Spider-Man is perhaps best known for shooting webs from his wrists. He can use these webs to capture enemies, swing from tall buildings, and perform many other impressive feats.
But how does he produce these webs? Do they come from his body, or are they part of his suit?
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Spider-Man uses web shooters that he made to shoot synthetic web material. This stays true to most versions of the character.
Some versions however, can shoot webs from their body–most notably the one played by Tobey Mcguire in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man Trilogy.
Contents
How Does Spider-Man Shoot Webs?
The Spider-Man character has been around for decades, with many different interpretations of the character in comic books, movies, and other media. For that reason, some changes and inconsistencies to the character have crept in over time.
Depending on the specific version of Spider-Man we’re talking about, there are two different ways he can create and shoot webs.
In some versions of the character, he uses mechanical web shooters that he makes, along with a liquified web solution that solidifies as he shoots it.
In other versions of the character, Spider-Man has organic web shooters in his wrists. These appear to be natural glands that Peter Parker developed on his wrists after he was bitten by a radioactive spider.
In Homecoming
So, how does Spider-Man shoot webs in his first standalone MCU film?
The young superhero uses technologically advanced, wrist-mounted web shooters in all of his MCU appearances, including Spider-Man: Homecoming and its sequels, Far From Home and No Way Home.
The MCU Peter Parker is a brilliant high school student who created his own synthetic web liquid and the web shooters to launch it.
This representation of the character stays true to his portrayal throughout most of the comics. It also makes sense within the MCU considering his mentor-protege relationship with Tony Stark, another brilliant mind who became intrigued by the young Parker’s technological proficiency.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_tNpMxnpU2s
It also adds tension to the movies, as Spider-Man is always vulnerable to running out of the web liquid or not having the web shooters when he needs them.
Can Spider-Man Shoot Webs Without His Suit?
Technically, the answer is yes–as long as he has the web shooters with him.
Remember, the MCU version of Spider-Man cannot shoot webs from his body–only from his web shooters.
He typically uses the web shooters only while wearing the suit, though it looks as though they could be detached and used independently of the suit.
So, if he happened to have the web shooters with him while dressed in street clothes, he could quickly put them on and use them to shoot webs. He would not need his suit to do this.
Which Spider-Man Shoots Webs From His Wrist?
As mentioned, we’ve seen different versions of Spider-Man both in the comics and on the big screen over the years.
One live-action version of Spider-Man is able to shoot organic webs from glands in his wrists, so he doesn’t need mechanical web shooters like the MCU Spider-Man uses.
This version of Spider-Man was played by Tobey McGuire in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man Trilogy, which was released from 2002 to 2007. In these movies, Peter Parker developed his own organic web shooters after being bitten by the spider.
The phenomenon of Spider-Man having organic web shooters is sometimes explored in the comics, though more often, the character has mechanical shooters.
This might be because having the shooters naturally built-in makes the character less vulnerable–he is not as likely to run out of webs or be reliant on his suit if he has the inherent ability to create webs.
That said, some may think it makes more sense for a character who develops spider-like traits to have the natural ability to spin webs.
How Does Spider-Man Shoot Webs From His Wrist?
Tobey McGuire’s Spider-Man flicks his wrist with the middle and ring fingers bent back and the other fingers pointing forward. It took him several attempts to figure out the correct hand position.
![Spider-Man - First Time Crawling on Wall / Go Web Go! [HD]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/n42PunZ3Xno/0.jpg)
The webbing is created in glands on the wrist and released when he flicks his hand forward. It is a natural process similar to how spiders create their own webs.
As mentioned, most versions of Spider-Man don’t shoot webs from their wrists directly–instead, they shoot synthetic webbing from wrist-mounted shooters.
These characters activate the webs by pressing a trigger button on the palm or wrist with their middle fingers. They can release the webs by pressing the same trigger.
How Does Spider-Man Shoot Webs in the Comics?
In the comic books, Spider-Man shoots webs either from mechanical or organic web shooters on his wrists–same as in the movies.
Most of the comics portray him using mechanical shooters and synthetic webbing, which he sometimes creates himself. However, a few of the comics explore the idea of Spider-Man having organic web-shooters.
Does Spider-Man Shoot Webs From His Body in the Comics?
In some comic books appearing after the Sam Raimi Spider-Man movies, the character developed the ability to shoot natural webs from spinnerets on his wrists.
These comics include stories involving “The Other” plot arc, as well as a standalone issue of The Spectacular Spider-Man.
However, Spider-Man having organic web shooters was not a very popular idea. It seemed to disappear from the comics altogether after Amazing Spider-Man #545.
How Does the Web Come Out of a Spider?
With all this talk of Spider-Man, the character, you may be wondering how actual spiders create and spin their webs.
Not all spiders spin webs, though all of them are able to produce liquid silk inside glands in their bodies.
To release this silk, it moves through ducts and out through spinnerets, where the spider shapes and manipulates it.
The silk is in liquid form until it passes through the ducts. At this point, the spider’s body removes most of the water from the silk, causing it to solidify as it passes out of spinnerets.
Scientists have not been able to recreate spider silk in real life–it is made up of too many complex proteins and substances.
Conclusion
Spider-Man’s webs usually come from mechanical web shooters mounted on his wrists. In some versions of the character, his webs come from glands inside his body.
The MCU’s version of Spider-Man does not have organic web shooters; in other words, he cannot shoot webs from his body. He used his science smarts to create web shooters and the liquid webbing to be used in them.
Sarah Hood is a freelance content writer and editor with a love for all things Star Wars. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking, singing, and spending time in the great outdoors.