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Featuring the following heroine!
Spider-Woman
by Aaron "Tornado" Thall
Real name: Julie Carpenter
First appearance: Secret Wars 7
Team affiliation: Julia Carpenter was a normal tennis player, mother, and homemaker before a mysterious group known as the Commission decided to use her in its super powers experiments.
The Commission secretly injected her with spider venom in ever increasing dosages, eventually transforming her into Spider-Woman. On her first outing she got pulled into the Secret Wars (and inadvertantly inspired Spider-Man's alien costume's design). Joining Freedom Force at Val Cooper's insistance, Julia fought alongside several old X-Villains, but turned against her teammates when Freedom Force captured the Avengers and placed them on trial. After a time on the run, Julie was placed under the authority of Mike Clemson. Clemson kept her a fugitive while she worked for the government, causing her to lose custody of Rachael, her daughter, because she could not explain her absences. When the super villain group Death Web kidnapped Rachel in an attempt to force Spider-Woman to join them, Julie teamed with the Avengers West and Spider-Man. Rachel was saved, but the mastermind behind Death Web, the Manipulator, induced her ex-husband to have a fatal heart attack. When the Avengers West Coast disbanded, she joined Force Works. She was seen most recently rescuing the original Spider-Woman.
Favorite quote: "If anybody bet you an Avenger'd throw in the towel, they deserve to lose their money." ( Spider-Woman limited series 2. Julia says this in response to Val Cooper's suggestion that Julia surrender, and then saying that a friend bet her that Julia would.)
Powers: Julia has the porportionate strength, speed, and agility of a spider. She can cling to walls. Her most unique ability is her talent to create psiwebs, which are made of mental energy and can trap bad guys, make lines for her to swing on, or anything else she wants. The webs require intense concintration.
Favorite story: The Spider-Woman limited series. This not only pits Julia against Death Web, but reveals her true origin. She even tells her secret to her parents!
Least favorite story: Avengers West Coast 102. With all the confidence she had shown in the past, going toe to toe with villains that would make the Hulk and Wolverine wet their pants, she quit the Avengers because she felt there just wasn't room for her. A truly lame way to remove her from the Avengers. And bad characterization.
Future for the character: With the Avengers relaunching, Julia may be able to rejoin her old team.
