The latest addition to Sony's ever-expanding Spider-Man Universe just swung in theaters on Valentine's Day. Of course, not everyone is aware of Cassandra Webb's origins, so why is Cassie in a wheelchair in Madame Web? Read all about it here.
SPOILER WARNING: This article includes spoilers for Madame Web, so proceed with caution.
How Did Cassandra Webb Turn Blind in Madame Web?
Make way for the Spider-Women joining the SSU this February.
Madame Web, whose real name is Cassandra Webb, first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man comic #210 in November 1980.
While "Cassie" has plenty of psychic abilities, including telepathy, astral projection, and clairvoyance, she also happens to have a disability: blindness.
Cassandra's precognitive abilities come from her mutant gene (the same DNA where X-Men get their variety of powers), unlike from getting bitten by a chemically-enhanced spider.
Originally, in the comics, Cassie was supposed to be an elderly woman who was blind and paralyzed.
However, Sony wanted to show how Julia Cornwell would become the 'new' Madame Web before letting viewers know more about the aftermath for Cassie in the story.
Considering that the end of Madame Web showcases Julia inheriting the title from her predecessor, it is only then that Cassie's work behind the scenes will fall into place in expanding the "Spider-Verse."
In this case, the "blindness" wasn't a natural cause. Cassie was knocked out by Ezekiel Sims and got hit by the falling debris, which not only affected her sight but presumably her body, as well.
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Why Was Cassie in a Wheelchair at the End?
Despite her psychic powers, Madame Web couldn't escape her tragic fate.
Cassandra Webb's origin story tells that she was born "without typical sight" and a neurological condition called myasthenia gravis, which is a chronic autoimmune disorder that "affects the voluntary muscles of the body."
This particularly involves the voluntary muscles that control the eyes, mouth, throat, and limbs. The disease can appear as early as ages 20 and 30 for women, and 50 and older for men.
As for the Sony film, though, Cassie's body gets permanently damaged, and would likely have to deal with her state for the rest of her life.
Don't let the wheelchair fool you, though. If anything, the device is supposed to enhance her psychic and spider abilities.
The wheelchair is her life-support system that was designed by her late husband, Jonathan Webb, in which Cassie can still function normally despite her new state.
Meanwhile, Madame Web just swung its way in theaters worldwide.
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