Summary
Madame Webboasts a litany of Spider-Man-inspiredMarvelcharacters, each with a suit of varying success.Madame Webis set in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, proffering an origin story for the classicSpider-Mancharacter that doesn’t really exist in the comics. Unfortunately, like some of its predecessors,Madame Webreceived a largely unfavorable receptionand was criticized for its uneven plot, awkward pacing, and lack of coherent world-building. Nevertheless, it features a thrilling line-up of Spider-heroes, that offer a variety of Spider-Man-inspired suits - some of which fared better than others.
Madame Webdepicts the eponymous pre-cognitive comic book character striving to save three young girls who are one day destined to become Spider-Woman or Spider-Girl. TheseMadame Webcharactersinclude Cassandra Webb as the titular Madame Web, Aña Corazón (Spider-Girl/Araña), Martha Franklin (Spider-Woman), Julia Carpenter (Spider-Woman), and Ezekiel Sims, all of whom brought their own interpretations of Spidey’s iconic costume. That said, it’s worth noting that many of these were only included in a brief flashforward scene and duringMadame Web’s ending. Nevertheless, these scenes were arguably the movie’s most exciting part, proffering dynamic action and satisfying reinterpretations of classic costumes.
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5Aña ‘Anya’ Corazón AKA Spider-Girl/Araña
Played By Isabela Merced
Aña Corazón, who first appeared inAmazing Fantasy#1 (2004), is known for her alter-ego Araña (Spider) and is occasionally known as Spider-Girl. In the comics, Anya starts off wearing a more makeshift, urban-style costume, which usually consists of a simple blue and red hoodie with a spider symbol and practical, streetwear-like elements. As she evolves into Spider-Girl, her suit becomes more refined,adopting a sleek, form-fitting black-and-white designsimilar to some of the Spider-Woman, especially Julia Carpenter.
InMadame Web, Aña Corazón’s costume took a drastically different approach, leaning heavily on silver elements that ultimately made her suit look cheap and uninspired. Instead of capturing the dynamic, youthful energy and identity of the character from the comics, the film gave her a design that lacked defining features. The silver accentsfailed to represent her connection to the Spider-Man mythosand seemed overly generic and lacked personality, particularly in comparison to the other Spider-characters.
WhileMadame Weblikely aimed to create something distinct for the character, that differed notably from Julia Carpenter’s costume. However, the execution fell flat. As a result, the suitlooks like a hastily put-together proprather than something iconic or memorable.
The movie would have been better off adapting one of her more colorful and dynamic costumes instead. Her lackluster costume inMadame Webwas disappointing, especially given that Aña Corazón isa beloved character with a lot of potential for visual flair. Instead, the heavy reliance on dark and metallic silver tones is hard to discern in the flashforwards and lacks any sense of wonder.
4Cassandra Webb AKA Madame Web
Played by Dakota Johnson
It’s no secret that Cassandra Webb fromMadame Webdiffered from her comic book counterpart, receiving an origin story that was never really depicted in the comic books. The brief glimpse audiences were proffered of her full Madame Web costume was no different. Madame Web’s costumedeparts significantly from her classic comic book appearance. Madame Web first appeared inThe Amazing Spider-Man#210 (1980). Unlike most Spider-Man-related characters, Madame Web is not a traditional superhero. An elderly, blind clairvoyant, she’s often depicted in a spider-themed chair that doubles as her life-support system.
Madame Web’s costume is more of an elegant ensemble than an action-ready suit, often featuring shades of white, gray, and dark red. Her presence isdefined by a mystic, wise, and almost regal air, with her eyewear being a standout feature that signifies her blindness and psychic abilities. The rendition inMadame Webis certainly bold but lacks the sophistication and mysticism that her character demands. Rather than the elegance and mystery she typically exudes in the comics, her movie costume feels more like a generic superhero outfit.
The bright red, while striking, doesn’t quite fit with Madame Web’s more subtle, psychic-driven persona. Perhaps most glaringly, her oversized, exaggerated glasses look borderline absurd. While her glasses in the comics serve as a symbol of her blindness, the movie takes this feature too far, making themappear comical and out of place rather than integral to her character design. The overall aesthetic of the costume misses the opportunity to blend Madame Web’s mystical powers with a sense of grace and wisdom.
That said, the costume does have some redeeming qualities. It’s visually distinct, and the filmmakers did attempt to give Madame Web a more youthful interpretation. The intricate webbing pattern on her dress is actually very attractive, but it’s ablink-and-you’ll-miss-it feature obscured by fuzzy focus. Ultimately, the design ultimately feels disconnected from the ethereal qualities that make Madame Web so iconic.
3Martha ‘Mattie’ Franklin AKA Spider-Woman
Played By Celeste O’Connor
Martha “Mattie” Franklin is one of the lesser-known Spider-Women in the comics, first appearing inThe Amazing Spider-Man#441 (1998). After gaining powers from the “Gathering of the Five” ritual, Mattie took on the Spider-Woman mantle. Her comic book suit is characterized by a black bodysuit with red and blue accents and prominent spider symbols. Notably, Mattie’s Spider-Woman suit is sometimes depicted withmechanical spider-like arms reminiscent of the Iron Spider suitworn by Peter Parker.
InMadame Web, Mattie Franklin’s suit was a marked deviation from her comic book roots. The design had a much more retro, colorful vibe complete with an impressive afro. The result is a charming 1970s tone that recalls disco fashion. While this may be a little too playful for the comic book Mattie, it isperfect for the oft-forgotten original Spider-Woman. Known as Valerie the Librarian,the original Spider-Woman, introduced in 1974, was an African-American woman who sported a vibrant suit and a large afro.
As such, Mattie’s Spider-Woman fromMadame Webcombines elements from these two comic characters. The resultant costume benefits from the bold color scheme and the overall design has a visually pleasing charm. The inclusion of theIron-Spider arms is an especially thrilling feature, despite the gray redesign. It doesn’t feel as generic or uninspired as some of the other costumes inMadame Web.
2Julia Carpenter AKA Spider-Woman
Played By Sydney Sweeney
Julia Carpenter is one of the more recognizable Spider-Women, introduced inSecret Wars#6 (1984). Her costume is distinct and memorable, often featuring a black suit with white spider web motifs, which is visually verysimilar to Peter Parker’s black symbiote suit. Julia’s version of the Spider-Woman suit is sleek and streamlined, designed for agility and quick combat. It’s one of the most iconic Spider-themed designs, largely due to its simplicity and stark color contrast.
InMadame Web, Julia Carpenter’s costume is one of the more faithful adaptations from page to screen. The black-and-white design is effectively translated, retaining the sharp, clean lines and bold contrast in the spider motif thatmade her comic book costume effective. The mask design is particularly well-done, with distinctive eyeholes that mirror the comic book appearance.
What makes this costume work so well is its adherence to the source material while still feeling modern and functional. The black and white suit strikes aperfect balance between simplicity and visual impact, and Julia’s movements in the suit feel fluid and agile, just as one would expect from a Spider-Woman. Moreover, this suit fits perfectly into the slightly grounded and relatively realistic tone established in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. This allowed for a faithful reconstruction that still adapted well to the moving image.
1Ezekiel Sims
Played By Tahar Rahim
The best Spider-character costume inMadame Webbelonged to the villain Ezekiel Sims, despite diverging even further from the source material.Madame Web’s Ezekiel Simsis a fascinating character introduced inThe Amazing Spider-Man#30 (2001). He is a wealthy businessman who gained spider-powers through mystical means but uses them for different purposes. Ezekiel’s role in the comics is complex,often serving as both an ally and an antagonistto Peter Parker.
Ezekiel Sims’ costume in the comics is not as iconic or well-defined as some of the other Spider-Man-related characters, but he usually sports smart, almost business-like attire with hints of spider motifs. However, inMadame Web,Sims receives his own Spider-themed costume, which shows the terrifying potential of Spider-Man. Ezekiel’s redesign gave him a muted blue suit with red details and haunting black eyes.
The slightly raised piping gives Sims the appearance of an evil counterpart to Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man from Sam Raimi’sSpider-Mantrilogy. This is perfect for theMadame Webvillain, whoserves as a sinister reflection on the protagonists and their heroic futures. Indeed, Ezekiel’s costume leans into a creepier interpretation of the spider theme, with sharper lines, darker tones, and an overall gloomier design that exudes power and mystery.
This interpretation of the character feels the most well-thought-out. It simultaneously honors his ties to Spider-Man while differentiating him as aunique and formidable presencein the film. His costume, with its subtle spidery elements and stylish design, makes Ezekiel the best-dressed character inMadame Web, effortlessly blending style, power, and menace.
Madame Web
Cast
Madame Web is a superhero movie based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. Taking place in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, the movie revolves around a clairvoyant woman who can look into different dimensions. Dakota Johnson stars in the lead role, with Sydney Sweeney, Adam Scott, Isabela Merced, and Celeste O’Connor comprising the rest of the cast.
