Move over, Peter Parker — literally.
In June, Marvel announced its first gay Spider-Man, set to appear in the Edge of Spider-Verse comic book series. Dubbed “Web-Weaver,” the new spidey/fashion designer fights crime in custom couture and honestly? Work.
Web-Weaver
my design for the brand new Spider, debuting in Edge of Spider-verse 5 pic.twitter.com/vl2qVUtGVq— kris anka (@kristaferanka) June 23, 2022
Web-Weaver’s origin story will come in October’s Edge of Spider-Verse #5 by writer Steve Foxe and artist Kei Zama, but fans got a preview this week when Marvel released cover variants and first-look imagery.
Here are the covers featuring Web-Weaver, who works for Avenger Janet Van Dyne, aka The Wasp:
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And a preview page reveals how the future Web-Weaver shoves Peter Parker out of the way from a giant, radioactive spider, only to be bit himself. Plot twist!
The issue goes on sale October 5th.
Spider-Man has had a choke-hold on the gay community for decades. Even before heartthrob actors started bring the hero to the big screen, the lythe, lycra-clad lad with nothing but quippy one-liners and a cool $3 in his bank account has been a queer crowd favorite.
It’s not just the audience that has felt the fruit apparent in the Spider-Man universe — actors on Spider-Man film sets are constantly in favor of their characters to make queer turns.
Andrew Garfield famously wanted to get Michael B. Jordan to be his M.J., Tom Holland said “of course” Spider-Man could be gay, and Marisa Tomei pushed for her “Aunt May” character to have a girlfriend.
Even while shooting their latest MCU installment Spider-Man: No Way Home, which featured all three major Spider-Man players, Garfield revealed that the actors had “compared bulges” in their suits. There’s just something about this hero that makes people feel the fantasy!
skeldare
I guess the only way for people to know he’s a gay Spider-Man is to make him a stereotype.
xnetminder
Right? Fashion designer? But, on the other hand, maybe Marvel’s point was to include those who “fit” the stereotype.. proving even those who are maybe ridiculed and looked down on more so than the “manly gays” and are just as heroic as anyone else.
SFMike
As usual when creating a gay character they have to ensure the character is stereotypically fem enough to drive the point home with a sledgehammer insuring he remains a joke or at least on the road to becoming transgendered. I don’t see this as a step forward but back.
Joshua333
Look I usually don’t care about Marvel/DC cause I tend to find the superhero media a bit rubbish and quite boring but… even if gay spiderman is a massive stereotype… he looks different and more interesting and they literally stereotyped girl spider woman by making her outfit pink so what do we really expect?
Toofie
Look, if you read Marvel comics, the gays are tough and masculine for the most part. So it’s interesting to have a fem one for a change.