Madam Web
(Hostess Cakes advert)
Context
During the 1970s, confectioner and cakes maker Hostess advertised in major comic books. The advertisements were full-page comics starring Marvel and DC Comics characters (and Hostess products).
These comics were nonsensical and a parody of the most absurd aspects of Silver Age comics. They’re still fondly remembered for their goofiness.
This character has no connection whatsoever with the Marvel Universe Madame Web (Cassandra Webb) or her successor Julia Carpenter.
Powers and Abilities
Madam Web can spin a really big web.
Advertisement
History
She appeared in “Spider-Man and Madam Web”, which was in Avengers #161, among other places.
Spider-Man reads the Daily Bugle, which features a headline accusing him of tangling up New York Harbor with his web. We see Spidey agonizing over his predicament, as he knows he’s not to blame.
Determined to save the harbor, he swings his way to the Brooklyn Bridge, where he confronts Madam Web. The villainess is the one who spun the web, attemping to frame Spidey for rejecting her. But at the sight of him, she melts, “Spider-Man, my love, come with me and let’s run away.”
Taking advantage of her vulnerability, he offers instead to give her a whole bunch of Hostess™ Twinkies in return for clearing the harbor and his good name. “Ohh! For that — I’d clear up the ocean, the world – anything ! Oh ! Golden sponge cake… creamed filling !”.
Madam Web loses it, and Spidey, being the romantic sort he is, turns her over to the cops.
As she’s led away in handcuffs, Madam Web bemoans, “First I lose Spider-Man, then Hostess Twinkies Cakes ! What a tangled web !”. Spidey swings away, as onlookers cheer, “Yaaay ! Spider-Man ! Yaaay ! Twinkies Cakes !”. He sure knows how to please a crowd.
Description
Madam Web wears an orange jumpsuit and mask, leaving only her nose and mouth exposed. She has sort of magenta-colored boots and gloves, and wears a headress/hood with a black and magenta web pattern on it.
Personality
Madam Web is love-cazed when it comes to Spider-Man. She seeks revenge for his rejection of her, but when he talks to her nice, she’s ready to roll over. She also can’t resist Twinkies (duh !).
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Madam Web
| Dex: 07 | Str: 03 | Bod: 04 | Motivation: Psychopathic |
| Int: 03 | Wil: 04 | Min: 03 | Occupation: Love-struck villainess |
| Inf: 05 | Aur: 04 | Spi: 04 | |
| Init: 015 | HP: 030 |
Powers:
Cling: 03, Glue: 15
Bonuses and Limitations:
- Glue represents Madam Web’s ability to spin massive webs. She can affect a volume equal to her APs of power, leaving it up as a permanent barrier. Anything that comes into contact with the web thereafter, suffers against the Glue power as normal.
- The barriers stay in effect a length of time equal to her APs of power, or until she wills them to dissipate.
Skills:
Acrobatics*: 07
Drawbacks:
SIA (Spider-Man), CIA (Hostess Twinkies).
Source of Character: Hostess ads that appeared in Marvel comic books.