Ezekiel Sims was a rich businessman who, in his younger years, ritualistically gained powers similar to those of Spider-Man. He aspired to use his powers to be a hero, but instead used them to create and develop a corporation, realizing that he could not do anything without a base of operations. He swiftly became too busy to use his powers on a daily basis. When Spider-Man emerged, Ezekiel hired six independent and private detectives to investigate Spider-Man's life, allowing him to piece together who Spider-Man was from the various pieces of information they provided him.
Ezekiel, in his 50s, contacted Spider-Man[7] explaining to him the nature of animal totems: people who gain supernatural abilities from a mystic link to certain animals. He suggested that the spider that bit Peter Parker was not mutated by the radiation, but actually trying to give Peter its powers before the radiation killed it. This meant that Spider-Man was now part of the supernatural food chain, and became a target for other totems and beings who feed on totems (Thus why many of Spider-Man's foes were based on animals to some level; they 'sensed' Peter to be a true totem, thus motivated to destroy him as they were merely impostors.[8]). He subsequently aided Spider-Man in fighting a being known as Morlun, a vampire-like entity that 'fed' on totems, apparently at the cost of his life.[9] It was later revealed that he survived[10] and departed for Africa, where he aided Spider-Man in dealing with Shathra,[11] another supernatural-based menace, by leading Peter to an area where he would have the advantage over Shathra.[12]
It was noted that the vast supernatural menaces that Spider-Man had to face were really after Ezekiel. In an attempt to direct the consequences of gaining his powers onto Spider-Man himself, Ezekiel took Spider-Man to the temple where he had been given his powers and drew blood to attract a massive spider that would take the 'false' totem warrior as a sacrifice.[13] However, in his last moments, he realized that he had done nothing with his powers but help himself, while Peter had selflessly risked his life to save others repeatedly. For this, he attacked the spider that would have eaten Peter, giving his own life to save his friend in recognition of the hero that Peter truly was, thus gaining a chance at redemption. [14]
In Grim Hunt, a reanimated Ezekiel (covered in spiders) appeared before Spider-Man and Arachne.[15] Unknown to Spider-Man, the Ezekiel that appeared before him was really the Chameleon in disguise leading Spider-Man into a trap with the Kravinoffs in order to carry out the resurrection of Sergei Kravinoff, which required the blood of Spider-Man.[16]
During the "Original Sin" storyline following the murder of Uatu the Watcher, Spider-Man's exposure to Uatu's eye during the confrontation with the Orb[17] revealed that Cindy Moon, the second person bitten by the radioactive spider that created Spider-Man, had been held in isolation by Ezekiel. He educated her on how to use her powers but kept her locked in a secret room underneath his office after speaking with Cindy's parents Albert Moon Sr. and Nari Moon.[18] He also appeared to her and Spider-Man in the form of a prerecorded message telling Silk that if she leaves the lair, there is no hope for them all (likely referring to the Spider-Totems).[19] It is also revealed that Ezekiel had kept Silk safe in her lair to prevent Morlun from finding out. Years later, Spider-Man learns about Silk and frees her from Ezekiel's bunker, allowing her to start a new life and career. This ends up triggering the multiversal hunt of all spiders as the Inheritors are now aware of Silk's existence as the "Bride".[18]
Ezekiel's organization is later taken over by Tamara Phearson under his alias of Fang.[20]
Powers and abilities
Ezekiel possesses a number of superhuman attributes that are almost identical to those naturally possessed by Spider-Man. His strength, speed, stamina, agility, reaction time, and resistance to physical injury are all enhanced to superhuman levels. Although Ezekiel is of an advanced age, none of his physical attributes have declined over the decades.
Ezekiel also possesses the ability to stick to most surfaces and crawl along them in the same way as Spider-Man. He also possesses a type of E.S.P. that serves as an early warning system in much the same way as Spider-Man's spider-sense, although his was not as developed as Spider-Man's. Because of their nearly identical powers, Ezekiel and Spider-Man are immune to each other's early warning system.
In addition to his powers, Ezekiel is extremely wealthy and is a highly skilled businessman and owner of a company with international connections. As with Spider-Man, he is a formidable hand-to-hand combatant though he has had no formal training. He uses a unique type of freestyle fighting that allows him to make full use of his powers. He does not seem to have any web-generating devices like Spider-Man's web-shooters, and is never seen to produce any webbing naturally. In his conversations with Peter Parker, the subject never comes up. He is knowledgeable of the mystical nature of totems, and once told Peter the legend of the first "Spider-Man".
One of the Spider-Men recruited to fight the Inheritors is the "Old Man Spider" of Earth-4 who wears a similar outfit to the Spider-Man of Earth-312500.[a][21] After being fatally injured by Daemos of the Inheritors, the "Old Man Spider-Man" is revealed to be an alternate Ezekiel who took up the Spider-Man identity after Morlun killed his version of Peter. Before succumbing to his wounds, Ezekiel implores the Spider-Man of Earth-616 to protect "the Bride, the Other, and the Scion".[22]
The Earth-3145 version of Ezekiel approached Ben Parker (who had retired from being Spider-Man after Aunt May and Peter were killed by the Emerald Elf) and informed Ben about the imminent arrival of Morlun to kill him. With nothing left, Ben accepted Ezekiel's offer and was maintained in a secret bunker in Sims Tower even after New York City was destroyed in a nuclear holocaust caused by one of Doctor Octopus' blackmail schemes.[23]
In other media
Tahar Rahim plays Ezekiel in Madame Web.
Film
An alternate universe incarnation of Ezekiel Sims, also known as Spider-Therapist, appears in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023), voiced by Mike Rianda.[24] This version is a therapist and grief counselor for Miguel O'Hara's Spider-Society who received his doctorate from Ditko University.[2][3]
Ezekiel Sims appears in Madame Web (2024), portrayed by Tahar Rahim.[4][25] This version is an explorer and friend of Cassie Webb's late mother Constance. In flashbacks, he sought out a rare Peruvian spider with healing properties, during which he betrayed and killed Constance and acquired powers similar to Spider-Man, as well as the ability to poison individuals, and wears a black and red suit similar to Spider-Man's. In the present, after seeing visions that suggest one of three Spider-Women will kill him as a side effect of stealing the spider, he sets out to kill them first via stolen NSA technology. However, Cassie develops powers of her own, sets out to protect the Spider-Women, and eventually defeats and kills him by dropping a Pepsi sign on him. This incarnation of Ezekiel has been criticized online for lacking characterization and context for his motives. The noticeable use of ADR for much of his dialogue, was also acknowledged.[26][27][28]
^Brevoort, Tom; DeFalco, Tom; Manning, Matthew K.; Sanderson, Peter; Wiacek, Win (2017). Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History. DK Publishing. p. 305. ISBN978-1465455505.
^Dan Slott (w), Olivier Coipel (p), Wade von Grawbadger (i). "Spider-Verse: Part 2" The Amazing Spider-Man, vol. 3, no. 10 (19 November 2014). United States: Marvel Comics.
^Dan Slott (w), Giuseppe Camuncoli (p), Cam Smith (i). "Spider-Verse Part Five: Spider-Men: No More" The Amazing Spider-Man, vol. 3, no. 13 (21 January 2015). United States: Marvel Comics.
