Kravinoff, Sergei (aka, "Kraven the Hunter")

Introduction

Sergei Kravinoff was born into the Russian aristocracy before the Revolution of 1917. His parents fled with him to America, most likely when he was a teenager, where they found a home in Upstate New York. The Kravinoffs must have found a way to bring much of their wealth with them to the New World, as the mansion they lived in was quite lavish. They also had a large amount of land, in which young Sergei practiced his skills as a hunter, carrying on the aristocratic tradition.

Despite escaping Russia with their lives and their wealth, the Kravinoffs found life in America to be dull. Sergei's family life was likely unpleasant, as his mother could fly into sudden rages and eventually committed suicide in a psychiatric hospital. (The Sensational Spider-Man Annual 1996) (She once slapped a maid after she stopped Sergei's mother from stripping down and jumping into a fountain in France. (Web of Spider-Man #7, vol 2)) His father was also a philanderer, who had a child (Dmitri Smerdyakov) out of wedlock with a servant girl. Sergei eventually left and became world famous as a big game hunter. A newspaper journalist, who couldn't spell the name Kravinoff, dubbed Sergei "Kraven the Hunter."

While on safari in Africa, Sergei met a witch doctor that gave him knowledge of jungle elixirs and potions that increased his strength, speed and agility. Using these natural chemicals made Sergei the greatest hunter of all time. After capturing every kind of dangerous animal known to man with his bare hands, Kraven became bored. He took up the challenge presented by the Chameleon to hunt Spider-Man, who had defeated him months beforehand. J. Jonah Jameson called Kraven, "...a living legend! The greatest hunter of all time! He's trapped and beaten every kind of beast that lives--and always single handed!" (Amazing Spider-Man #15) Loss after loss to Spider-Man caused Kraven to see losing to his enemy as a threat to his honor.

After years of humiliation, Kraven finally captured Spider-Man, drugged him, buried him alive in a grave and took his identity, to prove that he was superior to "the Spider." He took to crime fighting, killing the petty thugs he came across. After Spider-Man awoke from his drugged state and dug himself out of the grave, he went after Kraven with a vengeance. Kraven loosed the cannibal, Vermin, into the city, forcing Spider-Man to go after him. After Spider-Man left, Sergei committed suicide. (Amazing Spider-Man #294)

Years later, Sergei's wife, Sasha, resurrected her husband via a dark magic ritual. This infuriated him, and he killed her. The only way that he can die again is if its by Spider-Man's hands, but Spider-Man is unable to do so, for various mystical reasons. Kraven is now back to the hunt, needing to die from an enemy who refuses to kill him. (Amazing Spider-Man #637)

Genetic illness and Jungle Potions

Its unclear the nature of Kraven's mother's illness, except that she could be normal for months on end and then suddenly explode. Nor do we know anything about the jungle substances that Sergei used before a hunt. They were herbs, roots, juices, poisons, fruit and flowers. He told himself to "Let them pervade your mind...widen it...shatter your Kravenness...and let in Spiderness." Soon after drinking the concoction, Kraven hallucinates a giant spider, made up of thousands of tiny spiders, coming to kill him. Though he struggled, he hallucinated that the spider consumed him. (Amazing Spider-Man #293)

Kraven the Hunter: Alpha Male

Spider-Man straight up calls Kraven "the macho type," right before he gets shot with a tranquilizer dart. (Web of Spider-Man #31) Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone and has been found to be linked to increased aggression and sexual behavior in both men and women. Kraven was never short of women in his life: his wife (Sasha), his lover (Calypso Ezili), the mother of his illegitimate son, Alyosha Kravinoff, a Russian baroness that he attempted to have his way with and Gwen Stacy.

A study from 1990 done with male prisoners found that inmates with higher than average levels of testosterone were more likely to commit violent crimes, have more sexual partners, have more prison violations and more likely to be delinquent. Sergei was always the tenacious type. Even after being deported from the U.S. back to Russia after his first time in prison, he found a way back to New York.

Psychopathology: Depression

Kraven is obsessed with his own death. Before beginning his Last Hunt, he contemplated his life. "I have found morality, I have found meaning--in the hunt. But I cannot escape Time forever. Herbs and roots cannot rejuvenate a dying spirit--or heal a heart crushed by the weight of a corrupted Age. I will die soon. I must die soon. But not yet." (Web of Spider-Man #31) After being returned to life, he was no more happy. He begs Spider-Man to kill him and accuses Sasha, "It was perfect. It was a masterpiece. You took that masterpiece away from me." (Amazing Spider-Man #637)



Mood swings and thoughts of suicide was often symptoms of depression. Sergei's mother had such mood swings and may have passed the trait on to her son. Depression can be a genetic disorder, and the substance abuse that Kravinoff engaged in, plus the numerous defeats at Spider-Man's hands made his suicide much more likely. Add the fact that he had numerous firearms and weapons in his mansion and his death became very certain.

Conclusion

Kravinoff felt that he no longer belonged to this world. He was a relic of an old way of life. All he had was "the hunt" and he had conquered every animal known to man, leaving him without a challenge. Defeat by Spider-Man gave him a new challenge, one that he became obsessed with. For a man as proud as Kraven the Hunter, not being able to best a man in a costume grated at him. Add to that the genetic background of depression and recurrent hallucinogenic substance abuse and Sergei's pscyhe became very unstable. His mind is no less fragile after being returned to life, as he is willing to kill others to goad Spider-Man into returning him to the grave.

Diagnosis

Axis I: Major depressive episode, Severe, recurrent. Substance abuse.
Axis II: No diagnosis.
Axis III: No diagnosis.
Axis IV: Dangerous living conditions: African jungle; Savage Land.
Axis V: 5--very serious impairment: serious suicidal attempts with clear expectation of death; recurring substance abuse; persistent danger of hurting self and others

Octavius, Otto (aka, "Doctor Octopus", aka "The Master Planner")

Introduction

Meet Doctor Otto Octavius. In many ways, the mirror image of Spider-Man and Peter Parker. Both are extremely gifted scientists and bullied outcasts as children and teenagers. The difference is that Parker had a loving childhood and was taught to respect power and responsibility. Octavius, on the other hand, was taught fear and anger. This led similar boys to become very different men.

Otto's father, Torbert, was a construction worker who despised his son's perceived weakness. He derided Otto as a wimp and Otto's mother came to his rescue. Torbert later died from injuries after a construction accident. He refused to go to the hospital, demanding to tough it out at home. In a rage, Otto's mother left him at home, and he watched Torbert die. Otto refused to move that whole night, fearing that his father was only asleep. As a nuclear researcher, Otto began dating a woman named Mary Alice and eventually proposed to her. His mother refused to allow the marriage and Otto called it off. He was later outraged that his mother had begun dating. He railed against her and she died of a heart attack.

Otto was always fastidious about his work, but after his mother died, he focused entirely on his radiation research. He invented four telescoping metal arms to handle the dangerous substances from a safe distance. One day there was an accident at his lab, and the resulting explosion fused the tentacles to Otto's spine. Waking up in the hospital, Otto merely thought of removing the bars from his window and the tentacles obeyed the order. He quickly pronounced himself "the supreme human being on earth!" (Amazing Spider-Man #3)

Recently, the years of being battered by super humans, as well as radiation poisoning, have taken their toll on Octavius's health. His body is now useless and he depends on a voice box to communicate. His time on this earth may be short and he intends to leave humanity one last "thank you."

Psychopathology: Narcissism

Otto Octavius is the picture of a narcissist. He holds everyone around him in contempt, from his allies in the Sinister Six, to the public as a whole to Spider-Man. His arrogance was on full display while attempting to steal Leonardo Da Vinci's sketch "Proportional Study of Man in the Manner of Vitruvius" from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While disposing of the guards, he tells them "The only people who should be permitted to behold the genius of Leonardo are his intellectual equals. And regrettably, that is a rather exclusive club." (Spider-Man/Doctor Octopus: Negative Exposure #1) Spider-Man particularly irks him, as he cant imagine why a costumed "buffoon" could possibly defeat him. After intercepting Spider-Man on one of his nightly patrols of New York, Octopus tells him "I've wondered about you, Spider-Man. You're a great mystery to me. The mystery is how a little whelp such as you could have been such a thorn in my side for so long. I'm stronger than you...more intelligent by far." (Spectacular Spider-Man #6, vol 2)

The cause for a narcissistic personality is unknown, but theories range from either a very pampered childhood to abuse and neglect while young. Other evidence points to genetics and psycho-biology. Some researchers suggest that a neglected child makes up grandiose stories about themselves to increase their low self esteem. This self delusion continues into adulthood and the person may try to surround themselves with people that they see as superior. (Think of Otto saying that only he can truly appreciate the genius of Leonardo Da Vinci.) All of this is an attempt to make up for what was missing in childhood.

Master Planner...Or Prime Poisoner?

While Otto's crimes have ran the gamut from theft to murder to kidnapping, he has shown several times to have an interest in poisons. From his very first outing as a criminal, he attempted to destroy part of a nuclear reactor and rebuild it as he saw fit, likely covering the city in radiation in the process. He has also tried poisoning the ink in the Daily Bugle's newspapers (Amazing Spider-Man Annual #15) and commandeering a satellite in hopes of having it release a poison that would cover the planet (Amazing Spider-Man #338).

It was noted by his fellow researchers before the explosion that grafted the tentacles to his spine that Otto's demeanor towards them was negative. This is typical of poisoners. Criminal profiler John Douglas suggests that these types of killers are "generally driven by anger in most of his attitudes and endeavors...there would be a long list of personal failures throughout his life and these could include education, employment, social experiences and relationships with women of his own age and intelligence level." This could certainly describe Octavius. He was bullied as a child by classmates and his parents, his engagement to Mary Alice was brief and he's never held a job for long. Douglas also says that a poisoner would gravitate towards positions of authority...such as a nuclear physicist.



Disdain for Others but a Need for Companionship

While Otto sees others as nearly subhuman compared to he in terms of intelligence, he has developed genuine feelings for certain women over the years. Of course, there was Mary Alice, his fiance whom he ended the relationship with at his mother's demands. (He never forgot Mary Alice, and tried to find a cure for AIDS years later, after she was diagnosed with the deadly disease.) There was also May Parker, a woman that he tried to marry in order to gain access to a nuclear facility on an island that she had inherited. While his intentions with her were not entirely pure, he has shown concern for "that dear lady," even after the wedding fell through. Finally, there was Angelina Brancale, aka "Stunner." An obese woman, she finally made herself slim, powerful and beautiful via virtual reality. The virtual reality was then made real by Dr. Carolyn Trainer, another associate of Octavius.

Despite having several women in his life, Otto never seems to hold on to them. Angelina and Carolyn disappeared, Mary Alice died and May Parker married another man. Otto is often seen working alone, without assistants or confidants. It seems that he lives a very isolated, maybe even lonely, life. Research has found that men benefit from having a partner to help look after them. There is also evidence that removal of a social structure can have negative effects on a person's cardiovascular health, immunity and behavioral regulation. Loss of social support also has negative consequences for mental health, resulting in more depression and stress.

Octavius does show signs of loneliness, depression and stress. While conversing with Stunner over the ill Spider-Man, Ock admits that he respected the vibrant, humorous opponent. He even envies him to a degree. While Otto pities himself for the man he has become, he is cheered up by Stunner. He believes her to be the best thing that has happened to him in ages. When she suddenly ups and runs out, he nearly panics, begging her to come back. And then he is alone again. (Amazing Spider-Man #397)

Conclusion

Otto's bloated sense of self worth is both his strength and weakness. While certainly a brilliant man with an iron will, his own ego is also his greatest weakness. He cant understand how a "whelp" like Spider-Man can manage to consistently beat him. What he doesn't realize is that he isn't the smartest one there is. He does need others in his life. Normal, healthy people who can guide him to pro-social behavior and to look out for his decaying health. There must have been signs of his physical state deteriorating but he likely overlooked these symptoms in his obsession to be proven the world's greatest scientist and to kill Spider-Man. Like his injured construction worker father, he was so determined to prove that he was tough enough, that he wasted valuable time to get medical help.

Diagnosis

Axis I: Manic episodes, moderate severity, recurrent. Depression.
Axis II: Narcissistic personality disorder.
Axis III: Radiation poisoning; Traumatic brain injuries, dozens of cases of blunt force trauma.
Axis IV: Dangerous working conditions.
Axis V: 100--Superior functioning. Manic and depressive episodes seem to have had no effect on his ability to build, experiment and master plan.

Osborn, Harry (aka "The Green Goblin")

Introduction

Harold "Harry" Osborn is basically a good person who got dealt a rotten hand in life. Born to industrialist Norman Osborn and his wife Emily, Harry never knew much in the way of love and compassion. Emily died shortly after Harry was born and Norman wasn't much of a father. Norman was both verbally and physically abusive to his son, making it clear that gaining Harry but losing Emily wasn't a fair trade.

Harry grew up angry and took out his anger on fellow college classmate Peter Parker when it seemed that Peter acted superior to his classmates. Once he found out that Peter hadn't intentionally ignored he and his friends, Harry and Peter became friends. Later, they even became room mates. Harry tried dating Mary Jane Watson and when she seemed to reject him, he turned to illegal drugs. He was still going through withdrawal symptoms when he witnessed the battle between the Green Goblin and Spider-Man, where the Goblin was impaled by his own flying device. After Spider-Man left the scene, Harry unmasked the unconscious criminal, and saw the face of his father.

Harry blamed Spider-Man for his father's death, and took over as the second Green Goblin. He later found out that Peter was Spider-Man and vowed to kill his former friend. He attacked both Peter Parker and Spider-Man and was quickly defeated, falling prey to a head injury and amnesia. They remained friends for years to come. Eventually, Harry had married a woman named Liz Allen and had a son, Norman Jr. Soon after, his memories began to return, in the form of hallucinations of his father and friend.

He again tried to kill Peter but couldn't bring himself to deliver the killing blow. He found the ability after taking his father's so called "Green Goblin formula," which gave him super human strength, endurance, intelligence...and insanity. Setting a trap for Peter at the Norman Osborn Foundation, he planted a bomb set to kill both of them. When Mary Jane (now Peter's wife) and Norman Jr. arrived at the building, Harry went back to save them. Mary Jane begged Harry to save Peter, upon learning that he was drugged and still inside with the bomb. Harry went back for Peter, escaping just as the bomb exploded. Unfortunately, a side effect of the enhanced Goblin formula struck Harry down, seemingly killing him. (Spectacular Spider-Man #200)

Later, it was found that Norman (who was still alive and had been in hiding) had arranged for Harry to be taken to Europe to get treatment for his drug addiction. He had never died at all. Harry no longer remembers that Peter is Spider-Man but maintains a hatred of his father and all of the harm he has done to the people around him.

A Desperate Son and a Cold Blooded Father

The very core of Harry's psychiatric problems is the relationship he had with his father. Norman Osborn was the center of Harry's world, even though Harry was nothing but an embarrassment to Norman. Harry was a mediocre student and Norman demanded that he pay more attention to his studies, as school was costing Norman "a small fortune." (Amazing Spider-Man #39) His son's average school performance likely grated at Norman because by Harry's age, Norman was on his way to creating Osborn Industries and rebuilding the family fortune. Later, Harry and Peter talk and Harry says that he and Norman used to be friends, until a few years prior, when Norman began taking out his anger on his son.

According to professors at the University of Connecticut, PARTheory (parental acceptance rejection theory) claims that children everywhere need acceptance from their parents and other important caregivers. Lack of parental acceptance can lead to long lasting personality problems: low self esteem, a negative world view, hostility, aggression (emotional and physical) and emotional instability. The researchers also say "More specifically, beyond a certain point--a point that varies from individual to individual--children and adults who experience significant rejection are likely to feel ever-increasing anger, resentment, and other destructive emotions that may become intensely painful."



Self Destructive Chemical Abuse

As said before, Harry turned to drug use after being rejected by Mary Jane Watson. (Amazing Spider-Man #97) Considering the anger he must have already been carrying around due to years of Norman's abuse towards him, the put downs from MJ must have hit Harry extra hard. He certainly didn't put up much of a fight when the drug dealer approached him on campus. The exact type of drugs that he took are unknown but the dealer told him "this stuff is real new, and it aint easy to come by." I suspect that the drug, which was dangerous in and of itself, may have been hastily manufactured in order to get it on the street as soon as possible. (Just as in any business, dealers want to beat the competition to the punch.) The haste in which the drugs were made may have made them especially dangerous.

Later, Peter notices that Harry "always had a lot of bottles in his medicine chest--pills to keep him up--to relax him--and to put him to sleep." (Amazing Spider-Man #97) Harry seems predisposed to drug use, showing that he may have an addictive personality. Individuals with these personalities often show impulsive behavior, weak commitment to the goals of society, a sense of social alienation and heightened stress. Harry didn't try to walk away from the dealer (impulsive behavior), wasn't interested in running Osborn Industries despite his father's demands (weak commitment to goals) and suffered from social alienation (from his father, to Mary Jane to arguments he had with Peter).

He was also impulsive in taking the Goblin formula. He knew full well that Norman was the Green Goblin and that he had killed his friend, Gwen Stacy. It must have occurred to him that the formula was at least partially responsible for Norman's violent behavior. Still, he took the modified formula anyway. (Modified to increase his strength beyond that of his father's.) He didnt think of the dangers, he was focused on how he had felt small and weak for years, never getting approval from his father. He exposed himself to the formula in an attempt to become the man that he wanted to be. (Spectacular Spider-Man #188)

Psychopathology: Bipolar Disorder

Norman Osborn has been diagnosed as "massively bipolar" by Dr. Karla Sofen, aka, "Moonstone." (Thunderbolts #113) While Dr. Sofen has psychological issues of her own, she has examined Norman more closely than I have. This is relevant to Harry, as it has been shown that children of bipolar parents are at greatly heightened risk of developing the disease themselves. It was found that children with one bipolar parent are fourteen times as likely to have the disease themselves, compared to a child with two healthy parents. Children of bipolar parents are twice as likely to have a mood or anxiety disorder.

Of course, it can be hard to tell where Harry's manic depression ends and where the effects of the Goblin formula begin. What is clear is that Harry was having visual and auditory hallucinations shortly before he exposed himself to the formula. While on a family day with Liz and Norman Jr., Harry sees his father, disapproving of the fun and frivolity. The apparition asks him "Why do you indulge him like this, Harry? Zoos and merry-go-rounds. Hmph. It's a hard world out there. The sooner he learns that, the better." After Harry comes out of the hallucination, he snaps at Normie, asking "What the devil do you want?!" (Spectacular Spider-Man #179) He just as quickly snaps out of that mood and gets some cotton candy for his son.



After taking the Goblin formula, Harry's moods become even more violent. As he expected, he does become less scared and uncertain of himself. While he became the Green Goblin before taking the formula, he couldn't bring himself to kill Peter, but after the chemical bath he took, he was entirely focused on his friend's death. He also became more more aggressive towards his wife. A nervous Liz tried to tell Harry that he should get to bed and he grabbed her by the throat, screaming "Will you stop talking to me like that! Like I'm weak! Like I need coddling! I'm an Osborn, Liz! An Osborn! And the Osborns are strong! Strong enough to rule this family! To rule this city!" (Spectacular Spider-Man #200) Liz later divorced Harry when she learned he had been alive for years without telling her. (Amazing Spider-Man #582)

A Compassionate Psychopath

Norman and Harry share similar psychological profiles: both are bipolar and obsessed with killing Spider-Man. Both have experimented with dangerous chemical substances. However, Harry does show signs of compassion towards others, a trait that his father totally lacks. Harry went back to save Mary Jane and Normie when he realized that they were in the building set to explode, risking letting his enemy escape. He even respected Mary Jane's wishes that he go back and save Peter. Prior to all of this, Harry made it clear to her that while he hated her husband, she had nothing to fear from him. (Spectacular Spider-Man #199)

Conclusion

Harry Osborn has his work cut out for him. He needs help in dealing with his anger issues with his father, his hatred of Spider-Man, his drug use, any side effects of the Green Goblin formula and his bipolar disorder. His compassion will be the key to all of this. It has made him try to improve relations with his ex-wife, Liz. (He found a cure for her step-brother's condition.) If this compassion can be nurtured, he may well forgive the people around him and move one with his life. This will be difficult, as Norman still sees Harry as a possession and uses him as such.

Diagnosis

Axis I: Depression; Low self esteem.
Axis II: Bipolar disorder.
Axis III: Drug addiction; "Green Goblin formula" usage.
Axis IV: Parental rejection; Estranged from his ex-wife and son.
Axis V: 55--Moderate symptoms: drug use, neglects family, some homicidal tendencies.

Osborn, Norman (aka, "The Green Goblin")

Introduction

Certainly the adversary that has caused the most personal harm to Spider-Man than any other criminal, Norman Osborn's hatred began early in life. His father Amberson Osborn, was an inventor in his own right and an industrialist. At some point, Amberson lost control of the company and the family wealth. (The Osborn's seem to be an "old money" family, as Norman once explains that an ancestor of his was accused of being a robber baron.) Amberson began to drink and took his anger out on his wife and child. Already showing signs of antisocial personality disorder, young Norman killed the family dog, justifying it as "one less mouth to feed." Whether or not he was really looking out for the family finances or if he just killed the dog out of anger at seeing Amberson beat his mother is uncertain.

Norman took another step towards psychological trouble when Amberson tried to cure his son's fear of the dark. Amberson tried to remedy this by locking Norman alone in the house overnight during a thunderstorm. In his terror, Norman imagined a green monster was in the dark, waiting to eat him. The creature would only get him in the brief flashes on light from the lightening, so Norman prayed for the dark to stay forever. He decided that the dark was always better than the light. Years later, he also used his fear of the monster as inspiration for his criminal persona.

Norman took it on himself to restore the Osborn name and fortune. He studied chemistry in college, totally focused on his school work. Somehow he met a woman named Emily, who could bring the brooding young man out of his shell. She would tell him not to sulk so much and that she married him because she loved him, not for his family name. Norman loved having a woman fuss over him and he couldn't take it after Emily died. He raised their son, Harry, alone. The death of Emily remained painful to Norman for years, and he would strike out at Harry for even mentioning her name.

Osborn did eventually manage to re-create the family wealth, with help from his university professor, Dr Mendel Stromm. They went into business together but Norman soon had him framed for embezzlement, giving Norman full control of the company. After Dr. Stromm was fired and sent to prison, Norman went through his files and found a formula for increasing strength and intelligence. He re-created the formula, which exploded in his face, covering him in the substance. He recuperated in the hospital and found that he had indeed increased his strength and intelligence...but couldn't admit that the formula had also ruined his sanity.

Norman set about controlling the New York mafia, in a bid for even more money and power. He started out with proxies to do his dirty work, but they were all soon captured by the new vigilante, Spider-Man. Taking the adage, "If you want something done right, do it yourself," to heart, Norman created the Green Goblin costume and set about trying to kill Spider-Man. He hoped that the vigilante's death would make a name for him in the mob, and he would eventually come to control them. Defeat after defeat proved him wrong, even though the Goblin did manage to escape with his secret I.D. intact.

Norman gained his greatest triumph after learning that Peter Parker is Spider-Man and he set about making his life a living hell. Other enhanced criminals threaten Spider-Man's family, but Norman made good. After seducing Parker's girlfriend, Gwen Stacy, she gave birth to twins, Sarah and Gabreil. She refused to give up custody to Norman and he went to her apartment as the Goblin and kidnapped her. Leading Spider-Man to a New York bridge, he killed Gwen in front of her boyfriend. The resulting battle seemed to end with the Green Goblin's death.

Little did anyone know, but the Goblin formula also gave Norman an advanced healing factor and he woke up in the morgue. He faked his death and fled to Paris, where he continued to plot against Parker. The battle of wills continues, with both parties refusing to give in out of spite.

Psychopathology: Bipolar Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Paranoid Personality Disorder and Narcissism (What Doesn't This Guy Have?)

As Dr. Karla Sofen noted, Norman is undoubtedly severely bipolar. (Thunderbolts #113) Norman's signs of this mental illness likely first showing up as a child, with his vivid fears of a monster out to get him. He was still a disturbed young man in college, brooding constantly over the lost family fortune. He likely stayed away from parties in college, seeing them as a waste of time. How he managed to meet, much less marry, a kind woman like Emily is a mystery. Regardless, her death was a major stressor in his life and likely helped send him down the dangerous path that he took.

Stress can be a major factor in bringing about a manic episode in a bipolar person. Norman has shown to be a stress-prone individual, with manic episodes resulting from stressful situations. Some of his most violent acts have been preceded by stress. Gwen Stacy's murder followed Norman losing 13% in his stocks, Harry falling ill from his drug use and Gwen refusing to let Norman take custody of their children. (Amazing Spider-Man #121 and Amazing Spider-Man #512) This episode was so severe, it caused Norman to hallucinate that Spider-Man had come to gloat over his troubles.

In a much later incident, Norman was tricked into going off his medication while director of the Thunderbolts. This caused him to literally crucify the team member Swordsman for attempting to stage a coup against Osborn's leadership. (Thunderbolts #120) In general, Osborn shows very poor impulse control. When a reporter from the Daily Bugle came to interview him on missing employees from his company, he killed her and dumped the body in the reservoir. A further investigation from the Bugle reporters led them to Osborn, with the police in tow. Instead of letting the police look around and give them an interview, Osborn flew off the handle and killed the lot of them, except two Bugle reporters. (The Pulse #4)





Osborn is also an obsessive planner. According to Mac Gargan, aka the Scorpion, Norman has "hundreds of plans and counter plans" to hurt Parker. He tells Peter: "You ever been in his hideout? You ever see those schemes and arrows and boxes he has all over his walls? He's had this one planned out since the minute he found out who you were, kid." (Marvel Knights Spider-Man #9)


While many people suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder obsess over things like dirt or germs, Norman obsesses over enemies, real and perceived. Indeed, Norman believes he has enemies everywhere: Spider-Man, J. Jonah Jameson, members of the mafia, other members of the Thunderbolts, Spider-Man, his doctors, the news media and Spider-Man. Look at his thoughts as Harry lay sick in bed: "I should have realized those--those friends of yours--what they were doing to you! But how could I have known? Our enemies are everywhere...men trying to ruin me...corrupt you, my only son...enemies...surrounding us..." (Amazing Spider-Man #121)

Finally, narcissism is a major part of Norman's psyche. He clearly sees himself as a "cut above." Being rich and famous is a source of great pride for Osborn (he named his freakin company after himself), and he likely is irked by the fact that he is consistently beaten by a underpaid nobody living out of cheap apartments. He made this clear after Gwen's death, asking Spidey "What worth is there in the paltry existence of one useless female? A simpering, pointless girl who never did more than occupy space--while I--" He was cut off by Spider-Man, who resumed beating his enemy to a pulp. (Amazing Spider-Man #122)

Norman Osborn: Assassin

Osborn's paranoia and obsession with Spider-Man gives him some similarities to assassins, like John Hinckley. (Hinckley tried to kill President Reagan in 1981, to win the affection of Jodie Foster.) The faulty logic of the thinking is clear. Just as Jodie Foster would want nothing to do with Hinckley had he killed the president, the mob wouldn't care if the Green Goblin killed Spider-Man. Norman is a classic "loner." He never re-married after Emily died, he had few friends, didn't do much outside of obsess over Osborn Industries (and Spider-Man) and always had weapons nearby. He had plenty of Goblin hideouts across the city, for him to make quick changes if necessary.

Conclusion

Norman Osborn's main goal in life is the accumulation and maintaining of power. Whether it comes in the form of wealth and fame from Osborn Industries, as the leader of the Thunderbolts or as the Director of H.A.M.M.E.R., power is his first and last preoccupation. Woe to anyone that gets in his way: Spider-Man, Swordsman, Iron Man and others. Norman's psychosis goes back to his traumatic childhood and his drunken, abusive father, as well as his genetics. Heavy medications may bring some of his symptoms under control, but he must keep up with them daily. To do this, he would have to think about something besides power and crushing his enemies.

Diagnosis

Axis I: Parent child relational problem.
Axis II: Narcissistic personality disorder; Obsessive compulsive disorder; Paranoid personality disorder; Bipolar disorder.
Axis III: Exposure to the Green Goblin formula.
Axis IV: No diagnosis.
Axis V: 25--Very serious impairment. Substance abuse; Persistent danger to others.

Smerdyakov, Dmitri (aka, "The Chameleon")

Introduction

Spy. Saboteur. Terrorist. Gun for hire. Actor. All of these things describe Dmitri Smerdyakov, an agent from the former Soviet Union. Unknown to him for many years, Dmitri was the half brother of Sergei Kravinoff, aka Kraven the Hunter. They grew up in Tsarist Russia, the children of the aristocracy. However, Dmitri was the illegitimate son of the head of the household, born from a servant girl. His father wanted nothing to do with him and denied that he be given the Kravinoff name. Dmitri and Sergei grew up as childhood friends, even though Sergei often beat and humiliated Dmitri for his own entertainment.

Dmitri tried to win his half brother's favor by doing impressions to amuse him. He became very good as an actor, but never won his brother's approval. His skill as an impersonator drew the attention of the Soviet authorities and they gave him the tools needed to become an agent. (The Kravinoffs abandoned Dmitri in Russia after the Revolution, when they fled to America.) In his first known mission, the Chameleon came to the U.S. to steal missile defense plans. He framed Spider-Man for the information theft, leaving the teenager at the site after he escaped. Spider-Man caught up to him and tore a piece of Chameleon's police disguise away, exposing the Spider-Man costume hidden underneath. The police arrested Smerdyakov and eventually deported him. (Amazing Spider-Man #1)

(Despite being a very old man, Dmitri appears young and vital, thanks to Kraven the Hunter's jungle potions. Kraven gave Dmitri a modified version of the substances, as Chameleon has never shown the increased strength or heightened senses that Kraven has exhibited. Sergei admitted to himself that the potion he gave Smerdyakov was of a lower dosage than the one he took, as he demanded that he stay superior to Chameleon. (The Sensational Spider-Man Annual 1996))

After the U.S.S.R. collapsed, Dmitri became a gun for hire. He has worked for everyone from the mafia to Taliban terrorists. He never made much of a mark on Spider-Man's life until he helped Harry Osborn create duplicate robotic parents made to bond with Peter and then kill him. Enraged by the personal betrayal, Spider-Man goes after Dmitri at the Kravinoff mansion in Upstate New York. He tried to escape Spider-Man via suicide, just as Sergei had done. After Chameleon is caught, he begs "I--I'm not even worthy of death! To die--one must have lived! And I--I have never lived! How could I have? I have no name! No face! No soul! I...am a nothing! A nothing!" (Amazing Spider-Man #389)

A Self Loathing Assassin...and a Hardened Killer

At first, it seems odd that a person with such deep insecurities as Dmitri would become a world known "espionage-type" of person. If you want someone dead, the killer better have a spine. Not the kind of person who begs for life. However, Dmitri has been shown to be an unhesitating killer. Whether shooting the head of Ravencroft Asylum security during an escape or suffocating individuals to be impersonated, Chameleon is a killer with a trail of dead behind him.



Soviet assassins were not the inhuman monsters portrayed in the movies. Ramon Mercader, the killer of Leon Trotsky, kept in touch with his family for years after Trotsky's death, just as Smerdyakov kept in touch with Kraven. Yet, he likely gained the attention of the Russian authorities by denouncing the aristocracy and embracing Communism wholeheartedly (as potential recruits were expected to do.) As a homeless young man after the Kravinoffs abandoned him, he needed a new master to serve. While an "aspirant", he had to prove himself physically and mentally, being able to speak at least two languages and trained to be a world class athlete. Interestingly, real Soviet spies were given aliases while in training and were forbidden from sharing their real surnames. This is likely how Dmitri gained the moniker "Chameleon."

Who's Your Daddy? Mother Russia!

As we said before, Dmitri was hated and beaten by his real family members. He was desperate to please them but never did. Then the Commissars came along and took him into their fold. It's possible that Smerdyakov transferred his desire to please from his father to the State. One definition of transference is "the redirection of feelings and desires (and especially of those unconsciously retained from childhood) toward a new object." We find that, in fact, Dmitri did unconsciously retain feelings from his childhood. The narration in Amazing Spider-Man #389 claims "And the truth, so long denied, so long repressed--explodes like a rifle blast in his mind." He remembered how Sergei was really his enemy as a child, not his friend.

Conclusion

For years, Dmitri Smerdyakov was an insecure, groveling servant to Sergei Kravinoff. His feelings of inadequacy remained with him, even after he became a member of the KGB. He gained some self respect as the Chameleon but it wasn't until after his terror of being beaten to death by Spider-Man that the memories of his childhood resurfaced. He has handled his past badly, with two suicide attempts and a stint thinking that he was Kraven. He still manages to get hired by various criminal factions, so "occupational problems" don't seem to be an issue. In fact, being the Chameleon is probably the most empowering part of his life. Avoidance may be how he carries on his life. As long as he keeps working, he wont have to think about his own convoluted psyche. A bonus in his favor is the lower dosage jungle potion that he has been taking for years. While it has kept him young and strong, it likely has not had as severe a toll on his mind as the stronger formula has had on Sergei.

Diagnosis

Axis I: Chemical abuse, recurrent. Jungle roots and poisons supplied by Kraven the Hunter.
Axis II: Antisocial personality disorder.
Axis III: Malleable skin, as part of work as a Russian agent.
Axis IV: Severe trauma as a child.
Axis V: 30--Very serious impairment: suicidal thoughts, major depression, recurring substance abuse.

Toomes, Adrian (aka "The Vulture")

Introduction

Adrian Toomes' turn to crime occurred late in life, but his mindset that only the strong survive was there when he was young. Adrian's older brother, Marcus, tried to raise Adrian but he was soon paralyzed from the neck down after a motorcycle accident. At the beach one day, Marcus begged Adrian to push him into the ocean, as he couldnt stand being paralyzed. He said that being in a wheelchair was unnatural and that he should be dead. Human beings were animals, just like any other. Adrian refused to kill his brother and Marcus derided him for being weak. (Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #15)

The fate of Marcus is unknown but Adrian went on to become an electrical engineer. He formed B+T Electronics with Gregory Bestman and there invented his flying harness. In his excitement, he ran to Gregory's office and there found documents that proved that Bestman had been cheating Adrian out of his share of the profits. There was also paperwork that allowed Bestman to take control of the company. Toomes retreated to his Staten Island farm to complete the harness. He later returned to B+T and took the money that he felt he was owed. (Amazing Spider-Man #241)

The thrill and ease of the robbery convinced him to pursue a life of crime. In the same day he stole a man briefcase "worth a fortune in bonds" and pulled off the heist of over a million dollars worth of gems that were being transported across town. As added bravado, Toomes left messages at a radio network, the police chief's office and the Daily Bugle's office, warning which items he would be stealing. Spider-Man was soon on his trail, to which Toomes thought "So Spider-Man himself is on my trail! Good! It will be amusing to finally face a foe worthy of my mettle!" Naturally, Toomes was eventually caught and sent to prison. (Amazing Spider-Man #2)



After three run ins with Spider-Man, Toomes was totally obsessed with killing him. He was so adamant about his death being at the hands of a Vulture, Toomes told a fellow inmate where he could find a spare harness outside of prison. (Adrian believed he was dying at the time.) He told Drago, the second Vulture, "I must tell you--for only he, who wears the Vulture's wings--will possess the power--to destroy Spider-Man! And Spider-Man must be destroyed!" (Amazing Spider-Man #48)

Revenge was always part of Toomes M.O. He got his chance after he was diagnosed with cancer, due to the energy that the harness produced. Fearing that he would die before all accounts were settled, Adrian finally found Bestman and killed him. He also evened the scores with many other criminals that had wronged him or tried to turn him in to the police over the years. (Spectacular Spider-Man #186) Toomes even tried to commit mass murder by infecting birds with a virus and releasing them into New York, killing everyone the birds came into contact with. He rationalized that if everyone that knew Adrian Toomes were to die, than he would die too, in a philosophical way. (He had been de-aged and wanted to be remembered that way.) (Amazing Spider-Man #396) He also took part in various schemes to kill Otto Octavius, after Otto had betrayed the Sinister Six.

After he beat the cancer, Toomes returned to crime. When he managed to land $20 million with Electro, Toomes planned to use his share to help his grandson, who had leukemia. (Marvel Knights Spider-Man #3) He also avenged the death of his nephew, Malachi Toomes, who died at the hands of a mobster.

Adrian Toomes: A Social Darwinist?

Adrian has always held people that he saw as weak in contempt. Perhaps he did take to heart his brother's opinion that people are animals. He mocked Bestman for passing out after Vulture kidnapped him (Amazing Spider-Man #241) and derided Spider-Man in his prison cell. "(Spider-Man) lacks the strength to use his powers for their greatest potential...To help a world that despises him? Seek approval from those that hate him? Its masochistic. Its pointless. Weak." (Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #14)

Social Darwinism isn't a psychological term but it does shed light on Toomes' world view. In sociology, social Darwinism believes that human evolution can be influenced by putting laws or social conditions into effect that will weed out undesirable people from society. Toomes' fixation on strength of mind and disdain for compassion does show a sort of elitist mindset. He doesn't care for others, unless they are related to him by blood, i.e. his nephew and grandson.

Psychopathology: Insecurity and Depression

So let's recap. Toomes' company was stolen from him, leaving him out in the cold. He'd worked all his life and now had nothing. For a man that hates weakness, this must have been a serious blow to his ego. An old man, he didn't have time to start over. Erick Erickson, a researcher into psychology of age groups, described the psychological challenges that a person faces in each stage of life. The final stage, sometimes called the "ego integrity/despair" stage, asks whether the person will look back at their lives with pride in their accomplishments or with despair. I think that Toomes was initially very proud of his flying harness invention but then despaired that he'd lost his life's work to Bestman.

Toomes's has been obsessed with is own death for years, even attempting suicide after his cancer diagnosis. While in battle with Spider-Man, Toomes screams at him "I refuse to go out like some pathetic old fool! Like those drooling, bed wetting mannequins in the nursing home! I'm going to go out the way I lived! Angry! Fighting! Clawing at all the traitors and liars around me!" After the harness bursts into flames and Spidey saves his life, the old man whimpers "Why didn't you let me die?" (Spectacular Spider-Man #188)

A Genetic Link?

Toomes claimed that he got a thrill out of the ease in which he stole the money from Gregory Bestman. So much so, he turned to crime for years to come. His brother was also a motorcycle rider. The nature of the accident that paralyzed him is unknown, but he did seem to be a thrill seeker. Ditto for Malachi Toomes, who got involved with the mafia. Some psychiatrists claim that psychopathology results from genetics, environmental and psychological factors.

Conclusion

Adrian Toomes is a man obsessed with his own image. Whether de-aged and demanding to be remembered as young and healthy or dying like a man and not a mannequin, his image is all important. At this late stage of his life, he may not have much time. Strength is what is important to him, as is the death of anyone who crossed him or his family. This self importance is a symptom of narcissism and it makes him very dangerous.

Diagnosis
Axis I: Major depressive episode, Moderate serverity.
Axis II: Narcissistic personality disorder.
Axis III: No diagnosis.
Axis IV: No diagnosis.
Axis V: 70-mild symptoms. Able to built, repair flying harness from prison workroom scraps.

Warren, Miles (aka, "The Jackal")

Introduction


Dr Miles Warren's obsession with cloning likely was a long time coming. Nothing is known about his childhood but it is known that he was a brilliant biologist who was also a professor at Empire State University. He was married and had two children. His family was his life, until he became more interested in his work. This caused friction in his marriage and Monica left with the children. Soon after, they were killed in a car accident. He mourned deeply for his family, until an attractive blond student named Gwen Stacy enrolled into one of his classes.

He came to love Gwen and was devastated when she was killed by the Green Goblin. Soon after her death, his assistant, Anthony Serba, made a break through in cloning. He gave some of Gwen's cells (which had been saved for a class experiment) to Anthony, telling him that they were frog cells. When Anthony discovered the cloned cells were human, he tried to destroy them and Miles killed him in a fit of rage.

Miles' psyche broke down and he blamed the murder on an alter ego, the Jackal. He claimed he worked feverishly over the next few months: caring for the clones, training himself athletically and making a Jackal costume and equipment. He planned a revenge in which a Spider-Man clone would kill the real Spider-Man, the man whom he blamed for Gwen's death. The plan backfired and Warren was seemingly killed.

Years later, the Jackal returned with a genetically enhanced body instead of a costume. He also returned with several helper-clones. (The man that had died years ago was a clone.) By this time, he knew that Peter Parker was Spider-Man and still blamed him for Gwen's death. He also had a plan to wipe out humanity with a virus and replace them with clones. Clones which were genetically perfected and obedient to him.

The Jackal toyed with the Spider-Men , telling them that he was their father and they were his sons. (The Spider-Man clone from years prior was alive and well, wandering the Western US.) He also kept them guessing as to which of them was real. He tried to make his move for world domination but fell to his death while trying to save the Gwen Stacy clone.

A Sudden Snap, or a Slow Burn?

To hear Professor Warren describe what happened, the events that changed him from university professor to megalomaniac all seemed to happen very quickly. Still, Warren has been proven to be a liar, to others and to himself. He lied to Spider-Man and his clone as to which of them was real and he lied to himself, saying that he never had any children, which is why he felt so protective of Gwen when she entered his class. "Perhaps she reminded me of the daughter I never had," he said. (Amazing Spider-Man #149) Yet, he did have a daughter, one he loved and mourned deeply for after she died. (Web of Spider-Man #125)

After Anthony was accidentally killed, Warren went about making a costume and equipment. He says it was a matter of months from Gwen's death to his attempt to kill Spider-Man with his clone. In those same months, he supposedly also built the regeneration tank in which he changed his body to that of a super human. By his own admission, he was obsessive about his work before his wife and children left him. He likely had some kind of plans long before his family fell apart, before Gwen died and before he became the Jackal.

A Mind at War with Itself

What is the reason that Miles became the Jackal? To avenge Gwen Stacy and bring her back to life. He loved Gwen, even if he couldn't admit it right away. On one hand he called her his daughter and on the other he stammers on his exact opinion of her. "The re-creation of a woman I--that is, a girl I felt, I--the re-creation of Gwen Stacy--and the acting out of my revenge for her savage slaying!" (Amazing Spider-Man #149) What was his second goal? Wipe out humanity and replace them with obedient clones. People that he could control. Warren couldn't control the people in his life. His family distracted him from his work and then left him. A costumed maniac killed his new love. The world seemed like a chaotic place. Hence, he would start over with humanity and make them obey his whims.



Despite this need for logic, he had romantic feelings for a student of his, which the board of directors at E.S.U. would doubtless have seen as unethical, had he acted on those feelings. He also killed his lab assistant in a fit of rage. Not exactly a rational thing to do. He couldn't control other people or himself. He blamed his murder of Anthony on the Jackal, in an attempt to make sense of what happened. He also likely fed his lust for Gwen into the Jackal personae. What Dr. Warren couldn't get away with, the Jackal could. Warren likely heaped all of his inappropriate emotions onto his alter ego.


Psychopathology: A Smorgasbord

The Jackal has always been an obsessive worker and quick with a quip. He worked on his new criminal enterprise for months at a time. This kind of non stop energy and heightened mood are symptoms of mania. When a person has a manic episode, they feel invincible and engage in various pleasure seeking activities. Mania is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, often resulting from genetics and environmental factors. It also makes a person emotionally unstable. Upon discovering the existence of a new Green Goblin, Jackal goes berserk and starts smashing up his lab. He wonders if someone is making clones behind his back. "I should be devoting all my time--with a few quick breaks to catch the new Star Trek series--to wiping out mankind, but nooooo!...It's no use! I'll never be able to concentrate on my real work until I have an answer!" (Spectacular Spider-Man #125)

His devotion to "wiping out mankind" is also a symptom of narcissism. He creates a perfected body for himself (granted, its covered with green fur) and considers himself to be the leader of a future world. All in all, he considers himself to be overly self important.

Next, he also shows signs of obsessive compulsive disorder. He must have focused entirely on becoming the Jackal in the months after Gwen's death, neglecting his duties as a university professor in the process. Its also hard to see how he had time to eat and sleep with all of that work to do. A healthy person would have mourned the loss of his family and student and moved on, not devoted their life to cloning his illicit love.

Finally, he suffers from a split personality. Miles was under a great deal of stress when he first started thinking about the Jackal. His family was dead, his new love was dead and he had just killed his laboratory assistant. Some researchers say that a split personality (known in psychiatric circles as dissociative identity disorder) stems from childhood abuse, in which the sufferer walls off the painful memories. These memories can form another personality. While Miles seems to have developed his split personality as an adult, he does seem to have walled off the death of Anthony Serba from his memories. As the Spider-Men fought soon after the cloning began, Miles' clone comes to his senses and realizes "Dear Heaven! I killed Anthony Serba--not the Jackal! I--I couldn't face that--hid it from myself!" (Amazing Spider-Man #149)

Conclusion

Miles Warren's habit of lying to himself and closing off unpleasant memories led to the development of the murderous second personality, the Jackal. Perhaps he had been abused as a child and thus began the trait of forced forgetting, but regardless, all of that emotion seethed inside him and burst out after a trio of tragedies. He likely had some psychological issues before he ever put on the green costume, as he obsessed over his work, at the expense of his marriage and family. This obsessive compulsive aspect of his personality was carried over into his plans for world domination and for his student, Gwen Stacy. Also carried over from his previous life is the need for order and control, which is still a major part of his motivation, despite the manic switches of mood. He saw the world as having gone mad and in his desire to control the chaos, he went mad himself.

Diagnosis

Axis I: Manic episodes, Severe, Recurrent; Bereavement.
Axis II: Narcissistic personality disorder, obsessive compulsive personality disorder, dissociative personality disorder.
Axis III: Tampered with his DNA to improve his body.
Axis IV: Marital problems.
Axis V: 100--Superior functioning. Able to control various clones, keep up with scientific experiments, build machines, stay one step ahead of Spider-Man.