Sandman (Marvel Comics)

For other comic book series and characters called Sandman, see The Sandman (comics).

The Sandman (Flint Marko, though originally it was believed that his name was Will Baker) is a comic book supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe, and an enemy of Spider-Man. He was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, and first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #4 (1963).

The Sandman has the ability to transform into a malleable sand-like substance which can be hardened, dispersed, or shaped according to his will. He possesses vast superhuman strength several times in excess of Spider-Man's. This ability was the result of accidental radiation bombardment.

He served as a founding member of the Frightful Four which often tangled with the Fantastic Four, and of the Sinister Six which frequently battled Spider-Man.

At one point, after a humiliating experience of temporarily becoming a monster after he merged with Hydro-Man, he reformed, thanks in part to the support of the Thing, and became a member of The Avengers, and later a mercenary in the employ of Silver Sable. He later reverted to his villainous ways, claiming to have been faking his heroic career, although it was revealed that the Wizard had used his mind-controlling "Id Machine" to return the Sandman to his villainous ways.

Marko is also the surname of Cain Marko, the Juggernaut, the stepbrother of Charles Xavier of the X-Men. As yet, it is unknown if the two are related - both have a history of being villians-turned-heroes.