  the tarantula is the name of two fictional comic book characters owned by dc comics that exist in that company's dc universe. ==john law== the original tarantula was a character prominent in the 1940s named john law. he first appeared in star-spangled comics #1 (october 1941). in his initial golden age appearances he wore a yellow-and-purple costume that bore strong resemblance to wesley dodds' second sandman costume. this was later explained in a retcon in the pages of all-star squadron as coming from dodds' associate, dian belmont. ===fictional character biography=== tarantula was inspired to be a mystery man by the crimson avenger in the days when america entered world war ii. the tarantula possessed no super-abilities, but relied on several gimmicks and his quick wits. he was trained in hand-to-hand combat, as well as some acrobatics, and had a passing interest in stage make-up and stage magic. he used suction cups attached to the soles on his boots to allow him to walk up walls and hang from ceilings. he used a "web-gun" (despite the fact tarantulas don't spin webs) which fired a string of fast-hardening nylon that was used to swing from one anchored point to another. he was even called a "spider man," decades before the "other" spider-man made his debut.all-star squadron #18 (february 1983), citing star-spangled comics #1 (october 1941). referring to how tarantula mentioned being called "spider man" by radio announcers whilst he is clinging to a ceiling upside down, editor len wein states in a footnote, "...and yes, a radio announcer did actually call him 'spider man'. would we lie to you?" he was a member of the all-star squadron before retiring to become a writer. he had a best selling novel, altered egos: the mystery men of world war ii, published sometime in the 1970s. he went on to write many other novels, but none as successful as altered egos. in his later years, law lived in the city of blÃ¼dhaven, in the same building as dick grayson, known to some as the v
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