While Spider-Man’s rogue’s gallery is vast, few villains are currently enjoying as much time in the spotlight as Tombstone. Since his breakout appearance as an enforcer for Kingpin in 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, the character has become a recurring fixture across multiple adaptations.
Lonnie Lincoln, better known as Tombstone, played a pivotal role in the 2025 Disney Plus animated series Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man and is slated to surface in the upcoming MCU entry Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Furthermore, he is set to loom over the streets in Prime Video’s Spider-Noir, premiering May 27. With various iterations of the antagonist now emerging, we’re breaking down his comic book roots and his recent cinematic journey.
Who is Tombstone in Marvel Comics?
Image: Alex Saviuk/Marvel
Tombstone first debuted in Gerry Conway’s 1987 comic Web of Spider-Man #36. Originally depicted as a cold-blooded New York racketeer, his criminal roots date back to his school days, where he extorted classmates for protection money. He is perhaps most infamous for his long-standing harassment of journalist Joseph Robertson, whom he repeatedly coerced into suppressing exposés on his illicit dealings.
Initially a physically imposing, non-superpowered mobster, Lincoln’s threat level skyrocketed after exposure to an experimental gas developed by Oscorp, which gifted him with superhuman strength and near-impenetrable skin. Throughout his tenure, he has served as a formidable foil not just to Spider-Man, but also to gritty vigilantes like Daredevil and The Punisher.
Who is Tombstone in Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man?
Image: Disney
In the Disney Plus series, Lonnie Lincoln (voiced by Eugene Byrd) serves as a compelling deuteragonist—arguably boasting a more intricate character arc than Peter Parker himself. While Peter transitions from an underdog to a hero bolstered by Norman Osborn’s resources, Lonnie’s journey is a darker slide from popular high schooler to underworld powerhouse.
Driven by the desire to shield his younger brother from the local 110th Street Gang, Lonnie inserts himself into their ranks. As he sacrifices his academic and athletic future for criminal life, he earns the moniker “Tombstone” after a daring rescue of his gang leader. Following his exposure to Otto Octavius’s mutagenic gas, he gains his iconic durability. By the season’s end, the transformation is complete: the varsity jacket is discarded, and Lonnie fully embraces his role as the new kingpin of the 110th Street syndicate.
Who is Tombstone in Spider-Man: Brand New Day?
Rumors suggest that Marvin Jones III, who voiced the character in Into the Spider-Verse, will reprise his role in a live-action capacity for Spider-Man: Brand New Day. While initial promotional material focused on the return of Scorpion and a clandestine ninja threat, speculation suggests Tombstone is orchestrating chaos behind the scenes—potentially orchestrating prison breaks to consolidate his grip on the New York underworld.
Who is Tombstone in Spider-Noir?
Image: Prime Video
This live-action offshoot of the Spider-Verse universe pits Nic Cage’s Spider-Man Noir against a rogues’ gallery in 1930s New York. Abraham Popoola brings a nuanced, grounded intensity to the character, who is embroiled in a “nefarious” plot. Given the series also features a central version of Robertson (played by Lamorne Morris), fans can expect their volatile comic-book rivalry to manifest in this atmospheric period setting.
Source: Polygon
