This article is about a Marvel Comics character. For the fictional alien species in Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, see Mind worms .

The Mindworm (William Turner) is a Marvel Comics character and a former enemy of Spider-Man.

C.M. Kornbluth published a science fiction short story in 1950 with the title The Mindworm. The center character of this was a mutant who fed (fatally) on others' emotions. The Marvel character of that name has very similar abilities.

Born a freak with superhuman powers, William Turner accidentally killed both his parents by his feeding. After this he was sent to an orphanage, where he protected himself from bullies with his powers. People soon started calling him "Mindworm".

After he was grown up, he moved into a small shack on the outskirts of New York City. Flash Thompson lived in an apartment near him. Later, Peter Parker had to move in with Flash, and so Mindworm attempted to feed off Parker. However, Parker was able to resist Mindworm with his strong mind. Mindworm eventually physically attacked Parker, but Spider-Man gave him a severe blow to the head, which completely stunned Mindworm and allowed the police to imprison him.

Mindworm once attempted to avenge himself on Spider-Man, but he was again defeated. Finally, he befriended Peter and adopted the motto "With great power comes great responsibility".