Flint Marko is a crook who gained the ability to control and morph into sand after falling into a supercollider, becoming Sandman and clashing with Spider-Man, though they soon made amends. Sandman found himself thrown through the Multiverse due to Doctor Strange's failed spell. Seeking to return to his universe and care for his daughter, Sandman agreed to work with this universe's Spider-Man to be cured and sent home. However, when Green Goblin sabotaged these plans, Sandman sided against Spider-Man, as he no longer cared about curing himself or the other Multiversal visitors and simply wanted to return home to his daughter. After a final battle against the three Spider-Men, Marko was ultimately cured of his powers and sent back to his universe.
Flint Marko was a convicted criminal who had a daughter, Penny. He saw on the news how Norman Osborn and Otto Octavius died fighting Spider-Man. Marko obtained powers when he fell into a super collider that molecularly altered his body by bonding it with sand, making him able to transform his body and control the sand. With these powers, Marko became known as Sandman and clashed with Spider-Man, discovering his true identity as Peter Parker. Sandman and Spider-Man later ended up on good terms.[1] Over time, Sandman's mutation had him stuck in fully sand form making him unable to revert to his human form.[2]
Sandman was suddenly transported to another universe, where he arrived in a forest in New York, not knowing what happened. While wandering around, Sandman noticed Electro trying to shoot a bolt of electricity at Spider-Man, so Sandman became a wall of sand to whirl up and take the brunt of the shock. As he was protecting Spider-Man, Sandman greeted the web-slinger asked him if he remembered him, although Spider-Man told him he was not the Peter Parker he knew, much to Sandman's confusion.
Despite his confusion, Sandman agreed to help Spider-Man fight Electro by acting as a wall of protective sand around Spider-Man. Sandman turned into a sand typhoon swirling around Electro while Spider-Man destroyed the utility poles that were feeding Electro energy. As Electro was defeated, Sandman appeared next to an unmasked Spider-Man and remarked how weird it was to meet another Peter Parker.
The pair approached Electro and Sandman listened as Spider-Man revealed that Sandman and Electro were in another universe, much to Sandman's surprise. When Electro's eyes started flashing, Sandman attempted to calm him down. Sandman pretended Electro wasn't naked until Spider-Man found some clothes and had Electro wear them, before using magic from his Web-Shooters to transport him away.
Uneasy at the sight of Electro seemingly disintegrating, Sandman asked Spider-Man what he did and accused Spider-Man of killing him. Spider-Man pleaded for him to calm down and trust him, but Sandman told him he didn't trust him since he didn't know this Spider-Man. Before Sandman could attack him, Spider-Man used his web-shooters to transport him to a holding cell at the New York Sanctum, where other villains, including Electro, were imprisoned.
He furiously pounded his fists against the barrier, asking what this was. Annoyed at Electro and Lizard talking to each other, Sandman told them to be silent and asked Michelle Jones and Ned Leeds where they were, and they responded it was a wizard's dungeon.[1]
Imprisoned at the Sanctum[]
Sandman reveals the villains' deaths
"They both died. Fighting Spider-Man. It was all over the news. Green Goblin: impaled by the glider he flew around on. And a couple years later, you, Doc Ock, drowned in the river with your machine."
The next day, Spider-Man brought Norman Osborn to the New York Sanctum, where he reunited with Doctor Octopus. Osborn was told by Doctor Octopus that he was supposed to be dead, and when Spider-Man was about to say otherwise, Sandman intervened, revealing that both Osborn and Doctor Octopus died fighting their universe's Spider-Man. He explained to the shocked scientists how they died, making every villain recall their battles with their Spider-Man and be concerned for their fates when they would return to their home realities.
When Doctor Strange was about to use the Macchina di Kadavus to send the Multiversal travelers back home, the villains reacted nervous and uneasy, until Spider-Man stole the box and teleported Strange to Sandman's cell. Strange managed to easily walk through the barrier, making Sandman try to walk out but bumped into the transparent wall. Spider-Man managed to steal the box and trap Strange in the Mirror Dimension, returning to the sanctum. He offered the villains help by fixing them of their afflictions, with Sandman noting that he just wanted to go home. The villains then decided to go along with Spider-Man's plan.[1]
"So why'd you come along?" "I have a daughter and I want to see her. But he's not gonna send anyone home until he's finished his little science project back there."
With Spider-Man's help, the villains were brought to Happy Hogan's condominium in a F.E.A.S.T. truck, allowing Sandman, ElectroNorman Osborn and a restrained Doctor Octopus to hustle into Hogan's apartment. Sandman took a seat on the black leather sofa, accidentally causing sand from his body to fall onto the cushions. He apologized and tried to brush the sand off the sofa but was unsuccessful.
While Spider-Man and Osborn were creating a Neural Inhibitor Chip for Doctor Octopus, Sandman and Electro began conversing. Electro told Sandman about how he could so much more in this universe with the Arc Reactor, and asked Sandman why he came along. Sandman responded that he wanted to see his daughter, saying that Spider-Man would not send them home until he finished curing them. After admitting that he didn't trust anyone, Sandman asked Electro how he ended up the way he did. Electro explained that he fell into a vat of mutated electric eels, and Sandman told him he himself fell into a super collider. Electro took sympathy in this, reminding that they needed to be careful where they could fall. Sandman and the rest looked up from below as Spider-Man placed the chip onto Doctor Octopus' tentacles, successfully curing Octavius, and Sandman was even admirably impressed after Octavius was back to his normal self.[1]
Sandman watched as Spider-Man prepared Electro's cure and placed it on his chest. After Spider-Man left, Electro remarked that the cure device was making him feel ill, although Sandman told him to leave it alone, stating that they needed to be cured so they could all go home. Later, everyone noticed that Spider-Man was sensing something was off in the apartment, so they all gathered around to wonder what was transpiring. Sandman then witnessed as the Green Goblin alter took over Norman Osborn's body. Osborn informed the other villains that there superhuman abilities were to be embraced as gifts and not afflictions that needed to be cured.
Sandman decides to leave
Green Goblin's philosophy swayed Electro, who ripped the cure device from his chest and stole an Arc Reactor. When Electro tapped into the Arc Reactor's power and was confronted by Doctor Octopus, Sandman decided to disintegrate into a cloud of sand. As a battle broke loose, Electro threw Doctor Octopus through a wall outside. As Electro stood on the edge of the hole and looked out into the city, Sandman escaped through the hole and transformed into a massive sand storm, encircling the authorities and media who were watching from below. Sandman then transformed into a swirling cloud of sand and rapidly flew away from the apartment.[1]
Once Spider-Man made a broadcast message through The Daily Bugle announcing his presence at the Statue of Liberty with the Macchina di Kadavus, Sandman headed towards there to use the box to send himself home. While Spider-Man, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man and Amazing Spider-Man fought Electro and Lizard, Sandman's massive fist grabbed onto this universe's Spider-Man, clutching him in mid-air. Sandman demanded for the box, but when Spider-Man told him they could help Sandman and the villains, Sandman yelled that he didn't care.
After Electro told Sandman that nobody was going home, Electro accidentally blasted a crane, sending it falling down and severing Sandman's massive arm and head, freeing Spider-Man. Angered by the loss of his hand and head, Sandman drew sand from all over, creating a massive sandstorm. When the three Spider-Men landed on the statue's crown as a team, Sandman, Electro and Lizard rose directly across from them. A gigantic Sandman chased the older Spider-Man through another part of the scaffolding. Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man was scrambling to evade Sandman, who was closing in.
Marko is cured
The older Spider-Man then crawled inside the statue and climbed his way to the top. He tried to convince Sandman that they were trying to help him, but Sandman didn't give up the chase. Spider-Man was stuck in the crown and sand was quickly flooding in all around him as arms of sand started grabbing at Spider-Man, pulling him under. Finally, Spider-Man was completely engulfed in sand, save for his grasping hand, which received Sandman's Cure and clicked the device on. A blast of golden light filled the Statue, and eventually, the sand quickly retreated, allowing Spider-Man to gasp for air. Marko rose up from the sand in his human form and stared at his hand returning to flesh and bones.
Marko is returned to his home universe
Spider-Man reassured him that it was okay and that they were going to get him home, telling him to stay in the Statue as they proceeded to cure Lizard, Electro and Green Goblin. As the sun began to rise, Doctor Strange conjured the spell again, resulting in Marko and the others returning to their universes.[1]
Flint Marko is not a very trusting person as he's very quick to jump to conclusions or escape if he feels threatened. This was shown when he immediately became hostile towards the young Peter Parker when the latter transported Electro away. The only thing Marko really seems to care about is his daughter, as she was the only reason he was willing to put up with the other villains and accept the young Parker's offer to send him home. This desire to go home eventually turned to desperation as he tried to steal the Macchina di Kadavus from Spider-Man without even caring about the other villains being cured, with returning home being his only and ultimate goal.
Despite his distrusting nature, Marko did place a huge amount of regard and faith in his universe's Peter Parker, even going to the lengths of protecting his younger counterpart due to mistakenly thinking it was his from his universe. This paid off as it was his Parker who was able to turn him back to normal before sending him home to reunite with his daughter. Also, Marko was impressed with the young Parker's intelligence.
Marko does show a courteous side, as seen when he apologizes for making a mess on the coach at Happy Hogan's Condominium. Also, Marko was surprised that Electro got his power from falling into an experiment just like he did. In addition, Marko would provide information to anyone who needed it, as seen when he told the young Parker, Norman Osborn and Doctor Octopus about the two scientists' death in his universes.
Sand Physiology: Following an incident in which he fell into a super collider, Marko gained the ability to transform his body into sand. He could will his body to be hardened, compacted, dispersed or shaped, or a combination of those qualities, an Earth manipulation of sand and rock particles. Sandman could project sand particles outward at high speeds, in a form of sandstorm. However, after the Battle at Liberty Island, his mutation was undone by Spider-Man who was able to manage to return him to normal so he could finally live a reformed life.
Superhuman Strength: When Sandman had enough sand, he could hit with many pounds of sand behind his punch.
Since Marko was turned into sand, his body can take less damage from conventional methods.
Superhuman Speed: Sandman was able to catch up with his Spider-Man inside the Statue of Liberty.
Superhuman Stamina: Sandman's mutation provided him with a significant increase in stamina, allowing him to fight for long periods of time.
Regenerative Healing Factor: Since Marko was turned into sand, he could use it to heal any wounds that he has in seconds.
Self-Sustenance: Since Sandman was made of sand, he does not need air, food, or water to survive.
Transformation: Sandman's true form was a humanoid made of sand, but he used to be able to turn himself into his original form as a human, or he could turn into a giant sand monster.
Sandstorm Creation:
Sandman turning into a sandstorm
Sandman could turn himself into a sandstorm, which enabled him to fly great distances.
Sand Absorption: Sandman could absorb and use any sand along with his own.
Sand Solidification: Sandman was able to solidify himself with sand.
Size Manipulation:
Sandman in his giant form
Sandman was able to stretch his sand molecules, growing to enlarge his size.
Density Manipulation: Sandman could manipulate his sand to control his density, to make himself hard as rock or thin as sand.
Intangibility: Sandman could manipulate his density to allow anyone's attacks go right through him, making him untouchable.
Abilities[]
Skilled Combatant: Working as a petty crook, Marko is an experienced fighter who is able to hold his own.
Equipment[]
Vehicles[]
F.E.A.S.T. Truck: Sandman was transported to Happy Hogan's condominium from the New York Sanctum in this truck.
Facilities[]
Prisons[]
New York Sanctum: Sandman was held captive at the Sanctum after being captured by Spider-Man at a military power plant.
In the comics, Flint Marko, born William Baker, was a gang member incarcerated at Ryker's Island. After escaping, he was exposed to nuclear radiation, giving him the ability to control and morph into sand. While evading the police in New York City, he became known as Sandman. During his criminal career, Sandman fought against Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four, but has changed into an anti-hero over time. He was also one of the founding members of Spider-Man's recurrent group of enemies, the Sinister Six alongside Vulture, Mysterio, Doctor Octopus and Electro.
In the Spider-Man trilogy, Flint Marko is a man who got into a bad crowd, causing him to commit burglary and killing Ben Parker in the process. This caused Parker's nephew, Spider-Man to track him down. Additionally, while escaping authorities, Marko fell into a particle physics testing vat, which caused him gain the powers of manipulating sand. Marko soon joined Venom to fight against Spider-Man because he just wanted to see his daughter again. Eventually, Marko realized the error in his ways and left the fight.
In Spider-Man: No Way Home, Sandman is the only antagonist not to be affiliated with an Oscorp of an alternate universe. Additionally, prior to their appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Sandman and Lizard were the only two Spider-Man's rogues who survived the events of their respective films.
Although Sandman can revert to his standard human appearance at will as depicted in Spider-Man 3, he never takes on his human form until he is healed in Spider-Man: No Way Home since he is "stuck in fully sand form".[2] Additionally, Sandman is shown to be aware that Green Goblin and Norman Osborn were the same person as well as how Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus died, despite never even mentioning to know about them in his first appearance and the former's death being a private affair only known by Spider-Man, Harry Osborn and the latter's butler.
According to Thomas Haden Church, Spider-Man: No Way Home originally had a subplot involving Flint Marko and his daughter Penny, which would have revealed why Sandman was unable to adopt a human form in the movie, but it was cut to not "overstuff" the film. Haden Church has said, however, that he had been having conversations with Jon Watts, Amy Pascal and Kevin Feige about possibly reprising his role as Sandman in the future.[4]
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