Real Name: Eric Needham
Occupation: Assassin
Marital Status: Single
Base of Operations: Gotham City
Height: 5ft 10in
Weight: 173lbs
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
First Appearance: Detective Comics #463 (September 1976)
Created By: Gerry Conway

Eric Needham was a small time crook who was addicted to heroin. Desperate for money to buy more drugs, he robbed a liquor store and killed the owner, who turned out to be his father. After being arrested, he kicked the habit out of remorse and began a war on the drug trade.

Donning a costume, he became a self-styled vigilante and began killing those suspected of dealing drugs. This soon brought him into conflict with Batman. Needham believed that the two should be allies, as he saw common purpose in their war against criminals. His murderous methods however continually put him at odds with the Dark Knight.

Despite his professed desire to fight criminals, the Black Spider occasionally allied himself with costumed villains. Ostensibly, Black Spider's goal in this was to seek revenge against Batman, or at least, this is how he attempted to justify his actions in his own mind.

During his war, Needham's wife and son were killed by a drug lord who had discovered the Black Spider's identity. In rage, the Spider prepared for one final assault. After being shot multiple times, Needham invaded the drug lord's headquarters and detonated explosives strapped to his back, killing the drug dealers in the process.

Eric Needham later turned up in The Sandman, Lyta Hall. No explanation was given for his resurrection. However, depicted souls of sinners escaping Hell when its ruler, Lucifer abdicated the throne. Presumably, Needham was among these.

Whatever the case, Needham's survival has since been confirmed and the character has made subsequent appearances as the Black Spider, such as in the miniseries Underworld Unleashed. He was last seen in Identity Crisis as an ally of Deadshot, Monocle, Merlyn, et al, and was later referred to as being deceased with the identity of the Black Spider given to another small-time criminal.