Madame Web

{{Short description|Marvel Comics fictional character}}

{{About|Cassandra Webb, the first Madame Web|the actress|Cassandra Webb (actress)|the second Madame Web|Julia Carpenter|the DC Comics character|Batwoman#Katherine Webb|the film|Madame Web (film){{!}}Madame Web (film)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}

{{Infobox comics character

| character_name = Madame Web

| image = Madame-Web.png

| caption = Artwork from The Sensational Spider-Man #26 (July 2006).
Art by Clayton Crain.

| real_name = Cassandra Webb

| homeworld = Salem, Oregon

| species = Human mutant{{Cite web|url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/5-things-to-know-about-madame-web|title=5 Things to Know About Madame Web|website=www.marvel.com}}

| publisher = Marvel Comics

| debut = The Amazing Spider-Man #210 (November 1980)

| creators = Dennis O'Neil
John Romita Jr.

| alliances =

| aliases =

| powers = * Clairvoyance

}}

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 Dennis O'Neil and artist John Romita Jr.{{cite book |last1=DeFalco |first1=Tom |last2=Sanderson |first2=Peter |last3=Brevoort |first3=Tom |last4=Teitelbaum |first4=Michael |last5=Wallace |first5=Daniel |last6=Darling |first6=Andrew |last7=Forbeck |first7=Matt |last8=Cowsill |first8=Alan |last9=Bray |first9=Adam |title=The Marvel Encyclopedia |date=2019 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-7890-0 |page=223}} 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 who first appears to help Spider-Man find a kidnapping victim. She is one of the mutants who did not lose their powers 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

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).{{cite book|last1 = Manning|first1 = Matthew K.|last2= Gilbert|first2= Laura|chapter= 1980s|title = Spider-Man Chronicle Celebrating 50 Years of Web-Slinging|publisher = Dorling Kindersley|year = 2012|page = 116|isbn = 978-0756692360|quote= 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.}}

Fictional character biography

Born in Salem, Oregon, Cassandra Webb is a paralyzed, blind, telepathic, clairvoyant, and precognitive mutant 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.{{cite book |last1=Brevoort |first1=Tom |last2=DeFalco |first2=Tom |last3=Manning |first3=Matthew K. |last4=Sanderson |first4=Peter |last5=Wiacek |first5=Win |title=Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History |date=2017 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1465455505 |page=198}}

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.The Amazing Spider-Man No. 210. Marvel Comics.

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.The Amazing Spider-Man No. 229. Marvel Comics. The resulting mental trauma, however, means that Madame Web apparently loses her memory of Spider-Man's secret identity.The Amazing Spider-Man No. 230. Marvel Comics.

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.The Amazing Spider-Man No. 441. Marvel Comics. Restored to her physical prime, Webb then serves as a mentor of sorts to the third Spider-Woman, the young Mattie Franklin.Spider-Woman vol. 3 #1–11, 14, Alias No. 17. Marvel Comics.

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.{{efn|As of Sensational Spider-Man No. 26 (Part 4 of "Feral").}}

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."The Amazing Spider-Man No. 600. Marvel Comics. 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,The Amazing Spider-Man No. 611. Marvel Comics. who is later killed by Sasha Kravinoff as part of a sacrificial ritual that revives Grim Hunter.The Amazing Spider-Man No. 634. Marvel Comics.

In "Grim Hunt", Sasha kills Madame Web out of a belief that she is deceiving her. Before dying, Cassandra gives her psychic powers to Julia Carpenter.The Amazing Spider-Man #637 (September 2010) In "Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy", Ben Reilly resurrects Web in a clone body, but she later dies from the Carrion virus.Prowler (vol. 2) #1 - 4 (December 2016 - March 2017)

Characteristics

= Powers and abilities =

Madame Web is a mutant who possesses several psychic abilities.{{Cite web |last=Chrysostomou |first=George |date=November 18, 2021 |title=10 Marvel Cosmic Entities That Have Yet To Make Their Debut In The MCU |url=https://screenrant.com/marvel-cosmic-entities-not-in-mcu/ |access-date=2022-11-26 |website=ScreenRant |language=en-US}} She can use telepathy to read the minds of others. She has the ability to see the future.{{Cite web |last=Levine |first=Adam |date=March 3, 2022 |title=The Untold Truth Of Marvel's Madame Web |url=https://www.looper.com/787060/the-0999untold-truth-of-marvels-madame-web/ |access-date=2022-11-26 |website=Looper |language=en-US}} Madame Web can project an astral form of herself away from her physical body.{{Cite web |last=Sengupta |first=Abhirup |title=Who is Madame Web? Dakota Johnson in talks to star in MCU Spider-Man spinoff |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/news-who-madame-web-dakota-johnson-talks-star-mcu-spider-man-spinoff |access-date=2022-11-26 |website=www.sportskeeda.com |date=February 3, 2022 |language=en-us}} 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 =

When dying, she displayed the ability to transfer her mutation to another individual, such as Julia Carpenter.{{Cite web |last=Davison |first=Josh |date=February 8, 2022 |title=Marvel: 7 Things Only Die-Hard Spider-Man Fans Know About Madame Web |url=https://gamerant.com/marvel-spiderman-madame-web-facts/ |access-date=2022-11-26 |website=Game Rant |language=en-US}} Madame Web was a victim of myasthenia gravis, a disorder of neuromuscular junction transmission.{{Cite web |last=Harn |first=Darby |date=February 5, 2022 |title=10 Things Only Marvel Comic Book Fans Know About Madame Web |url=https://screenrant.com/what-only-marvel-comic-book-fans-know-about-madame-web/ |access-date=2022-11-26 |website=ScreenRant |language=en-US}} 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.Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Spider-Man 2005 #1 Madame Web is cybernetically linked to a spider-web-like life-support chair which attends to all of her bodily needs.

Reception

= Accolades =

  • In 2017, Screen Rant ranked Madame Web 12th in their "Every Member Of The Spider-Man Family" list.{{Cite web |last=Blunden |first=Fred |date=January 31, 2017 |title=Every Member Of The Spider-Man Family, Ranked |url=https://screenrant.com/every-member-of-the-spider-man-family-ranked/ |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=ScreenRant |language=en-US}}

Other versions

  • 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.Avataars: Covenant of the Shield #1–3 (2000)
  • Webb also appeared during the House of M storyline as a therapist employed by S.H.I.E.L.D.House of M: Masters of Evil No. 2
  • 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.Ultimate Spider-Man No. 102. Marvel Comics.

In other media

{{See also|Julia Carpenter#In other media}}

=Television=

Image:Madamewebanimated.png.]]

  • The Cassandra Webb incarnation of Madame Web appears in Spider-Man: The Animated Series, voiced by Joan Lee.{{cite web |title=Madame Web Voices (Spider-Man) |url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Spider-Man-1994/Madame-Web/ |access-date=June 5, 2018 |website=Behind the Voice Actors |postscript=. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.}} 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.{{cite web |title=Madame Web Voice - Ultimate Spider-Man (TV Show) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Ultimate-Spider-Man/Madame-Web/ |access-date=February 24, 2025 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.

=Film=

File:Dakota Johnson Venice 2018 (cropped).jpg, who portrays Madame Web in her self-titled film]]

  • A character loosely based on Madame Web named "C. Weber" appears in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023), voiced by Rachel Dratch.{{Cite web|last=Chu|first=Severina|date=June 6, 2023|title=Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Cast: What The Actors Look Like In Real Life|url=https://screenrant.com/spider-man-across-spider-verse-cast-guide|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621184451/https://screenrant.com/spider-man-across-spider-verse-cast-guide/|archive-date=June 21, 2023|access-date=July 5, 2023|website=Screen Rant}} She is a counselor at Miles Morales' school.
  • A young Cassandra "Cassie" Webb / Madame Web appears in a self-titled film,{{cite web|url=http://collider.com/madame-web-movie-sets-morbius-writers/|title=Exclusive: Sony Taps 'Morbius' Writers for 'Madame Web' Movie Set in Spider-Man Universe|publisher=Collider|date=September 26, 2019|first=Jeff|last=Sneider|access-date=September 26, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/1218892-madame-web-release-date-sony-sets-2023-launch-for-spider-man-spin-off|title=Madame Web Release Date: Sony Sets 2023 Launch for Spider-Man Spin-off|last=Treese|first=Tyler|date=April 21, 2022}}{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=July 19, 2022 |title=Sony Moves 'Madame Web' To Fall 2023, Dates Marvel Universe Title For Summer 2024 |url=https://deadline.com/2022/07/madame-web-mcu-sony-insidious-5-release-dates-1235072577/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220719211029/https://deadline.com/2022/07/madame-web-mcu-sony-insidious-5-release-dates-1235072577/ |archive-date=July 19, 2022 |access-date=July 19, 2022 |website=Deadline}}{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=November 15, 2023 |title='Madame Web': First Superhero Movie Of 2024 With Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney Drops Trailer |url=https://deadline.com/video/madame-web-trailer/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115144932/https://deadline.com/video/madame-web-trailer/ |archive-date=November 15, 2023 |access-date=November 15, 2023 |website=Deadline Hollywood}} portrayed by Dakota Johnson.{{cite web|last=Kroll|first=Justin|title='Madame Web': Dakota Johnson Tapped To Play First Female Superhero In Sony Pictures' Universe Of Marvel Characters|url=https://deadline.com/2022/02/madame-web-dakota-johnson-1234925603/|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=February 3, 2022|access-date=February 3, 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203161342/https://deadline.com/2022/02/madame-web-dakota-johnson-1234925603/|archive-date=February 3, 2022}} This version is a paramedic partnered with her friend Ben Parker who acquired her powers after her pregnant mother Constance Webb was betrayed and left for dead by Ezekiel Sims. After being rescued by natives, she was bitten by a rare Peruvian spider they were looking for shortly before giving birth to Cassie. Additionally, Julia Carpenter appears as well, portrayed by Sydney Sweeney.{{cite web|last=Kroll|first=Justin|title='Euphoria's Sydney Sweeney To Co-Star Opposite Dakota Johnson In Sony's Marvel Pic 'Madame Web'|url=https://deadline.com/2022/03/euphorias-sydney-sweeney-dakota-johnson-sony-marvel-madame-web-1234980232/|date=March 16, 2022|access-date=March 17, 2022|website=Deadline Hollywood|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316224829/https://deadline.com/2022/03/euphorias-sydney-sweeney-dakota-johnson-sony-marvel-madame-web-1234980232/|archive-date=March 16, 2022}} Over the course of the film, Cassie works to protect Carpenter, Mattie Franklin, and Anya Corazon from Sims. Despite being blinded and paralyzed while defeating him, Cassie becomes the trio's mentor.

=Video games=

  • The Cassandra Webb incarnation of Madame Web appears in Questprobe featuring Spider-Man.{{Cite web |last=Donohoo |first=Timothy |date=May 22, 2020 |title=Who Is Madame Web? Sony's Planned Spider-Man Spinoff, Explained |url=https://www.cbr.com/madame-web-spider-man-spinoff-explained/ |access-date=2022-11-26 |website=CBR |language=en-US}}
  • The Cassandra Webb incarnation of Madame Web appears in Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, voiced by Susanne Blakeslee. 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.gametrailers.com/video/sdcc-10-spider-man-shattered/702118?type=flv |title=Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions Video – SDCC 10: Opening Cinematic (Cam) |publisher=GameTrailers |access-date=2013-11-14}} 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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References

{{Reflist|30em}}