Marvel fixes a 60-year-old plot hole in Spider-Man's web shooter

The creative team behind Amazing Spider-Man #19 took the time to iron out a lingering plot hole about Spider-Man's Web-Shooters feature.

Warning: SPOILERS for Amazing Spider-Man #19.

Marvel Comics finally answers a 60-year-old question: How exactly does Spider-Man's web shooter work? While Peter Parker's magical contraption has been "scientifically" (by Marvel standards) explained a few times, many questions remain, especially regarding the webbing's ejection system.

Spider-Man's Web-Shooters are the character's most iconic trait. They debuted in Stan Lee and Steve Ditko's Amazing Fantasy #15 and were actually added at the last minute to this character who was supposed to use a gun in the original design created by Jack Kirby shoots his web. The decision to have Peter shoot the web from a gadget rather than from his body also helps emphasize his nature as a geek, which has always been part of the character's appeal. However, Spider-Man's web soon does everything the story needs, prompting various attempts to explain the science behind it.

Spider-Man's Web-Shooters Don't Work With Compressed Gas

The Amazing Spider-Man #19 by Joe Kelly, Terry Dodson and Rachel Dodson is the latest attempt. When Peter and his new girlfriend, Felicia Hardy aka Black Cat, were trying to spend a relaxing weekend in upstate New York, they came across White Rabbit and her latest venture, This involved renting out supervillain gear (modified to "safety") for tech industry folks at parties. Spider-Man starts hanging out with a bunch of geeks who ask questions about his Web-Shooters, thinking they use "ultra-compressed fluorocarbon". Peter replied that if he did use compressed gas, his wrist would either weigh 1,000 pounds or turn to ice, which is the most common criticism of the traditional explanation of how his Web-Shooters work.

Spiderman explains that his unique design works with "compressed chain molecules that expand directionally based on the introduction of hydrogen", which may not be scientifically accurate either, but at least it's a way to fix a decades-old plot hole try. Over the years, the uses of Spider-Man's webs have become too miraculous for something as relatively simple and small as Web-Shooters to explain them. While the recipe for the actual webbing is typically a secret and thus remains a "scientific mystery", the fluid still has to be ejected somehow, and using compressed gas in such a small mechanism doesn't make much sense. In fact, concept art for the upcoming Spider-Man: Freshman MCU animated series shows Peter's first There is an oxygen tank attached to the Web-Shooters' costume, which is more scientifically believable.

The Web-Shooters Plot Hole Is Fixed...For Now

There was an attempt back in 2005 to give Peter organic Web-Shooters, which would have solved the problem, but fans saw it as a way to capitalize on the popularity of Sam Raimi's Spider-Man movies. The controversial "Goodbye Day" story got rid of the organic internet shooter, along with Peter and Mary Jane's marriage and their future daughter. Comic books and science are an odd combination that doesn't always yield the best results, but to their credit, the creative team behind The Amazing Spider-Man #19 decided to at least address this 60-year-old myth about Spider-Man's web. Plot hole - shooter.

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