Ajei Benally was a college student of Navajo descent. Deep in the desert in search for a cure for her dying grandmother, she was bitten by a mystical spider affiliated with the spider goddess Na’ashjeii Asdzáá. This bite granted her powerful abilities of protection and she donned the name Spider-Weaver, becoming a member of S.T.R.I.K.E..
History
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Ajei Benally was born to a long line of Navajo weavers who passed their techniques and traditions from generation to generation. Brilliant and extroverted, Ajei's family was overjoyed to send her to college in Las Vegas, Nevada. But while she was away, Ajei's grandmother fell mysteriously ill and became too frail to continue weaving the beautiful textiles that paid Ajei's tuition.
Returning home from college, Ajei decided to make it her mission to discover what made her grandmother sick and find a cure. Ajei remembered tales of the Na’ashjeii Asdzáá, a Navajo Spider Deity who protects and guides those in need and set off to find her. Deep in the desert, she found an empty spider web glistening with dewdrops and placed her palm against the web. A great pain shot through her hand, and as she recoiled, she discovered a spider sitting in the middle of the web. Returning home, Ajei was overcome with a fever and, in her sleep, had visions of Na’ashjeii Asdzáá. She told Ajei about the Web of Life and Destiny and that a powerful being was tainting her grandmother’s thread in the hopes of cursing the Na’ashjeii Asdzáá's past and future weavers. But with Ajei's help, the Na’ashjeii Asdzáá could free her grandmother and protect the web.
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Ajei awoke, dazed but rested, and while contemplating her dreams, began a weaving project. But without even thinking, Ajei began producing mystical silk, which transformed into a uniform with a powerful spider design. Rushing to her grandmother, Ajei showed her the mystical silk when suddenly she sprouted ethereal spider arms, which she used to cleanse the Web of Life, healing her grandmother and thwarting whoever sought to hurt the weavers.
With her grandmother safe and secure, Ajei decided to track down this being to protect the Na’ashjeii Asdzáá, the Web of Life, and other weavers who might be vulnerable. Donning the spider clothing she wove earlier, Spider-Weaver followed this being’s path back to her other home, the city of sin, Las Vegas.Attributes
Powers
- Mystical Weaving: Ajei can produce mystical silk and weave powerful objects. Her costume was created in this way while she was in a trance-like state.
Paraphernalia
Weapons
- Ethereal Spider Arms
Trivia
- Spider-Weaver is the third original character introduced in Marvel Strike Force, released as part of the 60th Anniversary celebration for Spider-Man.