Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew)

Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew)
Spider-Woman #1 (April 1978). Cover art by Joe Sinnott.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Marvel Spotlight #32 (February 1977)
Created by	Archie Goodwin Marie Severin
In-story information
Alter ego	Jessica Miriam Drew
Team affiliations	Avengers HYDRA Lady Liberators New Avengers S.H.I.E.L.D. S.W.O.R.D.
Notable aliases	Arachne, Ariadne Hyde, Hunter
Abilities	Superhuman strength, speed and agility Flight Fear-inducing pheromone generation Adheres to walls through bio-electric attraction Shoots beams of bio-electric energy from her hands Resistance to all poisons and radiations

Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew) is a fictional character, a superheroine in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Marvel Spotlight #32 (cover-dated February 1977), and 50 issues of an ongoing series titled Spider-Woman followed. At its conclusion she was killed, and though later resurrected in an Avengers story arc, she fell into disuse, supplanted by other characters using the name Spider-Woman.

Writer Brian Michael Bendis added Spider-Woman to the roster of the high profile New Avengers. In 2009, the character received her own self-titled limited series.

Concept and creation

Marvel Comics' then-publisher Stan Lee, said in 1978, shortly after Spider-Woman's debut in Marvel Spotlight #32 and the start of the character's 50-issue, self-titled series (April 1978 - June 1983), that the character originated because,

I suddenly realized that some other company may quickly put out a book like that and claim they have the right to use the name, and I thought we'd better do it real fast to copyright the name. So we just batted one quickly, and that's exactly what happened. I wanted to protect the name, because it's the type of thing [where] someone else might say, 'Hey, why don't we put out a Spider-Woman; they can't stop us.' ... You know, years ago we brought out Wonder Man, and [DC Comics] sued us because they had Wonder Woman, and... I said okay, I'll discontinue Wonder Man. And all of a sudden they've got Power Girl [after Marvel had introduced Power Man]. Oh, boy. How unfair.^[1]

Spider-Woman's origin and basic character were designed by Archie Goodwin, while her visual appearance was designed by freelancer Marie Severin.^[2]

Publication history

Original series

Though by most accounts Spider-Woman was originally intended as a one-off character for the sake of simply establishing trademark, Marvel Spotlight #32 sold unexpectedly well and writer/editor Marv Wolfman was asked to take the character to an ongoing series.^[2]

In her first appearance, Spider-Woman was to be an actual spider evolved into a human as imagined by writer/co-creator Goodwin. Her debut was shortly followed by a four-issue story arc in Marvel Two-in-One in which Wolfman presented a different origin retcon as he felt her original origin was too implausible for mid-1970s readers.^[2] During this arc and the premiere issue of her own comic Spider-Woman was identified as the human Jessica Drew (combining the first name of Wolfman's daughter and the last name of fictional detective Nancy Drew^[2]) who had memories of being a spider implanted into her by the terrorist group HYDRA. Her costume was also redesigned for her series so that her long hair was uncovered, becoming a prominent part of the character's appearance.

Wolfman introduced Spider-Woman's mentor Charles Magnus and archenemies Morgan le Fay and the Brothers Grimm. He left the series after issue #8, citing a heavy workload,^[3] but later admitted, "If truth be told I never felt comfortable writing her. I never found a handle for her and kept trying until I finally decided to leave the book."^[2] Neophyte Mark Gruenwald became the writer, while the series's regular penciler, comics legend Carmine Infantino, remained on board, having developed a fondness for the character and her stories.^[2] Gruenwald continued with the macabre themes Wolfman had used, while putting more focus on Drew's struggles to deal with her social awkwardness, shyness, and the negative reactions she produced in nearly everyone she met. The last of these is revealed to be caused by fear-inducing pheromones, a previously unrevealed ability. Gruenwald also introduced outgoing aspiring actress Lindsay McCabe, who became Drew's best friend and the mainstay of her supporting cast.

Marvel had been heavily advertising the series from the start, and during Gruenwald's run an animated TV series began airing. But Roger Stern, who replaced Wolfman as editor, recounted that Spider-Woman had already lost her status as a top seller by this time. Despite her differing origin and powers and Wolfman's deliberate effort to avoid Spider-Man guest appearances or crossovers, readers still tended to see the character as a female Spider-Man. "They saw her, and later the She-Hulk," Stern explained, "as running a good idea into the ground, much as DC had done in the ’60s with its then-ever-growing families of Super- and Bat-characters."^[2]

Issue #20 saw the departure of Gruenwald, Infantino, and Stern. New writer Michael Fleisher gave Spider-Woman a career as a bounty hunter, abandoned both the series' macabre tone and outstanding subplots such as Charles Magnus's mysterious disappearance, and replaced them with such superhero standbys as criminal masterminds and a love interest who is enamored with the protagonist's costumed guise but oblivious to her in her civilian identity. Many fans criticized that Fleisher had taken away everything that made the character special.^[4] Fleisher would be retained on the series up through #32, after which Chris Claremont, already a big-name writer for his work on Uncanny X-Men, took over and switched Jessica Drew's occupation from bounty hunter to private investigator. Steve Leialoha was drawing the series by this time.

The series had already come under criticism for its rapid turnover of writers,^[5] and like all its writers, Claremont had a fairly short stay on Spider-Woman. After 13 issues, both he and Leiahola were compelled to leave for other projects.^[6] Their final issue marked the return of Gruenwald, this time as editor. He was promptly informed that due to dwindling sales, Marvel was canceling the series, and issue #50 would be the last.^[7] Gruenwald hired comic book novices Ann Nocenti and Brian Postman as writer and penciler for the final four issues, under the theory that their inexperience in the medium would give them a unique perspective and perhaps take the series out with a bang.^[2] Under Gruenwald's direction, the series returned to its macabre roots and resumed the long-abandoned subplot of Magnus's disappearance. The final issue used a photo cover of Marvel staffers (including Gruenwald and Nocenti) in costume as the issue's cast,^[2] and had Spider-Woman perish in a climactic battle with her archnemesis Mogan le Fay. Nocenti reasoned, "These are licensed characters and you want them to have a forever life. At the same time, they live in a violent world and occasionally you feel like someone has to die, otherwise it’s too unreal."^[2]

Readers were outraged at the character being killed, and Nocenti and Gruenwald both came to feel remorse over their decision.^[2] Gruenwald took the readers' reaction especially to heart, and determined to fix what he saw as a major mistake. He and Stern had been paired up again on Avengers, but with their jobs swapped, and he instructed Stern to write a story reviving Drew.^[2] Less than a year after her death, Spider-Woman was resurrected in The Avengers #240-241 (Feb.-March 1984).

Decline

For the next four years she was limited to a handful of guest appearances. In 1988, she and Lindsay McCabe joined the supporting cast of Wolverine, appearing through the first 16 issues of the character's series, followed by brief returns in issues #27 and 125-128. She was never depicted in costume during her appearances in Wolverine, sticking with her civilian identity, though she did often use her powers to aid Wolverine.

In 1996, Mark Gruenwald returned to the character with a short back-up feature in Sensational Spider-Man Annual '96. Titled "The Return of Spider-Woman", it put Drew back in costume for the first time in over a decade and ended with a teaser for further Spider-Woman adventures in Spider-Man Team Up. However, Gruenwald died before these stories could be written, and subsequent appearances treated "The Return of Spider-Woman" as non-canon. Three years later, Drew was again placed in the role of non-costumed supporting character, this time to the third Spider-Woman, Martha Franklin, for the first 11 issues of Spider-Woman volume 3.

Drew made an appearance in a 2003 story arc in Alias, a series written by Brian Michael Bendis. Bendis would write most of the character's adventures for the next decade.

Revival through New Avengers

In January 2005, The New Avengers was launched, ostensibly with Jessica Drew as a member of the titular supergroup, back in costume as Spider-Woman. Though this Jessica Drew would later be revealed as an imposter, this prominent exposure of the character opened the door for new attention to her original adventures. First, on December 21, 2005, Marvel released the first issue of Spider-Woman: Origin, a five-part miniseries co-written by Brian Michael Bendis and Brian Reed, illustrated by the art team of the Luna Brothers, Jonathan and Joshua Luna. It was largely an extended retelling of Marvel Spotlight #32, though some details were changed.

Second, the original Spider-Woman series was reprinted in its entirety, along with Marvel Spotlight #32 and all her contemporaneous guest appearances, in a pair of Essentials trade paperbacks, the first released simultaneously with Spider-Woman: Origin #1, the second in 2007.

In 2009, the "Secret Invasion" storyline revealed that, with the exception of some flashback scenes, all of Jessica Drew's appearances in New Avengers over the past four years were actually made by a Skrull imposter. Writer Bendis said he had this planned since New Avengers #1.

You can go back to issue #1 and see hints. [...] Now you know why the Spider-Woman series didn't happen. We thought about doing it and having her revealed as a Skrull in the first issue of her series. [...] I wrote it, but in the end I just thought it wasn't selling somebody what they thought you were selling them.^[8]

Following this revelation, the real Drew supplanted her doppelganger as a regular member of The New Avengers. She was also featured in another solo limited series during this time, which was published both in printed form and as a motion comic. It was written by Bendis with art by Alex Maleev. Following the cancellation of New Avengers, Spider-Woman appeared as a regular character throughout the 2010-2013 Avengers series, from issue #1 (July 2010) through its final issue #34 (January 2013).

Fictional character biography

Origins

Spider-Woman was born Jessica Miriam Drew, daughter of Jonathan Drew and Merriam Drew, in London, England. At a young age, her family moves to a lab built by her father and Herbert Wyndham near Mount Wundagore in Transia, where she becomes gravely ill from months of uranium exposure. To save her life, her father injects her with an experimental serum based on irradiated spiders' blood. Because the serum requires a month's incubation, Wyndham places her in a genetic accelerator. Shortly after, her mother dies and her father leaves for the U.S.A., leaving Wyndham to care for her.^[9] While in the accelerator, she ages at a decelerated rate. When she is finally released, decades later, Drew is only 17 years old.

Drew is ostracized by the other residents of Mount Wundagore, the High Evolutionary's New Men, since she was originally human while they were animals. Because of this, she eventually leaves to seek human civilization. She is captured by a HYDRA reserve unit under Count Otto Vermis's leadership who erases her memories, brainwashes her, and recruits her as a HYDRA agent under the codename Arachne.^[9] One of HYDRA's top agents, Jared, is assigned to train her in combat and espionage, and to seduce her. Once Jessica has become his lover, he allows himself to be captured by S.H.I.E.L.D., so that she can be goaded into assassinating S.H.I.E.L.D. commander Nick Fury.^[10]

While battling Fury, Jessica accidentally kills Jared and learns HYDRA's true nature. She quits HYDRA and assaults the unit's base, sending Count Vermis into a fatal crash, but not before he unlocks memory implants that she was actually an evolved spider and had killed a man before her association with HYDRA.^[10] Despondent from these revelations, she wanders the woods where Vermis crashed until being recaptured and hypnotised by HYDRA.^[11]

Spider-Woman: Origin

Origin does away with the spider-blood serum and genetic accelerator elements of the character's previous origin story. Instead, Jessica's powers derive from her mother's womb being hit by a laser beam containing the DNA traits of several different species of spiders while she was carrying Jessica (the Drews were trying to splice and harness spiders' environmental adaptive capabilities, in order to graft them into the human genome).

After Jessica's parents disappear under mysterious circumstances, Jessica is recruited into HYDRA (under false pretenses), where she is made into a formidable fighter and assassin. She is trained and mentored by Taskmaster, who schools her in many martial disciplines and more than seven different fighting styles out of his own "arsenal".

In this re-telling, Otto Vermis, originally recruiting her into HYDRA, is rather an old, retired HYDRA agent who Jessica seduces in order to gain information that will lead her to her mother.

In addition, Origin made the following modifications:

• Merriem Drew was now Miriam Drew.
• The Drews moved to Wundagore Mountain prior to Jessica's conception, establishing without a doubt that she was born on the European landmark. Afterwards, she was raised by her nanny Bova (human in appearance), as well as her mother.
• Jessica's father, Jonathan, never found uranium on their land. Instead, their research was funded by HYDRA, and their direct liaison/financier from the group was General Wyndham. It is not clear what connection, if any, he had with Edgar Wyndham (who in the original Spider-Woman books was Jonathan's best friend and research partner), nor with the High Evolutionary.
• Jessica's father worked in large part with Miles Warren who later left the project because he felt that there was more potential in experimenting with the cloning of human cells.

Spider-Woman

Going by the "Spider-Woman" name, Jessica Drew is ordered to abduct Alicia Masters vacationing in London. During the resultant conflict with Ben Grimm, she recovers from her brainwashing and joins him in saving Masters.^[12] She and Grimm then encounter Modred the Mystic, who removes HYDRA's memory implants and restores her memories.^[13]

Jessica moves into an apartment in London, but finds it impossible to get a job due to her complete lack of background and her tendency to inspire dislike and even fear in other people. Following an aborted break-in she is unmasked by Scotland Yard officer (and S.H.I.E.L.D. agent) Jerry Hunt who becomes obsessed with her.^[9] During this troubled time she is approached by the mysterious sorcerer Magnus, who offers help. After defending him from Excaliber who was sent by Morgan Le Fay to recover the Darkhold, he suggests she relocate with him to Los Angeles.^[14] Magnus tutors her in the ways of civilization and informs her that her father was murdered, leading her on a hunt for his killer.^[15] She is distracted from this hunt when Morgan Le Fey's ghost again seeks the Darkhold, this time in person. During the battle, Hunt catches up with Jessica, and they begin a romantic relationship.^[16] With his help, she identifies her father's murderer who dies immediately after confessing.^[17]

For the time, Jessica chooses to keep her doings as Spider-Woman a secret. Her relationship with Hunt sours, and following a final battle with the Brothers Grimm, he and Magnus part ways with her.^[18] For the next three months she makes a hand-to-mouth living by working as a receptionist at the Hatros Institute while undergoing group therapy there. Though she ultimately loses the position due to a change in management, during her time there she received medication to suppress her pheromones so that she could move effectively among people without producing any unwanted side-effects, formed a strong friendship with fellow patient and aspiring actress Lindsay McCabe, and developed acquaintances with several other superheroes.^[19]

The next few months of Jessica's life are not covered by published stories. During this time, she goes public as Spider-Woman, becomes a bounty hunter working in partnership with parapalegic criminologist Scotty McDowell, acquires a full wardrobe of disguises for use in her work, and finds a police liaison in Captain Walsh.^[20] This situation lasts for several months. When her working relationship with Scotty fails, Jessica accepts an offer from Lindsay to move into an apartment with her in San Francisco,^[21] where she begins a romantic relationship with their landlord David Ishima,^[22] and sets up a practice as a licensed private investigator.^[23] Her move there allows Lindsay to deduce her secret identity; she is unbothered by the danger involved in being Spider-Woman's friend, and the shared secret deepens the friendship between them.^[24]

While working as a P.I., she battles Morgan once again.^[25] Not long after that, Jessica gives up her immunity powers to save Giant-Man.^[26] Her relationship with David Ishima develops to the point where she reveals her Spider-Woman identity to him, only to have him break up with her because he wants to be with an ordinary woman.^[27]

Jessica travels in astral form with Magnus to Sixth Century England to free her friends' souls in a showdown with Morgan le Fey in the 6th century. She manages to vanquish Morgan, but her human body dies while her spirit was gone.^[28] At her request, Magnus places a spell over humanity to remove all memory of Jessica's existence. This spell is faulty; when Tigra and the Shroud discover Jessica's dead body, they contact the Avengers and Doctor Strange. The Avengers and Strange travel to the astral plane to battle Morgan Le Fay, who was trying to claim Jessica's body so she could return to the physical realm. Eventually, Doctor Strange and Magnus reunite Jessica's spirit with her human body, though Magnus's life and Jessica's powers are sacrificed to do so. She thus abandons her Spider-Woman identity^[29] and continues her life as a private investigator in San Francisco, assisted by Lindsay McCabe and, for a time, by Tigra.^[30]

Jessica and Lindsay take a job delivering the Black Blade to Japan, but while passing through Madripoor she is ensorcelled by the blade. By this time her superhuman strength and agility, and ability to cling to walls, have returned. She is freed from the blade's power by Lindsay and an underworld figure called Patch,^[31] who she immediately recognizes as the X-Man Wolverine.^[32] Following the incident, she and Lindsay set up new business lodgings in Madripoor, with Patch as a frequent ally and information source.^[33]

Jessica Drew's life settles down until Charlotte Witter, a villainess going by the Spider-Woman name, steals her powers and leaves her near death.^[34] Jessica is taken from the hospital to New York City by Madame Web who directs her and Mattie Franklin (yet another woman who has assumed the Spider-Woman name) to track down Witter. Under Madame Webb's guidance, Franklin absorbs from Witter the powers of all four Spider-Women.^[35] Afterwards, Jessica remains with Madame Web for a time, helping her to watch over Mattie.^[36] Jessica's powers gradually return to her during this time,^[37] but are now unreliable, failing her unexpectedly on occasion.^[38]

For untold reasons, Jessica moves back to San Francisco, resuming her private investigator practice there.^[39] When she hears that Mattie Franklin has gone missing, she goes to New York to find her. With the help of local P.I. Jessica Jones, she rescues Mattie from a drug dealer who had abducted her and was cannibalizing her tissue to make the Mutant Growth Hormone.^[40]

Secret Invasion

One day, a HYDRA agent known as Connely offers her powers back if she would rejoin S.H.I.E.L.D. as a double agent.^[41] Knowing Connely would kill her if she says no, Jessica Drew contacts Nick Fury who confronts her securely and urges her to accept the offer. He tells Jessica that he will feed her limited info until S.H.I.E.L.D. can analyze the HYDRA cell and then use the info to take it down.^[42] However, the HYDRA cell is in fact a team of Skrulls who made the offer as a trap to abduct Drew, so that their current Queen Veranke could take her place in the New Avengers and assume her role as Fury's spy in preparation for the upcoming invasion.^[43]

After the invasion is repulsed, Tony Stark finds a Skrull ship in orbit with all the replaced heroes, including Drew.^[44]

Dark Reign

In the aftermath of Secret Invasion, Jessica Drew is invited by Wolverine to join the New Avengers, having nowhere else to go. She's the one who informs the other Avengers that S.H.I.E.L.D. no longer exists and later helps search for Danielle Cage, Luke Cage's and Jessica Jones's baby. Along with Iron Fist, they attack a HYDRA base to see if the Skrull Jarvis has contacted any Earth villains seeking a way to leave New York, possibly Earth.^[45] She also joins the Lady Liberators along with the Invisible Woman, Storm, Valkyrie, Thundra, Tigra, Black Widow, She-Hulk and Hellcat who are trying to discover the identity of the Red Hulk.^[46][47] She attempts to bait the Dark Avengers into a fight with the New Avengers; Norman Osborn realizes it's a trick and sends the Hood's gang instead, leaving her feeling responsible for the setup.^[48] Along with the rest of the New Avengers, she helps Doctor Strange search for the next Sorcerer Supreme and fights Madame Masque trying to keep the New Avengers busy for the Hood.^[49] She is also one of the more vocal members about Ronin's media war with Osborn. She is one of the last to fall when Chemistro draws them out into a trap meant for Osborn and his Dark Avengers, which drains them of their powers.^[50]

Agent of S.W.O.R.D.

Feeling like the most screwed over person on Earth due to Veranke's actions, Jessica Drew is approached to join S.W.O.R.D. by Abigail Brand, which she accepts. Her first mission takes her to Madripoor where she takes on a Skrull posing as Spider-Man. After run-ins with HYDRA, another Skrull, and the new Thunderbolts, Jessica eventually finds a wayward Skrull and she takes it down with the help of her teammates in the New Avengers. After the mission is over, Brand offers her different, new opportunities within S.W.O.R.D.^[51]

Siege

Before the Siege of Asgard, Ronin attempts to assassinate Norman Osborn but is captured by the Dark Avengers. Jessica Drew teams up with Ms. Marvel, Mockingbird and Jessica Jones to rescue him. After he is saved, the New Avengers relocate to a safehouse in Brooklyn where they meet up with Steve Rogers.^[52]

Jessica is then paired with Spider-Man to do reconnaissance on Avengers Tower, where she reveals to him she is an agent of S.W.O.R.D. The duo are then found by Mandrill and Griffin who proceed to attack them. During the fight Mandrill gets close enough to Jessica and controls her into attacking Spider-Man.^[53] Spider-Man appears to be on the losing end of the fight but manages to lure Jessica away from Mandrill and the effects of his control begin to wear off. The duo trick Mandrill and Griffin into thinking Jessica has beaten Spider-Man and when they approach Spider-Woman to give her new commands, Jessica punches Mandrill in the face and shoves her hand in his mouth, firing off a venom blast and knocking him out. Furious, Jessica wants to kill both villains for what they have done but is stopped by Spider-Man. The duo heads back to the safehouse where they head off with the Avengers to help the Asgardians.^[54] Upon arriving in Asgard, Jessica and the rest of the heroes engage Iron Patriot's forces and witnesses the insane Sentry's defeat.^[55]

Joining the Avengers

Jessica is asked by Steve Rogers himself to join his team of Avengers. During their first meeting, Jessica expresses her doubts to Wolverine about being on the team, feeling she has not earned the role. Wolverine advises her if she feels that way, she will then have to work towards earning it then. Suddenly Kang the Conqueror appears in the middle of the meeting with a dire warning about the future and all of reality, blaming the children of the Avengers.^[56] After recruiting the Protector and building a time machine, the time machine is destroyed by a furious Wonder Man. Once the dust has settled, an alternate version of Apocalypse and his Four Horsemen appear.^[57] After Apocalypse's defeat, Jessica and a few of her teammates are sent into New York City to protect its citizens from the attacks coming from the timestream.^[58] While in Washington Square Park, they come across Killraven and join forces to help the citizens.^[59] Once their mission is completed and all the attacks have stopped, Jessica is the first to realize Killraven has not been returned to his proper future.^[60]

Later Jessica is present when Red Hulk comes to warn the Avengers that the Hood is seeking to collect the Infinity Gems.^[61] She is present along with the rest of the Avengers when they confront the Illuminati in Attilan about their existence and goes with a team of Avengers to the ruins of the Xavier Institute to get to Professor Xavier's Infinity gem.^[62]

While on a mission for S.W.O.R.D., Jessica is sent to locate an unusual alien energy surge in Wakanda. Upon finding the remains of a Spaceknight, Jessica is ambushed by the Intelligencia who take her as a prisoner. Abigail Brand approaches the Avengers for help and a team is put together to help locate Jessica. Jessica wakes up naked and is interrogated by two members of the Intelligencia. While the Intelligencia study the Spaceknight, the Avengers interrupt their attempts and the body activates, revealing it was containing Ultron's consciousness. The new Ultron escapes and Jessica is reunited with the Avengers.^[63]

Powers and abilities

After her mother was struck with a beam of radiation containing the DNA of several different types of spiders while she was in-utero, Jessica Drew developed superhuman powers patterned after several different types of spiders when she was born. Jessica is superhumanly strong and is able to lift around seven tons at her peak. She also possesses superhuman speed, stamina, agility, and reflexes. Jessica's body is more resistant to injury than an ordinary person, allowing her to take far more physical punishment compared to an ordinary human. Jessica also possesses superhuman hearing and smell, the latter of which allowed her to distinguish a life model decoy from the real Nick Fury. Jessica's palms and soles secrete a special fluid that allows her to cling to solid objects, like a true spider. Jessica's physical makeup also makes her highly resistant to all terrestrial poisons, toxins, and completely immune to radiation. While she is typically rendered dizzy by the initial dose, she is completely immune to it after being exposed again. She also exudes a high concentration of pheromones that elicit pleasure and attraction in men and revulsion in women, although she typically uses a chemical "perfume" that renders these pheromones inert. Jessica's body also produces an inordinate amount of bio-energy, which she can discharge from her hands. She refers to these discharges as "venom blasts" although they actually have nothing to do with poison and typically cause pain and unconsciousness, and Jessica can kill a man in the same way that a lightning bolt would and can pierce solid metals like steel by using her blasts at their greatest intensity. Jessica was also able to glide through unknown means using the web-like extensions of her costume, but seems to have gained the power to fly after being replaced by the Skrull Queen Veranke. Jessica has lost her powers in numerous ways and on several occasions, but after returning to Earth at the end of the Secret Invasion, Jessica's powers were restored and are greater than ever.

In addition to her powers, she is also a superb hand to hand fighter, and has trained in several styles of fighting including boxing, judo, karate, and capoeira, learned under the training of the Taskmaster. She has also had training in fencing and the use of many other weapons. Jessica was trained by HYDRA (and later on by S.H.I.E.L.D.) in covert operations, stealth, espionage, and information gathering and is a superb athlete. She speaks several foreign languages, including Korean, Russian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and German. Jessica also received vocational training in undercover detective work and sometimes carried a Walther PPK handgun.

Other versions

Age of X

In the Age of X reality, Jessica Drew is a member of the Avengers, mutant hunters who answer to General Frank Castle. Going by the codename Redback, Jessica is one of America's top killers and has been for eight years. She uses lethal force during fights and has never uttered a word, she uses hisses to communicate on occasion.^[64] She finally sacrifices herself using a gauntlet from the now-deceased Iron Man to stop the Hulk from destroying a mutant sanctuary with a chemical bomb, having come to recognize that their persecution of mutants is wrong.^[65]

Marvel Adventures Spider-Man

In this version, Jessica Drew appeared in issue 52 and is a freelance agent who arrived at Peter's school as a substitute teacher when she discovered Peter's biology report mixed up with HYDRA's bio-weapons plan. She is one of the few people who knew Peter's secret identity.

Marvel Zombies

Spider-Woman is seen on the SHIELD Helicarrier after the beginning of the zombie infection. She fights alongside the other uninfected heroes but is eventually infected herself. She is then seen in Ultimate Fantastic Four #23 along with the other zombies.

MC2

In the MC2 reality, Jessica never regained her powers after losing them. She got married and had a child Gerald (or Gerry for short). She learned that her radioactive blood caused Gerry to develop a crippling illness and attempted to use the same genetic treatments her father gave her to save him. As Gerry "incubated" in a genetic accelerator, Jessica's husband blamed her for Gerry's health and divorced her. When Gerry emerged from the genetic accelerator, Jessica found that her son had gained spider-like powers (superhuman strength and agility as well as the ability to organically produce webs), but still had his disease. Teenaged Gerry used his powers to become Spider-Man, and had several run-ins with Spider-Girl (Spider-Man's daughter). He was pushing his body far beyond its limits, and Jessica asked Spider-Man to convince her son to give up his "career" as Spider-Man. Peter Parker has attempted to find someone capable of finding a cure to Gerry's disease, and apparently succeeded (at least that is suggested in the Spider-Girl comic series).^[66]

What If...?

In What If...? #17, which is set during the events of Marvel Spotlight #32, Jessica succeeded in killing Nick Fury after the accidental death of Jared. She escaped and came back to HYDRA headquarters but was pursued by S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents led by agent Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Spider-Woman (still known as Arachne) became a supervillain who wanted to know her real origin, just like Earth-616 version. Count Otto Vermis is still alive but captured by S.H.I.E.L.D. and Agent Val chase Arachne to get revenge for Fury's death.^[67] This parallel universe is known as Earth-79101.^[68]

Ultimate Spider-Woman

The Ultimate Marvel incarnation of Spider-Woman appears as a recurring character.^[69] Being a product of Norman Osborn's attempts to clone the spider formula,^[70] she has heightened agility, strength, reflexes, a precognitive danger sense (spider sense) and the ability to stick to walls but can also shoot organic webbing from her fingertips.

"Clone Saga"

Spider-Woman is a clone of Spider-Man (Peter Parker) after her chromosomes were manipulated to make her female and appears to be the same age (approximately sixteen). Created to act as an agent for the CIA (code name: Spider-Woman), she retains her original self's memories. Cassandra Webb is preparing to erase and supplant those memories in order to create her identity "Jessica Drew", but she escapes before the process can be carried out.^[71]

Doctor Octopus reveals himself as the cloning experiments' mastermind responsible for Jessica.^[72] Jessica and Peter fight Doctor Octopus together, and eventually prevail. Peter surrenders to Nick Fury while Jessica opts to flee.^[73] At the storyline's close, Jessica decides to start a new life and embrace her given identity. She takes her leave of Peter after what she calls "the most awkward hug in history".^[74]

"Ultimatum"

Jessica later appeared during the "Ultimatum" storyline.^[75] Taken by Peter's example of "with great power, comes great responsibility", she follows his vigilante path with her powers and aids Johnny Storm in apprehending the Vulture therefore making her public debut as "Spider-Woman". Storm begins to develop a romantic interest in her after a bad date with a famed but obnoxious teen singer, unaware that she's Spider-Man's female clone. She later meets May Parker while aiding civilians from Magneto's worldwide attack.^[76] She later took May to safety then promised to find Peter for her.^[77] She eventually traveled to the center of Manhattan where Doctor Strange's home was being attacked by Nightmare, however, the Hulk began to destroy the portal to the Dark Dimension, which resulted in an explosion, leaving Jessica to bear witness to Peter's possible demise.^[78] After briefly being chased by Hulk, Jessica continues her search for Peter and met Kitty Pryde. They work together on the search as well as trying to help the survivors, but are also overwhelmed by the deaths and destructions around them. They managed to find a remnant of Peter's mask, which Kitty took with her and gave to Mary Jane Watson at Peter's home, informing her and May that Peter is still among the missing.^[79]

Doomsday

In Ultimate Enemy, Jessica is later seen doing recon on the Roxxon Corporation looking to see what illegal experiments they have been doing on genetic material. Then instantly, a large mass of matter attacks the corporation's building, and Spider-Woman rescues as many people she can from the building before she crashes onto a taxi. It is assumed that the person behind the attack is the "Ultimate Enemy". She is later seen in her apartment and is attacked by the same creature that destroyed the Roxxon corporations building. She is seen again at the end of comic following Spider-Man.^[80]

The duo plan to infiltrate Roxxon Corporation. To do this, Jessica becomes an employee by the name "Dr. Julia Carpenter".^[81] On her first day, she is introduced to a group of people who she is meant to work with: Roxxon Brain Trust (Dr. Arnim Zola III, Private Investigator Misty Knight, Nathaniel Essex, Dr. Layla Miller and Dr. Samuel Sterns).^[82] Shortly afterward, they witness another attack on the Baxter Building and Roxxon suggests they move into underground bunker. While waiting there, Misty Knight starts to ask her questions and figures out that Spider-Woman is not who she says she is. Roxxon Brain Trust then reveal that they suspect Roxxon in the attacks as well. Spider-Woman still doesn’t trust them and when they want to see her powers, she webs them all up and runs from them. One of the Brain Trust members transforms into a brute of some sort and knocks her out before she can get away though.^[83]

In Ultimate Doom, Spider-Woman awakens, bound on a table and meets Roxxon's Brain Trust's leader Doctor Octopus. It doesn't take long for Spider-Man to arrive and save her just before Roxxon is attacked again. Spider-Man and Spider-Woman start rescuing civilians. They also notice Doctor Octopus is in danger. Spider-Man rushes to help him. Although Spider-Woman wants to let him die, Spider-Man eventually manages to convince her to save him. Rick Jones arrives with Human Torch and they learn that heroes are gathering to take down Reed Richards. Spider-Woman and even Doctor Octopus join the group.^[84]

During the attack in the Negative Zone, Spider-Woman meets the Ultimates for the first time, and assist Captain America himself. After the confrontation with Reed Richards, Spider-Woman becomes an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. on Carol Danvers's request.^[85]

Ultimate Comics: The Ultimates

In Ultimate Comics: The Ultimates, Spider-Woman becomes fed up on being in the Ultimates team.^[86] She was captured along with Captain Britain by the new S.H.I.E.L.D. director Marvin Flumm.^[87] But she is later released as she took part in Captain America's swearing-in to presidency.^[88] When President Captain America went to join the states once more, Spider-Woman joined the new President and was part of the ground forces.^[89]

Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man

Spider-Woman is a supporting character in the series Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man.^[90]

She and Johnny Storm once again thwart a mother-daughter supercriminal duo. It is implied that she and Johnny begin seeing each other, which shocks Peter Parker, aware of Jessica's true identity. The knowledge that his clone is dating his male friend not only upsets Peter but makes him feel awkward around Johnny.^[91]

After Peter Parker's death, she confronts the new Spider-Man (Miles Morales).^[92] She later assists Iron Man and Hawkeye to fight Electro which was defeated by Miles. During the "United We Stand" storyline, Spider-Woman is reluctantly teamed with Miles by Hawkeye during S.H.I.E.L.D.'s battle with the terrorist group HYDRA.^[93] She comes to worry about him after they are separated during the battle, and later finds and returns him to New York. Initially, she is not forthcoming when Miles asks why she cares so much about him.^[94] But after Miles later quits being Spider-Man following personal tragedy,^[95] Jessica reveals to Miles that she is Peter's clone. She explains that although she has Parker's memories, she is not Spider-Man but know that someone must be and that person is Miles, convincing him to resume the Spider-Man identity.^[70]

Reception

The character was ranked 54th in Comics Buyer's Guide's "100 Sexiest Women in Comics" list.^[96]

In other media

Television

• A Spider-Woman cartoon, featuring Jessica Drew, launched on ABC's Saturday Morning Cartoon block in 1979 (produced by DePatie-Freleng Enterprises and Marvel Comics Animation), where Jessica Drew is voiced by Joan Van Ark.

• Spider-Woman has made two live action appearances on TV:
  • A cameo role on the short-lived TV series Once a Hero about a comic strip hero who leaves his "world" to find his creator. Near the end of one episode Captain Justice returns to the "Real Earth", and a crowd of comic book characters can be seen cheering him on, including Spider-Woman.
  • The Saturday Night Live sketch "Superhero Party" (originally broadcast March 17, 1979) featured Margot Kidder as Lois Lane with Superman (Bill Murray), Flash (Dan Aykroyd), Lana Lang (Jane Curtin), Hulk (John Belushi), Thing, Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, Ant-Man (Garrett Morris), and Invisible Girl.

Video games

• Spider-Woman is a playable character in the video game Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, voiced by Tasia Valenza. She possesses all of the powers she has in the comic book except super-strength. She has a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent variant costume (a navy blue and black unmasked version of her classic costume, with white glider webs and a silver belt). In addition, she also has unlockable costumes in the form of Julia Carpenter (Secret War edition) and Spider-Girl, and faces the Wrecker in her simulator disc mission. If a player were to ask her a question revolving around Spider-Man, she tells the player that she's not related to Spider-Man (though she seems to show a slight attraction to him by stating that he's "kinda cute in a geeky sort of way"). Spider-Woman has special dialogue with Black Widow, Edwin Jarvis, Grey Gargoyle, Enchantress, and Doctor Doom (while in Doctor Doom's castle).

• Jessica Drew appears in the PlayStation 2 and PSP versions of Spider-Man: Web of Shadows, voiced by Mary Elizabeth McGlynn. Spider-Man encounters her on the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier and saves her from infected S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents. Following the path of her downed Helicopter, Spider-Man encounters Jessica who has become infected and trying to fight the symbiotic control. Spider-Man manages to defeat Symbiote-Jessica and obtain the S.H.I.E.L.D. plans.^{[citation needed]}

• Spider-Woman appears in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2, voiced by Elizabeth Daily.^[97] She is allied with Captain America's Anti-Registration movement. She is a boss in the Pro-Registration side, and an ally on the Anti-Registration side who also assists the player during a mission. Spider-Woman first appears in Stark Tower after the events in Washington and tells the heroes she does not plan on signing the SRA. If the player chooses Anti Registration, she assists the heroes in the first mission but is captured by S.H.I.E.L.D agents. Spider-Woman is one of the many heroes presumed deceased after the battle in the Negative Zone prison. She later gets taken over by The Fold and attacks the heroes outside of the Repeater Tower alongside Wonder Man.

• Spider-Woman is a playable character in Marvel Super Hero Squad Online, voiced by Grey DeLisle.

• Spider-Woman is a playable character in the Facebook game Marvel: Avengers Alliance.

• Spider-Woman appears in Marvel Heroes as a non-playable character.

• Spider-Woman appears in Lego Marvel Super Heroes,^[98] voiced by Kari Wahlgren.^{[citation needed]}

Miscellaneous

• Spider-Woman was among the ten Marvel characters on a set of Marvel Comics Super Heroes commemorative postage-stamps that were issued in 2007.^[99]
• Spider-Woman motion comics have also been made as part of the Marvel Knights Animated line, based on the series written by Brian Michael Bendis. They are called Spider-Woman: Agent of S.W.O.R.D. and came out June 14, 2011. In the series, Jessica Drew has an English accent and is voiced by actress Nicolette Reed.

References

External links

• Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew) at the Marvel Universe wiki
• Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew) at the Marvel Database Project
• Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew) at the Internet Movie Database
• Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew) at Spiderfan.org
• Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew) at the Comic Book DB
• Ultimate Spider-Woman at the ComicVine

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