Cowboy Spider-Man Might Just Have The Most Tragic Origin in the Spider-Verse

Tragic origin stories are par for the course for the Spiders no matter what dimension they hail from, but Cowboy Spider-Man – aka Web-Slinger – just might have it the worse. Spider-Verse #4 by Taran Killam and Juan Gedeon sees the Wild West Spider-Man assisting Miles Morales fight some all-too-familiar bandits. Along the way, fresh insights reveal the motivations of the man behind the webbed six-shooters.

The issue starts with Web-Slinger thwarting a train robbery lead by Kraven. The crook escapes, but Web-Slinger is able to save the passenger before the train plunges into a nearby river. As he struggles to swim against the current, the Web-Slinger reflects on his current situation. “More often ‘n not…tryin’ ta do right got me feelin’ like I’m swimming upstream…especially since in the past, I done plenty wrong myself.” Within the eye-piece of Webslinger’s mask, an image emerges of a Union soldier cradling the body of a Confederate, with a cannon and the stars-and-stripe flag behind him. “Ben, forgive me. Brother,” the soldier, apparently Web-Slinger, says. The rest of the issue follows Web-Slinger as he meets up with a dimension-hopping Miles Morales and protects Mexican villagers from bandits lead by “El Escorpion”.

Web-Slinger first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #9, but his origin wasn’t revealed until the Spider-Geddon tie-in Vault of the Spiders #1. In the issue, Patrick O’Hara is an itinerant gunslinger working out of a Wild West show with snake-oil salesman Michael Morbius, who was selling Apache elixirs. When a spider was accidentally caught in one of the elixirs, its bite gave Patrick and his horse Widow powers but also turned Morbius into a vampire. Taking on the identity of Ponderosa Parker and Web-Slinger, Web-Slinger succeeds in stopping Morbius, though his history before becoming a gunslinger remained a mystery. Web-Slinger also appeared in the Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon, as a cowardly and reluctant hero pulled into a conflict between Doc Ock Holiday and several alternate reality counterparts. His Uncle Ben is revealed to be the mind-controlled Phantom Rider, whom he actually succeeds in saving by the episode’s end.

The revelation of Web-Slinger’s tragic backstory during the Civil War (the one between the States, not Captain America and Iron Man… or Captain Marvel and Iron Man) adds an interesting new dynamic to the character. While teenage Peter Parker was feuding with his Uncle Ben, Patrick O’Hara and his brother Ben were enemies on opposing sides, and given the ominous image, Patrick may have very well killed Ben, or at least had some hand in his death. This addition is more than just tragic flavoring for its western setting. Writer Taran Killam is reconstructing many elements of the Lone Ranger… right down to the issue’s title, “The Lone Stranger”. Similarly, the Lone Ranger’s brother Dan perished in the ambush that left the hero the sole survivor. Both heroes are shaped by familial tragedy, but Web-Slinger’s Civil War backstory pushes the character to seek redemption, creating a perfect hero for the harsh frontier landscape that surrounds him.

Web-Slinger’s bloody backstory ultimately makes the character an intriguing addition to the Spider-Verse. While the origins of his powers add a necessary flare of Western mysticism to his character, his true motivations are formed by the country’s own tumultuous history and the promise of the frontier. Hopefully, this is far from the last time Web-Slinger and Widow ride in the pages of the Spider-Verse.

Spider-Verse #4  by Taran Killam and Juan Gedeon is on sale now.

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