Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew)

Spider-Woman
File:Spider-Woman v1 1.png Cover to Spider-Woman #1. Art by Joe Sinnott.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Marvel Spotlight #32 (Feb. 1977)
Created by	Archie Goodwin Marie Severin
In-story information
Alter ego	Jessica Miriam Drew
Team affiliations	Avengers Heroes for Hire HYDRA Lady Liberators New Avengers S.H.I.E.L.D. S.W.O.R.D.
Notable aliases	Arachne, Ariadne Hyde
Abilities	Superhuman strength, speed, 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 the Marvel Comics Universe. 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 ressurrected 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 (cover-dated Feb. 1977) 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.

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

Publication history

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

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

During his run, Wolfman introduced Spider-Woman's mentor Charles Magnus and arch-enemies Morgan le Fay and the Brothers Grimm. He left the series after issue #8, citing a heavy workload, 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." Writing chores were turning over to the neophyte Mark Gruenwald. The series's regular penciler, comics legend Carmine Infantino, remained on board, having developed an intense fondness for the character and her stories. Gruenwald continued with the macabre-themed stories that Wolfman had used, while putting more focus on Jessica Drew's struggles to deal with her social awkwardness, shyness, and the negative reactions she produces in nearly everyone she meets. The last of these is revealed to be caused by fear-inducing pheromones, a previously unrevealed ability. Drew begins controlling these using medication. Gruenwald's run also introduced outgoing wannabe 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, 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."

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. 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, 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. 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. 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. 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, and had Spider-Woman perish in a climactic battle with her archnemesis Mogan le Fay, then instruct Magnus to erase all memory of her from everyone she ever encountered. 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."

However, readers were outraged at the character being killed, and Nocenti and Gruenwald both came to feel remorse over their decision. 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. Less than a year after her death, Spider-Woman was resurrected in Avengers #240-241 (February-March 1984).

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 unlimited 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 the book's protagonist.

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.

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.

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

Jessica Miriam Drew, daughter of Jonathan and Merriam Drew, was born in London, England. At a young age, Jessica was lethally poisoned by radiation while living near Mount Wundagore in Transia. In an attempt to save her life, her father injected her with an experimental serum based on irradiated spiders' blood. Because the serum did not have any apparent effect on her, the man who would come to be known as the High Evolutionary (Herbert Wyndham) placed her in a genetic accelerator. While in the accelerator, she aged at a decelerated rate. When she was finally released, decades later, Drew was only seventeen years old.

Jessica grew up on Mount Wundagore under the care of Lady Bova, one of the High Evolutionary's New Men. She was cared for and received the equivalent of a high school education. She eventually left when she did not appear to fit in. Her first few years were confusing as she adjusted to life among other humans. Eventually, HYDRA, under the control of Count Otto Vermis, found and recruited her as a HYDRA agent.

Through brainwashing and manipulation, she was convinced she was not human but actually an evolved spider. During this time, she went by the alias of Arachne. As a HYDRA agent, she battled Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D., until Jessica learned HYDRA's true nature. She quit HYDRA and turned on them, and was responsible for the fatal crash of HYDRA head Otto Vermis.

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

In this re-telling, Otto Vermis, who had originally recruited 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 (who was 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 was never possessed by the spirit of the Sixth Century magician Magnus; no reason exists for Magnus, decades later, to help Jessica in many of her adventures.
• 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

Now going by the name Spider-Woman, Jessica used her new identity to track down her father's killer, starting her search in London. During this time, Jessica was recaptured by HYDRA and brainwashed into working for them again. This brought her into direct conflict with Ben Grimm. After HYDRA's brainwashing was reversed, she battled magical elements alongside the Thing and Modred the Mystic.

Jessica battled Excaliber, agent of Morgan Le Fay, and then came into contact with Morgan's arch nemesis, the sorcerer Magnus. Magnus would become one of her strongest allies, and provided information that would lead Jessica to relocate with him to Los Angeles where she began her career as a costumed crime fighter. She encountered Morgan Le Fey's ghost. Jessica also tracked down her father's murderers.

Jessica was pursued at this time by S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Jerry Hunt, who followed her to Los Angeles to begin a romantic relationship with her.

In her early days as Spider-Woman, Jessica chose to keep her presence in Los Angeles a secret. She met super-powered foes such as the Brothers Grimm, Hangman, the Enforcer, the Needle, Hammer and Anvil, Nekra, the Silver Samurai, Viper, Gypsy Moth, and an unnamed character generally referred to by fans as the Waxman, as well as allies such as Werewolf by Night and the Shroud.

Jessica also sought to discover the true nature of her pheromones, which appeared to produce a strong sexual attraction from men and repulsion from women. Her search led her to the Hatros Institute and her first true job. Working as a secretary, she was able to gain free medical treatment to suppress her pheromones so that she could move effectively among people without producing any unwanted side-effects. Alongside the Shroud, she battled the above mentioned Nekra and the cult of Kali, and learned of her pheromone secretions. The culmination of her time at the Hatros Institute led Jessica to her encounter with Nekra, and the loss of her job.

Unemployed, Jessica briefly considered stealing, but at the last moment decided against it. She came into contact with Spider-Man, who advised her to use her unique talents to help others in need. Jessica chose to heed his advice and become a bounty hunter. She worked closely with former FBI specialist, Scotty McDowell, who later became the Hornet. When their working relationship failed, Jessica moved with her best friend Lindsay McCabe to San Francisco where she set up a practice as a licensed private investigator. On her first assignment, she battled Siryn, Black Tom Cassidy, and the Juggernaut alongside the X-Men. She also battled Morgan Le Fey once again.

While working as a P.I., Jessica encountered the Viper and the Silver Samurai in a battle. Two main revelations came out of it. The first was that Lindsay McCabe finally learned that Spider-Woman and Jessica were one and the same (although Lindsay claimed that she had known all along). The other was Viper's claim to be Jessica's real mother, of which she tried to convince Jessica. Whether this meant she was actually Miriem Drew remains unknown, but the resemblance between the two was uncanny and even fooled other HYDRA agents. The Viper was shown to be a pawn of Chthon however, and ultimately betrayed Chthon rather than hurt Jessica. Jessica later encountered and battle the Viper again, although now the Viper believed Jessica had brainwashed her into believing that she was her mother. Not long after that, Jessica gave up her immunity powers to save Giant-Man.

Jessica traveled 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 managed to vanquish Morgan, but Jessica's human body died while her spirit was gone from it. Jessica was believed dead and the sorcerer, Magnus, placed a spell over humanity to remove all traces of Jessica's existence. However, this spell was faulty, and Tigra and the Shroud discovered Jessica's dead body and contacted the Avengers and Doctor Strange. It turned out that Jessica was in fact trapped on the astral plane, and was attempting to make contact with her body again. The Avengers and Strange traveled to the astral plane to battle Morgan Le Fay, who was also trapped on the astral plane. Morgan attempted to foil the Avengers' attempts to revive Jessica, bringing Morgan in direct conflict with both the Avengers and Dr. Strange. Eventually, Doctor Strange was able to reunite Jessica spirit with her human body and trap Morgan, but it was not without a cost: Jessica's bioelectric powers were eliminated and Magnus sacrificed his astral form to help restore her to life. Jessica was nevertheless grateful for returning to the land of the living, and abandoned her Spider-Woman identity. She continued her life simply as a private investigator in San Francisco, assisted by Lindsay McCabe and occasionally by Tigra, The Shroud and during their brief time in the city, the X-Men.

Jessica Drew frequented Madripoor as a private investigator, partnered with Lindsay McCabe. During this time she had lost her ability to discharge bioelectricity, but found that her super powers were slowly returning. She still possessed superhuman strength and agility, and the ability to cling to walls. At one point, she became ensorcelled by the Black Blade, and battled Wolverine. However, she became an ally and confidante of Patch (an alter-ego of Wolverine), and developed a friendship with pilot Archie Corrigan, who helped her return to San Francisco, where Jessica worked to sort out her life.

Jessica Drew's life settled down until Charlotte Witter, a villainess going by the name of Spider-Woman, stole her powers. After the theft, Jessica returned to her life as a private investigator and served as a teacher and mentor to Mattie Franklin, a young woman who had assumed the Spider-Woman identity. Jessica began to regain her powers at this time; while investigating two cases with Mattie, she made use of her restored superhuman strength and agility. Although she regained the bulk of her spider-powers, they were unstable. For example, her "venom blasts" worked efficiently in one fight, and then would fail her unexpectedly on another occasion.

When Mattie Franklin was drawn into a highly abusive and parasitic relationship with a New York-based drug dealer who cannibalized her tissue to make the Mutant Growth Hormone (commonly known as "MGH"), Jessica did not hesitate to investigate (despite the instability of her powers). An initial misunderstanding with local P.I. Jessica Jones—who shared many surprising similarities to Drew—turned into an alliance when the women teamed up to rescue Mattie from her captors.

Civil War

During Civil War Jessica was the subject of an entire issue of The New Avengers. In it she is arrested and interrogated by S.H.I.E.L.D. director Hill and Iron Man who still question her loyalties, using one of the robotic copies of Nick Fury to try to trick her into giving herself away. The interrogation is interrupted, however, by agents of HYDRA who make a daring raid on the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier using an EMP weapon, temporarily paralyzing Iron Man and almost crashing the Helicarrier into Rhode Island. When she comes to on Hydra Island she is offered the position of "Madame Hydra", the head of the organization, which she declines and proceeds to burn HYDRA's facilities down as she leaves the island to meet up with and join Captain America and his Secret Avengers.

Secret Invasion

One day, a HYDRA agent known as Connely attacked her and offered her powers back if she would rejoin S.H.I.E.L.D. as a double agent. Knowing Connely would kill her if she said no, Jessica agreed and contacted Nick Fury, who confronted her securely and urged her to accept the offer. He told Jessica that he would feed her limited info until S.H.I.E.L.D. could analyze the HYDRA cell and then use the info to take it down.

Jessica's double-agent status is a cause for a great deal of mistrust between herself and other characters. After Nick Fury is ousted as head of S.H.I.E.L.D., Jessica is confronted by the new director, Maria Hill, about her loyalties. Jessica remains loyal to Fury rather than the leadership in S.H.I.E.L.D. Jessica also has conflicts with her teammates in the Avengers because of her divided loyalties.

It is later revealed, however, that the Jessica who had joined the Avengers and was acting as a double-agent under the command of Nick Fury was not Jessica Drew at all, but instead a Skrull imposter. When she went undercover to regain her lost powers, she was ambushed by the Skrulls and replaced by their current Queen Veranke, who took her place in the New Avengers and assumed her role as Fury's spy, in preparation for the upcoming Invasion.

"There are quite a few people on my message boards and the CBR ones who are gigantic Spider-Woman fans and they’ve loved me for bringing her back. With her being in a number one book, she's had a wave of good fortune that she hasn't seen since her heyday. And the whole time I was writing her I'd think those fans are going to fucking lose their shit because we’ve had this planned since New Avengers #1. You can go back to issue #1 and see hints. There's not a segment of the readership that I haven't felt worse about doing this to than the Spider-Woman fans. I want to express publicly that your love of the character will not be lost. 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. Last year, we were going to do the series and at the end of the issue she'd do something wrong, go off somewhere private and revert to Skrull form. It would be like, 'Woah! The lead character of the book isn't who she thought she was!' I wrote it, but in the end I just thought it wasn't selling somebody what they thought you were selling them. But if you did it as part of a team book it's much less bullshitty. You expect things to happen in a team book but if you're buying Spider-Woman, you want Spider-Woman."

— Brian Michael Bendis

In the conclusion to Secret Invasion, Jessica is revealed to be alive when Iron Man finds a Skrull ship in orbit with all the replaced heroes. Carol Danvers runs up to her and gives her a hug. Unaware of Queen Veranke's actions, Jessica asks why the other heroes have been giving her strange looks, to which Carol responds that "No one knows what to think."

Dark Reign

Cover to Hulk #9. Art by Art Adams. The art is an homage to The Avengers #83.

In the aftermath of Secret Invasion, Jessica 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 Luke and Jessica Jones' baby, Danielle Cage. 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. 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. She attempts to bait the Dark Avengers into a fight with the New Avengers; however, Norman Osborn realizes it's a trick and sends the Hood's gang instead, leaving her feeling responsible for the setup. Along with the rest of the New Avengers, she helps Doctor Strange search for the next Sorcerer Supreme and fights Madame Masque, who is trying to keep the New Avengers busy for the Hood. She is also one of the more vocal members about Ronin's media war with Norman 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.

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

Main article: Spider-Woman (comic book)

Feeling like the most screwed over person on Earth due to Veranke's actions, Jessica 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.

Siege

Before the Siege of Asgard, Ronin attempts to assassinate Norman Osborn but is captured by the Dark Avengers. Jessica 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.

Jessica is then paired with Spider-Man to do recon 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. 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 begins 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. Upon arriving in Asgard, Jessica and the rest of the heroes engage Norman Osborn's forces and witnesses the defeat of the Sentry, who had gone insane.

Joining the Avengers

The "Heroic Age" roster of the Avengers. Cover art for Avengers vol. 4, #12.1, by Bryan Hitch.

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. 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. 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. While in Washington Square Park, they come across Killraven and join forces to help the citizens. 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.

Later Jessica is present when the Red Hulk comes to warn the Avengers that the Hood is seeking to collect the Infinity Gems. 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.

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 the consciousness of Ultron. The new Ultron escapes and Jessica is reunited with the Avengers.

Powers and abilities

As a result of a combination of a special serum derived from spider blood and a certain radiation treatment, Jessica possesses superhuman strength, endurance, reflexes, and speed. Her body generates excess bioelectricity that she can focus into "venom blasts" sufficient to stun or kill normal humans and blast through solid metal. She has a degree of control over the intensity of these blasts. She can also adhere to almost any surface by excreting an unknown adhesive substance from her palms and soles. Jessica is highly resistant to all poisons and drugs; a first exposure to a specific toxin will disable but not kill her, and subsequent exposures have no effect whatsoever. She is also totally immune to the harmful effects of radiation. Her body exudes a high concentration of pheromones which elicit pleasure in men while repulsing women, though she uses a chemical "perfume" that can nullify this effect. She has also demonstrated superhuman senses in her solo series. Jessica has lost and regained her powers more than once, but has recently emerged with her powers restored greater than ever. Initially, Jessica was unable to actually fly, and had to glide with the help of web-like extensions on her costume. When she was replaced by the Skrull Queen Veranke, the latter demonstrated the ability to actually fly. Jessica, upon her return, gained this ability as well.

In addition to her powers, Jessica 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, however she uses hisses to communicate on occasion. 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.

Marvel Adventures Spider-Man

In this version, Jessica Drew appeared in issue 52 and is a freelance agent who arrived at Peter's school's 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 the real Spider-Man's daughter, Spider-Girl. However, 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).

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. This parallel universe is known as Earth-79101.

Ultimate Spider-Woman

Clone Saga

In Ultimate Spider-Man #98, Spider-Woman is introduced, and in issue #102 it is revealed that she is a clone of Peter Parker whose chromosomes were manipulated to make her female. She resembles Peter, and appears to be the same age (approximately sixteen). Created to act as an agent for the CIA (code name: Spider-Woman), she retains Peter Parker's memories. Cassandra Webb is preparing to erase and supplant those memories in order to create her identity as "Jessica Drew", but she escapes before the process can be carried out.

Doctor Octopus reveals himself as the mastermind of the cloning experiments. Jessica and Peter fight him together, and eventually prevail. Peter surrenders to Nick Fury, while Jessica opts to flee. At the close of the storyline, Jessica decides to start a new life and embrace her identity as Jessica Drew. She takes her leave of Peter after what she calls "the most awkward hug in history."

Ultimatum

Jessica later appeared on Ultimate Spider-Man #129 during the Ultimatum storyline. 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. The Human Torch begins to develop a romantic interest in her after a bad date with a famed but obnoxious teen singer, unaware that she's a female clone of Peter Parker. In issue #130, she later meets May Parker while aiding civilians from Magneto's worldwide attack. She later took May to safety then promised to find Peter for her. She eventually traveled to the center of Manhattan where Dr. Strange's home was being attacked by Nightmare, however, 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. After briefly being chased by the 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 Parker that Peter is still among the missing.

Doomsday

In Ultimate Enemy, she 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 Ultimate Enemy following Spider-Man.

The duo plan to infiltrate Roxxon Corporation. To do this, Jessica becomes an employee by the name of Dr. Julia Carpenter.

In Ultimate Mystery, Spider-Woman makes herself an alias named Julia Carpenter and applies for a position in Roxxon as a scientist. On her first day she is introduced to a group of people who she is meant to work with: The Brain Trust. In that group are Dr. Arnim Zola III, Private Investigator Misty Knight, Nathaniel Essex, Dr. Layla Miller and Dr. Samuel Sterns. 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. The 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.

In Ultimate Doom, Spider-Woman awakens, bound on a table and meets the man behind the Brain Trust, 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 Dr. 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. After the confrontation with Reed Richards, Spider-Woman becomes an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D..

Ultimate Comics: The Ultimates

In Ultimate Comics: The Ultimates, Spider-Woman plays a small role as a member of the titular team.

Jessica is an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. and a member of the Ultimates. She aids the Ultimates in their struggle against The City and on returning to her apartment in the Triskelion she finds a dossier on Miles Morales left by Nick Fury. This dossier details Miles and his activities as Spider-Man.

Jessica is fed up on being in the Ultimates team. She was captured along with Jamie Braddock who is current Captain Britain by the new SHIELD director Flumm.

Spider-Woman was released after the Ultimates defeated Reed Richards, and she took part in Captain America's swearing-in to presidency. When president Captain America went to join the states once more, Spider-Woman joined him and was part of the ground forces.

Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man

Ultimate Spider-Woman is a supporting character of the Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man.

Since the first issues of Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man, there was a mysterious heavily-clothed costumed vigilantee whose identity is ambiguous, but both Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson both find the crimefighter familiar. On the sixth issue, after aiding Peter and Johnny Storm against Mysterio's attacks on Midtown High, reveals the superhero's identity to be Kitty Pryde, however. She and Johnny Storm once again work together, thwarting the Bombshells, a mother-daughter super-criminal duo. It is implied that she and Johnny begin seeing each other, which shocks Peter Parker, who knew Jessica's true identity as his clone. The knowledge that his clone, Jessica, is dating his male friend Johnny not only upsets Peter but makes him feel awkward around Johnny.

In Ultimate Spider-Man volume 2, she confronts Miles Morales about assuming the mantle of Spider-Man.

Being a clone of Spider-Man, she has exactly the same powers as he does. These include heightened agility, strength, reflexes, a precognitive danger sense ("spider sense") and the ability to stick to walls. Unlike Peter, she can shoot organic webbing from her fingertips.

Spider-Woman confronts Miles as he is in a knock-off Spider-Man costume. She kicks him in the face and demands to know who he is.

Later at the Triskelion, Jess and Nick are talking to Miles about his future and what they will do with him when Electro breaks free from containment. Miles fights Electro and gains the upper hand due to his camouflage ability and manages to disrupt Electro's powers through a venom sting. This gives Fury the opportunity to open fire on Electro. With Electro detained once again, Nick sees the potential in Miles and instructs Jess to give him a suit. Jess makes it clear to Miles that this is his one and only chance.

Spider-Woman was teamed with Miles Morales, against her will. She didn't like it and asked Miles to go home several times to no avail. After Miles got lost in the fight Spider-Woman went after him worried for his safety. She found him and brought him back to New York. After Miles asked why she cares so much, she promised to one day tell him.

Reception

She was ranked 54th in Comics Buyer's Guide's "100 Sexiest Women in Comics" list.

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 Akroyd), 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 Julia Carpenter (Secret War edition) and Spider-Girl costumes, 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, stating that he's "kinda cute in a geeky sort of way"). Spider-Woman has special dialogue with Black Widow, Jarvis, the Grey Gargoyle, the 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 Drew and obtain the S.H.I.E.L.D. plans.
• Spider-Woman appears in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 voiced by Elizabeth Daily. 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 you 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.
• Ultimate Spider-Woman was referenced in Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions. When Ultimate Spider-Man fights Deadpool, the latter asks "Is it true that there's a clone of you out there with your brain, but trapped in a girl's body?".
• Spider-Woman is a playable character in Marvel Super Hero Squad Online.
• Spider-Woman is a playable character in the Facebook game Marvel: Avengers Alliance.

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.
• 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.

External links

Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew) at Marvel.com

• Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew) at the Marvel Database Project
• Template:IMDb character
• Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew) at Spiderfan.org
• Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew) at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)
• Ultimate Spider-Woman at the ComicVine