Julia Carpenter
Julia Carpenter is a female comic superhero who features in Marvel Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Origin
Julia Cornwall
Around this time, a secretive government group named the Commission on Superhuman Activities grew concerned over the number of superheroes that were independent of the government. To compensate, they looked to create their own superhero that would work for them. This project was headed by Valerie Cooper who gathered a team of scientists for the task which included Carter Napier, Dr. Sylvie Yaqua and Hashi Noto. They saw some promise in drugs from rare plants and spider-venoms with an expedition launched to Peruvian Amazon to collect samples with the scientists being guided by Julia Carpenter's parents. Meanwhile, Julia herself was chosen to be part of the test trial for the experiment though her old college friend Val Cooper claimed it was an athletic study that offered fringe benefits as well as payment for participation. By this point, Julia was struggling supporting herself and her daughter leading to her accepting the job. Tests were made to see if she would be receptible to the Spider-Serum whereupon they arranged an 'accident' whereby she was given the 'wrong' serum. For a moment, Julia nearly died but quickly found to had developer spider-like abilities. (Spider-Woman v2 #2)
Spider-Woman
She teamed up with Iron Man when she was stalked by a trio of high-tech bounty hunters known as the Seekers. They came to collect the bounty which had been placed on Julia's head. She was wanted by the US government after she helped the Avengers. Iron Man decided to help her with her daughter's situation. They battle the bounty hunters but it ends when she decided to surrender to the US government. (Iron Man v1 #214)
Julia was paralyzed for several months after she lost her powers, even though all of her other injuries had healed. The Shroud's company synthesized a duplicate of the serum that originally provided Julia with her powers, and these returned several days after it was administered to her. With the Shroud's help, Julia underwent intense physical therapy and was soon able to walk again. It was during this time that she and the Shroud fell in love. (Ms. Marvel v2 #7)
Madame Web
Whilst in captivity, Anatasia Kravinoff came into their cell where she slit the throat of Madame Web. With her blood pouring out, Julia was by her side in an attempt to save her but Cassandra said that her time had come and she came to pass her powers to Carpenter. With Cassandra's death, Julia inherited her powers and became the new Madame Web with her losing her sight as a result. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #637)
Shortly before Doctor Octopus swapped his mind with Peter Parker's and temporarily became Spider-Man, Madame Web suffered an overload of her powers as a consequence of presaging the death of Spider-Man, witnessing every point in the future for a split second before falling into a coma. Luckily, she had previously foretold this event, for which she called for an ambulance before collapsing, and was taken to a hospital. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #695)
Julia remained in a coma for more than a year. Shortly after the Spider-Army defeated the Inheritors and Otto Octavius started damaging the Web of Life and Destiny that connected all spiders, she woke up from her condition, claiming that her connection with the Web of Life and Destiny had been lost. (Amazing Spider-Man v3 #15)
She then gathered all the Spider-Totems in the city in order to enlist their aid Spider-Man. This was because they along with Julia had all experienced a vision of the future that showed the death of Spider-Man. This was tied to the events surrounding Norman Osborn who was being attacked at Ravencroft by the Sin-Eater and his army. To prevent this future from coming to pass, the Order of the Web was established with the Spider-Totem heroes gathering to save Spider-Man. (Amazing Spider-Man: The Sins of Norman Osborn v1 #1)
Overview
Personality and attributes
After the death of Madame Web, Carpenter would assume her mantle and gain her powers as the new Madame Web. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #637)
It was shown that she was a fan of Dazzlers music. (Ms. Marvel v2 #7)
Julia claimed that Spider-Man's personality was the one thing that stopped her from looking to date him. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #634)
She would later become romantically involved with the Shroud. (Ms. Marvel v2 #7)
Powers and abilities
Originally, Julia Carpenter was an ordinary human being with no special powers. This was until she was without her knowledge involved in an experiment to impart superpowers on a person. In her case, a team of scientists were responsible for creating a Spider-Serum to give her abilities. These gave her the proportionate strength of a spider and the ability to walk on walls. (Spider-Woman v2 #2)
She was able to psychically induce webbing using her mind alone. (Spider-Woman v2 #2)
By casting small strands of psionic webbing into her environment, Julia could feel 'psychic vibrations' reverberating through them just like a spider can feel regular vibrations through their webs. This allowed her to sense the presence of other people in her vicinity, pinpointing potential attackers over a distance. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #635)
Upon becoming Madame Web, she came to lose her sight but gained the prophetic visions tied to the Web of Life and Destiny. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #637)
She came to be the founder and instigator of a team of Spider-Totem linked heroes that came to be known as the Order of the Web. (Amazing Spider-Man: The Sins of Norman Osborn v1 #1)
Notes
- Julia Carpenter was created by Jim Shooter and Mike Zeck where she made her first appearance in Secret Wars v1 #7 (November, 1984).
Alternate Versions
- In Spider-Girl v1 #37 (2001), an alternate version of Julia Carpenter appeared in the Marvel Comics 2 reality that was designated as Earth-982 in the Multiverse. Julia Carpenter resurfaced in New York after her sister-in-webs, Spider-Woman's son Gerald Drew became the new Spider-Man. Knowing Peter Parker had some connection to the original Spider-Man, she made contact with him for help convincing the terminally ill Gerry to stop risking his life.
In other media
Television
- In Iron Man, the Julia Carpenter Spider-Woman appeared in the setting of the 1990s animated television series where she was voiced by actress Casey DeFranco in season 1 and voiced by actress Jennifer Hale in season 2. This version was a member of Force Works and executive at Stark Industries who competes with the Scarlet Witch for Tony Stark's affection, though he initially did not appear to reciprocate either of their feelings. He later attempted to pursue a relationship with Carpenter, but his 'lone wolf' attitude complicated matters. Despite this, she remained loyal to Stark, especially after he faked his death and caused Force Works to disband as she and James Rhodes were the only ones who knew the truth. Stark realizes his feelings for Carpenter after she gets lost in a time portal, and once she was saved, they share a kiss.
- In Ultimate Spider-Man, Julia Carpenter as Madame Web appeared in the setting of the animated television series where she was voiced by actress Cree Summer. At a young age, Madame Web developed precognition and was discovered by Nick Fury who used her as a S.H.I.E.L.D. Asset where she gives him the percentages of the required outcome. When the day when Doctor Octopus and Arnim Zola took over the Tri-Carrier occurred, Nick Fury enlisted Nova to help him keep Madame Web from falling into the hands of HYDRA. When at the abandoned Inhuman city of Atarog, something went wrong causing Nick Fury to send Nova to get Spider-Man. When Spider-Man and Triton arrived at Atarog, they saved Madame Web from the Carnivorous Vines as she helps them to find Nick Fury. After it was discovered that Nick Fury was a prisoner of Crossbones and the HYDRA Agents with him, Crossbones demanded that Spider-Man and Triton turn over Madame Web, or else they will kill Nick Fury. Thanks to some planning by Spider-Man as well as hearing the outcome percentages of Madame Web, Spider-Man and Triton were able to rescue Nick Fury and repel Crossbones and the HYDRA Agents. Before leaving to another location with Nick Fury, Madame Web tells Spider-Man and Triton that there is a 99% chance they will obtain another way home. That prediction comes true when the rest of the Inhuman Royal Family arrives. Later Madame Web summons Spider-Man and Kid Arachnid to K'un-Lun. There she uses the combined mystic energies of the hidden city with the magics of Doctor Strange to open a portal in the Web of Reality. She uses the portal to send the two Spider-Men back to the Spider-Verse in order for them to hunt for the fragments of the Siege Perilous that they had shattered earlier.
Films
- In Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Julia Carpenter as Spider-Woman made a non-speaking cameo appearance in the setting of the animated film. This version was shown as being a member of Miguel O'Hara's Spider-Society.
- In Madame Web, a young Julia Cornwall appeared in the setting of the live-action film set in Sony's Spider-Man Universe where she was portrayed by Sydney actress Sweeney.
Video games
- In Marvel Heroes, Julia Carpenter as Arachne appeared in the setting of the MMORPG video game. Julia Carpenter was brought into superheroing by her college friend Val Cooper. Carpenter was low on funds and had a daughter to support and thus agreed to a series of experiments conducted by a secret government program. Via a series of mysterious injections, Julia gained enhanced speed and strength similar to Spider-Man's, as well as her unique psionic webbing. Though she has changed identities multiple times and even been depowered, Julia has fought as Arachne for various teams including the West Coast Avengers, Omega Flight, and more.
- In Marvel: Avengers Alliance, Julia Carpenter was referenced in the setting of the Facebook video game. After a fight with the Kravinoff family, the former Spider-Woman, Julia Carpenter, was impressed with Anya and how she handled the situation and decided to pass her old black costume to Anya who took on the mantle of Spider-Girl.
- In Spider-Man Unlimited, Julia Carpenter appeared in the setting of the mobile video game. Julia Carpenter was a seasoned super hero, having previously served as Spider-Woman and Arachne. At the time of her death, Cassandra Webb transferred her powers to Julia, who became her successor as the new Madame Web. During a psionic overload, Julia saw multiple possible futures including Spider-Man's death and the return of Venom. This caused her to go into a coma. After Peter's resurrection, she awoke and ran to the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier to warn Director Nick Fury of her second prediction.
Appearances
- Secret Wars v1: (1984)
- Spider-Woman v2:
- Amazing Spider-Man v1:
- Omega Flight:
- Amazing Spider-Man: The Sins of Norman Osborn v1: (2020)
External Links
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