Arachne

**Arachne** is anti-hero who appears in both versions of ***Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark***. In version 1.0, she is the leading female role, and the main antagonist of Act II, however, in version 2.0, her role is greatly reduced.

## History

### Version 1.0

Arachne was a young girl born during the Bronze Age, during the time of Gods. She became famous among humans for the tapestry she wove. She bragged her weaving was better than the Gods. Athena was angered by this, and challenged Arachne to a weaving contest. Arachne won, and in doing so, mocked the Gods. An enraged Athena tore up Arachne's art. Feeling she had wasted her artistic talents, Arachne hanged herself. Athena, taking pity on her, transformed her into the world's first spider for eternity. Arachne was forced to reside in the Astral Plane forever. While writing "the ultimate comic book", Miss Arrow suggested to the Geek Chorus that Arachne be in their story, as she was "the world's first spider". In 2010, Peter Parker did a research project on Arachne for his high school. Flattered, Arachne summoned a spider in Norman Osborn's lab to grant Parker the powers of a spider. On a high school field trip to the lab, the spider bit Parker. Parker gained enhanced strength, the ability to shoot webs from his veins, and the power to cling to walls. Parker initially used his powers for selfish deeds, winning a wrestling match against Bonesaw McGraw to get enough money to buy a car. however, after Parker's uncle and guardian, Ben Parker was killed while Peter was away, Parker felt responsible. Arachne visited Parker in his dreams, and inspired him to use his powers for the greater good, giving him a costume to wear. Arachne watched over Parker as he took on the superhero alter ego of Spider-Man, and eventually viewed him as her salvation. In his dreams, Arachne invited Parker to the Astral Plane so that the two could be together and get married. However, after Parker gave up his super powers to be with the love of his life, Mary Jane Watson, Arachne grew angry. Wanting Parker for herself, she created illusions of past deceased villains Spider-Man had defeated from the Sinister Six, including Electro, the Lizard, Carnage, Swiss Miss, Swarm, Kraven the Hunter and the thought dead Green Goblin. Arachne's illusions made it appear they were destroying the world, and causing a worldwide power outage in an attempt to get Spider-Man to return. Miss Arrow declared Arachne to be Spider-Man's greatest enemy, one he couldn't defeat. Arachne's Furies then took control of the story over from the Geek Chorus. Her plan to bring back Spider-Man failed, so she summoned her Furies to loot fifty shoe stores in New York City, to attract Peter. The plan failed again. Arachne became deeply furious when Parker was engaged to Watson, as she wished for him to become her husband in the Astral Plane. She invaded Parker's dreams, making him dream she was marrying Spider-Man. She then stormed to the Daily Bugle and blackmailed publisher J. Jonah Jameson into writing positive press about the hero, encouraging him to return. Robbie Robertson agreed. She had her Furies web Jameson to a chair, and created visions of the Sinister Six kidnapping Watson. Her plan worked, as Parker returned to become Spider-Man once more. Arachne made it seem as though the city was burning down, and that the Green Goblin was throwing Watson off of a bridge. Powerless, a helpless Spider-Man leaped to his death, however Arachne saved him. Arachne revealed the whole night had been a dream, and that Parker had to accept his gift and be with her. Arachne had kidnapped Watson, planning to suffocate her in a webbed cocoon. Arachne planned to release her if Parker agreed to be her husband in the Astral Plane, or killed her, as she was unable to do so herself. Parker fought Arachne to the death, and regained his powers in doing so. Arachne surrendered and asked Parker to kill her, however, Parker refused. Instead, he agreed to be with Arachne forever, if she let Watson live. A shocked Arachne instead decided to free both, as she too knew the agony of a life of isolation and misery. A touched Parker kissed her on her cheek. Realizing her own humanity, she was freed from her curse, and ascended into the skies on the same noose she hanged herself on.

### Version 2.0

This version of Arachne had a similar backstory but remained Parker's mentor throughout his journey. When Parker feared the Green Goblin would kill his family, Arachne comforted him, and told him he had a responsibility to continue being Spider-Man.

## Powers and abilities

Arachne can weave incredible webs, and make art so identical to real life, it can come to life and appear as an illusion to the world. Her webs are made of strong silk and can imprison any enemy in her path. She has the ability to control the Furies, a group of spiders with similar abilities to her.

## Trivia

-Arachne was an original invention of director Julie Taymor, but was based on Greek mythology. Taymor came up with the idea after reading the first page of the comic *Ultimate Spider-Man #1* which mentioned the original Arachne myth on page 1. Reportedly, the possibility of exploring Arachne's story was what led to Taymor agreeing to direct ''Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark'' in the first place.
-Part of what led to Taymor's dismissal from the production was her objection to reducing Arachne's role in the show. Producers had requested Taymor put more effort into expanding the Green Goblin's role in the show, as the original version received negative reviews, with most of the criticism levied at the Arachne storyline in Act II, which many critics found confusing.
-Arachne has no relation to Julie Carpenter, the second Spider-Woman from the Marvel comics, who took the name "Arachne" at one point.
-Arachne in the original version of the show was inspired by Madame Web, a character from the Spider-Man comics bound to another dimension that would occasionally provide him with wisdom and spiritual assistance in combating his enemies, and Shathra, a Spider-Woman from the Astral Plane that wanted to mate with Peter Parker in the comic books.
-Natalie Mendoza, the original actress who played Arachne in the show, left temporarily and was replaced by understudy America Olivia for weeks, after she was hit in the head with a piece of hardware from the show, causing a concussion. Mendoza briefly returned until fellow cast member Christopher Tierney was injured, leading her to exit the production entirely before the show officially opened. T.V. Carpio, who originally played Ms. Arrow in the play, took Mendoza's place.