Mattie Franklin

Publication history

1990s

Mattie Franklin debuted in the shadows in The Spectacular Spider-Man #262 (October 1998). Her first full appearance was in The Amazing Spider-Man #441 (November 1998). She later appeared as Spider-Woman in The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 2 #5 (May 1999). The beginning of a three-part crossover led directly into the launch of her own Spider-Woman series. Like Spider-Woman volume 1, Spider-Woman volume 3 pitted the protagonist against macabre and grotesque villains, and featured a closing story arc in which she looks into a mirror and sees her own face shriveled down to skin and bones. As a running joke, Spider-Woman constantly changes costumes throughout the series, including a four-issue run (#2–5) in which she adopts a new costume every issue. However, sales were mediocre and the series was cancelled with issue #18 (December 2000).

2000s

Mattie Franklin appeared in the 2001 Alias series. She returned after an almost two-year absence for a six-issue story. However, the character spends the entire story (save a three-page epilogue) in a semi-conscious state. She appeared in the 2005 limited series Loners. This is her first active adventure in more than six years. She appeared in the 2016-2017 Silk series.

Fictional character biography

Martha "Mattie" Franklin is a troubled youth who grew up with her father after her mother died. After overhearing a phone call between her father and Norman Osborn about The Gathering of Five, she takes her father's place during the Gathering and is endowed with the powers that Norman Osborn desired for himself.

During one of Spider-Man's temporary retirements, she wears a near-identical costume and fills in for him. Franklin has long been an obsessive fan of Spider-Man who inspired her career as a superhero. This obsession is coupled with repressed romantic feelings for him, which she revealed during a state of delirium after suffering a head injury in battle. She is defeated by Shadrac, forcing Spider-Man to return to the costume and save her. After Spider-Man's return, she assumes the identity of Spider-Woman. Eventually Charlotte Witter, a villain also going by the name of Spider-Woman, attacks her and steals her powers. Mattie manages not only to reabsorb her own powers, but also to absorb the powers of all three previous Spider-Women. Assisted by Madame Web and Jessica Drew, she hunts down supervillains wherever she can find them.

Lonely from having only her constantly working father to live with, Franklin moves in with J. Jonah Jameson, a close friend of her father, and his wife Marla who happens to be her aunt. They have Franklin (a straight-"A" student) enrolled in a private school, where a classmate, Cheryl, spots her using her powers and becomes her friend and biggest fan. During this time, the powers Franklin absorbed from previous Spider-Women begin returning to their original owners.

She is featured in the series Contest of Champions II. Having escaped from brutal gladitorial fights that other Earth superheroes are unwittingly brainwashed into, she flees into a mysterious jungle and is almost slain by foe and naive friend alike. She ultimately teams up with all original heroes and veterans Iron Man and Psylocke.

''Alias''

Main article: Alias (comics)

While on a first date, Mattie is slipped a date rape drug. Since by this time she has lost the toxin resistance power she absorbed from Jessica Drew, she is rendered senseless. A small-time drug dealer then exploits her to produce a drug called Mutant Growth Hormone (MGH), as well as using her for prostitution. To keep her prisoner, he regularly doses her with psychoactive drugs. Private investigator Jessica Jones, with the help of Jessica Drew, rescues Mattie and returns her to Jonah and Marla. Mattie goes through counseling to get over her dependence on the drugs with which she was sedated.

Loners

After the events of Alias, Mattie had retired from being a superhero and became a private investigator. However, she dons the costume once more to track down the dealers who were selling the MGH, and follows them to Los Angeles, where she attends Excelsior meetings and pretends to quit using her powers. In reality, she is using the meetings to recruit a partner to help her. She is joined by Darkhawk and Ricochet, who keep their activities secret from the rest of the group.

The trio's involvement in the MGH ring bust is revealed when Ricochet's later break-in at a Fujikawa lab results in Lightspeed being grievously wounded by Hollow (formerly Penance). The group is confronted by a woman leading armored guards and Delilah; they have come to reclaim Hollow. The matter is settled peacefully by Mickey Musashi; Mattie is frustrated about allowing the bad guys to leave. However, Mickey reminds her that she is undoing the damage for which she, Darkhawk, and Ricochet are responsible. It is revealed that another reason for her joining the support group was that she was secretly researching the Slingers. While over at Johnny's house she begins searching around, looking for evidence when she is caught by Johnny whom she sleeps with in order for him not to get suspicious. Afterwards, she privately contacts the father of Dusk, in which she confirmed that the former Slinger named Ricochet has no knowledge of Cassie's whereabouts. Mattie and Johnny later arrive at Mickey's apartment, in which they learn about both Phil and Chris fighting each other in Darkhawk armor. After defeating Phil, she learns about Phil also making a deal with Fumiko Fujikawa and decides to leave the support group, no longer trusting them, pointing out that they had forgotten about how to be heroes in trying to overcome their heroic pasts. Mattie also admits that she regrets sleeping with Ricochet.

''The Gauntlet'' and ''Grim Hunt''

Main article: The Gauntlet and Grim Hunt

In "The Gauntlet and Grim Hunt", Sasha Kravinoff kills Mattie Franklin as part of a ritual to resurrect Vladimir Kravinoff.

''The Clone Conspiracy''

Main article: Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy, Silk: The Clone Conspiracy

She is resurrected in a cloned body in "Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy", but eventually decays and dies.

Powers and abilities

Mattie Franklin possesses a range of superhuman powers that she gained after participating in the Gathering of Five ceremony. She has superhuman strength, speed, agility, stamina, and reflexes. Mattie Franklin also possesses the ability to fly at subsonic speeds and psionic spider legs.

After a battle with Charlotte Witter, Mattie briefly lost her powers before regaining not only her own powers, but also those of Witter, the two previous Spider-Women, Jessica Drew and Julia Carpenter, and Madame Web. After a short time, Julia and Jessica regained their powers, which left Mattie with her original abilities and those of Charlotte Witter.

Reception

Rachel Ulatowski of The Mary Sue stated Mattie Franklin has the most dark and tragic backstory of all Spider characters. Maham Arsalan of Comic Book Resources compared Mattie Franklin to Peter Parker and called her an unlucky character with a turbulent dark existence that can surprise fans, while Sam Stone dedicated an entire article exposing her "tragic fate." Liam McGuire of Screen Rant described the life of Mattie Franklin as one of the most tragic and "messed-up" ones a superhero can have.

Other versions

''Marvel Universe vs. The Avengers''

An alternate version of Mattie Franklin appears in Marvel Universe vs. The Avengers. When a plague turned the world's population into cannibals, she was among the many superheroes who succumbed to it. She was seen battling Black Widow, alongside her infected mentor Jessica Drew.

MC2

Main article: Spider-Girl: Duty Calls, Spider-Girl: Duty Calls

An alternate version of Mattie Franklin appears in MC2. Spider-Man pursued Norman Osborn sooner than he did in the main continuity, and therefore, interfering The Gathering of Five ceremony. Mattie fled with the artifacts needed, and later gained the gift of power.

''Spider-Verse''

Main article: Spider-Verse

An alternate version of Mattie Franklin makes a cameo appearance in Spider-Verse as a member of the Spider-Army.

In other media

Film

Mattie Franklin appears in Madame Web, portrayed by Celeste O'Connor. This version is an affluent yet rebellious African American teenager who is estranged from her wealthy parents, who are busy with a project across the ocean. After being targeted by Ezekiel Sims, whose prophetic visions lead him to believe she might kill him in the future, Franklin is rescued by Cassie Webb, who eventually trains her in becoming a superhero.

Video games

• Mattie Franklin's Spider-Woman suit was intended to appear in Marvel Ultimate Alliance as an alternate skin for Jessica Drew / Spider-Woman. While it was replaced by Spider-Girl's suit, concept art for Franklin's suit is featured as unlockable content.
• Mattie Franklin / Spider-Woman appears as an unlockable playable character in Spider-Man Unlimited.

Merchandise

In 2022, Funko released a Mattie Franklin / Spider-Woman Funko Pop figure as part of the "Beyond Amazing" collection.

Collected editions

References

References

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2. Iacobucci, Jordan. (February 14, 2024). "Madame Web Cast And Character Guide".
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