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Summary

• Madame Web features Spider-Man-inspired characters with varying success in suits, resulting in mixed reviews.
• Some costumes, like Julia Carpenter's, stay faithful to the comics while others, like Aña Corazón's, fall flat.
• Ezekiel Sims, though not technically a hero, boasts a dynamic Spider-Man suit.

Madame Web boasts a litany of Spider-Man-inspired Marvel characters, each with a suit of varying success. Madame Web is set in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, proffering an origin story for the classic Spider-Man character that doesn’t really exist in the comics. Unfortunately, like some of its predecessors, Madame Web received a largely unfavorable reception and was criticized for its uneven plot, awkward pacing, and lack of coherent world-building. Nevertheless, it features a thrilling line-up of Spider-heroes, that offer a variety of Spider-Man-inspired suits – some of which fared better than others.
Madame Web depicts the eponymous pre-cognitive comic book character striving to save three young girls who are one day destined to become Spider-Woman or Spider-Girl. These Madame Web characters include Cassandra Webb as the titular Madame Web, Aña Corazón (Spider-Girl/Araña), Martha Franklin (Spider-Woman), Julia Carpenter (Spider-Woman), and Ezekiel Sims, all of whom brought their own interpretations of Spidey’s iconic costume. That said, it’s worth noting that many of these were only included in a brief flashforward scene and during Madame Web's ending. Nevertheless, these scenes were arguably the movie’s most exciting part, proffering dynamic action and satisfying reinterpretations of classic costumes.
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2 5 Aña 'Anya' Corazón AKA Spider-Girl/Araña Played By Isabela Merced Close Aña Corazón, who first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #1 (2004), is known for her alter-ego Araña (Spider) and is occasionally known as Spider-Girl. In the comics, Anya starts off wearing a more makeshift, urban-style costume, which usually consists of a simple blue and red hoodie with a spider symbol and practical, streetwear-like elements. As she evolves into Spider-Girl, her suit becomes more refined, adopting a sleek, form-fitting black-and-white design similar to some of the Spider-Woman, especially Julia Carpenter.
In Madame Web, Aña Corazón’s costume took a drastically different approach, leaning heavily on silver elements that ultimately made her suit look cheap and uninspired. Instead of capturing the dynamic, youthful energy and identity of the character from the comics, the film gave her a design that lacked defining features. The silver accents failed to represent her connection to the Spider-Man mythos and seemed overly generic and lacked personality, particularly in comparison to the other Spider-characters.
While Madame Web likely aimed to create something distinct for the character, that differed notably from Julia Carpenter’s costume. However, the execution fell flat. As a result, the suit looks like a hastily put-together prop rather than something iconic or memorable.
The movie would have been better off adapting one of her more colorful and dynamic costumes instead. Her lackluster costume in Madame Web was disappointing, especially given that Aña Corazón is a beloved character with a lot of potential for visual flair. Instead, the heavy reliance on dark and metallic silver tones is hard to discern in the flashforwards and lacks any sense of wonder.
4 Cassandra Webb AKA Madame Web Played by Dakota Johnson Close It's no secret that Cassandra Webb from Madame Web differed from her comic book counterpart, receiving an origin story that was never really depicted in the comic books. The brief glimpse audiences were proffered of her full Madame Web costume was no different. Madame Web’s costume departs significantly from her classic comic book appearance. Madame Web first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #210 (1980). Unlike most Spider-Man-related characters, Madame Web is not a traditional superhero. An elderly, blind clairvoyant, she’s often depicted in a spider-themed chair that doubles as her life-support system.
Madame Web’s costume is more of an elegant ensemble than an action-ready suit, often featuring shades of white, gray, and dark red. Her presence is defined by a mystic, wise, and almost regal air, with her eyewear being a standout feature that signifies her blindness and psychic abilities. The rendition in Madame Web is certainly bold but lacks the sophistication and mysticism that her character demands. Rather than the elegance and mystery she typically exudes in the comics, her movie costume feels more like a generic superhero outfit.
The bright red, while striking, doesn’t quite fit with Madame Web’s more subtle, psychic-driven persona. Perhaps most glaringly, her oversized, exaggerated glasses look borderline absurd. While her glasses in the comics serve as a symbol of her blindness, the movie takes this feature too far, making them appear comical and out of place rather than integral to her character design. The overall aesthetic of the costume misses the opportunity to blend Madame Web's mystical powers with a sense of grace and wisdom.
That said, the costume does have some redeeming qualities. It’s visually distinct, and the filmmakers did attempt to give Madame Web a more youthful interpretation. The intricate webbing pattern on her dress is actually very attractive, but it’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it feature obscured by fuzzy focus. Ultimately, the design ultimately feels disconnected from the ethereal qualities that make Madame Web so iconic.
3 Martha 'Mattie' Franklin AKA Spider-Woman Played By Celeste O'Connor Close Martha "Mattie" Franklin is one of the lesser-known Spider-Women in the comics, first appearing in The Amazing Spider-Man #441 (1998). After gaining powers from the "Gathering of the Five" ritual, Mattie took on the Spider-Woman mantle. Her comic book suit is characterized by a black bodysuit with red and blue accents and prominent spider symbols. Notably, Mattie’s Spider-Woman suit is sometimes depicted with mechanical spider-like arms reminiscent of the Iron Spider suit worn by Peter Parker.
In Madame Web, Mattie Franklin’s suit was a marked deviation from her comic book roots. The design had a much more retro, colorful vibe complete with an impressive afro. The result is a charming 1970s tone that recalls disco fashion. While this may be a little too playful for the comic book Mattie, it is perfect for the oft-forgotten original Spider-Woman. Known as Valerie the Librarian, the original Spider-Woman, introduced in 1974, was an African-American woman who sported a vibrant suit and a large afro.
As such, Mattie’s Spider-Woman from Madame Web combines elements from these two comic characters. The resultant costume benefits from the bold color scheme and the overall design has a visually pleasing charm. The inclusion of the Iron-Spider arms is an especially thrilling feature, despite the gray redesign. It doesn’t feel as generic or uninspired as some of the other costumes in Madame Web.
2 Julia Carpenter AKA Spider-Woman Played By Sydney Sweeney Close Julia Carpenter is one of the more recognizable Spider-Women, introduced in Secret Wars #6 (1984). Her costume is distinct and memorable, often featuring a black suit with white spider web motifs, which is visually very similar to Peter Parker’s black symbiote suit. Julia’s version of the Spider-Woman suit is sleek and streamlined, designed for agility and quick combat. It’s one of the most iconic Spider-themed designs, largely due to its simplicity and stark color contrast.
In Madame Web, Julia Carpenter’s costume is one of the more faithful adaptations from page to screen. The black-and-white design is effectively translated, retaining the sharp, clean lines and bold contrast in the spider motif that made her comic book costume effective. The mask design is particularly well-done, with distinctive eyeholes that mirror the comic book appearance.
What makes this costume work so well is its adherence to the source material while still feeling modern and functional. The black and white suit strikes a perfect balance between simplicity and visual impact, and Julia’s movements in the suit feel fluid and agile, just as one would expect from a Spider-Woman. Moreover, this suit fits perfectly into the slightly grounded and relatively realistic tone established in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. This allowed for a faithful reconstruction that still adapted well to the moving image.
1 Ezekiel Sims Played By Tahar Rahim Close The best Spider-character costume in Madame Web belonged to the villain Ezekiel Sims, despite diverging even further from the source material. Madame Web's Ezekiel Sims is a fascinating character introduced in The Amazing Spider-Man #30 (2001). He is a wealthy businessman who gained spider-powers through mystical means but uses them for different purposes. Ezekiel’s role in the comics is complex, often serving as both an ally and an antagonist to Peter Parker.
Ezekiel Sims’ costume in the comics is not as iconic or well-defined as some of the other Spider-Man-related characters, but he usually sports smart, almost business-like attire with hints of spider motifs. However, in Madame Web, Sims receives his own Spider-themed costume, which shows the terrifying potential of Spider-Man. Ezekiel’s redesign gave him a muted blue suit with red details and haunting black eyes.
The slightly raised piping gives Sims the appearance of an evil counterpart to Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man from Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy. This is perfect for the Madame Web villain, who serves as a sinister reflection on the protagonists and their heroic futures. Indeed, Ezekiel’s costume leans into a creepier interpretation of the spider theme, with sharper lines, darker tones, and an overall gloomier design that exudes power and mystery.
This interpretation of the character feels the most well-thought-out. It simultaneously honors his ties to Spider-Man while differentiating him as a unique and formidable presence in the film. His costume, with its subtle spidery elements and stylish design, makes Ezekiel the best-dressed character in Madame Web, effortlessly blending style, power, and menace.
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*Availability in US Madame Web is a superhero movie based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. Taking place in Sony's Spider-Man Universe, the movie revolves around a clairvoyant woman who can look into different dimensions. Dakota Johnson stars in the lead role, with Sydney Sweeney, Adam Scott, Isabela Merced, and Celeste O'Connor comprising the rest of the cast.
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