Marvel Admits One Part of Spider-Man's Webbing Doesn't Make Sense and Never Will

Warning: Spoilers for One World Under Doom #1

Spider-Man's webbing has endless possibilities for how he can apply it, from tying up enemies to swinging through the city, and he's always uncovering clever new applications for his webs. With that being said, one iconic ability of his doesn't make much sense, and Marvel is ready to address the elephant in the room in regard to Spider-Man's powers at long last.

In One World Under Doom #1 by Ryan North, R.B. Silva, David Curiel, and Travis Lanham, Spider-Man and the Human Torch poke fun at each other as the heroes prepare to launch an offensive against Doctor Doom. On the way there, Johnny Storm makes a surprisingly astute comment about Spider-Man's web fluid and one of its most handy features.

Johnny jokes, "You can always improvise one of your famous webbing parachutes. I'm sure a parachute made mostly out of holes works great." His sarcastic remark points out a glaring flaw in the parachutes employed by Spider-Man on a regular basis, finally addressing a long-held criticism.

Spider-Man was first shown using his webbing as a parachute in The Amazing Spider-Man #1 by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, the first issue of his original comic run. From the get-go, Johnny's critique of this web-shooter application's functionality becomes abundantly clear to the reader. The parachute is full of gaping holes that let air travel in and out, since it's made of spiderwebs. Thus, it shouldn't allow Spider-Man to float through the air because it lacks the solidity for an aerodynamic lift. Realistically, Spider-Man should plummet to the ground rather than drifting along with no potentially fatal complications.

Spider-Man’s new connection to a Spider-God, which gives him a brand-new power, totally changes his life moving forward in the Marvel Universe.

Despite the issues with Spider-Man's parachute ability, he's utilized it a surprising number of times throughout Marvel lore without a hitch. Furthermore, it isn't even the only feature Spider-Man has shown off that lets him fly. He can also create web-wings for his suit that enable him to glide, though the webbing once again sparks the same question posed by the Human Torch. The flimsy, thin material of webs can't possibly be strong enough to carry him for long, and the holes continue to pose a problem. However, these flaws have been addressed before, so Spider-Man's flight abilities aren't as nonsensical as they appear.

In The Amazing Spider-Man #7, Spider-Man explains how his parachute manages to function properly. After chasing the Vulture and capturing him midair, he teases the villain by generating a web during their free-fall, saying, "It might be fun! 'Specially if I make it with my new semi-solid fluid which enables it to act like a parachute!" This line confirms that Spider-Man uses a sturdier type of web fluid for his parachutes - and, presumably, any other aerodynamic upgrades he employs. This explanation doesn't entirely make sense, since the parachute still contains holes regardless, but Spider-Man's parachutes are at least not quite as implausible as they seem.

One World Under Doom #1 is available now from Marvel Comics!

We want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful.

Your comment has not been saved

Meanwhile, actual spiders who make real parachutes from silk...

Still makes more sense than why his feet stick to walls with boots on lol. But I still love spider-man!

I love Spidey but a lot about his webs don't make sense. Like they stretch out really long sometimes not others. He can shoot them rapidly and they splatter on impact sticking people to things, or they don't and just shoot out as a string. Sometimes they tie you up sometimes they don't. Granted, if he had different nozzles for his webshooter that rotated based on how he moved his arm or different webing type he could do that with it could explain all this but it's never been stated in the comics to be the case. They mention he has different web types but it feels usually like he has to switch out the whole vile rather than them being on some kind of rotating device for quickly switching

I believe there's a species of spider that actually deploys a web "parachute" when they first hatch. It's really just a long web they float out there that catches the wind. But it's a weight ratio thing that allows them to be carried in the wind. A human is much more dense so his web "chute" would have to be HUGE

Funny how you mentioned it, without it how would a childhood have those moment with Spidey and parachute as a toy?

What if it's made of some form of graphene?

A lot of spiders make web "parachutes" to leave the nest. That's why 100s of spiders can hatch from one egg sac and then you look at the web later and barely any of the spiders are anywhere near the web.

Maybe he builds those parachutes without webbing holes. I'm sure that's possible. Another wonky story from ScreenRant

Well seeing as we're going down this road. Have you looked at a lamppost? How does he swing around the city ? Those things aren't that high and the webbing can't be too tough as the cops have to get the criminals out of it. I mean there's so much stuff in comics you can question but those are fantasies and you have to be able to suspend your reality to fully enjoy what you're reading.

he swings from actual tall things called " buildings".

also, the webbing is canonically very strong, usually too strong for Spidey to break himself( and he can lift a city bus).

the webbing dissolves in about an hour though, so that's when the cops get the babies out

also, though the webbing has a very high tensile strength, it does not have a high sheering strength, meaning that it is much easier to cut than to snap.( poly ripe is like this)

It's just a tight weave. No different than real parachute cloth

his webbing is canonically so strong that Spider-Man himself cannot break it( usually. depends on the writer. it's always very strong though) it is hardly flimsy

the reasons for continuing to read screen rant articles on the other hand......

Ahead of Spider-Man 4's filming start, Marvel Cinematic Universe star Tom Holland details how he injured himself attempting a Spider-Man backflip.

Mikey Madison could win Best Actress at the Oscars after all, and that gives Anora a shot at a rare accomplishment only 12 movies have done.

New details have been provided about the next show in the Avatar: The Last Airbender franchise, including tidbits about an Earthbending Avatar.

Spider-Man and Wolverine are about to team up for an ongoing story that promises to harken back to both their heights in the '80s and '90s.

Trailers for Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts* have made me very happy that Steve Rogers chose Sam Wilson to become Captain America and not Bucky Barnes.

Avatar: The Last Airbender fans have spent years arguing over whether it counts as an anime, and a new spinoff is going to make that even worse.

Disney find themselves in hot water over the decision to cut a story about a transgender character out of their animated TV show Win or Lose. But why?