Martha Connors

Martha Connors
Martha Connors
	Martha Connors
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	The Amazing Spider-Man #6 (Nov. 1963)
Created by	Stan Lee (writer); Steve Ditko (artist)
In-story information
Species	Human mutate
Team affiliations	New U Technologies
Abilities	As a lizard: Superhuman strength, speed, agility, stamina, durability, and reflexes; Regenerative healing factor; Hardened scale-like skin; Razor-sharp claws and teeth; Powerful tail;

Martha Connors is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. She is usually depicted as a supporting character of Spider-Man, and the wife of Dr. Curt Connors, also known as the Lizard. Much of her character's story revolves around her constant suffering, yet perseverance through her husband's constant transformations. Martha was later injected with Curt's Lizard Formula to cure her of a deadly virus, which also mutated her into an anthropomorphic lizard.

Publication history

The character was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko and first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #6 (November 1963).

Fictional character biography

Martha Connors is the wife of Curt Connors and the mother of Billy Connors. Despite Martha warning him about the potential consequences, Curt tests his lizard formula on himself and transforms into a lizard monster before Spider-Man cures him.^[1]

In subsequent appearances, Martha is menaced by the Lizard and other villains before dying from cancer.^[2]^[3] Years later, Ben Reilly resurrects her and Billy in Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy.

The two are later infected with the Carrion virus and turned into Lizards to save their lives.^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7] However, they remain on good terms with Spider-Man and Mary Jane Watson.^[8]

Other versions

Newspaper Strips

In the Spider-Man newspaper strips, Martha is renamed Lydia Connors.

Ultimate Marvel

In the Ultimate Marvel Universe (Earth-1610), Martha is renamed Doris Connors and had long since divorced her husband due to his experiments. She receives a letter from her husband explaining his actions.^[9]

In other media

Television

Martha Connors, referred to as "Mrs. Conner", appears in Spider-Man (1967), voiced by Peg Dixon.^{[citation needed]}
Martha Connors, renamed Margaret Connors, appears in Spider-Man (1994), voiced by Giselle Loren.^[10]
Martha Connors appears in The Spectacular Spider-Man, voiced by Kath Soucie.^[10] This version is a geneticist who works with Curt Connors at Empire State University (ESU) until they are forced out by Miles Warren.^[11]

Film

Martha Connors was meant to appear in The Amazing Spider-Man, portrayed by Annie Parisse, before her scenes were cut from the final film.^[12]

Video games

Martha Connors makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in Spider-Man 2 via a photograph.^[13]

References

^ The Amazing Spider-Man #6. Marvel Comics.
^ The Amazing Spider-Man #74-77. Marvel Comics.
^ Spider-Man: Quality of Life #4. Marvel Comics.
^ The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4 #4. Marvel Comics.
^ The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4 #17. Marvel Comics.
^ The Clone Conspiracy #5. Marvel Comics.
^ The Clone Conspiracy Omega #1. Marvel Comics.
^ The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 5 #14-15. Marvel Comics.
^ Ultimate Marvel Team-Up #10. Marvel Comics.
^ ^a ^b "Martha Connors Voices (Spider-Man)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved August 17, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
^ Bullock, Dave (director); Matt Wayne (writer) (March 15, 2008). "Natural Selection". The Spectacular Spider-Man. Season 1. Episode 3. Kids WB.
^ Kit, Borys (December 3, 2010). "EXCLUSIVE: Spider-Man Gets a Set of Parents and Another Villain". The Hollywood Reporter. Nielsen Company. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
^ Insomniac Games (2023). Spider-Man 2. Sony Interactive Entertainment.