S.P.I.D.E.R.
| S.P.I.D.E.R. | |
|---|---|
 Catwoman versus Mortalla, art by Jim Balent | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Catwoman #48 August (1997) |
| Created by |
Doug Moench (writer) Jim Balent (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Type of organization | Organized crime, terrorist |
| Leader(s) | Mortalla |
| Agent(s) |
Spider Widow |
S.P.I.D.E.R. was a fictional terrorist organization which appeared in DC Comics. Their first and only appearances were in Catwoman #48 and #49. The group was created by Doug Moench and Jim Balent.
Fictional team history
The Society for Political Instability and Diverted Economic Resources also known as S.P.I.D.E.R. was an international crime organization based in a hidden grotto near the Riviera. The eight "legs" of the organization were devoted to Arson, Drugs, Extortion, Fraud, Gambling, Theft, Assassination and Terrorism, the last two were described as its most active divisions.
The organization was led by a green costumed albino woman named Mortalla. S.P.I.D.E.R.'s stated intention was to ultimately destabilize all world governments and then make use of the chaos to make themselves rich. Most of Mortalla's operatives wore standard green, yellow and red uniforms but her division chiefs, including the Spider and the Widow had distinctive costumes.
Selina Kyle (Catwoman) took on an assignment to infiltrate S.P.I.D.E.R. She was successfully recruited by S.P.I.D.E.R. operatives based on her reputation as the world's greatest thief. Her first assignment for the organization was the theft of a crystal skull, the assignment became a problem when she decided to keep the crystal skull for herself. Narrowly escaping an ambush by S.P.I.D.E.R. agents, Selina arranges for her contact to leak the base's location to Interpol. Thanks to Catwoman, the grotto was destroyed and Mortalla and many of her minions were taken into custody by Interpol agents.
S.P.I.D.E.R. Operatives
- Mortalla - The albino leader of S.P.I.D.E.R.
- Spider - A hulking muscular operative of S.P.I.D.E.R..
- Widow - An acrobatic operative of S.P.I.D.E.R.