Madame Webis one of the more enigmatic characters from Marvel Comics, whose popularity has drastically grown in the last two years. That has everything to do with the fact that theMadame Webmovie is coming to the big screen in February 2024, so fans want to know as much as possible about this clairvoyant before the movie’s release date.
Sony is expanding its Spider-Versewith slight modifications here and there, and the upcoming movie also changed Madame Web’s origin story. But let’s see what she is like in the comics. Is she a hero or a villain?
Madame Web Is a Powerful Clairvoyant and a Loyal Assistant
Comic history knows two characters named Madame Web, but the original Madame is Cassandra Web, also known as Creepy Clairvoyant. She first appeared in theAmazing Spider-Man #210comic issue, whereher origin storyand ties to Spider-Man are explained. Peter Parker found out about Madame Webfrom his girlfriend, Debra Whitman. The latter introduced Cassandra as a teacher of paranormal phenomena, and Madame presented herself as a professional medium.
At first, Peter considered Madame Web to be nothing more than a fortune-teller and a charlatan. However, after an attack on the Daily Globe, the web-slinger learned that his first impression might be wrong. The clue that the perpetrators left led Spider-Man to Cassandra’s apartment. It is fair to say that he was unprepared for what he would find there.
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When Peter visited Madame Web to ask a few questions, he encountered a senior lady sitting there, surrounded by a giant spider-web-like life-support machine. The device was peculiar, to say the least, and was designed by Madame Web’s late husband and basically kept her alive. Cassandra was blind and suffered from a condition calledmyasthenia gravis.The illness made her basically crippled and very weak in a physical sense. To compensate for her weaknesses, she gainedpsychic abilitiesand became clairvoyant. She could also nurture those powers in others that showed potential for them.
After the initial introduction, Madame Web helps Spider-Man solve the first case. After that, she would continue to do so on several occasions later. For example, she helped Peter stop theassassination of a congressmanand was also there to help Spider-Man communicate with Aunt May while she was in a coma. However, what Spider-Man did not like about Cassandra was that she knew his real identity. She was a good sport and kept that information for herself, though.
Despite everything, Madame Web was never a villain in the comics. For the most part, she assisted Spider-Man when needed and also asked the famous web-slinger for help when her visions predicted her danger. Cassandra’s life was threatened when Black Tom sent Juggernaut to kidnap her. The mutant was sure he would be unstoppable with Madame by his side. Juggernaut attacked Madame Web and pulled her out of her chair. Spider-Man stood in her defense and explained that the machine was the only thing keeping the clairvoyant alive. After hearing that, Juggernaut withdrew himself, considering Cassandra useless, but the attack left Madame Web in a hospital without memory.
Madame Web Was Never A Leader, But Everyone Wanted Her On Their Side
Madame Web was aware of her weaknesses. That’s why, when the opportunity for a better life was presented to her, she took it. Those were not Cassandra’s proudest moments, but they were among the most notable in comic history regarding her story arc. InSensational Spider-Man #32,Madame Web participated in the Gathering of Five, a dangerous ritual that granted many potential benefits. Cassandra needed Spider-Man’s help to bring her the artifact essential for the ritual, and he did what was asked of him. The ritual granted Madame Web immortality, youth, and health; she was at the peak of her powers.
Spider-Man was not the only superhero Madame Web helped over the years. For example, when Doctor Octopus used Cassandra’s granddaughter, Charlotte Witter, to create a Spider-Woman that would siphon the powers of other Spider-Women, Cassandra guided them all to defeat Charlotte. However, Charlotte later siphoned Madame Web’s powers as well, and the deed turned Cassandra back into her elderly and weak state.
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Obviously, she was a target many times due to her powers. For the same reason, the Kravinoff family captured her and forced her to resurrectKraven the Hunter. However, the ritual goes wrong, and Sasha Kravenoff kills Madame Web because of her failure. Before Cassandra died, she transferred her powers to Julia Carpenter.
Several years passed, Jackal resurrected Cassandra, and she started working for him. She helped Prowler find the hacker that threatened New U’s system and later kept his location a secret from Electro, who tried to kill him. Electro severely injured Cassandra because of it. Moments before she died again, Cassandra was once again found by Julia Carpenter. This showcases that Madame Web was never a villain but a benevolent mentor and a sidelined hero who guided other superheroes when they needed her help.
