Spider-Punk


Spider-Punk is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is an alternate version of Hobie Brown and Spider-Man; frequent antagonists are President Norman Osborn, V.E.N.O.M., and the Inheritors.
Hobie Brown / Spider-Punk made his film debut in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, voiced by Daniel Kaluuya, and is set to return in Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse.

Publication history

Spider-Punk was created by writer Dan Slott and artist Olivier Coipel. The idea of a punk Spider-Man emerged when Coipel proposed the look for Spider-UK. Slott rejected the look as wrong for a member of the Captain Britain corps but used it to develop a new character that would be "all punk".
Spider-Punk first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #10.

Fictional character biography

''Spider-Verse'' (comics)

During the "Spider-Verse" storyline, the Earth-138 version of Spider-Man is revealed to be Hobart Brown, originally operating as Spider-Punk. He is a homeless teenager who was transformed by a spider that was irradiated by toxic waste dumped by President Norman Osborn. He becomes the punk rock-inspired Spider-Man, leading the downtrodden people of New York against Osborn's V.E.N.O.M. troops. Spider-Punk manages to kill Osborn during a riot by bashing him with his guitar. After Osborn's death, Spider-Punk publicly reveals his identity to the crowd present, who view him as their savior. Spider-Punk is later recruited by Superior Spider-Man to join an army of Spider-Men.

''Spider-Geddon''

During the "Spider-Geddon" storyline, Spider-Punk is shown to be fighting Thunderstrike while the other Web Warriors are dismantling Loomworld. Spider-Punk takes down Thunderstrike, who is killed by Kang the Conqueror shortly afterward. Spider-Punk escapes from Kang and asks for a tape from Captain Anarchy, who is busy fighting the Annihilation Wave. When Kang's Spider-Punk dolls catch up to Spider-Punk, they get into a fight with the Annihilation Wave, with one of them eating Captain Anarchy's tape. As Captain Anarchy holds Kang off, Spider-Punk swings away.
Meeting up with Robbie Banner, Hobie tries to convince him to help while reminding him of how he helped in battles against the U-Foes, the Universal Church of Truth, and Hydra. When Kang catches up again, Robbie becomes the Hulk to attack Kang. After Kang disappears, Spider-Girl shows up and states that something big is coming, and Spider-Punk agrees to go with her. Spider-Punk later visits an unnamed reality and saves the Norman Osborn version of Spider-Man from the collapsing Oscorp Tower. In a flashback to seven months prior, Spider-Punk assists Spider-Girl, Pavitr Prabhakar, Spider-UK, and Karn, who have been keeping surveillance on the Inheritors.
Spider-Punk is among the spider-powered characters who recruit Miles Morales to confront Superior Octopus after learning that his cloning machine was made from the Inheritors' technology. They try to warn Superior Octopus, but it is too late as the Inheritors start to emerge, killing Spider-Man Noir and Spider-UK. After the Inheritors emerge, Spider-Punk and Superior Octopus come up with a plan to kill the Inheritors.

''Spider-Punk: Banned in D.C.''

Spider-Punk's first solo mini-series, written by Cody Ziglar and drawn by Justin Mason, fleshes out Earth-138. After defeating Kraven and the Hunters, Spider-Punk and Captain Anarchy head back to their base to reconvene with Riri Williams/Riotheart to show her a weapon they pulled off of Kraven's group and determine where it came from. However, they are later attacked by Taskmaster.

In other media

Television

Spider-Punk makes a cameo appearance in the Ultimate Spider-Man episode "Return to the Spider-Verse: Part 4", voiced by Drake Bell. This version speaks with a Cockney accent. He is among several alternate reality Spider-Men that the villainous Wolf Spider took hostage to siphon their powers before the "prime" Spider-Man, Kid Arachnid, and Spider-Woman arrive to save them.

Film

  • Hobie Brown / Spider-Punk appears in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, voiced by Daniel Kaluuya. This version is a Briton who, like Kaluuya, comes from Camden Town. Polygon noted a positive general consensus around him, saying he is one of the characters in the film "that's been blowing everyone's minds with just how wild he looks". Spider-Punk has been described as the "most entertaining Spider-Man variant we meet" in the film, as well as "one of the coolest". Ayan Artan of Digital Spy saw the introduction of Spider-Punk into Miles Morales's story as positive Black British representation: "His character design is jagged around the edges and consistently shifting, while his personality swings between that classic Cockney sensibility and immeasurable Black-British street swagger. He's simply the coolest Spider-Man in Across the Spider-Verse and perhaps even more refreshingly, he knows it, revels in it". Hobie is implied to have a romantic relationship with Gwen Stacy who is "starry eyed" for him, placing him in a love triangle with Miles. Kaluuya has stated he thinks "something was happening" and that the depth of this relationship is "between Gwen and Hobie.
  • Hobie Brown / Spider-Punk will appear in Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, voiced again by Daniel Kaluuya.
  • Hobie Brown / Spider-Punk will headline a spin-off film with Daniel Kaluuya reprising the role and co-writing the screenplay with Ajon Singh.

    Video games

  • Spider-Punk appears as an unlockable playable character in Spider-Man Unlimited.
  • Spider-Punk's suit appears as an alternate skin for the titular character of Marvel's Spider-Man and Marvel's Spider-Man 2.
  • Spider-Punk appears as an unlockable playable character in Marvel Strike Force. This version is a member of the Web Warriors.
  • Spider-Punk, as he appears in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, appears as a purchasable skin in Fortnite Battle Royale.
  • Spider-Punk premiered as a Series 5 card in Marvel Snap during the game's Arachnid Anarchy season.