Madame Web’s trailer has made the world rather curious regarding which character is playing who and just what their powers are. Although the trailer in itself has received a polarizing response, there is a sense of excitement following Dakota Johnson’s take on the iconic hero. Many have thought of the trailer to be somewhat underwhelming, some even going so far as to call it a fan-made trailer.
In the film, there were various different characters introduced. From Adam Scott’s Ben Parker to Johnson and the rest of the web of spiders, the array of characters is one the film isn’t short of. However, the question that arises is, who are these characters and what exactly are their powers in the film?
Madame Web
Dakota Johnson will be bringing the character of Cassandra Webb to life in Madame Web. Although the film gives a hint about how she got her powers, the comic book origins of her character vary greatly. For starters, Cassandra was a mutant, born without sight. The movie shows her as a hard-working paramedic who drowned, something that allegedly triggered her powers. Her mother is told to be a researcher of radioactive spiders as well.
Both of these factors could link to the true origins of her powers, one that would be elaborated upon once the film is released. However, the comics show a different side of Webb. She initially began helping the mutants with her powers of clairvoyance and the ability to predict the future. She later connected with various variants and versions of Spider-Man, joining the web of spiders and helping them in their endeavors.
Spider-Woman (Julia Carpenter)
Julia Carpenter, initially taking up the mantle of Spider-Woman, is also the heir to Cassandra Webb’s title. Played by Sydney Sweeney, the movie makes it clear that she is fated to become the web-slinging superhero. Unlike Peter Parker, Carpenter’s origins in the comics see her being injected with spider venom and experimented on by the Commission whom she thought were initially part of an athletic study.
Although she and Spider-Man necessarily have the same powers, they differ in one aspect. Julia Carpenter has no webbing. She instead relies on psychokinetic abilities that help in creating psionic webs which she uses to function as Spider-Woman. Unlike Peter Parker, Julia’s wallcrawling is also something made possible purely because of those powers.
Julia’s life as Madame Web takes away her ability to see and replaces it with the powers that Cassandra Webb was adorned with. Upon her death, Webb chose Carpenter to be her rightful successor.
Also Read: Madame Web Trailer: Sydney Sweeney Oozes Badass in First Look as Marvel Superhero, Fans Go Berserk
Spider-Girl
Anya Corazon, played by Isabela Merced in the film, is a character shown to be connected to Webb by their accommodations. She started off her work as a webslinger by the name of Araña. Her powers came from Miguel Legar in the Spider Society when he transferred a part of his life force into her, giving her abilities similar to that of the iconic Spider-Man. In her fight with Kravinoff, she gains the title of Spider-Girl as a means to avoid confusion amongst other members of the Spider Society.
Her powers resonate with those of both Julia Carpenter and Peter Parker, making her a perfect member of the Spider-People of the multiverse. One advantage that she has, however, is the ability to camouflage. This allows her to stay out of sight of her enemies before she sets out to attack them.
Spider-Woman (Mattie Franklin)
Madame Web has not one but two Spider-Women. After Julia Carpenter, the film introduced Mattie Franklin’s Spider-Woman. Played by Celeste O’Connor in the film, Mattie gained her powers in what was known as the Gathering of Five, alongside that of Norman Osborn and Cassandra Webb in the comics. She defeated Charlotte Witter and was graced by Jessica Drew, adorning the title of Spider-Woman in the comics. Mattie briefly took Peter Parker’s place as Spider-Man upon his disappearance as well.
Her powers, although mostly similar to that of Spider-Man, differ in some states. Not only does she have psychic spider legs, but she is also able to fly. Franklin also has venom blasts, something passed down to her by Drew.
