I agree with Picard Sisko. I made a mistake between Kaftka and Ratha.
But let's looks at the different characters that could be involved with helping to amp up Electro and/or be the Man in the Shadows:
- Norman Osborn.
I think it's safe to assume at this point that Norman is bedridden and is not the Man in the Shadows, nor is he the one helping to amp up Electro. In fact, I've been starting to think he might die during TASM2, but in an after credits scene might be "revived".
- Donald Menken.
This is allegedly Colm Feore's part. Yes, many of us thought Feore might end up being Adrien Toomes, since he has the look for the Vulture, but the indication is that will not be the case. In the comic's Menken is really nothing more than Norman Osborn's personal assistant, which could possibly put him in a position to have a lot of knowledge. The viral site called Menken a "spokesman". Seems like he's more of a yes man than anything else, so it doesn't look like he's either the "doc" amping up Electro, or the Man in the Shadows. At the same time, the set pics with him at Ravencroft is interesting, as it shows Oscorp's involvement at that facility.
- Dr. Kafka.
Allegedly this is Marton Csokas' role. I think it's a fair question why Webb would want a male actor playing this female role? Are there plans for this character that would make it beneficial for it to be a male actor?
In the comics Doctor Kafka was the founder of Ravencroft and treated many of Spiderman's villains, including Electro, Doc Ock, Carnage and Vulture. She was killed during by an inmate, named Massacre, who was escaping.
Now, is that a pic of Csokas staring up at a cell of some sort. Doesn't that cell look just like the aparatus that Electro gets amped up in:
Notice the light at the right of the above picture and how it matches the light that you can see through the cage in that picture.
- Alistaire Smythe
This one is allegedly B.J. Novak's role. In the comics Alistaire Smythe is the son of Spencer Smythe, the inventor responsible for creating the robotic Spider-Slayers.
On the Viral Site for the movie there was a report that "
Within a week of the announcement that the NYPD and the District Attorney’s Office had opened an investigation into illegal activities and questionable medical practices at Manhattan’s Oscorp Industries, sources indicate several of their top scientists have been asked to leave.
Reports cite the recent forced resignation of Dr. Spencer Smythe, the Director of Robotics, amongst others. He was seen leaving Oscorp Tower yesterday with a box of his personal belongings.
When asked to comment on the current employment situation of Dr. Smythe, Oscorp spokesman Donald Menken had no comment. Later in the day, Oscorp sent out a press release congratulating Alistair Smythe on his promotion to the Director of Robotics formerly held by his father."
Interesting, seems like Spencer is out, and Alistaire is the head honcho...
- Spencer Smythe
Dad of Alistaire. In the comics he was the original inventor of the Spider-Slayers, and dies of radiation poisoning.
On the Viral Site there was a report that he was just fired as the head of the robotics division at Oscorp, and was replaced by his his son.
Could his firing be a cover-up while he is still at Oscorp behind the scnes? Sure it's possible, but so far there is no indication of Spencer being in TASM2.
- The Gentleman (Gustav Fiers)
In an interview with Webb, he indicated the following:
"Think about the Gentleman."
"I'm just saying. Put that in your... There's your little tidbit. Think about the Genltman."
In the comics The Gentleman brought a version of the Sinister Six together.
- Otto Octavius (Doc Ock)
We've seen the tentacles, just like we've seen Vulture's wings, so we know he's coming. It would make a lot of sense for Otto to be an Engineer working at Oscorp, since Oscorp seems to be the root of all evil in this universe.
So, looking at the character The Man if the Shadows, which was in the mid-credits scene in TASM1, and appears to be in a new scene in TASM2, it appears to be an older character. If I had to guess I would say between mid-40's to 60's.
This would likely take Donald Menken, Dr. Kafka and Alistaire Smythe out of the running.
We know that in TASM1 TMITS was Michael Masse, and many believe he reprises this role in TASM2.
Many believed (including me) that TMITS was Norman (at the end of TASM1). Many things pointed to this, including the lobby picture at Oscorp.
But, it appears that this is no longer the case. Hey, things change. What may have once been the plan (and they would never admit it) could be changed, and that's what I think has happened.
At this point it seems as though maybe Webb was being straight up with us in TMITS being The Gentleman. Not sure why or how the character will be used, if this is the case, but with knowledge that Webb is using characters like Menken, Kafka, and Smythe, I guess Fiers is not too outragious.
Look, at some point Otto will need to come into things, but maybe things aren't as hidden as we first thoght. Maybe when he said "the Gentleman" he wasn't lying...
And I think I've effectively now proven that Electro will be amped up at Ravencroft and it will be Doctor Kafka who is the "Doc" helping Harry make this happen. So when I first posted about Electro saying "Doc", I was correct, he is talking to a doc.
