Origin

Antón Miguel Rodríguez was a revolutionary against the dictatorship in the South American republic of Delvadia, but he loved killing too much and was forced out. He then joined those who he first fought. There he got the costume and the name Tarántula. But when he killed a fellow officer, he was yet again forced out. He escaped to United States, where he started his criminal career.

Creation

Tarantula (Rodríguez) was created by Gerry Conway and Ross Andru and first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man Vol.1 issue 134 (1974).

Major Story Arcs

The Tarantula Rises

On his first job he enlisted his brother, Hildalgo, and another mercenary named Juan to hold a tour boat for ransom. Though Spider-Man and Punisher both appeared to stop them, the Tarantula and his men were able to escape when the two began fighting one another. However, realizing that the Tarantula was their mutual enemy, Spider-Man and the Punisher teamed up and foiled his plans. He was thrown into prison, where he escaped thanks to Jackal, who used him as tool against Spider-Man. He tried several kidnapping jobs but ultimately failed them.

Frustrated on his defeats, Rodriguez agreed to an experiment from Brand Corporation scientists to duplicate Spider-Man's power and make him a superhuman agent. The experiment went bad when Will O'The Wisp, with his own vendetta against Brand, trashed the machines. Antón was turned into a spider hybrid. His intelligence waned and appearance turned more spider-like with moments. In the end he jumped down from a rooftop, goading police officers below into shooting him, thus ending his life rather than living like a monster.

The Clone Conspiracy

Some years later, Tarantula was revived alongside a number of other dead people, many villains, by a new Jackal (Ben Reilly in disguise). Tarantula was revived in his original human form and required a serum that was injected by Reilly to keep the Carrion Virus at bay. It was a safeguard to make sure the clones stay in line.

Spider-Man and his allies determined that Reilly was using a special frequency to kickstart the carrion degradation in the clones when Kaine (a clone of the previous Jackal) started exhibiting symptoms. Spider-Man with help from Horzion Labs broke into the clone facility and reprogramed the frequency, permanently stopping the carrion virus in all of the clones, including Tarantula.

The Savage Six

Tarantula was captured by Taskmaster and Black Ant for a big trophy hunt set up by Kraven the Hunter. Kraven chose villains that were animal themed to punish them for disgracing the animal kingdom. Tarantula was one of six main animal villains that Kraven used to sell rich patrons on the hunt. Arcade, Kraven's partner, referred to them as The Savage Six.

Once freed after Spider-Man's interfering with Kraven's plan, Vulture liked the sound of the Savage Six and pitched to his other advertised big game baddies (Rhino, King Cobra, Scorpion, and Stegron, in addition to Tarantula) that they should stick together.

Once together, they made their way to Hollywood to shut down a production of a biographical movie produced by Mysterio that painted them in a less-than-ideal light. They were unsuccessful though thanks to lead actress, Mary Jane, and the superhumans working on the crew.

Sinister War

Tarantula and his new team weren't ready to give up on getting back at Mysterio just yet though. They made a second attempt to ruin the movie at the premiere. While fighting off Spider-Man, in attendance as Mary Jane's date, the Savage Six were attacked by a new Sinister Six, looking to add Mysterio to their ranks. The Sinister Six was able to get Mysterio and regroup with Kindred.

When they were sent to a graveyard where Spider-Man was facing off against a number of other villains, The Savage Six followed and joined the rumble. Eventually, Doc Ock uses a piece of Black Ant's helmet to knock everyone, including Mac, out through the ear centipedes Kindred was using to control them.

Legacy

• Tarantula of Old West - Clay Riley
• Tarantula I - Antón Miguel Rodríguez
• Tarantula II - Luis Álvarez
• Tarantula III - Jacinda Rodríguez
• Tarantula IV - María Vásquez
• Devil-Spider - Roderick Kingsley (the Hobgoblin)

Rodríguez's daughter, Jacinda, inherited the Tarantula costume. She teamed up with Marie Batroc, though both women were thought to have been killed by Taskmaster on her very first day in costume after he shot them and threw them from a rooftop. Both were later confirmed to be alive by writer Gail Simone.

A few years later, while it was assumed that Roderick Kingsley had been killed by Phil Urich during the Big Time arc, Kingsley was revealed as still being active in Delvadia wearing a modified version of the Tarantula's costume under the alias "Devil-Spider." Jacinda Rodriguez partered with him for a time, and the duo later assisted Spider-Man and Mockingbird.

An unidentified man also took up the mantle of the Tarantula, briefly aligning with the Black Cat's gang. However, this man was killed by Miss Sinister.

In Other Media

Merchandise

• Tarantula was featured in the HeroClix figure game.
• Despite his relative obscurity, Tarantula was featured in Hasbro's Spider-Man Classics line, the sister line to Marvel Legends. Much of the figure was a reuse of the earlier Marvel Legends Bullseye figure that had been made by ToyBiz, the company that held the Marvel license prior to Hasbro.
• A 6" Tarantula action figure was released by Hasbro in 2023 as part of the third wave of Spider-Man: Retro action figures. The figure includes no accessories or BAF (Build-a-Figure) parts.