Therak
Nothing is
known of Therak's past before he became the monster he is today.
It's unknown why the ionic powers affected Therak in such a
strange manner. Was Therak a man exposed to ionic energy and
caused a strange side effect? Or perhaps Therak was a spider that
was granted superhuman strength and gained humanlike
intelligence. Your guess is as good as anyone's at this point.
Avengers West Coast #82- As Spider-Woman walks the Avengers West Coast compound alone three figures watch her from the bushes. Therak is nervous that she may have seen them, but Antro says that she was too lost in thought to notice them. Therak says maybe, but says that it would’ve been easier to kill her. Arachne says they only came to watch for now. She tells Antro to ‘trapdoor’ them away from there. The three teleport away.
Avengers West Coast #84- Therak, Antro, and Arachne arrive in Century City inside the offices of one Henry Drummond. Henry tries to run after his phone is melted. Therak reaches out and grabs Henry and then throws his against the wall. He tries to give them his money, but is then heard screaming down the hall. The security guard enters the room to find Henry Drummond dead and webbed against the wall. The New York Globe newspaper is having a press conference with a secret informer that has information on one of the presidential candidates. Only the informer, Walt Weston, and the Globe’s lawyers, Henry Drummond, have seen the papers with the secret information. Therak, Antro, and Arachne trapdoor Weston from his dressing room to the stage, but he is no longer holding his files. Weston mumbles something about his files and then falls off the stage dead. A cluster of large lumps on his throat appears. Later at the Liberty Party Convention the Avengers are present to protect Galvan (the presidential candidate). Suddenly the lights go out. Both Spider-Man and the Avengers come face to face with Therak, Arachne, and Antro- also known as the team Deathweb.
Avengers West Coast #85-Spider-Man is tossed back as he
is the first to attack. Arachne kicks Scarlet Witch in the face
to keep her from concentrating her hex. Therak grabs Iron Man out
of the air, and throws him. Iron Man can’t stop, and barely
manages to swerve his trajectory to miss hitting Hawkeye. Therak
hits Wonder Man as Hawkeye hits Therak with a concussion arrow.
Therak barely feels the arrow. Wonder Man tells Hawkeye that he
can beat Therak. Therak whispers that it is a joke to think that
Wonder Man could beat him. Therak hits Wonder Man again, and then
Wonder Man recognizes in Therak’s eyes that he has ionic
powers just like he does. Therak whispers to Arachne not to waste
her time on the Scarlet Witch, but Arachne explains that
Witch’s hex could change the course of the fight. Therak
grabs Wonder Man, and slams him unconscious against the wall.
Iron Man blasts Therak, but Antro engages him in a fight.
Spider-Man gets two of Therak’s arms webbed together as
USAgent’s shield bounces off Therak’s face. Arachne
poisons and paralyzes Agent. Another of Hawkeye’s arrows
bounces off Therak’s head. Spider-Woman pulls Arachne off
Scarlet Witch, and Wanda finally has a chance to throw a hex at
Therak. Therak falls through the floor, and Hawkeye buries him
under more rubble. Therak breaks out of the rubble just as Wonder
Man wakes up. Wonder Man and Iron Man try hitting and blasting
Therak together when Antro grabs Spider-Woman’s daughter.
They take her as a hostage and leave since they did what they
came to do. As Spider-Woman and Spider-Man have Clemson
(Spider-Woman’s former superior and secretly a
representative of The Conclave) Therak and Antro arrive with
their boss the Manipulator. Manipulator shows Spider-Woman that
they have her daughter, and that she must kill Spider-Man for
them. Therak stands by the whole time.
Avengers West Coast #86- Therak asks Manipulator why he can’t just kill both Spider-Man and Spider-Woman. Manipulator says he wants Spider-Woman with blood on her hands. Spider-Woman attacks Spider-Man. Just before the place blows up Manipulator has Antro trapdoor he and Therak out. Outside Manipulator tells Clemson that the Conclave has more on its mind than the lost equipment. The leave Clemson there and trapdoor out. Later Deathweb trapdoors into Avengers compound. Therak hits Wonder Man from the front while Antro hits him from behind. Arachne plants something in the television console, and they trapdoor out. It shows the Avengers and Spider-Woman’s ex-husband the Manipulator with Rachael, Spider-Woman’s child. He says that both Spider-Man and Spider-Woman are dead, but Rachael will stay safe as long as the Avengers West stay away from the Liberty Convention tonight. Rachael is rescued by Spider-Man and Spider-Woman. Suddenly Deathweb teleports into the Liberty Convention, and Arachne shoves her poison into Galvan. The Avengers were also there in disguise. Wonder Man and Iron Man team up against Therak. Antro tries trapdooring, but Wanda’s hex keeps them there. They are wrapped up to be arrested. Galvan was killed by the Conclave, and his running mate Lambert steps up to fill the void. Deathweb say that Lambert was in on the assassination of Galvan to give a martyr to his election.
Iron Man annual ‘99- Therak screams in pain. After Nefaria is released because of his diplomatic immunity he recharges his powers using the restrained Therak. Nefaria says that he has been feeling great thanks to Therak’s continued presence.