| “ | I know someone's out there! You can't fool me, no sir! Damn kids, with your pranks and rascally ways! | „ |
| ~ Mr. Web sensing Ghost Wolf's presence in Fables #32 — "The Dark, Killing Winter" |
Mr. Web is a Fable spider, who lives in Fabletown in New York City and debuts in Fables #24 — "The Letter: Chapter Five of March of the Wooden Soldiers." He and his wife, Miss Muffet, run the local grocery store, Web 'n' Muffet Market.
History
Background
When Miss Muffet first encountered Mr. Web in the Homelands during her youth,[1] she had an intense phobia of spiders.[4] However, as they escaped from the Adversary together, and he not only saved her but proved to be her protector, her fears slowly dissipated.[1]
Eventually, Web and Muffet became inseparable partners in both business and love, running the grocery store[1] Web 'n' Muffet Market in Fabletown.[3] Web was eventually transformed[5] into a human and the two were married.[1]
Fabletown
As Fabletown becomes endangered by the wooden soldiers, Muffet and Mr. Web join the other Fables in the Business Office to attend Snow White's briefing on security measures.[6] In the aftermath of the Battle of Fabletown, the couple pays their respects at the funeral at the Witching Well, for the fallen Fables who bravely fought against the Wooden Soldiers.[7]
Web and his wife are later seen in line to cast their votes for the next mayor.[8]
Death
On a chilly winter night, Mr. Web hears noises outside his Woodland apartment and assumes that some mischievous kids are playing tricks on him. He goes out to investigate, but there is no one in sight. Out of nowhere, he feels his air supply being cut off by an invisible force, slowly suffocating him to death. As he takes his final gasps of air, he pleads for mercy, but it falls on deaf ears. Miss Muffet is heading out to open their market when she discovers his lifeless body outside their apartment the next morning. Overwhelmed with sorrow, she finds solace in Flycatcher's embrace as Doctor Swineheart examines the corpse.[3] Later on, it is discovered that Web's death was a tragic accident caused by Snow White's zephyr son Ghost.[9] His body is surrendered to the depths of the Witching Well.[10]
Haven
Web's ghost, taking the form of a spider once more, is confined in the netherworld below the Witching Well, alongside the spirits of the rest of the individuals who were laid to rest in the well. He later accompanies Flycatcher to the Kingdom of Haven,[10] where he is given new flesh and blood.[2] He diligently helps Flycatcher rebuild the kingdom by spinning endless streams of silk, so that they have cloth for their tents and clothes and anything else that occurs to them to want.[2] Additionally, he assists in the reconstruction of Flycatcher's castle.[1] When the Adversary's forces launch an attack on Haven, Flycatcher temporarily releases Web and the other ghosts from the constraints of the flesh, allowing them to sow fear and terror among the enemy's ranks in their ghostly form.[11]
After the enemy is defeated, Flycatcher calls Web and the rest of the ghost army to assemble: He states to his loyal subjects that they can choose to remain here in a semblance of life, or finally pass on to whatever fates await them. However, if they choose to stay, they will have to remain within the boundaries of Haven, as they cannot leave the kingdom without becoming a ghost once more, and automatically pass on to whatever comes next.[12]
After a baseball match in Haven, Mr. Web joins in on the victory celebration and is seen holding two tankards of ale in his pincers as he crawls down a pillar in the midst of the drunken festivities.[13]
Reunion
In the midst of a mass exodus to escape from Mister Dark, Miss Muffet seeks Mr. Web out in Haven, where he resides in his own residence. Sadly, she finds that her past fears of him have resurfaced and magnified upon encountering his current form. Despite her determination and efforts to make it function, the experience of spending time with him while he is in his spider form becomes overwhelming for her. Consequently, she reluctantly decides to end their contact, expressing her deep sadness at the thought of missing him. Both of them shed tears during this emotional separation.[1]
Web later takes part in the preparations for the upcoming confrontation with Mister Dark, and also helps out by spinning silk for the costumes for the superhero team,[1] and weaving it into clothing. Pinocchio asks which superhero title Bigby would prefer, as Web is about to weave the insignia for his costume.[14]
Following the collapse of the magical barrier protecting Haven from Mister Dark, Mr. Web and his wife are spotted among the frantic crowd. However, they maintain a noticeable distance between each other.[15]
The glamour crusade
Upon discovering the Lottery at the Farm offering a temporary glamour prize, Web becomes thrilled at the opportunity to reunite with his wife.[1] Web attends the Lottery at the Farm, accompanied by Flycatcher,[4] as the resurrected inhabitants of Haven can venture outside of Haven without transforming into ghosts again, as long as Flycatcher accompanies them to maintain their corporeal forms.[16] Much to his delight, Web is successful in snagging one of the highly sought-after glamour prices.[4]
On the highly anticipated Glamour Day, the winners gather to receive their coveted prizes. Web is accompanied by Flycatcher once again, along with Miss Muffet, who has scheduled a trip back to Haven to be with Web while he is in human form. Unfortunately, owing to an error in the glamours that were caused by Mister Sunflower accidentally knocking them over, the spell is not functioning properly: Even though Web is glamoured as a human, Miss Muffet is fully transformed into an enormous spider, leading to a resurgence of her agoraphobia and causing her to become extremely frightened. Fortunately, Morgan le Fay is able to rectify the situation. Following the transformation of his wife back into a human, Mr. Web proceeds to console Miss Muffet.[4]
Physical appearance
Mr. Web's natural form is that of a giant,[1] old[5][14] spider.[1] As a human, he takes the form of an elderly man characterized by a predominantly bald head, grey hair, thick dark eyebrows, and glasses. He uses a walking stick to get around.[3]
Personality and traits
| “ | He wasn't a bad sort for an old transformed spider. | „ |
| ~ Frau Totenkinder to Kay, Fables #60 — "The Good Prince, Chapter One: Flycatcher" |
According to Frau Totenkinder, Mr. Web was a pleasant person overall, who would offer grocery delivery services for customers at the Web 'n' Muffet Market when he was alive.[5]
Mr. Web was a skilled spinner and weaver.
When he returns to spider form after his death, Mr. Web always feels needed, as he helps rebuild Flycatcher's castle, readies himself for battle against the Adversary and Mister Dark, and spins silk for everything from curtains to clothes. In spite of his current usefulness, the giant spider never feels wanted or loved, because of his arachnid nature; leading to a profound sense of loneliness.[1]
Abilities
- Excellent spinner: In his spider form, Mr. Web is capable of spinning endless streams of silk that can be used to make cloth for everything from tents to clothing,[2] sheets and curtains.[1]
- Skilled weaver: When Web starts spinning for Flycatcher, other people are seen doing the actual weaving.[2] However, Web also has a talent for weaving his own clothing from the silk he spins, as he is witnessed doing with the superhero team's costumes. Pinocchio mentions that Web is currently in the process of weaving the insignia for Bigby's costume.[14] When Miss Muffet is having trouble choosing a dress for dinner in Haven, he kindly offers to create a new one for her.[1]
Appearances
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Original source
He is based on the unnamed spider from the nursery rhyme "Little Miss Muffet." One common version of the rhyme goes:
Little Miss Muffet
Sat on a tuffet,
Eating her curds and whey;
There came a big spider,
Who sat down beside her
And frightened Miss Muffet away.
Trivia
In Fairest, his name is spelled incorrectly, as "Mr. Webb," with two B's.[1][4]
References