The Amazing Spider-Man: Lizard Facts

Curt Connors is a skilled and intellectual surgeon who decided to put his talents to proper use by enlisting in the U.S. Army. But no good deed goes unpunished and an explosion injured his arm. The body part had to be amputated and Curt became determined to figure out how reptiles can regrow entire limbs. After a serum proved successful on a rabbit, the doctor tested the formula on himself. His arm did indeed return, but it also mutated the man into the creature we now know as the Lizard.

The villain had the crazy goal of taking of the world with an unstoppable army of lizards. Spider-Man was able to develop a cure which reverted the green foe back to his human form, but the change was short lived. The two would battle countless more times, with Spider-Man often needing luck or using his genius intellect to survive the violent encounters.

Lizard has Spider-Man outclassed in almost every possible way. Spider-Man is a strong guy (handbooks list him at being able to lift 10 tons), but the Lizard ranks in at having the might to press 12 tons. The big dude can chase you at speeds up to 45 mph, and if he gets near you, those claws, strength and teeth aren't the only things you should be afraid of. The Lizard's six-and-a-half-foot tail can attack at 70 mph and destroy concrete. To make him even more dangerous, Lizard is sporting an accelerated healing factor that allows him to regrow limbs and quickly recover from other seemingly fatal wounds. Needless to say, if The Amazing Spider-Man's version of Lizard is even close to his comic counter-part, then movie Spider-Man is going to have his hands full.

"His reptilian skin is like a coat of armor. I can knock him down-- but I can't hurt him! How do you beat someone who doesn't feel your punches?" Good question, Spider-Man. The Lizard's thick skin proves enough durability to withstand the superhuman level strikes from Parker. It also renders him immune from most rifles and pistols, forcing small caliber bullets to deflect off of his body. So how does Spider-Man defeat him? Usually with a lot of luck or prep time. One time Parker was able to lure him into a freezer and other times he's developed serums to use. There are plenty of times where Connors has had the web-slinger dead to rights and a nice helping of luck saved his life.

Curt's family life has been one giant tragedy. Curt's wife and son (Martha and Billy) lived in fear of Curt reverting to the Lizard and even had to be relocated by Spider-Man at one point. Unfortunately, it was too late because the real danger didn't come from the Lizard's teeth, but instead pollution from their past.

Martha and Billy were diagnosed with cancer after being exposed to carcinogens for years while living next to an industrial plant in Florida. Martha died from the long-term illness but Billy survived to face a far more painful end. During the story "The Gauntlet," Lizard returned and Connors is seemingly no longer in control. In a dark and emotional twist, the Lizard ate Billy.  Before being turned into reptile food, the child muttered "You're going to kill me, aren't you? I knew it... I've always known it."