Spider-Man is well-known in Marvel comics and movies as a teenage science whiz who fights crime while hiding his secret identity.
UTA’s Spider-Man, however, is a kinesiology senior who wants to put a smile on students’ faces.
He doesn't shoot webs. He doesn’t fight enemies. Instead, he is a peer who understands the stress of school.
Alongside Blaze, @atx_spidey has become somewhat of a mascot for UTA.
It’s an unspoken agreement that no one on campus will reveal Spider-Man’s identity. Friends, family and some Maverick Activities Center front desk workers, who saw him swipe in once or twice, all hold the secret.
While marketing junior Morgan Pareja put the pieces together of the campus Spider-Man’s identity, she said he laid clues out for her.
Pareja met the character in her freshman year and said he was the life of the party. Throughout the years, Spider-Man has become a big part of campus culture.
“Every time that I see that he’s dressed up and I see him interact with people, it makes me really happy, just because I know that it’s nothing but a positive influence,” Pareja said.
Unlike the tall and handsome Captain America or Iron Man, who can buy himself out of any problem, the character Spider-Man has real issues.
“It was one of the most relatable people that I had ever read growing up, and knowing that he was able to persevere as a character through all of his problems and do what’s right no matter what,” Spider-Man said.
As Spider-Man makes his way through campus, heads turn and cameras come out to capture the unusual sight. Some roll down their windows to greet him or stop their treks to class to get a photo together.
Tanner Nunn, mechanical and aerospace engineering senior, made his own costume for UTA’s Halloween Casino Night in fall 2022. He dressed as Doctor Octopus, one of Spider-Man’s main villains, for the event.
Before suiting up, Nunn joked with Spider-Man that his villain might make an appearance. The pair “geeked out,” naturally, as worlds collided. To this day, they still greet each other by their personas and catch up on new costumes in the works.
“I just find Spider-Man as a very hopeful and endearing character and what I believe and hope that UTA Spider-Man’s goal is, is just to spread that same type of endearments and hope for students across campus,” Nunn said.
At times, UTA’s Spider-Man felt similar struggles to his Marvel counterpart. Last year, he stepped away from the persona. When he opened up on the r/utarlington subreddit, the community encouraged him.
“To the guy behind the suit, it’s completely understandable for why you’ve needed time for yourself,” one comment read. “You seem to be a really caring person, even in this situation you’re still thinking of how you affect and help others. Please take care of yourself and remember, you deserve peace and rest.”
Ultimately, he shows up for the people and will continue to do so. He doesn’t receive any compensation, he said, nor does he want to.
Suiting up as Spider-Man started as a joke with a few friends. He inherited the suit from a close relative, and despite anticipating embarrassment, he made the character his own.
He said he loves the attention. But he also loves the privacy that comes with the mask.
“It’s allowed me to be able to express myself more openly without fear of being shamed or embarrassed about anything,” Spider-Man said.
But that goes both ways. Without fear of judgment, people have shared personal stories, from breakups and infidelity to trauma and abuse, with the faceless character.
“Being able to talk to someone who you know won’t judge and know you probably won’t see again for a long time. There’s comfort in that,” Spider-Man said.
As UTA’s Spider-Man nears graduation, his presence will be missed throughout campus.
Nunn said he feels content graduating without ever knowing Spider-Man’s identity.
“I still don’t know who he is, but I know more about him than I expected I ever would,” Nunn said.
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