WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for Spider-Punk #1, on sale now from Marvel Comics.
The Spider-Verse is not only a creative way to introduce new and interesting Spider-people into the Marvel Universe, but it's also a chance for readers to dive deeper into the lore of some fan favorites that were introduced during the Spider-Verse event by Dan Slott and Olivier Coipel. A perfect example of this is Hobie Brown, aka Spider-Punk of Earth-138. With Spider-Punk #1 (by Cody Ziglar, Justin Mason, Jim Charalampidis, and VC's Travis Lanham), fans can not only dive into the punk rock-inspired hero's world but also his colorful collection of villains. One example included a perfect iteration of Taskmaster that could potentially be this Spider-Man's greatest arch-nemesis.
Much like other classic Spider-Man tales, Spider-Punk followed the story of Hobie Brown, a teen bit by an irradiated spider that was made due to toxic waste dumping. However, unlike Peter, whose spider-persona inadvertently became a symbol of freedom and promised that anyone could make a difference, Hobie actively marketed this idea. As a punk rock Spider-Man, whose powers were born from illegal corporate activities, his actions were always meant to create anarchy and incite an uprising so that the people knew they shouldn't have to live under the thumb of someone more powerful. But with Taskmaster, it was clear that to combat an anarchist, companies needed the darkest side of capitalism they could get ahold of.
No matter the universe, Taskmaster has been the definition of a self-made person. Thanks to his photographic reflexes and ability to brand himself, he's been the premiere mercenary in Marvel Comics for decades. In Hobie's universe, however, he's taken things to the next level as a mercenary who may care more about money than any other variants. After he defeated his version of Kraven the Hunter, Hobie was ambushed by a version of Taskmaster with a hood reminiscent of the hairstyle of the Misfits, Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein, and a shield with a massive dollar sign painted on it. Aesthetically, the book made it clear that this threat would oppose Spider-Man literally and ethically.
Hobie Brown is a hero of the people and actively opposed politics, which is par for the course with a hero-themed as a punk rocker. But by introducing Taskmaster, there's a corporate stink on him that made him look like the best way for big businesses to handle "young upstarts." Based on his look alone, Taskmaster couldn't care less about casualties so long as his check cleared. Furthermore, the mild punk influences in his outfit look less inspired and more like "The Man's" attempt to mock the music of Hobie's generation. To be beaten by someone who is aesthetically just as punk as Spidey would be both humiliating and unnerving for anyone to see.
There's also an irony in how this Taskmaster hardly had to change from his 616 counterpart's look to get across the main point of his character to the reader. In a way, it spoke to the larger punk influence of the character and the genre and proved that even heroes as clean looking as the 616 version of Spidey have some aspect of punk in their DNA. If Taskmaster may be a representative of corporate greed and selfishness across all realities, then those who oppose them are inherently punk. The only difference is that in Hobie's universe, it's more of a way of life.
Spider-Punk is a series with the potential to comment on more modern issues that have arisen as corporations have gained more control over the years. By opposing Taskmaster, there's an even greater chance that the message that could be conveyed between them would have a stylish and powerful impact on readers. In the end, while punk is an aesthetic many can't get into, its ideals and the concept of standing up to those that don't care about the "little guy" is universal. Now, that seemingly eternal battle of ethics and beliefs will take a new form between Hobie and Taskmaster.