Hypno-Hustler might be the weirdest Spider-Man villain to get his own movie yet

Hypno-Hustler.

That’s right, Hypno-Hustler.

He’s the latest Spider-Man villain to get his own movie on the docket for Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, which also includes released movies for Venom and Morbius, and planned movies for Madame Web, Kraven the Hunter, El Muerto, and others.

But Hypno-Hustler may just take the cake as the weirdest, most obscure Marvel character to get his own movie yet (aside from El Muerto, who is even less well-known), with Donald Glover reportedly set to produce and star in the film.

Unless you’re familiar with lesser-known Spider-Man comics of the ’70s, you’re probably wondering who the hell Hypno-Hustler is.

Hypno-Hustler first appeared in 1978’s Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #74 by Bill Mantlo and Frank Springer – and he might just be the most ’70s character who ever got funky, from the top of his afro to the soles of his platform boots.

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Just as his name and appearance apply, Hypno-Hustler is a villainous musician who combines glam and funk to create a very George Clinton-esque rock band called the Mercy Killers, complete with several female backup singers who also serve as his goons.

As for his powers, he’s got the exact abilities you’d expect from his name: hypnotic mind control through the power of music. He’s also got special boots that shoot poison gas and which have blades hidden in the soles.

So… Yeah. That’s Hypno-Hustler.

Probably one of the most curiously compelling characters chosen for Sony’s Spider-Man Universe yet, especially in the hands of an entertainer like Donald Glover who will likely bring both his musical experience and the offbeat point of view he showed in his recently concluded TV show Atlanta to the role.

Glover previously played a live-action version of Miles Morales’ uncle Aaron Davis in the film Spider-Man: Homecoming and was a fan-favorite choice to take the role of Peter Parker for the film The Amazing Spider-Man before Andrew Garfield was ultimately cast.

Hypno-Hustler is almost as odd as the weirdest Spider-Man variants from around the Spider-Verse.

I’ve been Newsarama’s resident Marvel Comics expert and general comic book historian since 2011. I’ve also been the on-site reporter at most major comic conventions such as Comic-Con International: San Diego, New York Comic Con, and C2E2. Outside of comic journalism, I am the artist of many weird pictures, and the guitarist of many heavy riffs. (They/Them)