L is also for The Lizard from The Spectacular Spider-Man animated TV series 2008

By now you have probably seen the upcoming Marvel Studios "The Amazing Spider-Man" 4-minute super preview trailer for the new film starring Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker / Spider-Man. So you'll also know that the trailer features Spider-Man's newest enemy / super villain The Lizard rampaging across the city, creating havoc and causing chaos. Then this isn't a spoiler in any way ;p

The top genetics expert at Empire State University, Dr Curt Connors thought he had the means and scientific know-how to regrow his missing arm. Connors combined his own DNA with a self-created reptilian formula and inadvertently transformed himself into a vicious monster! With his brilliant intellect clouded by primal instincts, Curt Connors has become The Lizard - a cold-blooded foe for his former student, The Spectacular Spider-Man!

The stylized version of the Lizard as seen in the Spectacular Spider-Man animated TV series was released as an action figure by Hasbro in late 2008. I thought the Lizard in the new Spider-Man film looked less like The Lizard from the comics and more like Killer Croc, a former crocodile wrestler (Waylon Jones) turned into a criminal deformed by a birth defect. Problem is: Killer Croc's from DC Comics ;p

In the comics, Curtis Connors was a gifted surgeon who enlisted in the U.S. Army and was sent off to war. He performed emergency battlefield surgery on wounded GIs, but his right arm was injured in a blast and had to be amputated. After his return to civilian life as a research technologist, Connors became obsessed with uncovering the secrets of reptilian limb regeneration and studied reptilian biology extensively.

Connors developed an experimental serum taken from reptilian DNA, ingested it and his missing arm did indeed grow back. The formula had a side effect; Connors was subsequently transformed into a reptilian humanoid monster. Spider-Man discovered this situation during a trip to Florida to investigate newspaper reports of the Lizard after the Bugle challenged him. Spider-Man was then able to use Connors' notes to create an antidote to restore him to his human form and mentality.

The Lizard first appears in The Spectacular Spider-Man episode "Natural Selection". When Connors is transformed into the Lizard, his strength is increased to superhuman levels. Likewise, his speed, stamina, agility, and reflexes are also raised to a level equivalent to that of Spider-Man.

Dr Connors appeared in the 2002 – 2007 Spider-Man film trilogy but he did not become the Lizard in the franchise. In the films, he is missing his right arm as in the comic book.

Close-up picture of the stylized Lizard as seen in the Spectacular Spider-Man animated TV series. The transformed Curt Connors still looks more lizard-like than croc-like

Now we'll finally get to see The Lizard in the upcoming 2012 film "The Amazing Spider-Man". Or is that Killer Croc? ;p