Marvel Database
Register
Advertisement

Kwaku Anansi is a revered figure among the Vodū, an otherworldly race esteemed as deities by various African tribes and adherents of the Alton tradition in modern times. He holds a unique place as the original Spider-Man, utilizing his arachnid abilities to traverse Africa and explore its vast expanses. In a quest for greater wisdom, Anansi struck a momentous deal with Nyame, the sky god, offering perpetual service in exchange for enlightenment. Consequently, he disappeared from the mortal realm, transmitting his power and knowledge into spiders scattered across a vast interconnected Great Web, thereby cementing his legacy and influence throughout the world.[1]

History

Early Life[]

According to Ezekiel Sims and the Ashanti tribe in Ghana, Anansi was the first Spider-Man, using his spider-powers to traverse Africa and see all there was to see. Desiring further enlightenment, Anansi struck a bargain with the sky god Nyame, offering his eternal service in return for enlightenment and vanished from the mortal world, his power and knowledge transmitted into spiders everywhere across a Great Web.[3]

Modern Age[]

He continued his service to his father in to the modern era, Anansi stood alongside Nyambe, both bearing witness to the primal scream of the Enchantress mourning the death of Heimdall.[6]

Anansi's temple in Ghana was used by Spider-Man to defeat the totemic wasp entity Shathra, and was later the site of a duel between Ezekiel Sims and Peter Parker in order to appease the totemic spider deity called the Gatekeeper.[7]

Council of Godheads[]

Anansi attended the Council of Godheads gathered by Athena to prepare a team of godly champions to confront the Skrull Gods. However, he did not provide any champions from amongst his own ranks and openly doubted Athena's intentions, suggesting that the homeless Olympian gods might have designs upon their realms while left unprotected.[8]

Anansi participated in a Council of Godheads meeting to talk about Athena's mortal champion Amadeus Cho.[9] He was with the Council when Vali Halfling threatened them to rule over reality as soon as he had reached omniscience. Anansi asked Balder who this Asgardian upstart was and learned that Vali was one of Loki's children.[10]

Spider-Island[]

One day Anansi, disguised as pest specialist A. Nancy, visited the bar & grill that Hercules worked at. They talked for awhile -- about Nancy's blind dog Coltrane and his job. Without revealing his true name Nancy even told Herc about how Anansi once tricked Nyambe into telling Anansi all his stories.[2]

Hercules later helped Nancy to sneak into Arachne's apartment so he could steal Arachne's Tapestry. Once outside Nancy was attacked by Elektra, who immediately stole the tapestry, but spared Nancy's life even though Baba Yaga told her to kill him.[11]

Legion of X[]

Later, Anansi (or a fragment thereof) was among several gods across many pantheons used by the Arakkii Mutant Ora Serrata to fabricate Tumult, the Trickster Chimaera.[12]

Attributes

Power Grid[16]
:Category:Power Grid/Fighting Skills/Experienced Fighter:Category:Power Grid/Energy Projection/None:Category:Power Grid/Durability/Regenerative:Category:Power Grid/Speed/Superhuman:Category:Power Grid/Strength/Superhuman (800 lbs-25 ton):Category:Power Grid/Intelligence/Omniscient:Category:Power Grid/Intelligence/Genius

Powers

  • Vodū Physiology:Anansi possesses the conventional attributes of the African gods.[13]
    • Superhuman Strength: Anansi can lift 25 tons.[13]
    • Organic Webbing: Anansi can spin spider-like webs and skillfully swing from them.[13]
    • Shapeshifting: He can also tap into and manipulate ambient magical energies for a variety of effects, including shapeshifting. He usually shift either partially or completely into a spider.[13]

Notes

  • Anansi is also the name of the arachnoid race that was part of the Originators, group of species that inhabited Wakanda before humans and was expelled by humans and Gods of Wakanda,[14] apparently there is no relationship between Kwaku Anansi and that race.

See Also

Links and References

References

Advertisement