Marvel's Spider-Man 2 fans have realized that the game is missing a villain they expected to return from the first game.
This article contains story spoilers for Marvel's Spider-Man 2.
If you're a fan of Marvel's Spider-Man (or the MCU's better-late-than-never Black Widow movie), you'll probably be familiar with Taskmaster. A returning villain across the Marvel pantheon since 1980, Taskmaster is generally depicted as a solder-for-hire whose photographic reflexes allow them to mimic different fighting styles. They show up in Marvel's Spider-Man with a series of challenges, before you're tasked with seeing them off in a fight.
It's long been understood that Taskmaster would be making a return in Marvel's Spider-Man 2. Back in May, they appeared in a trailer for the game alongside several other villains from the first game, and that same footage - depicting Kraven's kill list - showed up in a cutscene at the start of the game. The clip has been edited slightly since its first appearance - in May, Miles and Peter were used to obscure Sandman and Electro, to keep their existence in the game secret.
Kraven's kill list is pretty literal - several of the faces on it meet their unfortunate end during the Hunter's time in New York. As for Taskmaster, however, so far there is literally no sign of them whatsoever - no evidence of their existence in New York, nor of their demise at Kraven's hands. It's a peculiar omission and one that players have started to pick up on.
Wait...where tf was Taskmaster in Spider-Man 2?! He was on the tablet that Kraven was looking at in the beginning of the game- pic.twitter.com/vX5x0UutlmOctober 24, 2023
One explanation for Taskmaster's current absence is that an appearance is planned for an expansion or a later game - Insomniac is already teasing the possibility of a new game or a Venom-themed spinoff. Another, however, appears to be their propensity for getting themselves out of trouble at the first sign that anything is amiss. Thought of as something of a tactical mastermind, Taskmaster is also a master of the strategic retreat - or, if you believe the words of some of their harsher critics, of running away from a fight.
Don't know much about this universe's version of taskmaster but 616 Taskmaster would've heard about Kraven coming to town at least 6 months before he left and would've just skipped town before he arrived lol https://t.co/x6a1eOQmosOctober 24, 2023
Taskmaster the moment her knew kraven was on his way https://t.co/AeJRQMSz8y pic.twitter.com/G0HYkLJ2AAOctober 24, 2023
If you play the game you understand why he would have gotten tf out of New York cause I would be gone too https://t.co/Dca2aAXQ7TOctober 24, 2023
Based on the havoc that Kraven wreaks on the supervillains of New York, it does sound like Taskmaster might have made a smart move. That said, I'd argue it's not great for your reputation if everyone acknowledges your habit of getting out of dodge the second a fight goes bad. I'd venture we might see Taskmaster rear their head again, but probably not while Kraven is still on the prowl.
Elsewhere in New York, Spider-Man 2 is home to the best NPC dialogue I've ever heard.
