Name: Black Spider
Universe: Earth-1
Alter Ego: Eric Needham
Occupation: Ex-street thug, now Professional Assassin
Marital Status: Single
Group Affiliation: None
Base of Operations: Gotham City
Known Relatives: Jacob (father, deceased)
Height: 5 ft. 10 in.
Weight: 173 lbs.
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
First Appearance: Detective Comics #463

History:
A drug addict in his youth, Eric Needham turned to crime to support his habit. After several years of petty theft and muggings, Needham attempted armed robbery, breaking into a liquor store and inadvertently killing a man, who turned out to be Needham's own father.

Going somewhat mad with remorse, Needham kicked his drug habit and sought vengeance against drug dealers everywhere. Learning of Needham's obsession, a mysterious source supplied Needham with extensive training, a colorful costume, and sophisticated weaponry. Since he intended to prey on criminal "super-flies", Needham took the name Black Spider.

Ironically, it was ultimately revealed that the source of Black Spider's costume and equipment was one Hannibal Hardwicke, secretly the drug king of Gotham City, who was using Needham's obsession to help eliminate Hardwicke's criminal rivals.

Powers:
Though he tends to use the latest in high-powered weaponry, including, for example, laser-assisted rifles and shotguns, Black Spider's costume also includes a retractable wrist-pistol capable of pinpoint accuracy up to fifty yards.

Black Spider is an Olympic-level athlete, and has been intensely trained in many forms of physical combat, making him a dangerous opponent.