Origin of Tombstone: Marvel's other Kingpin of Crime

Who is Lonnie Lincoln, a.k.a. Tombstone, and how did he become Marvel's new Kingpin of Crime? In this episode we give you his full origin, and show you why his greatest enemy was never Spider-Man. It's a journalist. Also, Get your badges for Rose City Comic Con today - https://rosecitycomiccon.com/?cc=vari... Check out the Spider-Man lineup at https://variantcomics.com In this video, we break down the complete origin of Tombstone, created by Gerry Conway and Alex Saviuk, who first appeared in Web of Spider-Man #36 (March 1988) — with his full origin revealed in Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #139. Lonnie Thompson Lincoln grew up in Harlem as the albino kid everybody called Tombstone — the school bully who shook down classmates until a young Joe "Robbie" Robertson tried to expose him in the school paper and got beaten into silence. That moment built one of the most personal rivalries in Marvel Comics: a crime lord and the Daily Bugle's most respected editor, locked together for life by fear, guilt, and one story Robbie was too afraid to run. We cover the waterfront night that haunted Robbie for decades, the confession that put them both in prison, the pitchfork, and the truce. We also break down how Tombstone became superhuman — the Diox-3 accident in Web of Spider-Man #66–67 (1990) that gave a completely human enforcer six-ton strength, enhanced reflexes, and near-bulletproof durability — and his modern rise through Gang War to the top of New York's underworld, officially promoted by Marvel as the newest Kingpin of Crime in Amazing Spider-Man #56 (2024). Plus what his blink-and-you'll-miss-it Spider-Man: Brand New Day cameo could set up: with Wilson Fisk out as mayor after Daredevil: Born Again, the MCU has an open throne — and Marvin Jones III has now played Tombstone twice, in live action and in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Why Tombstone matters right now: Tombstone first appeared in Web of Spider-Man #36 (1988), created by Gerry Conway and Alex Saviuk; his origin is told in Spectacular Spider-Man #139. His defining rivalry is with Robbie Robertson of the Daily Bugle — not Spider-Man. He gained superhuman powers from the Diox-3 chemical in Web of Spider-Man #66–67 (1990). Marvel officially named Tombstone the new Kingpin of Crime in Amazing Spider-Man #56 (2024), after the Gang War storyline. Marvin Jones III plays Tombstone in Spider-Man: Brand New Day after voicing the character in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. TOP TOMBSTONE MUST-READS 1. Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #139–153 — the origin and the complete Robbie Robertson saga. Essential. 2. Web of Spider-Man #66–68 — the Diox-3 transformation and the takeover of Hammerhead's operation. 3. Amazing Spider-Man (2022) by Zeb Wells & John Romita Jr. — the Randy/Janice storyline into Gang War and the crime-boss era. Honorable mention: Death by Tombstone — Spectacular Spider-Man #204–206. #Tombstone #SpiderMan #Marvel —————————————————— Previously: J. Jonah Jameson created Spider-Man's newest movie villain (Origin of Scorpion) —    • Who is Scorpion? The Complete Origin of Ma...   More Spider-Man content:    • Spider-Man   —————————————————— Follow Variant: TikTok:   / variantcomics   Twitter:   / variantcomics   Instagram:   / variant_official   Facebook:   / variantcomics   The Origin of Tombstone (Lonnie Lincoln) First appearance: Web of Spider-Man #36 (1988) Created by Gerry Conway and Alex Saviuk