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Betty Brant
Betty Brant
Betty Brant
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Betty Brant
Art by Scot Eaton.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceThe Amazing Spider-Man #4 (September 1963)
Created byStan Lee (writer)
Steve Ditko (artist)
In-story information
Full nameElizabeth "Betty" Brant
SpeciesHuman
Place of originPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Team affiliationsDaily Bugle
Supporting character ofSpider-Man
Agent Venom
Notable aliasesBetty Brant-Leeds

Elizabeth "Betty" Brant-Leeds is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, usually in stories featuring the superhero Spider-Man. She is the personal secretary of J. Jonah Jameson at the Daily Bugle,[1] and served as both a supporting character and love interest for Peter Parker, eventually marrying Ned Leeds/Hobgoblin. She later became a reporter for the Daily Bugle and the girlfriend of Flash Thompson/Agent Venom.

Since her inception, the character has been featured in various media adaptations, such as feature films, television series and video games. In film, she was portrayed by Elizabeth Banks in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy, and by Angourie Rice as a teenaged version in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) and the web series The Daily Bugle (2021–2022), with Antonina Lentini voicing another version in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023); the What If...? Spider-Girl incarnation of Betty Brant also cameos in Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, Spider-Man Unlimited, and Across the Spider-Verse.

Publication history

[edit]

Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, she first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #4 (September 1963).[2]

Fictional character biography

[edit]

Betty Brant was born in Philadelphia. Her mother had originally been the "Girl Friday" of Daily Bugle editor J. Jonah Jameson, and Betty dropped out of high school to become Jameson's secretary at the Daily Bugle after her mother suffered serious injury. As Peter Parker's first love,[3] she met him when he became a freelance photographer for the Bugle.[4] After they had been attacked by the Vulture, Peter had already noticed his attraction to Betty, and was impressed when she stood up to Jameson over publishing slandering articles against Spider-Man. They began dating shortly afterwards, when Betty was impressed by Parker's kindness when taking care of his ill Aunt May.[5]

Her secretarial job at the Bugle was taken to help her brother Bennett Brant pay back his gambling debts,[6] which he had acquired trying to pay for their mother's medical bills. Bennett had become friendly with Betty's then boyfriend Gordon Savinski.[7] Gordon was into many illegal activities and Bennett eventually took on a gambling debt that he could not pay back to a gangster named Blackie Gaxton. When Gaxton's thugs came looking for Bennett at the family home, Betty's mother was knocked into a coffee table, resulting in permanent brain damage.

With the help of Doctor Octopus, Gaxton kidnapped both Bennett and Betty as insurance against anyone preventing him leaving the country. Bennett was double crossed when Glaxton refused to free him of his debts and was fatally shot during a melee between Glaxton's gang, Doctor Octopus and Spider-Man. At first, Betty blamed Spider-Man for the death of her brother and told Spider-Man that she never wanted to see him again, although afterwards she realized she had been wrong and that he had only been trying to help. The blossoming romance between Betty and Peter was cut short, when Betty feared that Peter cared more for his classmate Liz Allan.[8] This misunderstanding led to their relationship finally coming to an end.[9]

Ned Leeds

[edit]

Soon after Peter and Betty's break up, she started dating fellow Daily Bugle employee reporter Ned Leeds.[10] Even though he soon left for Europe, they remained in contact, writing each other letters regularly.[11] Upon his return, they began dating again,[12] and Leeds eventually proposed to Betty. There were signs that Betty still loved Peter, and Peter did his best to alienate her for her own good.[13] She eventually accepted Leeds' marriage proposal.

After their engagement, J. Jonah Jameson threw an engagement party at his penthouse apartment and their wedding soon followed. Their wedding day was not all smooth sailing as a costumed criminal named Mirage decided to rob all the guests at the top weddings on that day. Spider-Man intervened and Mirage was easily captured. Betty and Ned were married with Mary Jane Watson serving as Betty's maid of honor.[14]

Soon after their wedding, Jameson sent both Betty and Ned off to Paris on an all expenses paid working honeymoon. Betty began to notice a change in Ned as he became consumed by work. While Ned covered an insurrection in Cyprus she flew back to New York to the consoling arms of Peter.[15] After discovering Betty's disappearance Ned returned to New York and confronted both Peter and Betty. Ned punched Peter in the jaw and tried to force him to never see Betty again. Peter said he never wanted to see either of them again and that he was only interested in Betty to make Mary Jane jealous, in the hope that this would bring Ned and Betty back together. Advice that Peter had received from a ghostly Noah King dressed as a priest.[16]

After that, the villain Sin-Eater marks Betty for death, but she escapes his murder attempt.[17]

Ned's investigative reporting brought an incredible strain on the Leeds' marriage. Following leads on the mysterious new villain named Hobgoblin, Leeds was captured and hypnotized to think that he was the Hobgoblin. During this period Betty turned to her friend Flash Thompson, but he too was framed by the real Hobgoblin and in the process Betty saw Ned dressed as the Hobgoblin threatening Flash. Her mind, already fragile, was pushed over the edge. Meanwhile, a mercenary named Jason Macendale asked the Foreigner for information on who the Hobgoblin was and was given Leeds' name. When Ned followed an espionage story to Berlin, under hypnosis he dressed himself as the Hobgoblin and was assassinated by the Foreigner's men. Macendale after thinking the original Hobgoblin was dead, would later adopt the identity of the Hobgoblin for himself.

Betty suffered a complete mental breakdown after the news of Ned's death by the Foreigner,[18] and believed him to still be alive. In her state a young recruiter from the Cult of Love was able to persuade her to join their faction under a leader called the Teacher where she was programmed in their ways.[19] The Teacher turned out to be a con artist. Flash and Spider-Man figured this out and saved Betty, though she lost everything she owned and had to take up residence with Flash Thompson. During this, the demonic events of Inferno happened, overwhelming much of New York City. Betty and Flash were attacked by demonic duplicates of Spider-Man and Ned. Betty overcame physical and psychological barriers and succeeded in destroying the monsters.[20]

After these difficult times, she returned to work at the Daily Bugle as a secretary under the city editor Kate Cushing. A change in Betty occurred when she became an investigative reporter who successfully tracked down the Foreigner and his assassins and found out the real identity of the Hobgoblin which finally put her mind at rest. She has now become one of the top investigative reporters at the Bugle.

Deadline

[edit]

In Deadline, during her time at the Bugle, she became friends with Kat Farrell and pushed her to take on the Judge Hart case in order to get a better job at the Bugle.[21] She kept a spare key to Kat's apartment in her desk, which fellow reporter Paul Swanson used to break into Kat's apartment in an attempt to scare her off the case.[22]

Brand New Day

[edit]

In the "Brand New Day" storyline, Betty became a reporter under Dexter Bennett after Jameson's heart attack forced his wife to sell the Daily Bugle to him, and she became the only one of the old circle to remain working at the Bugle. As Dexter was trying to sidestep Betty and make her his "Girl Friday" again, Peter drops hints of a fake family relationship between Betty and the deceased actor Marlon Brando, bolstering her position in Bennett's eye as a gossip reporter.

Betty celebrated her birthday and asked Peter to organize for her friends to come over for a dinner, but due to her work at the new DB, nobody feels like befriending her. In fact, only Peter showed up at her birthday, because he was the only one of her friends that was not angry with her. Initially, Betty was furious at Peter, angrily accusing him of ruining her night until he tells her the truth. She is sad, but he reassures her that everyone will forgive her soon. Betty realizes that Peter really is her best friend.[23]

Following the DB's destruction, she went on to create a successful journalism blog; she is last seen with having gotten back together with Flash.[24]

Other versions

[edit]

Ultimate Marvel

[edit]

In the Ultimate Marvel universe, Betty Brant is again the loyal secretary of J. Jonah Jameson at the Daily Bugle.[25] She is a headstrong woman, trying to get by in life and having as much fun on dates as she can get. This version has a considerably different personality as she goes as far as making bets about the deaths of missing co-workers. She also lacks her mainstream counterpart's brown bob hairstyle and instead sporting long black hair (but her design was not concrete at the beginning of the series). She worked herself up into a rage while trying to build the Bugle website to which Peter Parker took over from her and got his job at the Bugle as a webdesigner.

Jameson rejects her request to find out more about the disappearance of Nick Fury, alleging that a brief affair with Kraven the Hunter before his arrest proves that she is incapable of any reporting assignment beyond covering college fashion shows.[26] Sometime after the original Spider-Man's death, Betty later gets the footage of the new Spider-Man (Miles Morales) stopping some muggers and presents this to Jameson. The story of a new Spider-Man makes the headlines.[27] Betty is subsequently killed by Venom after trying to expose the new Spider-Man's identity.[28]

What If?

[edit]
Main article: Spider-Girl § Betty Brant

In "What If the Radioactive Spider Had Bitten Someone Else?", Betty is one of three candidates – along with Flash Thompson and John Jameson – who is bitten by the radioactive spider which gave Spider-Man his powers. After confiding in Peter, and with his assistance, she begins to fight crime under the name "The Amazing Spider-Girl", with a mask similar to Spider-Man's but a very different costume. One time, she fails to stop a certain crook, who subsequently murders Peter's Uncle Ben. The shock over the consequences of her failure makes Betty quit her Spider-Girl identity, although Peter takes up the identity of Spider-Man later on by synthetically recreating and ingesting the irradiated spider's venom.[29] This incarnation also appears in the Spider-Verse.

Marvel Noir

[edit]

In the Marvel Noir universe, Betty Brant is once again depicted as the personal secretary of J. Jonah Jameson at the Daily Bugle.[30]

Spider-Gwen

[edit]
Main article: Spider-Gwen

In the alternate reality where Gwen Stacy is Spider-Gwen, a.k.a. Spider-Woman, Brant is the bass player for the high school rock band the Mary Janes. Out of the four musicians (Mary Jane, Glory Grant, and Gwen Stacy), she is shown to have a larger interest in death metal and darker subjects such as horror. She has a cat named Murderface.[31]

In other media

[edit]

Television

[edit]
  • Betty Brant appears in Spider-Man (1967), voiced by Peg Dixon.[32] This version plays a larger role than other incarnations, similarly to Lois Lane of the Superman franchise, such as being captured by the villain Parafino and supporting Peter Parker and Spider-Man when J. Jonah Jameson criticizes them.
  • Betty Brant appears in Spider-Man (1981), voiced by Mona Marshall.[32]
  • Betty Brant appears in The Spectacular Spider-Man, voiced by Grey DeLisle.[32] This version is J. Jonah Jameson's secretary at the Daily Bugle and largely makes minor appearances throughout the series, with her most notable appearances including being repeatedly asked by Peter Parker to his Fall Formal and being interviewed by Ned Lee on whether or not she believes Parker is Spider-Man.
  • Betty Brant appears in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes episode "Along Came a Spider", voiced again by Grey DeLisle.[32] This version is a reporter for the Daily Bugle.
  • Betty Brant makes non-speaking appearances in Spider-Man (2017) as J. Jonah Jameson's secretary at the Daily Bugle.[32]

Film

[edit]
Elizabeth Banks as Betty Brant in Spider-Man 3.
  • Betty Brant appears in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy, portrayed by Elizabeth Banks. First appearing in Spider-Man (2002) before making subsequent appearances in its sequels, Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man 3, this version is a staff member of the Daily Bugle and J. Jonah Jameson's secretary who is usually seen either passing on messages to Jameson or receiving curt orders from him. While she never dates Peter Parker, she displays a subtle attraction to him in the first two films. Banks stated that she first auditioned for the role of Mary Jane Watson before taking the role of Brant.[33] She also admitted that the groundwork of the relationship between Brant and Parker is much closer to an office romance than what the two shared in the comics.[34]
  • The Spider-Gwen incarnation of Betty Brant appears in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023), voiced by Antonia Lentini. Additionally, Betty Brant / Spider-Girl makes a non-speaking cameo appearance as a member of the Spider-Society.[35]

Marvel Cinematic Universe

[edit]
See also: Betty Brant (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

A teenage incarnation of Betty Brant appears in media set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), portrayed by Angourie Rice.[36] This version's appearance bears a similarity to Gwen Stacy, having long blonde hair and often wearing a black headband.[citation needed]

Video games

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Betty Brant

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Betty Brant is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by , primarily known as a and later investigative reporter for the Daily Bugle newspaper in , and as the first girlfriend of Peter Parker, who secretly operates as the superhero . Raised in by her single mother, Brant dropped out of high school to support her family following a mob attack that injured her mother, eventually taking a job at the Daily Bugle offered by publisher . In the , Brant first appeared in #4 (September 1963), initially serving as Jameson's efficient and loyal secretary while navigating personal hardships, including her brother Bennett's entanglement with criminal elements, which led to him being shot and presumed dead (though he later survived). Her romantic involvement with Peter Parker began early in his career as , marked by tension due to Parker's secret identity and the dangers posed by his enemies, such as when she was targeted by and the Enforcers. Over time, Brant's career evolved from secretarial duties to frontline journalism, where she exposed major threats like the true identity of the , exonerating her husband , whom she married after parting ways with Parker. Brant has no superhuman powers but is depicted as a skilled marksman and martial artist, often relying on her journalistic instincts and resilience to survive encounters with villains including the and . Her personal life includes a son, Winston Leeds, from her marriage to Ned, and later romantic connections with characters like and , underscoring her enduring role in Spider-Man's supporting cast amid the Daily Bugle's chaotic environment of sensational reporting on activities.

Publication history

Creation and conception

Betty Brant was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko. She made her first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #4, published in September 1963. Brant was conceived as a supportive love interest for Peter Parker, intended to provide emotional depth to his civilian life amid his superhero responsibilities. This characterization drew from 1960s soap opera tropes, incorporating elements of office romance and personal tragedy that were hallmarks of Lee's approach to Marvel storytelling during the era. Her role emphasized relatable human conflicts, contrasting with Parker's high-stakes adventures as Spider-Man. Initially portrayed as J. Jonah Jameson's secretary at the , Brant served as a grounding influence in Parker's professional and personal spheres. This position at the newspaper not only facilitated her interactions with Parker but also highlighted themes of everyday struggles, such as family pressures and workplace dynamics, which anchored the series' exploration of heroism in ordinary settings.

Major appearances and developments

Betty Brant's debut occurred in #4 (September 1963), where she was introduced as J. Jonah Jameson's secretary at the and quickly established as a key supporting figure in Peter Parker's life. Over the subsequent issues from #5 to #33 (1963–1965), she appeared recurrently during the Silver Age, solidifying her role as a romantic interest for Parker and a fixture in the Daily Bugle's newsroom dynamics, often entangled in Spider-Man's early adventures. In the 1970s, Brant's character arc advanced significantly with her relationship to , culminating in their engagement party in #151 (December 1975) and their wedding in #156 (May 1976), marking a pivotal shift from her prior romance with Parker to a more independent personal life. By the early , her storyline took a darker turn with the events of #229 (June 1982), where she returned from a amid marital strains, highlighting her evolving resilience amid personal turmoil. During the 1990s and 2000s, Brant featured prominently in investigative arcs, such as the "Hobgoblin Lives" miniseries (: Hobgoblin Lives #1–3, 1997), where she delved into mysteries surrounding Leeds' past, transitioning toward a more assertive journalistic presence. In the , Brant appeared in Superior Spider-Man #22 (July 2014), contributing to storylines involving Otto Octavius' tenure as Spider-Man and underscoring her ongoing ties to the Parker orbit. More recently, in (2022) #47–#48 (April–May 2024), she confronted threats from armed assailants while pursuing leads as a reporter, emphasizing her continued frontline role in high-stakes narratives. Across main continuity (), Brant has amassed 445 appearances, reflecting her enduring significance in the Spider-Man mythos.

Fictional character biography

Early career and romance with Peter Parker

Betty Brant first appeared in #4 (September 1963), introduced as the efficient secretary to at the . Having dropped out of high school to support her family after her mother fell ill and her brother Bennett accrued debts to mobster Blackie Gaxton, Betty handled administrative duties with poise amid the newspaper's relentless anti-Spider-Man editorial stance under Jameson's leadership. Her role involved managing the influx of freelance submissions, including photographs from Peter Parker, while enduring Jameson's bombastic temperament. Betty met Peter Parker through his freelance photography work for the Bugle, where he supplied images of to capitalize on the paper's sensational coverage. Their interaction quickly evolved into a flirtatious and supportive romance starting in #4, with Betty defending Peter during Jameson's tirades and sharing tender moments, such as after the Vulture's attack on the Bugle offices in issue #2. As Peter's first serious girlfriend, she provided emotional stability amid his double life, though her own vulnerabilities—stemming from family hardships—made her wary of risk. The couple went on dates, but Peter's frequent unexplained absences began to foster jealousy and concern, particularly as Betty grew close to his female acquaintances. The romance faced significant strain from Betty's personal tragedies and Peter's . In The Amazing Spider-Man #11 (April 1964), her brother Bennett, entangled with Gaxton's gang, was fatally shot during a confrontation involving and ; Betty initially blamed the web-slinger for the death, temporarily severing ties with the hero while grappling with grief. Though she later reconciled her feelings toward , the event heightened her emotional fragility and fears for Peter's safety, given his perilous photo assignments. By The Amazing Spider-Man #33 (February 1966), Betty witnessed Peter returning injured from a battle, reinforcing her dread that his lifestyle mirrored her brother's fatal risks, contributing to the relationship's dissolution as she sought stability elsewhere.

Marriage to Ned Leeds and its aftermath

Betty Brant first encountered Ned Leeds, a fellow reporter at the Daily Bugle, during her time as J. Jonah Jameson's secretary, shortly after her romance with Peter Parker had begun to strain under the pressures of his double life. Their relationship developed as Betty sought stability away from the complications of her past with Parker, leading to an engagement amid Ned's growing career demands as a foreign correspondent. The couple married in a ceremony interrupted by the villain , marking a new chapter for Betty as she balanced her professional life with marital responsibilities. The marriage faced challenges from Ned's frequent overseas assignments, which often left Betty isolated in New York, compounded by lingering emotional ties to Peter Parker that created tension and doubt. Tragedy struck when Ned, while investigating criminal underworld figures, was captured and brainwashed by Roderick Kingsley, the true , into assuming the villain's identity as a pawn in Kingsley's schemes. This manipulation culminated in Ned's death at the hands of assassins hired by another criminal, Jason Macendale, during a confrontation involving and . In the immediate aftermath, Betty experienced profound grief, suffering a complete mental breakdown as she grappled with the shock of her husband's murder and the posthumous revelation of his coerced role as . Seeking solace, she briefly entered a relationship with , her longtime friend and former high school rival of Peter Parker, though it served more as a temporary comfort amid her turmoil than a lasting partnership. The emotional scars from Ned's betrayal and loss instilled in Betty a deep fear of commitment, manifesting in hesitant interactions with potential partners, such as Randy Robertson, the son of her colleague , where her widowhood's lingering effects complicated budding connections. Years later, Betty would play a key role in exonerating Ned by exposing Kingsley's frame-up, providing some closure to the ordeal that had defined her .

Transition to investigative journalism

Following Ned Leeds' death in 1987, which was initially attributed to his role as the Hobgoblin, Betty Brant experienced a profound personal crisis but channeled her grief into honoring his legacy as a journalist. She transitioned from her long-standing position as J. Jonah Jameson's secretary at the Daily Bugle to a full-time investigative reporter, determined to uncover the truth behind her husband's fate and prove his innocence. This shift marked the beginning of her professional independence in the late 1980s, as she immersed herself in fieldwork to expose corruption and criminal activities tied to New York's underworld. Brant's first significant investigative breakthrough came in 1987 when she collaborated with to unmask Roderick Kingsley as the original , revealing that Leeds had been manipulated and brainwashed into serving as a . By planting a spider-tracer in her recording device during an undercover approach to Kingsley's hideout, she drew into the confrontation, leading to the villain's exposure and the posthumous clearing of Leeds' name. This story not only validated Brant's journalistic instincts but also solidified her reputation at the as a tenacious reporter willing to risk personal safety for the truth. In the 1990s, Brant's role at the Daily Bugle expanded amid the Clone Saga, where she partnered with Ben Reilly—then operating as the Scarlet Spider—to probe superhuman threats and cloning conspiracies affecting Spider-Man. Their collaboration involved joint investigations into shadowy organizations and enhanced beings, blending Brant's reporting acumen with Reilly's vigilante insights, while she balanced the inherent dangers with her growing personal resilience. To prepare for such high-stakes work, Brant underwent self-defense training, becoming proficient in martial arts and firearms handling. Throughout this era, Brant faced direct threats from criminals like Tombstone, whose criminal empire intersected with her probes into and arms dealings. These encounters tested her limits, including physical assaults and intimidation tactics, but fostered her evolution from a vulnerable supporting figure to an journalist capable of confronting New York's most dangerous elements head-on. Her experiences underscored a thematic arc of , transforming past traumas into fuel for fearless reporting.

Brand New Day era

Following the events of "One More Day" in 2007, where Peter Parker struck a deal with Mephisto that erased his marriage to from existence, Betty Brant's professional and personal dynamics with Parker at the were revitalized, allowing for renewed tension as colleagues. This reset positioned Brant as a key figure in Parker's support network, with their shared history fostering closer interactions amid the "Brand New Day" relaunch. Brant and Parker briefly rekindled a romantic relationship, going on several dates featured in #546–#558 (2007–2008), but it ultimately dissolved due to the strain of Parker's undisclosed secrets as . Despite the short-lived romance, their bond evolved into a reliable , emphasizing mutual professional reliance at the Bugle, where the paper had been sold to Dexter Bennett and rebranded as "The DB!" under new editorial pressures. In her role as an investigative reporter, Brant focused on covering Spider-Man-related stories, while developing a supportive friendship with Randy Robertson, the son of editor , who joined the staff during this period. This collaboration highlighted her growing prominence in the newsroom, blending personal connections with journalistic pursuits. A pivotal moment came during the "Dark Reign" crossover (2008–2009), when Brant helped uncover Norman Osborn's manipulative schemes. Her efforts in exposing these threats not only advanced the storyline but also cemented her status as a tenacious reporter willing to confront high-level corruption.

Recent storylines (2010s–2020s)

In the Superior Spider-Man era, Betty Brant returned to the after an absence, rejoining under the direction of and the (Otto Octavius in Peter Parker's body). She was shown the newspaper's revamped operations, expressing surprise at the technological upgrades implemented during her time away. During this period, the faced attacks, including one by Stunner seeking revenge on the , which highlighted operational anomalies under Octavius's influence, though Brant did not directly uncover them at the time. Following the restoration of Peter Parker as , Brant's role evolved in the All-New, All-Different Marvel initiative starting in 2015, where she supported Parker amid global threats as a key reporter. She contributed to coverage of major events, maintaining her position as a trusted colleague while navigating personal dynamics, including subtle romantic hints with Randy Robertson. This era solidified her as an independent journalist, building on her post-Brand New Day foundations without major romantic entanglements with Parker. In the late 2010s, during the Amazing Spider-Man: Worldwide event (2016–2018), Brant investigated a mysterious voicemail from her late husband, Ned Leeds, amid a mafia conspiracy spanning decades, convinced it indicated his survival. This storyline tied into broader Spider-Man arcs involving clones and resurrections, with Brant enlisting Spider-Man's aid to unravel the plot, emphasizing her persistent pursuit of truth. In the 2022 relaunch of Amazing Spider-Man, Betty discovered that Ned had been resurrected through experimental treatments tied to past conspiracies, leading to their reunion. The couple welcomed a son, Winston Leeds, though their happiness was soon threatened by renewed manipulations from Roderick Kingsley. By 2018–2019, her efforts intersected with worldwide threats, including battles against villains like Clash, where she provided crucial reporting on the escalating dangers. Entering the 2020s, Brant's investigative work intensified in Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #47 (2024), where she pursued leads on a conspiracy linked to Ned's past, leading to her capture by goons; Spider-Man intervened to rescue her, disrupting their operations. In the subsequent issue #48, she advanced her exposé on corporate corruption, confronting antagonists like the Queen Goblin while allying with Spider-Man against manipulated foes such as a brainwashed Chasm. These arcs underscored her matured independence, refusing to abandon her quest to clear Ned's name despite personal risks. As of November 2025, following the series in April 2025, Brant remains a senior reporter at the , continuing to intersect with Spider-Man's battles against emerging villains and developments in her family storylines involving Ned and Winston.

Other versions

Ultimate Marvel

In the universe (Earth-1610), Betty Brant is introduced as the secretary to at the . This portrayal positions her as a professional figure in Peter's life, highlighting the personal risks and distractions of his double life. Betty's role remains brief but impactful, serving as an early emotional anchor for Peter's transformation into Spider-Man by underscoring the stakes of his secret identity against everyday relationships. This contrasts with her prolonged survival and career evolution in the primary Earth-616 continuity, where she marries Ned Leeds and later becomes an investigative reporter. Following Peter Parker's death in the "Death of Spider-Man" storyline, Betty advances to a full reporter position at the Daily Bugle and begins probing the emergence of a new Spider-Man, Miles Morales. Mistakenly believing she has identified Jefferson Davis as the hero, she returns to her apartment only to be ambushed and killed by Venom (Eddie Brock) during his violent rampage. Betty Brant receives no resurrection in the Ultimate line, marking a definitive end to her story and emphasizing the heightened lethality of this alternate reality compared to her resilient arc in the mainstream universe.

What If?

In Marvel's What If? anthology series, which examines hypothetical divergences from established continuity, Betty Brant features in stories that reimagine her role in Peter Parker's life, often elevating her romantic significance or heroic potential. One notable appearance occurs in What If? #7 (February 1978), written by Don Glut with art by , under the title "What If Someone Besides Peter Parker Had Been Bitten by the Radioactive Spider?". At a demonstration covered by the , Betty is bitten by the radioactive spider intended for Peter, granting her enhanced strength, agility, wall-crawling, and web-shooting abilities after Peter helps her synthesize a web fluid formula. Adopting the identity of in a leotard-style costume, she becomes a crimefighter and Peter's primary romantic interest, forming a supportive partnership that deepens their early relationship without Peter's own powers emerging. However, her failure to stop a fleeing burglar—who later murders Parker—leads to overwhelming guilt, prompting Betty to abandon her heroic role and retire into journalism, underscoring the emotional weight of power and responsibility. Betty reappears in the What If? Age of Ultron five-issue miniseries (March–July 2013), written by with art by various artists, depicting a timeline where destroys most heroes early in his rampage. Here, Peter Parker marries his first love, Betty Brant, instead of , and they live a secluded life in rural , , after Peter retires from to raise a . Their stable union provides Peter emotional grounding in a post-apocalyptic world, but it ends tragically when he rejoins the resistance and sacrifices himself against , leaving Betty to mourn amid the chaos. This portrayal positions Betty as the enduring romantic anchor in Peter's life, altering his personal trajectory in a divergent reality. These anthology tales use Betty to explore "what if" scenarios centered on Peter's interpersonal dynamics, emphasizing her as a romantic variable that could reshape his path from early flirtation to lifelong partnership, distinct from her canonical marriage to Ned Leeds, whose death as a manipulated Hobgoblin profoundly impacts her in the main timeline. Limited by the format, her depictions remain self-contained explorations without extension into serialized narratives.

Marvel Noir

In the Marvel Noir imprint, Betty Brant is reimagined within the gritty, 1930s New York City backdrop of the 2009 Spider-Man Noir four-issue miniseries, set during the Great Depression. She serves as the personal secretary to J. Jonah Jameson at the Daily Bugle, a role that echoes her classic characterization but is adapted to the era's pulp detective aesthetic, complete with fedoras, speakeasies, and widespread corruption. This version of Brant appears briefly in the first issue, where she encounters confusion and urgency during a police raid on the Bugle offices prompted by a reported shooting of Jameson. Her presence underscores the newspaper's role as a hub for investigative journalism amid mobster influence and political intrigue, though she does not engage directly in the central plot involving Peter Parker's transformation into the vigilante Spider-Man. The monochrome artwork by Carmine Di Giandomenico and Val Staples, rendered in stark black-and-white tones, casts Brant in a shadowy, film-noir visual style that heightens the series' atmospheric tension. Unlike her more innocent, supportive secretary persona in the mainline , this iteration subtly reflects the hardened realities of the time, positioning her as a peripheral figure in a tale of moral ambiguity and street-level heroism. Brant's limited involvement highlights the ' focus on reinterpreting Spider-Man's supporting cast through a lens of economic despair and anti-fascist undertones, without delving into personal romances or investigative arcs for her character. As a one-shot alternate universe story written by David Hine and Fabrice Sapolsky, does not expand on Brant's backstory or feature her in subsequent Noir titles, keeping her portrayal concise and true to the imprint's self-contained narrative. This adaptation contrasts her standard secretary duties by embedding them in a detective-noir framework, where the symbolizes resistance against figures like Norman Osborn's tyrannical regime.

Spider-Gwen

In the Earth-65 universe of the series, Betty Brant is introduced as a high school student and key member of the all-girl rock band The Mary Janes, where she plays alongside vocalist and guitarist Em Jay Watson, keyboardist and songwriter , and drummer . The band, managed by Randy Robertson, forms a central part of Gwen's civilian life, offering a contrast to her as the web-slinging hero . As Gwen's close friend and , Betty serves as a steadfast civilian ally, providing through her witty banter and emotional support amid Gwen's high-stakes conflicts, while remaining powerless herself. This dynamic inverts her mainline role as a journalist, repositioning her as a youthful entangled in Gwen's double life. Key events highlight her involvement as part of the band's circle during crises, such as the tragic confrontation with —Peter Parker's mutated form—which underscores the personal toll of Gwen's heroism on her friends. Betty's presence continues as a recurring supporting character in the Spider-Gwen series, contributing to band adventures and Gwen's personal growth through the 2020s, including the group's planned tour in Spider-Gwen: Smash #1 (2023) and ongoing storylines in Spider-Gwen: The Ghost-Spider as of 2025.

In other media

Television

Betty Brant first appeared in animated television in the 1967 series Spider-Man, where she was voiced by Peg Dixon. In this version, she serves as J. Jonah Jameson's secretary at the and plays a recurring role similar to , frequently aiding Peter Parker with his freelance photography assignments while often finding herself in peril that requires rescue by . She next appeared in the 1981 animated series , voiced by . Here, Brant is depicted in minor roles as a reporter and secretary at the , supporting the newsroom dynamics alongside Jameson and . Betty Brant does not appear in (1981–1983), which focuses primarily on Spider-Man's team-ups with Iceman and Firestar, though the series occasionally references staff without featuring her prominently. In Spider-Man: The Animated Series (1994–1998), Betty Brant was planned for introduction in an unproduced sixth season as Joseph Robertson's assistant at the , with developed, but she ultimately did not appear in the aired episodes. Betty Brant appears in The Spectacular Spider-Man (2008–2009), voiced by . In this series, she is portrayed as J. Jameson's secretary at the , handling administrative duties and showing a brief romantic interest in Peter Parker, who submits photos to the newspaper. Her role supports the newsroom environment and includes interactions that highlight her efficiency and warmth. Brant returns in (2012–2017), voiced by . This iteration portrays her as a modern high school student at Midtown High and an intern at the , integrating her into Peter Parker's social circle and providing comic relief through her involvement in school and journalistic activities. Betty Brant has no major roles in Spider-Man-related television series during the 2020s, though she receives brief mentions in (2017–2020) without a dedicated voice actor or significant screen time.

Film

Betty Brant was portrayed by Elizabeth Banks in Sam Raimi's film trilogy, appearing as J. Jonah Jameson's assistant at the in (2002), (2004), and (2007). In these films, Banks' version of the character draws from her origins as a secretary at the newspaper, but emphasizes her sassy demeanor and efficiency in managing the chaotic newsroom environment. In the first film, , Betty has a more prominent supporting role, including brief flirtatious interactions with Peter Parker as he delivers photos to the Bugle, highlighting her as a potential romantic interest amid Peter's personal struggles. She assists Jameson with administrative tasks while enduring his bombastic outbursts, often rolling her eyes or responding with dry wit that underscores the tension between the publisher and his staff. Betty's appearances in the sequels are more limited, focusing primarily on facilitating the Bugle's frenzied operations during major events like the battles involving and the , without significant personal development or expanded interactions with Peter. Banks' performance throughout infuses the character with comedic edge and subtle humanity, providing lighthearted relief in the high-stakes newsroom scenes and contrasting the film's intense action sequences. These portrayals remain the only non-MCU live-action depictions of Betty Brant in feature films.

Marvel Cinematic Universe

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Betty Brant is reimagined as a teenage student at Midtown School of Science and Technology, serving as a co-anchor on the school's news program, Midtown News, alongside Jason Ionello, where she reports on campus events and occasionally touches on broader superhero-related news. She is portrayed by Australian actress Angourie Rice, who first appeared as the character in Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), depicting Brant as a bright, enthusiastic classmate of Peter Parker with a subtle crush on him, evident in her on-air enthusiasm when mentioning his name during announcements. This youthful version emphasizes her role in Peter's high school life, including her budding romance with Ned Leeds, which begins during a school trip in Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), where she also acts as a resourceful tour guide for the class abroad. In Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), Brant continues as a supportive friend, interviewing an unmasked Peter Parker on Midtown News about recent multiversal events, blending her journalistic curiosity with personal concern for her peers. Following the events of No Way Home, Brant transitions into an internship at The Daily Bugle, starring in the promotional web series The Daily Bugle (2021–2022), a canon MCU tie-in produced by Sony Pictures on platforms like YouTube and TikTok, where she covers the fallout from the multiverse spell, including interviews with figures like Peter Parker and reports on lingering chaos such as "crazy lightning" incidents. In this series, she works under J. Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons), delivering vlogs and news segments that highlight her growth as a young reporter navigating post-Blip societal shifts. By June 2025, per MCU timeline projections accounting for the five-year Blip disruption, Brant delivers her final Midtown News segment during the Class of 2025 graduation ceremony, reflecting on the "chaotic" high school years marked by global events and bidding farewell to her audience. This MCU incarnation markedly differs from her comic book counterpart, omitting any marriage to Ned Leeds or romantic entanglements with Peter beyond teenage friendship and fleeting crushes, instead prioritizing her development as a tech-savvy vlogger and peer in Peter's adolescent world. As of November 2025, rumors suggest Rice may reprise the role in the upcoming Spider-Man 4 (slated for 2026 or later), potentially evolving Brant into an adult reporter, though no official confirmation has been announced by Marvel Studios or Sony Pictures. For contrast, the character was previously portrayed as an adult Daily Bugle secretary by Elizabeth Banks in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy (2002–2007).

Video games

Betty Brant has appeared in several Spider-Man video games, often portrayed as a supporting character affiliated with the , providing brief interactions or cameos that tie into Peter Parker's civilian life. In the 2002 video game , developed by , she is voiced by Bethany Rhoades and serves as J. Jonah Jameson's secretary, appearing in scenes at the newspaper office. Rhoades reprises the role in (2004), the tie-in to the film, where Brant assists with Bugle-related tasks and offers minor dialogue during Peter Parker's visits to the office. The character returns in Spider-Man 3 (2007), another film tie-in, this time voiced by Rachel Kimsey, who delivers lines reflecting Brant's role amid the escalating symbiote storyline. An alternate version, Betty Brant as Spider-Girl from Earth-78227, makes a non-speaking cameo in Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions (2010), visible during multiversal segments. This incarnation also appears as a playable character in the mobile game Spider-Man Unlimited (2015), where she fights alongside other Spider-heroes in endless runner missions. In more recent titles like ' Marvel's (2018) and Marvel's (2023), Brant is referenced as a former colleague but lacks interactive or voiced appearances, limited to mentions in environmental storytelling such as staff signatures on in-game documents.

References

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