raul grau
Jun 11, 2004, 05:05 am
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/headshots/dc/nopic.jpg" align=left alt="No Image Available">Real Name: Jonathan Law
Former Aliases: None
First Appearance: Star-Spangled Comics #1
Known Relatives: None
Group Affiliation: formerly All-Star Squadron
Known Allies: Nightwing II, formerly Sandman II, Johnny Quick, Liberty Belle, Phantom Lady I
Major Enemies: formerly Ultra-Humanite
Height: 5'10''
Weight: 180 lbs.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Blonde
Jonathan Law was already an accomplished mystery author during the later years of the 1930s, with best-selling novels to his acclaim, including The Dozen Masterminds and Web of Hate. Jon later turned his attentions to another topic, the growing mystery men phenomenon. He began meeting with costumed heroes and their associates for background material, such as the November 1938 interview he conducted with the early masked adventurer known as the Crimson Avenger.
In late June of 1941, Jon met with Dian Belmont, paramour of the vigilante known as Sandman, as part of his research process. He had determined her true relationship to the Sandman, and she shared with Jon a set of costume designs that she had drawn for the masked hero, but he had previously rejected. Jon decided to try his hand at crimefighting, and had his housekeeper, Olga, sew a costume for him based on Dian's sketches.
Two nights later, Dian Belmont was substituting as the Sandman, as the real Sandman (Wesley Dodds) was believed to be out of the country. In the midst of investigating a suspicious fire at the pier, the Sandman's roadster was overturned, with Dian still inside. Both Jon (as the 'Tarantula') and Wesley Dodds arrived on the scene, and both were wearing costumes inspired by Dian's design. The two won the battle, but found the apparently lifeless body of Dian in the wreckage (though, some time later, she revealed herself to still be alive).
A few days after this perceived tragedy, Jon finally made his public debut as the Tarantula, during an incident at a Broadway theater. The next night, Jon met with the still grieving Wesley Dodds, at the grave site of Dian. They trusted each other with their secret identities, and Wesley gave Jon his blessing to continue wearing the similar accruements. However, it would not be long before Jon would select a new, spider-themed costume, in order to give himself a more unique look.
A year later, Jon was called in by Liberty Belle, chairwoman of the All-Star Squadron, to assist the team in a mission involving missing members of the Justice Society of America. After the battle was won, Tarantula officially took a place within the core membership of the Squadron. Jon had an immediate attraction to Liberty Belle, which led to several tussles between himself and her occasional boyfriend, Johnny Quick, a fellow member of the team. Jon would later have a relationship with another heroine, Phantom Lady (Sandra Knight), but it proved to be brief.
While a member of the Squadron, Jon keenly observed the actions of other members, and continued to conduct research for his book, asking heroes to relate their origins to him. It would be several decades, long after the dissolution of the All-Star Squadron and his retirement from adventuring, before Jon finally made use of this information, publishing a novel of his account of the wartime activities of the costumed heroes, titled Altered Egos, in the 1970s.
Now living in Bludhaven, Jon continues writing into the present day. He recently had an encounter with one of the modern generation of heroes, Nightwing, and has even inspired a successor to the Tarantula mantle.
As Tarantula, Jon possessed no special abilities, but was in remarkable physical condition. He utilized a specially designed Web Gun, which could alternate between firing a single, swinging line and a complete web, capable of ensnaring his opponents. He built special suction cups into his costume, which allowed him to walk along walls and ceilings. Now retired, Jon requires a walker for mobility.
APPEARANCES:
All-Star Squadron #18-22, 24-27, 31-32, 38, 41-44, 46-47, 50, 53-54, 57-60
All-Star Squadron Annual #2-3
Crisis on Infinite Earths #5
Nightwing (2nd series) #14, 16, 21, 31, 40
Secret Origins (2nd series) #29
Star-Spangled Comics (1st series) #1-19
Young All-Stars #2-7, 9, 14, 27, 30-31
Young All-Stars Annual #1
Former Aliases: None
First Appearance: Star-Spangled Comics #1
Known Relatives: None
Group Affiliation: formerly All-Star Squadron
Known Allies: Nightwing II, formerly Sandman II, Johnny Quick, Liberty Belle, Phantom Lady I
Major Enemies: formerly Ultra-Humanite
Height: 5'10''
Weight: 180 lbs.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Blonde
Jonathan Law was already an accomplished mystery author during the later years of the 1930s, with best-selling novels to his acclaim, including The Dozen Masterminds and Web of Hate. Jon later turned his attentions to another topic, the growing mystery men phenomenon. He began meeting with costumed heroes and their associates for background material, such as the November 1938 interview he conducted with the early masked adventurer known as the Crimson Avenger.
In late June of 1941, Jon met with Dian Belmont, paramour of the vigilante known as Sandman, as part of his research process. He had determined her true relationship to the Sandman, and she shared with Jon a set of costume designs that she had drawn for the masked hero, but he had previously rejected. Jon decided to try his hand at crimefighting, and had his housekeeper, Olga, sew a costume for him based on Dian's sketches.
Two nights later, Dian Belmont was substituting as the Sandman, as the real Sandman (Wesley Dodds) was believed to be out of the country. In the midst of investigating a suspicious fire at the pier, the Sandman's roadster was overturned, with Dian still inside. Both Jon (as the 'Tarantula') and Wesley Dodds arrived on the scene, and both were wearing costumes inspired by Dian's design. The two won the battle, but found the apparently lifeless body of Dian in the wreckage (though, some time later, she revealed herself to still be alive).
A few days after this perceived tragedy, Jon finally made his public debut as the Tarantula, during an incident at a Broadway theater. The next night, Jon met with the still grieving Wesley Dodds, at the grave site of Dian. They trusted each other with their secret identities, and Wesley gave Jon his blessing to continue wearing the similar accruements. However, it would not be long before Jon would select a new, spider-themed costume, in order to give himself a more unique look.
A year later, Jon was called in by Liberty Belle, chairwoman of the All-Star Squadron, to assist the team in a mission involving missing members of the Justice Society of America. After the battle was won, Tarantula officially took a place within the core membership of the Squadron. Jon had an immediate attraction to Liberty Belle, which led to several tussles between himself and her occasional boyfriend, Johnny Quick, a fellow member of the team. Jon would later have a relationship with another heroine, Phantom Lady (Sandra Knight), but it proved to be brief.
While a member of the Squadron, Jon keenly observed the actions of other members, and continued to conduct research for his book, asking heroes to relate their origins to him. It would be several decades, long after the dissolution of the All-Star Squadron and his retirement from adventuring, before Jon finally made use of this information, publishing a novel of his account of the wartime activities of the costumed heroes, titled Altered Egos, in the 1970s.
Now living in Bludhaven, Jon continues writing into the present day. He recently had an encounter with one of the modern generation of heroes, Nightwing, and has even inspired a successor to the Tarantula mantle.
As Tarantula, Jon possessed no special abilities, but was in remarkable physical condition. He utilized a specially designed Web Gun, which could alternate between firing a single, swinging line and a complete web, capable of ensnaring his opponents. He built special suction cups into his costume, which allowed him to walk along walls and ceilings. Now retired, Jon requires a walker for mobility.
APPEARANCES:
All-Star Squadron #18-22, 24-27, 31-32, 38, 41-44, 46-47, 50, 53-54, 57-60
All-Star Squadron Annual #2-3
Crisis on Infinite Earths #5
Nightwing (2nd series) #14, 16, 21, 31, 40
Secret Origins (2nd series) #29
Star-Spangled Comics (1st series) #1-19
Young All-Stars #2-7, 9, 14, 27, 30-31
Young All-Stars Annual #1