Spider-Woman is a peculiar super heroine whose origins and activities are surrounded by dark mysteries. Jessica Drew is a Hydra deserter who reinvented her identity as a free agent as the original Spider-Woman, being protected by Nick Fury and acting within his S.H.I.E.L.D. and as a private investigator. Others have adopted the identity of Spider-Woman. Julia Carpenter was transformed into a new Spider-Woman by the Commission on Superhuman Activities to be their version of Spider-Man, but broke free from their influence, becoming an Avenger and stepping in as the mythical Madame Web. Mattie Franklin lived up to the legacy of the Spider-Woman name following an arcane ritual for a time. In an alternate future, May Parker, the daughter of the amazing Spider-Man, adopted the mantle after operating as Spider-Girl as a demonstration of her maturity, but ultimately returned to the role of Spider-Girl. Meanwhile, in an alternate reality, Gwen Stacy, also known as Spider-Gwen, has become Spider-Woman, instead of Peter Parker. Gwen Stacy currently goes by Ghost-Spider.