in addition to her lead role). Mysterio, who has no idea that Mary Jane is actually dating the real Spider-Man, agrees.
While teaching fight choreography to Mary Jane, suited up in a replica of Spider-Man’s suit, Mysterio becomes angry at her performance – she’s too slow, he says – and reveals his true feelings about fighting her boyfriend. “No! You still don’t understand how INFURIATING it is to combat Spider-Man! He dodges blows before his opponent has even finished committing a decision to action!” Mysterio elaborates on his frustration over Spider-Man’s ability to rapidly adapt to any scenario he finds himself in: “…even without his heightened senses, he’s fought [the Sinister Six] so many times that their move sets have become predictable! He defeats them again and again. Spider-Man doesn’t win because he’s noble and virtuous…he wins because he’s good.” The tirade makes it clear that Quentin clearly believes in practical strategy over morals.
Mysterio even tells Mary Jane the weaknesses of each member of the Sinister Six; he’s developed contingency scenarios for each of them, similar to Batman for each member of the Justice League. For Doctor Octopus, Spider-Man must get in close past the reach of his arms, because the suit is more deadly than the man; Vulture’s flight harness must be compromised before he can be defeated. It’s an eye-opening look into one of the more analytical and sympathetic villains of Spider-Man’s rogues gallery.
Fighting a superhero with a sixth sense for danger would no doubt be difficult, but this is perhaps the first time a supervillain has confided in the hero’s love interest concerning just how difficult a fight can get. Spider-Man’s spider-sense has saved him countless times – and infuriated Mysterio just as often. If The Amazing Mary Jane wasn’t canceled in 2020, readers might have seen more confessions from Quentin – but alas, the story of Mysterio and Mary Jane – just like their movie – was left on the cutting room floor.
