Spider (pulp fiction character)

"The Spider" redirects here. For the pulp magazine, see The Spider (magazine). For the British comic character, see The Spider (British comics). For other uses, see Spider (disambiguation).
The Spider
Cover of book number 82, "The Dictator's Death Merchants", with art by Rafael DeSoto
Publication information
PublisherPopular Publications
First appearanceThe Spider #1 (October 1933): "The Spider Strikes"
Created byHarry Steeger
In-story information
Alter egoRichard Wentworth
Supporting character ofNita Van Sloan
Ram Singh
Ronald Jackson
Stanley Kirkpatrick
Abilities
  • Genius intellect
  • Skilled in hand-to-hand combat
  • Expert marksman
  • Master of disguise

The Spider is an American pulp-magazine hero of the 1930s and 1940s. The character was created by publisher Harry Steeger and written by a variety of authors for 118 monthly issues of The Spider from 1933 to 1943. The Spider sold well during the 1930s, and copies are valued by modern pulp magazine collectors. Pulp magazine historian Ed Hulse has stated "Today, hero-pulp fans value The Spider more than any single-character magazine except for The Shadow and Doc Savage."[1]

  1. ^ Ed Hulse, The Blood 'n' Thunder Guide to Collecting Pulps. Murania Press, 2009, ISBN 0-9795955-0-9 (pp. 78-82).