Maria Vasquez was a brilliant biologist and engineer, but after the deaths of her father and sister she became a ruthless vigilante. Calling herself the Tarantula, Maria joined the Heroes for Hire and used her arm blades and combat skills to fight crime. Tarantula is just as cruel and merciless as her arachnid namesake, and if ordered not to kill she will viciously maim her enemies. After the disbanding of her team, Tarantula was extradited for murder and found herself on the run.