The following contains major spoilers for Amazing Spider-Man #1, available now from Marvel Comics.
In the months following the unraveling of the Beyond Corporation's hidden agenda, Peter Parker's life has taken a few unexpected turns. As things spin out of control for the original Spider-Man, one of his classic villains is experiencing a similar upheaval, making him one of the web-slinger's most complex foes to date.
While Peter Parker struggles to keep his personal relationships from falling apart, Amazing Spider-Man #1 (by Zeb Wells, John Romita Jr., Scott Hanna, Marcio Menyz, and VC's Joe Carmagna) sees the crimelord Tombstone (aka Lonnie Lincoln) in a somewhat better position. Despite his mean exterior, Lincoln is legitimately happy to hear that Randy Robertson is preparing to propose to his daughter Janice, aka the Beetle. Even when his criminal dealings are botched by Spider-Man, Tombstone brushes off the potential for blow back courtesy of Wilson Fisk's recently resurrected son, The Rose. However, once his house is blown up (with him still inside), the villain's happy demeanor takes an abrupt turn for the worse.
First introduced in 1987's Web of Spider-Man #36 (by Gerry Conway and Alex Saviuk), Lonnie Lincoln began his criminal career as a mob enforcer, eventually evolving into one of the city's most prominent crime lords. Even though he is often depicted as a ruthless villain, his twisted moral compass has seen the crimelord actually spare the lives of plenty of his enemies. He has even embraced people he once would have murdered in an instant, including his oldest rival and Randy's father, Robbie Robertson. Tombstone has never extended that kind of empathy towards Spider-Man, but he has always maintained an overly professional attitude towards anyone not directly in his way.
They may not seem like much on the surface, but these small complexities in Tombstone's character are exactly what make him as intriguing as he is deadly. Unlike more one-dimensional villains, Lincoln has always been completely receptive to the world around him, constantly keeping an eye and ear out for the details hidden between the lines. Tombstone also understands the nuances that come with being a criminal in a world populated by superpowered beings. However, the unsavory aspects of his life have not numbed him to the delicate touch that his familial and interpersonal relationships require. Luckily for Spider-Man, this means the villain isn't interested in making any threats towards the hero when the two meet to discuss the impending fallout of The Rose's attack. On the other hand, Lincoln makes it no secret that he is going to hold Spider-Man personally accountable for the success of their venture.
Plenty of Spider-Man's enemies have put him through the wringer, but few have done so with such a deftly cunning and calculating hand as Tombstone. If nothing else, Lincoln is the perfect example of someone who doesn't need explosive powers to make a lasting impact on the heroes of the Marvel Universe.
With any luck, Spider-Man will be able to stave off the next big impact Tombstone is planning on making before it rips his city apart. If not, there may very well be a new, familiar kingpin of New York who is ready and willing to wreak havoc on the city in order to achieve his goals.