The character of is one of the more controversial aspects of . Some have complained about his prominent role in the series since he isn’t classically associated with Peter Parker and his origins, but this ignores how the show effectively turns Tombstone into a more thematically appropriate nemesis for Spider-Man.

Tombstone is a relatively late addition to the Spider-Man rogues’ gallery, first appearing in 1988’s Web of Spider-Man #36. Lonnie Lincoln was a childhood associate of Peter Parker’s editor, Robbie Robertson, who bullied Robertson into not reporting his crimes. He grew into one of the most feared hitmen in Harlem, eventually becoming a major crime boss.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man introduces Lonnie Lincoln in the jock role traditionally held by Flash Thompson. However, the show subverts expectations in another, subtler way. The early Spider-Man comics painted Peter Parker as somewhat cynical about any praise or efforts toward friendship from his classmates. Peter starts with a similar attitude in the cartoon, hating Lonnie for his success as an athlete and for dating his crush.

However, after being assigned as Lonnie’s lab partner, Peter is astonished to find that Lonnie has a brain and a love of science. Moreover, he feels trapped in his responsibilities to his team and his family — a feeling to which Peter can relate. This teaches Peter an important lesson about judging people without really knowing them. It also sets the stage for one of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man’s most tragic subplots.

Lonnie’s path to success is shattered after he learns that his younger brother has joined a gang. When he can’t just walk himself and his brother out of the gang’s hideout, Lonnie offers himself as a substitute recruit. This is a better deal for gang leader Big Donovan, who knows about Lonnie’s athletic prowess. It also leads to Lonnie being given the nickname Tombstone after he saves Big Donovan’s life during a fight with a rival gang.

While this subplot may seem unconnected to the main story of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, it establishes Tombstone as a subversion of Peter Parker’s hero’s journey. Great villains often act as a dark mirror of the hero, representing an equal yet opposite force. For Peter Parker, this typically means fighting scientists who use their technology to acquire wealth and fame with no care about who gets hurt. With this version of Tombstone, however, the mirror is turned on Peter Parker’s idealism and tendency towards secrecy.

The third wave of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man episodes centers around the consequences of Peter’s secret identity. While he only intended to protect his loved ones, the secret still hurts his Aunt May and best friend, Nico. The same conflict is reflected in Tombstone, who loses a scholarship and his girlfriend after hiding his gang membership and dropping out of school. All of this is born of his desire to protect his brother and not upset his parents. Beyond delivering a lesson about honesty, it also strengthens the ties between Peter and Lonnie as characters and also remakes Tombstone into a tragic villain, more dynamic than his classic background as an unrepentant thug.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man episodes 6, 7, and 8 are now streaming on Disney+.