The Tarantula started out as a revolutionary terrorist and government operative in South America named Anton Miguel Rodriguez but was expelled from his small organization after murdering a guard without reason during a robbery.

Anton Miguel Rodriguez, the evil extreme of Captain America, was first introduced in Amazing Spider-Man #134 in July of 1974. After being expelled from a revolutionary terrorist group in South America, Anton joined a fascist group and adopted the name of the Tarantula.

In North America, Tarantula was hired by the Brand Corporation and was injected with a serum that held the powers of a spider. During the process, however, Will o’ the Wisp interrupted the process, causing Rodriguez to gain more spider-like properties than he had bargained for. After skirmishes with the Wisp and Spiderman, the Tarantula became so much like an arachnid that he jumped off a building into a crowd of police who shot and killed him.

The second iteration of the Tarantula was Luis Alvarez. Luis was also an operative of the government, but instead of terrorism, his goal was to kill Spiderman in retaliation for what happened to Rodriguez. After joining forces with Punisher, the second Tarantula was captured by the vigilante group the Jury, and was subsequently killed by Wysper as revenge for Luis’ murdering of her husband while in prison.

Maria Vasquez became the next Tarantula, and was the most demented killer of all. Vasquez loved inflicting pain on her enemies. Little more is known about the history of Vasquez other than she became an operative in order to avenge the death of her sister. Soon after, Vasquez’s father was killed at the hands of ninjas; and she retaliated by single-handedly killing the entire team of ninjas. After finally finding love in teammate Shang-Chi, the Tarantula is offered as a sacrifice to the Brood Queen, an extraterrestrial being. Afterwards, Maria Vasquez is indefinitely knocked into a catatonic state.

The powers and abilities of the first two Tarantulas included super-strength, wall climbing and web spinning along with finger claws and toe blade; while Maria Vasquez only had the later.

Anton Miguel Rodriguez, the evil extreme of Captain America, was first introduced in Amazing Spider-Man #134 in July of 1974. After being expelled from a revolutionary terrorist group in South America, Anton joined a fascist group and adopted the name of the Tarantula.

In North America, Tarantula was hired by the Brand Corporation and was injected with a serum that held the powers of a spider. During the process, however, Will o’ the Wisp interrupted the process, causing Rodriguez to gain more spider-like properties than he had bargained for. After skirmishes with the Wisp and Spiderman, the Tarantula became so much like an arachnid that he jumped off a building into a crowd of police who shot and killed him.

The second iteration of the Tarantula was Luis Alvarez. Luis was also an operative of the government, but instead of terrorism, his goal was to kill Spiderman in retaliation for what happened to Rodriguez. After joining forces with Punisher, the second Tarantula was captured by the vigilante group the Jury, and was subsequently killed by Wysper as revenge for Luis’ murdering of her husband while in prison.

Maria Vasquez became the next Tarantula, and was the most demented killer of all. Vasquez loved inflicting pain on her enemies. Little more is known about the history of Vasquez other than she became an operative in order to avenge the death of her sister. Soon after, Vasquez’s father was killed at the hands of ninjas; and she retaliated by single-handedly killing the entire team of ninjas. After finally finding love in teammate Shang-Chi, the Tarantula is offered as a sacrifice to the Brood Queen, an extraterrestrial being. Afterwards, Maria Vasquez is indefinitely knocked into a catatonic state.

The powers and abilities of the first two Tarantulas included super-strength, wall climbing and web spinning along with finger claws and toe blade; while Maria Vasquez only had the later.

This outstanding Marvel bust has been created by Bowen Designs.

The Tarantula Mini-bust stands over 6 inches tall and features a removable arm extension.

Figure Specs

License: Marvel

Product Type: Polystone Bust

Product Size: 7" H (177.8mm)*

Product Weight: 3.00 lbs (1.36 kg)*

Est. Shipping Weight: 3.00 lbs (1.36 kg)*

* Product size and weight are approximate values. Est. Ship Weight is an estimated value for U.S. shipping calculated by item, box and shipping materials. US shipping costs may be estimated in DIM weight if oversized warning appears above. click here for additional information. International (non-EU) shipping costs are only based on dimensional weight, click here for more information.

Manufactured by: Bowen Designs

Due: Jan/Feb, 2009

Limited Edition: TBD

Pre-order Now $54.99 (more information)

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