In the spirit of its predecessor, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse will be introducing numerous new Spider-People throughout its runtime. This includes the disabled Spider-Man character known as Sun-Spider.
Fans of Sun-Spider will recognize the disabled Spider-Man character from her first appearance in Edge of Spider-Verse #4. This particular outing was penned by Black, queer, and disabled comic book writer Tee Franklin. However, the character herself was created by Dayn Broder and greenlit by editors Kaeden McGahey and Nick Lowe.
Sun-Spider, otherwise known as Charlotte Webber, is a character from Earth-20023. She has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome much like her creator. This condition has an impact on her joints and connective tissue. As such, Charlotte Webber uses a wheelchair and crutches – but that doesn’t stop her from fighting crime as Sun-Spider. In fact, her crutches are actually equipped with web-shooters!
Of course, there have been complaints from a small minority of Marvel fans, but the character is mostly well-received by the community. Now fans are expressing their excitement about her inclusion in Across the Spider-Verse. And, as you can see below, so is writer Tee Franklin:
Well, hell, didn’t see this coming. Looks like #SunSpider is in @SpiderVerse! Major congratulations to Charlotte Webber, Sun-Spider’s creator @dayn_does_comix!
A disabled spider person in a Marvel film and I wrote her first story. This is wild. pic.twitter.com/uKaqMIAFks
— TEE “EXHAUSTED” FRANKLIN (@MizTeeFranklin) December 20, 2022
Franklin further illustrated how happy they were following their battles to make Sun-Spider a known character:
I went through fucking HELL for Sun-Spider, that was honestly one of the lowest moments for me.
NGL, I feel lowkey vindicated.
— TEE “EXHAUSTED” FRANKLIN (@MizTeeFranklin) December 20, 2022
Shoutout to the producers and directors for including disabled representation in #AcrossTheSpiderVerse #SunSpider https://t.co/C2JlUdbhCZ
— TEE “EXHAUSTED” FRANKLIN (@MizTeeFranklin) December 20, 2022
Additionally, creator Dayn Broder also felt the same:
well good MORNING TO US!!!!!! https://t.co/bQElxB5IPx
— Dayn, who does comics (@dayn_does_comix) December 20, 2022
Here are some fan reactions to the news:
As soon as I saw Sun Spider on the ATSV poster I almost cried, Sun Spider is my favorite and it makes me so happy to see my disability represented in media as someone with EDS. So I drew this in her honor😌 @dayn_does_comix , you’re a legend pic.twitter.com/jG3Hk7fqqG
— 💛Ali/Peter✨Commissions: open! (@__strange_angel) December 20, 2022
spotting sun spider in the new spiderverse poster like 👀👀 https://t.co/tg9LraSKmf
— elm (a troubadour upon the) // em(ily) e dickson (@mlereads) December 20, 2022
SUN SPIDER STOP KM TEARING UP https://t.co/7fJ45Zjltt
— em (@wlwrwby) December 20, 2022
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson. Meanwhile, Phil Lord and Chris Miller will be credited as writers on the project alongside David Callaham. The film will be produced by Amy Pascal, Avi Arad, and Christina Steinberg. The film will be executive produced by original Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse director Peter Ramsey as well as Aditya Sood.
The cast for the film includes Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Jake Johnson, Oscar Isaac, Brian Tyree Henry, Luna Lauren Velez and Greta Lee. Issa Rae, Rachel Dratch, Joma Taccone, Shea Whigham, Daniel Kaluuya, and Jason Schwartzman among others.
Audiences will be able to see the Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse on June 2, 2023. Stay tuned to ScreenGeek for additional updates on Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse as we have them.