WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Silk #1, now on sale from Marvel Comics.
Silk gained spider-powers when she was bit by the same radioactive spider that bit Spider-Man, but her life turned out drastically different from his. After her spider-powers developed, she learned that her powers made her a target for the Inheritors, a clan of villains who hunt down spider-related heroes throughout the multiverse. Silk decided to lock herself away in a bunker in order to protect herself and her loved ones from the Inheritors. She stayed in the bunker for ten years, until Spider-Man learned of her existence and freed her.
Silk's time in the bunker was traumatic for her, since she was totally alone with no way to communicate with anyone on the outside. Still, she gained some useful skills from this experience. By watching video recordings of Spider-Man, she learned how to use her powers in combat. Another effect of being locked in the bunker for ten years was that when Silk finally got out, she was totally unfamiliar with new technology such as smartphones and social media. These technological developments were so jarring for her that she preferred to avoid them whenever possible. As a journalist, she chose to take notes using pen and paper rather than a laptop, prompting her boss J. Jonah Jameson to nickname her "Analog." Though Silk's unfamiliarity with new technology can sometimes be a hindrance, her ability to operate without relying on it gives her an advantage both in her personal life and as a superhero.
In Silk #1 (by Emily Kim, Takeshi Miyazawa, Ian Herring and Ariana Maher), Silk rescues a youth named Lucas Young who is being held hostage by a bank robber. Instead of being afraid, Lucas is delighted to have caught Silk on his social media livestream, and talks about some of the other dangerous stunts he has performed for views. Silk is disgusted that he cares more about internet popularity than his own safety. Lucas's recklessness gets him into danger later, when he breaks in to a museum to film a video for social media and accidentally releases a creature that attacks him.
Silk's reticence toward modern technology means that she doesn't get caught up in trying to achieve internet stardom the way Lucas does. She is sensible enough to understand that safety takes priority over popularity, and that not all technological advancements are for the better. Instead of relying on technology, Silk relies on her own skills of combat and stealth to take down wrongdoers. She also utilizes interpersonal relationships, such as her working relationship with police officer Oli, who allows her to sneak around the museum Lucas broke into. Silk's low-tech approach makes her a more self-reliant and resourceful superhero.
Silk may stay away from social media, but social media doesn't stay away from her. Silk #1 reveals that Silk is hugely popular on the social media app SnapShot, with Lucas and other users posting and sharing videos of the superhero in action. J. Jonah Jameson is furious when he discovers that footage of Silk went viral on social media before his own publication could report on it, and demands that his journalists stay on the cutting edge. Even though Silk prefers to avoid social media, her job and her life make it impossible for her to ignore it altogether. Still, that doesn't mean her whole life has to revolve around it, the way Lucas's does.
Silk's decision not to immerse herself in the latest technologies may not always seem like an advantage, but it can help her be a better superhero. By not relying on technology, she can think more creatively and find solutions to her problems that she may not have found otherwise. Though it comes from her past trauma of living in the bunker, Silk's independence from technology can actually be considered a great strength.
Source: Trendz OH
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