Fabian LaMuerto first appeared as a toddler in Amazing Spider-Man #436 in 1998, just six issues before the original series ended. In that story, his father, the Black Tarantula (Carlos LaMuerto) hunted down Mariana Caches, his ex-wife and Fabian’s mother. Carlos wanted to raise Fabian to carry on the family legacy as the next Black Tarantula, just like his own father had done. But Mariana convinced Carlos that his actions were scaring their son. Carlos backed off and left Fabian with her, promising to be patient.

Fast forward to Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider #4 in 2024 and Fabian is all grown up. He meets Gwen Stacy, the Ghost-Spider, at a coffee shop but their meeting is cut short by an out-of-control Chameleon. In the next issue, Fabian is seen with his father, who reveals he hired Chameleon to attack Ghost-Spider. Fabian puts on the Black Tarantula mask for the first time on panel, confirming that his training has begun. As Black Tarantula, he clashes with Ghost-Spider as she attempts to prevent his men from capturing Chameleon. He displays the trademark Agility of the Black Tarantula by dodging her attacks and then Swings away.

In Ghost-Spider #6, Fabian surprises Gwen again at the coffee shop. Clearly smitten, he gives her his number and asks her out on an official coffee date. In a secret ceremony in Black Tarantula’s hideout, Carlos initiates his son into the family legacy, granting Fabian the formula that provides him with the enhanced abilities of the Black Tarantula. At the end of the issue, Gwen returns home to an apartment full of roses—a surprise from the Black Tarantula.

Fabian and his father kidnap a judge they accuse of being corrupt in Ghost-Spider #7. Later, the younger Black Tarantula surprises Ghost-Spider on the rooftops and flirts with her while she attempts to fight him, unaware that he is her coffeeshop crush. He continues to playfully dodge her attacks with his Tarantula-enhanced Agility and displays a flash of Energy enhancements. She manages to tackle him and he switches tactics with an attempt to appeal to her outsider status. Black Tarantula tells Ghost-Spider she can join him in fighting for people who feel like they don’t belong, and then distracts her with small Explosives before fleeing the scene.

Mister Fear shows up in Ghost-Spider #8 and takes advantage of the chaos sown by Black Tarantula’s public trial of the judge. Fabian Swings in to save Gwen as she succumbs to Mister Fear’s toxins. Black Tarantula takes the fight to Mister Fear in Ghost-Spider #9 to discover a cure to his toxin. After Gwen recovers, they Team-Up to take down the villain. Then Black Tarantula shows Gwen that he and his father are helping the homeless by letting them stay in abandoned buildings.

While Fabian’s motives ultimately seem to be altruistic, his current actions—paired with his father’s legacy as the Black Tarantula—make him a complicated character. Because of this, Fabian enters the Fantasy Comic League as an Antagonist based on his first six Appearances.

Scoring Metric: Appeared in six issues within the span of a year.

Qualifying Issue: Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider #9 (2025, January 01—Week 1)

First Official Appearance(s): Amazing Spider-Man #436, as a child (1998, May 18—Week 20); Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider #5, as Black Tarantula (2024, September 11—Week 37)

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Check out Black Tarantula’s first Appearances and many more comics through Marvel Unlimited! Make sure to follow Fantasy Comic League for more character highlights and weekly review scores. Tweet any questions or comments to @FantasyComicLG on X/Twitter while using the #FantasyComicLeague tag!

Key: TU – Team-Up; LT – Lead Team; SC – Save Civilian; CD – Character Development; DA – Defeat Antagonist.

Categories: Character Spotlight, Reviews

Tags: Black Tarantula, Character Spotlight, Comics, Fantasy Comic League, Marvel