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Madame Web

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This article is about Cassandra Webb, the first Madame Web. For the actress, see Cassandra Webb (actress). For the second Madame Web, see Julia Carpenter. For the DC Comics character, see Batwoman § Katherine Webb. For the film, see Madame Web (film).

Madame Web
Artwork from The Sensational Spider-Man #26 (July 2006).
Art by Clayton Crain.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceThe Amazing Spider-Man #210 (November 1980)
Created byDenny O'Neil
John Romita Jr.
In-story information
Alter egoCassandra Webb
SpeciesHuman mutant[1]
Place of originSalem, Oregon
Abilities

Madame Web (Cassandra Webb) is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. She first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man No. 210, published November 1980, and was created by writer Denny O'Neil and artist John Romita Jr.[2] She is usually depicted as a supporting character in the Spider-Man comic book series, where she appears as an elderly woman with myasthenia gravis, connected to a life support system resembling a spiderweb.

Madame Web is a clairvoyant and precognitive mutant[1] who first appears to help Spider-Man find a kidnapping victim. She is not one of the mutants who lost their power during the "Decimation" storyline. In "Grim Hunt", she is attacked by Ana Kravinoff and her mother Sasha, who kills her, but before she dies she is able to pass her powers of precognition as well as her blindness on to Julia Carpenter, who becomes the next Madame Web. Webb is subsequently resurrected by Ben Reilly before succumbing to the Carrion Virus. Webb is the grandmother of the fourth Spider-Woman, Charlotte Witter.

Madame Web has appeared in or served as inspiration for several Spider-Man related media. Rachel Dratch voices "C. Weber", a character loosely based on Madame Web, in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023), while Dakota Johnson portrayed Cassie Webb in the eponymous 2024 film.

Publication history

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Madame Web was created by writer Dennis O'Neil and artist John Romita Jr., and first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man No. 210 (November 1980).[3]

Fictional character biography

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Born in Salem, Oregon, Cassandra Webb is a paralyzed, blind, telepathic, clairvoyant, and precognitive mutant[1] who works as a professional medium. After being stricken with myasthenia gravis, she is connected to a life support system designed by her husband Jonathan Webb, which includes a series of tubes shaped like a spider-web.[4]

Spider-Man approaches her while looking for kidnapped Daily Globe publisher K.J. Clayton (actually an impersonator fronting for Clayton's circulation manager Rupert Dockery, the kidnapping's mastermind). Madame Web uses her powers to help him locate and rescue both the real and the fake Clayton. She later discloses to him that she already knows his secret identity.[5]

In the "Nothing Can Stop the Juggernaut!" story arc, she contacts Spider-Man for assistance when Black Tom Cassidy dispatches the Juggernaut to capture her, hoping to exploit her psychic abilities against the X-Men. She nearly dies after Juggernaut separates her from her life-support system. This triggers a fight between Spider-Man and the Juggernaut, who is subsequently trapped in a construction site's wet cement foundation.[6] The resulting mental trauma, however, means that Madame Web apparently loses her memory of Spider-Man's secret identity.[7]

Webb is the grandmother of the fourth Spider-Woman, Charlotte Witter. She participates in an arcane ritual known as the "Gathering of the Five" to gain both immortality and eternal youth.[8] Restored to her physical prime, Webb then serves as a mentor of sorts to the third Spider-Woman, the young Mattie Franklin.[9]

Madame Web resurfaces, with her psychic powers intact, after Decimation. However, since House of M (in which she appears young), Cassandra seemingly loses her mystical enhancements and reverts to her aged self, though her myasthenia gravis remains gone.[a]

Madame Web again returns in a back-up feature in The Amazing Spider-Man No. 600. She looks into the future, showing what are apparently quick looks into Spider-Man's future, only to see someone "unravelling the web of fate", and fearfully exclaiming "They're hunting spiders." After that, she is attacked by Ana Kravinoff and her mother Sasha. The pair incapacitate her and then claim "we now have our eyes".[10] She is seen still held captive by Ana and her mother, as they inspect their new quarry, Mattie Franklin. While still bound in a chair, she apologizes to a then-unconscious Mattie,[11] who is later killed by Sasha Kravinoff as part of a sacrificial ritual that revives Grim Hunter.[12]

At the conclusion of "Grim Hunt", Sasha Kravinoff slashes the throat of Madame Web, believing that Cassandra was deceiving her and knew the outcome of events that transpired. Before dying, Cassandra reveals that she is no longer blind, and passes her psychic powers over to Julia Carpenter.[13]

During the Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy storyline, Madame Web is resurrected by Ben Reilly (posing as the Jackal), inserting her soul into a cloned body. Cassandra tips off Prowler about a future bank robbery which he manages to stop. Prowler then goes to get more information on the hacker from Madame Web, who says that she sees buildings filled with agony that cannot escape.[14] When the villains at New U Technologies are getting out of control, Jackal sends Electro to find Prowler to put them under check again. Electro goes to Madame Web's room and tortures the telepath into giving her Prowler's location with the intent to kill him. Julia Carpenter senses that Madame Web is alive from telepathic feedback resulting from Electro's attack.[15] Julia infiltrates New U Technologies and uses the opportunity to investigate the near-abandoned facility. During this time, Julia is led to Madame Web who refuses to take medication which could aid her in healing from Electro's attack. Madame Web has seen the future and refuses to be a part of it. Before dying from clone degeneration, Madame Web tells Julia to save Prowler.[16]

Characteristics

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Powers and abilities

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Madame Web is a mutant who possesses several psychic abilities.[17] She can use telepathy to read the minds of others. She has the ability to see the future.[18] Madame Web can project an astral form of herself away from her physical body.[19] She can perform psychic surgery on the minds of others. She is sensitive to psychic energies, allowing her to sense the presence of psionic powers in others, to see the area surrounding her, and events which take place far away from her. Additionally, Madame Web has a gifted intellect.

Condition

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When dying, she displayed the ability to transfer her mutation to another individual, such as Julia Carpenter.[20] Madame Web was a victim of myasthenia gravis, a disorder of neuromuscular junction transmission.[21] As a result, she became entirely dependent on external life support for survival. This is no longer the case as she was cured of the condition some time ago. She is also blind and relies on her powers to compensate.[22] Madame Web is cybernetically linked to a spider-web-like life-support chair which attends to all of her bodily needs.[22]

Reception

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Accolades

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  • In 2017, Screen Rant ranked Madame Web 12th in their "Every Member Of The Spider-Man Family" list.[23]

Other versions

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  • The first appearance of a character called Madam Web was in a Hostess Twinkie ad starring Spider-Man in 1977. There is no connection between the two characters other than a similar name.
  • A version of Madame Web makes a brief appearance in the heroic fantasy world of Avataars: Covenant of the Shield as "the Widow of the Web", a spider-goddess who grants Webswinger (the Spider-Man parallel) his powers.[24]
  • Webb also appeared during the House of M storyline as a therapist employed by S.H.I.E.L.D.[25]
  • Madame Web has died in the MC2 universe, but her reputation has inspired an entire temple of prophetic acolytes.[26]
  • Madame Web appeared in Ultimate Spider-Man. In issue No. 102, she is part of the psych team that plans to change Ultimate Spider-Woman's memories. She appears in a wheelchair (implying paralysis) and blind, similar to the classic version. However, she is younger than that version of the character.[27]

In other media

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See also: Julia Carpenter § In other media

Television

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Madame Web as depicted in Spider-Man (1994).
  • The Cassandra Web incarnation of Madame Web appears in Spider-Man (1994), voiced by Joan Lee.[28] This version is an ally of the Beyonder with similar powers over reality who is tasked with testing Spider-Men from across the multiverse to determine whether they can stop Spider-Carnage from destroying the multiverse. Seeing leadership potential in the "prime" Spider-Man, Web tests him throughout the third season, Sins of the Father, though she respects his wish to not see her again until the time comes for his final test. After Spider-Man wins the Secret Wars during the fifth season, Web and the Beyonder task him with leading a group of multiversal Spider-Men to fight Spider-Carnage in the two-part series finale "Spider-Wars". Following the villain's defeat, Web rewards Spider-Man by taking him to visit Stan Lee and helping him find his girlfriend Mary Jane Watson.
  • The Julia Carpenter incarnation of Madame Web appears in Ultimate Spider-Man, voiced by Cree Summer.[29]

Film

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Dakota Johnson, who portrays Madame Web in her self-titled film

Video games

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  • The Cassandra Web incarnation of Madame Web appears in Questprobe featuring Spider-Man.[37]
  • The Cassandra Web incarnation of Madame Web appears in Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, voiced by Susanne Blakeslee.[citation needed] After Spider-Man accidentally breaks the Tablet of Order and Chaos while fighting Mysterio, she informs him of its mystical properties and tasks him, Spider-Man Noir, Spider-Man 2099, and a black-suited version of the Ultimate Spider-Man to retrieve its pieces in their respective universes before supervillains find them.[38] Additionally, she provides instructions to the Spider-Men about their powers and grants them new ones so they can complete their mission more easily. However, Mysterio takes her hostage after discovering a fragment he stole granted him magical powers and demands the Spider-Men give him the rest. Once the tablet is reassembled, Mysterio becomes a god-like being and attempts to alter reality to his liking, but Madame Web is able to bring the four Spider-Men together so they can defeat Mysterio and separate him from the Tablet. Afterward, she sends everyone back to their respective native universes.

Notes

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  1. ^ As of Sensational Spider-Man No. 26 (Part 4 of "Feral").

References

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  1. ^ a b c "5 Things to Know About Madame Web". www.marvel.com.
  2. ^ DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019). The Marvel Encyclopedia. DK Publishing. p. 223. ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0.
  3. ^ Manning, Matthew K.; Gilbert, Laura (2012). "1980s". Spider-Man Chronicle Celebrating 50 Years of Web-Slinging. Dorling Kindersley. p. 116. ISBN 978-0756692360. Writer Denny O'Neil's newest contribution to the Spider-Man mythos would come in the form of psychic Madame Web, a character introduced with the help of artist John Romita, Jr.
  4. ^ Brevoort, Tom; DeFalco, Tom; Manning, Matthew K.; Sanderson, Peter; Wiacek, Win (2017). Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History. DK Publishing. p. 198. ISBN 978-1465455505.
  5. ^ The Amazing Spider-Man No. 210. Marvel Comics.
  6. ^ The Amazing Spider-Man No. 229. Marvel Comics.
  7. ^ The Amazing Spider-Man No. 230. Marvel Comics.
  8. ^ The Amazing Spider-Man No. 441. Marvel Comics.
  9. ^ Spider-Woman vol. 3 #1–11, 14, Alias No. 17. Marvel Comics.
  10. ^ The Amazing Spider-Man No. 600. Marvel Comics.
  11. ^ The Amazing Spider-Man No. 611. Marvel Comics.
  12. ^ The Amazing Spider-Man No. 634. Marvel Comics.
  13. ^ The Amazing Spider-Man No. 637. Marvel Comics.
  14. ^ Prowler vol. 2 No. 1. Marvel Comics.
  15. ^ Prowler vol. 2 No. 2. Marvel Comics.
  16. ^ Prowler vol. 2 No. 4. Marvel Comics.
  17. ^ Chrysostomou, George (November 18, 2021). "10 Marvel Cosmic Entities That Have Yet To Make Their Debut In The MCU". ScreenRant. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  18. ^ Levine, Adam (March 3, 2022). "The Untold Truth Of Marvel's Madame Web". Looper. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  19. ^ Sengupta, Abhirup (February 3, 2022). "Who is Madame Web? Dakota Johnson in talks to star in MCU Spider-Man spinoff". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  20. ^ Davison, Josh (February 8, 2022). "Marvel: 7 Things Only Die-Hard Spider-Man Fans Know About Madame Web". Game Rant. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  21. ^ Harn, Darby (February 5, 2022). "10 Things Only Marvel Comic Book Fans Know About Madame Web". ScreenRant. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  22. ^ a b Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Spider-Man 2005 #1
  23. ^ Blunden, Fred (January 31, 2017). "Every Member Of The Spider-Man Family, Ranked". ScreenRant. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  24. ^ Avataars: Covenant of the Shield #1–3 (2000)
  25. ^ House of M: Masters of Evil No. 2
  26. ^ Spider-Girl No. 39
  27. ^ Ultimate Spider-Man No. 102. Marvel Comics.
  28. ^ "Voice of Madame Web (Spider-Man)". Behind the Voice Actors. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  29. ^ "Voice of Madame Web (Ultimate Spider-Man)". Voice Chasers. Retrieved September 21, 2019.[permanent dead link‍]
  30. ^ Chu, Severina (June 6, 2023). "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Cast: What The Actors Look Like In Real Life". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on June 21, 2023. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  31. ^ Sneider, Jeff (September 26, 2019). "Exclusive: Sony Taps 'Morbius' Writers for 'Madame Web' Movie Set in Spider-Man Universe". Collider. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
  32. ^ Treese, Tyler (April 21, 2022). "Madame Web Release Date: Sony Sets 2023 Launch for Spider-Man Spin-off".
  33. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 19, 2022). "Sony Moves 'Madame Web' To Fall 2023, Dates Marvel Universe Title For Summer 2024". Deadline. Archived from the original on July 19, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  34. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (November 15, 2023). "'Madame Web': First Superhero Movie Of 2024 With Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney Drops Trailer". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  35. ^ Kroll, Justin (February 3, 2022). "'Madame Web': Dakota Johnson Tapped To Play First Female Superhero In Sony Pictures' Universe Of Marvel Characters". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 3, 2022. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  36. ^ Kroll, Justin (March 16, 2022). "'Euphoria's Sydney Sweeney To Co-Star Opposite Dakota Johnson In Sony's Marvel Pic 'Madame Web'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  37. ^ Donohoo, Timothy (May 22, 2020). "Who Is Madame Web? Sony's Planned Spider-Man Spinoff, Explained". CBR. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  38. ^ "Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions Video – SDCC 10: Opening Cinematic (Cam)". GameTrailers. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
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