EARTH-7840 (EARTH-THE SPIDER HAD BEEN BITTEN BY A RADIOACTIVE HUMAN)

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Type: Alternate Earth

Environment: Earth-like

Usual means of access: Presumably vibrational attunement

Dominant Life Form: Anthropomorphic humanoids, "human beans"

Significant Inhabitants: "Baxter Bigrhino," the Bionic Bull-Frog, Bog Dog, Trash Chompson, Culture Vulture, Electro-Eel, Fish-Terio, the Green Gobbler, Miss Grunt, the Incredible Hog, J. Jonah Jackass, King-Pig, Leapin' Lizard, Liz, Man-Spider, Marvin the Hunter, Mister Potato-Haid, "Octo" Doctorpuss the Cat o' Nine Tails, Porkius the Living Ham-Pire, Raze the Bug-Spray Baron, Rude Rhino, the Schlocker, "Eric Schwinner," the Stinger, Barbara Walrus, "Raymond Waterfowl," Bug Weaver, Mayfly Weaver, Weevil McEvil

First Appearance: What If? I#8 (April, 1978)

History: (What If? I#8/2) - Mild-mannered spider Webster Weaver excelled at science at Aboutknee High and was often bullied by a fellow student named Trash. After being thrown out of the Daily Beagle by J. Jonah Jackass, Webster decided to immerse himself in science, visiting a lecture being given in Hugeville. Unfortunately, the radioactive shielding failed during the lecture, irradiating the scientist lecturer, who ran into the tiny Webster, accidentally knocking Webster into his mouth where he bit down. Returning home, Webster was nearly run over by a car, causing Webster to instinctively leap onto a wall. He soon realized that he had been endowed with the power of a "human bean." Deciding to use his powers responsibly, Webster created the costumed identity of the Man-Spider. Noticing that all of his natural spider abilities had been amplified, Man-Spider soon became a television sensation on WEBB. One day as Man-Spider was leaving the studio, a crook ran past him and the police officer yelled for Man-Spider to stop him but "Manny" just let the crook pass, claiming that it was the police officer's job to stop crooks. The officer then explained that the crook had just robbed and killed Webster's uncle Bug, teaching Man-Spider a lesson about responsibility. Man-Spider then vowed to never again shirk his duties and he soon became an accomplished superhero, battling such foes as the Culture Vulture, the Rude Rhino, the Green Gobbler, Marvin the Hunter, "Octo" Doctorpuss the Cat o' Nine Tails, the Leapin' Lizard, King-Pig, and the Bog Dog. It wasn't long before Barbara Walrus reported on a villain demanding $1, 000, 000, 000 within 24 hours or he would destroy the atmosphere. Tracking the villain down, Man-Spider discovered that it was Raze the Bug-Spray Baron. Realizing that the Baron was the one who had killed his uncle Bug, Man-Spider escaped the Baron's bomb only to watch it destroy the Baron himself. Man-Spider then took his leave, claiming that he now had the most horrible menace of all: his aunt Mayfly's Chicken-Pox Soup.

Comments: Created by Scott Shaw.

This reality was an alternate reality, as many of Earth-616's characters were humanoid animals. More to the point, we know what happened to the spider in 616. - Loki

Given that the story came out in 1978, Webster's mention of the Bionic Bull-Frog is probably a reference to his world's version of the Six Million Dollar Man TV show. - Loki

Profile by Proto-Man.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Dimension name has no known connections to


Bog Dog

Bog Dog was a villain that Man-Spider fought early in his career as a hero.

Bog Dog was composed of and could manipulate sand, like his Earth-616 counterpart: Sandman.

I wonder if his civilian identity is Flint Barko? - Loki

--What If? I#8/2


Trash Chompson

Trash Chompson was a local bully at Aboutknee High who picked on Webster Weaver, despite pleas from fellow student Liz.

Trash's Earth-616 counterpart was Flash Thompson.

--What If? I#8/2



Culture Vulture

Culture Vulture was one of the earliest villains that the Man-Spider fought.

Culture Vulture had wings capable of flight, similar to the artificial wings owned by his Earth-616 counterpart: the Vulture.

--What If? I#8/2




Electro-Eel

Electro-Eel was one of the many recurring villains of the Man-Spider.

He presumably could project electricity, like his Earth-616 counterpart: Electro.

--What If? I#8/2





Fish-Terio

Fish-Terio was yet another villain in the Man-Spider's rogues gallery.

It was unknown if Fish-Terio used any illusion-based gimmicks, like his Earth-616 counterpart: Mysterio.

--What If? I#8/2






Green Gobbler

The Green Gobbler was one of the many foes that Man-Spider fought following the death of his Uncle Bug.

The Green Gobbler had wings, unlike his Earth-616 counterpart: The Green Goblin.

--What If? I#8/2






Miss Grunt

Miss Grunt was the secretary to Webster Weaver's boss, J. Jonah Jackass. When Webster tried to sell Jonah photos, Jonah had Miss Grunt throw him out.

Miss Grunt's Earth-616 counterpart was Betty Brant.

--What If? I#8/2



The Incredible Hog

The Incredible Hog was one of the many villains faced by Man-Spider.

He presumably had superhuman strength that increased at his got angry and superhuman durability, like his Earth-616 counterpart: the Incredible Hulk.

--What If? I#8/2

Scott Shaw later reused the "Incredible Hog" gag for DC's Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew.



J. Jonah Jackass

J. Jonah Jackass was the head of the Daily Beagle newspaper in which Webster Weaver often tried to sell photos.

J. Jonah Jackass was gruff, just like his 616 counterpart: J. Jonah Jameson.

--What If? I#8/2








King-Pig

Following the death of Man-Spider's Uncle Bug, King-Pig was one of the many villains he faced.

He was big and strong, like his 616 counterpart: Kingpin.

--What If? I#8/2









Leapin' Lizard

Leapin' Lizard was another of the villains Man-Spider faced in the time following his Uncle Bug's death.

Leapin' Lizard resembled a giant lizard, just like 616 counterpart: the Lizard.

--What If? I#8/2






Liz

Liz was a student at Aboutknee High and constantly tried to get Trash Chompson to stop bullying Webster Weaver.

Her 616 counterpart was Liz Allen.

--What If? I#8/2



Webster Weaver was a mild-mannered student at Aboutknee High who was often picked on. One day, after being thrown out of the Daily Beagle, Webster visited a science exhibit by humans in Hugeville. While there, the scientist presenting the exhibit on radiation was irradiated and as he tried to run away, he ran right into the hanging Webster, biting his arm. After narrowly avoiding a car on his way home, Webster found that he had been given the powers of a "human bean." Deciding to use his powers as a media celebrity, Webster allowed a criminal to escape a police officer's chase, feeling that it wasn't his job to catch thieves. The officer quickly explained that the crook had just murdered Bug Weaver, Webster's uncle. Learning a harsh lesson, Webster became a superhero called the Man-Spider, fighting numerous exotic villains until coming face-to-face with his uncle's killer, Raze the Bug-Spray Baron. Raze easily captured the novice hero before tossing a bomb into the bug-spray filled room holding Man-Spider captive. The bomb ignited the spray, causing an explosion that cost Raze his life, with Man-Spider narrowly escaping. He then returned home, dreading having to now face his worst enemy ever: his aunt Mayfly's Chicken-Pox Soup.

As a spider, Webster Weaver had eight appendages, could generate webbing, and adhere to solid surfaces. He could sense when danger was nearby. After being bitten by a "human bean," Webster gained super-spider strength and agility, like his 616 counterpart: Spider-Man.

He's also a counterpart to Earth-84632's George the Spider. - Loki

--What If? I#8/2


Marvin the Hunter

Marvin the Hunter was one of the earliest foes that Man-Spider fought.

He presumably had enhanced physical attributes, like his 616 counterpart: Kraven the Hunter.

An side effect of making Kraven's counterpart a lion that the writer probably didn't consider is that because he is still wearing a vest made out of a lion-skin, he's now wearing clothes made out of the remains of one of his own species. - Loki

--What If? I#8/2








Mister Potato-Haid, the Spud of 1, 000 Faces

Mister Potato-Haid was one of the many exotic villains that battled Man-Spider early in his career as a superhero.

Mister Potato-Haid was a master of disguise, like his 616 counterpart: Chameleon.

--What If? I#8/2





"Octo" Doctorpuss, the Cat o' Nine Tails

"Octo" Doctorpuss was one of the early villains fought by Man-Spider after his Uncle Bug's death.

"Octo" Doctorpuss had nine metallic tails, similar to the metallic tentacles owned by his 616 counterpart: Doctor Octopus.

--What If? I#8/2



Porkius the Living Ham-Pire

Porkius was one of the more exotic villains in Man-Spider's rogues gallery.

He presumably had same vampiric powers of his 616 counterpart: Morbius the Living Vampire.

--What If? I#8/2






Raze the Bug-Spray Baron

Raze the Bug-Spray Baron was a crook who, after killing Bug Weaver, tried to escape the police. While escaping, he ran past Man-Spider, who let the crook get away. After discovering that the crook had murdered his uncle, Man-Spider became a superhero, fighting many exotic villains before confronting Raze himself. Soon learning that Raze was the same crook he had let get away, Man-Spider escaped Raze's headquarters just as Raze threw a bomb into the bug-spray filled room, causing an explosion that cost Raze his life.

Raze could emit bug-spray from the top of his costume, if it was indeed a costume. He also carried bombs in case the need arose.

--What If? I#8/2 (#8/2d,



Rude Rhino

The Rude Rhino was another early villain in Man-Spider's heroic career.

He presumably had the same enhanced physical attributes that his 616 counterpart, Rhino, had.

--What If? I#8/2



The Schlocker

The Schlocker was another foe of Man-Spider.

It was unknown if he possessed the vibration-generating gauntlets of his 616 counterpart: the Shocker.

--What If? I#8/2






The Stinger

Stinger was yet another foe in Man-Spider's rogues gallery. He apparently was an avid smoker.

It was unrevealed if the Stinger had enhanced physical attributes and a scorpion-like costume, like the one worn by his 616 counterpart: the Scorpion.

--What If? I#8/2



Barbara Walrus

Barbara Walrus was a known television personality who announced Raze's demands to the world when Raze tried to destroy the atmosphere.

Barbara Walrus was this reality's version of the real-life television personality, Barbara Walters.

--What If? I#8/2 (seen only on a TV screen)







Bug Weaver

Bug Weaver was Webster Weaver's well-meaning uncle who was killed by Raze the Bug-Spray Baron.

His 616 counterpart was Ben Parker.

--What If? I#8/2 (#8/2d,





Mayfly Weaver

Mayfly Weaver was Webster's well-meaning aunt who often served Webster her infamous Chicken-Pox Soup, much to Webster's dismay.

Her 616 counterpart was May Parker.

--What If? I#8/2



Weevil McEvil

Weevil McEvil was another of Man-Spider's villains.

He wore a suit of armor, like his 616 counterpart: the Beetle.

--What If? I#8/2





"Raymond Waterfowl"

An unidentified anthropomorphic duck was one of Webster's teachers at Aboutknee High.

Comparing the panel he is in with the matching one from Amazing Fantasy#15, he's a counterpart to Raymond Warren. Raymond Waterfowl, maybe?

--What If? I#8/2





"Eric Schwinner"

One of the few "human beans" Webster Weaver interacted with, an unidentified scientist carried out a radiation experiment, accidentally got bombarded by radiation, and while driven berserk as a result he bit Webster, endowing the arachnid with superpowers.

Comparing the panel he is in with the matching one from Amazing Fantasy#15, he's a counterpart to Eric Schwinner, though he's got the beard and haircut of underground comix character Fat Freddy Freekowtski of the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers.

--What If? I#8/2





"Baxter Bigrhino"

An unidentified police officer was pursuing a criminal (Raze) and shouted at Man-Spider to stop the fleeing villain. When Man-Spider chose not to because he didn't want to get involved, the officer berated him and revealed the crook had just murdered Uncle Bug. 

Comparing the panel he is in with the matching one from Amazing Fantasy#15, he's a counterpart to Baxter Bigelow, though he also fills the role of Officer Bernard O'Brien in that he informs Man-Spider about Uncle Bug's murder. Baxter Bigrhino, maybe?

--What If? I#8/2





images:
What If? I#8, p37, pan2 ('Mazing Man-Spider#1, main pic)
  p38, pan1 (Bug & Mayfly Weaver)
  p38, pan3 (Trash Chompson & Liz)
  p38, pan4 (Miss Grunt)
  p43, splash page (Culture Vulture, Rude Rhino, Green Gobbler, King-Pig, Bog Dog, Leapin' Lizard, "Octo" Doctorpuss, & Marvin the Hunter)
  p44, pan1 (Incredible Hog, Stinger, Fish-Terio, Weevil McEvil, Schlocker, Electro-Eel, Porkius, & Mr. Potato-Haid)
  p44, pan2 (Barbara Walrus)
  p44, pan3 (J. Jonah Jackass)
  p44, pan4 (Man-Spider)
  p37, pan5 (Webster)
  p45, pan5 (Raze)
  p38, pan2 (Raymond Waterfowl)
  p38, pan8 (Eric Schwinner)
  p40, pan4 (Baxter Bigrhino)


Other Appearances:
What If? I#8 (April, 1978) - "What if the Spider Had Been Bitten by a Radioactive Human?" - Scott Shaw (writer, artist)


Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

First Posted: 09/11/2007
Last updated: 04/14/2023

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