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Black Spider

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For other uses, see Black Spider-Man and The Black Spider (disambiguation).
Black Spider
Cover of Detective Comics #463 (Sept. 1976), the Black Spider's first appearance, art by Ernie Chua.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceDetective Comics #463 (September 1976)
Created byGerry Conway (writer)
Ernie Chua (artist)
In-story information
Full nameEric Needham
SpeciesHuman
Place of originGotham City
Team affiliationsSuicide Squad
Secret Society of Super Villains
Notable aliasesUrban Ninja
Derrick Coe
Abilities
  • Olympic-level athlete and highly dangerous hand-to-hand combatant.
  • High-tech suit featuring claws and wrist-pristol. Possess high-tech weaponry such as laser assisted rifles and shotguns.

Black Spider is the name of several supervillains and assassins appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Most characters who operated under the alias are depicted as both lesser renown adversaries of Batman and a member of various super-villain organizations.

The most well known version is Eric Needham, an African-American former drug addict who becomes a vigilante after accidentally killing his own father during his involvement in criminal activities. Seeking to hold drug dealers accountable, Eric overcomes his addiction, receives training, and acquires a costume and weapons from a mysterious source. Taking on the identity of the assassin and vigilante Black Spider, the character becomes one of Batman's adversaries and is the most well-known version. The character is also a known member of the Suicide Squad, being one of group member's most effective operatives.[1][2]

The second version of the character, Johnny LaMonica, assumes the identity of Black Spider. He is a professional hitman hired to infiltrate the False Face Society and eliminate Black Mask, mistakenly believing Eric to be deceased. Unfortunately, Johnny is killed by Crispus Allen, a detective from the Gotham City Police Department. Following their presumed deaths, Derrick Coe becomes the third Black Spider and is suspected to possess metahuman abilities. Derrick becomes an adversary of the Birds of Prey. Following Flashpoint, it is revealed that Derrick Coe is among Eric's aliases. Another individual, whose identity is unknown, also operates as Black Spider. This version is associated with the Council of Spiders and serves as an antagonist to Red Robin.

The Eric Needham version of Black Spider has made appearances in various media adaptations. In the animated film Batman: Assault on Arkham, he is voiced by Giancarlo Esposito. Additionally, Eric Needham appears in the Young Justice animated television series, where he is voiced by Josh Keaton. In this portrayal, Eric Needham is depicted as a villainous character, paying homage to Marvel's Spider-Man.

Publication history

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The original Black Spider first appeared in Detective Comics #463 (September 1976) and was created by Gerry Conway.[3]

Fictional character biography

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Earlier life

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Eric Needham, an African-American native of Gotham City, had a healthy childhood until he experiences an upheaval in his life following his mother's death from illness and his father's subsequent emotional withdrawal. He eventually turns to a life of crime, becoming involved in small-time criminal activities and developing a heroin addiction. After an incident where he nearly kills an elderly woman during a mugging attempt, he is sentenced to prison but is released after three years due to being a minor.[2][4] Sometime after reaching adulthood, Eric entered into a relationship with his friend Linda Morre, which resulted in the birth of his son, Michael. While once source states that Eric was unaware of Michael's birth until years later by a chance meeting with Linda,[4] another expresses he took to robbing to support his drug habits and take care of their infant son.[2]

Becoming Black Spider

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Nevertheless, in desperate need of money to fuel his drug addiction, he commits a robbery at a liquor store, unintentionally killing the owner who is revealed to be his own father. Overwhelmed with remorse upon his arrest, Eric manages to overcome his addiction and embarks on a personal crusade against the drug trade. Financed by a mysterious source with weaponry, training, and a costume, he assumes the role of a self-proclaimed vigilante and begins targeting individuals suspected of involvement in drug dealing, resorting to lethal methods.[2][4] Over time, Eric as Black Spider engages in multiple conflicts with Batman due to his employment of lethal methods, which the Dark Knight disapproves of. Despite his disdain for criminals, Eric clashes with Batman on several occasions. In one encounter, he sustains severe injuries and is believed to be deceased, but he manages to survive thanks to treatment received at a free clinic. During his recovery, Eric discovers that his resources were funded by drug kingpin Hannibal Hardwicke. Seeking vengeance, Black Spider attempts to kill Hardwicke but is thwarted by Batman, resulting in Hardwicke's eventual imprisonment. Eric develops a deep resentment towards Batman and temporarily aligns himself with other criminals to confront him purely for the sake of opposition.[2]

However, he later refocuses his efforts on targeting drug dealers, particularly after their activities directly impact his wife and son, both of whom tragically lose their lives during a botched drug deal. Eric ultimately sacrifices his own life in an apparent act of self-destruction to dismantle the cartel responsible for their deaths.[4]

Later exploits

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Eric Needham later turns up in Neil Gaiman's critically acclaimed fantasy comic The Sandman dating supporting character Lyta Hall. No explanation was given for his resurrection.

Whatever the case, Needham's survival has since been confirmed and the character has made subsequent appearances as the Black Spider, such as in the miniseries Underworld Unleashed. He was seen in Identity Crisis as an ally of Deadshot, Monocle, and Merlyn. He is later a member of The Society.

He is one of the villains sent to retrieve the Get Out of Hell Free card from the Secret Six.

Post Flashpoint

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In the New 52 reboot, Eric's background is altered from his previous origin. Amanda Waller describes him as an educated man who, like in previous iterations, was a devoted father and husband before turning to vigilantism following the death of his family. Later, Eric is approached by the terrorist organization Regulus and, despite his disdain for criminals, he secretly joins them after being promised protection for his family. Unfortunately, he loses his family soon after joining Regulus and becomes convinced of their message about the threats posed by metahumans to ordinary people. As part of his new allegiance, Eric is assigned the task of assassinating intelligence operative Amanda Waller. Due to his activities as a vigilante, he becomes a viable candidate for one of Waller's early proposals for Task Force X.[5] In addition, one of his aliases includes Derrick Coe.[6]

Suicide Squad

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In the Suicide Squad series, Eric is portrayed as a capable but resentful member of Task Force X. Despite his criminal background, he holds a distaste for working alongside fellow criminals and does not consider himself a hero, although others may view him as one of the more heroic members of the team. However, Eric ultimately betrays the team as it is revealed that he was a spy planted by Regulus, the leader of Basilisk and a former teammate of Amanda Waller. Regulus had subjected Eric to torture and manipulation in an attempt to mold him into adopting their ideology. Regulus orchestrated events to position Black Spider as an ideal candidate for Waller's black ops squad, Task Force X. Eventually, a Regulus impersonator replaces him on the squad, deceiving them and enabling him to carry out his true mission of assassinating Amanda Waller and dismantling Task Force X. Underestimating Waller's resourcefulness, Eric is captured and confined under maximum security at Belle Reeve. Expressing genuine surprise at his own betrayal, Eric admits that he was aware of Regulus's deception but had believed in their agenda, which aimed to establish a position of power before metahumans and extraterrestrial entities could accumulate enough resources to dominate humanity.[5][7]

DC Rebirth & Infinite Frontier

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Black Spider makes a return in the DC Rebirth era. He is among the numerous villains who target Batman in an attempt to claim Two-Face's bounty. In this iteration, Needham is equipped with two cybernetic claws on his back and employs a machine gun in combat. However, Batman ultimately triumphs over him, severing his cybernetic arms using a chainsaw. The character later clashes with the Flash and gains prominence as a member of Deathstroke's Secret Society of Super-Villains.

He becomes embroiled in a conflict between the League of Assassins and the Society following the framing of Deathstroke by Geo-Force for the death of Ra's al Ghul. Seeking revenge on both factions for their respective roles in Terra's and Markovia's downfall, Black Spider becomes a significant player in the conflict. Subsequently, Black Spider falls under the control of Pariah, who wields the power of the Great Darkness. After breaking free from Pariah's influence, Amanda Waller recruits him, along with several other villains, in response to the Lazarus Planet event. Waller issues a bounty for the death of any superhero, leading Black Spider to participate in this dangerous undertaking.

The Penguin (2023)

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In the Penguin comic series, Black Spider reappears with more restored elements of his previous continuity, including his costume and background involving him gunning down his father. The character is portrayed as queer, with a boyfriend. As an assassin based in Gotham, Black Spider is hired by Penguin's children, Addison and Aiden Cobblepot, in exchange for venom, the same substance used by the supervillain Bane. Initially purchasing the venom, Black Spider eventually becomes subservient to the siblings when they enlist his services following their price gouging. The venom helps alleviate the symptoms of Daniel, Black Spider's boyfriend. When Black Spider disobeys orders and attracts Batman's attention, the siblings kidnap Daniel and threaten to kill him unless Black Spider completes specified tasks. Frustrated, Black Spider offers to become a spy for Penguin, seeking to regain control of the Iceberg Lounge.[8]

Powers and abilities

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In most depictions, Black Spider is depicted as an Olympic-level athlete and gymnast with extensive training in physical combat and weapons expert, rendering him a highly skilled martial artist and assassin willing to use lethal methods and formidable match for Batman in his earlier appearances.[9][1] Eric is considered to be the most effective operative whom has operated under the Black Spider codename.[1] While ordinarly human, Eric temporarily obtained supernatural abilities through a pact with Neron, although the specific nature of these powers remains undisclosed.[10] Within the New 52 onward, Eric is recognized for possessing extraordinary reflexes, enabling him to dodge bullets despite not being metahuman.[1][9] It is mentioned that Eric originates from an educated background, which grants him the knowledge and expertise to create specialized weaponry, such as his mechanical tarsus, to enhance his combat prowess.[11]

Equipment and gadgets

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Black Spider is equipped with a diverse array of weaponry and gadgets, including:

  • Hi-tech battlesuit: The character is also equipped with a state-of-the-art armored battle suit that offers various functionalities, such as retractable claws and wrist-mounted pistols. His mask is equipped with a thermal imaging to better read his opponents, even in situations within darkness or being obscured by smoke.[1]
  • Advanced firearms: Black Spider carries an assortment of firearms, including shotguns and laser-targeting rifles.[1][9]
  • Spider's sting: Black Spider carries a poison dart capable of killing or incapacitating his enemies.
  • Kamas: Eric's preferred brand of weaponry includes two kamas.[9]
  • Mechanical tarsus: His mechanical limbs can be used to enhance his combat prowess, possessing enough strength to lift up cars.[11]

Other versions

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  • The Eric Needham incarnation of Black Spider appears in The Batman Adventures #5-8[12] as a member of Black Mask's gang.
  • The Eric Needham incarnation of Black Spider appears in issue #3-4 of the Young Justice tie-in comic book series.[13]
  • The Johnny LaMonica incarnation of Black Spider appears in the Batman: The Telltale Series tie-in comic Batman: Sins of the Father.[14]

Successors

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Black Spider II

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Johnny LaMonica, the second Black Spider in his debut in Batman #518 (May 1995). Art by Kelley Jones

The second Black Spider first appeared in Batman #518 (May 1995).[2] Professional hitman Johnny LaMonica takes the name "Black Spider" when he is sent to infiltrate the False Face Society and kill the crime lord Black Mask. He is thwarted by Batman and sent to prison.[15] He sustains injuries during this incident which leave his face a disfigured web of scars, giving his choice of codename an ironic touch. He is later killed by Detective Crispus Allen during a gang shooting. Black Spider had opened fire on Detective Renee Montoya, preparing to kill her, when Allen unloaded his magazine on the villain. Jim Corrigan sold the bullet that killed Black Spider on the black market.[16]

Black Spider III

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A third Black Spider appears shortly after as a member of the Society. He first appeared in Birds of Prey #87 (December 2005).[2] Real name Derrick Coe, he apparently bought his "villain franchise" from the Calculator, who assigns him to help torture Savant into revealing the identity of Oracle. When Oracle sends in her task force, the Birds of Prey, to rescue Savant, Savant throws Coe out a window, nearly killing him — Black Canary speculates that he may be a metahuman, allowing him to survive the experience. He was also seen in Gotham during the "Battle for the Cowl", fighting and losing to Manhunter.[17] Coe later resurfaces as a member of the new Injustice League and one of the exiled supervillains in Salvation Run. While existing as an independent character previously, the New 52 reveals that Derrick Coe is one of Eric's aliases.[6]

Black Spider IV

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An unnamed Black Spider was a member of the group of assassins known as the Council of Spiders. This Black Spider came into conflict with Red Robin and was defeated.[18]

Bulletman's Black Spider

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One of Bulletman's enemies was named Black Spider under the civilian name Jules Rey. This version was a criminal deported and locked in a dungeon where he went blind and insane. The criminal managed to befriend the large spiders that lived there. Dubbing himself Black Spider, he went back to the U.S. to take vengeance on those who deported him. Bulletman and Bulletgirl saved Black Spider's captives and killed the villain.[19]

In other media

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Television

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The Eric Needham incarnation of Black Spider appears in Young Justice, voiced by Josh Keaton.[20] This version is a member of the League of Shadows who wields wrist-mounted web-shooters and mocks opponents with relentless quips and bantering in an homage to Marvel Comics character Spider-Man, whom Keaton previously voiced in The Spectacular Spider-Man.[21]

Film

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  • An unidentified Black Spider makes a cameo appearance in Superman/Batman: Public Enemies.
  • The Eric Needham incarnation of Black Spider appears in Batman: Assault on Arkham, voiced by Giancarlo Esposito.[22][20] This version is a vigilante responsible for killing several gangsters across the United States. He is recruited into Amanda Waller's Suicide Squad to retrieve sensitive information from the Riddler and implanted with a nano-bomb in his neck to keep him in line. However, the squad encounters Batman, who secretly knocks out Black Spider and disguises himself as him to investigate the squad. After the squad discovers the Riddler knows how to deactivate their bombs, they allow him to do so. Waller learns of their treachery and attempts to detonate their bombs before then, but succeeds in killing Black Spider and King Shark while the rest of the squad survive and discover Batman's ruse.

Video games

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The Eric Needham incarnation of Black Spider, based on his New 52 portrayal, appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.[23]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Manning, Matthew K.; Wiacek, Stephen; Scott, Melanie; Jones, Nick; Walker, Landry Q. (2021-07-06). The DC Comics Encyclopedia New Edition. Penguin. ISBN 978-0-7440-5301-2.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Greenberger, Robert (2008). The Essential Batman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. pp. 55–56. ISBN 9780345501066.
  3. ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 47. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
  4. ^ a b c d Grant, Alan (2016). Batman Shadow of the Bat Vol 1. DC Comics. ISBN 978-1-4012-6319-5.
  5. ^ a b Glass, Adam (2012-07-10). Suicide Squad Vol. 1: Kicked in the Teeth (The New 52). DC. ISBN 978-1-4012-3974-9.
  6. ^ a b Glass, Adam (2013-10-29). Suicide Squad Vol. 3: Death is for Suckers (The New 52). National Geographic Books. ISBN 978-1-4012-4316-6.
  7. ^ Glass, Adam (2013-02-19). Suicide Squad Vol. 2: Basilisk Rising (The New 52). DC. ISBN 978-1-4012-4426-2.
  8. ^ The Penguin #5 (2023)
  9. ^ a b c d Manning, Matthew K. (2016-02-09). Batman Character Encyclopedia. National Geographic Books. ISBN 978-1-4654-4498-1.
  10. ^ Beatty, Scott; Wallace, Daniel (2008). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. Dorling Kindersley. ISBN 978-1-4053-2891-3.
  11. ^ a b All-Star Batman #1
  12. ^ The Batman Adventures #7
  13. ^ Young Justice Vol 2 #3
  14. ^ Batman: Sins of the Father #3-4
  15. ^ Wallace, Dan (2008). "Black Spider I and II". In Dougall, Alastair (ed.). The DC Comics Encyclopedia. London: Dorling Kindersley. p. 53. ISBN 978-0-7566-4119-1.
  16. ^ Gotham Central #23 (November 2004)
  17. ^ Battle for the Cowl: The Network One Shot (July 2009)
  18. ^ Red Robin #23
  19. ^ Bulletman #1
  20. ^ a b "Black Spider Voices (Batman)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved October 13, 2023. 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.
  21. ^ Morrison, Matt (November 15, 2021). "Young Justice Turns A Batman Villain Into DC's Evil Spider-Man". ScreenRant. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  22. ^ Harvey, James (August 12, 2014). "Press Release For Upcoming "Batman: Assault On Arkham" Animated Feature". World's Finest. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
  23. ^ Eisen, Andrew (October 4, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
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