Spider-Woman

* Core Identity: Jessica Drew is the original Spider-Woman, a super-spy turned superhero whose complex history of espionage, brainwashing, and redemption has forged her into one of the Marvel Universe's most resilient and formidable heroes.

• Key Takeaways:
• A Hero Forged in Deceit: Unlike many heroes who chose their path, Jessica Drew's was initially forced upon her. She was bio-engineered by the High Evolutionary and later manipulated by hydra into becoming a top assassin, meaning her entire heroic career is an act of reclaiming her own identity and atoning for a past she never chose. This internal conflict is central to her character.
• Unique Power Set: While she shares a codename with Spider-Man, Jessica Drew's powers are fundamentally different and not derived from a radioactive spider bite. Her abilities include bio-electric “Venom Blasts,” powerful pheromone manipulation, superhuman strength and durability, and flight/gliding via web-like membranes, making her a distinct and versatile combatant.
• The Ultimate Survivor: Jessica's story is one of profound trauma and survival. She was the central figure in the Secret Invasion storyline, having been replaced by the Skrull Queen Veranke for years. Her return and recovery from this ultimate violation of identity solidified her status as a hardened survivor and a cornerstone of the hero community.
• Multiple Mantles: The “Spider-Woman” identity is a legacy title. While Jessica Drew is the original and most prominent, other significant characters have held the name, most notably Julia Carpenter (the second Spider-Woman, later Madame Web), Mattie Franklin, and, in an alternate reality, the incredibly popular Gwen Stacy (Ghost-Spider).

The creation of Spider-Woman in the late 1970s was driven by a pragmatic business decision as much as a creative one. In 1977, Stan Lee, then Marvel's publisher, became aware that the animation studio Filmation was developing a show called The Web Woman. Fearing this could create trademark conflicts with their flagship character, Spider-Man, Marvel moved quickly to secure the name “Spider-Woman.” Archie Goodwin and Sal Buscema were tasked with creating the character, who debuted in Marvel Spotlight #32 (February 1977). This initial story presented her as a literal evolved spider, a creation of the High Evolutionary. However, legendary writer Marv Wolfman took over for her ongoing series, Spider-Woman #1 (April 1978), and immediately retconned her origin. He reimagined her as a human woman, Jessica Drew, who was poisoned by radiation and “saved” by an experimental spider-serum developed by her scientist father. This new origin also intricately wove her into the spy-thriller world of Marvel by establishing her as a brainwashed assassin for the terrorist organization HYDRA. This change provided a richer, more human-centric foundation for the character, focusing on themes of identity, manipulation, and redemption that would define her for decades. Her initial series ran for 50 issues, a significant run for the time, establishing her unique powers, her iconic costume designed by Marie Severin, and her nemesis, the sorceress Morgan le Fay. After her series ended, she largely faded into the background for many years before being brought back to prominence by writer Brian Michael Bendis in the mid-2000s as a key member of the New Avengers, leading directly to her central role in the Secret Invasion event.

The in-universe origin of Jessica Drew is one of the most convoluted and frequently retconned in Marvel history. Distinguishing between the comic canon and adaptations is crucial to understanding her character.

Jessica Drew's definitive origin is a tapestry woven from multiple storylines. She was born in London, England to Jonathan and Miriam Drew, two brilliant geneticists. Her father's research partner was Herbert Wyndham, the man who would become the High Evolutionary. The family moved to Wyndham's base on Wundagore Mountain to continue their research, which involved splicing the genetic traits of spiders into the human genome in an attempt to unlock new evolutionary potential. During their time on Wundagore, young Jessica fell gravely ill due to prolonged radiation exposure from the uranium deposits in the mountain. In a desperate attempt to save her life, her father injected her with his experimental serum derived from the blood of several species of spiders. To allow the serum to take effect, he sealed her in a genetic accelerator built by Wyndham. She remained in stasis for decades, aging at a fraction of the normal rate. When she was finally released, she was a young woman with no memories and incredible superhuman abilities. She was found and taken in by HYDRA, then under the leadership of Count Otto Vermis. They saw her potential and subjected her to intense psychological conditioning, brainwashing her into believing she was not human but an evolved spider named Arachne. They trained her to be their ultimate weapon and assassin. Her first major mission was to assassinate the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury. During this mission, she encountered Fury, who saw through her conditioning and revealed HYDRA's true evil nature. The psychological shock of this revelation, combined with her innate morality, caused Jessica to turn against her masters. She broke free from HYDRA's control and, after a period of wandering and self-discovery in London with the help of the sorcerer Magnus, she adopted the moniker Spider-Woman and began a career as a superhero and private investigator, determined to use her frightening powers for good and atone for her past.

As of today, Jessica Drew has not appeared in the mainstream Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) reality (designated Earth-199999 or the former Earth-616). Her most significant and high-profile adaptation is in Sony's animated film, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. This version is presented as a distinct variant from an alternate Earth. In this continuity, Jessica Drew is a high-ranking, experienced member of Miguel O'Hara's Spider-Society, a multiversal team dedicated to protecting the “canon” of the Spider-Verse. She is depicted as a Black woman, an expert motorcyclist, and is visibly pregnant throughout the film, a direct nod to the acclaimed 2015 comic run where Jessica became a mother. Her personality in the film is that of a cool, collected, and authoritative veteran. She serves as a mentor figure, particularly to Gwen Stacy, but also acts as one of O'Hara's top lieutenants, enforcing the society's strict rules about preserving “canon events.” Her powers are shown to be similar to her comic counterpart, including superhuman strength and agility, though the film does not explicitly showcase her venom blasts or pheromones. Her primary mode of transport and combat involves a custom motorcycle that she can seamlessly integrate with her web-swinging and wall-crawling. This adaptation significantly streamlines her origin, removing the complex history with the High Evolutionary and HYDRA in favor of presenting her as a fully-formed, confident hero. This version serves as the definitive cinematic introduction to Jessica Drew for a mass audience, though it remains separate from the live-action MCU.

Jessica Drew's powers and skills make her one of the most versatile and dangerous street-level (and occasionally cosmic-level) heroes in the Marvel Universe.

• Superhuman Strength: Jessica possesses superhuman strength sufficient to lift approximately 7 tons under optimal conditions. This allows her to overpower multiple human opponents with ease and trade blows with other superhumans.
• Superhuman Speed, Stamina, and Agility: Her reflexes and agility are enhanced to levels far beyond a normal human, comparable to those of Spider-Man. She can move and react with incredible speed and maintain peak physical exertion for several hours before tiring.
• Superhuman Durability: Her body is more resistant to physical injury than an ordinary person's. She can withstand impacts, such as falls from great heights or blows from other super-strong beings, that would severely injure or kill a normal human.
• Bio-Electric Energy Blasts (“Venom Blasts”): This is her most iconic offensive power. Jessica can generate powerful blasts of bio-electricity from her hands. These “Venom Blasts” are potent enough to stun or kill a normal human and can incapacitate powerful superhumans, including the Hulk on rare occasions. The intensity is controlled by her, ranging from a mild jolt to a full-force blast capable of punching through metal. Overuse can temporarily exhaust her.
• Pheromone Secretion: Jessica's metabolism generates potent pheromones that can affect the moods and actions of those around her. When she is calm, these pheromones can elicit attraction and pleasure in men, and fear or repulsion in women. With focus, she can amplify this effect to manipulate others, though she finds this ability morally repugnant and rarely uses it consciously. The effect can be resisted by those with strong willpower or those who are not attracted to women.
• Wall-Crawling: She can adhere to virtually any surface, allowing her to scale walls and move across ceilings. This ability appears to be psionic or bio-magnetic in nature.
• Limited Immunity to Contaminants: Her unique physiology grants her a high degree of immunity to all forms of terrestrial poisons, toxins, and radiation. This was the original reason her father gave her the serum—to cure her of radiation poisoning.
• Flight/Gliding: The classic Spider-Woman costume includes small, web-patterned glider wings under her arms. These allow her to glide on air currents, and for a time, she possessed the ability of true self-propelled flight. In modern comics, she is primarily depicted as a glider.

Jessica is an exceptionally skilled spy and hand-to-hand combatant, having received elite training from both HYDRA and S.H.I.E.L.D. She is a master of espionage, infiltration, and interrogation. She is also an accomplished private investigator, possessing sharp deductive reasoning skills. Her personality is complex and often guarded. Years of betrayal and manipulation have left her cynical, sarcastic, and slow to trust. However, beneath this hardened exterior lies a fiercely loyal and compassionate individual who will go to any length to protect her friends, particularly her best friend Carol Danvers and her son, Gerry. The 2015-2020 Spider-Woman series by Dennis Hopeless heavily explored her struggles with motherhood, anxiety, and finding a “normal” life, adding immense depth and relatability to her character.

The Jessica Drew seen in Across the Spider-Verse showcases a slightly different, more focused skill set tailored for her role in the film.

• Standard Spider-Powers: She displays the core abilities of a Spider-Totem, including superhuman strength, speed, agility, and the ability to cling to surfaces.
• Expert Motorcyclist: Her most unique trait in the film is her incredible skill with a motorcycle, which she uses as a primary tool for combat and traversal, often driving it along walls and ceilings.
• Experienced Combatant: While her specific fighting style isn't detailed, she is presented as a formidable and highly experienced brawler, capable of holding her own against powerful threats and coordinating team attacks.

This version of Jessica is confident, pragmatic, and uncompromising. She is a leader within the Spider-Society, respected and perhaps slightly feared by her peers. She carries an air of authority and experience, acting as a cool-headed foil to the more emotionally driven Miguel O'Hara and a stabilizing presence for the younger Gwen Stacy. Her pregnancy is portrayed not as a vulnerability but as a matter-of-fact aspect of her life, further emphasizing her competence and unflappable nature.

• Carol Danvers (Captain Marvel): Jessica's most important relationship. Their bond is one of the deepest and most enduring friendships in the Marvel Universe. They have supported each other through immense trauma, including Carol's loss of powers to Rogue and Jessica's replacement during the Secret Invasion. Their dynamic is one of unconditional support, witty banter, and sisterly love. Carol was instrumental in helping Jessica recover her life and was by her side throughout her pregnancy.
• Peter Parker (Spider-Man): While they share a name, their relationship has often been one of mutual, slightly wary, respect. Initially, Peter was suspicious of her, but they have grown to become trusted allies. Jessica often views Peter's unyielding optimism with a degree of cynical amusement, but she deeply respects his heroism. They have teamed up on numerous occasions, particularly during the multiversal Spider-Verse events.
• Clint Barton (Hawkeye): Jessica and Clint developed a close, if complicated, relationship during their time on the New Avengers. They briefly dated, but their dynamic works best as a close, platonic friendship built on shared experiences in the world of espionage and a similar brand of world-weary humor.
• Nick Fury: Fury was the first person to see the hero within the HYDRA assassin. He offered Jessica a chance at redemption by making her a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, giving her a purpose when she had none. Though their relationship is strictly professional, she holds a deep-seated respect for him as the man who gave her a second chance.

• Morgan le Fay: The ancient Arthurian sorceress is Jessica's first and greatest nemesis. In her original series, Morgan's spirit was trapped and she sought to use Jessica as a vessel to return to the physical world. Their battles were epic, spanning both the physical and astral planes, and established Jessica's ability to confront mystical, world-ending threats.
• Viper (Ophelia Sarkissian / Madame Hydra): A recurring and deeply personal foe. Viper has repeatedly manipulated Jessica, once blackmailing her into rejoining HYDRA. Their conflict is rooted in the world of espionage and terrorism, with Viper representing the life of evil that Jessica constantly fights to escape. Viper has claimed to be Jessica's mother, though this was later revealed to be a lie.
• Queen Veranke: The Skrull queen who orchestrated the Secret Invasion. Veranke chose Jessica Drew as her template, replacing her for years and rising through the ranks of the Avengers as a deep-cover agent. She not only stole Jessica's life but also weaponized her reputation and relationships. The violation was so profound that even after Veranke's defeat, the psychological scars remained a defining part of Jessica's character for years.

• HYDRA: Her first “family,” albeit one that brainwashed and controlled her. Her history as a HYDRA agent is a source of shame and a driving motivation for her heroism.
• S.H.I.E.L.D.: Jessica served as a loyal S.H.I.E.L.D. agent for many years, using her skills to protect the world.
• The Avengers: Jessica was a founding member of the New Avengers team formed after the “Avengers Disassembled” event. She proved to be a vital member, and her tenure on the team solidified her place as a premier hero in the Marvel Universe.
• S.W.O.R.D.: After the Secret Invasion, Jessica was recruited into S.W.O.R.D. (Sentient World Observation and Response Department) by Abigail Brand, where she used her unique experience with aliens to protect Earth from extraterrestrial threats.

This is arguably the most significant event in Jessica Drew's modern history. The story's central premise is that the shape-shifting alien Skrulls have been secretly replacing key figures on Earth for years. The stunning climax of New Avengers #31 reveals that the Spider-Woman who had been a member of the team was, in fact, the Skrull Queen Veranke. The real Jessica had been abducted just before the team formed and held in stasis. Veranke used Jessica's position to sow discord and gather intelligence, making her the single most effective infiltrator in the entire invasion. After the invasion is repelled and Veranke is killed, Jessica is rescued along with other replaced heroes. The event left her traumatized, distrusted by her peers, and completely adrift, forcing her to rebuild her life and reputation from scratch.

Spinning directly out of Secret Invasion, this series by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev saw a lost and angry Jessica Drew recruited by S.W.O.R.D. director Abigail Brand. The job offer was simple: use her unique perspective as someone who was “one of them” to hunt down rogue Skrulls still hiding on Earth. The story was a gritty, noir-infused sci-fi tale that saw Jessica travel to Madripoor to confront a Skrull posing as Spider-Man. It was a critical step in her journey of recovery, allowing her to channel her anger and reclaim her agency after the violation she suffered.

During the multiversal Spider-Verse crossover event, Jessica played a crucial role. Her experience as a spy made her the perfect choice for a dangerous undercover mission. She, along with the Peter Parker clone Kaine and the Spider-Man of a dystopian future, traveled to the Inheritors' home base of Loomworld. Jessica's mission was to infiltrate the society by impersonating her Inheritor-allied counterpart from that reality. She successfully gathered vital intelligence that was instrumental in the Spider-Army's eventual victory over their vampiric foes. The event reinforced her status as a top-tier operative and a key member of the wider “Spider-Family.”

Written by Dennis Hopeless, this celebrated run redefined Jessica Drew for a new generation. After leaving the Avengers, Jessica decided to focus on a more street-level life, becoming a private investigator and helping ordinary people. The series is most famous for its second arc, in which Jessica becomes pregnant (via an anonymous sperm donor) and continues her hero work while preparing for motherhood. The story masterfully balanced superhero action with the very real anxieties and humor of pregnancy and being a new single mother. It humanized Jessica in an unprecedented way, exploring her vulnerabilities and her fierce protective instincts for her son, Gerry. This run is widely considered the definitive take on her character.

The “Spider-Woman” name has a rich legacy in the Marvel Universe, held by several distinct and important characters besides Jessica Drew.

Debuting in Secret Wars #6 (1984), Julia Carpenter was the second Spider-Woman. A single mother living in a Denver suburb, she was tricked into participating in a government experiment and was “accidentally” injected with a serum of spider venom and exotic plant extracts. This granted her superhuman strength, speed, and the ability to generate webs of pure psionic energy. She was a key member of West Coast Avengers and Force Works. Years later, she lost her sight but gained precognitive abilities, eventually inheriting the mantle of Madame Web from the dying Cassandra Webb, becoming a central figure in the destiny of all Spider-Totems.

Martha “Mattie” Franklin, the third Spider-Woman, first appeared in Spectacular Spider-Man #262 (1998). A troubled teenager who idolized Spider-Man, she gained her powers after taking her father's place in a mystical ceremony known as the “Gathering of Five.” She briefly took over as Spider-Man when Peter Parker retired, before adopting the Spider-Woman identity. Her tenure was marked by tragedy; she was exploited, drugged, and had her body harvested for Mutant Growth Hormone. She was eventually killed by Sasha Kravinoff as part of a ritual to resurrect her son, Kraven the Hunter.

The most popular alternate Spider-Woman by far, this is Gwen Stacy from Earth-65. In her reality, she was the one bitten by the radioactive spider, becoming her world's “Spider-Woman.” Her best friend, Peter Parker, died trying to become special like her, and she was blamed for his death. Debuting in Edge of Spider-Verse #2 (2014), her unique design and compelling story led to an immediate explosion in popularity. She now goes by the codename Ghost-Spider to avoid confusion in the prime universe. She is a central protagonist in the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Across the Spider-Verse films, where her mainstream popularity has eclipsed that of nearly every other Spider-Hero except Peter Parker and Miles Morales.

In the Ultimate Universe, the identity of Spider-Woman was taken by a female clone of Peter Parker. Initially named “Jessica Drew” (a nod to the original), she possessed all of Peter's memories and powers but struggled with her identity as a clone. She eventually broke free from her creators, Otto Octavius and Ben Reilly, and became a hero in her own right, joining the Ultimates and acting as a mentor figure to Miles Morales after Peter Parker's death.

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