Sandman

Flint Marko is a crook who gained the ability to control and morph into sand after falling into a supercollider, becoming Sandman. During his criminal career, he clashed with Spider-Man, although Spider-Man ultimately forgave Sandman for accidentally killing his uncle Ben Parker. However, 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 with him in a final battle against the three Spider-Men. Eventually, Sandman was restored to human, and eventually returned to his home reality.

## Contents

* Biography
* Early Life
* Becoming Sandman
* Spider-Man Multiversal Crisis
* Brought to Another Universe
* Offered Help
* Spider-Man's Science Project
* Escape of the Villains
* Battle at Liberty Island
* Personality
* Powers and Abilities
* Former Powers
* Abilities
* Equipment
* Weapons
* Other Equipment
* Vehicles
* Facilities
* Prisons
* Relationships
* Family
* Allies
* Enemies
* Trivia
* Behind the Scenes
* References
* External Links

## Biography

### Early Life

#### Becoming Sandman

Flint Marko was a convicted criminal who had a daughter, Penny. He accidentally killed Ben Parker when he tried to borrow his car. He saw on the news how the villains, Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus, died fighting Spider-Man. Marko obtained powers when 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 the villain Sandman and clashed with Spider-Man, whose true identity as Peter Parker he discovered. He later teamed up with Venom in order to defeat the web-slinger, as well as the New Goblin. After Venom was killed, Sandman and Spider-Man ended up on good terms, with Spider-Man forgiving him for Ben Parker's death. Overtime, Sandman's mutation had him stuck in fully sand form making him unable to revert back to his human form.

### Spider-Man Multiversal Crisis

#### Brought to Another Universe

Sandman was suddenly transported to an 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 this universe's Spider-Man, so Sandman, thinking it was his universe's Spider-Man, became a wall of sand to whirl up and take the brunt of the shock. As he was protecting Spider-Man, Sandman asked him if he remembered him, thinking it was his Spider-Man until the web-slinger told him he wasn't Sandman's Peter Parker, much to Sandman's confusion.

Despite his confusion, Sandman agreed to help this universe's 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. After Electro was defeated, Sandman appeared next to an unmasked Spider-Man, not recognizing him as his Spider-Man. The pair approached Electro on the surface, 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 the villain, which angered and freaked him out. 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 held at. 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.

#### Offered Help

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 suppose to be a 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 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.

#### Spider-Man's Science Project

With Spider-Man's help, the villains were snuck into Happy Hogan's apartment complex in a F.E.A.S.T. truck, allowing Sandman, Electro, Norman 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 won't 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 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 fall. Sandman and the rest looked up from below as Spider-Man place the chip onto Doctor Octopus' tentacles, successfully curing Octavius.

#### Escape of the Villains

When Electro's Cure was placed onto Electro's chest, he admitted that he didn't like it, but Sandman told him to leave it alone, since the sooner they are cured, the sooner they could go home. Later, everyone noticed that Spider-Man was sensing something was off in the apartment, so they all looked concerned. Green Goblin takes over Norman Osborn's body and insists they didn't need to be fixed, referring to their afflictions as gifts, making Sandman take this in. As a battle broke loose and the rest of the villains escaped, Sandman disintegrated into a whirl of sand, retreating. The swirling cloud of sand that was Sandman approached the burst-open living room wall. Sandman propelled himself forward, taking to the wind and flew off.

#### Battle at Liberty Island

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, Sandman's Spider-Man and Electro's 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 his Spider-Man through another part of the scaffolding. Sandman's Spider-Man was scrambling to evade Sandman, who was closing in.

His Spider-Man crawled inside the statue 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. Sandman's Spider-Man was stuck in the crown and sand was quickly flooding in all around him. Arms of sand started grabbing at Spider-Man, pulling him under. When Sandman's 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. His Spider-Man reassured him that it was okay and that they were going to get him home, telling him to stay in the statue. When the battle was over, Doctor Strange was casting the Runes of Kof-Kol that will make everyone in this reality forget their Peter Parker, Otto Octavius, Norman Osborn, Marko and their Spider-Man vanish in golden lights, returning to their universe.

## Personality

Flint Marko is not a very trusting person as he's very quick to jump to conclusions or escape if he feels threatened. 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 Peter 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.

Despite his distrusting nature, Marko did had a huge amount of respect and trust in the version of Peter Parker he fought on his reality, even going to the lengths of protecting the Spider-Man from another universe due to mistakenly thinking it was his Peter. This paid off as it was his Peter who was able to turned him back to normal before sending him home.

## Powers and Abilities

### Former Powers

* **Sand Manipulation**: Following an incident in which he fell into a super collider, Marko gained the ability to transform his body into sand. He can will his body to be hardened, compacted, dispersed or shaped, or a combination of those qualities, an Earth manipulation of sand and rock particles. 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.
	+ **Superhuman Durability**: Since Marko was turned into sand, his body can take less damage from conventional methods.
	+ **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.
	+ **Flight**: He could turn himself into a sandstorm, which enabled him to fly great distances.
	+ **Shapeshifting**: Due to his human body destroyed through the process, Sandman could change the color of sand. His striped shirt and cargo pants were colored sand to make him appear as if he wore clothes though they were sand mimicking the clothing he wore at the night of his accident since he couldn't take it off without shapeshifting.
	+ **Size Manipulation**: Sandman was able to stretch his sand molecules, growing to double 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.
	+ **Sand Absorption**: Sandman could absorb and use any sand along with his own.
	+ **Sand Blasts**: Sandman could project sand particles outward at high speeds, in a form of sandstorm.
	+ **Weapon Manifestation**: Sandman could mold his arms and hands into shapes, such as a mace or a sledgehammer.

### Abilities

* **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.

## Relationships

Allies* Peter Parker/Spider-Man - Former Enemy, Friend, Savior and Curer
* Eddie Brock/Venom †
* Max Dillon/Electro - Former Enemy
* Peter Parker/Spider-Man - Temporary Enemy
* Otto Octavius/Doctor Octopus
* Curt Connors/Lizard
* Ned Leeds
* Michelle Jones
* Norman Osborn/Green Goblin - Former Enemy
* Masters of the Mystic Arts
	+ Stephen Strange/Doctor Strange - Former Captor
* May Parker †
* Peter Parker/Spider-Man
* Dennis Carradine † - Former Partner
* Mary Jane Watson
* Harry Osborn/New Goblin †

## Trivia

* In the comics, 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, the Sandman fought against Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four, but has changed into an anti-hero over time.
* 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 Marvel Cinematic Universe, he and Lizard are the only two Spider-Man's rogues from who survived the events of their respective universes.
* Although Sandman can revert back 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".
* In *Spider-Man 3*, Marko is not referred to as "Sandman" until near the end of the film by the news, *"Every attempt by the police to rescue the hostage has been thwarted by the Sandman."*

## Behind the Scenes

* Sandman in the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues the live-action incarnation of the character from Sam Raimi's *Spider-Man* trilogy from Sony Pictures Studios, who was also portrayed by Thomas Haden Church; he is the first live-action incarnation of the character, while another incarnation within the MCU was an elemental illusion engineered by Mysterio.
* When Sandman transforms back into Marko, footage from *Spider-Man 3* of Thomas Haden Church as the character was superimposed into the scene.
* Jon Watts was a stand-in for the actor who physically replaced Thomas Haden Church in the role of Sandman.

## References

The Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki has a collection of images and media related to Flint Marko.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki has a collection of quotes related to Flint Marko.

1. ↑ Jump up to:1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 *Spider-Man: No Way Home*
2. ↑ Jump up to:2.0 2.1 Sandman's Page on Marvel.com
3. ↑ Spider-Man: No Way Home's Jon Watts Performed Motion Reference Clips for Sandman

## External Links

* Sandman on Marvel Database
* Flint Marko (Earth-96283) on Marvel Database
* Sandman on Wikipedia