Was The Original Spider-Man… A Woman?

[@austinmcconnell]

THE SPIDER-QUEEN is out NOW in paperback and eBook! bit.ly/SpiderQueenBook

[@blackjacklover99]

I really like it when you talk about the Public Domain. You should make more videos like that Batman one. About what you will and won't be able to use. When other popular characters enter public use. And what crazy things were in there earlier stories that have been forgotten. I’m particularly interested in public domain Superman and Wonder Woman.

[@mariestarlight]

Hey Austin, I have vhsrips of the original 13 episodes of that 60's spiderman show from your previous episode. If you have any interest, I can make them available for you.

[@emilysanchez4584]

I think it would be cool if someone turned your book into a graphic novel. Maybe one day

[@comlitbeta7532]

An audio book version (maybe with your voice) on the horizon?

[@jamesplayzreviews]

If say the BBCU gets that far are we still getting a movie?

[@colonelweird]

Austin is the only youtuber who can release an extended ad read disguised as a video, and somehow make it completely worthwhile.

[@LavaCreeperPeople]

ok

[@real.sugarcone]

Nick Robinson does a pretty good job

[@Labyrinth6000]

Wendover productions does the same thing

[@FrankYammy]

Probably not the only one

[@Cjaj2]

ok, but the dynamic between Michael and Shannon could be so cute. Like sweet but dumb detective boyfriend secretly being helped by his girl boss superhero girlfriend

[@exilestudios9546]

its a classic himbo/girlboss story which is something modern media seems averse to.

[@maybehesbornwithitmaybeits9318]

​@@exilestudios9546 you're being sarcastic right?

[@DickDarkie]

It's the feminine aspect of spider queen that they are adverse to... A strong woman is never plain Jane ms Kane

[@BewareTheLilyOfTheValley]

That third story was actually pretty damn dark and seriously would've been the highlight of the series as a sticking point. It would've been better if she'd cancelled the date, guilt affecting her deeply at her neighbor being killed because she "assumed" the police would get there in time to get The Noose, and that assumption leading to him breaking free. I'll have to check out your version, but if you kept that scene in (if you're allowed to use the story that was given and not just the character), I hope you took it in a better direction than her being more concerned about a damn date than the death of an innocent person 😅

[@ArnLPs]

Honestly a pretty good story. I'm actually invested in The Spider Queens adventures.

[@MezTZO]

In comics, The Spider Queen came first. But if you want to include pulp novels, I think the first spider-themed costumed crimefighter was The Spider, who first appeared in 1933.

[@pilot-kfteamate5599]

I really admire your effort reworking these lost superheroes. It's a inspiration to any creative person

[@VelvetVexations]

Austin, I don't think anyone quite combines sincerity with industrious hustle the way you do. You're such a sweet, easy-going guy who genuinely cares about things, while at the same time always leaning into a new money-making venture, or tapping into what's been successful before that you're also able to get excited about yourself. Honestly, it's kind of rad, I respect you a lot.

[@Nkanyiso_K]

Did not except the book to be out already. This project has been so huge and I’m glad to be apart of it in my own small way

[@richardjao748]

So she loses her husband initially which sets off her origin story, and then her neighbor dies in her place to further motivate her heroism? Sounds like a "canon event" to me! She'd fit right into the Spider Society! Wonder if Miguel already has her number...

[@NotTheRealMiguelington]

Ik im 3 months late to this comment but ur honestly on to something. Also not all spider people got bit by a spider. What’s a canon event is getting spider powers so she could honestly be apart of the spider society!

[@AmaruArriola]

Canon events are dumb

[@AlbioLakes]

She even fits the canon event requirement.

[@Jacobflamecaster]

The spider queen is cool little bit of history I’m glad more people are talking about

[@nickperoncomedy]

Actually, the first Spider-Man was the pulp hero known as the Spider. That's kinda who Stan Lee drew inspiration from. To correct you, Spider Queen fought the Invaders not the Avengers. In fact, Invaders vol 2 (which has the Spider Queen) used public domain characters for all the baddies. Writer Roy Thomas was big on the comics he grew up with in the 40s, hence all the PD characters in that mini-series. The only character that Marvel has really used from those characters is Doctor Nemesis, who has a pretty wild history of Public Domain stories that you should 100% check out.

[@MlorenDraymeer]

She fought the Avengers in Avengers 1959 Vol 1 #5

[@afwalker1921]

The radioactive spider bite comes from a film released a year before the first Marvel appearance of Spiderman, a German/Croatian atrocity called alternately "Horror of Spider Island" or "It's Hot in Paradise" (original title, "Ein Toter hangt im Netz"). A group of exotic dancers are stranded on an island in the South Pacific where the US has been testing A-bombs. A radioactive spider bites the group's manager, who turns into a spider-man. He fails to appreciate the crime-fighting applications of his newfound spidey powers, instead using them to chase chunky, half-clad Italian strippers until he drowns in radioactive mud. Stan Lee made out like a bandit, and I have long wondered what he was watching with his Army buddies in the year before his great work was revealed... bah!

[@SirAsdf]

It's weird how kinda revolutionary this comic was for the time just by having a strong, intelligent female lead and the male love interest being the ditzy idiot who needs to be saved all the time

[@safe-keeper1042]

It truly deserved more attention.

[@НяшкаОртодокс]

if it came out today it'd be probably accused of being 'woke'

[@sird2333]

The first woke feminazi comic!

[@jamelbunny5732]

​@@НяшкаОртодоксif they make her flawless or a Mary sue. Then yes.

[@be_couragous]

**me remembering that one time I accidentally stumbled across Austin’s channel** **me who’s watched nearly every video now**

[@rafaeldasilva6247]

I had a hunch that a) she would be in public domain and b) you would've taken a shot at a new version 🙂 I sincerely hope initiatives like yours become more common and popular, because that would be a cool alternative to the corporate copyright singularity that has dominated popular entertainment in the last two decades. Not only everything is a damn franchise, they are now remakes of themselves!

[@gracekim25]

Most likely is public domain but I’m not certain

[@bostonrailfan2427]

she is, it’s why Marvel hasn’t user her much at all since using her 30 years ago

[@christianpain7380]

​@@bostonrailfan2427 don't they already have spider woman and spider gwen and silk

[@bostonrailfan2427]

@@christianpain7380 they all came after

[@Dalton_Boardman2000]

I want her to cameo in Beyond The Spider-Verse "Maybe with a line like "I'm not supposed to be here but it just felt appropriate."

[@richardjao748]

She lost her husband which kickstarts her origin story, and then she causes her next-door neighbor's death due to mistaken identity. I dunno...that sounds like a "canon event" to me. She'd fit right in!

[@reviewman]

The venom analog in the spider Queen should be named Widow!

[@attakrus]

I feel like Michael and Shannon could be rivals in solving crimes but also very close friends as time goes one. Whether or whether not they would be romantically involved with each other is up for speculation.

[@jackservans6906]

If you're wondering, Mike O'Bell does feature in a minor role during the events of Austin's Spider Queen novel, though the Noose is absent for this adventure. British Agent 99 also featured, which is interesting - one of 99's major comic team-ups was with the Black Cat, another rare public domain superheroine.

[@Albino_Basilisk]

Her partnership/relationship with that detective actually reminds me more of early spider-woman, rather than spider-man

[@more17]

Dude, I'm excited to see what you do with your upcoming new universe! You've got a really cool concept and Spider Queen is one of the characters I'm most excited to see your take on.

[@julianhermanubis6800]

Stan Lee said that the main inspiration for Spider-Man was pulp magazine antihero, the Spider. One of this pulp character's gadgets was a super-strong silk thread he used to climb buildings. Lee had read the pulp magazines back in the 1930s, while he was still a boy.

[@nandorvirag7134]

This is the biggest achievement of Harry Kane, retires from soccer and becomes a scientist

[@freak926]

Dangit Austin I am thoroughly upset with you. You created a great book that I enjoyed and now I want a sequel but I have to wait. Thank you for this. (I really am grateful, it was a good read and I am excited for what's coming next!)

[@austinmcconnell]

Heyy! Thanks so much for the support. For sure, I'll write more if there's enough audience interest. Feel free to leave a review on the purchase page, and maybe share the book with others if you have the chance. Hope you're doing well. Take care!

[@ArnLPs]

I looked up the author and found some more cool superheros this guy wrote. One of them seems very similar to Captain America and another to Doctor Strange. Feels like this guy was kinda robbed. Louis Cazeneuve

[@alarin612]

Finished the book. It's fantastic - brought me to tears at times. Great climax - had me cheering. Looking forward to more adventures with the Spider Queen! Really hoping you'll put more of them together.

[@ripleyfry2107]

Could actually work really well if she was brought back to media, almost exactly "as is"

[@davidmcmahon4633]

A better known spider themed hero would be the Tarantula from DC. Also, you should do a comparison of the Fox from MLJ and our more famous webswinger. Amazing how much they have in common secret ID-wise.

[@YoMamaBih]

That's an awesome conclusion to a video like this. Well done. It blows my mind that I never knew this. I would love to see the Madam Webb as an aged Spider Queen in a future iteration of SpiderMan

[@TheBPDL]

Theres also Tarantula from DC before Marvel's spiderman. Theres 2 Tarantulas in DC, the og is John Law a superhero on the all star squadron and the second is an antihero named Catalina Flores who is very violent in her attempts to protect bludhaven

[@nted292]

spider queen has to become something greater

[@DollarEuro_]

Nobody talking about the doctor being called Harry Kane

[@karabowdit2817]

frame 1 purchased the book. So psyched to see what you & Elizabeth came up with for her!

[@DrFatesOrder]

Awesome! Can’t wait to read your edition of this character!

[@dehydratedwater9806]

Lol that scream at 4:57 made my day

[@aliminator1310]

I'd love to see her in Spider-Verse!

[@VaibhavShewale]

RIP Spider Queen, Marvel did dirty with her story of turning her to a villian

[@BenjaminRegen]

I love these, I can't get enough of McConnell's Heroes

[@Flamuski]

spider go swoosh

[@jayguero2123]

I believe Owen Likes Comics covered this first. In that same video, he spoke of a Halloween costume with a Spider theme that came out before AF15 and very likely inspired Steve Ditko the general design for Spider-Man. If memory serves right, Ditko also cheekily replied to the allegation in a letter.

[@Majiu_]

I like to think that Peter Parker got his idea for the Web-shooters via this comic strip, I mean, 616 Spidey DOES live in this era, right? So what if he got the idea to make the Web-Shooters from the Spider-Queen? (Obviously head-canon lol)

[@proboffensive]

i don't know what the printing technique was when the spider queen was first released but damn, i spent the entire video admiring the textures

[@gamesdisk]

so would the spider-queen be public domain now then?

[@austinmcconnell]

Watch the video and find out! :)

[@Somebodyherefornow]

yes

[@ONEPEAKFRFR]

Soon the greatest cinematic universe will be born

[@3113mac]

Bought the book. It was a fun little read, reminds me of the adventure books I used read in school

[@jankowalsk767]

Okay, so there was a Web-slingin, wall-walkin spider-queen lady, but i wouldn’t cały it „origin” of spider-man, an inspiration for sure, but an origin? Spider-man has similar powers, true, but Marvel made for example: his backstory, his name, his reasons, his siut, ect, ect.

[@randominternetweirdo5479]

No mention of Jessica Drew, who I think got a few similarities to this Queen. Spider.. Queen... Adriana 'Ana' Soria, the kisser who made Peter a spider pregnant with himself.. and gave him organic webshooters that were retconned just like that with the deal.

[@gracekim25]

She does?

[@aaronharris1092]

Spiderverse 3 owes her an homage.

[@bigkebizino8970]

I really like her character, cant wait to see you do her justice

[@exilestudios9546]

just bought the paperback version, cant wait to read it when it arrives!

[@austinmcconnell]

Excellent. I really appreciate you supporting the project. Feel free to leave a review afterward on the purchase page, if so inclined. Take care!

[@jankarieben1071]

I was on the fence up till you introduced your “Spider Queen” novel, subscribed. ❤

[@austinmcconnell]

Aw... thanks!

[@heatblaze123]

It should be noted that wrist mounted web shooters for Spider-Man was Steve Ditko's idea.

[@BowtieFlumph]

I have a book about obscure comic characters and she's one of my favorites! Glad she's part of your universe now

[@RealmMan]

Can I mention the "don't bother looking at my face" costume?

[@pendantblade6361]

Austin and old forgotten superheroes, name a better duo

[@juliusbossman7280]

Im getting that novel the first chance I get

[@bmck-8400]

Reminds me a lot like the low budget movie SPARKS from 2013. I enjoyed the film a lot because it was no budget and had real heart.

[@letsgoooo9200]

Gotta love public domain heroes

[@ButlerOfTheC]

Great video!

[@MeryoSkoll]

and also theres a superhero named alias the spider from dc comics too and theres also tarantula from dc , sadly some old super heroes didnt get too famous sadly , i hope your comicbooks get physical versions and get translations in other languages that would be cool

[@novahharold799]

So we're getting the whole lineup

[@austinmcconnell]

All depends on if people really want it. :)

[@zyaicob]

Even her antics are just like Peter's. I was skeptical of the "The ORIGINAL Spider-Man" claim but this is exactly like Petey.

[@PhonyFox_A]

We need to see her in a spiderverse comic/movie bruh

[@austinmcconnell]

Maybe if the video gets big enough, somebody at Sony will see it and make it happen. 😂

[@someguy912]

Nah, the spider by Harry steeger who debuted in the 1930s is the original spider man

[@Ki_Adi_Mundi]

_"The Spider is millionaire playboy Richard Wentworth, who served as a major in World War I, and was living in New York City unaffected by the financial deprivations of the Great Depression. The ninth pulp represents him as the last surviving member of a rich family. Wentworth is easily identified as the Spider by his enemies in a number of earlier novels and is arrested by the police, only to escape. He adopts a cover identity - Tito Caliepi - and associated aliases. The Spider's earliest costume consisted of a simple black domino mask, black hat, and cape. Later in the series, vampire-like makeup appears, which is replaced with a face mask featuring grizzled hair and finally a hunchback. These are added to terrorize the criminal underworld, while the Spider dispenses his brand of violent vigilante justice. Utilizing his talent with a violin, Wentworth, posing as Caliepi, sometimes uses begging as part of his disguise."_ I'm gonna respectfully disagree with you on that point.

[@someguy912]

@@Ki_Adi_Mundi "Notable fans of The Spider include Charles M. Schulz, who confessed that "I could hardly stand to live from one month to another when the new Spider novel would come out." and Stan Lee, who named the character as a major influence on the creation of Spider-Man in the book Origins of Marvel Comics" Stan Lee even admitted it himself. if you're going to paste from Wikipedia, don't leave out the obvious

[@lunarmodule6419]

​@@Ki_Adi_Mundi BY Harry Steeger... Say you're sorry 😊

[@Ki_Adi_Mundi]

@@someguy912 An influence is not the original. The only thing The Spider has in common with Spider-Man is the name Spider and the fact that they fight crime. Spider-Man is the original Spider-Man. If you're going to compare two different characters, don't leave out the obvious.

[@someguy912]

@@Ki_Adi_Mundi No, the spider's costume in his comics was changed to a fit similar to that of spiderman in his movie serials which is something that stan lee borrowed for his title character, spider man. the wikipedia mentioned that but you didn't include it, don't leave out the obvious

[@jamesorth6460]

It could be like wonderwoman mix with spiderman

[@sunchips18]

I bought that book so fast. It’s a shame that they didn’t continue it, because it was starting to get real interesting by the third comic.

[@ContagiousSponge]

Never read the original comic, but U did bought their book

[@sunchips18]

@@ContagiousSponge I hope more people do. Being so early in this whole thing, the fandom is still new, so there aren’t many discussion videos/forums to sink my teeth into, but with the way that this is shaping up, I could really see this turning into something really big in the future.

[@JanetStarChild]

Speaking of Marvel's Spider-Man, the character would have made more sense as a woman. The Costume; large eyes with black eyeliner, and no cape (body is viewed from all angles). The Powers; super flexible, agile, and "sixth sense" (parable to "women's Intuition"). The Motif; Spiders are commonly associated with the 'femme fetal'. I also think Batman's Robin should have originally been a girl. The classic costume would certainly better suit her.

[@I_am-cool]

Bully maguire rules

[@DeadManTalking.]

I remember hearing about her in thepandaredd vids

[@multiverseofmednes6352]

I have an idea for a sinimatic universe using Public Domain Kaiju.

[@darthGOLDAR]

I love Spider🕸Queen.

[@thecuriositas385]

Justice for Shannon

[@iancruz6617]

Now I think about it besides her character was the first to have the web shooter. But she has no powers of a spider. So she basically human.that can swing a bit so any fast pace web shooting like spider-man could make any ordinary human loose there bone connection if so

[@DarthJeter888]

Maybe one day you should add a other hero to your universe who is also in the public domain, The Fat Fury

[@dinobroofmf]

I wpuld to see Spider-Queen as one of the background Spider-People in beyond the Spider-Verse in a fun way she is the original Spider

[@knightwing5169]

Austin, can you please make a video about public domain superheroine Octobriana?

[@austinmcconnell]

Maybe! Tell me about her.

[@shaunstudios163]

Spider-Queen could of been the beloved Spider-Man we all know

[@elipse371]

Eh, honestly doubt it. There are plenty of factors that make Spider-Man popular that are entirely absent here. No teenage relatability, no job worries, no Aunt May, no high school drama, no Mary Jane, no Flash Thompson, etc. Also, the choice of costume design was likely a big factor in the popularity of Spider-Man. It’s an incredible and iconic design that unintentionally becomes one of the most inclusive choices in a comic series, as anybody could be under that mask, no matter their race, gender, age, or orientation.

[@safe-keeper1042]

Definitely getting the book.

[@erinspbrown]

Interesting I never heard this story before, it sure makes spiderman look at best derivative of this character or at the worst completely stolen ideas from this character

[@bostonrailfan2427]

i’m convinced that Stan Lee never had an original thought in his head, so many of his characters are just ripoffs of preexisting characters like Spider Queen

[@bird5485]

Dude literally every character in any kind of media is basically a ripoff of pre-existing characters. Bat man is literally a rip off of like 5 different characters some of them even bat themd.

[@conradojavier7547]

I wonder whty Charlton never pick up Spider-Queen?

[@rattlestormrepublic4874]

What if she was revealed to be Madam Web?

[@Hyacinth828]

Just read the Spider Queen book you and Elizabeth published! I really enjoyed it, is there another coming?

[@OniBoiXD]

that's great... love the video 🤗

[@Real_Dystopian]

1:23 Tottenham’s mudded then

[@apex2000]

My Gal Spider Queen ... Screw you Peter.

[@KadajCz]

Your reading is actualy beter then reading this old comix.

[@Vaguestofthemxall]

🤓👆🏽64 years later however, Marvel created a supervillain with the exact same name: Spider-Queen. Her name is different though (and is Adriana Soria).

[@Carloshll726]

Perhaps Marvel could revamp or remake The Spider Queen now!!!

[@bird6708]

To be fair, the original SPIDER-WOMAN was also a woman

[@ursidae97]

Well the original Spider-Woman was a man... Which is why it's so cool that the original Spider-Man was a woman

[@conradojavier7547]

Please talk about tge works of Fletcher Hanks.

[@mtmk5]

Just bought the book. I also tweeted to you an awesome idea for a sequel. You're welcome.

[@Nova7o9]

What version gets you more support, the paperback or the digital version? I already bought the paperback but I’ve been wondering about that.

[@austinmcconnell]

I make about 2 bucks per book, either way. Thanks for picking up a copy! Really appreciate it, and I hope you enjoy the story. :)

[@KadeStringer2.0]

Marvel’s version isn’t really canon to me but Austin’s version is more canon .

[@Carloshll726]

Marvel did something wrong with the Spider Queen in 1990s Invaders comic books by having her join the Nazis.

[@ShowNoMarci]

how do you get it as an audiobook

[@austinmcconnell]

The audiobook is still in production. Might be out at the end of the summer.

[@krazykoen6943]

this is radical indeed

[@PabloBD]

what in the world! holy smokes!