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History

Anton Miguel Rodriquez was a revolutionary in the South American country of Delvadia fighting to overthrow the fascist government. He and his fellow freedom fighters employed such tactics as bombings, kidnapping politicians for ransom, and assassinations. Rodriquez was expelled from his group after he murdered a security guard in cold blood during a bank robbery.

The Delvadian government took notice of Rodriquez and gave him a new mission and role as the Tarantula, a government-backed costumed agent, in effect a fascistic Captain America. He was used against his former allies in assignments he especially enjoyed. Rodriquez's violent streak eventually got the better of him when he killed a guard who would not allow him to beat a captured revolutionary. Disavowed by the government, the Tarantula fled South America and began living in New York illegally. He soon began to integrate himself into the city's criminal underworld. For his first big score the Tarantula, along with his two henchmen Hidalgo (his brother) and Juan, hijacked a Hudson River dayliner in order to rob the passengers and hold them for ransom. Spider-Man, with help from the Punisher, managed to foil the Tarantula's plan and capture him.[6]

Anton Miguel Rodriquez (Earth-616) from Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1 236 0001

Mutated form

The Tarantula then became a mercenary, later allying himself with the Jackal[7] and Senor Muerte,[8] and attempted to abduct or murder "Nose" Norton.[5] He was also hired by Edward Lansky to stage his own kidnapping, as well as killing Mayor Beame.[2] He was unsuccessful in all of these ventures. The Brand Corporation mutated the Tarantula into a spider-like creature with four additional clawed legs and a spider-like face with sharp chelicerae at the sides of his mouth and compound eyes. Enraged, the Tarantula sought his revenge against the Corporation. Spider-Man and the Will O' The Wisp prevented him from murdering a Brand executive. Seeing that he had mutated even further into a giant spider, the Tarantula dove from a building into a hail of gunfire from NYPD officers and died quickly on the street below.[9]

Anton Miguel Rodriquez (Earth-616) from Clone Conspiracy Vol 1 5 0001

The Tarantula's cloned body breaking down

Several years after his death, the Tarantula was among the many of Spider-Man's deceased foes who were brought back to life by Spider-Man's clone Ben Reilly, who was acting as the new Jackal, as an incentive to convince Spider-Man to join his enterprise.[10] When the Jackal's ally Doctor Octopus turned against him and set off the decay of the bodies of his subjects, the Tarantula's body started breaking down.[11] While many of the people the Jackal cloned back to life did not survive the decay before Spider-Man put a halt to it, others did manage to survive.[12]

When Kraven the Hunter contracted the Taskmaster and the Black Ant to capture animal-themed villains for the Great Hunt, the Tarantula was one of the first, being forcefully introduced as a member of the new Savage Six.[13] After the Great Hunt, the Tarantula was forced by the Vulture to continue being a member of the team.[14]

Attributes

Power Grid[16]
:Category:Power Grid/Fighting Skills/Experienced Fighter:Category:Power Grid/Energy Projection/None:Category:Power Grid/Durability/Enhanced:Category:Power Grid/Durability/Normal:Category:Power Grid/Speed/Normal:Category:Power Grid/Strength/Superhuman (800 lbs-25 ton):Category:Power Grid/Strength/Peak Human:Category:Power Grid/Intelligence/Slow or Impaired:Category:Power Grid/Intelligence/Normal

Powers

Abilities

  • Skilled Fighter: In his human form, the Tarantula was a brilliant athlete with great agility, especially in leaping. He was also a superb hand-to-hand combatant.[1]

Paraphernalia

Weapons

The Tarantula wore gloves that contained retractable razor blades and boots with retractable razor sharp points. The blades were covered with drugs that could render his victims unconscious.[1]

Notes

  • The Tarantula has diplomatic immunity.[14]

See Also

Links and References

References

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