Ultimate Spider-Woman (colloquial: Jessica Drew, Julia Carpenter, Black Widow or Spider-Girl) is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley, she is the Ultimate Marvel equivalent of Ben Reilly and both iterations of Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew and Julia Carpenter). As opposed to her prime counterparts, this character is a female clone of Earth-1610's Peter Parker, dealing with being the brain of a teenage boy trapped in the body of a teenage girl. In 2014 and 2019, the character's red-and-white costume and characterisation as a secret agent relative of Peter Parker were respectively adapted as his Earth-616 sister Teresa Parker and Earth-19529 daughter Claire Parker.
The character received a positive critical reception. In 2023, the character made their cinematic debut in the animated feature film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse as a member of Miguel O'Hara's Spider-Society.
Publication history Created by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley, the Ultimate incarnation of Spider-Woman first appeared in Ultimate Spider-Man #98 (October 2006), and appeared in All-New Ultimates #1 (April 2014) as the Ultimate Universe's third equivalent of Black Widow (after Natasha Romanoff and Monica Chang). She is a supporting character in Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man and Ultimate Comics: The Ultimates.
Fictional character biography Clone Saga
Spider-Woman is a genetically engineered clone of the original Spider-Man, Peter Parker, whose chromosomes were manipulated to make her biologically female. Created alongside Kaine to act as agents for the CIA (code name: Spider-Woman), she retains Peter's memories and love of Mary Jane Watson, also viewing herself as Peter. The intent of her creators was to erase her memories and implant new ones, but both escaped before the process could be carried out.Ultimate Spider-Man #102 (November 2006) Doctor Octopus reveals himself as the mastermind behind the experiments that created them. All three fight Doctor Octopus together and eventually prevail. Peter surrenders to Nick Fury while the clones opt to flee.Ultimate Spider-Man #104 (January 2007) At the storyline's close, Spider-Woman decides to start a new life apart from Peter, takes her leave of him after what she calls "the most awkward hug in history", establishing a sibling-like relationship with him.Ultimate Spider-Man #105 (February 2007)
Ultimatum
Spider-Woman later appears during the "Ultimatum" storyline, making their public debut when they help Johnny Storm apprehend the Vulture.Ultimate Spider-Man #129 (December 2008) Storm begins to develop a romantic interest in Spider-Woman after a bad date with a famed but obnoxious teen singer, unaware that she is Spider-Man's female clone. They later meet May Parker while aiding civilians during Magneto's worldwide attack,Ultimate Spider-Man #130 (January 2009) taking them to safety and promising to find Peter for them.Ultimate Spider-Man #131 (February 2009) Later, she travels to the center of Manhattan where Doctor Strange's home is being attacked by Nightmare; the Hulk begins to destroy the portal to the Dark Dimension, causing an explosion.Ultimate Spider-Man #132 (May 2009) After briefly being chased by Hulk, Spider-Woman continues her search for Peter and meets Kitty Pryde. They work together on the search as well as try to help survivors, but are overwhelmed by the deaths and destruction around them. They manage to find a remnant of Peter's mask, which Kitty takes with her and gives to Mary Jane Watson at Peter's home, informing her and May that Peter is still among the missing.Ultimate Spider-Man #133 (June 2009)
Doomsday
In Ultimate Enemy, Spider-Woman is seen doing recon on the Roxxon Corporation, investigating possible illegal genetic experimentation, when the corporation building is attacked. It is assumed that the person behind the attack is the "Ultimate Enemy". She is later attacked by the same creature that destroyed the building.Ultimate Comics: Enemy #1–2 (January–February 2010) Spider-Woman then attempts to infiltrate Roxxon, posing as an employee.Ultimate Comics: Mystery #2 (August 2010) On her first day, she is introduced to the Roxxon Brain Trust.Ultimate Comics: Mystery #3 (September 2010) Shortly afterward, she witnesses an attack on the Baxter Building, and Roxxon suggests she move into an underground bunker. While waiting there, Misty Knight starts to ask them questions and figures out that she is not who she claims to be. The Roxxon Brain Trust then reveals that they suspect Roxxon in the attacks. Spider-Woman does not trust them and when they want to see her powers, she webs them up and attempts to flee. One of the Brain Trust members transforms into a brute of some sort and knocks them out before she can get away.Ultimate Comics: Mystery #4 (October 2010)
In Ultimate Doom, Spider-Woman awakens to find herself bound on a table and meets the Brain Trust's leader, Doctor Octopus. It doesn't take long for Spider-Man to arrive and save her, just before Roxxon is attacked again. As the duo start rescuing civilians, they notice Doctor Octopus is also in danger. Although Spider-Woman wants to let him die, Spider-Man eventually manages to convince her to help save him. Rick Jones arrives with the Human Torch and they learn that heroes are gathering to take down Reed Richards. Spider-Woman and even Doctor Octopus join the group.Ultimate Comics: Doom #3 (February 2011) During the attack in the Negative Zone, Spider-Woman meets the Ultimates for the first time, and assists Captain America himself. After the confrontation with Richards, Spider-Woman becomes an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. at Carol Danvers's request.Ultimate Comics: Doom #4 (March 2011)
Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man and Ultimate Comics: The Ultimates
After Peter apparently dies fighting the Green Goblin, Spider-Woman confronts the new Spider-Man, Miles Morales. She later assists Iron Man and Hawkeye in fighting Electro. Eventually, Spider-Woman becomes frustrated about being in the Ultimates team,Ultimate Comics: Ultimates #8 (May 2012) being captured along with Captain Britain by the new S.H.I.E.L.D. director Marvin Flumm,Ultimate Comics: Ultimates #9 (June 2012) but is later released and takes part in Captain America's swearing into the presidency.Ultimate Comics: Ultimates #16 (November 2012) When Captain America went to join the states once more, Spider-Woman joined the new president and was part of the ground forces.Ultimate Comics: Ultimates #17 (December 2012) During the "United We Stand" storyline, Spider-Woman is reluctantly teamed with Miles during S.H.I.E.L.D.'s battle with the terrorist group Hydra.Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man Vol 2 #17 (June 2012) After they are separated in the battle, Spider-Woman finds Miles and returns him to New York.
Initially, Spider-Woman is not forthcoming when Miles asks why she cares so much about him.Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man Vol 2 #18 (February 2013) But after Miles quits being Spider-Man following personal tragedy, Spider-Woman reveals to Miles that she is Peter's clone, explaining that although she has Parker's memories, she is not Spider-Man, but feels that Miles should be. This convinces Miles to resume the Spider-Man identity.
All-New Ultimates
Later, Miles and Spider-Woman team up with Cloak and Dagger and Bombshell to fight Roxxon's Brain Trust and confront Donald Roxxon.Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man Vol. 2 #28 (December 2013) Along with Kitty Pryde, the group becomes the New Ultimates, she changes her superhero alias to "Black Widow",All-New Ultimates #1 (April 2014) and attempts to begin dating Kitty "again" (from when they were Peter). She also fought against Hydra's Spider-Men during which she's dubbed "Spider-Girl".Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man #12 (April 2015)
Spider-Verse
During the "Spider-Verse" storyline, Spider-Woman teams up with Kaine and an alternate Ben Reilly to investigate the home of the Inheritors and find out how they are able to clone new bodies for themselves.Scarlet Spiders #1 (November 2014)
Spider-Men II
Following the Secret Wars events that seemingly destroyed Spider-Woman's universe, she is returned to existence, once again using the Spider-Woman identity, and rejoining the Ultimates with the resurrected Peter Parker who has reclaimed the Spider-Man mantle in Miles's absence upon emigrating to Earth-616.Spider-Men II #5. Marvel Comics
Powers and abilities Spider-Woman has all the powers of Spider-Man, including superhuman strength, speed, and agility, the ability to stick to surfaces and a spider-sense that warns them of danger. In addition, her fingertips have spinnerets, allowing her to fire silk-spinning webbing from them.Ultimate Secrets vol 1 #1 (January 2008). Marvel Comics.
Other versions Teresa Parker
On Earth-616, the Ultimate Spider-Woman's iconic red-and-white costume and characterisation as a secret agent "sister" to Peter Parker / Spider-Man would be adapted to the new character of Teresa Parker, the Earth-616 Peter's long-lost younger sister, first appearing The Amazing Spider-Man: Family Business in 2014, before returning in Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man Volume Five, and The Chameleon Conspiracy.
Claire Parker
On Earth-19529, the Ultimate Spider-Woman's iconic red-and-white costume and characterisation would be adapted to the new character of Claire Parker, daughter of Spider-Man, as a composite character with Mayday Parker, in Spider-Man: Life Story, adapting the events of all Spider-Man comics released between 1962 and 2019 as if their events had happened in real-time, with some divergences during the Clone Saga. After fending off Morlun in 2006 while Peter is involved in the superhero Civil War, by 2019 Claire has become Spider-Woman with the Ultimate Spider-Woman costume, remaining on Earth to protect her brother Benny and mother Mary Jane as he goes to space face Doctor Doom along with Miles Morales (actually Otto Octavius).Spider-Man: Life Story #3–6. Marvel Comics.
Reception Critical reception