Tarantula I

 In: Characters
 Posted: 2003
 Staff: Jeanne Burch
File Photo
Attributes
Eyes:

Brown

Features:

The Tarantula periodically sported a pencil- thin mustache. Oh, and he occasionally had eight appendages.

Hair:

Black

Height:

6' 1"

Weight:

185 lbs

Powers
Abilities:

The Tarantula was a superb hand-to-hand combatant and was exceptionally agile.

Limitations:

Short-tempered, impatient, and inclined to kill on the spur of the moment.

Powers:

The Tarantula possessed no powers, although once he became a spider he could spin a killer web.

Strength Level:

As a human, the Tarantula possessed peak athlete, although not super-human, capabilities. As a giant spider, he was in the lift- 10-tons category.

Weapons:

The Tarantula possessed boots that contained retractable, poison-dipped spikes and gloves with retractable, poison-dipped claws.

Summary
Citizenship:

Delvadia (South America)

Created By:

Gerry Conway, Ross Andru, Frank Giacoia, David Hunt

Current Occupation:

deceased

Dual Identity:

Not Public

Education:

Unknown

Former Aliases:

Mr. Valdez

Former Bases:

South America, Miami

Former Occupation:

Terrorist, Government Operative, Criminal for Hire

Known Allies:

Senor Suerte, Lightmaster, Kraven the Hunter (although they didn't get along), the Jackal, the Brand Corporation

Known Relatives:

Daughter (Tarantula III)

Legal Status:

Known international criminal

Major Enemies:

Spider-Man, Captain America

Marital Status:

Single

Place of Birth:

Delvadia (presumably)

Real Name:

Anton Miguel Rodriguez

Usual Bases:

New York City

Background

After being cashiered from a revolutionary organization because he was too violent, Anton Miguel Rodriguez became his government's top operative and proved too violent for them as well. Setting himself up in the more tolerant New York City as a professional criminal, he hi-jacked a boat that Peter Parker and the Punisher both happened to be on. Although he initially escaped, Spider-Man eventually caught up with him and handed him over to the local authorities.

In prison the Tarantula was able to re-make his spiked shoes and, with the help of the Jackal, escaped. There followed a series of adventures that involved the likes of Captain America, the Lightmaster, Kraven the Hunter and the Brand Corporation. Furious at yet another defeat by Spider- Man, the Tarantula agreed to undergo an experiment meant to re-create the powers of Spider-Man. The experiment was disrupted by Will O'Wisp, and the Tarantula emerged an eight-limbed, spider-like creature with limited intelligence. Unable to bear life in his new form, the Tarantula threw himself into a police barrage of bullets and committed suicide.

The next person was Tarantula (Alvarez).

Appearances

Cover Date Appearance Information
Jul 1974 App: Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #134
  Attempts to take a cruise-boat hostage, origin shown.
Aug 1974 App: Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #135
  Defeated by Spider-Man and the Punisher.
Aug 1975 App: Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #147
  Partnership with the Jackal
Sep 1975 App: Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #148
Oct 1975 App: Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #149
Aug 1978 App: Captain America (Vol. 1) #224
  Teams up with Senor Suerte to use the mad-bombs for extortion purposes, but is stopped by Captain America
Dec 1976 App: Spectacular Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #1
  Hired by Lightmaster to perform a series of kidnappings, and is unwillingly teamed with Kraven the Hunter
Jan 1977 App: Spectacular Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #2
Feb 1977 App: Spectacular Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #3
Oct 1982 App: Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #233
  Hired by the Brand Corporation to murder "Nose" Norton, but thwarted by Spider-Man
Nov 1982 App: Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #234
  Undergoes an experimental process undermined by Will O'Wisp, and emerges as a gigantic spider
Dec 1982 App: Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #235
  Is placed under the mental control of Will O'Wisp, but fights it.
Jan 1983 App: Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #236
  Commits suicide by jumping off a skyscraper into a hail of police gunfire.

Thanks To

 The assistance of the Marvel Chronology Project is gratefully acknowledged.

 Some of the above information is extracted from the various versions of the Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe and the more recent Marvel Encyclopaedias.

 In: Characters
 Posted: 2003
 Staff: Jeanne Burch