MacDonald "Mac" Gargan is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, the character first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #19 (1964). He is the first and best-known incarnation of the Scorpion, and has endured as one of the superhero Spider-Man's most recurring villains, belonging to the collective of adversaries that make up his rogues gallery.
Originally a private investigator hired by J. Jonah Jameson to learn how Peter Parker managed to take pictures of Spider-Man, Gargan was later subjected to a barely-tested procedure funded by Jameson, intended to turn him into a deadly adversary for Spider-Man. The experiment left Gargan with a scorpion-themed armor grafted onto his body, and the predatory instincts of the arachnid. Driven insane by his mutation, Gargan quickly turned to a life of crime as the Scorpion and went on to menace both Spider-Man and Jameson, whom he held responsible for his transformation.
In subsequent decades, Gargan would manage to have his armor removed and served as the third host of the Venom symbiote from 2005 to 2010. While bonded to the symbiote, he became a member of the Dark Avengers under the alias Spider-Man, before the two were forcefully separated. Since then, Gargan has returned to his Scorpion alias and began wearing his signature armor once more, as it kept him alive following the strain both the neural-armors and the symbiote put on his body.
Since his original introduction during the Silver Age of Comic Books, the character has been featured in various other Marvel-licensed products, including feature films, television series, video games, and merchandise. Michael Mando portrayed Mac Gargan in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) and Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026), while an alternate version of the character appeared in animated form in the Disney+ series Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (2025).
Publication history Creation Mac Gargan was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, first appearing in The Amazing Spider-Man #19 (cover dated December 1964). He debuted as a private investigator hired by Daily Bugle publisher J. Jonah Jameson to determine how Peter Parker routinely obtained photographs of Spider-Man, though Parker's spider-sense allowed him to detect and evade Gargan without difficulty.
2000s Mac Gargan appeared as the third Venom in Marvel Knights: Spider-Man #10 (January 12, 2005). He later appeared as the third Spider-Man in Dark Avengers #1 (January 21, 2009). He appeared as a regular character in the series from issue #1 through issue #16 (May 12, 2010). He appeared in the 2009 Dark Reign: Sinister Spider-Man series, his first solo comic book series, by writer Brian Reed and artist Chris Bachalo. According to Diamond Comic Distributors, Dark Reign: Sinister Spider-Man #1 was the 45th best selling comic book in June 2009. Dark Reign: Sinister Spider-Man #2 was the 68th best selling comic book in July 2009.
2010s Mac Gargan reappeared under the codename Scorpion in the "Big Time" story arc from the 2010 The Amazing Spider-Man series. He appeared in the 2019 Absolute Carnage series.
2020s Mac Gargan appeared in the 2020 Ravencroft series. He also appeared in the 2022 Miles Morales: Spider-Man series.
Fictional character biography Scorpion Mac Gargan is a private investigator who is initially hired by J. Jonah Jameson to find out how Peter Parker is able to obtain incredible pictures of Spider-Man.The Amazing Spider-Man #19 (December 1964) Gargan's efforts set off Peter's spider-sense, and the teen easily evades the detective. Jameson then decides to hire Gargan as the subject of a barely-tested process that would endow him with the useful characteristics of a particular animal with the help of Farley Stillwell. Stillwell also outfits him with a club-like mechanical tail. In this case, a scorpion is the base for the purposes of creating a powerful agent capable of defeating Spider-Man, as the scorpion is a predator of the spider. Scorpion proves to be more than a match for Spider-Man, defeating him twice, but the mutagenic treatment seriously affects Gargan's mind, driving him insane as the predatory instincts of the scorpion take over. He promptly turns on his benefactor but Spider-Man intervenes, and finally defeats Scorpion in their third battle.The Amazing Spider-Man #20 (January 1965) Scorpion becomes a professional criminal and returns to indulge in a vendetta against Spider-Man and Jameson.The Amazing Spider-Man #29 (October 1965)
Scorpion fights Ms. Marvel after a botched revenge attempt against Jameson; Scorpion becomes more psychotic than usual after this, resulting in his being dumped in acid.Ms. Marvel #1–2 (January – February 1977) His sanity deteriorating, Scorpion comes to believe that his costume cannot be taken off. After a quick encounter, Spider-Man proves that his belief of being a monster is only in his mind.Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #21 (August 1978)
Scorpion's constant defeats at the hands of Spider-Man drive him to depression. He wanders the sewers, his mind becoming clearer than it had been since his transformation, and decides to quit being Scorpion. He encounters a depressed and crisis-ridden Spider-Man. Ignoring Gargan's plea that he is a changed man, Spider-Man beats him savagely.The Spectacular Spider-Man #215–216 (August – September 1994) In his next appearance, Gargan is back to being psychopathic. He battles and is defeated by Spider-Man's clone Ben Reilly.Spider-Man Unlimited #13 (August 1996)
Venom
Later on, through unknown circumstances, Norman Osborn reveals Spider-Man's true identity to Gargan and gives him orders to kidnap Peter's Aunt May should Osborn ever be captured and imprisoned. When Spider-Man defeats Osborn, he is imprisoned and Gargan carries out Osborn's orders in kidnapping May. Gargan eventually summons Peter and tells him the only way he can see his aunt again is to break Osborn out of jail. Shortly thereafter, the Venom symbiote approaches Gargan,Marvel Knights: Spider-Man #9 (February 2005) offering him new abilities, and Gargan becomes bonded with the creature. This would later give him an extra edge as part of Norman Osborn's Sinister Twelve.Marvel Knights: Spider-Man #10 (March 2005) As Venom, Gargan joins the Thunderbolts, utilizing electrical implants to keep Venom in check.Civil War #4 (October 2006)Heroes for Hire (vol. 2) #2 (November 2006) Gargan expresses fear of the control the symbiote possesses over him, yet becomes addicted to its power.Thunderbolts #112 (May 2007)
Dark Reign Norman Osborn forms the Dark Avengers, providing new identities to some of his former Thunderbolts. After feeding a Skrull to a hungry Venom that has become more bestial than human, Osborn gives him a medication that resets the symbiote to the size it was when it possessed Spider-Man originally. Gargan can transform into a larger Venom form at will.
Norman introduces Gargan and the symbiote as "Spider-Man" of the Dark Avengers.Dark Avengers #1 (March 2009) During their first mission against Morgana le Fay, Morgana transforms "Venom-Spidey" into a giant, demonic monster who then tries to eat Ares.Dark Avengers #2 (April 2009) Venom later coughs up Ares; however, Morgana's magic continues to affect Venom, causing him to lose control of himself randomly.Dark Avengers #3 (May 2009)
"Siege" During the "Siege" storyline, Mac Gargan is with the Dark Avengers when Norman Osborn makes plans to invade Asgard. Mac Gargan and the rest of the Avengers protest. For fighting alongside the Initiative, Osborn promises to give the team their freedom from servitude. As a result, Gargan is among the mass of soldiers to launch an attack on Asgard following Loki's setup. He and the rest of the Avengers manage to overwhelm Thor.Siege #1 (March 2010) While fighting Ms. Marvel and Spider-Man after they arrive, Gargan is forcefully separated from Venom.Siege: Spider-Man #1 (June 2010)
Return as Scorpion During the "Big Time" storyline, Mac Gargan is seen at the Raft prison, having been separated from Venom; the symbiote's removal was causing medical problems due to the side effects from his original genetic mutation. Alistair Smythe breaks him out of the Raft.The Amazing Spider-Man #650 (February 2011) Gargan is then fitted with a new Scorpion suit by Smythe, which includes a life-support system to stabilize Gargan's condition. Smythe convinces Gargan to join him in his plan for revenge on J. Jonah Jameson.The Amazing Spider-Man #651 (March 2011)
During the "Dying Wish" storyline, Scorpion hears the call-to-arms from Peter Parker (while trapped in Doctor Octopus' dying body) to save him and apprehend Otto Octavius (occupying Spider-Man's body) in order to save his loved ones from Octavius' final sinister scheme.The Amazing Spider-Man #699 (February 2013) Scorpion and Hydro-Man accompany Parker to Stark Industries to look for Tony Stark only to end up in a trap set by Octavius. When finding a safe area containing Spider-Man's friends and relatives, Scorpion plans to have his final revenge on J. Jonah Jameson. Upon accessing the memories of Spider-Man loving Aunt May – and the times Scorpion threatened her – Octavius retaliates by punching Scorpion, breaking off his jaw.The Amazing Spider-Man #700 (February 2013) Scorpion is later seen in the Raft's infirmary, having been given a metallic apparatus that replaces his missing jaw.The Superior Spider-Man #11 (August 2013)
In a prelude to the "Hunted" storyline, Scorpion is among the animal-themed characters who are captured for Kraven the Hunter's Great Hunt. He is grouped with several of the other prisoners as the Savage Six.The Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 5) #16 (April 2019)
During the "Carnage Reigns" storyline, Scorpion joined Agent Julia Gao's Cape-Killers.Miles Morales: Spider-Man (vol. 2) #6 (July 2023)
Powers and abilities As Scorpion As the Scorpion, Mac Gargan was given superhuman powers through chemical and radiological treatments, which included splicing his genetics with a scorpion's DNA. As the result, he has arachnid-like powers similar to Spider-Man's such as superhuman strength, stamina, and durability, as well as superhuman speed, agility, and reflexes. He can scale walls and also punches holes in walls as a way to climb. He possesses an exceptionally strong grip, reminiscent of a real scorpion's pincers. He wears a full-body battlesuit composed of two layers of light steel mesh separated by a thin layer of insulated rubber. In addition to his superhuman physique, he was traditionally armed with a cybernetically-controlled, seven-foot mechanical tail, with a tool steel articulated framework which can whip at 90 miles per hour. The tail has in the past been equipped with projectile weapons, usually an electric generator, although it has also been equipped with a spike at its tip, which can squirt an acidic spray, and a low-density plasma energy projector. The Scorpion can use his tail as an extra leg, or he can coil it behind him to spring himself a distance of at least 30 feet. The Scorpion is substantially stronger and more durable than Spider-Man, though is a much less skilled hand-to-hand combatant, and thus Spider-Man relies on his tactics and wits to defeat him.
As Venom