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A Brief History of The Spider IV In the early stories "The Spider" is merely a symbol on the forehead of dead crooks. Occasionally, Wentworth would obscure his identity with a black mask. But in the March 1934 issue, "Citadel of Hell," Wentworth finally takes on an alternate personality. A look—and a lethal, mocking attitude—that becomes "The Spider" for the remainder of the ten-year run.
Later in the novel this new character clearly identifies himself:
"Did you ever hear," asked Wentworth softly, "of the Spider?" Here Page, possibly with some editorial guidance, really did lift some ideas from The Shadow—or the classic "mystery figure" that inspired him—while adding his own oddball touches.
But the lank-haired, fanged, hunched figure of The Spider was not just feared by the underworld; The editors of the magazine were too scared to put him on the cover! Except for a seven-month stint in 1940, cover illustrators John Newton Howitt and later Rafael DeSoto were instructed to depict The Spider as a dashing figure in a traditional black mask. Only interior artist J. Fleming Gould got to show The Spider in all his chilling glory month in and month out.
The Spider Ring Though it had been featured prominently on the covers since the first issue—probably as a nod to The Shadow's signature ring—the Spider Ring was not mentioned in the novels until that sixth issue, "Citadel of Hell." Not coincidentally, this is the first issue that offers readers the opportunity to order their own replica of the Spider Ring—for 25 cents in coin or stamp, and the promise to curtail crime in their neighborhood.
(The only other premium offered by the magazine would be a Spider Pencil, with the spider seal where the eraser would be. In 1941 Wentworth ditched the cigarette lighter as a spider-branding device to hawk this mechanical pencil, which today is scarcer than the Spider Ring, but in less demand.)
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Content by Chris Kalb |