SHATHRA
Real Name: Shathra
Identity/Class: Extra-dimensional (an astral plane)
Occupation: Predator of spiders
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: None known
Enemies: Ezekiel, Spider-Man, spiders in general.
Known Relatives: Children (unnamed)
Aliases: Sharon Keller, Spider-Wasp
Base of Operations: an astral plane
First Appearances: Amazing Spider-Man II#46 (December, 2002)
Powers/Abilities: Shathra had great strength, perhaps around the same as Spider-Man's give or take a few tons (class 10). She was able to fly and track spiders. She could also somehow find out everything about Peter Parker's life. She also fired poisonous spikes from her wrists and had claw-like fingers.
Height: 6' 2" Weight: 120 lbs.
History:
(Amazing Spider-Man II#42 - BTS / 46 (fb)) - When Spider-Man battled the
Shade in the Astral Plane, he strayed from the path, which Doctor Strange had
warned him not to. As a result, the Spider-Wasp, a mystical predator sensed
his presence and tracked him down to our plane.
(Amazing Spider-Man II#46, 47) - Shathra attacked Peter Parker, and after a quick fight, from which Peter fled, Shathra went to the press, under a human form, and told them she was Spider-Man's lover. She told them about Spidey's insatiable appetite for sex and kinky habits (of which we cannot know anything about), lied about his honesty, said he used to make fun of the other heroes, and almost revealed his identity before an enraged Spider-Man crashed in the studio and attacked her live on TV. That's what she wanted, an enraged Spider to feed to her children. She reverted to her true form (still on live TV, showing that she was an untrustworthy source), and the fight continued in the streets, with Peter being poisoned by one of her spikes and seeking refuge in a spider exhibit. Shathra was unable to track him among so many spiders, so Peter was safe from her, but dying from the poison.
(Amazing Spider-Man II#48) - Ezekiel found him and took him to a temple in Ghana, to where Shathra followed. There Peter was able to remain focused enough to battle Shathra, who was engulfed by a swarm of spiders and dragged into a pit before Peter could do anything. When Pete asked Ezekiel what had happened, he said Peter had stunned her and weakened her enough for them... "The food chain goes both ways, you know".
Comments: Created by J. Michael Stracznski, John Romita Jr., and Scott Hana
Spider-wasps are natural enemies of spiders, and are one of the most efficient spider-killers.. They track down large spiders, sting them, and then drag their sorry paralyzed rears to a previously built nest, where they lay (usually only) one egg inside the spider's body. The larger the species, the larger the captured spider needs to be (yes, they catch tarantulas). When the larva is born, it has some nice, juicy living food to sustain it. The spider lasts as long as it is needed.
Ezekiel said that there would be a third mystical opponent, the first being Morlun and the second being Shathra. So expect a profile on him/her/it when he/she/it show's his/her/its face.
Shathra was one of many foes Spider-Man briefly fought while traveling through time in Amazing Spider-Man II#500.
I'm wondering if the Sisterhood of the Wasp (from Arana: Heart of the Spider) might have been founded by Shathra-worshippers? If so, they might be part-time allies of...THE COCKROACH CONSPIRACY!!!
--Carycomic
PROFILE BY HENRIQUE FERREIRA, REFORMATTED BY STUNNER.
Check out the original at: http://www.spiderfan.org/characters/index.html
CLARIFICATIONS: Shathra should not be confused with:
images: (without ads)
Amazing Spider-Man II#46, p11 (main image)
#47, p10, pan4 (as Sharon Keller)
Other appearances:
Amazing Spider-Man II#47-48 (January-February, 2003) - J. Michael Straczynski (writer), John Romita Jr. (pencils), Scott Hanna (inks), Axel Alonso (editor)
Last updated: 03/25/05
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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