Tombstone and The Big Man. One in the same?

[Superhero 101]

Aunt Carnage strikes again

HAHAHAHA
MY Spider Senses Are Tingling

 

[Prefix]

I know this has been discussed abroad the other boards in this particular forum, and I'm aware that creating a thread on this may seem redundant or unnecessary for many, but I've run into many people who still hold some confusion about the subject of L. Lincoln and i thought those who came here looking for an answer or clarification would find it easier to just find this title among the others rather than searching through 80-some pages for a clear idea.

(Also, i have to admit I'm not among the most popular forum members here, and i tend to be overlooked in some cases, and i thought this particular message deserved more attention)

So, the big question is: Is Tombstone really the big man?

My answer? No.L. Thompson Lincoln AKA. Tombstone is a high level enforcer, one to take on formal matters of business and empire rather than, say, getting his hands dirty or making his presence in the "family" all too obvious- That's hammerheads job. Tombstone is the physical presence of The Big man's empire, but he is not the true "Big Man" himself, this is obvious once we look at a few key points:

-Tombstone never once refers to himself as the big man, in fact, he only speaks of the big man in third person,"His empire, etc." going so far as to refer to his own lack of knowledge when it comes to his employer. I.E."The Big Man... Whomever he might be, has nothing against heroes"
-Tombstones only references to himself are when making the deal with spider-man. the offer to work "for him" may be one of three things, either A: tombstone is switching narratives to create confusion, B: He is attempting to thwart Big Man by buying Spidey out himself, or C: he is referring to working under him, as another branch of the Big Mans empire. The third seems the most likely.
-The character of Mr. Foswell is definetly more than a simple cameo. Foswell, as many of you are already aware, is the identity of The Big Man in the comic books. Some have argued that Foswell has been made a journalist or bugle employee in contrast with the character change ala Montana to shocker, i argue that this simply doesint make sense. Montana was made the shocker in order to create a coherent story for the characters origins, and Greg Weisman has stated that they would never change characters or throw in twists to the original spider-man canon if they were found unnecessary. Foswell would not be introduced, and then left aside, by the creative team we have right now, his introduction is designed to be much more than it currently is.

-Foswell, as well, is an obvious prop for foreshadowing, you can see so in the cinematography of the show, as in some of his lines. For example, Foswells introduction to us is the elevator scene in which rhino needs to get to the 22nd floor to find peter parker. Foswell, standing in center of the elevator, is enveloped in the silhouette of the rhino... a small man masked by a giant figure, an exact depiction of the big man's true nature. Later on, during foswells conversation with peter, he says himself "If their is a big man out there, his name isint Lincoln."

All of this is a dramatic set up, little clues designed to be unseen by the common viewer, but once they're examined it becomes quite clear where the writers are going with this.


That being said, i want to commend the staff who've brought this show to us, I'm 18 now and i have no shame in telling my friends i jump out of my bed every Saturday morning, giddy like a child at Christmas, right before the show. i think we've all gotten a chance to believe in spidey again and I'm grateful that I'm a part of this fan base.

My sentiments exactly.

 

[ReggieWhiteJr]

At first I thought Tombstone was the Big Man as well until I read some posts at the Toon Zone forum that got me thinking otherwise.

Mad props to Greg W and co. for making our brains think about a mystery like this on a Saturday morning cartoon. I can't remember the last time I felt like this about a show.

 

[storyteller]

I think even Tombstone knows that physical strength is irrelevant. I mean Rhino could probably take on Tombstone but he doesnt have the brains to run an organization. Tobstone in this series isnt just some lackey but he isn't at the very top.

 

[Spiderine]

While I wouldn't be surprised if Tombstone is just a front and Foswell is the real deal, I would give the creators serious props if Tombstone was indeed the real Big Man. This in a sense is just a different universe, so of course they have to change things up. We were all expecting the big reveal to be Foswell and the producers knew that but BAM they threw us off and showed us Tombstone ugly mug instead.

I'm hoping they do the same for Hobgoblin, when they reveal who he is I want to be surprised and not expect Kingsly. Otherwise whats the point of the mystery, if we know whos under the mask?

Many of us die hard comic book readers may know how the "Big Man" saga played out and those of us who go to these boards to discuss these endless scenarios on a daily basis may know but many casual viewers and fans of the show would have no earthly idea that Foswell would be the real man behind the scenes so its still a mystery twist to them. How many of these posters come on the boards and never even knew about the Big Man. Besides, if it was Foswell which we know in the comics it is still interesting to see it play out for the first time on an animated show. Either way, whether it's Tombstone, Foswell or perhaps someone else it is interesting to say the least.

 

[IamProdigy]

Tombstone is the guy that pretends to be the Big Man, only to keep Foswell hidden in secrecy, and Hammerhead is he guy that work for the Big Man in the way that he hired new muscles. I have an idea that we won't see the revelation of Foswell as the Big Man until season two sometime.

 

[Webhead2006]

Yea i still hope tombstone is just the front to keep us thinking who is really big man.

 

[ReggieWhiteJr]

Considering Tombstone could easily snap Foswell in two, I think Foswell must pack a lot of neurons if he indeed is the Big Man. In any case, if Tombstone is a cover, props to Big Man thinking to provide such. If he had one back in the comics, he probably wouldn't have been busted so easily.

 

[Farren]

I -Tombstone never once refers to himself as the big man, in fact, he only speaks of the big man in third person,"His empire, etc." going so far as to refer to his own lack of knowledge when it comes to his employer. I.E."The Big Man... Whomever he might be, has nothing against heroes"
-Tombstones only references to himself are when making the deal with spider-man. the offer to work "for him" may be one of three things, either A: tombstone is switching narratives to create confusion, B: He is attempting to thwart Big Man by buying Spidey out himself, or C: he is referring to working under him, as another branch of the Big Mans empire. The third seems the most likely.

The third person stuff was very suspicious to me as well. I really hope Foswell is the Big Man, because at some point I'd like to see an adaption of the ASM #51-52 story where

Spoiler

JJJ gets saved by Foswell

.

 

[Spider-ManHero12]

The third person stuff was very suspicious to me as well. I really hope Foswell is the Big Man, because at some point I'd like to see an adaption of the ASM #51-52 story where

Spoiler

JJJ gets saved by Foswell

.

Agreed, that arc was fantastic and I'm sure if it was adapted in the show, it would be fantastic in the show as well.

 

[The Lizard]

I've always thought Tombstone was a cool villain who could have made a great secondary enemy in one of the Spidey movies.

First, he's an organized crime strongarm, so you have the great scenario of Spidey up against the Maggia (Mafia) types who aren't supervillains themselves until Tombstone walks into the room.

Second, Tombstone isn't a flashy, costume-wearing crazy supervillain. He just wears expensive suits, but his size and creepy Solomon Grundy-type look makes him a total badass.

Third, even though he looks like an albino zombie, Tombstone is African-American. I noticed that both of his thugs in the Rhino episode of Spectacular were black, so I'm sure that the writers of the show are aware of this. Since I'm guessing that the Kingpin won't be black (or around at all for now) in this series, Tombstone makes a good African-American supervillain to fill that gap.

No disrespect to the Hypno-Hustler intended. t:

 

[IamProdigy]

Another reason why the Spider-Man movies were awful...if Raimi liked the classic villains, he could've have some sort of crime-wave in NYC while Spidey was there...battling super-villains and also people like Hammerhead, Tombstone, Enforcers, et cetera. Would've also been cool if in the movie, Osborn was working alongisde them too and just keep that storyline to movie number two, and possibly three. IMO.

 

[sauronthegreat]

I think that this mystery will finally be revealed in "The Uncertainty Principle". The title suggests it. If we take in consideration that Chameleon is cast for this season, the logical way for him to appear, judging by the title, is in that episode. Maybe there is some connection between Foswell and Chameleon, not that I would want that, but maybe Chameleon runs all the criminal activities from the shadows and Foswell is his public identity. Definitely, if not now but in the future, would love to see Chameleon as a criminal mastermind, not a petty crook or an enforcer with shapeshifting abilities.
But all we can do is speculate and derive our own conclusions, and that's what makes this show so rich and abundant. We may forge our own scenarios, but I have no doubt that in the end theirs will prevail. By now the writers proved that, and not only the writers but the whole team involved in this project.

 

[Webhead2006]

I thought chameleon wasnt in season 1.

 

[Spider-ManHero12]

I thought chameleon wasnt in season 1.

I think he was assuming judging by the title of the episode.

 

[Webhead2006]

Yea cause i remember reading he isnt due to be in the show yet maybe season 2 or if not 2 3 because we know who is in the rest of the season. goblin, ock, black cat/ quetin beck, sinster 6, venom, i believe are rest of season 1 foes right.

 

[Spiderine]

I wonder who is in Episode 9 The Uncertainty Principle?

 

[Webhead2006]

yea i too, i thought it was to be kraven and the chick calscipo(spelling) but they are showing up in two right? or are they still confirmed for season 1?

 

[Spider-ManHero12]

I think the 9th episode may just deal with Peter getting Symbiote. I mean, it is a Villian afterall.

 

[Webhead2006]

Well that isnt likely to happen greg as said the final arch which is episode ep10-13 will be about the symboite and venom and alot figure peter will have it for two episode and then venom for 12 and 13. Or peter has it for 3 episodes and venom just for 1 in ep 13.

 

[Spider-ManHero12]

Well that isnt likely to happen greg as said the final arch which is episode ep10-13 will be about the symboite and venom and alot figure peter will have it for two episode and then venom for 12 and 13. Or peter has it for 3 episodes and venom just for 1 in ep 13.

Very true, I guess we will just have to wait and see.

 

[Web-Head408]

yea i too, i thought it was to be kraven and the chick calscipo(spelling) but they are showing up in two right? or are they still confirmed for season 1?

I thought Kraven and Calypso we're confirmed for season 2, weren't they?

 

[Spider-ManHero12]

I thought Kraven and Calypso we're confirmed for season 2, weren't they?

Yeah, I think they were confirmed for the first episode of season 2. I'm not 100% sure though.

 

[Webhead2006]

yea thats what i was wondering at first i thought they were confirmed for season one but its probably one of the episodes in the second 13.

 

[ReggieWhiteJr]

With the summary for "The Catalyst" we should see more of Tombstone and get more on this mystery. I sure hope we do. I'm thinking about this stuff while I'm at work and laying in bed at night! t: