For a long time, the biggest question about Spider-Man: Homecoming was who out of Spider-Man’s impressive rogue’s gallery would be fighting the newest incarnation of the wallcrawler. We’ve since had confirmation of two villains, Vulture and the Tinkerer, and now new set pictures have revealed a third — the Shocker.
God bless the Superior Foes of Spider-Man. Art by Steve Lieber.
While Shocker, AKA Herman Schultz, isn’t perhaps on the same level of Spidey’s most famous villains, he’s certainly a very recognisable one, thanks to his meme-worthy appearances in the Spider-Man animated series and his part in the excellent Superior Foes of Spider-Man comic. He’s actually been rumoured to be part of Homecoming for a while — with Bokeem Woodbine tipped to play the part — but now we actually have visual confirmation that he’s in the movie:
A better look at Shocker from Spider-Man: Homecoming. pic.twitter.com/esTTsUIXpD
— Ross! (@RossADillon) September 6, 2016
https://twitter.com/Darantino/status/773035247357296640
It’s certainly an interesting take on the character; most of the elements are there, even the diamond pattern has been etched into the material, although weirdly the crimson of his usual costume has been replaced with a light brown. It’s not the slickest of costumes (it looks very thrown together), but it fits as an “origin” costume if we’re getting to see how Schultz turned to a life of crime.
And what are the odds his vibro-smasher gauntlets are pilfered Stark tech rather than Schultz’s own design? Considering that a Stark has seemingly played a hand in almost every bit of tech in the MCU, it’s probably highly likely. Tony is in the movie, after all.
Spider-Man: Homecoming swings into theatres in the US 7 July 2017.