The Coronavirus pandemic has caused the World Health Organization and CDC to recommend people wear cloth face coverings when they encounter situations that make social distancing difficult (i.e. grocery stores and pharmacies). These face masks are not to prevent the wearer from contracting the virus, but rather to prevent him or her from spreading the virus to others. Essentially, those who wear even a simple face mask are taking responsibility for those around them.
Interestingly, Marvel Comics’ most responsible hero Spider-Man recently joked in a fan-produced comic book that he was uniquely prepared to help people during the COVID-19 pandemic since he was already wearing a full head mask and gloves, making it easier for him to interact with people who need help getting groceries. However, Spider-Man’s ally, the spider-powered Silk may actually be an even better poster child -- because the masks now worn to protect those around us is literally her entire disguise while doing the exact same thing.
Silk (aka Cindy Moon) was bitten by the same radioactive spider that bit Peter Parker and acquired spider-powers of her own (including the ability to spin her own organic webs). While she was out of circulation for years, Cindy eventually returned to New York to fight crime alongside Spider-Man and other superheroes. Cindy proved popular and was portrayed by Chinese-American actress Tiffany Espensen in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Sony has also announced a live-action Silk movie and the character is slated to appear in a spin-off to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
Unlike other Spider-characters in the Marvel Universe, Silk doesn’t wear a full head mask or hide her eyes behind the distinctive white eyepieces worn by Spider-Man, Spider-Girl, or Spider-Woman. Instead, she spins her own costume out of her webs and covers the lower part of her face in a Western-like face mask. The look makes her resemble classic pulp heroes like The Shadow.
Essentially, Silk has always worn the face masks recommended by the CDC and WHO, albeit for different reasons. Because of the COID-19 pandemic, however, Marvel could use Silk’s look to show others the importance of wearing masks to avoid spreading coronavirus. Silk has also been regarded as one of Marvel’s more attractive and mysterious figures, making her mask choice fashionable as well.
Ironically, since everyone is now wearing masks in public (or should be), Silk may encounter some problems maintaining her secret identity. If Cindy keeps showing up to work wearing a face mask, it won’t be long before her co-workers at J. Jonah Jameson’s online site Threats and Menaces start putting two and two together and realize she looks exactly like Silk. On the other hand, if everyone starts wearing masks, it might actually become easier for Silk to blend in with the general population.
Jokes aside, since mask-wearing is becoming more important in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, having role models like Silk and Spider-Man is more important than ever. Not everyone can play the role doctors, nurses, and essential workers do during this time, but everyone can still help save others. Especially in a mask.
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