| Character Name: | Steel Spider |
| Real Name: | Oliver "Ollie" Osnick |
| Publisher: | Marvel Comics |
| Debut: | (As Ollie Osnick): The Spectacular Spider-Man #72 (Nov 1982) (As Spider-Kid): The Amazing Spider-Man #263 (April 1985) (As Steel Spider): Spider-Man Unlimited #5 (May 1994) |
| Creators: | Bill Mantlo (writer) Ed Hannigan (artist) |
| Alliances: | The Misfits |
| Aliases: | Kid Ock, Spider-Kid |
| Powers: | Gifted inventor Genius-level intellect Wears mechanical spider legs and gauntlets containing a grappling hook launcher and pepper spray blasters |
Steel Spider (Oliver "Ollie" Osnick) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Oliver Osnnick started out as a teenager who idolized Doctor Octopus until Spider-Man saved him following a misunderstanding and he took up a path that led to him becoming Steel Spider and even started improving his appearance and gadgets that are associated with his Steel Spider alias.
Ollie Osnick first appeared in The Spectacular Spider-Man #72 as Kid Ock and was created by Bill Mantlo and Ed Hannigan. He first appeared as Spider-Kid in The Amazing Spider-Man #263, and as Steel Spider in Spider-Man Unlimited #5.
Ollie Osnick is a teenager who idolized Doctor Octopus and built a set of mechanical tentacles to emulate him. As Kid Ock, he battles Spider-Man, who mistakes him for Doctor Octopus before learning the truth.[1] [2] [3]
Impressed with Spider-Man, Ollie modifies his tentacles into spider-legs and dons a Spider-Man Halloween costume, calling himself the Spider-Kid. He joins a short-lived team called the Misfits alongside Frog-Man and Toad before being convinced to retire.[4] [5]
While in college, Ollie becomes the Steel Spider to get revenge on the muggers who attacked and paralyzed his girlfriend Jane. However, he ultimately reconsiders his motives and retires to spend time with Jane.[6]
When Onslaught attacks New York City, Steel Spider works with Darkhawk and the New Warriors to retake the Brooklyn Bridge from the Sentinels.[7]
During the "Civil War" storyline, the Thunderbolts attack Steel Spider due to him not being registered under the Superhero Registration Act. He loses his left arm to Venom and is imprisoned in Negative Zone Prison Alpha after Radioactive Man cauterizes the wound.[8]
During the "Heroic Age" storyline, following Norman Osborn's defeat during the Siege of Asgard, Captain America researches Steel Spider and considers freeing him from prison.[9]
Ollie Osnick has no superpowers, but he is a gifted inventor with a genius-level intellect. His suit has mechanical spider legs as well as gauntlets that contain a grappling hook launcher and pepper spray blasters.
A possible future variant of Ollie Osnick / Steel Spider appears in the MC2 story Spider-Girl #32. Having retained the use of the Steel Spider identity, he modifies his suit into a powerful exoskeleton and becomes a highly respected superhero. However, his wife leaves him, leading to him taking out his frustrations on criminals. After helping Spider-Girl and American Dream defeat the Sons of the Serpent, Osnick reforms and sets about rebuilding his personal life.[10]
Steel Spider appears as a playable character in Spider-Man Unlimited.