Black Spider

(pop culture)

Black Spider is noteworthy more for his ethnicity than his originality. Swinging into Detective Comics #463 (1976), in a tale by writer Gerry Conway and artist Ernie Chua, Black Spider is a selfprofessed Batman emulator and costumed sniper who puts a bullet through pusher Doc Sugarman, provoking a slugfest with the Caped Crusader. Issue #464 reveals the villain's true identity, Eric Needham—a former junkie who accidentally killed his father, inspiring his sobriety and vendetta against drug peddlers—who happens to be African American. Renowned for his proficiency with his wrist-mounted pistols, Black Spider was Batman's first black rogue (discounting Eartha Kitt as Catwoman in the alternate reality of the 1966–1968 Batman television show) and DC Comics' first black supervillain. A relic of the 1970s, the character was seen only a handful of times before being put out to pasture by the creative team of Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle in Batman: Shadow of the Bat #5 (1992), in which Needham became a suicide bomber to wipe out a narcotics ring. Receiving his walking papers from hell by Lucifer himself, Needham made cameos in Neil Gaiman's “The Kindly Ones” in Sandman vol. 2 #57–#69 (1994–1995), but conversely was shown in hell as Black Spider attempting to broker a deal with the demon Neron in Underworld Unleashed #1 (1995). Narcissistic hitman Johnny LaMonica assumed the Black Spider's costumed identity in Batman #518 (1995), contracted to kill Gotham crime boss Black Mask. Not unlike his predecessor, this Black Spider has maintained a meager status among Batman's rogues, although his inclusion in the miniseries Villains United (2005) may hint at a larger profile in the DC Universe's web of evil.

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

Thin his arms were as his legs, and, as Michael first beheld him, he had all the seeming of a big-bellied black spider.

View in context

"Well, I'll do what I can," said Miss Ophelia; and she approached her new subject very much as a person might be supposed to approach a black spider, supposing them to have benevolent designs toward it.

View in context

Fe Bajada, many large black spiders, with ruby-coloured marks on their backs, having gregarious habits.

View in context

The Colombian Black Spider Monkeys were found hiding away from the blaze which tore through their enclosure in May.

Monkeys' new home after arson attack

Another, smaller slice forms the head, and voila, a large black spider sits on top of a tasty pizza!

Upgrade your homemade Halloween goodies

This includes Alanna Baker from the United Kingdom who plays the role of the Black Spider in the show.

Cirque du Soleil show features 50 performing artists

Among the amazing cast of OVO is Alanna Baker, a UK-born gymnastic champion who plays the role of the Black Spider.

WIN tickets to see Cirque du Soleil

The toast across the land was to "our victory" - and to "Black Spider" Lev Yashin, also a goalie and regarded as the greatest ever.

Party like a Russian

Other notable catches included Brian Thain from Callander who had three for 9lbs on a Black Spider.

FISHING

The black spider graces a wall of a house on the corner of Lindisfarne Terrace and Preston Avenue.

Giving you the creeps?

Navi Mumbai, India, March 27, 2018 --(PR.com)-- Black Spider is now a proud partner of India's first e-commerce platform for media buying and solutions.

Black Spider Partners with The Media Ant to Give Innovative Media Buying Solutions to Clients

| Alanna will be appearing as the Black Spider in Cirque du Soleil's new UK production of Ovo next year.

CLOSET confidential; CIRQUE DU SOLEIL'S ALANNA BAKER REVEALS HER WORKOUT STYLE