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Can feel my power growing, feeding off my anger. Father would say I've lost the path of balance, but he could never understand: the only way to fight a monster is to become one.
~ Martin Li in a recorded message.

Martin Li, also known as Mister Negative, is one of the two main antagonists (alongside Doctor Octopus) of the 2018 action-adventure superhero video game Marvel's Spider-Man and a major character in its 2023 sequel Marvel's Spider-Man 2.

He is the former director of F.E.A.S.T., the leader of the Inner Demons and the second-in-command of the Sinister Six, as well as a former enemy of Peter Parker and the former arch-nemesis of Miles Morales.

As a young boy, he was experimented on by Norman Osborn, whose experiments gave him powers but killed his parents. Attempting to keep his anger under control for years, Li would eventually lead a terrorist crusade to expose Osborn and destroy his reputation, regardless of any lives caught in the crossfire.

He is played by Stephen Oyoung, who also played Shogun in DC's Legends of Tomorrow.

Biography[]

Early Life[]

Martin Li was born in 1978 in Dali, China, to the late Mr. and Mrs. Li. As a child, Martin Li developed an undetermined medical condition and was taken to Oscorp by his parents where they later perished at his hands after Norman Osborn injected him with an experimental GR-27 serum that gave him supernatural powers. The event led to Norman's friend Otto Octavius to leave the company.

Orphaned after the experimental serum claiming the lives of his parents, Martin Li spent his childhood in foster care in Manhattan before returning to China by making a living off in a shipping industry later in his life, eventually becoming a billionaire. became the ruthless leader of the Inner Demons, using his ability to harness, transfer and emit negative energy. Li then established Food, Emergency, Aid, Shelter, and Training (F.E.A.S.T.) shelter ensuring that nobody will become forgotten or abandoned, opening it in Chinatown at 2013.

Marvel's Spider-Man[]

In the aftermath of Kingpin's imprisonment, Li arranges a party for May Parker but begins his attack on the Demons by first employing the Shocker to rob banks to bankroll their crimes. Afterwards, he attacks Rosemann's Art Gallery; a front for the Kingpin to search for the location of Devil's Breath. After the attack is thwarted by Spider-Man and an arms theft of one of Kinpin's warehouses thwarted by Spider-Man and Officer Jeffesor Davis, Li makes a threatening phone call to Norman during a celebration for Officer Davis. Soon after, he has multiple people blow up City Hall in an attempt to kill Norman; killing many and having more excecuted by his Demons but has them withdraw before first responders arrive; albeit not before being seen by Miles Morales. After tracking down one of Devil's Breaths designers during Empire State University's Halloween Party, he learns from Dr. Issac Delaney that Morgan Michaels keeps Devil's Breath at all times; blasting away Spider-Man as he arrives and forcing Delaney to commit suicide before leaving.

Despite Silver Sable International being employed to protect Dr. Michaels, an attack during a convoy allows Li to steal it before taking Grand Central Station hostage with the plan to detonate Devil's Breath to demonstrate Norman's evil. Due to the teamwork of Mary Jane Watson, the Demons are defeated so Li attempts to escape on a train but is confronted by Spider-Man and eventually defeated; the train being thrown up through the street where the NYPD arrest Mister Negative and throw him in the raft. That night however, he and four other super-villiains are broken out of prison by Doctor Octopus to join his Sinister Six which Mister Negative becomes the second in command of. They defeat Spider-Man but they didn't kill him on Doc Ock's orders.

Later, Spider-Man comes back quickly and defeats each Sinister Six member where Spider-Man discovers why Li is doing this. Spider-Man catches up and tries to talk some sense into Li, telling him his crusade for revenge won't bring his parents back or change anything, reminding him of the man he was but Li foolishly continues to refuse and blasts Spider-Man as they both get into an intense fight. Li is defeated by Spider-Man a second time, and then Doc Ock appears and betrays Mister Negative as he throws him into a wall for his failure, knocking him out cold. Doc Ock then brutally beats down Spider-Man, takes the antiserum and kidnaps Osborn.

Eventually, Spider-Man defeats Doc Ock, knowing now that both Octavius and Li are beyond saving, as they have become nothing but cold-blooded monsters now. The Daily Bugle newspaper mentions that after his second defeat, Li is still be at large, having regained consciousness and escaped into hiding during Spider-Man and Ock's showdown, with the Inner Demons still at large.

The City That Never Sleeps[]

However, by the time that Hammerhead begins to move against the Maggia Dons, Martin Li has been recaptured and thrown back in the Raft.

Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales[]

More than a year after the defeat of Doctor Octopus and the Sinister Six, Li remains imprisoned during the Tinkerer's campaign against Roxxon Energy. In this time, Miles Morales, Peter Parker's superhero apprentice has taken over his role as the sole Spider-Man in New York City while Peter goes to Symkaria with Mary Jane.

Li is mentioned and alluded to throughout the story; being mentioned that the Inner Demons disbanded following a fight with the The Underground sometime after his second arrest. He is also mentioned by Rio Morales, Miles' mother, as the one who killed her husband Jefferson Davis, which in turn inspired her to start her own political campaign for councilwoman of New York City. He is also indirectly mentioned by Aaron Davis, Miles' uncle, as the cause for which his brother died, leading him to try to imprison Miles to protect him and not lose him like Jeff.

Marvel's Spider-Man 2[]

Ten months after the Roxxon controversy, Mister Negative is recalled by Peter when he gives Miles a joking example of a college application where he recalls his past fights.

After the Sandman's capture, the Raft believes that they don’t have enough resources to contain both supervillains, so the staff decides to send him and Scorpion to Ravencroft for both their treatment, and to serve out their sentences there. However, this is short lived, as an attack on their transports masterminded by Kraven the Hunter, allows Scorpion and Mister Negative to escape. However, Mister Negative is once again captured and imprisoned by Kraven. He then forces him and Miles to fight to the death where Miles wins the fight but, despite wanting to kill Li for murdering his father in the terrorist attack, he instead spares him and helps him escape to find Peter.

Li appears later during the Symbiote invasion by Venom where he encounters Peter and Miles again and decides to help them by fighting off the Symbiotes. Mister Negative and Miles enter Peter's mind to free him from a Symbiote trying to infect him again. He then sees all the things Peter has been through and decides to ultimately redeem himself by transferring his powers to Peter's Symbiote, turning his Symbiotic suit into the Anti-Venom suit. Before doing so, Miles tells Li that he cannot forgive him for the actions he caused, including the death of his father, but also states that he can no longer hate him for it and decides to let the past go, making peace with Li as a result. After Peter uses his new powers to defeat the Symbiote hoard, Li still feels guilty and then tearfully apologizes to both Spider-Men for all of his actions and wrongdoings, especially killing Miles' father as he spent years of his life consumed with vengeance and lost everything for it as he told them that they reminded him that it is not who he is. The now powerless Li decides to atone for his crimes and peacefully surrenders to the police, believing it is the right thing to do.

Personality[]

Martin Li is a very intelligent and kind businessman on the surface; being a renowned philanthropist and generous billionaire who spends most of his time operating F.E.A.S.T and giving to the homeless. Inside though, he harboured a deep seated rage and hared for Norman Osborn which turned him into a monster.

Mister Negative: I've waited many years for this moment.
Norman: Who is this?
Mister Negative: Over the coming days, your company, your city and everything you care about will be destroyed. People will beg you for help but you don't be able to see them.
Norman: Listen jackass, I get threats like this twice a week. Why don't you tell me what you want?
Mister Negative: To watch you suffer.
~ Mister Negative's threatening phone call to Norman Osborn.

Mister Negative is a much colder and more maniacal supervillain; coldly killing anyone in his way and countless innocent people in his attack on City Hall; only calling it off to escape first responders. In spite of this, even after two years in the Raft since the Devil's Breath Crisis, Martin Li retained his kind former side as he eventually redeemed himself and gave up his powers to save New York before surrendering to Police.

Powers and Abilities[]

  • Bilingualism: Martin Li can fluently speak both Mandarin and English and switch between each with ease.
  • Dark Energy Manipulation: Due to being exposed to an untested variant of the Devil's Breath, which combined with his mysterious illness, Martin Li had the power to generate and manipulate large amounts of negative energy. He no longer has these powers thanks to transferring them over to a symbiote that was on Peter Parker, creating the Anti-Venom suit.
    • Strength: Mister Negative is extremely strong, being able to grapple and throw around Spider-Man with his bare hands.
    • Durability: Mister Negative was unfazed by a pummelling of kicks and punches from Spider-Man and a several storey drop did not injure him.
    • Speed: Mister Negative can launch himself around the battlefield at will.
    • Power Bestowal: Mister Negative has the ability to transfer portions of his energy to other people and "corrupt" them. Not only does this give him control over their minds, but it also bestows those infected with powers of their own.
      • Explosive Empowerment: The most dangerous ability bestowed by Mister Negative's powers, his victims can be charged with enough energy to explode with devastating force. A group of these devastated New York City Hall.
      • Power Theft: Li can absorb the energy he has given away should he need to increase his own strength, killing his unfortunate victims in the process.
    • Negative Energy Blasts: Mister Negative's most powerful attack where he channels negative energy into his hand and fires a powerful grey-white energy beam. These were powerful enough to knock Spider-Man through three servers and knock him temporarily unconscious.
    • Energy Constructs: Mister Negative can create powerful energy constructs to aid him in a fight.

Arsenal[]

  • Negative Sword: Mister Negative's primary weapon is a jian, which he channels negative energy into to deliver powerful slashes into his enemies.
    • Shockwave: Mister Negative can also jump and slam his blade into the ground to unleash a devastating blue-white shockwave across the floor to slam into his enemies.


Quotes[]

Spider-Man[]

Li: Peter, it's Martin Li. I just wanted to let you know we need just a little extra time to get set for May's party. I guess the cake delivery is stuck in traffic.
Spider-Man: Oh, sure thing. Just let me know when you're ready and I'll swing by.
Li: Great. Talk to you soon.
~ Martin Li's first words in a phone call after Spider-Man took a photo of a landmark.
Enough! We have to leave. Now.
~ Martin Li revealed in the City Hall Bombing.
Beat the demon? I AM the demon!
~ Mister Negative to Spider-Man.

Spider-Man 2[]

Norman Osborn's the reason my parents are dead, so I dedicated my life to making his hell. Instead, you lost your father, Peter lost May and I was too stubborn to see I had become what I despised most. I'm sorry, Miles.
~ Martin Li genuinely apologizing to Miles Morales for the deep pain he caused for him and Peter.
I spent years of my life consumed with vengeance...and lost everything for it. You two reminded me that that's not who I am. When you help someone, you help everyone.
~ Li thanking the Spider-Men after his redemption and his last words before being arrested again.

Gallery[]

Images[]

Concept Art[]

Videos[]

Trivia[]

  • So far, this is the only incarnation of Mister Negative who has been featured as a member of the Sinister Six.
    • However, the upcoming Ultimate Spider-Man 2024 comic run issue 9 also revealed that the Earth-6160 incarnation of Mister Negative will be featured as a member in new Ultimate Sinister Six led by Kingpin.
  • As shown in the spin-off, Mister Negative's actions deeply impacted Miles Morales' family: it was because of Jefferson Davis' death, which he caused, that Jefferson's wife Rio started to run for councilwoman and it was also because of losing Jefferson that Aaron Davis, his brother, decided to do whatever he needed to protect his nephew at all costs to not lose him too.
  • Martin Li's Anti-Venom creation in the game is similar to Prime universe counterpart's origin, with the only difference is both version of Anti-Venom have different host.

External Links[]

Navigation[]

          Marvel 27s Spider-Man logo Villains

Oscorp Industries
Norman Osborn | Lizard | Harry Osborn

Kingpin's Criminal Empire
Kingpin

Inner Demons
Mister Negative

Silver Sable International
Silver Sable

Sinister Six
Doctor Octopus | Mister Negative | Electro | Vulture | Rhino | Scorpion

The Underground
Tinkerer

Roxxon Energy Corporation
Simon Krieger | Prowler | Rhino

Symbiotes
Venom | Scream

Hunters
Kraven the Hunter | Grizzly

Mysterium
Mysterio | Betsy Scheider | Cole Wittman

Darren Shipman's Gang
Darren Shipman | Louis

Cult of the Flame
Flame

Others
Andy | Black Cat | Blood Spider | Chameleon | Haley Harvey | Hammerhead | Prisoners | Sandman | Screwball | Shocker | Street thugs | Swarm | Tarantula | Taskmaster | Tombstone | Walter Hardy | Yuriko Watanabe

See Also
Spider-Man Villains

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