BLACK SPIDER I (Eric Needham)	BIOGRAPHY
Created by Gerry Conway and Ernie Chan

PERSONAL DATA

Real Name: Eric Needham
Occupation: Ex-street thug turned professional assassin
Citizenship: American
Marital Status: Widowed
Known Relatives: Jacob (father; deceased); wife and child (deceased)
Base of Operation: Gotham City
Group Affiliation (former): Suicide Squad, The Society
Gender: Male
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 173 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
First Appearance: Detective Comics #463 (September 1976): "Death-Web"
Creators: Gerry Conway and Ernie Chan

HISTORY

Eric Needham was a drug addict in his youth until he inadvertently killed a man who, it transpired, was his father. The grief and rage from this incident enabled him to kick the habit, and he began to avenge himself on all drug dealers. He took on the identity of the Black Spider and used high powered weaponry to take out those he suspected of involvement in the drug trade. When his wife and child were killed as a result of drugs, Needham strapped explosives to himself and took out an entire drug ring, killing himself in the process.

However, some years later, Needham was apparently revived by Baron Agua Sin Gaaz, as he has been spotted in Zandia and is now a part of a loose grouping of assassins and mercenaries who meet to share information and sometimes to socialise on a semi-regular basis. Evidently his resurrection also altered his personality.

Needham was succeeded by the second Black Spider (Johnny LaMonica) and third Black Spider (Derrick Coe). - Batman #518 & Birds of Prey #87

CHRONOLOGY

For a definitive list of appearances of Black Spider in chronological order click here (1976-2011) and here (2011-present)

PROFILE REFERENCES

Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #3 (May 1985)