Summary
Warning: Contains spoilers forSpider-Society #1andMadame Web (2024)!Anya Corazón, the current Spider-Girl, takes center stage in Marvel’s all-newSpider-Societyseries that tells the story theMadame Webfilm should have told. After a new group of multiversal villains takes the majority of the Spider-Verse’s other spider-powered heroes captive, Anya is chosen by Madame Web to lead the Spider-Society.
Spider-Society#1, written by Alex Segura, with art by Scott Godlewski, immediately cuts to the chase, by quickly introducing new readers to the various Spider-People. It then thrusts the young Spider-Girl, Anya, into a new place of great responsibility by leading a team. There are no teased sequels here.
Madame Web, directed by SJ Clarkson, starringDakota Johnson as Madame Web, Sydney Sweeney as Julia Carpenter, and Isabela Merced as Anya Corazón, wasreleased in 2023 to unfavorable reviews. It also had a meme spawning publicity tour, and led to general confusion for both audiences and the actors in the film about how it connects to the MCU or any of Sony’s otherSpider-Manfilms.Anya Corazón in the film is not the emotionally charged but resilient character from the comics, despite Merced’s best efforts.
How The Spider-Women & Spider-Girl Get Their Superpowers After Madame Web
Madame Web’s doesn’t reveal its three Spider-Women’s origins or the source of their powers, but their Marvel Comics history fills in the blanks.
Madame WebAdapted Anya Corazón’s Origin (Kind Of)
One of the worst sins of theMadame Webfilm is that it adapts Anya Corazón’s originstory as faithfully as an hour-and-a-half movie can, but gives elements of it to Cassandra Webb. Spider-Girl is intrinsically linked to the Spider-Society, so it only makes sense that her character arc is at its peak with her leading it. Detailed in theAmazing Fantasyseries, the original Spider-Society is an ancient order dedicated to the protection of Spider-Totems from the Sisterhood of the Wasp. Anya receives her powers from a tattoo given to her by a member of the Spider-Society during her recruitment as a hunter,an aspect that is shifted onto Johnson’s Madame Webin the film.
In contemporary times, a company called WebCorps is the cover for the ancient order. The company is owned and operated by a man named Ezekiel Sims, who would be adapted and madethe villain of theMadame Webfilm. The movie changes Ezekial from almost a mentor character for Spider-Girl, into a villain with very little relation to Anya, outside of having visions of a future where she will cause his death. Beyond that and a few chase scenes, the two do not ever interact much in the film at all.
Without Peter, Gwen, or Miles, Spider-Girl Deserves to Lead
Spider-Society#1 roughly follows the plot of the film; Madame Web, sporting a bob and ankle-length red jacket, has to save a group of Spider-people, who overcome adversity to save the future of every universe. Instead of taking two hours of screen time, this comic gets to the point and assembles a star-studded team, featuring Web-Weaver, Spider-Punk, and Weapon-VIII, withAnya Corazón being forced into the leadership position. Peter Parker, Miles Morales, and Spider-Gwen, and Spider-Man 2099 are all taken captive, making Spider-Girl a surprising, but logical choice to lead.
Note: Anya Corazón has been on many teams before, including the Spider-Society, the Young Allies, Web-Warriors, and Avengers Academy.
Anya is the perfect choice to lead the Spider-Socity given her history of embodying the exact type of hero Spider-Man strives to be.During her time as Spider-Girl, she has consistently made the right choice in the face of insurmountable odds, like directly disobeying an order from Captain Marvel during the first Civil War, or choosing to remain a hero after her father is killed by the Red Hulk. Since it seems there will never be another entry in theMadame Webfilm series,Spider-Societywill perfectly fill that gap and continue the development ofAnya Corazón as a character.
Madame Web
Cast
Madame Web is a superhero movie based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. Taking place in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, the movie revolves around a clairvoyant woman who can look into different dimensions. Dakota Johnson stars in the lead role, with Sydney Sweeney, Adam Scott, Isabela Merced, and Celeste O’Connor comprising the rest of the cast.
