The Prowler is an alias used by several fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. These characters are primarily depicted as wearing a green and purple battle suit with a cape and clawed gauntlets.
The original version, Hobie Brown, was created by Stan Lee, John Buscema and Jim Mooney, based on a drawing by 13-year-old John Romita Jr., who also named the character. The character was introduced in The Amazing Spider-Man #78 (November 1969) as an adversary to the superhero Spider-Man. An African-American teenage prodigy, Hobie created the Prowler technology to operate as a petty thief, but following his encounter with Spider-Man, he was convinced to turn his life around. Since his redemption, Hobie has served as a valuable ally to Spider-Man, as well as a superhero in his own right, leading the 1994 limited series Prowler.
Additionally, several other characters have used the Prowler alias and technology in the mainstream Marvel universe, including an unnamed self-titled "Second Prowler" (created by Lee and Steve Ditko) and medical intern Rick Lawson (created by Todd DeZago and Mike Wieringo). A clone of Hobie Brown (created by Dan Slott and R.B. Silva) serves as the lead character of a second Prowler limited series, which ties in with the 2016–2017 storyline "Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy". In the alternate Ultimate Marvel universe, the Prowler identity is assumed by Aaron Davis, a career criminal and the uncle of Miles Morales / Spider-Man. Created by Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli and introduced in Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #1 (November 2011), Davis was later incorporated into the primary Marvel continuity following Secret Wars as a separate Prowler operating independently from the others.
Both Hobie Brown and Aaron Davis have appeared in several media adaptations outside of comics, including films, animated series, and video games. Davis is portrayed by Donald Glover in the live-action Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) and voiced by Mahershala Ali in the animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018). Additionally, both actors make cameo appearances in the animated film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023), in which Jharrel Jerome also voices Miles G. Morales, an original incarnation of the Prowler who will return in Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse (2027).
Publication history
The original incarnation of the Prowler, Hobie Brown, debuted in The Amazing Spider-Man #78 (November 1969) and was created by writer Stan Lee and artists John Buscema and Jim Mooney. The character eventually appeared in his own solo comic, The Prowler. The character was inspired by Romita's 13-year-old son John Romita Jr., who sketched a villain called the Prowler. Lee liked the name but not the costume; Romita combined the name with a design he had previously intended for a character called the Stalker that was intended for the never-published The Spectacular Spider-Man #3.
Since Hobie, several other characters have taken up the Prowler identity. The second version first appeared in Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #47 (October 1980), and was created by Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko. The third version, Rick Lawson, first appeared in The Sensational Spider-Man #16 (May 1997) and was created by writer Todd DeZago and artist Mike Wieringo.
The Ultimate Marvel iteration of Prowler, Aaron Davis, first appeared in Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #1 (November 2011) and was created by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Sara Pichelli.
The fourth Prowler in the mainline Earth-616 continuity is a clone of Hobie Brown, who first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 4 #17 (August 2016) and was created by Dan Slott and R.B. Silva. He later served as the protagonist of the "Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy" tie-in limited series Prowler, published from October 2016 to May 2017.
Fictional character biography Hobie Brown Hobie Brown is the original incarnation of the Prowler. Born in the Bronx, he was a bright but angry African-American teenager who was fired from his window washer job. Intending to use his engineering skills for personal profit, he devises a plan to steal items while disguised as a supervillain and then return said items as Hobie. Donning his green and purple Prowler costume for the first time, Hobie sets out to rob the payroll office of the Daily Bugle, figuring that this will garner him quick publicity. However, he is caught in the act by Peter Parker. While struggling with Parker, he draws editor J. Jonah Jameson's attention. Parker, with no way to defeat Prowler without giving away his own secret identity, allows himself to be thrown through a window during the struggle, and saves himself once he is outside. Traumatized by the events, Hobie makes his escape to the building's roof, only to be confronted by Spider-Man. Spider-Man unmasks Hobie, but realizes he is just a misunderstood kid like Peter once was. Instead of handing him over to the police, he advises him to rethink his life.The Amazing Spider-Man #78–79 (1969)
Hobie takes Spider-Man's advice to heart and gives up his criminal ways. He later impersonates Spider-Man at the hero's request – Spider-Man wearing a webbing mask – to convince Peter's friends that he was not Spider-Man after Peter 'confessed' the truth while delirious from a flu.The Amazing Spider-Man #87 Hobie is convinced that Spider-Man was involved somehow in police captain George Stacy's death, and unsuccessfully tries to bring Spider-Man to justice.The Amazing Spider-Man #93 Hobie eventually marries his love Mindy McPherson and settles down into a career as a construction worker.
Hobie begins to look after his 'little brother' Manuel "Manny" Lopez as a part of the Big Brother Program. When Manny is murdered, Prowler believes that White Tiger (Hector Ayala) was responsible and attempts to bring White Tiger to justice.Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #21 Prowler attempts to join the super-hero group the Defenders, only to be tossed into the harbor by Valkyrie, at which point he decides to retire the Prowler identity.The Defenders #62-64 His Prowler equipment is stolen by a cat burglar to commit crimes for fashion criminal Bella Donna. Hobie is eager to join the search for the thieves, but Spider-Man insists that he stay home so he would not get into trouble, since the second Prowler had committed a felony murder. When Spider-Man defeats the second Prowler, the stolen equipment is returned to Hobie.Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #47-48
Prowler later appears in California during Peter's Webs book deal. He is first seen attacking the Black Fox (Raul Chalmers) for possession of a chalice to keep Mindy out of prison. Mindy accepts a bookkeeping job at Transcorp New York. The company has been caught in shady stock deals, and Mindy is set up and blamed for the crimes. Seeing it as the only way to clear Mindy's name, Hobie re-dons his Prowler costume and finds the books which Mindy had been blamed for stealing. He hides the books on an information chip and puts the information chip on the chalice, where no one would look for it. Prowler and Spider-Man then team up to take on the Black Fox and reclaim the chalice. Hobie vindicates his wife of stock fraud charges with the help of Spider-Man and Black Fox.The Amazing Spider-Man #305
Prowler later attempts to vindicate Spider-Man of a crime and first encounters Silver Sable and the Outlaws (including rehabilitated villains Sandman, Rocket Racer and Puma).Web of Spider-Man #50 His safety designs are stolen by Justin Hammer. Hobie proves the design's flaws during an encounter with Hammer's hirelings.The Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #9 Hobie assists the Outlaws on several occasions before formally joining them to rescue the kidnapped daughter of a Canadian official.The Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #10Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #47Excalibur #36The Amazing Spider-Man #25, Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #11, Web of Spider-Man #7
Later, Hobie is paralyzed during the Great Game.Spider-Man Unlimited #16 In follow-up appearances,The Sensational Spider-Man #16–18 (1997) he begins regaining movement of his paralyzed limbs. It is suggested that his paralysis is a result of mental rather than physical damage, as he was feeling frustrated over the recent theft of his costume, eventually regaining full mobility.The Sensational Spider-Man #25 (1997) While recovering, Hobie provides Spidey with a jetpack used when assuming the Hornet identity during the Identity Crisis storyline.The Sensational Spider-Man #27
Prowler is captured by S.H.I.E.L.D. in Ms. Marvel's Civil War tie-in.Ms. Marvel #6 (2006) Escaping incarceration, he attends the wake for Stilt-Man (Wilbur Day), along with many other villains and former villains. Prowler narrowly escapes injury as Spider-Man and Puma escort him from the wake shortly before it is bombed by the Punisher.Punisher War Journal #4 (2006)
When Peter Parker elevates Parker Industries into a global franchise with Spider-Man officially acting as a "bodyguard" as part of the All-New, All-Different Marvel branding, Hobie Brown is hired to act as Spider-Man in situations where the public would expect to see Peter and Spider-Man in the same place. Following a fight against Zodiac's Pisces Sect, Peter tells Hobie to change into his Prowler costume and that they will retrieve the Webware together before Zodiac undoes his encryption.The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4, #1
Before The Clone Conspiracy storyline and crossover, wanting to know more about New U Technologies, Peter sends Prowler to infiltrate. He ends up encountering Electro (Francine Frye). Prowler is chased around by Electro and is accidentally killed.The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 4, #17 In the aftermath, Rita Clarkson takes Spider-Man to where people who were subjected to the New U Technologies treatment are being held. The Prowler is among these people, as it is revealed that turned out that the Prowler who died was a clone.The Clone Conspiracy #5 Julia Carpenter later talks to the real Prowler, who has just emerged from cryo-sleep, and tells him about his clone's actions.Prowler vol. 2, #5 Hobie is then seen talking to Peter about his future, wondering which direction he will take. He heads home, where he is last seen conflicted about his own identity.Prowler vol. 2, #6
Hobie next attacks the F.E.A.S.T. center, which had been re-established by May Parker. He tells Spider-Man that he was investigating a crowdfunding group called Fairgray Pay after he funneled some money to help a sick friend, which never reached him, and broke into the center since it is almost wholly funded by the group. He and Spider-Man break into the company's head office with help from Marnie, Peter's neighbor known also as The Rumor.Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man vol. 2, #7–8 After an intense battle, Spider-Man, Prowler and Rumor escape, with help from Captain America. Prowler is left in his home after being knocked out from the fight. He later wakes up to find that Spider-Man managed to defeat the head of Fairgray Pay with help from Iron Man, who bought out the company. During their conversation, Prowler is offered a job as the new head of Fairgray Pay, which he quickly accepts.Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man vol. 2, #9–10
During the "King in Black" storyline, Hobie is shown to have taken up the alias of Hornet during the Symbiote invasion.King in Black: Planet of the Symbiotes #2
During the "Gang War" storyline, Hobie as Hornet had heard about Aaron Davis' exploits as Prowler. He has him operate as Prowler again by giving him one of his Prowler costumes to find out what Hobgoblin has planned for Brooklyn. Hobie warns Aaron that if he slips up, he will repossess the Prowler identity.Miles Morales: Spider-Man (vol. 2) #15 (March 2024)
Second Prowler