The Black Tarantula
First appearance: Amazing Spider-Man #419

Once thought to be immortal, the Black Tarantula is an ancient indentity, passed along to the first born male of the LaMuerto bloodline. Carlos LaMuerto is the latest member to wear the suit, and like his predecessors is amongst one of the foremost South American crimelords. While in America through a Argentinean dipolomatic mission, Carlos met Marina Caches, attending an American graduate school. The two married, Marina unaware of her husbands heritage, although when she became pregnant with Carlos' baby she discovered the truth of the Black Tarantula and fled to America.

Years later, when the Black Tarantula began to move his South American connections into the United States, Chesbro, an agent of the Black Tarantula was sent to track down Marina, now a teacher at Empire State University, and a friend of Mary Jane Parker's. The Black Tarantula also relocated to New York to meet with crimeboss Fortunato and defeated and unmasked Spider-Man, making no attempt to discover his secret identity.

After Chesbro correctly identified Marina, the Black Tarantula went to capture his son, while Marina and her boyfriend Dante Rigoletto sought refuse with Fortunato, his adopted uncle. Despite the efforts of Fortunato's men and Spider-Man, the Black Tarantula came close to taking his son from Marina for training to become the next Black Tarantula. Marina was able to appeal to his human side, by reminding him of the pain of the Tarantula's father training him and the Tarantula left for the time being, vowing to return.

The Black Tarantula returned briefly, fighting both Spider-Man and the Scorpion before fleeing once more.

Powers and Abilities: Like the other Black Tarantula's before him, the new Black Tarantula has super strength, the power to shoot electrical beams from his hands and has the ability to bring the dead back to life. The Black Tarantula is not immortal however, but instead part of an ancient bloodline.

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