Mysterio
- Debut: The Amazing Spider-Man #13 (June 1964)
- Created By: Stan Lee & Steve Ditko
Mysterio was originally a Hollywood stunt man and special effects artist named Quentin Beck. However, he feels the career here is a dead end. He wanted to become an actor but this did not go very well. Realizing his intelligence with magic and special effects could be useful for criminal activity, he leans in that direction instead. Now going by the name Mysterio, Beck realized if he enhances his technology, he could create master illusions that look and act incredibly real. He’s also relatively prepared for a lot of what Spider-Man could bring to the table.
In their first battle at the Midtown Museum, Mysterio manages to obstruct Spider-Man’s notable spider-sense with gas and even manages to dissolve Spidey’s webbing with a chemical abrasive. Mysterio is then tricked into revealing he robbed the museum by Spider-Man, putting him in jail and ending his Hollywood career. Thus leading to an official life of crime. Of course, Mysterio does create illusions but he is also a skilled chemist and roboticist, which he puts to good use against Spider-Man. His notable helmet allows Mysterio to see out but no one else can see in, making his identity a “mystery.” It also protects him against his own illusions.