Geek
Everything We Know About The New Gay Spider-Man, Web-Weaver
He’s here, he’s queer, and he’s fierce. Evil-doers and homophobes beware.
rachelkiley
September 06 2022 11:40 AM EST
December 09 2022 9:12 AM EST
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He’s here, he’s queer, and he’s fierce. Evil-doers and homophobes beware.
A gay Spider-Man is finally on his way — and the first look has just been revealed.
News first broke of plans for Web-Weaver to make his debut earlier this summer, as part of Edge of the Spider-Verse. He is described as a “mild-mannered fashion designer” working for none other than Janet Van Dyne, and who receives his powers when he pushes Peter Parker out of the way of that radioactive spider who kicks off Parker’s iconic hero’s journey.
The story was written by Steve Foxe, and the character designed by Kris Anka.
\u201cSURPRISE: I had the huge gay honor of helping to co-create WEB-WEAVER, who'll make his debut in EDGE OF THE SPIDER-VERSE #5 this September!\n\nDesigned by the one and only @kristaferanka, cover by Josemaria Casanovas, with our interior artist to be revealed soon!\u201d— Steve Fo\ud83c\udd67e Updates (@Steve Fo\ud83c\udd67e Updates) 1655414625
\u201cmy Edge of Spider-verse 5 variant\u201d— krismas @ Lightbox Expo 411 (@krismas @ Lightbox Expo 411) 1662055098
A first look released last week shows Anka’s variant cover as well as some of the panel pages showing Web-Weaver’s origin story.
\u201cWeb-Weaver, Hunter-Spider, and a mystery new Spider-Hero bring \u2018Edge of Spider-Verse\u2019 to its epic conclusion. \ud83d\udd78\ufe0f THWIP through the covers and interior artwork before the issue hits stands on October 5: https://t.co/kmBKHe1jVW (1/2)\u201d— Spider-Man (@Spider-Man) 1662054484
\u201cI love Web-Weaver\u201d— Friskblade346 \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 \ud83d\udd778\ufe0f\u20e3 (@Friskblade346 \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 \ud83d\udd778\ufe0f\u20e3) 1662415486
The character is, of course, already sparking strong reactions from both those hyped to feel represented in the Spider-Verse and those who have a full-on meltdown any time a single gay character is introduced as a superhero in anything.
But the support — and in some cases, even fan art, already — was far more exciting to follow.
\u201cthis is actually making me tear up like he is just like me i literally dress like that thats my hair style as well I Love U Web-Weaver\u201d— eugene ^-^ @ comms CLOSED (@eugene ^-^ @ comms CLOSED) 1662388474
\u201cWeb-Weaver \ud83d\udd77\ud83d\udd78\u201d— roasif \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@roasif \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08) 1662292314
\u201cI am pretty sure Web-Weaver was in love with Peter (that one in glasses), that's why he saved him, you CAN'T CHANGE MY MIND\u201d— thefuzzyaya she/her (@thefuzzyaya she/her) 1662391092
\u201cSo excited for everyone to meet Web-Weaver from my friend and brother @steve_foxe (and his artistic collaborators)! Drew up a quick fan art in between work today.\u201d— Phillip Sevy NYCC E-02 - Preshow Commissions open! (@Phillip Sevy NYCC E-02 - Preshow Commissions open!) 1662062271
\u201ca lot of the effeminate gay man rep anyone ever gets is played for a joke or in passing or made shallow there's little characters like that that are treated with respect so this is so fucking cool oh mein gott.....\u201d— eugene ^-^ @ comms CLOSED (@eugene ^-^ @ comms CLOSED) 1662388474
Foxe reassured readers that, despite the press release noting little more than this new hero being a fashion designer, that his job is “akin to Pete’s at the Bugle” and that “this is very much an action story (with some flirting)!”
“Something I realized immediately when conceiving Web-Weaver is that he can’t — and shouldn’t — represent ALL gay men. No single character can,” he tweeted back when the issue was first announced. “His fearlessly femme identity is central to who he is, but it’s not the STORY.”
Still, Web-Weaver is believed to be the first canonically gay male Spider-hero, and a welcome addition to the bigger ‘verse.
Edge of the Spider-Verse #5 will be released on October 5.
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Rachel Kiley is presumably a writer and definitely not a terminator. She can usually be found crying over queerbaiting in the Pitch Perfect franchise or on Twitter, if not both.
Rachel Kiley is presumably a writer and definitely not a terminator. She can usually be found crying over queerbaiting in the Pitch Perfect franchise or on Twitter, if not both.