Spider-Tracer: Webs, Wheels and Spider-Mobiles

What’s one of the most important things Spider-Man is known for? No, not the cool powers. And… no, I wasn’t going to say some of the greatest villains in all of comicdom, either. No, what I was going to say, was… vehicles. That’s right, you read correctly, vehicles.

 

Okay, I mayyyyyy have exaggerated just a little. But, this kind of subject is just the thing these Spider-Tracer articles were made for: Filling you, the best Spider-Man fans out there, in on the Spider-Facts you may not have previously been aware of.  With that being said, read on and discover the top five infamous vehicles in Spider-Man comics.

 

5. Big Pig

 

 

The first vehicle on our list is almost as obscure as the character it belongs to. Coming in at number five we have the Big Pig, which belonged to the mutant trucker known as Razorback. They both first appeared in “Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man” Vol.1, #’s 12 (a cameo appearance) and 13 (their first full appearance). While they originally met as foes, Razorback proved himself a hero when he teamed up with Spider-Man to take down the Man-Beast disguised as the Hate-Monger. Razorback’s mutant power includes the ability to drive any vehicle, even if he has no prior knowledge for how to operate said vehicle. Crazy, right? Even crazier is the fact that Razorback actually built Big Pig. That’s right, the Big Pig tractor-trailer is a Razorback original. Hmm, I may end up having to do a full article on ol’ Razorback himself sometime; what do you say, readers? Let me know in the comments section below.

 

4. Big Wheel’s… Wheel

 

 

In “The Amazing Spider-Man” #182, we’re introduced to one of the most bizarre foes to ever cross Spider-Man’s path; in a world with the Walrus and Hypno-Hustler, that’s no feat! Jackson Weele (nope, I can’t make this up) decided to get revenge on the Rocket Racer by having the Tinkerer build a giant wheel for Weele to ride around in (try saying that ten times fast, huh?). He also thought Big Wheel would be the perfect super-villain name… (I don’t think I could face palm any harder). How Weele thought this would work, I don’t know (maybe he thought mechanical arms and guns would help?), but apparently he thought his massive vehicle would be fast enough to catch someone on a rocket-powered skateboard. It was thought for years that the Big Wheel had drowned in the Hudson River, but Spider-Man and readers weren’t so lucky, as Weele turned up alive years later in “Spider-Man Unlimited” Vol. 3. #12. The Big Wheel and his giant wheel have been randomly popping in the Marvel Universe for years ever since.

 

3. Rocket Racer’s Rocket-Powered Skateboard

 

 

You can laugh at the Big Wheel all day long, but the Rocket Racer? Sure, but only if you think you can dodge his rocket-powered punches! Okay, now you can laugh. First appearing in “The Amazing Spider-Man” #172, Robert Farrell needed extra cash to support his poor mother and siblings. A science whiz, much like Peter Parker was at his age, Robert created his Rocket Racer gear himself. Rocket Racer eventually goes to the Tinkerer to soup up his original designs, but, after several more defeats and a stay behind bars, Robert turns his life around to become a hero, and even joins the Outlaws at one point (surely you read the earlier Spider-Tracer article on this group of reformed Spider-felons, right?), as well as Avengers Academy. 

 

2. The Thanos Copter

 

 

In “Spidey Super Stories” #39 we’re introduced to what is, perhaps, the most sinister of all the vehicles on this list: The Thanos Copter! Ever ambitious, Thanos attempts to steal the Cosmic Cube in a bright yellow helicopter with his name plastered on the side in big, bold letters. The copter’s rotor blade even made its way into this year’s “Avengers: Endgame”; Thanos creator Jim Starlin confirmed that it was indeed the Thanos Copter that inspired the Mad Titan’s new weapon in the latest Avengers film. From the comic pages of an easy to read, kids friendly, alternate universe Spider-Man comic to the big screen, the legacy left by the Thanos Copter is indeed a big one.

 

1. The Spider-Mobile

 

 

Oh c’mon, you didn’t think this list was going to be complete without Spider-Man’s own set of wheels, did you (I mean, the featured pic for this article did kind of give it away, too)? In “The Amazing Spider-Man” #130, Spider-Man, with help from the Human Torch, brought into the world the Amazing Spider-Mobile. Corona Motors had wanted to promote a new non-polluting car engine, and were willing to pay Spider-Man to promote it. Finding the idea of a vehicle useless since he could swing across the city faster with his webs, Spidey eventually agreed to the idea because our webbed hero was desperate for cash. The second Mysterio, Daniel Berkhart (tell me you didn’t miss the Spider-Tracer articles on that guy; everything is connected, I tell you), caused Spidey to lose the car in the river. Corona Motors wanted their money back, but the Tinkerer had other plans, now controlling the vehicle via remote control. After battling his disobedient car, Spidey returned the vehicle to Corona, though certainly not in mint condition. The car has since turned up in the Smithsonian, of all places. During the “Spider-Verse” cross-over, a sentient Spider-Mobile from an alternate reality showed up. Not gonna lie, the Spider-Mobile was always one of my favorite token pieces in Spider-Man Monopoly set, and the Disney Store had a recent 6″ scaled version of the car that I just had to have to go with my other Marvel Legends figures.

 

And with the Spider-Mobile finishing this list, which of the five aforementioned vehicles was your favorite? Did I miss yours? Let me know in the comments section below!