Marvel Admits One Part of Spider-Man's Webbing Doesn't Make Sense and Never Will
Warning: Spoilers for One World Under Doom #1
Spider-Man's webbing has endless possibilities for how he can apply it, from tying up enemies to swinging through the city, and he's always uncovering clever new applications for his webs. With that being said, one iconic ability of his doesn't make much sense, and Marvel is ready to address the elephant in the room in regard to Spider-Man's powers at long last.
In One World Under Doom #1 by Ryan North, R.B. Silva, David Curiel, and Travis Lanham, Spider-Man and the Human Torch poke fun at each other as the heroes prepare to launch an offensive against Doctor Doom. On the way there, Johnny Storm makes a surprisingly astute comment about Spider-Man's web fluid and one of its most handy features.
Johnny jokes, "You can always improvise one of your famous webbing parachutes. I'm sure a parachute made mostly out of holes works great." His sarcastic remark points out a glaring flaw in the parachutes employed by Spider-Man on a regular basis, finally addressing a long-held criticism.
Spider-Man's Web Parachutes Are As Impractical As They Sound
Parachutes With Holes in Them Surely Can't Be Effective for Spider-Man
Spider-Man was first shown using his webbing as a parachute in The Amazing Spider-Man #1 by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, the first issue of his original comic run. From the get-go, Johnny's critique of this web-shooter application's functionality becomes abundantly clear to the reader. The parachute is full of gaping holes that let air travel in and out, since it's made of spiderwebs. Thus, it shouldn't allow Spider-Man to float through the air because it lacks the solidity for an aerodynamic lift. Realistically, Spider-Man should plummet to the ground rather than drifting along with no potentially fatal complications.
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Despite the issues with Spider-Man's parachute ability, he's utilized it a surprising number of times throughout Marvel lore without a hitch. Furthermore, it isn't even the only feature Spider-Man has shown off that lets him fly. He can also create web-wings for his suit that enable him to glide, though the webbing once again sparks the same question posed by the Human Torch. The flimsy, thin material of webs can't possibly be strong enough to carry him for long, and the holes continue to pose a problem. However, these flaws have been addressed before, so Spider-Man's flight abilities aren't as nonsensical as they appear.
Spider-Man's Webbing for His Parachute Is Made of Stronger Material Than You Think
Peter Parker Designed An Alternate Web Fluid to Allow for Safe Flight
In The Amazing Spider-Man #7, Spider-Man explains how his parachute manages to function properly. After chasing the Vulture and capturing him midair, he teases the villain by generating a web during their free-fall, saying, "It might be fun! 'Specially if I make it with my new semi-solid fluid which enables it to act like a parachute!" This line confirms that Spider-Man uses a sturdier type of web fluid for his parachutes - and, presumably, any other aerodynamic upgrades he employs. This explanation doesn't entirely make sense, since the parachute still contains holes regardless, but Spider-Man's parachutes are at least not quite as implausible as they seem.
One World Under Doom #1 is available now from Marvel Comics!
- Created By
- Stan Lee, Steve Ditko
- First Appearance
- Amazing Fantasy
- Alias
- Peter Parker, Ben Reilly, Otto Octavius, Yu Komori, Kaine Parker, Pavitr Prabhakar, William Braddock, Miles Morales, Kurt Wagner
- Alliance
- Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men, Secret Defenders, Future Foundation, Heroes for Hire, Mighty Avengers, New Avengers, Web-Warriors
- Race
- Human
- Franchise
- Marvel, Spider-Man
