Tarantula I

File Photo

Attributes

Eyes:	Brown
Features:	The Tarantula periodically sported a pencil- thin mustache. Oh, and he occasionally had eight appendages.
Hair:	Black
Height:	6' 1"
Weight:	185 lbs

Powers

Abilities:	The Tarantula was a superb hand-to-hand combatant and was exceptionally agile.
Limitations:	Short-tempered, impatient, and inclined to kill on the spur of the moment.
Powers:	The Tarantula possessed no powers, although once he became a spider he could spin a killer web.
Strength Level:	As a human, the Tarantula possessed peak athlete, although not super-human, capabilities. As a giant spider, he was in the lift- 10-tons category.
Weapons:	The Tarantula possessed boots that contained retractable, poison-dipped spikes and gloves with retractable, poison-dipped claws.

Summary

Citizenship:	Delvadia (South America)
Created By:	Gerry Conway, Ross Andru, Frank Giacoia, David Hunt
Current Occupation:	deceased
Dual Identity:	Not Public
Education:	Unknown
Former Aliases:	Mr. Valdez
Former Bases:	South America, Miami
Former Occupation:	Terrorist, Government Operative, Criminal for Hire
Known Allies:	Senor Suerte, Lightmaster, Kraven the Hunter (although they didn't get along), the Jackal, the Brand Corporation
Known Relatives:	Daughter (Tarantula III)
Legal Status:	Known international criminal
Major Enemies:	Spider-Man, Captain America
Marital Status:	Single
Place of Birth:	Delvadia (presumably)
Real Name:	Anton Miguel Rodriguez
Usual Bases:	New York City

Background

After being cashiered from a revolutionary organization because he was too violent, Anton Miguel Rodriguez became his government's top operative and proved too violent for them as well. Setting himself up in the more tolerant New York City as a professional criminal, he hi-jacked a boat that Peter Parker and the Punisher both happened to be on. Although he initially escaped, Spider-Man eventually caught up with him and handed him over to the local authorities.

In prison the Tarantula was able to re-make his spiked shoes and, with the help of the Jackal, escaped. There followed a series of adventures that involved the likes of Captain America, the Lightmaster, Kraven the Hunter and the Brand Corporation. Furious at yet another defeat by Spider- Man, the Tarantula agreed to undergo an experiment meant to re-create the powers of Spider-Man. The experiment was disrupted by Will O'Wisp, and the Tarantula emerged an eight-limbed, spider-like creature with limited intelligence. Unable to bear life in his new form, the Tarantula threw himself into a police barrage of bullets and committed suicide.

The next person was Tarantula (Alvarez).

Appearances

Thanks To

 The assistance of the Marvel Chronology Project is gratefully acknowledged.

 Some of the above information is extracted from the various versions of the Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe and the more recent Marvel Encyclopaedias.