No, gentle readers, that was not a typo — the Web really has been unleashed on the DCU!
Originally part of the Archie Comics superhero line, the Web will make his introduction into the mainstream DC Comics universe this summer, as part of the company’s four-part Red Circle miniseries.
This above cover by Jesus Saiz was released by the Source earlier today. Originally created in 1942, the Web was a criminology professor with an interesting personal life — in that his wife knew of his superheroics, and actively tried to get him to quit. (That does sound a little familiar, actually — Mary Jane did that to Spider-Man all throughout the ’90s and even briefly separated from Peter in the 2000s on this issue.)
Still, the Web’s wife eventually warmed to the idea of crimefighting, even hiding her identity from him by assuming the mantle of Pow Girl. (Their marriage must have been so messed up.) Despite having appeared only in a dozen or so comics, the Web still has come out every time the Archie characters have returned, including in DC’s earlier stab at the Impact line.
While there’s little information on the J. Michael Strazcysnki reboot of the Web, it’s looking like this new character is distinctly more superpowered than his predecessor, complete with actual webs.
[Smartitude gleaned from International Hero and Toonopedia]
April 24th, 2009 at 6:42 am
The best redesign and only interesting looking character so far. Was there really a cry for new material? Why not use the abundance of unused characters DC already has instead of these rather bland and generic seeming heroes? Between these and the moderately more interesting Milestone characters, the DCU is becoming way too populated. Yet they can’t/won’t tell stories set in the multiverse…..weird.
MattZ
April 24th, 2009 at 10:05 am
Now that I’ve finally seen all four, I have to say that I think I prefer Hangman as the best looking of the four re-imaged heroes. But then, me being me, I really enjoyed The Web when DC ran the Impact imprint back in the early 90’s; I enjoyed the generational aspect of the multiple heroes and characters as portrayed in that book– much like a poor kid’s earthbound Green Lantern Corps.
You’re spot on, though, Z, when you mention that the DCU is becoming way too crowded and might I add even more complex. It’s almost like they need a proper event to wipe out some things and simplify them once again… maybe some sort of big thingy… what d’you call those again…? Those big multi-part epics that usually have George Perez art in ‘em somewhere…? It’s right on the tip of my tongue…
May 6th, 2009 at 11:59 am
GREAT looking redesign! I’ve always felt that the Impact! redesign was ridiculous, looking more like an outfit for underwater work and specifically horizontal underwater movement at that!
Your information on “The Web”’s background only covered the character up to the 1960’s. The “Red Circle” years in the 80’s really brought “The Web” back to a sense of respectability and dropped all that “henpecked hero” nonsense. The Impact! Web had some good adventures, but I could never get past that costume. Ugh.
As someone who only buys one or two DC titles a month, there’s no such thing as “too crowded.” Very glad to see the old Archie Comics heroes not only brought back, but treated with a great deal of respect. Looking forward to this miniseries!!!